JP7601837B2 - Electrical Junction Box - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical junction box.

As an electrical connection box mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, one has been proposed in which a cover is attached to the outer surface of a rectangular cylindrical frame body (Patent Document 1). In the electrical connection box of Patent Document 1, the cover is attached to the frame body by sliding a locking wall on the frame body into a locking groove on the cover.

JP 2020-12762 A

However, because the locking groove is narrow, it is difficult to insert the locking wall and attach the cover.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an electrical connection box in which the cover can be easily attached to the frame body.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the electrical junction box according to the present invention has the following features.
a frame having a frame body formed in a cylindrical shape, the frame body housing an electronic component;
A cover attached to the outside of the frame body,
The frame has a first standing wall portion and a second standing wall portion that are erected from an outer surface of the frame main body, extend along a tube length direction of the frame main body, and are spaced apart in a tube circumferential direction of the frame main body, and a first guide piece and a second guide piece that are protruded in a direction approaching each other from the first standing wall portion and the second standing wall portion and face the frame main body with a gap therebetween,
the cover has a third guide piece that is slidably inserted between the frame body and the first guide piece along the tube length direction, and a fourth guide piece that is slidably inserted between the frame body and the second guide piece along the tube length direction,
The first guide piece and the second guide piece are an electrical connection box in which an inlet portion provided at one end of the tube in the longitudinal direction is located farther from the frame body than the portion other than the inlet portion.

The present invention provides an electrical connection box that allows the cover to be easily attached to the frame body.

The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following description of the embodiment of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiment") with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an electrical junction box according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the frame shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial rear view of the frame shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial top view of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover is being attached to the frame of the electrical junction box shown in FIG.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The electrical connection box 1 is equipped with electronic components and is placed in the engine compartment of a vehicle.

For ease of explanation, the following definitions are used for "front," "rear," "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" as shown in Figs. 1 to 6. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are perpendicular to each other. The up-down direction corresponds to the "cylinder length direction" of the present invention, the upper side corresponds to "one side of the cylinder length direction" of the present invention, and the lower side corresponds to "the other side of the cylinder length direction" of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical connection box 1 of this embodiment includes a frame 2 and a cover 3. The frame 2 and the cover 3 are each integrally molded from an insulating synthetic resin.

As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 2 has a frame body 4 formed in a generally rectangular tube shape with openings at the top and bottom, a connector 5 housed in a recess 41 provided on the outer surface of the frame body 4, a first standing wall portion 6 and a second standing wall portion 7 provided on the outside of the frame body 4, and a first guide piece 8 and a second guide piece 9. Electronic components (not shown) are housed in the frame body 4. An upper cover and a lower cover (not shown) that close the upper and lower openings are attached to the frame body 4. The frame body 4 is formed into a tube shape with multiple flat wall portions 421 to 428 connected together.

The flat wall portion 421 is provided vertically in the front-rear direction. The flat wall portion 422 extends from the left end of the flat wall portion 421 toward the rear side and is provided vertically in the left-right direction. The flat wall portion 423 extends from the rear end of the flat wall portion 422 toward the right side and is provided vertically in the front-rear direction. The flat wall portion 424 extends from the right end of the flat wall portion 423 toward the rear side and is provided vertically in the left-right direction. The flat wall portion 425 extends from the rear end of the flat wall portion 424 toward the right side and is provided vertically in the front-rear direction. The flat wall portion 426 extends from the right end of the flat wall portion 425 toward the front side and is provided vertically in the left-right direction. The flat wall portion 427 extends from the front end of the flat wall portion 426 toward the right side and is provided vertically in the front-rear direction. The flat wall portion 428 extends forward from the right end of the flat wall portion 427 and is connected to the right end of the flat wall portion 421, and is provided perpendicular to the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the flat wall portion 426 and the flat wall portion 427 are provided, thereby providing a recessed portion 41 in the frame main body 4.

The connector 5 is connected by mating with a mating connector (not shown) provided at one end of a wire harness (not shown) from above. The wire harness is pulled out from below.

The first standing wall portion 6 and the second standing wall portion 7 are erected from the outer surfaces of the flat wall portions 425, 428 which are perpendicular to the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, which are orthogonal (intersecting) to each other. The first standing wall portion 6 is erected from the outer surface of the flat wall portion 428. The second standing wall portion 7 is erected from the outer surface of the flat wall portion 425. The first standing wall portion 6 and the second standing wall portion 7 extend in the up-down direction and are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the frame body 4.

The first guide piece 8 protrudes rearward from the right end of the first standing wall portion 6 and faces the flat wall portion 428 with a gap in the left-right direction. The first guide piece 8 is provided from slightly below the upper end of the first standing wall portion 6 to the lower end of the first standing wall portion 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the first guide piece 8 is provided at approximately the same height as the upper end of the connector 5 or higher than the upper end of the connector 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inlet portion 81 provided at the upper end of the first guide piece 8 is provided farther from the flat wall portion 428 than the portion below the inlet portion 81 (portion other than the inlet portion 81). In this embodiment, the inlet portion 81 of the first guide piece 8 is provided at an incline from the upper end to the lower end so as to approach the flat wall portion 428 as it goes downward. The portion of the first guide piece 8 below the inlet portion 81 is provided at a constant distance from the flat wall portion 428 regardless of the upper or lower position.

The second guide piece 9 is provided standing from the rear end of the second standing wall portion 7 toward the right side, and faces the flat wall portion 425 with a gap in the front-rear direction. The second guide piece 9 is provided from the upper end to the lower end of the second standing wall portion 7. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the second guide piece 9 is provided above the upper end of the connector 5 and the upper end of the first guide piece 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inlet portion 91 provided at the upper end of the second guide piece 9 is provided farther from the flat wall portion 425 than the portion below the inlet portion 91 (portion other than the inlet portion 91). In this embodiment, the lower end of the inlet portion 91 of the second guide piece 9 is provided at an incline so as to approach the flat wall portion 425 as it goes downward. Above the inclined portion of the second guide piece 9, the distance from the flat wall portion 425 is constant regardless of the vertical position. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the inlet portion 91 of the second guide piece 9 is provided above the lower end of the inlet portion 81 of the first guide piece 8.

Next, the cover 3 will be described. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cover 3 is attached to the outside of the frame body 4 so as to cover the connector 5. The cover 3 is formed in a cylindrical box shape with a closed top and a bottom. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the cover 3 includes a cover body 10 formed in a square cylindrical shape, an upper wall portion 11 that covers the top of the cover body 10, a third guide piece 12, and a fourth guide piece 13.

The cover body 10 is formed in a rectangular tube shape with multiple flat wall sections 101 to 104 connected together. The flat wall sections 101 and 102 are arranged vertically in the front-to-rear direction and are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. The flat wall section 103 connects the right ends of the flat wall sections 101 and 102 and is arranged vertically in the left-to-right direction. The flat wall section 104 connects the left ends of the flat wall sections 101 and 102 and is arranged vertically in the left-to-right direction.

The third guide piece 12 extends in the vertical direction and is slidably inserted between the flat wall portion 428 and the first guide piece 8 along the vertical direction. The third guide piece 12 is provided so as to protrude forward from the flat wall portion 103. A rib 14 extending in the vertical direction is provided on the right side surface of the third guide piece 12. The third guide piece 12 in front of the rib 14 is inserted between the flat wall portion 428 and the first guide piece 8.

The fourth guide piece 13 extends in the vertical direction and is slidably inserted between the flat wall portion 425 and the second guide piece 9 along the vertical direction. The fourth guide piece 13 is provided so as to protrude toward the left side from the flat wall portion 102. A rib 15 extending in the vertical direction is provided on the rear side surface of the fourth guide piece 13. The fourth guide piece 13 on the left side of the rib 15 is inserted between the flat wall portion 425 and the first guide piece 8.

The procedure for attaching the cover 3 to the frame 2 in the electrical connection box 1 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 6. First, as shown in FIG. 6, with the upper side of the cover 3 tilted to the right, the lower end of the third guide piece 12 is inserted from the upper opening between the inlet portion 81 of the first guide piece 8 and the flat wall portion 428. When the cover 3 is moved downward, it is guided by the inlet portion 81 of the first guide piece 8 and the lower end of the third guide piece 12 is inserted between the first guide piece 8 below the inlet portion 81 and the flat wall portion 428. When the cover 3 is further moved downward, the upper end of the cover 3 rotates toward the left by the first guide piece 8 below the inlet portion 81 and the flat wall portion 428, and the cover 3 is guided so as to be straight without being tilted in the left-right direction.

When the top end of the cover 3 rotates to the left, the bottom end of the fourth guide piece 13 is inserted from the right opening between the entrance portion 91 of the second guide piece 9 and the flat wall portion 425. When the cover 3 is moved further downward, it is guided by the entrance portion 91 of the second guide piece 9, and the bottom end of the fourth guide piece 13 is inserted between the second guide piece 9 below the entrance portion 91 and the flat wall portion 425. At this time, even if the top end of the cover 3 is tilted backward, the second guide piece 9 below the entrance portion 91 and the flat wall portion 425 will rotate the top end of the cover 3 forward, and guide the cover 3 to be straight without tilting in the front-to-rear direction.

That is, as described above, when the lower end of the third guide piece 12 is inserted between the first guide piece 8 below the entrance 81 and the flat wall portion 428, and the lower end of the fourth guide piece 13 is inserted between the second guide piece 9 below the entrance 91 and the flat wall portion 425, the cover 3 is guided to a straight state in the up-down direction without tilting in the left-right or front-back directions. After that, the cover 3 can be moved downward while still remaining in a straight state.

According to the above-described embodiment, the first guide piece 8 and the second guide piece 9 are provided such that the entrance portions 81, 91 are located farther from the frame body 4 than the portions other than the entrance portions 81, 91. This makes it easier to insert the third guide piece 12 and the fourth guide piece 13 of the cover 3 between the entrance portions 81, 91 and the flat wall portions 425, 428. In addition, when the cover 3 is slid and inserted in a tilted state, the third guide piece 12 and the fourth guide piece 13 are guided below the entrance portions 81, 91, and the cover 3 is guided so as to be straight. Thereafter, with the cover 3 in a straight state, the third guide piece 12 and the fourth guide piece 13 can be inserted below the entrance portions 81, 91. This makes it easier to attach the cover 3 to the frame body 4.

According to the embodiment described above, the first vertical wall portion 6 and the second vertical wall portion 7 are provided on the flat wall portions 425, 428 that are perpendicular to the direction in which they intersect, respectively, and the upper end of the first guide piece 8 is provided lower than the upper end of the second guide piece 9. As a result, by tilting the cover 3, the third guide piece 12 can first be inserted between the first guide piece 8 and the flat wall portion 425, and then, when the cover 3 is guided straight by the first guide piece 8, the fourth guide piece 13 can be inserted between the second guide piece 9 and the flat wall portion 428 at a position above the third guide piece 12. This makes it even easier to attach the cover 3 to the frame body 4.

According to the embodiment described above, the lower end of the inlet portion 81 provided on the first guide piece 8 is provided lower than the lower end of the inlet portion 91 provided on the second guide piece 9. This allows the fourth guide piece 13 to be inserted between the inlet portion 91 of the second guide piece 9 and the flat wall portion 428 at a position above the third guide piece 12 when the cover 3 is tilted and guided straight.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified, improved, etc. as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited.

According to the embodiment described above, the first standing wall portion 6 and the second standing wall portion 7 are provided on the flat wall portions 425 and 428, respectively, but this is not limited to this. For example, the first standing wall portion 6 and the second standing wall portion 7 may be provided on one flat wall portion.

In the above-described embodiment, the upper end of the first guide piece 8 is located lower than the upper end of the second guide piece 9, but this is not limited to the above. The upper ends of the first guide piece 8 and the second guide piece 9 may be located at the same height.

According to the embodiment described above, the lower end of the inlet portion 81 of the first guide piece 8 is located lower than the lower end of the inlet portion 91 of the second guide piece 9, but this is not limited to this. The lower end of the inlet portion 81 and the lower end of the inlet portion 91 may be located at the same height.

Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the electrical junction box according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [3].
[1]
A frame (2) having a cylindrical frame body (4) in which electronic components are housed;
An electrical connection box (1) comprising: a cover (3) attached to the outside of the frame body (4);
The frame (2) has a first standing wall portion (6) and a second standing wall portion (7) which are erected from the outer surface of the frame main body (4), extend along the tube length direction (up and down direction) of the frame main body (4), and are spaced apart in the tube circumferential direction of the frame main body (4), and a first guide piece (8) and a second guide piece (9) which are protruded in directions approaching each other from the first standing wall portion (6) and the second standing wall portion (7), and which face the frame main body (4) with a gap therebetween,
The cover (3) has a third guide piece (12) that is slidably inserted between the frame main body (4) and the first guide piece (8) along the tube length direction (vertical direction), and a fourth guide piece (13) that is slidably inserted between the frame main body (4) and the second guide piece (9) along the tube length direction (vertical direction),
The first guide piece (8) and the second guide piece (9) have an inlet portion (81) provided at one end (upper side) in the longitudinal direction of the tube, the inlet portion (81) being provided on a side farther from the frame body (4) than the other portions of the inlet portion (81).

According to the configuration [1] above, the third guide piece (12) and the fourth guide piece (13) of the cover (3) can be easily inserted between the entrance portion (81, 91) and the frame body (4). In addition, when the cover (3) is slid and inserted in a tilted state, the third guide piece (12) and the fourth guide piece (13) are guided toward the other side (lower side) of the tube length direction from the entrance portion (81, 91), and the cover (3) is guided so as to be straight. After that, with the cover (3) in a straight state, the third guide piece (12) and the fourth guide piece (13) can be inserted toward the other side (lower side) of the tube length direction from the entrance portion (81, 91). This makes it easy to attach the cover 3 to the frame body 4.

[2]
In the electrical connection box (1) according to [1],
The frame body (4) is provided in a rectangular tubular shape with a plurality of flat wall portions (421 to 428) connected together,
The first standing wall portion (6) and the second standing wall portion (7) are respectively provided on the flat wall portion (425, 428) perpendicular to the directions intersecting each other,
The end of the first guide piece (8) on one side (upper side) of the tube length direction is located on the other side (lower side) of the tube length direction than the end of the second guide piece (9) on one side (upper side) of the tube length direction.
Electrical junction box.

According to the configuration of [2] above, by tilting the cover (3), the third guide piece (12) is first inserted between the first guide piece (8) and the frame body (4), and then, when the cover (3) is guided straight by the first guide piece (8), the fourth guide piece (13) can be inserted between the second guide piece (9) and the frame body (4) at a position on one side (upper side) of the third guide piece (12) in the tube length direction. This makes it even easier to attach the cover (3) to the frame body (4).

[3]
In the electrical connection box (1) according to [2],
An electrical connection box (1), in which an end of the inlet portion (81) provided in the first guide piece (8) on the other side (lower side) in the length direction of the tube is provided further on the other side (lower) in the length direction of the tube than an end of the inlet portion (91) provided in the second guide piece (9) on the other side (lower) in the length direction of the tube.

According to the configuration of [3] above, when the cover (3) is tilted and guided straight, the fourth guide piece (13) can be inserted between the inlet portion (91) of the second guide piece (9) and the frame body (4) at a position on one side (upper side) of the third guide piece (12) in the tube length direction.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Electrical connection box 2 Frame 3 Cover 4 Frame body 6 First standing wall portion 7 Second standing wall portion 8 First guide piece 9 Second guide piece 12 Third guide piece 13 Fourth guide piece 81, 91 Inlet portion 421 to 428 Flat wall portion

Claims (3)

a frame having a frame body formed in a cylindrical shape, the frame body housing an electronic component;
A cover attached to the outside of the frame body,
The frame has a first standing wall portion and a second standing wall portion that are erected from an outer surface of the frame main body, extend along a tube length direction of the frame main body, and are spaced apart in a tube circumferential direction of the frame main body, and a first guide piece and a second guide piece that are protruded in a direction approaching each other from the first standing wall portion and the second standing wall portion and face the frame main body with a gap therebetween,
the cover has a third guide piece that is slidably inserted between the frame body and the first guide piece along the tube length direction, and a fourth guide piece that is slidably inserted between the frame body and the second guide piece along the tube length direction,
The first guide piece and the second guide piece have an inlet portion at one end in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder, the inlet portion being located farther from the frame body than a portion other than the inlet portion. 2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1,
The frame body is provided in a square tube shape with a plurality of flat wall portions connected together,
The first standing wall portion and the second standing wall portion are each provided on the flat wall portion perpendicular to directions intersecting each other,
an end of the first guide piece on one side in the cylinder length direction is provided on the other side in the cylinder length direction relative to an end of the second guide piece on one side in the cylinder length direction. The electrical junction box according to claim 2,
an end of the inlet portion provided on the first guide piece on the other side in the length direction of the tube is located on the other side in the length direction of the tube than an end of the inlet portion provided on the second guide piece on the other side in the length direction of the tube.

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