The present application claims priority to JP2008-093154 filed in Japan on Mar. 31, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Technical Field
The exemplary embodiments relate to an electrical component holder for a purpose of vehicle installation, and in more particularly relate to an electrical component holder that contains an electrical component to be retrofitted to an internal circuit in an electrical junction box of an automotive vehicle and enhance workability in attaching the electrical component to an electrical component mounting section of the electrical junction box.
2. Background Art
In an electrical junction box to be mounted on a motor vehicle, an electrical component such as a fuse, a relay, a connector, or the like is attached to the electrical junction box in a producing process of the electrical junction box. However, on account of a circuit construction, there is a case where a relay or the like is attached to the electrical junction box in a motor vehicle assembling process for mounting the electrical junction box on a motor vehicle, namely in a motor vehicle producing maker.
In the case where a fuse, a relay, or the like is attached to a mounting section of the electrical junction box in the motor vehicle assembling process, a working person wears gloves during working. If an electrical component such as a fuse, a relay, or the like is a small size, it would be difficult for gloved fingers to pinch or grasp the electrical component and consequently there is a possibility that the gloved fingers will drop the electrical component.
Also, electrical components to be retrofitted in a motor vehicle by a manufacturer are contained in a box or a bag for transportation. However, a different box or bag, containing an electrical junction box, may be delivered to the manufacturer. There is a possibility that the electrical components interferes with one another in the box or the bag on account of vibrations or the like during transportation and the electrical components will be subject to damages.
In order to overcome the above problems, it will be possible to take a measure for containing a fuse in a holder so that gloved fingers can readily handle the fuse. For example, in JP HEI 7 (1995)-192600 A, as shown in
However, because the through-hole 5 in the fuse holder 2 is open at a side wall and the fuse 1 is merely press-fitted in the through-hole 5, there is a possibility that the fuse 1 will drop from the through-hole 5 on account of vibrations during transportation to a motor vehicle producing maker.
Also, there is a case where a check connector is fitted in a fuse mounting section to inspect electrical conductivity in a circuit before the fuse holder is attached to the fuse mounting section and the fuse is retrofitted to the fuse mounting section after inspection of the circuit.
In this case, both of the fuse holder and check connector must be formed into configurations adapted to be coupled to the fuse mounting section.
However, because the fuse block main body 3 disclosed in JP HEI 7 (1995)-192600 A is not designed to receive the check connector and an additional section for mounting the check connector must be provided, the electrical junction box will be upsized.
Problems that the Invention is to Solve
In view of the above problems, one object of the exemplary embodiments is to provide an electrical component holder that can enhance workability in installation of an electrical component to be retrofitted to an electrical junction box.
An auxiliary object of the exemplary embodiments is to provide an electrical component holder that can permit a check connector or the like to be placed on a mounting section of the electrical junction box, before the electrical component holder contains the electrical component and is attached to the mounting section.
In order to achieve the above objects, the exemplary embodiments are directed to an electrical component holder that contains an electrical component to be connected to an internal circuit of an automotive vehicle-installed electrical junction box. The electrical component holder includes the electrical component including sections having a terminal member, and a support portion. The electrical component holder further includes a casing main body having a box-like configuration with a lower end defining an opening, an upper wall having a through-hole and an upper surface, and a hollow interior, and a lid mountable on the upper surface of the upper wall of the casing member body. The electrical component is inserted into the through-hole of the upper wall of the casing main body, and the through hole receives and holds the support portion of the electrical component so that the terminal member projects into the hollow interior of the casing main body. The terminal member is disposed in and secured to a terminal aperture of an electrical component mounting section under the condition that the casing main body is attached to the electrical component mounting section.
The electrical component to be contained in the electrical component holder may be a fuse, a fusible link, a relay, a joint connector, a shot pin, or the like.
According to the above construction, when the electrical component holder is attached to the electrical junction box in the motor vehicle assembling process, the electrical component, such as a fuse or a relay, which may be difficult for a working person to pinch by gloved fingers, is contained in the electrical component holder so as to become a great, or larger size, the working person can easily handle the holder by the gloved fingers, thereby enhancing workability in placing the electrical component on the electrical component mounting section.
When the lid is mounted on the casing main body, the lid receives a coupling stress applied from a mating terminal upon insertion into the electrical component mounting section, it is possible to enhance reliability in electrical connection. The lid serves to hold the electrical component in the holder in a given position, thereby preventing the electrical component from dropping off from the holder upon transportation of the electrical component contained in the holder. Thus, because the electrical component is contained at a given position in the electrical component holder, it is possible to prevent or decrease the chances the electrical component being damaged by vibrations during transportation.
In particular, in the case where the electrical component is small in height, such as so-called small height type fuse, because the fuse is very small, the fuse contained in the holder can be handled easily.
Although the lid is separated from the casing main body, in an embodiment, the lid may be integrally formed with the casing main body to decrease of the number of parts.
In an embodiment, the lid may be provided on an upper surface with a pinch knob projecting upward from the upper surface.
According to the above construction, the pinch knob may project from the lid, and a working person who wears gloves can continue to work while the gloved fingers are holding the pinch knob. Accordingly, there is no possibility or a reduced chance that the person may drop the electrical component holder. Even if another electrical component exists near the mounting section, or even if the mounting section is enclosed by a standing wall from the electrical junction box, hands or fingers need not interfere with another electrical component or a wall, thereby facilitating an attaching work of the holder to the electrical component mounting section.
In an embodiment, a height of the pinch knob is 10 to 20 mm. However, it is envisioned that as long as the pinch knob does not interfere with an inner surface of the upper cover when an upper cover is mounted on the casing main body provided with the electrical component mounting section of the electrical junction box, and so long as two opposed sides of the pinch knob are of adequate size to be pinched by two fingers, a height of the pinch knob may be set to be any height.
Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the lid may be provided with visual windows.
As described above, because a condition of the internal electrical component can be confirmed through the visual windows, it is possible to check misconnection of the electrical component, even if the lid closes the casing main body.
In an exemplary embodiment, the lid is closably connected to the casing main body with a hinge. The casing main body has at least one groove disposed on an inner surface of a peripheral wall to be coupled to at least one rib disposed on an outer surface of the electrical component mounting section. The casing main body has at least one lock aperture disposed on the peripheral wall, and the electrical component mounting section has at least one lock pawl disposed on an outer surface of the electrical component mounting section, the lock pawl being inserted into and secured by the lock aperture.
As described above, because the lid is integrally connected with the hinge to the casing main body, there is an advantage that the number of parts is not increased. Even if a different electrical component is mounted on the casing main body, there is no possibility or a reduced chance that the lid will be lost, when the incorrect electrical component is changed to a regular electrical component, because the lid is connected through the lid to the casing main body. After exchanging the electrical components, the lid can be closed, thereby enhancing workability.
Furthermore, because the casing main body is provided in the inner surface of the casing main body with grooves, it is possible to easily and steadily attach the electrical component holder to the electrical component mounting section while the ribs are contacting with the grooves, thereby preventing any damage from being caused by installing the electrical component holder in the casing main body in an inclined position.
In an exemplary embodiment, when the electrical component holder is attached to the electrical component mounting section of the electrical junction box, the grooves in the casing main body are aligned with the ribs of the electrical component mounting section, the electrical component holder is arranged to oppose the electrical component mounting section, and the ribs are inserted into the grooves, the electrical component holder is brought into a vertical position with respect to the electrical component mounting section, and finally the lock pawls of the electrical component mounting section are engaged with the lock apertures in the casing main body.
In an exemplary embodiment, the electrical component mounting section of the electrical junction box to place the electrical component holder shares a check connector mounting section. After a check connector inspects electrical conductivity in a circuit, the electrical component holder is attached to the electrical component mounting section to be connected to the inspected circuit.
That is, the profile of the check connector is same as that of the electrical component holder, and the electrical component contained in the holder can be attached to the check connector mounting section.
In the case where the electrical component is a fuse to be connected to, for example, an ABS circuit, the electrical component mounting section is firstly coupled to a check connector for inspecting a battery oil control circuit in the ABS circuit before the holder containing the fuse is attached to the mounting section. After inspecting the circuit, the check connector is removed from the electrical component mounting section, and the fuse contained in the holder is attached to the mounting section to be connected to the ABS circuit.
Thus, because the check connector and the electrical component holder can be attached to a single common electrical component mounting section of the electrical junction box, it is not necessary to provide an additional electrical component mounting section, thereby downsizing a whole electrical junction box.
As described above, the electrical component to be contained in the electrical component holder is retrofitted to the electrical junction box in the motor vehicle assembling process different from the producing process for the electrical junction box. According to the exemplary embodiments, because the electrical component, which is hard for a working person to pinch it by gloved fingers, is contained in the electrical component holder so as to become a great size, the working person can easily handle the holder by the gloved fingers, thereby enhancing workability in placing the electrical component on the electrical component mounting section.
Because the lid is mounted on the casing main body, the lid receives a coupling stress applied from a mating terminal upon insertion into the electrical component mounting section, it is possible to enhance reliability in electrical connection between the electrical component, such as a fuse, a relay, or the like, and the circuit member in the electrical junction box. The lid serves to hold the electrical component in the holder in a given position, thereby preventing the electrical component from dropping off from the holder upon transportation of the electrical component contained in the holder.
Furthermore, because the lid is provided with the pinch knob and a working person who wears the gloves can continue to work, there is no possibility that the person will drop the electrical component holder from the gloved fingers. Even if another electrical component exists near the electrical component mounting section, or even if the mounting section is enclosed by a standing wall or the like from the electrical junction box, the hands or fingers do not interfere with the another electrical component or the peripheral wall, thereby facilitating a work for attaching the electrical component to the electrical component mounting section.
Because the lid is provided with the visual windows, it is possible to confirm a condition of the internal electrical component through the windows, thereby checking misconnection of the electrical component while the lid closes the casing main body.
Because the casing main body is provided in the peripheral wall with the grooves, it is possible to easily and steadily attach the electrical component holder to the electrical component mounting section while the ribs of the electrical component mounting section are entering the grooves, thereby preventing the damage from being caused by installation of the electrical component holder in an inclined position.
Furthermore, because the mounting section for the check connector in the electrical junction box is formed into a configuration that can receive the holder containing the electrical component, it is not necessary to provide an additional check connector mounting section on the electrical junction box, thereby simplifying a configuration of the electrical junction box and downsizing the box.
Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of an electrical component holder will be described below.
As shown in
As shown in
That is, the electrical component mounting section 31 can receive the check connector 40 as well as the electrical component holder 10. In other words, a profile of the electrical component holder 10 is substantially same as that of the check connector 40.
The fuse 20 to be contained in the electrical component holder 10 may be a small height type fuse. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The through-hole 11c is provided on four corners with engaging portions 11d-1 to 11d-4 that engage the stepped portions 20d, 20e of the fuse 20. A pair of ribs 11e-1, 11e-2 are provided on each long side 11r between the engaging portions 11d-I and 11d-4, and 11d-2 and 11d-3, while a pair of ribs 11f-1, 11f-2 are provided on each short side 11s between the engaging portions 11d-1 and 11d-2, and 11d-4 and 11d-3. The ribs 11e-1, 11e-2 provided on the long side 11r engage front and rear surfaces of the fuse main body 20f of the fuse 20 while the ribs 11f-1, 11f-2 provided on the short side 11s engage opposite side surfaces of the fuse main body 20f of the fuse 20.
The casing main body 11 is provided with lock apertures 11g and 11m in a peripheral wall 11j at the side of the hinge 12 of the casing main body 11 and in a peripheral wall 11k opposed to the peripheral wall 11j. The lock apertures 11g, 11m extend downward from the upper wall 11b of the casing main body 11 so that the fusible portion of the fuse 20 can be viewed. Lock pawls 31f and 31g provided on an outer surface of the electrical component mounting section 31 described in more detail below are inserted into the lock apertures 11g, 11m. As shown in
The casing main body 11 is provided on four corners on the upper wall 11b with L-shaped positioning ribs 11n-1 to 11n-4 so that the ribs can prevent the lid 13 from being extremely twisted when the lid 13 is mounted on the upper wall 11b.
As shown in
As shown in
The lid main body 13a is provided on opposite sides on a proximal end of the pinch knob 13b with rectangular visual windows 13c-1 and 13c-2. The visual windows 13c-1 and 13c-2 utilize mold-release apertures that are generated to form latching portions described after. The visual windows 13c-1, 13c-2 are disposed on a position where an ampere number indicated on the upper surface 20h of the fuse 20 can be viewed.
The pinch knob 13b is provided on an end with a misdirection preventing rib 13e that projects from and continues to the peripheral wall 13d of the lid main body 13a. The misdirection preventing rib 13e indicates a regular direction of the electrical component holder 10 with respect to the electrical component mounting section 31.
The pinch knob 13b is provided on opposite sides of an upper part with anti-slip latches 13f. Each of the anti-slip latches 13f extends from an upper part of the pinch knob 13b to an intermediate part on each side surface of the pinch knob 13b. Since a flat surface is formed on each side surface of the pinch knob 13b, the pinch knob 13b can be readily held by fingers of a working person.
Each anti-slip latch 13f may extend from the upper part of the pinch knob 13b to an upper surface of the lid main body 13a. So long as the latches 13f do not lose an anti-slip effect, a length of each latch 13f is not limited.
Lock frames 13g-1 and 13g-2 project from a lower end of a lid peripheral wall 13d opposed to the hinge 12. The lock pawls 11i-1 and 11i-2 are provided on the casing main body 11 at positions corresponding to the lock frames 13g-1 and 13g-2.
As shown in
The electrical component mounting section 31 is provided on the peripheral wall at a position opposed to the grooves 11p-1 and 11p-2 in the electrical component holder 10 with a pair of ribs 31d-1 and 31d-2 extending in a vertical direction. Also, opposed peripheral walls 31e-1 and 31e-2 of the electrical component mounting section 31 are provided at positions corresponding to the lock apertures 11m and 11g with lock pawls 31f and 31g.
Next, a process for attaching the electrical component holder 10 to the electrical component mounting section 31 will be described below.
As shown in
Next, the casing main body 11 is closed by the lid 13 through the hinge 12, the lock frames 13g-1 and 13g-2 of the lid 13 are engaged with the lock pawls 11i-1 and 11i-2 of the casing main body 11, and the push rib 13x provided on the inner surface of the lid main body 13a may make contact with the upper wall 11b of the casing main body 11 and with the upper surface 20h of the fuse 20. That is, when the electrical component holder 10 holds the fuse 20 in the vertical and horizontal directions, the fuse 20 can be steadily fixed in the holder 20.
Under this condition, the electrical component holder 10 is transported to and delivered at a motor vehicle producing maker that assembles motor vehicles.
Next, an assembling work in a motor vehicle assembling process will be described below.
Before the electrical component holder 10 is attached to the electrical component mounting section 31, the check connector 40 is attached to the electrical component mounting section 31 to inspect the battery oil control circuit in the ABS circuit. After inspecting, the check connector 40 is removed from the electrical component mounting section 31.
Then, the electrical component holder 10 containing the fuse 20 is inserted into the electrical component mounting section 31 while the grooves 11p-1, 11p-2 in the inner peripheral surface of the holder 10 are contacting with the ribs 31d-1, 31d-2 of the electrical component mounting section 31. At this time, even if the electrical component holder 10 is inserted into the electrical component mounting section 31 in an inclined position, as shown in
Then, when the electrical component holder 10 is further pushed down into the electrical component mounting section 31, the lock pawls 31f, 31g are engaged with the lock apertures 11m, 11g in the electrical component holder 10. Thus, the input and output terminal members 20a and 20b of the fuse 20 are smoothly connected to the terminal 33 of the electrical component mounting section 31 without causing any damages on the terminal 33.
As described above, usually, a working person is hard to grip the fuse 20 by globed fingers in the motor vehicle assembling process. However, because the electrical component holder 10 is attached to the electrical junction box 30, the fuse 20 contained in the electrical component holder 10 having a size greater than that of the fuse 20, gloved fingers can easily handle the holder 10, thereby enhancing workability in placing the fuse 20 on the electrical component mounting section 31.
Because the lid 13 is provided on the casing main body 11, even if fuse 20 is pushed out from the terminal apertures 22c upon inserting the electrical component holder 10 into the electrical component mounting section 31, the lid 13 will push down the fuse 20, the fuse 20 is not ejected from the through-hole 13c in the casing main body 11 toward the lid 13, thereby preventing the fuse 20 from dropping off upon transportation.
Furthermore, because the pinch knob 13b projects from the lid 13, a working person can continue to work while the person is holding the pinch knob 13b. Accordingly, the chance that the person may drop the electrical component holder 10 is reduced or eliminated, and thus the electrical component holder 10 can be readily attached to the electrical component mounting section 31. Also, because the lid 13 is provided with the visual windows 13c-1, 13c-2 for the fuse 20, it is possible to check misconnection of the fuse 20. In addition, because the casing main body 11 is provided with grooves 11p-1, 11p-2, it is possible to easily and steadily attach the electrical component holder 10 to the electrical component mounting section 31 while the ribs 31d-1, 31d-2 of the electrical component mounting section 31 are inserted into the grooves 11p-1, 11p-2, thereby preventing the electrical component holder 10 from causing any damage to the terminal on account of to inclined insertion.
Furthermore, because the electrical component mounting section 31 of the electrical junction box 30 is shared with a fitting section for a check connector that inspects the battery oil control circuit, it is not necessary to provide any additional check connector fitting section, thereby downsizing the electrical junction box 30.
The exemplary embodiments described herein are not limited to the above disclosure. The exemplary embodiments, for example, can be applied to a holder 10 for a fusible link 200 shown in
Because, the fusible link 200 has greater size and weight than those of the fuse 20, a casing main body 11 is provided on a whole periphery with a continuous engaging portion 11z without providing the casing main body 11 with separated engaging portions 11d-1 to 11d-4 in the case of the fuse folder 10. When a whole periphery of a flange 200a of the fusible link 200 contacts with the engaging portion 11z, the fusible link 200 can be steadily contained in the holder 10.
Because the other constructions and operational effects in this alteration are the same as those in the above embodiment, duplicated descriptions are omitted here.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2008-093154 | Mar 2008 | JP | national |