Electrical connection box with a flexible linking part

Abstract

An electrical connection box (10), including: a relay (20) which has a locking projection (20K); and a connection box main body (30) which has a pressing projection (30K) that is engaged with the locking projection (20K), and which is formed with a storage space (30P) that stores the relay (20), in which a guide wall (30W) which is provided to stand on a boundary of the storage space is formed across the entire circumference of the boundary of the storage space in the connection box main body, and in which the pressing projection (30K) is formed at a narrow linking part (30B) of the guide wall in a direction in which the guide wall is provided to stand.

Claims

1. An electrical connection box, comprising: an electronic component which has a locking projection; and a connection box main body which has a pressing projection that is engaged with the locking projection, and which is formed with a storage space that stores the electronic component, wherein a guide wall which is provided to stand on a boundary of the storage space is formed across the entire circumference of the boundary of the storage space in the connection box main body, the pressing projection is formed at a narrow linking part of the guide wall in a direction in which the guide wall stands, and a press-fit rib which presses the electronic component when the electronic component is stored in the storage space and in a non-moving state, is formed on a base end side of the guide wall in the connection box main body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of an electrical connection box according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a sectional view when viewed in a direction of an A-A arrow of the electrical connection box which has a relay of FIG. 1 mounted thereon.

(3) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electrical connection box which has the relay of FIG. 1 mounted thereon.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the electrical connection box described in PTL 1.

(5) FIG. 5 is a sectional view when viewed in a direction of the A-A arrow of the electrical connection box which has a relay of FIG. 4 mounted thereon.

(6) FIG. 6 is a plan view of the electrical connection box which has the relay of FIG. 4 mounted thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) Hereinafter, an electrical connection box according to the present invention in which a rattling elimination function is not deteriorated even when a high level of oscillation is generated, will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 3.

(8) <Electrical Connection Box According to Present Invention>

(9) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of the electrical connection box according to the present invention.

(10) In FIG. 1, an electrical connection box 10 is configured of a relay 20 and a connection box main body 30 for mounting the relay 20. Here, the relay 20 according to the present invention and the connection box main body 30 according to the present invention will be described.

(11) <Relay 20>

(12) The relay 20 is a rectangular parallelepiped object which is made of an insulating resin and which stores a circuit body or an element that configures a relay therein.

(13) However, the present invention is not limited to the relay, and an electronic component other than the relay may be employed.

(14) Four male terminals 20T (only three of these are seen in FIG. 1) protrude downward from the outside of a bottom portion of the relay 20, and the four male terminals 20T are inserted into terminal insertion holes 30T of an upper cover 31 when the relay 20 is stored in a storage space 30P of the upper cover 31.

(15) In addition, locking projections 20K as follows are respectively formed on one side surface of the relay 20 and on a surface opposite to the side surface.

(16) <Locking Projection 20K>

(17) The locking projection 20K has a shape of a triangular prism which is made of a perpendicular surface that stands perpendicularly from the side surface, and an inclined surface which gradually approaches the side surface downward (insertion direction) from the perpendicular surface.

(18) When the relay 20 is stored in the storage space 30P of the upper cover 31, the locking projection 20K is engaged with a pressing projection 30K which is on the upper cover 31 side, and the relay 20 is integrated with the upper cover 31, and then with the connection box main body 30.

(19) <Connection Box Main Body 30>

(20) The connection box main body 30 is made of the upper cover 31 and a lower cover 32 which are made of an insulating resin and will be described in the following. The upper cover 31 and the lower cover 32 are integrated with each other as an elastic locking frame piece 30R which is on the upper cover 31 is engaged with a locking projection 32R which is on the lower cover 32.

(21) <Upper Cover 31>

(22) On a surface of the upper cover 31, a guide wall 30W is installed to stand on a boundary of the storage space in order to store the rectangular parallelepiped relay 20. The guide wall 30W is formed as a linked body across the entire circumference of the boundary of the storage space. On the upper cover 31, at a location which faces the storage space 30P surrounded by the guide wall 30W, the terminal insertion hole 30T which passes through the upper cover 31 is formed. Here, the guide wall 30W and the terminal insertion hole 30T will be described.

(23) <Guide Wall 30W>

(24) The guide wall 30W is a wall in which the entire circumference is linked (that is, formed across the entire circumference of the boundary of the storage space), and which has a substantially squared shape in a plan view. The guide wall 30W is made of the following: a first wall W1, a second wall W2, a third wall W3, and a fourth wall W4.

(25) <Pressing Projection 30K of First Wall W1>

(26) In the first wall W1, an intermediate part of the first wall W1 in a side direction is cut out from above and from below of the wall surface, and the remaining intermediate part is a linking part 30B which links both wall surfaces to each other. The linking part 30B is narrower than other parts of the first wall W1 in a direction in which the first wall W1 stands. Since the linking part 30B is a resin-made part which remains after cutting out from above and from below of the wall surface in this manner, the linking part 30B has more flexibility and elasticity than both wall surfaces. In addition, one pressing projection 30K is formed to extend inward from the inside of the linking part 30B (storage side of the relay 20).

(27) The shape of the pressing projection 30K is a shape which is engaged with the locking projection 20K on the side surface of the relay 20 when the relay 20 is stored in the storage space 30P of the upper cover 31.

(28) In addition, when the relay 20 is stored in the storage space 30P of the upper cover 31, the protruding height of the pressing projection 30K from the linking part 30B is the height which makes a state where a tip end of the pressing projection 30K abuts against the relay 20, and the flexible linking part 30B is bent slightly outward.

(29) <Press-Fit Rib 30L of First Wall W1>

(30) On a base end side of the first wall W1, specifically, on a lower inner side of both ends of the first wall W1, press-fit ribs 30L are respectively formed to extend from the inside inward one by one.

(31) When the relay 20 is stored in the storage space 30P of the upper cover 31, the protruding height of the press-fit rib 30L from the first wall W1 is the height which makes a tip end of the press-fit rib 30L press the relay 20, and which can press-fit the relay 20 in accordance with a slight inserting force between the press-fit rib 30L of the first wall W1 and the press-fit rib 30L of the third wall W3.

(32) <Second Wall W2>

(33) The second wall W2 has a shape which is made by cutting out the intermediate part of the side direction from below the wall surface, and has a linear shape in a plan view.

(34) <Third Wall W3>

(35) The third wall W3 is configured equivalently to the first wall W1.

(36) In other words, the third wall W3 is made by cutting out the intermediate part of the third wall W3 in the side direction from above and from below the wall surface, and the remaining intermediate part is the linking part 30B which links both wall surfaces to each other. Since the linking part 30B is a resin-made part which remains after cutting out from above and from below the wall surface in this manner, the linking part 30B has more flexibility than both wall surfaces. In addition, one pressing projection 30K is formed to extend inward from the inside of the linking part 30B.

(37) The shape of the pressing projection 30K is a shape which is engaged with the locking projection 20K on the side surface of the relay 20 when the relay 20 is stored in the storage space 30P of the upper cover 31.

(38) When the relay 20 is stored in the storage space 30P of the upper cover 31, the protruding height of the pressing projection 30K from the linking part 30B is the height which makes a state where the tip end of the pressing projection 30K abuts against the relay 20, and the flexible linking part 30B is bent slightly outward.

(39) In addition, on the lower inner sides of both ends of the first wall W1, the press-fit ribs 30L are respectively formed to extend from the inside inward one by one.

(40) When the relay 20 is stored in the storage space 30P of the upper cover 31, the protruding height of the press-fit rib 30L from the first wall W1 is the height which makes the tip end of the press-fit rib 30L press the relay 20, and which can press-fit the relay 20 in accordance with a slight inserting force between the press-fit rib 30L of the third wall W3 and the press-fit rib 30L of the first wall W1.

(41) <Fourth Wall W4>

(42) The fourth wall W4 has a shape made by cutting out the intermediate part in the side direction from below the wall surface, has flexibility, and is configured of the wall surface which has a zigzag shape in a plan view in which a part thereof protrudes inward. Therefore, since protruded parts P1 and P2 which protrude to the inside on the fourth wall W4 have a function of pressing the relay 20 toward the second wall W2 by elasticity due to rigidity of the fourth wall W4, the configuration thereof is simple, and the rattling in a direction from the fourth wall W4 to the second wall W2 is not generated.

(43) <Terminal Insertion Hole 30T>

(44) On the upper cover 31, at a location which faces the storage space 30P, four (only three are seen in FIG. 4) terminal insertion holes 30T are respectively formed passing through the upper cover 31.

(45) In each of the terminal insertion holes 30T, when the relay 20 is stored in the storage space 30P of the upper cover 31, the male terminal 20T of the relay 20 is inserted, and the male terminal 20T is inserted into a female terminal on the lower cover 32 side which is installed immediately below the terminal insertion hole 30T.

(46) <Lower Cover 32>

(47) Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower cover 32 stores the necessary number of bus bars inside thereof, and a connection terminal which is electrically connected to each bus bar and stands in an upright direction. In addition, each connection terminal is disposed immediately below the terminal insertion hole 30T of the upper cover 31 into which the male terminal 20T of the relay 20 is inserted.

(48) The lower cover 32 is used being fixed to a vehicle body or the like, and a fixing bracket 32B is formed thereon.

(49) <Rattling Elimination Function of Electrical Connection Box According to Present Invention>

(50) Next, the rattling elimination function of the electrical connection box according to the present invention will be described by using FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a sectional view when viewed in a direction of an A-A arrow of the electrical connection box which has the relay of FIG. 1 mounted thereon. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electrical connection box which has the relay of FIG. 1 mounted thereon.

(51) In FIG. 2, by the pressing projection 30K on the upper side which is on both left and right sides and the press-fit ribs 30L on each lower side, the relay 20 is mounted without a gap on the left and right upper side and lower sides thereof. In addition, in this state, since the pressing projection 30K is engaged with the locking projection 20K on the side surface of the relay 20, the relay 20 does not fall out of the connection box main body 30 even when a high level of oscillation is generated.

(52) In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 3, since the guide wall 30W in which the entire circumference is linked surrounds the relay 20 across the entire circumference, when a high level of oscillation is applied to the electrical connection box and distortion is generated to the relay 20, the guide wall 30W in which the entire circumference is linked is displaced in the same direction, and is not relatively deformed as described in the above-described PTL 1. Therefore, the above-described rattling elimination function is maintained, the rattling between the relay 20 and the connection box main body 30 is not generated, and there is no concern that the contact portion becomes worn out.

CONCLUSION

(53) As described above, the following is achieved according to the present invention.

(54) (1) The guide wall 30W cuts out the intermediate part of the wall surface which has a rattling elimination function from above and below, makes the narrow linking part elastic in the direction in which the guide wall 30W is provided to stand, and further, forms the pressing projection on the inside of the linking part. For this reason, when the relay is stored in the storage space of the upper cover, the pressing projection which is provided at the flexible linking part acts to press the relay. Therefore, the rattling is not generated.

(55) (2) Equivalently, since the press-fit rib is formed on the base end side of the guide wall 30W, specifically, on the lower inner side of both ends of the guide wall 30W, when the relay is stored in the storage space of the upper cover, the pressing force acts on the relay from the press-fit rib. Therefore, the rattling is not generated even at the lower portion of the relay.

(56) (3) Furthermore, since the guide wall 30W surrounds the entire circumferential surface of the relay 20, when a high level of oscillation is applied to the electrical connection box and distortion is generated to the electrical connection box, the guide wall 30W in which the entire circumference is linked is displaced in the same direction, and is not relatively deformed as described in the above-described PTL 1. Therefore, the above-described rattling elimination function is maintained, the rattling between the relay 20 and the connection box main body 30 is not generated, and there is no concern that the contact portion becomes worn out.

(57) Here, the characteristics of the embodiment of the electrical connection box according to the above-described present invention are respectively briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] and [2].

(58) [1] The electrical connection box (10), including: the electronic component (relay 20) which has the locking projection (20K); and the connection box main body (upper cover 31) which has the pressing projection (30K) that is engaged with the locking projection, and which is formed with the storage space that stores the electronic component, in which the guide wall (30W) which is provided to stand on the boundary of the storage space is formed across the entire circumference of the boundary of the storage space in the connection box main body, and in which the pressing projection is formed at the narrow linking part (30B) of the guide wall in a direction in which the guide wall stands.

(59) [2] The electrical connection box according to the above-described [1], in which the press-fit rib (30L) which presses the electronic component when the electronic component is stored in the storage space is formed on the base end side of the guide wall in the connection box main body.

(60) The present invention is described in detail or with reference to a specific embodiment, but it is apparent for those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be added without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

(61) The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-094464 filed on Apr. 26, 2013, and the content thereof is incorporated herein by way of reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(62) According to the present invention, an electrical connection box in which a rattling elimination function is not deteriorated even when a high level of oscillation is generated, and thus, in which there is no concern that a contact portion between a terminal on an electronic component side and a terminal on a connection box main body side are worn out, can be obtained. The present invention which achieves such effects is efficient in an electrical connection box in which a relay is mounted.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(63) 10: ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BOX 20: RELAY 20K: LOCKING PROJECTION 30P: STORAGE SPACE 20t: MALE TERMINAL 30: CONNECTION BOX MAIN BODY 30B: LINKING PART 30K: PRESSING PROJECTION 30L: PRESS-FIT RIB 30R: ELASTIC LOCKING FRAME PIECE 30T: TERMINAL INSERTION HOLE 30W: GUIDE WALL 31: UPPER COVER 32: LOWER COVER 32b: FIXING BRACKET 32R: LOCKING PROJECTION P1, P1: PROTRUDED PART W1: FIRST WALL W2: SECOND WALL W3: THIRD WALL W4: FOURTH WALL