JP2000323006A - Electrically functional component and installing structure of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize an electrical junction box in a state where waterproofness is maintained. SOLUTION: An electrical junction box 11 is formed by a method wherein electrically functional components such as a fuse 15, a relay and a diode are covered with a waterproof rubber cover 16 having lips 16a and 16b projectingly and then is fitted into a hood 12 projecting from a case main body 11a of the electrical junction box 11, where the lips 16a and 16b of the waterproof rubber over 16 adhere to an inner perimetric surface 12b of the hood 12 to form a water stop seal 20 for ensuring the waterproofing without installing a cover, a surrounding wall and so on.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric functional component and a mounting structure for the electric functional component, and more particularly, to simplifying the structure of an electric junction box by increasing waterproofness at each mounting position of the electric functional component. It is intended to reduce the size and weight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric junction box mounted in an engine room or the like of an automobile houses a circuit inside a case body constituting the electric junction box, and electrically connects fuses, relays, diodes and the like on upper and lower surfaces of the case body. The required electric circuit is formed by attaching the functional parts and connecting the above circuits.
Since various inconveniences occur when water is splashed on the mounting portions of these electric functional components to cause water immersion or the like, the upper and lower surfaces of the case body are covered with covers to ensure waterproofness.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a conventional electric junction box 1.
The female terminal 3 connected to the circuit accommodated in the case main body 1a of the electric connection box 1 is fitted into the terminal accommodating portion 1c of the case main body 1a. The hood 2 protrudes from an upper surface 1d above the terminal accommodating portion 1c, and a notch is provided at a central portion of the peripheral wall 2a in the longitudinal direction. In addition,
A rubber stopper 8 is fitted below the female terminal 3 to make the terminal housing 1c waterproof.

Further, the upper peripheral portion 1 of the case main body 1a is provided.
b, an outer wall 1 for fitting with a cover is provided outside the peripheral wall 1e.
f, and a rubber ring 9 is fitted between the peripheral wall 1e and the outer wall 1f. A cover 4 having double cover walls 4a and 4b is fitted and attached to the outer wall 1f and the rubber ring 9 so as to cover the upper surface 1d of the case main body 1a, and waterproofing is achieved.

FIG. 4C shows a fuse 5 which is an electric functional part, and a base 5a colored according to an applied current value.
have. The fuses 5 are sequentially fitted into the hood 2 of the case body 1a and attached.
Terminal 5b is connected to the female terminal 3. The electric connection box to which only the fuse is attached as the electric functional component as described above is called a fuse box, and the case where only the relay is attached as the electric functional component is called the relay box. Some electrical junction boxes have fuses and relays attached in a mixed manner, and others have diodes and the like as electrical functional components.

[0006]

As described above, since the electric connection box 1 is provided with the rubber ring 9 and the cover 4 for waterproofing, there is a problem that the outer diameter and weight of the case body are increased. There is also a problem that a mounting space of the electric connection box on the vehicle body requires a large space. Further, since the rubber ring 9 and the cover 4 are exclusive products for the corresponding electric connection box 1, respective exclusive dies are required for molding the rubber ring 9 and the like, and the mold production and the electric connection box are required. However, there is a problem that it takes a lot of cost to assemble the device. further,
Since the fuse 5 attached as the electric functional component is maintained only by the connection with the female terminal 3,
The connection may be incomplete due to vibration of the vehicle body or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and by ensuring waterproofness at each of the mounting portions of an electric functional component, a cover and a rubber ring are omitted to reduce the size and weight of an electric connection box. The task is to plan.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an electric functional component such as a fuse, a relay, or a diode to be attached to an electric junction box, wherein the terminal of the electric functional component is insulated. There is provided an electric functional component in which a waterproof rubber cover is attached to a base made of resin to cover and adhere to the entire peripheral surface except the terminal projecting surface and the upper surface.

As described above, by attaching the waterproof rubber cover to the electric functional parts attached to the electric connection box, the waterproofness is secured by the electric functional parts, and the waterproof rubber cover is also provided at the place where these electric functional parts are attached. The waterproof part can be ensured by bringing the mounting part of the electric junction box into close contact with the mounting part. This eliminates the need for waterproofing the entire mounting surface of the electrical functional component of the electrical junction box, and can omit the cover and the rubber ring. This omission can reduce the size and weight of the electric connection box, and can reduce the cost of the electric connection box because a mold for the cover and the rubber ring is not required.

Further, the waterproof rubber cover has a lip protruding from the entire peripheral surface at the lower part of the peripheral wall. By doing so, the adhesion between the mounting portion of the electrical junction box and the lip is enhanced, and the waterproofness can be further enhanced. Further, the waterproof rubber cover is preferably transparent or translucent. By making the waterproof rubber cover transparent or translucent in this way, if the electrical functional component to which the waterproof rubber cover is attached is a fuse that colors the base and displays the applied current value, the waterproof rubber cover may be used. The color of the base can be confirmed even in the attached state, and the presence or absence of the disconnection of the fusing portion connecting the pair of terminals can also be confirmed. The number of the lips may be one or more. By using a plurality of the lips, the number of seal points is increased, and the waterproofness can be further enhanced.

Further, the electric function component is fitted to a hood projecting from the case body constituting the electric connection box so as to cover the entire lower periphery of the waterproof rubber cover attached to the electric function component, There is provided a mounting structure for an electric functional component, wherein a water blocking seal is formed by closely contacting a lower wall surface of the waterproof rubber cover or the lip to an inner peripheral surface of the hood. As described above, by projecting the hood adapted to the electric functional component to which the waterproof rubber cover to be attached from the electric junction box is attached, when the electric functional component is mounted inside the hood, the rubber cover and the inner periphery of the hood are attached. The surfaces are in close contact with each other to form a waterproof seal, and reliable waterproofing can be achieved without attaching a cover or the like to the electric connection box.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B show a state in which a fuse 15 to which a waterproof rubber cover 16 according to the present invention is attached is attached to an electric connection box 11. The fuse 15 itself, which is an electric functional component, is the same as the conventional one, and the base 1 made of a rectangular parallelepiped insulating resin colored for each applied current value.
5a covers the upper portions of the pair of terminals 15b joined by the fusing portion 15c, and the lower surface 15d of the base which becomes the terminal protruding surface.
The lower portions of the pair of terminals 15b are projected more.

The waterproof rubber cover 16 shown in FIG. 2 which covers the base 15a of the fuse 15 is formed of a transparent or translucent elastic and flexible resin or the like. It is made. The waterproof rubber cover 16 has a thickness of about 1.5 mm and a cover lower surface 16.
d is an opening and the inside is a space, and the fuse 15
Of the base 15a, except for the lower surface 15d, so as to cover the entire surface and the upper surface, and to cover the base 15a in close contact with the base 15a. By making the waterproof rubber cover 16 transparent or translucent in this way, the color of the base 15a and the state of the fusing portion can be confirmed. If there is no need to confirm the base color or the like, the waterproof rubber cover does not need to be transparent or translucent.

Further, the waterproof rubber cover 16 is provided with a lip 1 having elasticity and flexibility from the entire lower periphery of the wall surface 16c.
6a and 16b are projected. These lips 16a,
16b, the fuse 15 is connected to the hood 12
In consideration of the distance between the hood 12 and the fuse 15 when the hood 12 is mounted on the device, the projecting height is about 0.5 to 1 mm and the width is
m and the distance between the lips 16a and 16b is 1m
m. The number of the lips is not limited to two, but may be one or two or more. Further, the wall surface 16c below the lower lip 16b is tapered so as to taper toward the lower end, thereby improving the attachment of the fuse 15 to the hood 12 described later.

The waterproof rubber cover 16 is placed over and closely attached to the base 15a of the fuse 15 so as to cover all except the lower surface 15d from which the terminal 15b projects. Note that the step of covering the waterproof rubber cover 16 is performed in the step of manufacturing the fuse 15, and it is preferable that the waterproof rubber cover 16 be attached to the fuse 15 in a completed state.

On the other hand, FIGS. 3A and 3B show a case body 11a of the electric connection box 11 to which the fuse 15 is attached. The electric connection box 11 is formed of a case main body 11a as in the related art, and has a terminal accommodating portion 11c for fitting a female terminal 13 for connection to a circuit accommodated therein. The terminal accommodating portion 11c also serves as a peripheral wall around the case main body 11a, and no external wall is provided outside the upper end peripheral portion 11b. Further, the terminal accommodating portion 11
A plurality of fuses are attached by projecting the hoods 12 from the upper surface 11d of the case main body 11a, which is located above c.

The hood 12 has a longitudinal peripheral wall 12a.
Have the same height over the entire circumference without providing notches. The height of the hood 12 is set to be higher than the upper lip 16a of the waterproof rubber cover 16 with the fuse 15 covered with the waterproof rubber cover 16 attached to the hood 12. The dimensions of the inner peripheral side of the hood 12 are the lips 16a and 16b of the waterproof rubber cover 16.
When the fuse 15 is attached to the hood 12 by setting it to be smaller than the outer peripheral dimension of the protrusion of the lip 16a,
6b is crushed so as to be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 12b of the hood 12.

As described above, when the fuse 15 is attached to each of the hoods 12, the waterproof rubber cover 16 ensures the sealing performance. Therefore, the cover conventionally attached to the case body is not provided with the electrical connection box 11. As described above, the outer dimensions of the electric connection box 11 are vertical, horizontal,
Since the height is reduced in size and the rubber ring and the cover, which are conventionally attached, are not provided, the weight is reduced. The configuration, shape, and the like of the parts other than those described above are the same as those in the related art.

To attach the fuse 15 to which the waterproof rubber cover 16 has been attached to the electric connection box 11, FIG.
(A) As shown in FIG.
And a pair of terminals 15b are inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 1.
1c is connected to the female terminal 13 housed therein. In the above mounting state, the lips 16a, 16
b is crushed and adheres to the inner peripheral surface 12b of the hood 12, so that the water-stop seal 20 is formed over the entire upper and lower peripheries.

By forming the water-stop seal 20 in this manner, even if the upper surface of the case body 11a is covered with water, the water-stop seal 20 is waterproof, so that water does not enter the hood 12. Further, since the waterproof rubber cover 16 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 12b of the hood 12 as described above, the fuse 15 is engaged with the inner peripheral surface 12b of the hood 12, and the fuse 15 is also protected against vibration of the vehicle body. The mounting state of the fuse 15 can be reliably maintained. Furthermore, as described above, after all necessary fuses are attached to the electric connection box 11, conventionally, a cover attaching step was necessary. However, in the present invention, since the cover and the rubber ring are not provided, these Does not exist, and the number of steps required for manufacturing the electrical junction box 11 can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which only a fuse is attached to the electrical connection box as an electrical functional component.
Similar to the above, a waterproof rubber cover is attached. In this case as well, a waterproof rubber cover adapted to the base of the relay is covered, a hood covering the waterproof rubber cover is projected from the case body of the electric connection box, and the relay covered with the waterproof rubber cover is attached to the hood. The lip of the waterproof rubber cover is attached to the inner surface of the hood for waterproofing. Further, in addition to the fuse and the relay, a waterproof rubber cover may be put on a diode or the like as an electric functional component to achieve waterproofing. These electric functional parts may be separately mounted on the electric junction box for each type,
You may make it mix and attach it to an electric junction box.

Further, as a modified example of the waterproof rubber cover, the lower wall surface may be directly adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the hood without projecting the lip from the wall surface. By doing so, the contact area between the waterproof rubber cover and the inner peripheral surface of the hood is increased, and a waterproof seal can be configured over a wide range. In this case, the inner peripheral dimension of the hood is smaller than the outer peripheral dimension of the waterproof rubber cover so that the hood can be surely adhered. The configuration, shape, and the like of the other parts are the same as those in the above embodiment.

[0023]

As is apparent from the above description, by using the electric functional component and the mounting structure of the electric functional component of the present invention, a waterproof seal is formed for each mounting position of the electric functional component, and the waterproof function is provided. Therefore, the rubber ring and the cover conventionally attached to the electric connection box are not required, and the electric connection box can be reduced in size and weight. By doing so, the mountability of the electrical junction box to the vehicle body can be improved, and furthermore, there is no need to attach a mold or cover used for molding a rubber ring or the like, and the cost for manufacturing the electrical junction box is eliminated. Can also be reduced. In addition, electrical functional parts have a waterproof rubber cover,
Since the electric connection box is attached in close contact with the hood projecting from the case body, it is possible to prevent the electric functional components from dropping off due to vibration of the vehicle body and to prevent the connection state from shifting, and to ensure a reliable mounting state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are an electric functional component and a mounting structure of the electric functional component of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view at the time of mounting, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electric functional component of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an electric connection box according to the mounting structure of the present invention, wherein (A) is a cross-sectional view and (B) is a plan view.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a sectional view of a conventional electric junction box, and FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a conventional electric functional component.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 11 Electrical connection box 1a, 11a Case body 2, 12 Hood 4 Cover 5, 15 Fuse 9 Rubber ring 16 Waterproof rubber cover 16a, 16b Lip

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electric functional component such as a fuse, a relay, or a diode attached to an electric junction box, wherein a base made of an insulating resin from which a terminal of the electric functional component protrudes is provided on an entire peripheral surface and an upper surface excluding a terminal protruding surface. An electrical functional component, which is provided with a waterproof rubber cover that is attached to and adhered to the electronic component. 2. The electric functional component according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof rubber cover has a lip protruding from an entire peripheral surface of a lower part of a peripheral wall. 3. The electric functional component according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof rubber cover is transparent or translucent. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The electric functional component described in the item is fitted to a hood projecting from the case body constituting the electric connection box at a height covering the entire lower periphery of the waterproof rubber cover attached to the electric functional component. A mounting structure for an electric functional component, wherein a water blocking seal is formed by closely contacting a lower wall surface of a rubber cover or the lip to an inner peripheral surface of the hood.