Bus bar assembling structure, electrical connection box and wire harness

A bus bar assembling structure includes a resin block main body for an electronic component block, a first bus bar, and a second bus bar. The resin block main body includes a bus bar assembling portion. The first bus bar and the second bus bar are accommodated in the bus bar assembling portion. The first bus bar has a first pushing portion that is pushed when the first bus bar is accommodated in the bus bar assembling portion, the first pushing portion being a bent piece. The first pushing portion has a through hole or a notch. The second bus bar has a second pushing portion that is inserted into the through hole or the notch and is disposed at a position corresponding to a position of a pushed surface of the first pushing portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application (No. 2018-211955) filed on Nov. 12, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bus bar assembling structure employed in an electronic component block. The present invention also relates to an electrical connection box including an electronic component block. The present invention further relates to a wire harness including an electrical connection box at a terminal.

2. Background Art

An electrical connection box mounted on an automobile is configured to include an electronic component block and a housing that accommodates the electronic component block (for example, see JP-A-2018-64366). The housing is configured to include a frame whose upper and lower sides are opened, an upper cover that covers an upper opening of the frame, and a lower cover that covers a lower opening of the frame. Bus bar assembling portions are formed in a resin block main body constituting the electronic component block. The bus bar assembling portion is formed as an assembling portion of a bus bar. The bus bar assembling portion includes a bus bar accommodating groove having a groove shape as viewed from a lower surface side of the block main body. A bus bar locking portion is formed in the bus bar assembling portion so that the bus bar does not fall off. The bus bar includes a bus bar main body accommodated in the bus bar accommodating groove, and electrical connection portions continuous with the bus bar main body. The electrical connection portions are disposed and formed in alignment with a plurality of cavities in the block main body. The electrical connection portions are disposed and formed at both ends of the bus bar main body in a longitudinal direction.

In the related art, a plurality of bus bars are provided, and the plurality of bus bars are assembled to corresponding bus bar assembling portions one by one. In other words, assembling is required depending on the number of the bus bars. It can be said that the workability is low during the assembling depending on the number of the bus bars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a bus bar assembling structure capable of improving the workability of assembling the bus bars. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connection box or a wire harness that employs the bus bar assembling structure.

According to a first aspect of the present invention made to solve the above problems, there is provided a bus bar assembling structure including: a resin block main body for an electronic component block, a first bus bar, and a second bus bar. The resin block main body includes a bus bar assembling portion. The first bus bar and the second bus bar are accommodated in the bus bar assembling portion. The first bus bar has a first pushing portion that is pushed when the first bus bar is accommodated in the bus bar assembling portion, the first pushing portion being a bent piece. The first pushing portion has a through hole or a notch. The second bus bar has a second pushing portion that is inserted into the through hole or the notch and is disposed at a position corresponding to a position of a pushed surface of the first pushing portion.

According to the present invention having the feature of the first aspect, since the second pushing portion of the second bus bar is disposed at the position corresponding to the position of the pushed surface of the first pushing portion in the first bus bar, the first bus bar and the second bus bar can be collectively assembled in the bus bar assembling portion by pushing the first pushing portion and the second pushing portion simultaneously at the same position. According to the present invention, the assembling that is required twice according to the example in the related art is completed only once, so that the workability can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the bus bar assembling structure according to the first aspect, the first pushing portion is formed in a strip plate shape extending along the longitudinal direction of the first bus bar.

According to the present invention having the feature of the second aspect, since the pushed surface of the first pushing portion is enlarged, pushing can be easily performed. In addition, since the first pushing portion is enlarged, the enlarged first pushing portion can be utilized as a portion for heat dissipation. In other words, the first pushing portion can have a function as a heat dissipating portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the bus bar assembling structure according to the first or second aspect, the first pushing portion is the notch, and the second pushing portion is formed in a shape of a narrow bent piece extending along an extending direction of the notch.

According to the present invention having the feature of the third aspect, a pushed surface of the second pushing portion can also be enlarged, so that the workability can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention made to solve the above problems, there is provided an electrical connection box including: an electronic component block that includes the bus bar assembling structure according to the first, second or third aspects, and a housing that accommodates the electronic component block

According to the present invention having the feature of the fourth aspect, a better electrical connection box can be provided due to the electronic component block having a structure that improves the workability of assembling the bus bars.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention made to solve the above problems, there is provided a wire harness including: a wire harness body whose end portion is connected to the electrical connection box according to the fourth aspect. The wire harness body is routed in an automobile.

According to the present invention having the feature of the fifth aspect, a better wire harness can be provided due to the electrical connection box having a structure that improves the workability of assembling the bus bars.

According to the bus bar assembling structure of the present invention, the first bus bar and the second bus bar can be collectively assembled to the bus bar assembling portion of the block main body, so that the workability can be improved compared with the example in related art. In addition, according to the electrical connection box or the wire harness of the present invention, a better product can be provided due to the bus bar assembling structure having the above effect.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A wire harness routed in an automobile includes an electrical connection box at a terminal thereof. The electrical connection box is configured to include an electronic component block in which a plurality of electronic components are assembled, and a housing to which the electrical component block is assembled. A bus bar assembling portion is formed in a resin block main body constituting the electronic component block. A first bus bar and a second bus bar are accommodated in the bus bar assembling portion. The first bus bar is formed in a shape in which a first pushing portion that is pushed when being accommodated to the bus bar assembling portion is a bent piece. A through hole or a notch is formed in the first pushing portion. On the other hand, a second pushing portion that is inserted into the through hole or the notch and is disposed in accordance with a position of a pushed surface of the first pushing portion is formed in the second bus bar.

Embodiment

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.FIG. 1is a perspective view (a perspective view as viewed from a bottom side) showing an embodiment of an electronic component block having a bus bar assembling structure according to the present invention.FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of a configuration inFIG. 1.FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of configurations of a block main body, a first bus bar and a second bus bar.FIG. 4is a perspective view showing a state in which the first bus bar and the second bus bar having the configurations inFIG. 3are assembled to the block main body.FIG. 5is a perspective view showing main portions of the first bus bar and the second bus bar.FIG. 6is a perspective view showing the first bus bar and the second bus bar before assembling.FIG. 7is a bottom view of an electronic component block showing a modification of a first bus bar and a second bus bar.FIG. 8is a perspective view corresponding toFIG. 7.FIG. 9is a perspective view (a perspective view as viewed from the bottom side) of an electronic component block showing a modification of a bus bar assembling portion. In addition, arrows inFIGS. 1 to 4denote an upper-lower direction.

<Configuration of Electrical Connection Box1>

InFIG. 1, an electrical connection box1is mounted on a truck in a state of being exposed to outside (which is an example). Specifically, the electrical connection box1is mounted between a cabin and a loading platform of the truck (which is an example). Such an electrical connection box1is configured to include an electronic component block2and a housing that accommodates the electronic component block2. The electrical connection box1is disposed at a terminal of a wire harness. The terminal of the wire harness includes thick wires3and thin wires4drawn from a lower portion of the electrical connection box1. The wire harness is routed at a predetermined position of the automobile with the electrical connection box.

InFIGS. 1 to 3, plural types of electronic component blocks are assembled to the housing of the electrical connection box1. One of the plural types of electronic component blocks is the electronic component block2. The electronic component block2is provided in the electrical connection box1as a member to which a plurality of electronic components (for example, fuses or fusible links) is electrically attached. The electronic component block2is provided as a member in which the electronic components are connected to a predetermined circuit. The electronic component block2is configured to include a block main body5, a first bus bar6, a second bus bar7and a third bus bar8. The electronic component block2is formed such that the first bus bar6and the second bus bar7can be collectively assembled to the block main body5. Since a characteristic portion of the present invention is not on a third bus bar8side, description of the third bus bar8will be omitted. The electronic component block2as described above is of a cassette type, and is detachably assembled to the housing. Regarding the electronic component block2, these names may be replaced with a cassette block2.

InFIGS. 1 to 4, the block main body5is a resin molded article having insulating property. Cavities (reference numerals omitted) for the plurality of electronic components (not shown) are formed in the block main body5. Three bus bar assembling portions9to11are formed in the block main body5. The three bus bar assembling portions9to11are disposed and formed on a lower surface side of the block main body5. The bus bar assembling portion9among the three bus bar assembling portions9to11is formed as an assembling portion of the first bus bar6. The bus bar assembling portion10is formed as an assembling portion of the second bus bar7. The bus bar assembling portion11is formed as an assembling portion of the third bus bar8. Hereinafter, the bus bar assembling portions9and10will be described in more detail.

InFIGS. 1 to 4, the bus bar assembling portion9is formed as the assembling portion of the first bus bar6as described above. Such a bus bar assembling portion9is formed in an illustrated shape, and includes a first assembling portion12, a second assembling portion13continuous with the first assembling portion12, a third assembling portion14, and a bus bar accommodating groove15connecting the second assembling portion13and the third assembling portion14. The first assembling portion12is formed as an assembling portion of a first electrical connection portion23described below of the first bus bar6. A holding portion16for the first electrical connection portion23is formed to protrude from the first assembling portion12. The second assembling portion13is formed as an assembling portion of a second electrical connection portion24described below of the first bus bar6. The third assembling portion14is disposed and formed on a connection side of the thick wires3and the thin wires4. The third assembling portion14is formed as an assembling portion of a third electrical connection portion25described below of the first bus bar6. The third assembling portion14is disposed and formed at the same position as a second assembling portion18described below of the bus bar assembling portion10. The bus bar accommodating groove15is formed as an assembling portion of a bus bar main body26described below of the first bus bar6. The bus bar accommodating groove15will be described below.

InFIGS. 1 to 4, the bus bar assembling portion10is formed as the assembling portion of the second bus bar7as described above. Such a bus bar assembling portion10is formed in an illustrated shape, and includes a first assembling portion17, the second assembling portion18, and a bus bar accommodating groove19connecting the first assembling portion17and the second assembling portion18. The first assembling portion17is formed as an assembling portion of a first electrical connection portion37described below of the second bus bar7. A holding portion20for the first electrical connection portion37is formed to protrude from the first assembling portion17. The second assembling portion18is disposed and formed on the connection side of the thick wires3and the thin wires4. The second assembling portion18is formed as an assembling portion of a second electrical connection portion38described below of the second bus bar7. The bus bar accommodating groove19is formed as an assembling portion of a bus bar main body39described below of the second bus bar7. The bus bar accommodating groove19will be described below.

InFIGS. 2 to 4, the bus bar accommodating groove15and the bus bar accommodating groove19are formed in a groove shape as viewed from the lower surface side of the block main body5. The bus bar accommodating groove15and the bus bar accommodating groove19are formed in the groove shape having a groove bottom, a groove opening and a groove side wall without any particular reference numeral. The bus bar accommodating groove15and the bus bar accommodating groove19are formed in an illustrated shape, and respectively include a groove shallow portion21and a groove deep portion22. The groove deep portion22is formed wide so as to be a common portion of the bus bar accommodating groove15and the bus bar accommodating groove19.

InFIGS. 2 to 6, the first bus bar6is formed by pressing a conductive metal plate. The first bus bar6is formed in an illustrated shape, and includes the first electrical connection portion23, the second electrical connection portion24continuous with the first electrical connection portion23, the third electrical connection portion25, and the bus bar main body26connecting the second electrical connection portion24and the third electrical connection portion25. A pushed surface27that is pushed when being accommodated to the bus bar assembling portion9is formed in the first electrical connection portion23. A held hole28into which the holding portion16of the bus bar assembling portion9is inserted is formed in a portion where the pushed surface27is provided. The pushed surface27is a flat surface that is pushed by a surface pushing jig (not shown) described below. A pushed surface29that is flush with the pushed surface27of the first electrical connection portion23is formed in the second electrical connection portion24. The pushed surface29is also a flat surface that is pushed by the surface pushing jig (not shown) described below. The bus bar main body26is formed in a strip shape. The bus bar main body26is formed in a shape bent several times by 90 degrees in a longitudinal direction.

The third electrical connection portion25is formed in a plate-shaped portion wider than the bus bar main body26. A main body30and a first pushing portion31are formed in the third electrical connection portion25. Three through holes33are formed on a side of one side portion32of the main body30. The through hole33is formed for inserting a bolt (not shown) used for connecting the thick wires3and the thin wires4. The first pushing portion31is coupled to the other side portion34of the main body30. The first pushing portion31is formed of a strip-shaped bent piece extending along the other side portion34. The first pushing portion31is formed by bending by 90 degrees. A through hole35is formed in such a first pushing portion31. The through hole35is formed in a portion of the second bus bar7with respect to a second pushing portion44described below. The through hole35is formed so as to be opened smaller than a wire diameter of the thick wire3. In addition, the through hole35is formed in accordance with arrangement of the thick wires3(in the present embodiment, since a thick wire3is provided between two thin wires4, the through hole35is disposed and formed at an intermediate position of the other side portion34). An outer surface of the first pushing portion31is formed as a pushed surface36. Similarly to the pushed surfaces27and29, the pushed surface36is formed as a flat surface that is pushed when being accommodated to the bus bar assembling portion9. That is, a surface that is pushed by the surface pushing jig (not shown) described below is formed. Since the first pushing portion31has a strip shape extending along the other side portion34as described above, heat dissipation can be enhanced by increasing the surface area. The first pushing portion31is also effective as a heat dissipating portion in addition to a portion used for accommodating to the bus bar assembling portion9.

InFIGS. 2 to 6, the second bus bar7is formed by pressing a metal plate having the same conductivity as the first bus bar6. The second bus bar7is formed in an illustrated shape, and includes the first electrical connection portion37, the second electrical connection portion38, and the bus bar main body39connecting the first electrical connection portion37and the second electrical connection portion38. A pushed surface40that is pushed when being accommodated to the bus bar assembling portion10is formed in the first electrical connection portion37. A held hole41into which the holding portion20of the bus bar assembling portion10is inserted is formed in a portion where the pushed surface40is provided. The pushed surface40is a flat surface that is pushed by the surface pushing jig (not shown) described below. The bus bar main body39is formed in a shape bent several times by 90 degrees in the longitudinal direction.

The second electrical connection portion38is formed in a plate-shaped portion wider than the bus bar main body39. A main body42, bent pieces43and the second pushing portion44are formed in the second electrical connection portion38. Three through holes46and three bent pieces43are formed on a side of one side portion45of the main body42. The through hole46is formed for inserting a bolt (not shown) used for connecting the thick wires3and the thin wires4. The second pushing portion44is formed in a narrow protruding piece shape. The second pushing portion44is inserted into the through hole35of the first pushing portion31in the first bus bar6. A protruding tip end of the second pushing portion44is formed in alignment with a position of the pushed surface36of the first pushing portion31. The protruding tip end of the second pushing portion44has a small area, and is formed as a pushed surface (reference numeral omitted) that is pushed when being accommodated to the bus bar assembling portion10.

As described above, the second pushing portion44is formed in the narrow protruding piece shape, but as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the second pushing portion44may be formed into a narrow bent piece, and may be used as a second pushing portion47. In this case, a notch48is formed in the first pushing portion31of the first bus bar6. The second pushing portion47is formed so as to extend along an extending direction of the notch48. A pushed surface49that is flush with the pushed surface36of the first pushing portion31is formed in the second pushing portion47.

<Assembling of Electrical Component Block2>

InFIG. 3, first, the first bus bar6and the second bus bar7are assembled such that the main body30of the third electrical connection portion25in the first bus bar6and the main body42of the second electrical connection portion38in the second bus bar7are overlapped with each other. Next, when the first bus bar6and the second bus bar7are collectively pushed into the bus bar assembling portions9and10of the block main body5as shown inFIG. 4, assembling of the first bus bar6and the second bus bar7is completed. The surface pushing jig (not shown) is used during the collective pushing of the first bus bar6and the second bus bar7. The surface pushing jig (not shown) is configured to simultaneously push the pushed surface27of the first electrical connection portion23, the pushed surface29of the second electrical connection portion24and the pushed surface36of the first pushing portion31of the third electrical connecting portion25in the first bus bar6, as well as the pushed surface40of the first electrical connection portion37and the protruding tip end of the second pushing portion44of the second electrical connection portion38(or the pushed surface49of the second pushing portion47) in the second bus bar7. Therefore, the workability is higher than assembling the first bus bar6and the second bus bar7one by one. The collective pushing of the first bus bar6and the second bus bar7is characterized by a structure of the first pushing portion31and the second pushing portion44. This characteristic structure will be referred to as a bus bar assembling structure50.

As described above with reference toFIGS. 1 to 8, according to the bus bar assembling structure50of the embodiment of the present invention, the first bus bar6and the second bus bar7can be collectively assembled to the bus bar assembling portions9and10of the block main body5, so that the workability can be improved compared with the example in related art. According to the electrical connection box1or the wire harness of the embodiment of the present invention, a better product can be provided due to the bus bar assembling structure50having the above effect.

A plurality of thick wires3and thin wires4are shown in the present embodiment, but in reality, many thinner wires (not shown) are also drawn from the electronic component block2. In order to protect the thin wires, arrangement of slits51and52as shown inFIG. 7is effective. That is, since the slits51and52are formed in the bus bar assembling portion11serving as the assembling portion of the third bus bar8, and arrangement thereof is not aligned on a straight line but shifted, the thin wires are difficult to enter. Therefore, wire protection during assembling is effective.

As shown inFIG. 9, formation of a bus bar locking portion53is also effective for wire protection. That is, the bus bar locking portion53is formed in a wall54(a groove side wall) of a groove deep portion22of the bus bar accommodating groove15and the bus bar accommodating groove19so as to protrude inward of the tip end. The bus bar locking portion53inFIG. 9is formed as a portion that prevents the thin wires from entering. The formation of the bus bar locking portion53is effective for wire protection during assembling.

It goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.