JP2021083172A - Electric connection box - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress a circuit failure even when an electric connection box is mounted in a different direction according to a vehicle type.SOLUTION: An electric connection box includes objects including a circuit body to be housed, a case body in which the objects to be housed are housed, and which has an opening portion, and a cover that covers the opening portion. The cover includes a peripheral wall formed by connecting a plurality of flat portions into a polygonal shape to cover the outer periphery of the opening portion side of the case body. On the inner surface of the peripheral wall, a plurality of recessed portions are formed in the plurality of flat portions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

This specification discloses a technique relating to an electrical junction box.

Conventionally, the electric junction box mounted on a vehicle is provided with a waterproof structure to prevent water from entering the inside when traveling in the rain or when washing the vehicle. The electrical connection box of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-27723 (Patent Document 1) includes a case main body having an opening at an upper end portion and an upper cover covering the opening of the case main body. The upper cover and the case body have a double wall structure in which the outer wall of the case body is inserted between the outer wall and the inner wall of the upper cover. This double wall structure suppresses the ingress of water between the case body and the upper cover without using packing between the case body and the upper cover.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-27723

By the way, since the mounting space of the electric junction box and the shape of the mounting location of the electric junction box in the vehicle differ depending on the vehicle type, the electric junction box according to the vehicle type is generally mounted on the vehicle. On the other hand, if the electric junction boxes to be mounted on a plurality of vehicle types can be shared, the number of types of electric junction boxes can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, which is preferable. When the electric junction box of Patent Document 1 is mounted on a plurality of vehicle models, when the mounting direction of the electrical junction box changes depending on the vehicle model, water is introduced from between the case body and the upper cover to the inside of the electrical junction box. Is infiltrated, and there is a concern that a problem may occur in the circuit.

The technology described in this specification has been completed based on the above circumstances, and even if the electric junction box is mounted in a different direction depending on the vehicle type, a circuit defect can be caused. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical junction box that can be suppressed.

The electrical connection box described in the present specification includes an object to be contained including a circuit body, a case body in which the object to be contained is housed and has an opening, and a cover covering the opening. Is provided with a peripheral wall in which a plurality of flat surfaces are connected in a polygonal shape and covers the outer periphery of the case body on the opening side, and a plurality of recesses are formed in the plurality of flat surfaces on the inner surface of the peripheral wall.

According to the technique described in the present specification, it is possible to suppress a circuit defect even when the electric junction box is mounted in a different direction depending on the vehicle type.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical connection box of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing an electrical junction box. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an electrical junction box. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the cover. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD showing an electrical junction box mounted on the vehicle in a direction different from that of FIG. 7.

[Explanation of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
(1) The electrical connection box of the present disclosure includes an object to be contained including a circuit body, a case body in which the object to be contained is housed and has an opening, and a cover covering the opening. A plurality of flat surfaces are connected in a polygonal shape to provide a peripheral wall covering the outer periphery of the case body on the opening side, and a plurality of recesses are formed in the plurality of flat surfaces on the inner surface of the peripheral wall.
According to the above configuration, since the plurality of recesses are formed in the plurality of flat surfaces, the electric junction box is provided in at least one flat surface when the electric junction box is mounted on the vehicle in different directions depending on the vehicle type. When the recess receives water, it is possible to suppress a problem caused by the water splashing on the circuit body. Therefore, even when the electric junction box is mounted in a different direction depending on the vehicle type, it is possible to suppress a circuit defect.

(2) The recess is provided at the boundary between adjacent flat surfaces.
The boundary between adjacent flat surfaces is generally considered to be a place where water tends to collect, but according to the above configuration, it is possible to suppress defects in the circuit body due to water collected at such a boundary where water tends to collect. Can be done.

(3) The cover includes a closing wall that closes the side of the peripheral wall opposite to the opening side, and the recess extends from the closing wall side of the peripheral wall to the edge of the opening side.
In this way, the water in the recess can be drained from the edge on the opening side.

(4) The plurality of recesses are formed in the flat surface portions on the peripheral wall opposite to each other.
In this way, even if the orientation of the electric junction box is opposite depending on the vehicle type to be mounted, it is possible to suppress a problem caused by water splashing on the circuit body by receiving water in one of the recesses.

(5) The circuit body includes a substrate having a conductive path, and the peripheral edge of the substrate is arranged in the vicinity of the peripheral wall so as to be along the inner surface of the peripheral wall.
In order to reduce the size of the electrical junction box, when the area occupied by the substrate in the electrical junction box becomes large, the peripheral edge of the substrate is arranged near the peripheral wall of the cover, and the water accumulated on the inner surface of the peripheral wall is applied to the peripheral edge of the substrate. Is a concern. According to the above configuration, in a configuration in which water is likely to be splashed on the substrate in order to reduce the size of such an electric junction box, it is possible to suppress a circuit defect by receiving water in the recess.

(6) The gap between the peripheral wall and the peripheral edge of the substrate is set to be equal to or higher than the height of water droplets that can adhere to the inner surface of the peripheral wall due to surface tension.
In this way, even if the water droplets have a height due to surface tension, it is possible to suppress the contact of the peripheral portion of the substrate with the water droplets.

(7) Both the case body and the cover are made of metal.
In this way, the circuit body can be shielded, and a recess can be formed when the cover is processed by the press machine.

[Details of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, and is indicated by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

<Embodiment>
This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
The electric junction box 10 is mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and is arranged in a power supply path of the vehicle. The electric junction box 10 can be mounted on the vehicle in various directions, but in the present embodiment, the electric junction box 10 is fixed to a mounting member B2 such as a bracket of the vehicle body B1 in a vertical posture (see FIG. 7). Hereinafter, the X direction in FIG. 1 will be described as forward, the Y direction as left, and the Z direction as upward.

As shown in FIG. 4, the electric junction box 10 includes an object 11 including the circuit body 12 and the power storage unit 20, and a metal case 40 in which the object 11 is housed. The circuit body 12 includes a rectangular printed circuit board 13 (an example of a “board”) in which a conductive path pattern is printed on an insulating plate, a FET (Field effect transistor), and an IC (Integrated), which are mounted on the printed circuit board 13 and are not shown. It is equipped with electronic components such as Circuit). The printed circuit board 13 is formed through a plurality of through holes 14 connected to a conductive path and a plurality of screw holes for screwing the printed circuit board 13 with screws 17. Each through hole 14 is soldered with the lead terminal 23 and the like of the power storage element 21 inserted. A plurality of screw holes are provided on the peripheral edge of the printed circuit board 13, and the shaft portion of the screw 17 can be inserted therethrough. The printed circuit board 13 is screwed and fixed to a plurality of boss portions 56 of the case body 41 with screws 17. The circuit board may be formed by superimposing a bus bar made of a metal plate material such as copper or a copper alloy on the printed circuit board 13, or the circuit body may be formed only by the bus bar without using the printed circuit board 13.

As shown in FIG. 7, a connector 18 is attached to the front end portion of the printed circuit board 13. The connector 18 includes a housing 18A made of synthetic resin and a connector terminal 18B that penetrates the housing 18A and is soldered to the conductive path of the printed circuit board 13.

The power storage unit 20 is used, for example, as an auxiliary power source for a vehicle, and includes a plurality of power storage elements 21 and a power storage storage member 25 for accommodating the plurality of power storage elements 21, as shown in FIGS. The plurality of power storage elements 21 are, for example, capacitors, arranged in parallel in a row, and provided with a pair of positive and negative lead terminals 23 protruding from one end face in the axial direction of a columnar power storage body in which the power storage elements are housed. Each lead terminal 23 is bent toward the printed circuit board 13, and is soldered to the printed circuit board 13 in a state of being inserted into the through hole 14.

The power storage accommodating member 25 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin, and is configured by combining a pair of split members 26, 29 that sandwich a plurality of power storage elements 21 from both sides. The power storage accommodating member 25 is fixed to the printed circuit board 13 by screwing or the like.

The case 40 includes a case main body 41 having an opening 48 through which the power storage unit 20 can be inserted, and a cover 60 that is externally fitted to the case main body 41 so as to cover the opening 48. The case body 41 is made of a metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and as shown in FIG. 6, the case body 41 is outward so as to face the inner surface of the peripheral wall 63 of the cover 60 and the accommodating portion 42 capable of accommodating the power storage unit 20. It is provided with an overhanging portion 47 that overhangs.

The accommodating portion 42 has a rectangular flat plate-shaped bottom surface portion 43, and the peripheral edge portion of the bottom surface portion 43 is an upright wall 44 that stands up in an annular shape toward the printed circuit board 13 side. The overhanging portion 47 projects outward in a plate shape from the tip end side of the upright wall 44, and is provided in an annular shape along the inner surface of the peripheral wall 63. The inner peripheral edge of the overhanging portion 47 is an opening 48. ing. As shown in FIG. 7, the front corner of the overhanging portion 47 is a high overhanging portion 47A having an arc-shaped overhanging dimension in the vertical direction. A waterproof structure such as packing is not provided between the overhanging portion 47 and the peripheral wall 63.
The case body 41 described above is made of, for example, aluminum die-cast, and can be molded by press-fitting an aluminum alloy or the like into a mold.

The cover 60 is made of a metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and as shown in FIG. 8, the cover 60 intersects the rectangular closing wall 61 from the peripheral edge of the closing wall 61 with respect to the plate surface of the closing wall 61. It is provided with a peripheral wall 63 extending to. The peripheral wall 63 has four flat surface portions 64A to 64D, and is configured by connecting the four flat surface portions 64A to 64D in a square tubular shape in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 4, of the flat surface portions 64A to 64D, a gap G is formed between the upper and lower flat surface portions 64A and 64C and the upper and lower edge portions of the printed circuit board 13. The gap G is set to be at least the maximum height dimension (height from the plate surface of the flat surfaces 64A, 64C, for example, 5 [mm]) due to the surface tension of the water droplet WD adhering to the flat surface portions 64A (64C). As a result, even if the water droplet WD adheres to the flat surface portion 64A (64C), the contact of the water droplet WD with the printed circuit board 13 is suppressed. As shown in FIG. 2, on the inner surface of the boundary between the flat surfaces 64A and 64C and the front flat surface 64B, the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B (“an example of the recess”) that receive the water that has entered the case 40 are provided. Is formed.

As shown in FIG. 8, the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B are formed by recessing the inner surface side of the peripheral wall 63 by bulging the front end portions of the flat surface portions 64A and 64C outward in an arc shape. It extends over the entire width of 63 in the left-right direction. The surfaces of the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B on the opposite sides are convex portions 74A and 74B protruding outward. When the case body 41 is fitted to the cover 60 of the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B, as shown in FIG. 2, the high overhanging portion 47A of the case body 41 is arranged inside the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B. To. As shown in FIG. 5, a water passage space S is formed between the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B and the high overhanging portion 47A. The water passage space S is formed in a size capable of allowing the water received by the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B to flow toward the edge 72 side of the peripheral wall 63.

The tip side of the peripheral wall 63 is a square tubular surrounding portion 63A that surrounds the overhanging portion 47 of the case body 41 over the entire circumference (the entire circumference other than the portion to which the connector 18 is attached), and the tip of the surrounding portion 63A. It is provided with an extended square tubular extending portion 65. The surrounding portion 63A faces the overhanging portion 47 with a water passage space S. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of fastening portions 68 that can be screwed with screws 75 project from the tip portion of the extending portion 65 in a strip shape. The plurality of fastening portions 68 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 63, and screw holes 68A through which the shaft portion of the screw 75 is inserted are formed through. The screw 75 has a shaft portion in which a thread groove is formed and a head portion having an outer diameter larger than that of the shaft portion. As shown in FIG. 8, the peripheral wall 63 is cut out from the lead-out portion 66 from which the connector 18 is led out. The cover 60 described above can be formed by punching and bending a metal plate material with a press machine.

A method of manufacturing the electrical junction box 10 will be described.
The dividing members 26 and 29 are assembled from both sides of the plurality of power storage elements 21 to form the power storage unit 20, and the printed circuit board 13 on which the connector 18 and electronic components are mounted is assembled. Next, the power storage unit 20 to which the printed circuit board 13 is assembled is housed in the case main body 41, and the printed circuit board 13 is screwed to a plurality of boss portions 56 of the case main body 41. Next, the electric connection box 10 is formed by covering the case body 41 with the cover 60 and screwing the fastening portion 68 of the cover 60 to the case body 41 with screws 75 (FIG. 1). The electric junction box 10 is mounted on the vehicle with the flat surface portion 64C facing downward as shown in FIG. 7 for a certain vehicle model, and is flat as shown in FIG. 9 for a different vehicle model. The unit 64C is mounted on the vehicle with the portion 64C facing upward. Further, although not shown, the electrical connection box 10 can be mounted on the vehicle with the closing wall 61 of the cover 60 facing upward.

The waterproof function of the electric junction box 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, the electric junction box 10 is attached to the attachment member B2 of the vehicle body B1 in a vertically installed posture in which the front side is slightly lower than the horizontal plane of the vehicle, for example. The water droplet WD that has entered the electric connection box 10 through the gap between the cover 60 and the case body 41 falls on the upper surface of the flat surface portion 64C at the lowest position in the electric connection box 10. When the water droplet WD of the flat surface portion 64C becomes large and exceeds the range of surface tension (the range of surface tension determined by the material of the flat surface portion 64C, etc.), it moves along the upper surface of the flat surface portion 64C to the water receiving recess 70B (FIG. 7). (Move in the direction of the arrow) and fall to the upper surface of the water receiving recess 70B. The water droplet WD that has fallen into the water receiving recess 70B moves to the edge 72 (see FIG. 1) of the water receiving recess 70B when the water droplet WD becomes large and exceeds the surface tension range of the water receiving recess 70B, and the edge 72 It falls downward from and is drained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle was mounted in a vertically installed posture in which the flat surface portion 64A was oriented downward with respect to different vehicle types and the front side was slightly lower than the horizontal plane of the vehicle. In the same case as above, the water droplet WD that has entered the electric junction box 10 and has fallen on the upper surface of the flat surface portion 64A moves along the upper surface of the flat surface portion 64A to the water receiving recess 70A (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9). (Move to) and fall downward from the edge 72 (see FIG. 1) of the water receiving recess 70A to be drained.

If the electric junction box 10 is mounted on the vehicle with the closing wall 61 of the cover 60 facing upward for a vehicle model different from the above, water cannot be collected in the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B. The length of the extension portion 65 of the cover 60 extending toward the case body 41 prevents water from entering the electrical connection box 10 through the gap between the cover 60 and the case body 41.

The operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.
The electric junction box 10 includes an object to be contained 11 including a circuit body 12, a case body 41 in which the object to be contained 11 is housed and has an opening 48, and a cover 60 for covering the opening 48. A peripheral wall 63 in which a plurality of flat surfaces 64A to 64D are connected in a polygonal shape to cover the outer periphery of the case body 41 on the opening 48 side, and a closing wall 61 in the peripheral wall 63 that closes the side opposite to the opening 48 side are provided. On the inner surface of the peripheral wall 63, a plurality of water receiving recesses 70A and 70B capable of receiving water in the plurality of flat surfaces 64A and 64C are formed.

According to the present embodiment, since the plurality of water receiving recesses 70A and 70B are formed in the plurality of flat surfaces 64A and 64C, when the electric junction box 10 is mounted on the vehicle in different directions depending on the vehicle type. Is able to suppress a defect caused by water splashing on the circuit body 12 by receiving water in the water receiving recesses 70A (70B) provided in at least one flat surface portion 64A (64C). Therefore, even when the electric junction box 10 is mounted in a different direction depending on the vehicle type, it is possible to suppress a circuit defect.

Further, the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B are provided at the boundary portion of the adjacent flat surface portions 64A and 64B (flat surface portions 64B and 64C).
The boundary between adjacent flat surfaces 64A and 64B (flat surfaces 64B and 64C) is generally considered to be a place where water tends to collect, but according to the above embodiment, water collects at the boundary where water tends to collect. It is possible to suppress the malfunction of the circuit body 12 due to the water.

Further, the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B extend from the closed wall 61 side of the peripheral wall 63 to the edge portion 72 on the opening 48 side.
In this way, the water in the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B can be drained from the edge 72 of the peripheral wall 63.

Further, the plurality of water receiving recesses 70A and 70B are formed in the flat surfaces 64A and 64C on the peripheral wall 63 on opposite sides to each other.
In this way, even if the orientation of the electric junction box 10 is opposite depending on the vehicle type to be mounted, the circuit body 12 may be exposed to water by receiving water in one of the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B. Can be suppressed.

Further, the circuit body 12 includes a printed circuit board 13 (board) having a conductive path, and the peripheral edge portion of the printed circuit board 13 is arranged in the vicinity of the peripheral wall 63 so as to be along the inner surface of the peripheral wall 63.
In order to reduce the size of the electrical junction box 10, when the area occupied by the printed circuit board 13 in the electrical junction box 10 becomes large, the peripheral edge portion of the printed circuit board 13 is arranged in the vicinity of the peripheral wall 63 of the cover 60 and accumulates on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 63. There is a concern that the water may get on the peripheral edge of the printed circuit board 13. According to the present embodiment, in a configuration in which water is likely to be splashed on the printed circuit board 13 in order to reduce the size of the electrical connection box 10, the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B receive water to suppress circuit defects. be able to.

Further, the gap G between the peripheral wall 63 and the peripheral edge of the printed circuit board 13 is set to be equal to or higher than the height of the water droplet WD that can adhere to the inner surface of the peripheral wall 63 due to surface tension.
In this way, even if the water droplet WD has a height due to surface tension, it is possible to suppress the contact of the peripheral portion of the printed circuit board 13 with the water droplet WD.

Further, both the case body 41 and the cover 60 are made of metal.
In this way, the circuit body 12 can be shielded, and the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B can be formed when the cover 60 is processed by the press machine.

<Other Embodiments>
The techniques described herein are not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the techniques described herein.
(1) The number of the water receiving recesses 70A and 70B is two, but the present invention is not limited to this, and one or three or more water receiving recesses may be formed. Further, the positions of the water receiving recesses are not limited to the opposite sides of the peripheral wall 63 of the cover 60. For example, the flat surface portions 64A and 64B and all the flat surface portions 64A to 64D (the entire circumference of the peripheral wall 63) may be provided with water receiving recesses.

(2) The peripheral wall 63 has a structure in which the flat surfaces 64A to 64D are connected in a rectangular shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a quadrangle other than the rectangular shape or a polygonal shape other than the quadrangle may be connected.

(3) The electric junction box 10 is installed in an inclined posture so that the front side (water receiving recesses 70A, 70B side) is lower than the vehicle, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electrical junction box 10 may be installed in a horizontal posture with respect to the vehicle.

(4) The power storage element 21 as the object to be accommodated 11 is a capacitor, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery. Further, although the structure includes the power storage element 21 as the object to be stored 11, an electric connection box in which the power storage element 21 is not housed may be used.

10: Electrical junction box 11: Contained object 12: Circuit body 13: Printed circuit board 14: Through hole 17: Screw 18: Connector 18A: Housing 18B: Connector terminal 20: Power storage unit 21: Power storage element 23: Lead terminal 25: Power storage Accommodating members 26, 29: Dividing member 40: Case 41: Case body 42: Accommodating portion 43: Bottom portion 44: Standing wall 47: Overhanging portion 47A: High overhanging portion 48: Opening portion 56: Boss portion 60: Cover 61: Closing wall 63: Peripheral wall 63A: Surrounding part 64A to 64D: Flat part 65: Extension part 66: Outlet part 68: Fastening part 68A: Screw holes 70A, 70B: Water receiving recesses (recesses)
72: Edges 74A, 74B: Convex 75: Screw B1: Body B2: Mounting member G: Gap S: Water flow space WD: Water droplets

Claims (7)

An object to be contained including a circuit body, a case body in which the object to be contained is accommodated and having an opening, and a cover covering the opening are provided.
The cover includes a peripheral wall in which a plurality of flat surfaces are connected in a polygonal shape and covers the outer periphery of the case body on the opening side.
An electrical connection box in which a plurality of recesses are formed in the plurality of flat surfaces on the inner surface of the peripheral wall. The electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the recess is provided at a boundary between adjacent flat surfaces. The cover comprises a closing wall that closes the peripheral wall on the side opposite to the opening side.
The electrical connection box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recess extends from the closed wall side of the peripheral wall to the edge portion on the opening side. The electrical connection box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of recesses are formed on the flat surface portions on the peripheral wall opposite to each other. The circuit body includes a substrate having a conductive path, and the circuit body includes a substrate.
The electrical connection box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the peripheral edge of the substrate is arranged in the vicinity of the peripheral wall so as to be along the inner surface of the peripheral wall. The electrical connection box according to claim 5, wherein the gap between the peripheral wall and the peripheral edge of the substrate is equal to or greater than the height of water droplets that can adhere to the inner surface of the peripheral wall due to surface tension. The electrical connection box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein both the case body and the cover are made of metal.

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