JPH11299054A - Electrical connection box and method for forming connector part in the electrical connection box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely absorb the position deviation between the female terminal of a target connector being fitted to a connector part and a tab terminal by adjusting the alignment between a connector housing and the tab terminal for constituting a connector part. SOLUTION: A connector housing 13 is formed in a separate body from a main cover 10 in terms of structure, an opening 11 that is larger than the outer periphery of the connector housing 13 is provided at the main cover 10, the connector housing 13 is retained so that it can travel by a flexible retention part 12 that can be cut, a traveling space S of the connector housing 13 that is higher than a tab terminal 21a is formed between the connector housing 13 and a wiring board 20, and the tab terminal 21a is inserted into an insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13 after the retention part 12 has been cut, thus forming a connector part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric connection box and an electric connection box capable of adjusting the alignment between a connector housing and a tab terminal constituting a connector portion and reliably absorbing a positional shift due to a dimensional error between the two. The present invention relates to a method for forming a connector portion in a box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electric connection box has been used for interconnecting wire harnesses arranged in a vehicle. Such an electric junction box plays a role of absorbing the branch connection of the wire harness and simplifying the wiring form.

Generally, an electrical connection box is provided with several connectors (female connectors) for mating connectors (male connectors) provided on a wire harness, and mating connectors are fitted into each of these connector portions. Thus, the interconnection of the wire harness is performed.

[0004] As a conventional electric connection box having a connector portion, for example, there is one proposed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 6-77424. The electric connection box will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional electric connection box, and FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view showing a connector portion of the electric connection box. FIGS. 10A and 10B are enlarged views showing a state in which the tab terminals are inserted into the insertion holes of the connector housing constituting the connector section.

[0005] In these drawings, the conventional electric connection box mainly has a configuration in which a wiring board 120 composed of a bus bar 121 and an insulating substrate 122 is housed in a main cover 110 made of resin. (Female connector) 130. The connector section 130 is provided with a connector housing 11 integrally formed with the main cover 110.
1, a tab terminal 12 erected from a bus bar 121.
1a is projected.

A tab terminal (male terminal) 121a constituting the connector section 130 is inserted into the inside of the connector housing 111 through an insertion hole 111a formed in the bottom of the connector housing 111.

Here, if there is no dimensional error between the connector housing 111 and the tab terminal 121a, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0 (a), the tab terminal 121a is inserted substantially at the center of the insertion hole 111a.

A mating connector 140 provided on a wire harness (not shown) is fitted to several connector portions 130 provided on the main cover 110. As a result, the female terminal 141 housed inside the mating connector 140 is connected to the tab terminal 121a of the connector section 130.
The wiring harnesses are connected to each other by a circuit composed of the bus bar 121 and other electric components.

[0009]

However, in the above-described conventional electric connection box, since the connector housing 111 has an integral structure with the main cover 110, the connector housing 111 has a structure as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 (b). 111
Due to a dimensional error between the tab terminal 121a and the insertion hole 111a of the connector housing 111,
A displacement X occurs between them.

Since there is no means for absorbing the displacement X, if the dimensional error between the connector housing 111 and the tab terminal 121a is large, the tab terminal 121a is inserted into the insertion hole 111a of the connector housing 111.
Cannot be inserted, and the main cover 110 cannot be assembled.

Further, when the dimensional error between the connector housing 111 and the tab terminal 121a is small, even if the tab terminal 121a can be inserted into the insertion hole 111a of the connector housing 111, the connector housing 111 and the tab terminal 121a can be inserted. As long as the dimensional error between them is not corrected, the same positional deviation X occurs between the female terminal 141 of the mating connector 140 and the tab terminal 121a, so that the mating connector 140 cannot be fitted to the connector portion 130 after all. Was. Such a problem has been particularly prominent in a multipolar connector having a large number of tab terminals 121a.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and enables alignment adjustment of a connector housing and a tab terminal which constitute a connector portion, and reliably absorbs a positional shift due to a dimensional error between the two. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical junction box that can be used and a method for forming a connector portion in the electrical junction box.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, an electric connection box according to the present invention is arranged such that tab terminals of a wiring board housed in a main cover are inserted into insertion holes of a connector housing provided in the main cover. In the electrical connection box having a connector portion to which a mating connector is connected, the connector housing is structurally separated from the main cover, and an opening larger than the outer periphery of the connector housing is formed in the main cover. The connector housing is movably held in the opening by a flexible and severable holding portion.

In the method of forming a connector according to the present invention corresponding to the electric connection box, the wiring board is attached to a lower cover to which the main cover is attached in advance, and then the tab terminal is inserted into an insertion hole of the connector housing. The main cover is assembled to the lower cover while guiding the distal end of the connector. At this time, if a dimensional error occurs between the connector housing and the tab terminal, the holding portion is flexibly deformed, or By cutting off the portion, the displacement between the insertion hole of the connector housing and the tab terminal is absorbed, and the tab terminal is inserted into the insertion hole of the connector housing at the same time when the main cover is attached to the lower cover. Then, the connector portion is formed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric junction box, wherein a tab terminal of a wiring board accommodated in a main cover is inserted into an insertion hole of a connector housing provided in the main cover. Thus, in the electric connection box in which the connector portion to which the mating connector is connected is formed, the connector housing is structurally separated from the main cover, and the main cover is provided with an opening larger than the outer periphery of the connector housing. The connector housing is movably held in the opening by a severable holding portion having a property, and a moving space of the connector housing having a height equal to or higher than the height of the tab terminal is formed between the connector housing and the wiring board. There is a configuration.

In the method of forming a connector portion according to the present invention corresponding to the electric connection box, the mating connector is pushed into the connector housing so that both are fitted to each other, and then the holding portion is flexibly deformed. By moving the connector housing, the insertion hole of the connector housing is guided to the tip of the tab terminal, and then the connector housing is pushed together with the mating connector into the moving space, thereby cutting the holding portion. Then, the tab terminal is inserted into the insertion hole of the connector housing which is free, thereby forming the connector portion.

Further, in each of the electric junction boxes of the present invention, preferably, the main cover, the holding portion and the connector housing are formed integrally from a flexible resin material. When the tab terminal is completely inserted into the insertion hole, a lock portion for fixing the connector housing is provided.

According to the electrical connection box and the method for forming the connector portion in the electrical connection box of the present invention, the holding portion is flexibly deformed or the holding portion is cut.
The alignment of the connector housing with respect to the tab terminal can be adjusted, and the positional deviation due to a dimensional error between the two can be reliably absorbed.

Therefore, even when a large or small dimensional error occurs between the connector housing and the tab terminal, the main cover can always be assembled, and the mating connector is connected to the connector portion composed of the connector housing and the tab terminal. Can always be fitted.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an electric connection box according to an embodiment of the present invention and a method of forming a connector portion in the electric connection box will be described.

First, an electric junction box according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of an electric junction box according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an electric connection box according to the present embodiment includes a wiring board 20 attached to a lower cover (not shown).
Is housed in the main cover 10.
The wiring board 20 includes a bus bar 21 and an insulating substrate 22,
A large number of tab terminals 21a are connected to the bus bar 21 in a standing manner.

At a position corresponding to the tab terminal 21a of the main cover 10, a rectangular opening 11 is provided. A box-shaped connector housing 1 is formed in the opening 11 by flexible and severable band-shaped holding portions 12, 12.
3 is held at two points. The holding portion 12 and the connector housing 13 are integrally formed with the main cover 10 using a flexible resin material.

A plurality of insertion holes 13a through which the tab terminals 21a are inserted are formed in the bottom wall of the connector housing 13.
Lock claws 13b, 13b constituting a lock portion are provided.

Such a connector housing 13 can be moved in the vertical and horizontal directions within the range of the flexibility of the holding portion 12, so that the alignment with respect to the tab terminal 21a can be adjusted.

As described above, the connector housing 13 is integrally formed at the same time as being connected to the main cover 10 via the holding portion 12, but is structurally separate from the main cover 10. Therefore, the holding unit 12
Is cut off, the connector housing 13 is attached to the main cover 10.
And become independent and independent.

Opening 11 formed in main cover 10
Is larger than the outer circumference of the connector housing 13, and a predetermined clearance C is formed between the opening 11 and the connector housing 13. The clearance C
The horizontal movement of the connector housing 13 is allowed within the range of (1).

The clearance C has a size in consideration of a dimensional error that may occur between the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a.

A space S for moving the connector housing 13 is formed between the connector housing 13 and the wiring board 20. The moving space S allows the connector housing 13 to move in the vertical direction (downward direction), and is used for adjusting the alignment of the connector housing 13 with respect to the tab terminals 21a and after cutting the holding portion 12. The tab terminal 21a is inserted through the insertion hole 13a.

Here, if the connector housing 13 interferes with the tab terminal 21a before the holding portion 12 is cut, the alignment of the connector housing 13 cannot be adjusted, so that the moving space S is larger than the height of the tab terminal 21a. Requires a wide vertical width. On the other hand, the moving space S
If the vertical width is too large, the electrical junction box cannot be made thinner.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the vertical width of the moving space S is set substantially equal to the height of the tab terminal 21a (slightly higher than the moving space S), and the vertical width of the moving space S is adjusted to the alignment of the connector housing 13. The thickness of the electrical junction box has been reduced to the minimum required for adjustment.

The insulating substrate 22 constituting the wiring board 20 includes
A lock arm 22a for locking the lock claw 13b of the connector housing 13 is provided integrally.

When the free insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13 is completely inserted into the tab terminal 21a after the cutting of the holding portion 12, the lock arm 22a locks the lock claw 13b of the connector housing 13. Then, the connector housing 13 is fixed on the insulating substrate 22 (FIG. 3).
(B)).

Next, a method of forming a connector portion in the electric junction box according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) and FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). 2 (a) and 2 (b) and FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b)
3A and 3B are a series of partial cross-sectional views each showing a method of forming a connector portion of the electric connection box according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG.
2, the mating connector 40 is pushed into the connector housing 13 held in the opening 11 of the main cover 10, and the two are fitted together.

Here, due to a dimensional error between the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a, the connector housing 1
3 between the insertion hole 13a and the tab terminal 21a.
Has occurred. As a result, the female terminal 41 of the mating connector 40 fitted to the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 2
A similar displacement X also occurs between 1a.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the connector housing 13 is moved in the direction of arrow A within the range of the flexibility of the holding portion 12 so that the insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13 is inserted into the tab terminal. Guide to the tip of 21a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), by pushing the connector housing 13 together with the mating connector 40 into the moving space S (see FIG. 2 (a)), the holding portion 12 is cut off and becomes free. The tab terminal 21a is inserted through the insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13 thus formed. At this time, the alignment of the connector housing 13 with respect to the tab terminal 21a is adjusted, and the displacement X is absorbed.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the connector terminal 13 is further pushed into the moving space S together with the mating connector 40, so that the tab terminal 21a is completely inserted into the insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13.

Then, the female terminal 41 of the mating connector 40
And the tab terminal 21a are electrically connected, the lock arm 22a locks the lock claw 13b, the connector housing 13 is fixed on the insulating substrate 22, and the connector portion 30 is formed.

When there is no dimensional error between the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a, or when the dimensional error is small, the connector housing 13 is simply pushed into the moving space S together with the mating connector 40, so that the connector housing 13 The tab terminal 21a can be inserted into the insertion hole 13a.

According to the electrical connection box of the present embodiment and the method of forming the connector portion in the electrical connection box, the holding portion 12 is cut and the connector housing 13 is moved, whereby the tab of the connector housing 13 is moved. Terminal 2
1a can be adjusted.
As a result, the displacement X due to the dimensional error between the two can be reliably absorbed.

Therefore, even when a large or small dimensional error occurs between the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a, the main cover 10 can always be assembled, and the connector portion composed of the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a is provided. The mating connector 40 can always be fitted to the connector 30.

Also, the main cover 10, the holding portion 12, and the connector housing 13 are integrally formed of a flexible resin material, so that the connector housing 13 which is structurally separate from the main cover 10 is integrally formed therewith. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified and the manufacturing can be facilitated.

Further, when the tab terminal 21a is completely inserted into the insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13, a lock claw 13b and a lock arm 22a for fixing the connector housing 13 are provided, so that the connector housing 13 is fixed. Based on the presence or absence, it is possible to confirm that the tab terminal 21a is completely inserted into the insertion hole 13a and that the connector housing 13 and the female connector 40 are completely fitted.

Next, an electric junction box according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of an electric connection box according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state before a connector part is formed. FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the electric connection box, showing a state after a connector portion is formed.

In these drawings, the electric connection box of the present embodiment is different from the electric connection box of the first embodiment in that no moving space S is provided between the connector housing 13 and the wiring board 20. I have.

Then, the main cover 10 is mounted on the lower cover 50 to which the wiring board 20 is mounted, and at the same time, the tab terminals 21 a are inserted into the insertion holes 13 a of the connector housing 13.
Are inserted, and the connector section 30 is formed.

Next, a method of forming a connector portion in an electric junction box according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to (a), (b), (c) and FIGS. 7 (a), (b). 6 (a), (b), (c) and FIG.
(A), (b) is a series of partial cross-sectional views showing a method of forming a connector portion in the electrical junction box according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6A, as described above, the wiring board 20 is attached to the lower cover 50 to which the main cover 10 is attached. Then, due to a dimensional error between the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a, a displacement X occurs between the insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 6B, the main cover 10 is slightly moved in the direction of arrow B in the figure to guide the insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13 to the tip of the tab terminal 21a. While maintaining the alignment (ie, while adjusting the alignment), the main cover 10 is
Press

Then, the connector housing 13 is driven by the main cover 10 via the holding portion 12, and the tab terminal 21a is inserted into the insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13. Although not shown, at this time, the displacement X between the insertion hole 13a of the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a is not shown.
In order to absorb the pressure, one of the holding portions 12 is flexibly deformed in an extended state and the other holding portion 12 is flexibly deformed in a contracted state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, at the same time when the main cover 10 is assembled to the lower cover 50, the tab terminals 21a are completely inserted into the insertion holes 13a of the connector housing 13, and the connector portion 30 is formed. You. At this time, one of the holding portions 12 is cut to completely absorb the displacement X.

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the connector housing 13 forming the connector portion 30 is formed.
Then, by mating the mating connector 40, the female terminal 41 of the mating connector 40 and the tab terminal 21a are electrically connected.

When the dimensional error between the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a is small, the displacement X is absorbed only by the flexible deformation of the holding portion 12, and
If there is no dimensional error, the displacement X due to the flexible deformation and / or cutting of the holding portion 12 is not absorbed.

According to the electrical connection box of the present embodiment and the method of forming the connector portion in the electrical connection box, the holding portion 12 is flexibly deformed or cut,
The alignment of the connector housing 13 with respect to the tab terminal 21a can be adjusted. As a result, the displacement X due to the dimensional error between the two can be reliably absorbed.

Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment,
Even when a large or small dimensional error occurs between the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a, the main cover 10 can always be assembled, and the connector portion 30 including the connector housing 13 and the tab terminal 21a has
The mating connector 40 can always be fitted.

Further, since it is not necessary to provide the moving space S for the connector housing 13, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the electric connection box.
The displacement X can be easily absorbed simply by assembling it at zero.

The electric junction box of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the two sides of the connector housing 13 are held at two points in the opening 11 of the main cover 10 by the two holding parts 12, 12. The connector housing 13 may be held at one point or at three or more points by the holding portion 12.

However, when the connector housing 13 is held at two points by the two holding portions 12 and 12 as in the above embodiment, a sufficient holding force can be obtained with a small number of holding portions 12 and 12 and the holding portions 12 and 12 can be obtained. 12 can be easily cut.

In the above embodiment, the lock claw 13b
Although the connector housing 13 is fixed to the wiring board 20 by the lock arm 22a, the configuration is not limited to this, and the connector housing 13 may be fixed to another member, for example, the main cover 10.

[0062]

As described above, according to the electrical junction box and the method of forming the connector portion in the electrical junction box of the present invention,
It is possible to adjust the alignment between the connector housing and the tab terminal that constitute the connector portion, and it is possible to reliably absorb the positional deviation due to a dimensional error between the two.

Therefore, even when a large or small dimensional error occurs between the connector housing and the tab terminal, the main cover can always be assembled, and the mating connector is connected to the connector portion composed of the connector housing and the tab terminal. Can always be fitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of an electric junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a series of partial cross-sectional views showing a procedure of a method of forming a connector portion in an electric connection box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a series of partial cross-sectional views showing a procedure of a method of forming a connector portion in an electric junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of an electric junction box according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state before a connector part is formed.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of an electric junction box according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state after a connector portion is formed.

FIGS. 6 (a), (b), and (c) are a series of partial cross-sectional views showing a method of forming a connector part in an electric junction box according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7A and 7B are a series of partial cross-sectional views showing a method of forming a connector portion in an electric junction box according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional electric junction box.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connector part of the conventional electric connection box.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are enlarged views showing a state in which a tab terminal is inserted into an insertion hole of a connector housing constituting the connector portion. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main cover 11 Opening 12 Holding part 13 Connector housing 13a Insertion hole 13b Lock claw (lock part) 20 Wiring board 21 Bus bar 21a Tab terminal (male terminal) 22 Insulating board 22a Lock arm (lock part) 30 Connector part (female connector) ) 40 Mating connector (male connector) 41 Female terminal S Moving space

Claims (6)

[Claims] An electric connection box having a connector portion to which a mating connector is connected by inserting a tab terminal of a wiring board housed in a main cover into an insertion hole of a connector housing provided in the main cover. In the above, the connector housing is structurally separated from the main cover, and an opening larger than the outer periphery of the connector housing is provided in the main cover, and the connector housing is opened by a cuttable holding portion having flexibility. An electric connection box, which is movably held in a section. 2. An electric connection box having a connector portion to which a mating connector is connected by inserting a tab terminal of a wiring board accommodated in a main cover into an insertion hole of a connector housing provided in the main cover. In the above, the connector housing is structurally separated from the main cover, and an opening larger than the outer periphery of the connector housing is provided in the main cover, and the connector housing is opened by a cuttable holding portion having flexibility. An electrical connection box, wherein the connector housing is movably held in a section and a space for moving the connector housing is provided between the connector housing and the wiring board, the space being higher than the height of the tab terminal. 3. The electric connection box according to claim 1, wherein said main cover, said holding portion, and said connector housing are integrally formed of a flexible resin material. 4. The electric connection box according to claim 1, further comprising a lock portion for fixing the connector housing when the tab terminal is completely inserted into the insertion hole of the connector housing. 5. The method for forming a connector portion in an electric connection box according to claim 1, wherein the wiring board is attached to a lower cover to which the main cover is attached in advance, and then the connector housing is mounted. The main cover is assembled to the lower cover while guiding the distal end of the tab terminal through the insertion hole. At this time, if a dimensional error occurs between the connector housing and the tab terminal, the holding portion is flexible. Deform,
Alternatively, by cutting the holding portion, the positional deviation between the insertion hole of the connector housing and the tab terminal is absorbed, and the mounting of the main cover to the lower cover is performed simultaneously with the insertion hole of the connector housing. A method for forming a connector part, wherein a tab terminal is inserted to form the connector part. 6. The method for forming a connector part in an electric connection box according to claim 2, wherein said mating connector is pushed into said connector housing to fit them together, and then said holding is performed. By moving the connector housing by flexibly deforming the portion, the insertion hole of the connector housing is guided to the tip of the tab terminal, and then, by pushing the connector housing together with the mating connector into the moving space, A method of forming a connector part, comprising cutting the holding part and inserting the tab terminal into a free insertion hole of the connector housing to form the connector part.