JP7764211B2 - Electrical junction boxes and wire harnesses - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical junction box and a wire harness.

Conventionally, vehicles are equipped with electrical junction boxes that electrically connect wires on a first connection object with wires on a second connection object within a housing, for example, by interposing them between a secondary battery and multiple power supply objects to distribute power to each of the power supply objects. The housing's interior chamber houses various components, such as parts that electrically connect the wires and parts (relays, fuses, etc.) that are arranged on the electrical circuit. Furthermore, electrical junction boxes with housings molded from metal materials are known to reduce the intrusion of noise into the chamber. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses this type of electrical junction box. Such an electrical junction box, together with multiple wires drawn into the chamber from the first connection object and the second connection object, constitutes a wire harness.

JP 2014-93888 A

In one known electrical junction box, a shielded electric wire is pulled from the first or second connection object into a housing chamber in a metal housing, and the braid of the shielded electric wire is fixed to the housing via terminal fittings inside the housing, allowing noise carried on the braid to escape from the housing to the vehicle body. In an electrical junction box with such noise countermeasures, the housing must not only provide storage space for the various components placed in the housing and space for attachment and detachment, but also storage space for the terminal fittings used to remove the noise and space for attachment and detachment. For this reason, conventional electrical junction boxes require housings with large storage chamber volumes, and increasing the size of these housings can lead to an increase in the overall size of the box.

The present invention therefore aims to provide an electrical connection box that can prevent the box from becoming too large.

In order to achieve the above object, an electrical connection box according to the present invention includes an electrical connection device including a metal housing having a storage chamber surrounded by an outer peripheral wall and fixed to a conductive vehicle body, a conductive member that electrically connects a core wire of a first shielded electric wire on a first connection object side and a core wire of a second shielded electric wire on a second connection object side, the core wires being drawn into the storage chamber from outside the housing, and an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive member and fixes a fixed portion to a fixing portion of the housing in the storage chamber by a screw member, a terminal fitting having an electrical connection portion to which a braided body of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected, and a terminal fitting that is physically and electrically connected to the terminal fitting and is interposed between the terminal fitting and the fixing portion of the housing. and a conductive terminal fixing member that electrically connects the terminal fittings to the fixing portion of the housing, wherein the terminal fixing member has an assembly portion that is assembled to the insulating member, a terminal fixing portion that is arranged on the outer wall of the insulating member and that physically and electrically connects the terminal fittings, and a co-fastening fixing portion that is fastened together with the assembly portion of the insulating member to the fixing portion of the housing with the screw member and that is electrically connected to the fixing portion of the housing , wherein the housing has a bottom wall that closes an opening at one end of the outer peripheral wall and forms the enclosed storage chamber together with the outer peripheral wall, and the terminal fixing portion is arranged on a wall portion within the outer wall of the insulating member that is arranged opposite the inner wall surface of the bottom wall in the storage chamber .

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a wire harness according to the present invention includes a first shielded electric wire on a first object to be connected, a second shielded electric wire on a second object to be connected, a metal housing having a receiving chamber surrounded by an outer peripheral wall and fixed to a conductive vehicle body, a conductive member that electrically connects a core wire of the first shielded electric wire and a core wire of the second shielded electric wire drawn into the receiving chamber from outside the housing, and an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive member and fixes a fixed portion to a fixing portion of the housing in the receiving chamber by screwing with a screw member, terminal fittings having an electrical connection portion to which a braided body of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected, and a terminal fitting that is physically and electrically connected to the terminal fitting and that connects the terminal fitting to the housing and a conductive terminal fixing member interposed between the insulating member and the fixing portion of the insulating member and electrically connecting the terminal fitting to the fixing portion of the housing, the terminal fixing member having an assembly receiving portion to be assembled to the insulating member, a terminal fixing portion disposed on the outer wall of the insulating member and physically and electrically connecting the terminal fitting, and a co-fastening portion fastened together with the assembly receiving portion of the insulating member to the fixing portion of the housing with the screw member and electrically connecting the terminal fitting to the fixing portion of the housing , the housing having a bottom wall that closes an opening at one end of the outer peripheral wall and forms the enclosed storage chamber together with the outer peripheral wall, and the terminal fixing portion is disposed within the outer wall of the insulating member at a wall portion disposed opposite the inner wall surface of the bottom wall in the storage chamber .

In the electrical junction box of the present invention, the terminal fixing member and terminal fittings can be pre-assembled to the insulating member of the electrical connector, and the braid of the second shielded wire connected to the electrical connector can be pre-assembled to the terminal fittings. Therefore, in this electrical junction box, it is not necessary to assemble the terminal fittings inside the accommodating chamber. Therefore, in this electrical junction box, there is no need to provide a work space in the accommodating chamber for assembling the terminal fittings, which allows the accommodating chamber to be made more compact and prevents the housing from becoming larger. Therefore, the electrical junction box of the present invention can prevent the overall size from becoming larger. Furthermore, the wire harness of the present invention includes such an electrical junction box and can similarly achieve the effects of this electrical junction box.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric junction box and a wire harness according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the electrical junction box and the wire harness according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the electrical junction box and the wire harness according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the case body and the electrical connector. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the electrical connecting device and the terminal fixing member with the cover member removed. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the joint fastening points of the housing, the electric connecting device, and the terminal fixing member. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fixing points of the terminal fittings and the terminal fixing member. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view seen from the bottom wall side (excluding the bottom wall) for explaining the arrangement of the terminal fittings in a modified form.

Embodiments of the electrical junction box and wire harness according to the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[Embodiment]
An embodiment of an electrical junction box and a wire harness according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG.

The reference numeral 1 in Figures 1 to 3 indicates the electrical junction box of this embodiment. Furthermore, the reference numeral WH in Figures 1 to 3 indicates the wire harness of this embodiment equipped with the electrical junction box 1.

The electrical junction box 1 is placed between a first connection object (not shown) and a second connection object (not shown), drawing inward a first electric wire We1 on the first connection object and a second electric wire We2 on the second connection object to electrically connect them (Figs. 1 to 3). The electrical junction box 1, together with the first electric wire We1 and the second electric wire We2, constitutes a wire harness WH. The electrical junction box 1 and wire harness WH use at least one first electric wire We1 and one second electric wire We2. For example, the electrical junction box 1 and wire harness WH shown here use shielded electric wires for the first electric wire We1 and the second electric wire We2, thereby preventing external noise from entering. Therefore, in the following, the electrical junction box 1 and the wire harness WH will be described as including a first shielded wire We1 as an example of the first wire We1 and a second shielded wire We2 as an example of the second wire We2.

The first shielded wire We1, although not shown, comprises a cylindrical conductive core wire, a cylindrical insulating inner coating (inner sheath) that concentrically covers the core wire, a cylindrical conductive braided body that concentrically covers the inner coating, and a cylindrical insulating outer coating (outer sheath) that concentrically covers the braided body. The second shielded wire We2, although not shown, comprises a cylindrical conductive core wire, a cylindrical insulating inner coating (inner sheath) that concentrically covers the core wire, a cylindrical conductive braided body that concentrically covers the inner coating, and a cylindrical insulating outer coating (outer sheath) that concentrically covers the braided body.

The electrical junction box 1 and wire harness WH illustrated here are mounted on vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, and distribute power to the power distribution objects by electrically connecting a secondary battery as a first connection object and a power distribution object as a second connection object (e.g., an auxiliary device to be powered). Therefore, the electrical junction box 1 and wire harness WH illustrated here use a pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 (a first shielded electric wire We1 for the positive electrode and a first shielded electric wire We1 for the negative electrode) electrically connected to the secondary battery, and a pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2 (a second shielded electric wire We2 for the positive electrode and a second shielded electric wire We2 for the negative electrode) electrically connected to the power distribution objects. Furthermore, the electrical junction box 1 and wire harness WH illustrated here use multiple pairs of second shielded electric wires We2, We2.

This electrical junction box 1 includes a metal housing 10 (FIGS. 1 to 3). The electrical junction box 1 also includes a conductive electrical connector 20 that electrically connects the first shielded wire We1 and the second shielded wire We2 inside the housing 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The electrical junction box 1 also includes a terminal fitting 30 that releases noise carried by the braid of the second shielded wire We2, and a conductive terminal fixing member 40 that indirectly fixes the terminal fitting 30 to the housing 10 (FIG. 3).

The housing 10 is made of a metal material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and is fixed to a conductive vehicle body (not shown). The housing 10 has a storage chamber 10a surrounded by an outer peripheral wall 11 (Figs. 2 to 4). The housing 10 also has an access opening 10b for inserting and assembling components to be placed in the storage chamber 10a (Figs. 2 to 4).

The storage chamber 10a accommodates the first shielded electric wire We1, the second shielded electric wire We2, the electrical connecting device 20, the terminal fitting 30, and the terminal fixing member 40. In this housing 10, the electrical connecting device 20, which is an assembly of the second shielded electric wire We2, the terminal fitting 30, and the terminal fixing member 40, is inserted into the storage chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, and then the first shielded electric wire We1 is inserted into the storage chamber 10a through the access opening 10b.

In the housing 10 shown here, the outer peripheral wall 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an opening at one end of this outer peripheral wall 11 is closed by a bottom wall 12 (Figs. 1 to 4). Therefore, in this housing 10, a storage chamber 10a is formed that is enclosed by the outer peripheral wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. Specifically, the housing 10 shown here comprises a metal case body 10A that has the outer peripheral wall 11 and the bottom wall 12, and the other end of the outer peripheral wall 11 is open (Figs. 1 to 4).

In this case body 10A, the opening at the other end of the outer wall 11 is used as the access opening 10b. In this case body 10A, the electrical connector 20 is inserted into the storage chamber 10a through the access opening 10b and then screwed in place through the access opening 10b. In this case body 10A, the first shielded electric wire We1 is inserted into the storage chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, and the connector 51 at one end of the first shielded electric wire We1 is physically and electrically connected to the electrical connector 20 in the storage chamber 10a (FIGS. 2 and 3). Furthermore, before the electrical connector 20 is placed in the storage chamber 10a, the terminal fitting 30 and terminal fixing member 40 are pre-assembled, and the connector 52 at one end of the second shielded electric wire We2 is physically and electrically connected to the electrical connector 20 (FIG. 3). Therefore, in the case body 10A, when the electrical connecting device 20 is inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b, the terminal fitting 30, terminal fixing member 40, and second shielded electric wire We2 are also inserted into the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b. Although not shown here, the other end of the first shielded electric wire We1 is provided with a connector for electrical connection to the first connection object. Also, the other end of the second shielded electric wire We2 is provided with a connector for electrical connection to the second connection object.

The case body 10A has a first notch 13a (FIGS. 2 to 4) formed at the end of the outer wall 11 facing the access opening 10b for drawing the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 from outside the housing 10 into the accommodation chamber 10a (in other words, for drawing the first shielded electric wires We1, We1 from the accommodation chamber 10a to outside the housing 10). The end face of the first notch 13a facing the access opening 10b is used as an insertion opening _13a1 for inserting the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 into the first notch 13a. When a cover 10B (described later) is attached to the case body 10A, the insertion opening _13a1 of the first notch 13a forms an opening that is blocked by the cover 10B. Here, the opening serves as an opening that connects the inside and outside of the housing 10 and is used as an inlet or outlet for the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1. Note that the first notch 13a may be provided for each of the first shielded electric wires We1.

The pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 shown here are held together by a wire holder 55 made of, for example, synthetic resin, and are fixed to the housing 10 via this wire holder 55 ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The wire holder 55 is placed in the first notch 13a. This wire holder 55 is then fixed to the housing 10 by screwing it into the case main body 10A. An electric wire fixing portion 14 having a female thread portion N1 is provided in the storage chamber 10a of the case main body 10A, protruding from the inner wall surface 11a of the outer wall 11 ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ). The electric wire holder 55 is fixed to the electric wire fixing portion 14 by screwing a male screw member B1 ( FIG. 2 ) into the female thread portion N1.

Furthermore, the case body 10A has second notches 13b formed at the end of the outer wall 11 on the access opening 10b side for pulling the pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2 from outside the housing 10 into the accommodation chamber 10a (in other words, for pulling the second shielded electric wires We2, We2 from the accommodation chamber 10a to outside the housing 10) ( FIGS. 2 to 4 ). The end face of the second notch 13b on the access opening 10b side is used as an insertion opening _13b1 for inserting the pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2 into the second notch 13b. When a cover 10B (described later) is attached to the case body 10A, the insertion opening _13b1 of the second notch 13b forms an opening that is blocked by the cover 10B. Here, the opening serves as an opening connecting the inside and outside of the housing 10 and is used as an inlet or outlet for the pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2. The second notch 13b is provided for each pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2. Note that the second notch 13b may be provided for each second shielded electric wire We2. In addition, only one second notch 13b is shown in the drawing as an example.

This housing 10 is fixed to the vehicle body with the access opening 10b facing upward. For example, here, the case body 10A is fixed to the floor panel of the vehicle body with screws.

The housing 10 shown here also includes a metal cover 10B that is attached to the peripheral edge of the outer wall 11 of the case body 10A on the side of the access opening 10b, closing the access opening 10b (Figs. 1 to 3). This cover 10B is fixed to the case body 10A with screws. Here, multiple female screw portions N2 are formed on the end surface of the outer wall 11 of the case body 10A on the side of the access opening 10b, and the cover 10B is fixed to the case body 10A with screws by screwing a male screw member B2 into each of these female screw portions N2 (Fig. 2).

The electrical connector 20 is housed in the housing 10's housing chamber 10a and is fixed to the housing 10 with screws. The electrical connector 20 electrically connects the core wire of the first shielded electric wire We1 and the core wire of the second shielded electric wire We2 within the housing chamber 10a.

The electrical connecting device 20 includes a conductive member that electrically connects the core wire of the first shielded electric wire We1 and the core wire of the second shielded electric wire We2. The electrical connecting device 20 shown here includes, as its conductive members, a first bus bar 21 that electrically connects the core wire of one of the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 and the core wire of one of the pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2, and a second bus bar 22 that electrically connects the core wire of the other of the pair of first shielded electric wires We1, We1 and the core wire of the other of the pair of second shielded electric wires We2, We2 (FIG. 5). The main bodies 21a, 22a of the first bus bar 21 and the second bus bar 22 are formed into a plate shape from a metal material.

The electrical connecting device 20 also includes a fuse 23 that physically and electrically connects the first terminal 23a to the first bus bar 21 and is interposed between the first bus bar 21 and one of the second shielded electric wires We2 (Figure 5). The electrical connecting device 20 also includes a third bus bar 24 (Figure 5) as a separate conductive member that physically and electrically connects the second terminal 23b of the fuse 23 and electrically connects the core wire of one of the second shielded electric wires We2. The main body 24a of the third bus bar 24 is formed into a plate shape from a metal material. The fuse 23 and third bus bar 24 are provided for each of the second shielded electric wires We2.

The electrical connecting device 20 further includes a male screw member 25A for screwing the first terminal portion 23a of the fuse 23 to the first bus bar 21, and a male screw member 25B for screwing the second terminal portion 23b of the fuse 23 to the third bus bar 24. The electrical connecting device 20 also includes female screw members 26 that screw into the male screw members 25A and 25B (Figure 5).

The electrical connecting device 20 also includes an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive members (first bus bar 21, second bus bar 22, and third bus bar 24) and is screwed to the housing 10 in the accommodation chamber 10a. The electrical connecting device 20 includes, as its insulating member, a holding member (hereinafter referred to as the "bus bar holding member") 27 that holds the conductive members (first bus bar 21, second bus bar 22, and third bus bar 24) and screws them to the housing 10 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The bus bar holding member 27 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The bus bar holding member 27 shown here is integrally molded with the conductive members (first bus bar 21, second bus bar 22, and third bus bar 24) by insert molding. Here, the bus bar holding member 27 is also integrally molded with the male screw members 25A and 25B by insert molding.

This bus bar holding member 27 exposes the main bodies 21a, 22a, and 24a of the first bus bar 21, second bus bar 22, and third bus bar 24 at the top surface 27U facing the access opening 10b (Figure 5), and the male screw members 25A and 25B protrude from the top surface 27U toward the access opening 10b. The exposed surfaces of the main bodies 21a and 24a of the first bus bar 21 and third bus bar 24 are used as fuse connection portions. The electrical connecting device 20 also includes a cover member 28 (Figures 2 to 4) as another insulating member. The cover member 28 is attached to the bus bar holding member 27 and covers the main bodies 21a, 22a, and 24a and the male screw members 25A and 25B from the access opening 10b side. This cover member 28 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

In the electrical connecting device 20, a first connector portion 28a and a second connector portion 28b are formed on the cover member 28 and protrude toward the access opening 10b in the accommodation chamber 10a (FIGS. 3 and 4). The connector 51 of one of the first shielded electric wires We1 is mated and connected to the first connector portion 28a, thereby electrically connecting the core wire of one of the first shielded electric wires We1 to the terminal portion of the inner first bus bar 21. The connector 51 of the other first shielded electric wire We1 is mated and connected to the second connector portion 28b, thereby electrically connecting the core wire of the other first shielded electric wire We1 to the terminal portion of the inner second bus bar 22.

Furthermore, in this electrical connecting device 20, the first connector portion 27a and the second connector portion 27b, which protrude toward the bottom wall 12 in the accommodation chamber 10a, are formed on the underside 27L of the bus bar holding member 27 on the bottom wall 12 side (FIGS. 3 and 5). The first connector portion 27a electrically connects the core wire of one of the second shielded electric wires We2 to the terminal portion of the inner third bus bar 24 by mating with the connector 52 of one of the second shielded electric wires We2. This first connector portion 27a is provided for each third bus bar 24 (for each of the second shielded electric wires We2). The second connector portion 27b electrically connects the core wire of the other of the second shielded electric wires We2 to the terminal portion of the inner second bus bar 22 by mating with the connector 52 of the other of the second shielded electric wires We2. This second connector portion 27b is provided for each terminal portion of the second bus bar 22 (for each other second shielded electric wire We2). The first connector portion 27a and the second connector portion 27b are combined as a pair. This electrical connecting device 20 has multiple combinations of the first connector portion 27a and the second connector portion 27b.

In this electrical connecting device 20, the bus bar holding member 27 or the cover member 28 is fixed to the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10 in the accommodation chamber 10a by a screw member (male screw member or female screw member) ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The fixing portion 15 is a flat piece protruding from the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 of the case body 10A, with one flat surface facing the access opening 10b and the other flat surface facing the bottom wall 12. The fixing portion 15 has a female screw portion N3 with a screw axis perpendicular to the flat surface ( FIG. 4 ). The bus bar holding member 27 or the cover member 28 is provided with a fixed portion 27c, which is a flat piece protruding from the outer peripheral surface and is arranged in the accommodation chamber 10a with one flat surface facing the access opening 10b and the other flat surface facing the bottom wall 12 ( FIGS. 3 to 5 ). The fixed portion 27c has a through hole _27c1 formed therein, through which the male screw member B3 is inserted (FIGS. 4 and 5). The other flat surface of the fixed portion 27c faces one flat surface of the fixing portion 15, and the male screw member B3 inserted into the through hole _27c1 is screwed into the female screw portion N3, thereby fixing the fixed portion 27c to the fixing portion 15. In this way, the bus bar holding member 27 or the cover member 28 is fixed to the case main body 10A in the accommodation chamber 10a. Here, the fixed portion 27c is provided on the bus bar holding member 27, and the bus bar holding member 27 is fixed to the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10 by screwing.

This electrical junction box 1 is provided with multiple pairs (four pairs in this example) of fixing portions 15 and fixed portions 27c. Furthermore, in this electrical junction box 1, a male screw member B3 such as a stud bolt may be provided on the fixing portion 15, and the fixing portion 15 and fixed portion 27c may be screwed together by threading a female screw member (not shown) into this male screw member B3.

Here, the accommodation chamber 10a is roughly divided into a space (hereinafter referred to as the "first accommodation chamber") _10a1 from the assembled electric connecting device 20 to the access opening 10b, and a space (hereinafter referred to as the "second accommodation chamber") 10a2 from the electric connecting device ₂₀ to the bottom wall 12 (FIG. 3). In this accommodation chamber 10a, a first shielded electric wire We1 with a connector 51 is accommodated in the first accommodation chamber _10a1 , and this first shielded electric wire We1 is drawn out from the first accommodation chamber _10a1 . Also, in this accommodation chamber 10a, a second shielded electric wire We2 with a connector 52 is accommodated in the second accommodation chamber _10a2 , and this second shielded electric wire We2 is drawn from the second accommodation chamber _10a2 to the first accommodation chamber _10a1 and drawn out from the first accommodation chamber _10a1 .

The terminal fittings 30 and terminal fixing member 40 are molded from a metal material. The terminal fittings 30 physically and electrically connect the braid of the second shielded wire We2 and are also physically and electrically connected to the terminal fixing member 40. The terminal fixing member 40 is interposed between the terminal fittings 30 and the fixed portion 15 of the housing 10, electrically connecting the terminal fittings 30 to the fixed portion 15 of the housing 10. Thus, the terminal fittings 30 are indirectly electrically connected to the housing 10 via the terminal fixing member 40. Therefore, in this electrical junction box 1, noise carried on the braid of the second shielded wire We2 is dissipated from the housing 10 to the vehicle body via the terminal fittings 30 and the terminal fixing member 40.

The terminal fitting 30 has an electrical connection portion 31 to which the braided body of the second shielded wire We2 is physically and electrically connected, and a fixed portion 32 that is fixed to the terminal fixing member 40 (Figures 3 and 4).

Specifically, the electrical connection portion 31 is a tubular portion that is physically and electrically connected to the braid of the second shielded electric wire We2, which has had its outer covering partially or entirely stripped away and is now exposed. The electrical connection portion 31 shown here places the exposed braid inside a tube, and the inner wall of the tube is physically and electrically connected to the exposed braid. For example, before being connected to the braid, the electrical connection portion 31 has a single-piece shape, and by wrapping it around the exposed braid from the outside and crimping it, the inner wall of the tubular portion is physically and electrically connected to the braid.

The fixed portion 32 is formed as a flat plate-like piece with a circular through-hole 32a (Figure 4).

The terminal fitting 30 shown here is formed as a flag terminal (Figure 4). A flag terminal is a terminal in which two electrical connection portions 31 are arranged in parallel with the axial direction of the cylinder aligned, and the fixed portion 32 is offset from the assembly of these two electrical connection portions 31. The terminal fitting 30 in the figure is an example of a flag terminal.

This terminal fitting 30 is provided for each combination of a pair of first connector portion 27a and second connector portion 27b. This terminal fitting 30 physically and electrically connects the braid of the second shielded wire We2 connected to one of the pair of first connector portion 27a and second connector portion 27b to one of the two electrical connection portions 31, and physically and electrically connects the braid of the second shielded wire We2 connected to the other of the pair of first connector portion 27a and second connector portion 27b to the other of the two electrical connection portions 31. Note that the figure shows one terminal fitting 30 as an example.

The terminal fixing member 40 has an assembly receiving portion 41 that is assembled to the insulating member of the electrical connecting device 20; a terminal fixing portion 42 that is disposed on the outer wall of the insulating member and physically and electrically connects the terminal fitting 30; and a co-tightening fixing portion 43 that is fastened together with the fixed portion 27c of the insulating member to the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10 with a male screw member B3 and electrically connects to the fixing portion 15 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 3 and 5). In other words, the terminal fixing member 40 is a conductor that electrically connects the braid of the second shielded wire We2 to the housing 10 via the terminal fitting 30. In this example, the terminal fixing member 40 is formed as a plate-shaped bus bar (earth bus bar).

This terminal fixing member 40 may be assembled to the bus bar holding member 27, which serves as the insulating member of the electrical connecting device 20, or to the cover member 28, which serves as the insulating member. Here, the terminal fixing member 40 is assembled to the bus bar holding member 27. Therefore, if the terminal fixing portion 42 and the co-fastening fixing portion 43 cannot be exposed by assembling the cover member 28 to the bus bar holding member 27, the cover member 28 is formed with a notch (not shown) to expose at least the terminal fixing portion 42 and the co-fastening fixing portion 43 of the terminal fixing member 40.

Here, this terminal fixing member 40 is formed to have at least one terminal fixing portion 42 that physically and electrically connects at least one terminal fitting 30. For example, the terminal fixing member 40 shown here has one terminal fixing portion 42 that physically and electrically connects two terminal fittings 30 (Figure 4). The electrical junction box 1 shown here includes multiple terminal fixing members 40. Note that the figure shows one terminal fixing member 40 as an example.

The terminal fixing portion 42 shown here is formed in a generally rectangular flat plate shape, with a through hole 42a formed for each terminal fitting 30 (Figs. 4 to 6). A terminal fitting 30 is placed in this terminal fixing portion 42, with its through hole 42a aligned with the through hole 32a of the fixed portion 32. The fixed portion 32 is then screwed in place by threading male screw member B4 and female screw member N4 inserted through the respective through holes 32a, 42a (Figs. 3 and 6).

For example, in the terminal fixing member 40 shown here, the terminal fixing portion 42 is assembled along a plane to the terminal fixing portion 27d on the outer wall of the bus bar holding member 27 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Here, the periphery of the terminal fixing portion 42 is fitted into the groove-shaped terminal fixing portion 27d, thereby fitting the periphery of the terminal fixing portion 42 into the terminal fixing portion 27d. Thus, the outer wall of the bus bar holding member 27 is formed with a roughly rectangular, flat recess in the outer wall surface, which accommodates the terminal fixing portion 42 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The terminal fixing portion 27d surrounds the periphery of the accommodating portion 27e and is formed in a groove-like shape into which the periphery of the terminal fixing portion 42 inserted into the accommodating portion 27e fits. In the terminal fixing member 40 shown here, the periphery of the terminal fixing portion 42 that fits into the terminal fixing portion 27d is used as the assembly portion 41.

Furthermore, in the busbar holding member 27, a through hole 27f is formed for each terminal fitting 30 in the flat wall portion that forms the wall surface of the accommodation portion 27e. A female screw member N4 is arranged for each terminal fitting 30, coaxial with the through hole 27f, on the back side of the accommodation portion 27e through the through hole 27f (FIGS. 5 and 6). When the terminal fixing portion 42 is assembled to the terminal fixing portion 27d, the through hole 27f is arranged coaxially with the through hole 42a of the terminal fixing portion 42. Therefore, the terminal fitting 30 is placed with the through hole 42a aligned with the through hole 32a of the fixing portion 32. Then, the male screw member B4 inserted through the respective through holes 32a, 42a, and 27f is screwed into the female screw member N4, thereby fastening the fixing portion 32 and the terminal fixing portion 42 together to the busbar holding member 27.

Here, the terminal fixing portion 42 is arranged on a side wall 27g that faces the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 in the accommodation chamber 10a, within the outer wall of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) (Figure 5). Therefore, in the bus bar holding member 27, the terminal fixing portion 27d and the accommodation portion 27e are formed at predetermined locations on the side wall 27g around the entire periphery, for each terminal fixing member 40. For example, the terminal fixing portion 27d and the accommodation portion 27e are formed near the fixed portion 27c on the side wall 27g.

The co-tightening fixing portion 43 is a flat piece disposed in the accommodation chamber 10a with one flat surface facing the access opening 10b and the other flat surface facing the bottom wall 12. The co-tightening fixing portion 43 has a through-hole 43a with its axis perpendicular to the flat surface (FIGS. 5 and 7). The co-tightening fixing portion 43 shown here is orthogonal to the terminal fixing portion 42. When the terminal fixing member 40 is assembled to the insulating member (busbar holding member 27), one flat surface of the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is brought into surface contact with the other flat surface of the fixed portion 27c. In other words, the other flat surface of the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is brought into surface contact with one flat surface of the fixing portion 15 in the accommodation chamber 10a, and is sandwiched between the fixing portion 15 and the fixed portion 27c. Therefore, the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is fastened together with the fixed portion 27c and the fixing portion 15 by screwing the male screw member B3 inserted into the through hole _27c1 of the fixed portion 27c and the through hole 43a of the co-tightening fixing portion 43 into the female screw portion N3 of the fixing portion 15. As a result, the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is electrically connected to the housing 10 via the fixing portion 15.

Here, if the fixed portion 27c is interposed between the co-tightening fixing portion 43 and the fixing portion 15, the co-tightening fixing portion 43 cannot directly contact the fixing portion 15. Therefore, in this case, the co-tightening fixing portion 43 is electrically connected to the fixing portion 15 via the male screw member B3.

Here, a female screw portion N3 is formed in the fixing portion 15. However, if ease of assembly is considered, a male screw member (not shown) serving as a stud bolt may be provided in the fixing portion 15, and the fixing portion 15, the fixed portion 27c, and the co-tightening fixing portion 43 may be fastened together by threading the male screw member into the female screw member (not shown).

In the electrical connection box 1 shown above, the terminal fixing member 40 is assembled to the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) of the electrical connection device 20, and then the terminal fittings 30 are fixed to the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) and the terminal fixing member 40. In addition, in this electrical connection box 1, the second shielded electric wire We2 with the connector 52 is assembled to the electrical connection device 20, and the braid of this second shielded electric wire We2 is connected to the terminal fitting 30. In this electrical connection box 1, the electrical connection device 20, with the terminal fitting 30, terminal fixing member 40, and second shielded electric wire We2 with the connector 52 pre-assembled, is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 10a through the access opening 10b in the case body 10A. During this accommodation, the second shielded electric wire We2 is pulled out from the second notch 13b in the case body 10A. In this electrical junction box 1, the fixed portion 27c of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) and the co-fastening portion 43 of the terminal fixing member 40 are screwed to the fixing portion 15 of the case body 10A through the access opening 10b. Furthermore, in this electrical junction box 1, the first shielded electric wire We1 with the connector 51 is assembled to the electrical connecting device 20, and this first shielded electric wire We1 is pulled out through the first notch 13a of the case body 10A. Thereafter, in this electrical junction box 1, the cover 10B is screwed to the case body 10A.

In this way, the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment allows the terminal fixing member 40 and the terminal fittings 30 to be pre-assembled to the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) of the electrical connector 20, and the braided body of the second shielded wire We2 connected to the electrical connector 20 to be pre-assembled to the terminal fittings 30. Therefore, with this electrical junction box 1, it is not necessary to assemble the terminal fittings 30 inside the accommodating chamber 10a. Therefore, with this electrical junction box 1, it is not necessary to provide a work space for assembling the terminal fittings 30 within the accommodating chamber 10a, allowing the accommodating chamber 10a to be made more compact, and the size of the case body 10A to be kept from increasing. Therefore, with the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the size of the housing 10 is kept from increasing, and the overall size is kept from increasing. Furthermore, by keeping the overall size of the electrical junction box 1 to be kept from increasing, the cost can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the terminal fittings 30, terminal fixing member 40, and second shielded electric wire We2 with connector 52 are pre-assembled to the electrical connection device 20. Therefore, inside the accommodation chamber 10a, the electrical connection device 20 can be assembled to the housing 10, and the first shielded electric wire We1 with connector 51 of this electrical connection device 20 can be assembled. Therefore, the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment can improve the ease of assembly inside the accommodation chamber 10a.

Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the terminal fittings 30 are disposed in the accommodation chamber 10a, thereby enhancing the effect of reducing noise flowing through the braid of the second shielded electric wire We2. Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the airtightness and liquid-tightness of the accommodation chamber 10a can be improved by closing the access opening 10b of the case body 10A with the bottom wall 12 with the cover 10B, thereby further improving the noise reduction effect and increasing the effect of preventing the intrusion of dust and liquid. As a result, the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment can improve its product quality.

Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, the electrical connector 20, the terminal fitting 30, the terminal fixing member 40, the first shielded electric wire We1 with the connector 51, and the second shielded electric wire We2 with the connector 52 are housed in the accommodation chamber 10a, and the first shielded electric wire We1 and the second shielded electric wire We2 are pulled out to the outside. As a result, the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment can protect the components inside the accommodation chamber 10a from surrounding components and the surrounding environment, thereby improving product quality in this respect as well.

Furthermore, the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment can have a simple outer wall shape, such as a smooth outer wall shape of the housing 10. As a result, this electrical junction box 1 can simplify measures to prevent interference with surrounding components when mounted on a vehicle. Furthermore, because the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment has a simple outer wall shape of the housing 10, mold costs can be kept low, for example, by simplifying the mold used to cast the case body 10A.

The wire harness WH of this embodiment is equipped with such an electrical junction box 1 and can similarly achieve the same effects as those of this electrical junction box 1.

In the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment described so far, the terminal fixing portion 42 of the terminal fixing member 40 is positioned on the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27), which is positioned within the outer wall of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) and faces the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 in the accommodation chamber 10a, so that the terminal fitting 30 is positioned between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27).

However, for example, in the electrical junction box 1, there may not be enough space between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) to accommodate the terminal fittings 30. In this case, instead of using a terminal fixing member 40 that places a terminal fixing portion 42 between the two, a terminal fixing member 140 may be used that places a terminal fixing portion 142 on a wall portion 27h of the outer wall of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) that faces the inner wall surface 12a of the bottom wall 12 (Figure 3) in the accommodation chamber 10a (Figure 8). Also, in the electrical junction box 1, there may not be enough space between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) to accommodate all of the terminal fittings 30. In this case, a terminal fixing member 40 with a terminal fixing portion 42 disposed therebetween can be used, along with a terminal fixing member 140 with a terminal fixing portion 142 disposed on a wall portion 27h of the outer wall of the insulating member (busbar holding member 27) that faces the inner wall surface 12a of the bottom wall 12 in the accommodation chamber 10a.

One or more terminal fixing members 140 are arranged on the wall portion 27h. Note that the figure shows one terminal fixing member 140 as an example.

This terminal fixing member 140 is similar to the terminal fixing member 40 described above, and includes a terminal fixing portion 142, an attached portion 141, and a co-tightened fixing portion 143. For example, the terminal fixing member 140 shown here is molded into a rectangular flat plate. The attached portion 141 is formed as a common part with the terminal fixing portion 142 and is attached to the wall portion 27h of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) together with the fixed portion 32 of the terminal fitting 30. Here, a through hole 142a coaxial with the through hole 32a of the fixed portion 32 is formed in the terminal fixing portion 142 (attached portion 141). The fixed portion 32 and the terminal fixing portion 142 (attached portion 141) are fastened to the wall portion 27h using a male screw member B4 (not shown) and a female screw member (not shown) of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27). As a result, the terminal fitting 30 is positioned on the wall portion 27h of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27). The co-tightening fixing portion 143 shown here is fastened together with the fixed portion 27c of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) and the fixed portion 15 of the housing 10 by a male screw member B3 (not shown), and is electrically connected to the fixed portion 15 of the housing 10.

As described above, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, if there is not enough space between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) to accommodate the terminal fittings 30, the terminal fixing member 140 can be installed on the wall portion 27h of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) on the bottom wall 12 side, and the terminal fittings 30 can be arranged between the bottom wall 12 and the wall portion 27h. Furthermore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, if there is not enough space between the inner wall surface 11a of the outer peripheral wall 11 and the side wall 27g of the insulating member (bus bar holding member 27) to accommodate all of the terminal fittings 30, the remaining terminal fittings 30 can be attached to the terminal fixing portion 142 of the terminal fixing member 140 installed on the wall portion 27h on the bottom wall 12 side, and additional terminal fittings 30 can be arranged between the bottom wall 12 and the wall portion 27h.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Electrical connection box 10 Housing 10a Storage chamber 10A Case body 10B Cover 11 Outer peripheral wall 11a Inner wall surface 12 Bottom wall 12a Inner wall surface 15 Fixing portion 20 Electrical connection device 21 First bus bar (conductive member)
22 Second bus bar (conductive member)
24 Third bus bar (conductive member)
27c fixed portion 27c ₁ through hole 27g side wall 27 bus bar holding member (insulating member)
27h Wall portion 28 Cover member (insulating member)
30 Terminal fitting 31 Electrical connection portion 40, 140 Terminal fixing member 41, 141 Mounted portion 42, 142 Terminal fixing portion 43, 143 Co-fastening fixing portion B3 Male screw member (screw member)
We1 First shielded wire We2 Second shielded wire WH Wire harness

Claims (5)

a metal housing having a storage chamber surrounded by an outer wall and fixed to a conductive vehicle body;
an electrical connecting device including a conductive member that electrically connects a core wire of a first shielded electric wire on a first connection object side and a core wire of a second shielded electric wire on a second connection object side, both of which are drawn into the accommodation chamber from outside the housing; and an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive member and fixes a fixed portion to a fixing portion of the housing in the accommodation chamber by a screw member;
a terminal fitting having an electrical connection portion to which the braid of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected;
a conductive terminal fixing member to which the terminal metal fittings are physically and electrically connected, the conductive terminal fixing member being interposed between the terminal metal fittings and the fixing portion of the housing, and electrically connecting the terminal metal fittings to the fixing portion of the housing;
Equipped with
the terminal fixing member has an assembly receiving portion to be assembled to the insulating member, a terminal fixing portion to be disposed on an outer wall of the insulating member and to which the terminal fitting is physically and electrically connected, and a co-fastening fixing portion to be fastened together with the assembly receiving portion of the insulating member to the fixing portion of the housing by the screw member and to which the terminal fitting is electrically connected ;
the housing has a bottom wall that closes an opening at one end of the outer peripheral wall and forms the storage chamber enclosed together with the outer peripheral wall,
The electrical connection box is characterized in that the terminal fixing portion is disposed on a wall portion of the outer wall of the insulating member that faces the inner wall surface of the bottom wall in the accommodating chamber . The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the terminal fixing member has at least one terminal fixing portion that physically and electrically connects at least one terminal fitting. An electrical connection box as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the terminal fixing portion is arranged on a side wall of the insulating member that faces the inner wall surface of the outer peripheral wall in the accommodating chamber. 4. The electrical junction box according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal fittings are flag terminals . a first shielded wire on the first connection object side;
a second shielded wire on the second connection object side;
a metal housing having a storage chamber surrounded by an outer wall and fixed to a conductive vehicle body;
an electrical connecting device including a conductive member that electrically connects a core wire of the first shielded electric wire and a core wire of the second shielded electric wire that are drawn into the accommodating chamber from the outside of the housing, and an electrically insulating member that holds the conductive member and fixes a fixed portion to a fixing portion of the housing in the accommodating chamber by a screw member;
a terminal fitting having an electrical connection portion to which the braid of the second shielded electric wire is physically and electrically connected;
a conductive terminal fixing member to which the terminal metal fittings are physically and electrically connected, the conductive terminal fixing member being interposed between the terminal metal fittings and the fixing portion of the housing, and electrically connecting the terminal metal fittings to the fixing portion of the housing;
Equipped with
the terminal fixing member has an assembly receiving portion to be assembled to the insulating member, a terminal fixing portion to be disposed on an outer wall of the insulating member and to which the terminal fitting is physically and electrically connected, and a co-fastening fixing portion to be fastened together with the assembly receiving portion of the insulating member to the fixing portion of the housing by the screw member and to which the terminal fitting is electrically connected;
the housing has a bottom wall that closes an opening at one end of the outer peripheral wall and forms the storage chamber enclosed together with the outer peripheral wall,
The wire harness is characterized in that the terminal fixing portion is disposed on a wall portion of the outer wall of the insulating member that faces an inner wall surface of the bottom wall in the accommodating chamber.