Patent Publication Number: US-2023146872-A1

Title: Electric connection box

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-184098 filed on Nov. 11, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an electric connection box. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the related art, a vehicle is equipped with an electric connection box where an electronic component such as a relay is mounted. 
     For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-151054 discloses an electric connection box accommodated in, for example, an electric vehicle (EV) battery pack together with battery cells. 
     An electric connection box may be attached to a battery pack and share a cooling mechanism with the battery pack. 
     In this case, the electric connection box is attached to the cooling mechanism of the battery pack using an adhesive for an increase in contact area and an increase in thermal conductivity, and a filler is interposed in the space between the electric connection box and the cooling mechanism of the battery pack. 
     By the way, it may be necessary to replace the electric connection box for some reason. The electric connection box needs to be removed from the cooling mechanism of the battery pack in order to be replaced. However, in many cases, the adhesive hardens over time to make it difficult to remove the electric connection box. At this time, forcibly pulling the electric connection box may result in deformation of or damage to the electric connection box itself. 
     However, in the electric connection box of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2021-151054, electric connection box replacement is not assumed, and thus the above problems cannot be solved with nothing devised as to safe electric connection box removal. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an electric connection box that can be removed with ease and safety. 
     An electric connection box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a housing where an electronic component is mounted. An adhering portion adhering to an object is provided on an outside surface of the housing. The adhering portion has a reduction portion reduced in area toward at least one end portion of the housing. 
     According to the present disclosure, the electric connection box can be removed with ease and safety. 
     The above and further objects and features will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an electric connection box according to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG.  2    is a bottom view of the electric connection box according to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a state where a lower case is removed from the electric connection box; 
         FIG.  4    is a partial plan view of an upper case of the electric connection box; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view illustrating the lower case of the electric connection box; and 
         FIG.  6    is a bottom view of an electric connection box according to Embodiment 2. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First, an aspect of implementation of the present disclosure will be listed and described. In addition, at least a part of the embodiment described below may be combined in any manner. 
     First Aspect 
     An electric connection box according to a first aspect of the present disclosure has a housing where an electronic component is mounted. An adhering portion adhering to an object is provided on an outside surface of the housing, and the adhering portion has a reduction portion reduced in area toward at least one end portion of the housing. 
     In the first aspect, the adhering portion is provided with the reduction portion reduced in area toward one end portion of the housing. Accordingly, in a case where a worker removes the housing from the object by pulling one end portion of the housing, the part of the reduction portion with the smallest adhesion area is removed preferentially and easily, and thus the housing is easily removed. 
     Second Aspect 
     In the electric connection box according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, at least the one end portion of the housing is provided with a handle, and a reduced end of the reduction portion is provided so as to face the handle. 
     In the second aspect, the reduced end of the reduction portion is provided so as to face the handle. Accordingly, in a case where a worker removes the housing from the object by pulling the handle, the reduced end of the reduction portion with the smallest adhesion area is removed preferentially and easily, and thus the housing is easily removed. 
     Third Aspect 
     In the electric connection box according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, the housing includes a box-shaped member having the outside surface as a bottom surface and having an open surface facing the bottom surface, and the handle is provided on the box-shaped member. 
     In the third aspect, the handle is provided on the box-shaped member. 
     Accordingly, the pulling force in removing the housing is directly transmitted to the adhering portion to facilitate the removal of the housing. 
     Fourth Aspect 
     In the electric connection box according to a fourth of the present disclosure, the box-shaped member has a recess in a long-side middle portion, and a side wall related to the recess is provided with a plurality of ribs. 
     In the fourth aspect, the recess formed in the long-side middle portion of the box-shaped member is provided with the plurality of ribs. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent stress concentration from occurring in the recess to cause damage or deformation in a case where the box-shaped member is bent by the pulling force in removing the housing. 
     Fifth Aspect 
     In the electric connection box according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the handle is provided on each of both end portions of the box-shaped member, the adhering portion is provided on each of both end portions of the bottom surface, and a reduced end of each adhering portion faces a nearest handle. 
     In the fifth aspect, the reduced ends of the adhering portions respectively provided on both end portions of the bottom surface face the handles on the nearest end portions, respectively. Accordingly, in a case where a worker removes the housing by pulling one or both of the handles, the reduced end with the smallest adhesion area in each reduction portion is removed preferentially and easily, and thus the housing is easily removed. 
     Electric connection boxes according to aspects of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplifications. The present disclosure is defined by the scope of the claims and is intended to include every modification within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims. 
     Hereinafter, the present embodiments will be described by taking as an example an electronic component-mounted vehicular electric connection box. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an electric connection box  100  according to Embodiment 1, and  FIG.  2    is a bottom view of the electric connection box  100  according to Embodiment 1. 
     The electric connection box  100  is attached to the outside of, for example, an electric vehicle (EV) battery pack  500 . The electric connection box  100  includes a housing  50  where an electronic component such as a fuse and a relay  400  is mounted. 
     Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the battery pack  500  side with respect to the electric connection box  100  will be referred to as the lower side and the electric connection box  100  side with respect to the battery pack  500  will be referred to as the upper side. 
     The housing  50  is made of, for example, resin or metal and extends in one direction (hereinafter, referred to as length direction). The housing  50  includes a lower case  52  (box-shaped member) close to the battery pack  500  and an upper case  51  covering the lower case  52 . The housing  50  is attached to the battery pack  500  with, for example, a bottom plate  525  of the lower case  52  in contact with the battery pack  500 . 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a state where the lower case  52  is removed from the electric connection box  100 . The upper case  51  is a box body extending in the length direction with one open surface on the lower case  52  side. The dimensions of the upper case  51  in the length and width directions are larger than those of the lower case  52 , and the upper case  51  covers the lower case  52 . 
     In addition, the upper case  51  is provided with leg portions  511  for attachment to the battery pack  500  in both end portions and the middle portion in the length direction. Specifically, two leg portions  511  are provided near each of both short sides of the upper case  51 , and the leg portions  511  are also provided in the respective middle portions of both long sides of the upper case  51 . The leg portions  511  provided in both end portions of the upper case  51  have flat plate-shaped flange portions, and fixing through holes  512  are formed in such flange portions. In addition, as for the leg portion  511  provided in the middle portion of the upper case  51 , the fixing through hole  512  is formed in a flat plate-shaped flange portion that is formed by notching in a rectangular shape in a plan view. For example, the housing  50  (electric connection box  100 ) can be attached to the battery pack  500  by inserting a screw through the fixing through hole  512  in the leg portion  511  and performing screwing into a screw hole (not illustrated) provided in the battery pack  500 . 
       FIG.  4    is a partial plan view of the upper case  51  of the electric connection box  100 .  FIG.  4    illustrates a square tube portion  514  of the upper case  51  and the surroundings of the square tube portion  514  in an enlarged manner. 
     The upper case  51  is provided with the square tube portion  514  in one end portion. As for the square tube portion  514 , a rectangular through passage is configured inside in a plan view. As for such a through passage, the dimension in the width direction of the electric connection box  100  is larger than the dimension in the length direction of the electric connection box  100 . The upper side of the square tube portion  514  is open to the outside of the electric connection box  100 , and the lower side of the square tube portion  514  is open to the inside of the electric connection box  100 . In addition, the upper side of the square tube portion  514  is open obliquely with respect to the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , notches  513   a  and  513   b  are respectively formed in the two side walls facing each other in the length direction among the side walls related to the square tube portion  514 . Of the two side walls, the side wall that is outside in the length direction (hereinafter, referred to as outside wall) is formed with the notch  513   a  and the side wall that is relatively inside (hereinafter, referred to as inside wall) is formed with the notch  513   b.    
     The notch  513   a  is formed by notching the outside wall in a substantially rectangular shape downward from the upper end. The notch  513   b  is formed by notching the inside wall in a substantially rectangular shape upward from the lower end. The dimensions of the notches  513   a  and  513   b  in the width direction are substantially equal. The notches  513   a  and  513   b  are partially aligned in the length direction. Accordingly, the inside and outside of the upper case  51  (electric connection box  100 ) communicate with each other through the notches  513   a  and  513   b.    
       FIG.  5    is a perspective view illustrating the lower case  52  of the electric connection box  100 . 
     The lower case  52  is a box body extending in the length direction with one open surface on the upper case  51  side. The lower case  52  has the elongated and substantially rectangular bottom plate  525  and a side wall  521  provided around the edge of the bottom plate  525 . A plurality of ribs are formed and a plurality of pedestals are formed inside the lower case  52 . A bus bar, an electronic component (not illustrated), and so on are attached to the pedestal. 
     A handle  53  and a filter  54  are provided in one end portion of the lower case  52 . A recess  522   b  is formed in the other end portion of the lower case  52 . A recess  522   a  is formed in the middle portion of the lower case  52 . The handle  53  and the filter  54  are provided at positions corresponding to the square tube portion  514  of the upper case  51 . The recess  522   a  and the recess  522   b  are formed at positions corresponding to the leg portion  511  of the upper case  51 . 
     The handle  53  is provided on the side wall  521  that is on the side of the short side of the lower case  52 . The handle  53  has an inverted U shape, extends in the up-down direction, and has a pair of support rods  532  provided at a predetermined interval in the width direction and a grip rod  531  provided so as to bridge between the support rods  532 . The support rod  532  is larger in up-down-direction dimension than the notch  513   b . In the width direction, the interval between the support rods  532  is substantially equal to the dimensions of the notches  513   a  and  513   b  (see  FIG.  1   ). For example, the grip rod  531  and the pair of support rods  532  are integrally formed. 
     The filter  54  is provided inside the handle  53  in the length direction. The filter  54  includes a plurality of substantially strip-shaped standing plates  541 . The plurality of standing plates  541  are arranged side by side and at regular intervals in the width direction, and the length direction is the thickness direction thereof. 
     The recesses  522   b  are respectively formed at both corners of the other end portion of the lower case  52 . The recess  522   b  is substantially rectangular in a plan view. The side wall  521  is bent at a substantially right angle at the recess  522   b , and the recessed corner is chamfered (see  FIGS.  2  and  5   ). 
     In addition, the recesses  522   a  are respectively formed in the side wall  521  in the intermediate portions of both long sides of the lower case  52 . Both recesses  522   a  have the same shape and are substantially rectangular in a plan view. The side wall  521  is recessed to the inside of the lower case  52  at the recess  522   a , and the recessed corner is chamfered (see  FIGS.  2  and  5   ). 
     The side wall  521  that configures the recess  522   a  is provided with a rib  526 . In other words, the rib  526  is provided along the inside surface of the side wall  521  related to the recess  522   a . The rib  526  is provided from the inside surface of the side wall  521  to the bottom plate  525 . 
     Although  FIG.  5    exemplifies a case where only one of both recesses  522   a  is provided with the rib  526 , the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The rib  526  may be provided at each recess  522   a.    
     In assembling the upper case  51  and the lower case  52 , the handle  53  of the lower case  52  is inserted into the square tube portion  514  of the upper case  51  and moved through the through passage of the square tube portion  514 . When the assembly of the upper case  51  and the lower case  52  is completed, the handle  53  is disposed in the square tube portion  514  of the upper case  51 . At this time, the inside wall of the square tube portion  514  is interposed between the handle  53  and the filter  54  of the lower case  52  (see  FIG.  1   ). In other words, the filter  54  is disposed on the back side of the notch  513   b  of the square tube portion  514 . 
     In addition, the leg portion  511  provided in the middle portion of the upper case  51  is disposed inside the recess  522   a , and the leg portion  511  provided in the other end portion of the upper case  51  is disposed inside the recess  522   b  (see  FIG.  2   ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , adhering portions  523  are formed on an outside surface  525   a  of the bottom plate  525  of the lower case  52 . The adhering portion  523  is a flat part that adheres to the battery pack  500  when the housing  50  (electric connection box  100 ) is attached to the battery pack  500 , and the part protrudes slightly downward, that is, to the battery pack  500  side as compared with the other part of the outside surface  525   a . The adhering portions  523  are formed on both end portions of the outside surface  525   a . The adhering portion  523  includes an adhering portion  523   a  provided in one end portion on the handle  53  side and an adhering portion  523   b  provided in the other end portion. 
     The battery pack  500  is provided with a cooling mechanism for cooling the battery cells of the battery pack  500 , and the electric connection box  100  attached to the battery pack  500  shares such a cooling mechanism. Accordingly, for an increase in thermal conductivity, adhesion to the battery pack  500  (cooling mechanism) is performed with an adhesive applied to the adhering portion  523  of the electric connection box  100  and a filler is interposed in the space between the electric connection box  100  and the battery pack  500 . 
     Both the adhering portion  523   a  and the adhering portion  523   b  have a substantially rectangular shape extending in the length direction of the outside surface  525   a  (electric connection box  100 ). The length of the adhering portion  523   a  exceeds the length of the adhering portion  523   b , and the adhering portion  523   a  and the adhering portion  523   b  have the same width. 
     A reduction portion  524   a  and a reduction portion  524   b  are formed in the adhering portion  523   a  and the adhering portion  523   b , respectively. In the adhering portion  523   a  and  523   b , the reduction portion  524   a  and  524   b  is formed in the short side portion that is one of both short sides in the length direction and close to the handle  53 . The reduction portion  524   a  and  524   b  is triangular with a vertex facing the handle  53 . In other words, the reduction portion  524   a  and the reduction portion  524   b  are reduced in area toward the handle  53  and the reduced ends of the reduction portion  524   a  and the reduction portion  524   b  face the handle  53 . 
     In other words, each of the reduction portion  524   a  in the adhering portion  523   a  and the reduction portion  524   b  in the adhering portion  523   b  is reduced in area, as compared to the other part, toward the handle  53 . In other words, the reduction portion  524   a  and the reduction portion  524   b  taper toward the handle  53 . 
     By the way, it may be necessary to replace the electric connection box  100  for some reason. The electric connection box  100  needs to be removed from the cooling mechanism of the battery pack  500  in order to be replaced. However, in many cases, the adhesive hardens over time to make it difficult to remove the electric connection box  100 . At this time, forcibly pulling the electric connection box  100  may result in deformation of or damage to the electric connection box  100  itself. 
     The electric connection box  100  of Embodiment 1 configured as described above can be easily and safely removed from the battery pack  500 , which will be described in detail below. 
     In removing the electric connection box  100  of the present embodiment, a worker pulls the electric connection box  100  away from the battery pack  500  with the grip rod  531  of the handle  53  gripped. 
     Meanwhile, as described above, the area of the reduction portion  524   a  is reduced toward the handle  53 , and thus the part that is closest to the handle  53  in the adhering portion  523   a  is smallest in area of contact with the battery pack  500  (cooling mechanism) in the adhering portion  523   a  and is easy to remove. Accordingly, it is easy to start removing the adhering portion  523   a . Further, even after the removal initiation, the situation in which the part closest to the handle  53  in the reduction portion  524   a  that has adhered to the battery pack  500  is smallest in area of contact with the battery pack  500  (cooling mechanism) in the adhering portion  523   a  continues for a while. The adhering portion  523   a  can be easily removed from the cooling mechanism of the battery pack  500 . 
     In addition, the area of the reduction portion  524   b  is also reduced toward the handle  53 . Accordingly, also in the adhering portion  523   b , the part that is closest to the handle  53  is smallest in area of contact with the battery pack  500  (cooling mechanism) in the adhering portion  523   b  and is easy to remove. As a result, it is easy to start removing the adhering portion  523   b . Accordingly, the adhering portion  523   b  can be easily removed from the cooling mechanism of the battery pack  500 . 
     Accordingly, the electric connection box  100  of Embodiment 1 can be easily and safely removed from the battery pack  500  without deformation or damage. 
     In addition, in a case where a worker pulls the electric connection box  100  using the handle  53  and, for example, half of the electric connection box  100  (lower case  52 ) in the length direction is removed from the battery pack  500 , the remaining half is still attached to the battery pack  500 . At this time, the electric connection box  100  is bent, and thus stress concentrates occurs in the middle portion of the electric connection box  100 , particularly the recess  522   a  reduced in dimension in the width direction. 
     However, in the electric connection box  100  of Embodiment 1, the rib  526  is provided along the inside surface of the side wall  521  related to the recess  522   a  as described above, and deformation or damage attributable to the stress concentration can be prevented. 
     As described above, in the electric connection box  100  of Embodiment 1, the inside and outside of the electric connection box  100  communicate with each other through the notches  513   a  and  513   b . Accordingly, in a case where heat is generated from an electronic component accommodated in the electric connection box  100  during operation, the heat is discharged to the outside without staying in the electric connection box  100 . 
     Further, in the electric connection box  100  of Embodiment 1, the filter  54  is disposed on the back side of the notch  513   b  of the square tube portion  514  as described above. Accordingly, dust can be prevented from entering the electric connection box  100  through the notches  513   a  and  513   b.    
     In addition, as described above, in the handle  53  in the electric connection box  100  of Embodiment 1, the support rod  532  is larger in up-down-direction dimension than the notch  513   b  and the interval between the support rods  532  in the width direction is substantially equal to the dimensions of the notches  513   a  and  513   b . Accordingly, the position of the handle  53  does not overlap the position of the notch  513   b  in the length direction and the heat in the electric connection box  100  is discharged via the notch  513   b  without hindrance. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIG.  6    is a bottom view of an electric connection box  100 A according to Embodiment 2. In the electric connection box  100 A according to Embodiment 2, the lower case  52  has the handles  53  in both end portions. A handle  53   a  is provided in one end portion of the lower case  52 , and a handle  53   b  is provided in the other end portion. The handle  53   a  and the handle  53   b  have the same shape, are identical in shape to the already described handle  53  of Embodiment 1, and will not be described in detail. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the adhering portions  523  are formed on the outside surface  525   a  of the bottom plate  525  of the lower case  52 . The adhering portions  523  are formed on both end portions of the outside surface  525   a . The adhering portion  523  includes the adhering portion  523   a  provided in one end portion near the handle  53   a  and an adhering portion  523   c  provided in the other end portion near the handle  53   b.    
     Both the adhering portion  523   a  and the adhering portion  523   c  have a substantially rectangular shape extending in the length direction of the outside surface  525   a  (electric connection box  100 A). The length of the adhering portion  523   a  exceeds the length of the adhering portion  523   c , and the adhering portion  523   a  and the adhering portion  523   c  have the same width. 
     The reduction portion  524   a  is formed in the adhering portion  523   a . In the adhering portion  523   a , the reduction portion  524   a  is formed in the short side portion that is one of both short sides in the length direction and close to the handle  53   a . The reduction portion  524   a  is triangular with a vertex facing the handle  53   a . A reduction portion  524   c  is formed in the adhering portion  523   c . In the adhering portion  523   c , the reduction portion  524   c  is formed in the short side portion that is one of both short sides in the length direction and close to the handle  53   b . The reduction portion  524   c  is triangular with a vertex facing the handle  53   b . In other words, the reduction portion  524   a  and the reduction portion  524   c  are reduced in area toward the handle  53   a  and the handle  53   b  and the reduced ends of the reduction portion  524   a  and the reduction portion  524   c  face the handle  53   a  and the handle  53   b , respectively. 
     The other parts are similar to those of Embodiment 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted with the same reference numerals given. 
     The electric connection box  100 A of Embodiment 2 configured as described above can be easily and safely removed from the battery pack  500 , which will be described in detail below. 
     In removing the electric connection box  100 A of the present embodiment, a worker pulls the electric connection box  100 A away from the battery pack  500  with the handle  53   a  or the handle  53   b  gripped. 
     First, a case where the worker grips the handle  53   a  and pulls the electric connection box  100 A will be described. 
     As described above, the area of the reduction portion  524   a  is reduced toward the handle  53   a , and thus the part that is closest to the handle  53   a  in the adhering portion  523   a  is smallest in area of contact with the battery pack  500  (cooling mechanism) in the adhering portion  523   a  and is easy to remove and it is easy to start removing the adhering portion  523   a . Accordingly, the adhering portion  523   a  can be easily removed from the cooling mechanism of the battery pack  500 . 
     Next, a case where the worker grips the handle  53   b  and pulls the electric connection box  100 A will be described. 
     As described above, the area of the reduction portion  524   c  is reduced toward the handle  53   b , and thus the part that is closest to the handle  53   b  in the adhering portion  523   c  is smallest in area of contact with the battery pack  500  (cooling mechanism) in the adhering portion  523   c  and is easy to remove and it is easy to start removing the adhering portion  523   c . Accordingly, the adhering portion  523   c  can be easily removed from the cooling mechanism of the battery pack  500 . 
     Accordingly, the electric connection box  100 A of Embodiment 2 can be easily and safely removed from the battery pack  500  without deformation or damage. 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the above example in which a worker grips either the handle  53   a  or the handle  53   b  and pulls the electric connection box  100 A in removing the electric connection box  100 A of the present embodiment. As a matter of course, the present disclosure is also applicable when a worker grips both the handle  53   a  and the handle  53   b  and pulls the electric connection box  100 A. 
     The embodiments disclosed this time are exemplifications in every respect and should be considered not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is defined not by the meaning described above but by the scope of the claims and is intended to include every modification within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims. 
     It is to be noted that, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     It is to be noted that the disclosed embodiment is illustrative and not restrictive in all aspects. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.