U.S. patent application number 09/897047 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-24 for wiring unit.
This patent application is currently assigned to Yazaki Corporation. Invention is credited to Murakami, Takao, Suzuki, Hiroyuki, Yamanashi, Makoto.
Application Number | 20020009919 09/897047 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18713817 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020009919 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamanashi, Makoto ; et
al. |
January 24, 2002 |
Wiring unit
Abstract
A wiring unit 1 is housed in a case of an electric connecting
box. The wiring unit includes a plurality of flat circuit bodies
each composed of an insulating plate 21 and a plurality of bus bars
22 extended in parallel, and a short-circuiting member 23 composed
of a pair of pin segments 24 and a coupling segment 25 for coupling
them. The short-circuiting member 23 is formed in a -shape. The pin
segments 24 are stuck into the bus bars so that the bus bars 22 are
electrically connected to each other. In this configuration, the
wiring unit can be manufactured at low cost and can be
downsized.
Inventors: |
Yamanashi, Makoto;
(Shizuoka, JP) ; Suzuki, Hiroyuki; (Shizuoka,
JP) ; Murakami, Takao; (Shizuoka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMSTRONG,WESTERMAN, HATTORI,
MCLELAND & NAUGHTON, LLP
1725 K STREET, NW, SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
Yazaki Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
18713817 |
Appl. No.: |
09/897047 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/425 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/616 20130101;
H05K 3/222 20130101; H01R 31/08 20130101; H05K 1/118 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/425 |
International
Class: |
H01R 004/24; H01R
004/26; H01R 011/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 19, 2000 |
JP |
2000-218946 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wiring unit comprising: a plurality of flat circuit bodies
each composed of an insulating plate and a plurality of conductors
arranged thereon in parallel in a direction thereof, the circuit
bodies being stacked successively vertically; and a
short-circuiting member composed of a plurality of pin segments and
a coupling segment for electrically coupling the plurality of pin
segments with each other, the short-circuiting member being made of
a conductive material and covered with an insulating film on its
surface, wherein the pin segments with the insulating film
partially removed are stuck into the flat circuit bodies so that
the conductors are electrically connected to each other.
2. The wiring unit according to claim 1, wherein the
short-circuiting member is formed in a -shape with a pair of pin
segments, and the interval between the pine segments is smaller
than that between inner edges of the conductors adjacent to each
other and larger than that between outer edge of the conductors
adjacent to each other.
3. The wiring unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of
the conductors of at least one of the flat circuit bodies protrudes
from its end to form a male tab which can be connected to an
electric wire electrically connected to an external appliance.
4. The wiring unit according to claim 2, wherein at least one of
the conductors of at least one of the flat circuit bodies protrudes
from its end to form a male tab which can be connected to an
electric wire electrically connected to an external appliance.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a wiring unit housed in an
electric connecting box mounted in a motor vehicle that is a moving
body.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The motor vehicle is generally provided with a variety of
electronic appliances inclusive of lamps such as a head lamp, tail
lamp, etc. motors such as a starter motor, a motor for an air
conditioner, etc.
[0005] In order to supply power to the variety of electronic
appliances, junction blocks are located at suitable position within
the motor vehicle. The junction block is configured so that printed
boards and wiring boards with elements such as bus bars are stacked
and various electric circuit units such as a large number of fuses,
relays, etc. are integrated on these wiring boards.
[0006] The junction block may include a fuse, relay, bus bar, etc.
so that it is called a fuse block, relay box, or generally an
electric connecting box. In this specification, the above fuse
block, relay box, junction block, etc, are referred to as the
electric connecting box.
[0007] The electric connecting box includes a case and a wiring
plate, etc. The case can be provided with electric components such
as a relay, fuse, connector. A plurality of electric wires
connected to the various electric appliances are led into the case.
The wiring plate, when it is housed in the case, electrically
connects the electric wires connected to the various electric
appliances to terminals of the various electric components in a
prescribed pattern.
[0008] As the above wiring plate, in order to facilitate the
connection of the respective electric wires to the terminals of the
electric components, a wiring unit 54 as shown in FIG. 6 has been
proposed. The wiring unit as shown in FIG. 6 includes a plurality
of boards 61 which are stacked successively, a plurality of
terminals 62 and a plurality of connecting bars 63. The boards 61
each is made of an insulating material. The boards 61 each is
formed as a square flat plate. The boards 61 each includes a
plurality of grooves 64, a plurality of concave portions 65 and a
plurality of holes 66.
[0009] The grooves 64 each is formed in concave from the surface of
the board 61. The grooves 64 each extends in a longitudinal
direction of the board 61. The respective grooves 64 are formed in
parallel to one another.
[0010] The concave portions 65 each is formed in concave from the
surface of the board 61. The concave portions 65 each is opened
into the groove 64. The concave portions 65 are provided in
parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the
corresponding groove 64. The concave portions 65 each is formed in
a square shape when viewed from above.
[0011] The holes 66 each passes through the portion located at the
bottom of the corresponding concave portion 65. The holes 66 are
located at the corresponding positions when the boards are stacked
successively.
[0012] The terminals 62 each is made from a metallic sheet. The
terminal 62 is composed of an electric contact portion 67 and an
electric-wire connecting portion 68. The electric contact portion
67 is adapted to receive in the above connecting bar 63. When the
connecting bar 63 is received in the electric contact portion 67,
it produces elastic restitutive force that impedes the insertion of
the connecting bar 63 so that the relative position of the
connecting bar 63 to the electric contact portion 67 is
maintained.
[0013] The electric-wire connecting portion 68 permits an electric
wire to be arranged unidirectionally. The electric-wire connecting
portion 68 includes a crimping segment 70 on which the electric
wire 69 can be crimped and a pair of electric-wire holding segments
71 which are located at the positions where the electric wire 69 is
sandwiched in the direction of arranging the electric wire 69.
[0014] The crimping segment 70 is provided with two pairs of
press-fitting blades 72, which cut the coating of the electric wire
69 to come in contact with the core thereof. The electric wire
holding portions 71 each is provided with a pair of caulking pieces
73 between which the electric wire 69 with the coating is caulked.
The caulking pieces 73 sandwiches the electric wire 69 therebetween
so that the contact state of the press-fitting blades 72 of the
crimping portion 70 and the core is maintained.
[0015] The electric contact portion 67 and the electric-wire
connecting portion 68 are arranged at the positions where the
electric wire 69 is not impeded. Specifically, in the direction of
arranging the electric wire 69, the electric connecting portion 67
is arranged to intersect the electric-wire connecting portions
68.
[0016] The terminal 62 connects the electric wire 69 crimped on the
crimping portion 70 or electric-wire connecting portion 68 and the
connecting bar 63 inserted into the electric contact portion 67 to
each other. The terminal 62 is attached to the board 61 in a state
where the electric contact portion 67 is housed in the concave
portion 65 and the electric connecting portion 68 is housed in the
groove 64.
[0017] The connecting bar 63 is made of a conductive material. The
connecting bar 63 is formed in a band shape. The connecting bar 63,
when inserted into the hole 66 and the electric connecting portion
67 of the terminal 62, is electrically connected to the electric
wire 69.
[0018] In the wiring unit having the configuration described above,
the electric wires 69 connected to various electric appliances are
arranged in the grooves 64. By stacking a plurality of boards 61
and optionally selecting the concave portions 65 and holes 66, the
electric wires 69 are electrically connected to the relay, fuse,
connector, etc. mounted in the above case according to a prescribed
pattern.
[0019] In the wiring unit 54 shown in FIG. 6, since the grooves 64
and concave portions 65 are formed in the insulating plate 61,
relatively complicated inequalities must be formed in the surface
of the insulating plate 61. This requires the complicate shape of
the mold which is used to shape the insulating plate 61, thus
increasing the production cost.
[0020] In the wiring unit 54, in assembling, after the terminals 62
have been attached for each insulating plate 61, the electric wires
69 must be crimped. This may increase the number of man-hours for
assembling and hence steep rise in the production cost.
[0021] The circuit configuration of the wiring unit 54 is composed
of the electric wires 69 and terminals 62 arranged along each
groove 64 and the respective connecting bars 63 inserted in the
electric contact portions 67. In this way, the circuit
configuration is composed of the electric wires and terminals 62
which are superposed on one another in a direction of stacking the
insulating plates 61. This increases the limitation to circuit
design and upsizes the wiring unit 54.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a
wiring unit which can be manufactured at low cost and
downsized.
[0023] In order to attain the above object, in accordance with this
invention, there is provided a wiring unit comprising:
[0024] a plurality of flat circuit bodies each composed of an
insulating plate and a plurality of conductors arranged thereon in
parallel in a direction thereof, the circuit bodies being stacked
successively vertically; and
[0025] a short-circuiting member composed of a plurality of pin
segments and a coupling segment for electrically coupling the
plurality of pin segments with each other, the short-circuiting
member being made of a conductive material and covered with an
insulating film on its surface, wherein
[0026] the pin segments with the insulating film partially removed
are stuck into the flat circuit bodies so that the conductors are
electrically connected to each other.
[0027] In this configuration, by selecting the conductors into
which the pin segments of the short-circuiting member are stuck,
the desired conductors can be electrically connected to each other
surely in accordance with a prescribed pattern. In this way, the
simple configuration of sticking the pin segments of the
short-circuiting member can assure a desired electric connection.
This reduces the number of man-hours for production of the
components and for assembling, thereby suppressing a rise in
production cost.
[0028] Further, the short-circuiting member has a plurality of pin
segments so that the conductors arranged in parallel can be
electrically connected to each other surely. This suppresses the
limitation to the circuit design of the wiring unit and
miniaturizes it.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the short-circuiting member is
formed in a -shape with a pair of pin segments, and the interval
between the pin segments is smaller than that between inner edges
of the conductors adjacent to each other and larger than that
between outer edges of the conductors adjacent to each other.
Because of this arrangement, the conductors adjacent to each other
can be electrically connected to each other surely by the
short-circuiting member in accordance with the prescribed
pattern.
[0030] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the
conductors of at least one of the flat circuit bodies protrudes
from its end to form a male tab which can be connected to an
electric wire electrically connected to an external appliance.
Because of such a configuration, an electric connection can be
surely made between the conductors connected to each other and the
external appliance in accordance with a desired pattern.
[0031] The above and other objects and features of this invention
will be more apparent from the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wiring unit according to
an embodiment of this invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a short-circuiting member of the
wiring unit according to the embodiment of this invention;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in line III-III in FIG.
1;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connector receiving
portion in the embodiment of this invention;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of a
connecting state of a bus bar and an electric wire;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional wiring
unit;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a terminal of the wiring
unit shown in FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an explanation will be given of a
wiring unit according to an embodiment of this invention.
[0040] As seen from FIGS. 1 to 4, in accordance with a prescribed
pattern, the wiring unit 1 electrically connects a plurality of
electric wires 16 (FIGS. 1, 4), which are housed within the
electric connecting box attached to the moving body such as a motor
vehicle and connected to various electric appliances and power
sources arranged in the motor vehicle, to electric components such
as a relay, fuse and connector in the electric connecting box.
[0041] As seen from FIGS. 1 and 4, the wiring unit 1 includes a
plurality of plates 21 which are successively stacked, a plurality
of bus bars 22 and a plurality of short-circuiting members 23. The
plates 21 each is made of e.g. insulating synthetic resin
(hereinafter, these plates are referred to as insulating plates).
The insulating plates 21 each is formed as a square flat insulating
plate. The insulating plates 21 each includes a plurality of bus
bar positioning grooves 26 which are concayed from the surface of
itself.
[0042] The bus bar positioning grooves 26 are formed in a
longitudinal direction of the insulating plate 21, and arranged in
parallel at regular intervals in a width direction of the
insulating plate 21. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, four
bus bar positioning grooves 26 are formed in the surface of the
insulating plate 21.
[0043] The bus bars 22 each is made of an electrically conductive
material such as metal. The bus bars 22 each is formed in a belt
shape extended in a direction. The bus bars 22, which are fit in
the bus bar positioning grooves 26, respectively, are placed on the
insulating plate 21. The insulating plate 21 and bus bar 22
constitute a flat circuit body defined in claims. The bus bar 22 is
referred to as a conductor in claims.
[0044] The plurality of short-circuiting members 23 each is made of
a conductive material such as metal. As seen from FIG. 2, the
short-circuiting member 23 is formed in a -shape integrally
composed of a pair of pin segments 24 and a coupling section which
couples the ends of the pin segments. The short-circuiting member
23 is coated with an insulating film over the pin segments 24 and
coupling segment 23. This insulating film can be peeled from the
body of the short-circuiting member 23.
[0045] The interval D (FIG. 2) between the pin segments 24 of the
short-circuiting member 23 is set for a distance that is longer
than the interval T1 (FIG. 3) between the adjacent internal edges
of the adjacent ones of the bus bars 22 arranged successively in
parallel. The interval D is also set for a distance that is shorter
than the outer edges of the adjacent bus bars 22.
[0046] At least one of a plurality of flat circuit bodies 20 which
are successively stacked has a connector receiving portion 36. In
the example, all the insulating plates 21 each has the connector
receiving portion 36, respectively.
[0047] The connector receiving portion 36 has a plurality of male
tabs 37 each of which protrudes outwardly from the end 21a of the
insulating plate 21. The end 21a is defined as the end of the flat
circuit body 20 defined in claims. Four male tabs 37 are
illustrated. These male tabs 37 are electrically connected to
terminals 15 of the connector unit 5, respectively. In FIG. 1, only
the connector unit 5 connected to the connector receiving portion
36 at the lowermost position is shown.
[0048] As seen from FIG. 4, the connector unit 5 includes a housing
40 and a plurality of terminals 15. The housing 40 is made of an
insulating material such as synthetic resin. The terminals 15 are
electrically connected to the male tabs 37, respectively.
[0049] The terminals 15 are housed within the housing 40, and
communicated with electric wires 16. These electric wires 16 are
electrically connected to various external electric appliances such
as lamps, motors and the batteries. The electric wires 16 are tied
up in a bundle.
[0050] The connector unit 5 is connected to the connector receiving
portion 36 in such a fashion that the terminals 15 are connected to
the male tabs 37. The connector unit 5 as well as the insulating
plate 21 is housed within the case such as the electric connecting
box while it is connecter-coupled with the connector receiving
portion 22.
[0051] In the wiring unit 1 described above, a plurality of layers
of the insulating plates 21 on each of which the plurality of bus
bars are arranged are successively stacked, and the pin segments 24
are stuck into prescribed bus bars 22 which must be electrically
connected to each other. Incidentally, the insulating film is
removed from the locations R1 and R2 of the pin segments 24 in FIG.
2 which are to be brought into contact with the bus bars 22 which
must be electrically connected to each other.
[0052] In the embodiment of this invention, the bus bars 22 which
are arranged on the different insulating plates 21 and in parallel
are electrically connected to each other. In the embodiment, the
bus bars 22 which are arranged on the different insulating plates
21 and superposed on each other are electrically insulated from
each other. However, in case of necessity, the insulating film may
be removed so that the bus bars 22 superposed on each other are
electrically connected to each other.
[0053] Further, the connector unit 5 is connecter-coupled with the
connector receiving portion 36 so that the external appliance such
as the electric appliances are electrically connected to the
electric components previously described using the bus bars in
accordance with a prescribed pattern.
[0054] In accordance with this embodiment, by selecting the bus
bars 22 into which the pin segments 24 of the short-circuit member
23 are stuck, the desired bus bars 22 can be electrically connected
to each other surely in accordance with a prescribed pattern.
[0055] In this way, the simple configuration of sticking the pin
segments 24 of the short-circuiting member 23 can assure a desired
electric connection. This permits the number of man-hours for
production of the components and for assembling, thereby
suppressing rise in cost.
[0056] Further, the short-circuiting member 23 has a pair of pin
segments 24 so that the bus bars 22 arranged in parallel can be
electrically connected to each other surely. This suppresses the
limitation to the circuit design of the wiring unit 1 and
miniaturizes it.
[0057] By selecting the locations of the pin segments 24 from which
the insulating film should be removed, electric connection or
insulation can be made between the bus bars superposed on each
other. This further suppresses the limitation to the circuit
design.
[0058] Since the interval D is set to be larger than the interval
T1 and smaller than the interval T2, the bus bars 22 adjacent to
each other can be electrically connected to each other by the
short-circuiting member 23 in accordance with the prescribed
pattern.
[0059] Further, the bus bar 22 protrudes from the end 21a of at
least one flat circuit body 20 to provide the male tabs 37 and the
male tabs 37 can be connected to the terminals 15 electrically
connected to the external appliances, i.e. the electric wires 16.
For this reason, an electric connection can be surely made between
the bus bars 22 connected to each other and the external appliance
in accordance with a desired pattern.
[0060] In this embodiment, all the flat circuit bodies 20 each is
provided with the connector receiving portion 36. However, as
necessary, the connector receiving portion 36 can be provided for
any one of the flat circuit bodies 20 which are successively
stacked.
[0061] In this embodiment, the electric wires 16 electrically
connected to the external appliance are connected to the male tabs
37 via the terminals 15 the connector unit 5. However, as seen from
FIG. 5, the electric wires 16 may be connected to the male tabs 37
with the aid of brazing of solder 41.
[0062] In this embodiment, the flat circuit body 20 is constructed
of the insulating plate 21 and bus bars 22. However, the flat
circuit body 20 may be a conventionally known flexible printed
circuit (FPC) or flexible flat cable (FFC) which is composed of a
plurality of belt conductors and an insulating layer covering
them.
* * * * *