Patent Application
20060046536
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Japanese Application No. 2004-252955, filed on Aug. 31, 2004, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric junction box for installation in a vehicle. More particularly, the electric junction box can be used in both a right hand drive vehicle (a vehicle having the steering wheel on the right side) and a left hand drive vehicle (a vehicle having the steering wheel on the left side). Fuse replacements for the electric junction box are performed through fuse-replacement openings which have the same shape and are provided at locations symmetrically left to right to each other in a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an electric junction box for installation in a vehicle has fuse-connecting units formed on an external surface of the case of the electric junction box. When a fuse fitted in a fuse-connecting unit is melted (shorted) due to a high current condition, the melted fuse is replaced through a fuse-replacement opening provided on the body-side of the vehicle. For such an electric junction box, the following problem exists. When a fuse is replaced through the fuse-replacement opening which has the same shape and is provided at symmetric locations in a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle, in order to provide the fuse-connecting units in a location aligned with the fuse-replacement opening, it is necessary to provide separately an electric junction box for installation in a right hand drive vehicle and an electric junction box for installation in a left hand drive vehicle, in which the fuse-connecting units are provided at different locations.
More particularly, as shown in
In order to eliminate the problem of having to provide separately an electric junction box for installation in a right hand drive vehicle and an electric junction box for installation in a left hand drive vehicle, in Japanese Laid Open Utility Model Publication H6-45287, as shown in
In the above-described electric junction box 4 of the prior art of JP H6-45287, the fuse-connecting units are provided by using fuse-holder 5, which is a separate part from electric junction box 4, so that the fuse-connecting units can be provided on the passenger compartment side even when electric junction box 4 is installed with upper and lower sides reversed. However, since electric junction box 4 and fuse-holder 5 are provided separately, there is a problem that the number of parts and the number of worker-hours are increased. Further, when there is a mismatch in the relative positions of the fuse-replacement opening in a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle, there is a problem that it may be not possible to provide the fuse-connecting units in a location aligned with the fuse-replacement opening.
The present invention is provided to solve at least above-described problems. An objective of the present invention is to provide an electric junction box that can be used in both a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle. Fuse replacements for the electric junction box are performed through fuse-replacement openings which have the same shape and are provided at locations symmetrical left to right in a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle.
An aspect of the present invention provides an electric junction box for a right hand drive vehicle or a left hand drive vehicle, the electric junction box including a case; and a plurality of fuse-connecting units provided on the case, the plurality of fuse-connecting units including shared fuse-connecting units provided in a middle region of the case among the plurality of fuse-connecting units; fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle; and fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle; wherein fuse replacements may be performed through a fuse-replacement opening in the vehicle, the fuse-replacement opening in a right hand drive vehicle and the fuse-replacement opening in a left hand drive vehicle having the same shape and being provided at locations symmetrical left to right.
Further, the shared fuse-connecting units are provided in alignment with the fuse-replacement opening whether the electric junction box is installed in a right hand drive vehicle or a left hand drive vehicle. Additionally, the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle are provided in alignment with the fuse-replacement opening only when the electric junction box is provided in a right hand drive vehicle. The fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle are provided in alignment with the fuse-replacement opening only when the electric junction box is provided in a left hand drive vehicle.
Further, the combination of the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle forms a first group of fuse-connecting units required for a right hand drive vehicle; and the combination of the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle forms a second group of fuse-connecting units required for a left hand drive vehicle. The fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle are provided symmetrically left to right with respect to the shared fuse-connecting units located in the middle region; and the number (A) of the shared fuse-connecting units and the number (B) of fuse-connecting units for either a right hand drive vehicle or a left hand drive vehicle are such that the ratio A:B is in the range 5:5-7:3. Further, all fuse-connecting terminals of an internal circuit contained inside the case project into all fuse-connecting terminal receptacles of the fuse-connecting units of the first group and the second group, the fuse-connecting terminal receptacles being provided on the inner surface of the case; fuse-mounting portions are provided on the external surface of the case and are each linked to a corresponding fuse-connecting terminal receptacle; for a right hand drive vehicle, the fuse-mounting portions are provided only for the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle, and are not provided for the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle so that the corresponding area on the external surface of the case forms a closed surface; and for a left hand drive vehicle, the fuse-mounting portions are provided only for the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle, and are not provided for the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle so that the corresponding area on the external surface of the case forms a closed surface. All fuse-connecting terminals of an internal circuit contained inside the case project into all fuse-connecting terminal receptacles of the fuse-connecting units of the first group and the second group, the fuse-connecting terminal receptacles being provided on the inner surface of the case; fuse-mounting portions are provided for all fuse-connecting units of the first group and the second group on the external surface of the case and are linked to the fuse-connecting terminal receptacles, respectively; and fuse connectors and/or joint-connectors are mounted in the fuse-mounting portions for a left hand drive vehicle when the junction box is for installation in a right hand drive vehicle or in the fuse-mounting portions for a right hand drive vehicle when the junction box is for installation in a left hand drive vehicle, each of the fuse connectors having electric wires connected to input and output terminals of a fuse, each of the joint-connectors including a joint bus bar, the joint bus bar having branched projecting connection pins, each of the connection pins connecting to a fuse-connecting terminal.
According to the configuration described above, by providing the shared fuse-connecting units, the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle on the case of the electric junction box, when the electric junction box is installed in a right hand drive vehicle, fuses are mounted in the fuse-connecting units of the first group, which includes the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle, and all of the fuses are placed in a location facing the fuse-replacement opening. Therefore, when a fuse melts down, the fuse can be replaced through the fuse-replacement opening. Similarly, when the electric junction box is installed in a left hand drive vehicle, fuses are mounted in the fuse-connecting units of the second group, which includes the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle, and all of the fuses are placed in a location facing the fuse-replacement opening so that a melted fuse can be replaced through the fuse-replacement opening. Except when replacing a fuse, the fuse-replacement opening is covered with a cover and is closed.
As described above, by providing the fuse-connecting units of the first group and the fuse-connecting units of the second group on the case of one electric junction box, no matter the electric junction box is installed in a right hand drive vehicle or a left hand drive vehicle, it is possible to place fuses mounted in the fuse-connecting units in a location facing the fuse-replacement opening provided on the vehicle-body side and to replace melted-down fuses through the fuse-replacement opening. Consequently, the electric junction box can be used in both a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle, and there is no need to provide separately an electric junction box specific for a right hand drive vehicle and an electric junction box specific for a left hand drive vehicle, thereby making it possible to reduce the number of parts.
Further, since the internal circuit of the electric junction box is also used in both a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle, a shared circuitry for both a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle, a circuitry for a right hand drive vehicle and a circuitry for a left hand drive vehicle are all contained inside one case.
The electric junction box is placed slightly to the right-side of the fuse-replacement opening when installed in a right hand drive vehicle, and slightly to the left-side of the fuse-replacement opening when installed in a left hand drive vehicle. Consequently, the shared fuse-connecting units are provide in the middle region along the left-right direction; the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle are placed to the left of the shared fuse-connecting units; and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle are placed to the right of shared fuse-connecting units. In other words, the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle are located left-right symmetrically with respect to the shared fuse-connecting units located in the middle region, and the required fuse-connecting units are placed in the location facing the fuse-replacement opening. Further, the number (A) of the shared fuse-connecting units and the number (B) of fuse-connecting units for either a right hand drive vehicle or a left hand drive vehicle are such that the ratio A:B is in the range 5:5-7:3 so that more than half of the fuses are fitted in the shared fuse-connecting units. Consequently, there are not too many fuses fitted in the fuse-connecting units for either a right hand drive vehicle or a left hand drive vehicle, and there are also not too many fuse-connecting units that are not used to connect with fuse terminals. Therefore, there is no significant waste occurring in the internal circuit, and there is also no significant increase in the size of the electric junction box.
All fuse-connecting terminals of an internal circuit contained inside the case project into all fuse-connecting terminal receptacles of the fuse-connecting units of the first group and the second group, the fuse-connecting terminal receptacles being provided on the inner surface of the case. Fuse-mounting portions are provided on the external surface of the case and are each linked to a corresponding fuse-connecting terminal receptacle. It is preferred that, when the electric junction box is for installation in a right hand drive vehicle, the fuse-mounting portions are provided only for the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle, and are not provided for the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle so that the corresponding area on the external surface of the case forms a closed surface area, and, when the electric junction box is for installation in a left hand drive vehicle, the fuse-mounting portions are provided only for the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle, and are not provided for the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle so that the corresponding area on the external surface of the case forms a closed surface area.
In other words, only for the case of the electric junction box, one specific for a right hand drive vehicle and one specific for a left hand drive vehicle are provided separately. On the case specific for a right hand drive vehicle, each of the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle is formed by a fuse-mounting portion provided on the external surface of the case and a fuse-connecting terminal receptacle on the inner surface of the case, while each of the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle is formed by only a fuse-connecting terminal receptacle provided on the inner surface of the case, and no fuse-mounting portion is provided on the external surface of the case. Similarly, on the case specific for a left hand drive vehicle, each of the shared fuse-connecting units and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle is formed by a fuse-mounting portion provided on the external surface of the case and a fuse-connecting terminal receptacle on the inner surface of the case, while each of the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle is formed by only a fuse-connecting terminal receptacle provided on the inner surface of the case, and no fuse-mounting portion is provided on the external surface of the case.
According to the configuration described above, for the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle that are not used in an electric junction box for installation in a right hand drive vehicle, or for the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle that are not used in an electric junction box for installation in a left hand drive vehicle, no fuse-mounting portions are provided and the corresponding area on the case forms a closed surface area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent accidentally fitting a fuse in a fuse-connecting unit that is not used. Although differently shaped cases are provided for a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle, the only difference is the existence or nonexistence of some of the fuse-mounting portions on the external surfaces of the cases. Therefore, by placing a bushing in a case-forming die, the same die can be used to form both the case for a right hand drive vehicle and the case for a left hand drive vehicle, thereby reducing die costs. Further, on the inner surface of the case for a right hand drive vehicle and on the inner surface of the case for a left hand drive vehicle, fuse-connecting terminal receptacles for all fuse-connecting units are provided, and all fuse-connecting terminals of the internal circuit are fitted in the fuse-connecting terminal receptacles. Therefore, there is no need to change the internal circuit for a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle. Except the case, on which the fuse-mounting portions are provided, the electric junction box can be used in both a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle.
Further, all fuse-connecting terminals of an internal circuit contained inside the case project into all fuse-connecting terminal receptacles of the fuse-connecting units of the first group and the second group, the fuse-connecting terminal receptacles being provided on the inner surface of the case. Fuse-mounting portions are provided for all fuse-connecting units of the first group and the second group on the external surface of the case and are linked to the fuse-connecting terminal receptacles, respectively. Fuse connectors and/or joint-connectors may be mounted in the fuse-mounting portions for a left hand drive vehicle when the junction box is for installation in a right hand drive vehicle or in the fuse-mounting portions for a right hand drive vehicle when the junction box is for installation in a left hand drive vehicle, each of the fuse connectors having electric wires connected to input and output terminals of a fuse, each of the joint-connectors including a joint bus bar, the joint bus bar having branched projecting connection pins, each of the connection pins connecting to a fuse-connecting terminal.
According to the configuration described above, by fitting the fuse connectors into fuse-mounting portions linked to the fuse-connecting terminal receptacles containing fuse-connecting terminals that are not in use, fuse-connecting terminals are connected to electric wires of an external circuit; and similarly, by fitting the joint-connectors, the fuse-connecting terminals can be connected to each other to form a different circuit; thereby making it possible to make effective use of the fuse-connecting terminals that are not used to connect fuses.
As described above, according to the present invention, by providing the shared fuse-connecting units, the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle and the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle on the case of the electric junction box, no matter the electric junction box is for installation in a right hand drive vehicle or a left hand drive vehicle, it is possible to place fuses mounted in the required fuse-connecting units in a location facing the same fuse-replacement opening formed on the vehicle-body side and to replace melted-down fuses through the fuse-replacement opening. Consequently, the electric junction box can be used in both a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle, and there is no need to provide separately an electric junction box specific for a right hand drive vehicle and an electric junction box specific for a left hand drive vehicle, thereby making it possible to reduce the number of parts.
Among the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle and the fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle, those fuse-connecting units that are not used have no fuse-mounting portions and are closed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent accidentally fitting a fuse in a fuse-connecting unit for a left hand drive vehicle in the electric junction box for installation in a right hand drive vehicle, or to prevent accidentally fitting a fuse in a fuse-connecting unit for a right hand drive vehicle in the electric junction box for installation in a left hand drive vehicle.
Further, by fitting fuse connectors into the fuse-connecting units for a left hand drive vehicle in the electric junction box for installation in a right hand drive vehicle or into fuse-connecting units for a right hand drive vehicle in the electric junction box for installation in a left hand drive vehicle, the fuse-connecting terminals are connected to electric wires of an external circuit. Similarly, by fitting joint-connectors, the fuse-connecting terminals are connected to each other to form a different circuit. Therefore, fuse-connecting terminals that are not used to connect fuse terminals can be used effectively.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, given as nonlimiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description is taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.
The following describes preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in
Electric junction box 10 includes upper case 11 and a lower case (not shown in the figures), which are joined by locking joints. Laminate 20, which is formed by alternatively laminating a plurality of bus bars and a plurality of insulation plates, is contained in the case as internal circuits, the bus bars being made of conductive metal plates. The internal circuits of electric junction box 10 include all of the circuit patterns that can be used in both a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle, the circuit patterns for a right hand drive vehicle, and the circuit patterns for a left hand drive vehicle.
Upper case 11 includes upper wall 11a and peripheral wall 11b. A plurality of fuse-connecting units 12 are formed integrally on upper wall 11a. Fuse-connecting units 12 include shared fuse-connecting units 12A in the middle region along the left-right direction (inside the single-dotted line in
As
As shown in
As described above, when electric junction box 10A having fuses 23 mounted in the fuse-connecting units of the first group is bolted to a body panel (not shown in the figures) of a right hand drive vehicle, the fuse-connecting units of the first group are located in alignment with fuse-replacement opening 31 formed on panel 30, as shown in
According to the configuration described above, by providing shared fuse-connecting units 12A, fuse-connecting units 12B for a right hand drive vehicle, and fuse-connecting units 12C for a left hand drive vehicle on upper case 11 of electric junction box 10, it is possible to replace fuses 23 mounted in required fuse-connecting units through fuse-replacement opening 31 formed on panel 30, whether the electric junction box 10 is mounted on a right hand drive vehicle or a left hand drive vehicle. Consequently, electric junction box 10 can be used in both a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle, and there is no need to provide separate electric junction boxes specific for a right hand drive vehicle and an electric junction box, thereby making it possible to reduce the number of parts.
The second embodiment of the present invention is shown in
Fuse connector 40 is a bipolar connector having electric wires w connected to input and output terminals 41. Electric wires w are pulled out from a through-hole formed on the upper surface of a case of fuse connector 40. Joint-connector 42 includes a joint bus bar 43 inside the case of the joint connector 42. Joint bus bar 43 has a plurality of branched projecting connection pins 43a. Connection pins 43a project out from the lower surface of the case of the joint connector 42, as shown in
When fuse connectors 40 and joint connectors 42 are mounted in fuse-mounting portions 13 of electric junction box 10, in which no fuses have been mounted, as shown in
According to the configuration described above, by fitting fuse connectors 40 into fuse-connecting units 12C for a left hand drive vehicle in electric junction box 10A for installation in a right hand drive vehicle or into fuse-connecting units 12B for a right hand drive vehicle in electric junction box 10B for installation in a left hand drive vehicle, fuse-connecting terminals 21a are connected to electric wires w of an external circuit. Similarly, by fitting joint-connectors 42 into fuse-connecting units 12C for a left hand drive vehicle in electric junction box 10A for installation in a right hand drive vehicle or into fuse-connecting units 12B for a right hand drive vehicle in electric junction box 10B for installation in a left hand drive vehicle, fuse-connecting terminals 21a can be connected to each other to form a different circuit. Therefore, fuse-connecting terminals 21a that are not used to connect input and output terminals 24 of fuses 23 can be used effectively.
The third embodiment of the present invention is shown in
According to the configuration described above, among fuse-connecting units 12B for a right hand drive vehicle and fuse-connecting units 12C for a left hand drive vehicle, those fuse-connecting units that are not used have no fuse-mounting portions 13 and are closed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent fitting fuse 23 in fuse-connecting unit 12C specific for a left hand drive vehicle in electric junction box 12A for installation in a right hand drive vehicle, or to prevent fitting fuse 23 in fuse-connecting unit 12B specific for a right hand drive vehicle in electric junction box 12B for installation in a left hand drive vehicle. Further, on the inner surface of upper case 11A and inner surface of upper case 11B, fuse-connecting terminal receptacles 14 are provided for all fuse-connecting units 12. Therefore, there is no need to change the internal circuit for a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle. Except upper case 11, the electric junction box can be used in both a right hand drive vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle.
It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular structures, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
Although the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words that have been used are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and in its aspects. Although the invention has been described with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed. Rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-252955 | Aug 2004 | JP | national |
