JP7491792B2 - Joint box - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a joint box.

Conventionally, a joint box is known that includes a joint box as a case that houses a connector that serves as an electric wire connection part to which multiple electric wires are electrically connected (see Patent Document 1).

In this joint box, the housing that houses the connectors and the like is formed by a joint box main body and a joint box lid body, which serve as a first case and a second case. In such a joint box, the joint box lid body is attached to the joint box main body with the connectors electrically connected to multiple electric wires placed therein.

JP 2009-21118 A

However, in a joint box such as that described in Patent Document 1, the size of the storage section formed by the first case and the second case is set according to a predetermined number of wires and wire size. Therefore, if there is a change in the number of wires or wire size, the case must be formed to match the change, reducing versatility.

The present invention was made in consideration of the problems inherent in the conventional technology. The object of the present invention is to provide a joint box that can improve versatility.

The joint box according to this embodiment includes a plurality of electric wires having electrically connected electric wire connection parts, and a case that houses the electric wire connection parts. The case has a first case and a second case that form a housing that houses the electric wire connection parts, and the first case and the second case are provided with a first opening and a second opening that are arranged on top of each other.

It is preferable that a holding portion is provided between the first opening and the second opening to hold the first case and the second case in their respective positions.

It is preferable that the holding portion has a convex portion provided on one of the first wall forming the first opening and the second wall forming the second opening, and a plurality of concave portions provided on the other wall that can engage with the convex portion.

The present invention provides a joint box that can improve versatility.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the joint box according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a joint box according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a joint box according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a joint box according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a joint box according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a joint box according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the joint box according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the joint box according to the present embodiment. 13 is an enlarged view showing another example of a holding portion with a partial cross-section of the joint box according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing another example of a holding portion with a partial cross-section of the joint box according to the embodiment. FIG.

The joint box according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings have been exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

The joint box 1 in this embodiment includes a plurality of electric wires 3 having electrically connected electric wire connection parts 5, and a case 7 that houses the electric wire connection parts 5.

The case 7 also has a first case 11 and a second case 13 that form a housing section 9 that houses the electric wire connection section 5.

The first case 11 and the second case 13 are provided with a first opening 15 and a second opening 17 that are arranged on top of each other.

A holding portion 19 is provided between the first opening 15 and the second opening 17 to hold the first case 11 and the second case 13 in position.

The first opening 15 is formed by a pair of first side walls 33, 33 and a first bottom wall 35 as the first walls. The second opening 17 is formed by a pair of second side walls 41, 41 and a second bottom wall 43 as the second walls. The retaining portion 19 has a protrusion 21 provided on one of the pair of first side walls 33, 33 and the first bottom wall 35 and the pair of second side walls 41, 41 and the second bottom wall 43, and a plurality of recesses 23 provided on the other and capable of engaging with the protrusion 21.

As shown in Figures 1 to 8, the joint box 1 comprises an electric wire 3 and a case 7.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the electric wire 3 is used, for example, for indoor wiring and is made of a VVF cable in which the outer circumference of multiple insulated wires 25 is covered with a sheath 27. Multiple pieces of this electric wire 3 are placed indoors and housed in a case 7 with one end bundled.

At one end of such an electric wire 3, a crimp terminal 29 is electrically connected to the conductor of the insulated wire 25, and an electric wire connection part 5 is formed that configures a desired electric circuit via the crimp terminal 29. After configuring the desired electric circuit, the crimp terminal 29 in the electric wire connection part 5 is covered and insulated by an insulating tube.

When the electric wire connection parts 5 of the multiple electric wires 3 are housed in the case 7, the periphery is hardened by the thermosetting resin 31 filled in the case 7. By covering the periphery of the electric wire connection parts 5 with the thermosetting resin 31 in this way, the electric wire connection parts 5 can be protected from external forces. The electric wire connection parts 5 may also be protected by injection molding a resin such as polyvinyl chloride.

As shown in Figures 1 to 8, the case 7 comprises a first case 11 and a second case 13.

The first case 11 has a pair of first side walls 33, 33, a first bottom wall 35 connecting one side of the pair of first side walls 33, 33 in the height direction, and a first connecting wall 37 connecting one side of the pair of first side walls 33, 33 in the width direction. In this first case 11, the space formed by the inner surfaces of the pair of first side walls 33, 33, the first bottom wall 35, and the first connecting wall 37 serves as a storage section 9 that stores the electric wire connection section 5. In addition, a fixing section 39 that is fixed to an installation location indoors or the like is provided on the outer surface of the first bottom wall 35 of the first case 11.

In this first case 11, the side facing the first bottom wall 35 in the height direction and the side facing the first connecting wall 37 in the width direction form a first opening 15 that opens the storage section 9 to the outside. The opening of this first opening 15 facing the first bottom wall 35 in the height direction forms an outlet for pulling out the multiple electric wires 3 from the storage section 9 to the outside. The opening of this first opening 15 facing the first connecting wall 37 in the width direction is formed by arranging a pair of first side walls 33, 33 closer to the first connecting wall 37 side. The second case 13 is assembled to the opening of this first opening 15 facing the first connecting wall 37 in the width direction so as to be sandwiched between the pair of first side walls 33, 33.

The second case 13 has a pair of second side walls 41, 41, a second bottom wall 43 that connects one side of the pair of second side walls 41, 41 in the height direction, and a second connecting wall 45 that connects one side of the pair of second side walls 41, 41 in the width direction. In this second case 13, the space formed by the inner surfaces of the pair of second side walls 41, 41, the second bottom wall 43, and the second connecting wall 45 serves as a storage section 9 that stores the electric wire connection section 5.

In this type of second case 13, the side facing the second bottom wall 43 in the height direction and the side facing the second connecting wall 45 in the width direction form a second opening 17 that opens the storage section 9 to the outside. The opening of this second opening 17 facing the second bottom wall 43 in the height direction forms an outlet for pulling the multiple electric wires 3 out of the storage section 9 to the outside. The opening of this second opening 17 facing the second connecting wall 45 in the width direction is assembled by overlapping it on the inside of the first opening 15 of the first case 11.

Such first case 11 and second case 13 are assembled by overlapping the first opening 15 and the second opening 17 with the first opening 15 and the second opening 17 facing each other and communicating with each other. In detail, the pair of second side walls 41, 41 and the outer surfaces of the second bottom wall 43 are pressed against the inner surfaces of the pair of first side walls 33, 33 and the first bottom wall 35 so as to be in close contact with each other.

By overlapping and assembling the first opening 15 and the second opening 17 in this manner, the second case 13 can move toward or away from the first case 11 while maintaining the space in the storage section 9. Therefore, when the second case 13 moves toward the first case 11, the space in the storage section 9 becomes narrower. On the other hand, when the second case 13 moves away from the first case 11, the space in the storage section 9 becomes wider.

In this way, by assembling the first case 11 and the second case 13 so that they can move toward each other and away from each other, the size of the storage section 9 can be changed to match the external size of the electric wire connection section 5. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when there are a large number of electric wires 3, the first case 11 and the second case 13 are moved away from each other to match the electric wire connection section 5, making the storage section 9 larger. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, when there are a small number of electric wires 3, the first case 11 and the second case 13 are moved toward each other to match the electric wire connection section 5, making the storage section 9 smaller.

By moving the first case 11 and the second case 13 in this way, the size of the storage section 9 can be optimized to match the external size of the electric wire connection section 5. This eliminates the need to form cases 7 separately to match the number and sizes of the multiple electric wires 3, improving the versatility of the joint box 1. In addition, the joint box 1 can be minimized to match the external size of the electric wire connection section 5, making it easier to handle indoors and improving workability.

In addition, the amount of thermosetting resin 31 filled in the storage section 9 can be minimized, resulting in cost reduction. Furthermore, by minimizing the amount of thermosetting resin 31 used, the injection time and hardening time of the thermosetting resin 31 can be shortened, resulting in improved productivity.

The first case 11 and second case 13 are held in their assembled positions by a retaining portion 19 provided between the overlapping first opening 15 and second opening 17. The retaining portion 19 has a protrusion 21 and a number of recesses 23.

The protrusion 21 is provided on at least one of the pair of first side walls 33, 33 of the first case 11 and on the first bottom wall 35. This protrusion 21 is disposed on the edge of the first opening 15, protrudes from the inner surfaces of the first side wall 33 and the first bottom wall 35 toward the inside of the storage section 9, and is formed continuously along the height direction of the first side wall 33 and the width direction of the first bottom wall 35. Such a protrusion 21 is engaged with one of the multiple recesses 23.

The multiple recesses 23 are provided in the second side wall 41 of the pair of second side walls 41, 41 of the second case 13 that corresponds to the protrusion 21, and in the second bottom wall 43. The multiple recesses 23 are formed in a continuous groove shape on the outer surfaces of the second side wall 41 and the second bottom wall 43, and are arranged in multiple positions along the movement direction of the second case 13 relative to the first case 11.

When the second case 13 is moved relative to the first case 11, the recesses 23 corresponding to the protrusions 21 engage with the protrusions 21. This engagement between the protrusions 21 and the recesses 23 maintains the relative positions of the first case 11 and the second case 13 when they are assembled. In this way, the retaining section 19 maintains the positions of the first case 11 and the second case 13, thereby preventing the storage section 9 from moving.

The inner shape of the multiple recesses 23 is formed to be the same as the outer shape of the protrusions 21, and is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer shape of the protrusions 21. By forming the recesses 23 in this manner, when the protrusions 21 are engaged with the recesses 23, the protrusions 21 are pressed into the recesses 23, and no gaps are formed. Therefore, even if the thermosetting resin 31 is injected into the storage section 9, the thermosetting resin 31 does not leak to the outside until it hardens.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, a thin rib 47 that deforms when pressed may be provided between either one of the pair of first side walls 33, 33 and the pair of second side walls 41, 41 to serve as the retaining portion 19. As shown in FIG. 10, a crushing rib 49 that deforms when pressed so that its tip is crushed may be provided to serve as the retaining portion 19.

To assemble such a joint box 1, first, with the fixing portion 39 of the first case 11 facing downward, the second opening 17 of the second case 13 is inserted from above the first opening 15, and the outermost recess 23 of the multiple recesses 23 is engaged with the protrusion 21. At this time, due to the biasing force of the pair of first side walls 33, 33, the engagement between the recess 23 and the protrusion 21 is such that the protrusion 21 is pressed into the recess 23.

Next, the wire connection parts 5 of the multiple electric wires 3 are accommodated in the accommodation part 9 through the upper openings of the first opening 15 and the second opening 17. Next, the second case 13 is moved relative to the first case 11 so that the inner surfaces of the first case 11 and the second case 13 abut against the outer surfaces of the wire connection parts 5 and the outer surfaces of the multiple electric wires 3.

Next, the first bottom wall 35 and the second bottom wall 43 are pressed together by the electric wire connection portion 5 to engage the convex portion 21 so as to press it into the concave portion 23. Then, the thermosetting resin 31 is injected from the upper openings of the first opening 15 and the second opening 17 to fill the storage portion 9 with the thermosetting resin 31, and the thermosetting resin 31 is hardened, completing the assembly of the joint box 1.

In the above assembly, the outermost recess 23 and the protrusion 21 are engaged, and then the second case 13 is moved relative to the first case 11 to match the size of the multiple electric wires 3 and the electric wire connection part 5, but this is not limited to the above.

For example, first, the outer surface of the electric wire connection portion 5 is abutted against the inner surface of the second bottom wall 43 of the second case 13, and the outer surfaces of the multiple electric wires 3 are abutted against the inner surfaces of the pair of second side walls 41, 41 and the second connecting wall 45. Next, the second case 13 is placed in a position where the outer surface of the electric wire connection portion 5 and the outer surfaces of the multiple electric wires 3 abut against the inner surface of the first case 11.

Then, in this position, the second case 13 is assembled to the first case 11 from the upper opening of the first opening 15 so that the convex portion 21 engages with the concave portion 23 corresponding to the convex portion 21. By assembling in this manner, there is no process of moving the second case 13 after assembling the first case 11 and the second case 13, and no large moving operating force is required.

In such a joint box 1, the first case 11 and the second case 13 are provided with a first opening 15 and a second opening 17 that are arranged on top of each other. With this configuration, the first case and the second case can move toward each other and away from each other within the range where the first opening 15 and the second opening 17 that form the storage section 9 overlap. Therefore, by moving the first case 11 and the second case 13, the size of the storage section 9 can be optimized according to the number of wires 3, the size of the wires 3, or the external size of the wire connection section 5.

Therefore, with such a joint box 1, one case 7 can accommodate the number and size of the electric wires 3, improving versatility.

A holding portion 19 that holds the positions of the first case 11 and the second case 13 is provided between the first opening 15 and the second opening 17. This allows the positions of the first case 11 and the second case 13 to be stably held, and prevents the housing portion 9 that houses the electric wire connection portion 5 from moving.

The first opening 15 is formed by a pair of first side walls 33, 33 and a first bottom wall 35 as the first walls. The second opening 17 is formed by a pair of second side walls 41, 41 and a second bottom wall 43 as the second walls. The retaining portion 19 has a protrusion 21 provided on one of the pair of first side walls 33, 33 and the first bottom wall 35 and the pair of second side walls 41, 41 and the second bottom wall 43, and a plurality of recesses 23 provided on the other and capable of engaging with the protrusion 21. This allows the arrangement positions of the first case 11 and the second case 13 to be maintained with a simple structure.

Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

For example, the joint box according to this embodiment has one protruding portion, but this is not limited thereto, and multiple protruding portions may be provided.

In addition, the convex portion is provided on the first case and the concave portion is provided on the second case, but this is not limited thereto, and the convex portion may be provided on the second case and the concave portion may be provided on the first case.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Joint box 3 Electric wire 5 Electric wire connection portion 7 Case 9 Storage portion 11 First case 13 Second case 15 First opening 17 Second opening 19 Holding portion 21 Convex portion 23 Concave portion 33 First side wall (first wall)
35 First bottom wall (first wall)
41 Second side wall (second wall)
43 Second bottom wall (second wall)

Claims (1)

A plurality of electric wires having electric wire connection portions electrically connected to each other;
A case that accommodates the electric wire connection portion;
Equipped with
the case includes a first case and a second case forming a housing portion that houses the electric wire connection portion,
The first case and the second case are provided with a first opening and a second opening that are arranged to overlap each other ,
the first opening is defined by a pair of first side walls and a first bottom wall of the first case, and the second opening is defined by a pair of second side walls and a second bottom wall of the second case,
a holder that holds the first case and the second case in position between the first opening and the second opening,
the holding portion has a convex portion provided on at least one of the pair of first side walls and the first bottom wall, and a plurality of concave portions provided on a second side wall of the pair of second side walls corresponding to the convex portion and the second bottom wall, the concave portions being engageable with the convex portion,
the protrusion is disposed on an edge of the first opening, protrudes from inner surfaces of the first side wall and the first bottom wall toward the inside of the storage portion, and is formed continuously along a height direction of the first side wall and a width direction of the first bottom wall,
The plurality of recesses are formed continuously in a groove shape on the outer surfaces of the second side wall and the second bottom wall .

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