JPH11301379A - Ground wire connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a ground wire connection structure that can simplify the assembling process of a vehicle while reducing the wire harness. In this ground wire connection structure, a connector 24 in which a connection terminal 23 crimped and connected to one end (end) of a plurality of ground wires 21 included in a predetermined wire harness is inserted and held, Predetermined vehicle electrical equipment 25
Each ground wire 21 is grounded to the vehicle body via the short pin 29 and the metal case 27 by connecting to the short pin 29 attached to the metal case 27 that is grounded to the vehicle body. The connector 24 is fixed to the housing 27 of the electric device 25 via the short pin 29.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ground wire connection structure for mutually short-circuiting a plurality of ground wires included in a wire harness.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a ground wire connection structure according to a first prior art. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a general ground connection method of a metal housing of an in-vehicle electric device such as an audio device. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of the ground wire connection structure according to the first prior art shown in FIG. 5 and the grounding method shown in FIG.

[0005] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, electric appliances A to D mounted on a vehicle are provided on a wire harness.
And a plurality of ground wires 1 connected to the ground circuit, and these ground wires 1 are generally short-circuited to each other at a predetermined position of the wire harness. In addition to the ground wire 1 connected to each of the electric devices A to D, the wire harness to which the first related art is applied has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a ground wire 3 connected to the vehicle body
In the first prior art, the ground wires 1 and 3 are short-circuited to each other to connect each ground wire 1 to the vehicle body.

[0004] The first prior art ground wires 1, 3
Is connected to each ground wire 1 as shown in FIG.
This is performed by inserting a short pin 7 into the connector 5 in which the connection terminal provided at the end of the connector 3 is inserted and held, and short-circuiting the connection terminal of each of the ground wires 1 and 3 with the short pin 7. It has become. After the insertion of the short pins 7, a cover 9 for protecting the insertion portion of the short pins 7 is attached to the connector 5. When the short-circuit connection of the ground wires 1 and 3 is completed in this manner, the connector 5 is fixed to a predetermined fixing position such as a wire harness main body using a predetermined fixing means such as a tape or a fixing band. I have.

[0005] By the way, among the electric devices mounted on a vehicle, there are electric devices 11 which require electromagnetic shielding by a metal housing 11a, such as audio devices mounted on a vehicle and an engine control unit. In the device 11, as shown in FIG. 6, electromagnetic shielding is performed by a metal housing 11a so as not to be adversely affected by external electromagnetic waves. The metal housing 11a is connected to the vehicle body via a predetermined ground wire 13.

For this reason, the ground 1 in the wire harness
In the case where the above-mentioned first conventional technique is used for the connection of the electric equipment 11 and the electric equipment 11, as shown in FIG.
And a ground connection circuit for connecting the metal housing 11a to the ground via the ground wire 13.

Next, as a second prior art, a bolt fixing portion for fixing a bolt to a vehicle body is provided on the aforementioned short pin 7 itself, and the short pin 7 is bolted to the vehicle body, so that the short pin 7 is fixed to the wire harness. There is a technology in which each of the ground wires 1 is connected to the vehicle body. Therefore, in the case of this technique, it is not necessary to provide a ground wire 3 for connecting each ground wire 1 to the vehicle body in the wire harness. When the second prior art is applied to the ground connection of the ground wire 1 in the wire harness, similarly to the case of the first prior art, the ground circuit formed by the ground wire 1 and the The ground circuit for the metal housing 11a of the device 11 has a configuration substantially different from that of the ground circuit.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned first prior art, the cover 9 for protecting the insertion portion of the short pin 7 is required, and the man-hour is increased due to an increase in the number of parts and an operation of mounting the cover 9. There is a problem of increasing. In the first prior art, the ground wire 3 for connecting the ground wire 1 connected to each of the electric devices A to D to the vehicle body must be provided in the wire harness. There is also a problem that the number of electric wires required increases.

On the other hand, in the second prior art, since the ground wire 1 is connected to the vehicle body via the short pin 7, the ground wire 3 for body ground must be provided in the wire harness. Therefore, there is an advantage that the wire harness can be reduced in line.

However, in the second prior art, since it is necessary to fix the short pin 7 to the vehicle body with a bolt, there is a problem that this fixing work complicates the assembly process of the vehicle. Note that this point is the same as in the case of the above-described first related art in that a fixing operation for fixing the connector 5 to a predetermined fixing position is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ground wire connection structure that can simplify a vehicle assembling process while reducing the wire harness.

[0012]

The technical means for achieving the above object is connected to a ground circuit of an electric component mounted on a vehicle, and arranged and arranged with another electric wire to form a predetermined wire harness. A connection structure of a ground wire for connecting a ground wire to a vehicle body, wherein a connection terminal provided at an end of the ground wire has a terminal insertion hole held inside, and the terminal insertion hole has a predetermined shape. A connector having a terminal receiving port, and the metal housing of a vehicle-mounted electric device having a metal housing grounded to a vehicle body, the metal housing being provided in an electrically conductive state with the metal housing; A short-circuit member having a predetermined insertion terminal portion to be inserted into the terminal insertion hole, and inserting the insertion terminal portion of the short-circuit member from the terminal receiving port into the terminal insertion hole of the connector, Connection with the connection terminal Thereby, the ground wire is grounded to the vehicle body via the short-circuit member and the metal housing, and the connector is fixed to the metal housing via the short-circuit member. .

[0013] Preferably, the connector and the short-circuit member each have an engaging portion that engages with each other as the insertion terminal portion is inserted into the terminal insertion hole to fix the connector and the short-circuit member. It is good to be provided.

Preferably, the short-circuit member is provided integrally with the metal casing.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a ground wire connection structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the ground wire connection structure of FIG. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of the connection structure of the ground wire of FIG.

In this embodiment, a connector 24 in which a connection terminal 23 crimped and connected to one end (end) of a plurality of ground wires 21 included in a predetermined wire harness is inserted and held inside a predetermined vehicle harness. Each ground wire 21 is connected to a short pin (short circuit member) 29 attached to a metal housing 27 that is grounded to the vehicle body of the electric device 25 so that each ground wire 21 is connected to the vehicle body via the short pin 29 and the metal housing 27. And the connector 24 is fixed to the housing 27 of the electric device 25 via the short pin 29.

As shown in FIG. 3, the other ends of the plurality of ground wires 21 are respectively connected to ground circuits of a plurality of electric devices (electric components) A to D mounted on the vehicle. The plurality of ground wires 21 are bound together with other electric wires (not shown) to form a predetermined wire harness.

The electrical equipment 25 to which the short pin 29 is provided is a metal housing 2 grounded to the vehicle body.
5 may be any electrical component that requires electromagnetic shielding from the outside world, such as audio equipment and engine control units. Here, the electric device 25 is an audio device.

The electric equipment 25 which is the audio equipment
Is mounted on a device mounting portion in the center of the dashboard, and the metal housing 27 is attached to a mounting bracket (bracket) fixed to the vehicle body by screws (fixed with screws) or the like. Is fixed to the vehicle body. In this mounting state, the metal housing 27 is electrically connected to the vehicle body via the mounting bracket, and is grounded to the vehicle body. In this case, the metal housing 27 is grounded to the vehicle body via the mounting bracket. However, as shown in FIG. 6, a dedicated ground wire is provided between the metal housing 27 and the vehicle body. The metal housing 27 may be connected to the ground by providing it.

The connector 24 is integrally formed by resin molding, and has a plurality of terminal insertion holes 24a that open front and rear.
And a lock portion (engaging portion) 24b provided on the side surface portion. A ground wire 21 is provided in each terminal insertion hole 24a.
Are respectively inserted and held from the openings on the back surface side.

Here, the connection terminal 23 and the connection terminal 2
The short pin 29 is connected to the insertion connection portion 29b of the short pin 29, which will be described later, as a pair of male and female. As shown in FIG. The portion 29b is fitted and connected internally. The insertion terminal 29b of the short pin 29
Is an opening on the front side of each terminal insertion hole 29 (terminal receiving port).
Is to be inserted from.

The lock portion 24b has a connector 24 at one end.
It has a cantilever shape in which the other end on the rear end side is a free end, and it bends inward when an external force that pushes it inward from the side surface is applied. ing. An engagement projection 24c is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the lock portion 24b so as to protrude outward on a part of a side surface of the connector 24.

The short pin 29 is integrally formed by stamping and bending a predetermined metal plate, and has a long, substantially rectangular plate-shaped main body 29a and a main body 29a.
a plurality of insertion terminal portions 29b connected to upper and lower (or left and right) edges of the main body 29a and bent at right angles, and portions of the upper and lower (or left and right) edges of the main body 29a where the insertion terminal portions 29b are not provided And an engaging portion 29c provided continuously with the second member.

The engaging portion 29c has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and includes a first portion 29d extending from the main body 29a in a direction substantially parallel to the main body 29a, and a first portion 29d.
And a second portion 29e extending in a direction perpendicular to the tip of the insertion terminal portion 29b, that is, in the same direction as the insertion terminal portion 29b. The second portion 29e is provided with an engagement hole 29f that engages with the engagement projection 24c of the lock portion 24b of the connector 24.

At the both ends of the main body 29a, the short pins 29 are screwed with screws (screw) 31, 33 to form a metal housing 27.
There is provided a through hole for fixing the screws 31 and 33 in the side surface of the metal housing 27.

That is, when the short pins 29 are attached to the metal housing 27,
Insertion terminal portion 29b and engagement portion 29 of short pin 29
The second portion 29e of c is projected in the vertical direction. The short pins 29 are electrically connected to the metal housing 27.

The connection between the short pins 29 and the connector 24 is performed in a state where the short pins 29 are attached to the metal housing 27. When each of the insertion terminal portions 29b of the short pin 29 is inserted into each of the terminal insertion holes 24a of the connector 34 from the opening on the front side thereof, the respective insertion terminal portions 29
b is connected to each connection terminal 23 inserted and held in each terminal insertion hole 24a, and the short pin 29
The second portion 29e of the engaging portion 29c is in sliding contact with the engaging convex portion 24c of the locking portion 24b of the connector 24, and the locking portion 24b
Is bent inward and moves on the lock portion 24b, and the lock portion 24b is positioned at a position where the engagement convex portion 24c faces the engagement hole 29f.
Is returned outward from the bent state, and the engaging projection 24c fits into the engagement hole 29f, and the engagement projection 29c and the engagement hole 29
f engages (see FIG. 2).

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ground wires 21 are short-circuited to each other by the short pins 29, and the short pins 29, the metal housing 27 and the electric device 25 are attached. The ground is connected to the vehicle body via the mounting bracket, and at the same time, the connector 29 is fixed to the side surface of the metal housing 25 by the engagement between the lock portion 24b and the engagement portion 29c.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the respective insertion terminal portions 29b of the short pins 29 attached to the metal housing 27 of the electric device 25 are inserted into the respective terminal insertion holes 24a of the connector 24. Side, and connected to the connection terminal 23 of each ground wire 21 so that each ground wire 21
Are grounded to the vehicle body via the short pins 29 and the metal housing 27, so that the ground wire connected to the ground circuit of the electrical component is grounded to the vehicle body as in the first prior art. It is not necessary to provide a dedicated ground wire in the wire harness for wiring, and the wire harness can be saved.

As the insertion terminal portion 29b of the short pin 29 is inserted into the terminal insertion hole 24a of the connector 24, the lock portion 24b of the connector 24 and the engagement portion 29c of the short pin 29 engage with each other. Since the connector 24 is fixed to the metal housing 25 via the short pins 29, the connector 24 does not require complicated fixing work such as bolt fixing of the short pins as in the related art. Can be firmly fixed to the metal housing 27 with one touch, and the assembling process of the vehicle can be simplified.

Further, since it is not necessary to attach the cover 9 to the connector 24 as in the first prior art, the number of parts can be reduced, and in this respect also, the assembly process can be simplified.

In this embodiment, the short pins 29
Is fixed to the metal housing 27 by screws, but may be fixed by fitting. As a method of the fitting, for example, a method of providing an engaging portion that engages with the short pin 29 and the metal housing 25 and engaging these engaging portions to fix the pin and the like can be considered.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a ground wire connection structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the ground wire connection structure according to the present embodiment, the short pin 29 is connected to the electrical device 2.
5 is substantially the same as the connection structure of the ground wire according to the above-described first embodiment, except that it is provided integrally with the metal housing 27 of FIG. And the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, the metal housing 27 of the electric device 25 includes a top plate 27a and portions other than the top plate 27a (here, portions including left and right side plates and a bottom plate) 27b.
The short pin 29 is provided integrally with the top plate 27a. The top plate 27a is provided with screws 41, 43
Thus, it is fixed to the other portion 27b.

More specifically, the short pin 29 is formed at an edge of a portion 27c of the left or right edge of the top plate 27a which is bent at right angles to the side plate direction.
A portion corresponding to the plurality of insertion terminal portions 29b of the short pin 29 and the second portion 29e of the engaging portion 29c is formed by bending the edge of the portion 27c punched into a predetermined shape at right angles to the side plate. Have been. The portion corresponding to the second portion 29c is provided with an engagement hole 29f that engages with the engagement protrusion 24c of the lock portion 24b of the connector 24. In the short pin 29 according to the present embodiment, the engaging portion 29c has no portion corresponding to the first portion 29d.

Such a short pin 29 and the connector 3
The direction of connection and fixation with the device 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the connector 24 according to the first embodiment, a plurality of terminal insertion holes 24a are provided in a state of being arranged in upper and lower two stages. In the connector 24 according to the second embodiment, a plurality of terminal insertion holes 24a are provided. The terminal insertion holes 24a are provided not in two stages but in a line.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment, such as the reduction of the wire harness and the simplification of the assembling process, can be obtained. Since it is provided integrally with the body 27,
There is no need to perform an operation for attaching the short pins 29 to the metal housing 27, and the effect that the assembling process can be further simplified can be obtained.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the insertion terminal portion of the short-circuit member provided in the metal casing of the vehicle-mounted electric device is inserted from the terminal receiving hole into the terminal insertion hole of the connector. By connecting and connecting to the connection terminal, the ground wire is connected to the vehicle body via the short-circuit member and the metal housing. It is not necessary to provide a dedicated ground wire for connecting the ground wire connected to the vehicle body to the vehicle body in the wire harness, and the wire harness can be saved.

Further, as the insertion terminal portion of the short-circuit member is inserted into the terminal insertion hole of the connector, the connector is fixed to the metal housing of the vehicle-mounted electric device via the short-circuit member. Therefore, there is no need to perform complicated connector fixing work such as bolt fixing, and the assembly process of the vehicle can be simplified.

Further, since there is no need to attach a cover to the connector as in the first prior art, the number of components can be reduced, and in this respect also, the assembly process can be simplified.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the connector and the short-circuit member are engaged with each other as the insertion terminal portion is inserted into the terminal insertion hole, thereby fixing the connector and the short-circuit member. Are provided, so that the connector can be firmly fixed to the metal housing via the short-circuit member with one touch.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the short-circuit member is provided integrally with the metal housing of the vehicle-mounted electric device, an operation for attaching the short-circuit member to the metal housing is performed. There is no necessity, and the assembly process can be further simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a ground wire connection structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the connection structure of the ground wire of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of a ground line connection structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a connection structure of a ground wire according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a connection structure of a ground wire according to a first related art.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a general ground connection method for a metal housing of a vehicle-mounted electric device.

7 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of a ground wire connection structure according to a first conventional technique shown in FIG. 5 and a grounding method shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Earth wire 23 Connection terminal 24 Connector 24a Terminal insertion hole 24b Lock part 25, A to D electric equipment 27 Metal housing 29 Short pin 29b Insertion terminal part 29c Engagement part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A ground wire connection structure that is connected to a ground circuit of an electrical component mounted on a vehicle and that connects a ground wire routed by forming a predetermined wire harness with other electric wires to a vehicle body. A connector having a terminal insertion hole in which a connection terminal provided at the end of the ground wire is held, and the terminal insertion hole having a predetermined terminal receiving port; and a metal grounded to a vehicle body. The metal housing of the in-vehicle electric device having a housing has a predetermined insertion terminal portion that is provided in a state of being electrically connected to the metal housing and is inserted into the terminal insertion hole of the connector. A short-circuit member, wherein the earth wire is connected to the connection terminal by inserting the insertion terminal portion of the short-circuit member into the terminal insertion hole of the connector from the terminal receiving port. And the metal A ground wire connection structure, wherein the connector is fixed to the metal housing via the short-circuit member while being grounded to the vehicle body via a housing made of metal. 2. The connector and the short-circuit member,
The engaging portion according to claim 1, wherein an engaging portion that engages with each other when the insertion terminal portion is inserted into the terminal insertion hole and fixes the connector and the short-circuit member is provided. Ground wire connection structure. 3. The ground wire connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the short-circuit member is provided integrally with the metal housing.