U.S. patent number RE45,621 [Application Number 14/330,608] was granted by the patent office on 2015-07-21 for electrical junction box.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.. Invention is credited to Takumi Ejima.
United States Patent |
RE45,621 |
Ejima |
July 21, 2015 |
Electrical junction box
Abstract
To provide an electrical junction box having a new structure
that includes a plurality of electrical component mounting sections
that are open in an upper surface, such that (1) the structure is
provided with a drainage groove for preventing accumulation of
water without requiring any special space, and (2) the structure
can eliminate a problem of heat generation from electrical
components. An electrical junction box includes a first and second
electrical component mounting section units. A plurality of
electrical component mounting sections are arranged in straight
lines to from the first and second units, respectively. The first
and second electrical component mounting segment units are
separated apart from each other by a given distance and are
arranged in parallel with each other. A heat radiation drainage
groove is provided between opposed portions of peripheral walls
that constitute the adjacent first and second units. The heat
radiation drainage groove is provided in at least one end with an
end opening that extends to ends of the first and second units and
is open in an outer peripheral surface.
Inventors: |
Ejima; Takumi (Mie,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD. |
Yokkaichi, Mie |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
(Mie, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
43379492 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/330,608 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
12815828 |
Jun 15, 2010 |
8383963 |
Feb 26, 2013 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jun 30, 2009 [JP] |
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2009-156376 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K
7/02 (20130101); B60R 16/0238 (20130101); H01H
85/0026 (20130101); H01H 2085/208 (20130101); H01H
85/47 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H05K
7/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;174/541,547 ;439/76.2
;361/641 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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101316032 |
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May 2012 |
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CN |
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A-9-102264 |
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Apr 1997 |
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JP |
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A-2002-058128 |
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Feb 2002 |
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JP |
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A-2002-078150 |
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Mar 2002 |
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JP |
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A-2002-152943 |
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May 2002 |
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JP |
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A-2003-348733 |
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Dec 2003 |
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JP |
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A-2003348733 |
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Dec 2003 |
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JP |
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A-2009-131088 |
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Jun 2009 |
|
JP |
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WO 2006/109804 |
|
Oct 2006 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Whittington; Kenneth J
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oliff PLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electrical junction box having an upper surface and a
plurality of electrical component mounting sections provided on the
upper surface, the electrical junction box comprising: peripheral
walls defining a plurality of electrical component mounting section
units having end edges and outer peripheral surfaces, the plurality
of electrical component mounting section units being: i) arranged
in a straight line, ii) separated apart from one another, and iii)
arranged in parallel with one another; and a heat radiation
drainage groove provided between opposed portions of the peripheral
walls, said heat radiation drainage groove: i) having an end
opening that extends to the end edges of said plurality of
electrical component mounting section units, and ii) being exposed
by the outer peripheral surfaces of said plurality of electrical
component mounting section units, wherein the heat radiation
drainage groove includes a groove bottom surface that is lowest at
a side of the end opening of the heat radiation drainage groove,
the plurality of electrical component mounting sections each
include a cavity with bottom walls, the plurality of electrical
component mounting sections are consolidated and arranged in each
of the plurality of electrical component mounting section units in
a longitudinal direction of each unit in accordance with a depth of
the cavity in each electrical component mounting section, the
peripheral walls have projecting heights that protrude from the
bottom walls of said cavities and the projecting heights are
different in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of
electrical component mounting section units, a height of .Iadd.a
portion of .Iaddend.the groove bottom surface is different
.Iadd.from a height of another portion of the groove bottom surface
.Iaddend.based on a change of the projecting heights of the
peripheral walls, a height of .[.a.]. .Iadd.the portion of the
.Iaddend.groove bottom surface connected with .[.a higher
peripheral wall.]. .Iadd.peripheral walls with higher projecting
heights .Iaddend.is .[.higher.]. .Iadd.lower .Iaddend.than a height
of .[.other.]. .Iadd.said another portion of the .Iaddend.groove
bottom .[.surfaces.]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.connected with
.[.shorter.]. peripheral walls .Iadd.with lower projecting
heights.Iaddend., and the groove bottom surface of the lowest
height is provided at the side of the end opening.
2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, further
comprising: a side wall surface having the end opening of the heat
radiation drainage groove, the side wall surface of the electrical
junction box being provided with a drainage guide that downwardly
guides water discharged from the end opening.
.[.3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, further
comprising: a side wall surface having the end opening of the heat
radiation drainage groove, the side wall surface of the electrical
junction box being provided with a drainage guide that downwardly
guides water discharged from the end opening..].
.[.4. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, further
comprising: a side wall surface having the end opening of the heat
radiation drainage groove, the side wall surface of the electrical
junction box being provided with a drainage guide that downwardly
guides water discharged from the end opening..].
.Iadd.5. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein
the groove bottom surface is a stepped horizontal surface.
.Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application
2009-156376 filed in Japan on Jun. 30, 2009, the entire disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The exemplary embodiments relate to an electrical junction box to
be mounted on a motor vehicle or the like and more particularly
relates to an electrical junction box provided with a plurality of
electrical component mounting sections that are open in a top
surface.
Heretofore, an electrical junction box has been installed in an
engine room or the like of a motor vehicle in order to enhance
efficiency in electrical wiring. This electrical junction box
mounts current-carrying components such as lead wires, bus bars, or
current-carrying boards, and various kinds of electrical components
such as relays, fuses, control devices, connectors for connecting
external current-carrying circuits to internal current-carrying
circuits, as required.
In the case where exchangeable electrical components such as relays
and fuses are mounted on the electrical junction box, it is
necessary to easily attach and detach only the electrical
components to and from the electrical junction box installed in the
motor vehicle. Accordingly, the electrical junction box is provided
with electrical component mounting sections that are open in an
upper surface of the box. For example, JP 2003-348733 A has
disclosed such electrical junction box.
If the electrical component mounting sections are open in the upper
surface of the electrical junction box installed in the engine room
or the like, there is a possibility that water is accumulated on
the upper surface of the electrical junction box and the water
enters the box through openings in the sections. If the water
contacts with internal electrical components, a problem of
electrical leakage or short circuit may be caused.
JP 2002-152943 A has disclosed an electrical junction box in which
a special water cut-off wall is provided around the electrical
component mounting sections and a special drainage path is provided
to extend outward. Republication WO 2006/109804 A has disclosed an
electrical junction box in which a special drainage groove is
provided in an upper surface of the box.
However, the above electrical junction boxes require an additional
space for providing a drainage groove except a space for providing
the electrical component mounting sections. This will cause a
problem of upsizing the electrical junction box.
Particularly, in the case where the electrical junction box is
provided on an upper surface with many electrical component
mounting sections, it will be more difficult to obtain a space for
providing the drainage groove and an additional problem of heat
generation due to many electrical components will be caused.
SUMMARY
In view of the above problems, the exemplary embodiments provide an
electrical junction box having a new structure with many electrical
component mounting sections that are open in an upper surface,
wherein (1) the structure has a drainage groove for preventing
accumulation of water without requiring any special space, and (2)
the structure can overcome a problem of heat generation from
electrical components.
In the exemplary embodiments an electrical junction box may be
provided with a plurality of electrical component mounting sections
that are open in an upper surface of the box. The plural electrical
component mounting sections are arranged on straight lines to form
a plurality of electrical component mounting section units. The
respective electrical component mounting section units are defined
by corresponding peripheral walls. The plural electrical component
mounting section units are separated apart from one another and are
arranged in parallel with one another. A heat radiation drainage
groove may be provided between opposed portions of adjacent
peripheral walls of adjacent electrical component mounting section
units. The heat radiation drainage groove may be provided with an
end opening in which at least one end extends to end edges of the
electrical component mounting section units and may be open in
outer peripheral surfaces of the units.
According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it
is possible to align many electrical component mounting sections
and to enhance efficiency in space. Since the heat radiation
drainage groove may be provided by artfully utilizing a space
between the opposed portions of the electrical component mounting
section units, (1) it may be possible to provide the drainage
groove without requiring a special space. Further, since the heat
radiation drainage groove may be provided between the opposed
portions of the electrical component mounting section units, a
clearance may be defined between the electrical component mounting
section units. Thus, a problem caused by arranging many electrical
component mounting sections in a high efficiency state in space can
be overcome. (2) It is possible to obtain an effective heat
radiation effect. In result, it is possible to downsize and compact
the electrical junction box.
In the exemplary embodiments, the electrical junction box may
include a groove bottom surface of the heat radiation drainage
groove that may be lowered at a side of the end opening. According
to the exemplary embodiments, it is possible to flow the water in
the heat radiation drainage groove to the side of the end opening,
thereby more positively discharging the water from the end
opening.
In the exemplary embodiments, the electrical junction box may
include electrical component mounting sections that may be
consolidated and arranged in each of the electrical component
mounting section units in a longitudinal direction of each unit in
accordance with a depth of a cavity in each electrical component
mounting section. Projecting heights of the peripheral walls of the
units protruding from bottom walls of the cavities may be set to be
different in the longitudinal direction of the units. Heights of
the groove bottom surfaces may be set to be different in accordance
with a change of the projecting heights of the peripheral
walls.
According to the exemplary embodiments, since the position of the
groove bottom wall of the heat radiation drainage groove is changed
in accordance with the projecting heights of the peripheral walls,
it is possible to more effectively obtain a reinforcing effect of
the peripheral walls by the groove bottom wall. Since the heights
of the groove bottom surfaces are set to be different, it is
possible to provide a stepped portion on the groove bottom surface.
It is possible to lower a side of the end opening by artfully
utilizing the stepped portion.
In the exemplary embodiments, the electrical junction box may
include a heat radiation drainage groove that may be provided on a
side wall surface having the end opening with a drainage guide that
downward guides water discharged from the end opening.
According to the exemplary embodiments, it is possible to restrain
spatters of the water discharged from the end opening, thereby
obtaining more effective and efficient drainage effect. Since it is
possible to set a drainage path, it is possible to more positively
lead the water to, for example, a drainage hole in a cover to which
the electrical junction box is attached.
According to the exemplary embodiments, since a plurality of the
electrical component mounting sections may be arranged on straight
lines to form a plurality of electrical component mounting section
units and the heat radiation drainage groove may be provided
between the opposed surfaces of the units, it is possible to
provide the heat radiation drainage groove with high efficiency in
space. At the same time, since the heat radiation drainage groove
may be interposed between the electrical component mounting section
units and the units may be separated apart from one another, it is
possible to enhance a heat radiation effect, and to downsize and
compact the electrical junction box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of an electrical
junction box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the electrical junction box
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section view taken along lines III to III
in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken along lines IV to IV in FIG.
1.
FIG. 5 is a cross section view taken along lines V to V in FIG.
1.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electrical junction box shown
in FIG. 1, illustrating the box attached to a cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, exemplary embodiments of an
electrical junction box will be described below.
Firstly, FIGS. 1-5 show an embodiment of a fuse box 10 that is an
example of an electrical junction box in accordance with the
exemplary embodiments. The fuse box 10 may be formed into a
rectangular parallelepiped block made of synthetic resin.
Specifically, the fuse box 10 may include a rectangular
parallelepiped block-like main body 12, a first electrical
component mounting section unit 14a, and a second electrical
component mounting section unit 14b. The first and second units 14a
and 14b protrude upward from the main body 12.
The main body 12 may be provided at suitable positions on an outer
peripheral surface with a plurality of locking pawls 16. A guide
rib 18 may be provided on opposite outsides of each locking pawl 16
to extend in an assembling direction (upper and lower directions in
FIG. 2) of a cover 60 mentioned after. An anti-mismatch rib 20 may
be provided on opposite outsides of each locking pawl 16 and each
guide rib 18, as required. The anti-mismatch rib 20 may extend in
parallel with the guide rib 18.
The main body 12 may be provided on an upper surface 22 with a pair
of first and second electrical component mounting section units 14a
and 14b. Since the first and second units 14a and 14b substantially
have the similar structure, the first electrical component mounting
section unit 14a is described hereinafter as a representative
example.
The first electrical component mounting section unit 14a may
include a plurality of fuse mounting sections 24 and a plurality of
fusible link mounting sections 26 as electrical component mounting
sections. Fuses and fusible links that constitute electrical
components may be detachably mounted on the fuse mounting sections
24 and the fusible link mounting sections 26, respectively.
The fuse mounting sections 24 and fusible link mounting sections 26
are formed into cavity-like configurations that are open upward.
Each fuse mounting section 24 may be smaller than each fusible link
mounting section 26. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a bottom wall 28 of
each fuse mounting section 24 may be disposed above a bottom wall
30 of each fusible link mounting section 26. The bottom wall 30 of
the fusible link mounting section 26 may be disposed on the same
level as the upper surface 22 of the main body 12.
These fuse mounting sections 24 and fusible link mounting sections
26 may be arranged on straight lines to form the first and second
electrical component mounting section units 14a and 14b. The
numbers of the fuse mounting sections 24 and fusible link mounting
sections 26 are not limited. In the exemplary embodiments, the
first electrical component mounting section unit 14a may include
four fuse mounting sections 24 and two fusible link mounting
sections 26. The second electrical component mounting section unit
14b may include five fuse mounting sections 24 and two fusible link
mounting sections 26. Either of the fuse mounting sections 24 and
the fusible link mounting sections 26 may constitutes the first and
second electrical component mounting section unit 14a and 14b.
The fuse mounting sections 24 and fusible link mounting sections 26
may be arranged in a longitudinal direction of the main body 12.
Longitudinal directions of the first and second electrical
component mounting section units 14a and 14b accord with the
longitudinal direction of the main body 12. Further, the first and
second electrical component mounting section units 14a and 14b may
be separated apart from each other by a given distance and may be
arranged in parallel with each other in a direction of the straight
line defined by the fuse mounting sections 24 and fusible link
mounting sections 26.
The fuse mounting sections 24 and fusible link mounting sections 26
may be arranged together in the longitudinal directions of the
first and second electrical component mounting section units 14a
and 14b. Further, the fuse mounting sections 24 and fusible link
mounting sections 26 in the first and second electrical component
mounting section units 14a and 14b may be arranged in symmetry with
respect to a central point of the main body 12 in the longitudinal
direction of the main body 12. Accordingly, the fuse mounting
sections 24 and fusible link mounting sections 26 in the first and
second electrical component mounting section units 14a and 14b may
be substantially arranged in diagonal lines, respectively.
The first and second electrical component mounting section units
14a and 14b may be substantially surrounded through a whole
periphery by peripheral walls 32 protruding upward from the main
body 12. Protruding end edges of the peripheral walls 32 from the
main body 12 may be set to be substantially the same heights in the
first and second electrical component mounting section units 14a
and 14b. Accordingly, a protruding dimension in height of the
peripheral wall 32 from the bottom wall 28 of each fuse mounting
section 24 that has a shallow cavity may be set to be smaller than
a protruding dimension in height of the peripheral wall 32 from the
bottom wall 30 of each fusible link mounting section 26 that has a
deep cavity.
Since the first and second electrical component mounting section
units 14a and 14b surrounded by the peripheral walls 32 are
juxtaposed, a heat radiation drainage groove 34 may be defined
between opposed portions of the peripheral walls 32 of the first
and second electrical mounting section units 14a and 14b. The upper
surface 22 of the main body 12 and outer surfaces of the peripheral
walls 32 of the first and second electrical component mounting
section units 14a and 14b define an inner surface of the heat
radiation drainage groove 34 so that the heat radiation drainage
groove 34 extends substantially on a central part of the main body
12 in the longitudinal direction.
A longitudinal end of each of the first and second electrical
component mounting section units 14a and 14b accords with a
longitudinal end of the main body 12. In the exemplary embodiments,
a longitudinal end surface 35a at a side of the fuse mounting
sections 24 in the first electrical component mounting section unit
14a, and a longitudinal end surface 35b at a side of the fusible
link mounting sections 26 in the second electrical component
mounting section unit 14b may be disposed on a longitudinal end of
the main body 12. Particularly, the longitudinal end surface 35a of
the first electrical component mounting section unit 14a is
slightly shifted to an inside of the main body 12 from an outer
peripheral wall 36 in the longitudinal direction of the main body
12. On the other hand, the longitudinal end surface 35b of the
second electrical component mounting section unit 14b substantially
accords with an outer peripheral surface 36 of the main body 12.
Thus, the outer peripheral surface 36 of the main body 12 and the
longitudinal end surfaces 35a and 35b of the first and second
electrical component mounting section units 14a and 14b may
constitute a side wall surface 38 of the fuse box 10. The heat
radiation drainage groove 34 that extends to an end edge of the
first and second electrical component mounting section units 14a
and 14b may be provided in a longitudinal end with an end opening
40 that is open in the side wall surface 38. Accordingly, the heat
radiation drainage groove 34 may be open upward through the whole
length in the fuse box 10. The end opening 40 in the longitudinal
direction of the groove 34 may be open in the side of the fuse box
10.
As shown in FIG. 4, at the side of the end opening 40 in the hear
radiation drainage groove 34, the peripheral walls 32 of the first
and second electrical component mounting section units 14a and 14b
that define the groove inner surface may be connected to each other
by a lower stage groove bottom wall 42 provided at the same level
as the bottom wall 30 of the fusible link mounting sections 26.
Thus, an upper surface of the lower stage groove bottom wall 42
defines a part of the upper surface 22 of the main body 12. A lower
stage groove bottom surface 44 defines the groove bottom surface at
the side of the end opening 40 in the heat radiation drainage
groove 34.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, at the opposite side from
the end opening 40 in the heat radiation drainage groove 34, the
peripheral walls 32 of the first and second electrical component
mounting section unit 14a and 14b that define the groove inner
surface may be connected to each other by an upper stage groove
bottom wall 46 provided at a position in height between the bottom
wall 28 of each fuse mounting section 24 and the bottom wall 30 of
each fusible link mounting section 26. The upper stage groove
bottom wall 46 has a length through a whole length in an area
provided with the fuse mounting sections 24 in the second
electrical component mounting section 14b. Thus, the upper surface
of the upper stage groove bottom wall 46 defines an upper stage
groove bottom surface 48 as a groove bottom surface at the opposite
side from the end opening 40 in the heat radiation drainage groove
34.
Accordingly, the heat radiation drainage groove 34 may be provided
with the groove bottom surfaces having different stepped-like
heights in the groove longitudinal direction. The lower stage
groove bottom surface 44 at the side of the end opening 40 may be
lower than the upper stage groove bottom surface 48 at the opposite
side from the end opening 40. Particularly, in the peripheral wall
32 of the second electrical component mounting section unit 14b,
the upper stage groove bottom wall 46 may be connected to a portion
having a smaller protruding dimension in height of the peripheral
wall 32 from the bottom wall 28 of the fuse mounting section 26
while the lower stage groove bottom wall 42 may be connected to a
portion having a greater protruding dimension in height of the
peripheral wall 32 from the bottom wall 30 of the fusible link
mounting sections 26. Thus, since the upper and lower stage groove
bottom walls 46 and 42 are interconnected to the peripheral walls
32 in accordance with a change in height of the peripheral wall 32,
it is possible to effectively obtain a reinforcing effect for the
peripheral wall 32 and to enhance strength of the peripheral wall
32, thereby providing the groove bottom surface of the heat
radiation drainage groove 34 with a stepped portion and lowering
the end opening at the side of the end opening 40 by artfully
utilizing the stepped portion.
As shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral wall 32 of the first electrical
component mounting section unit 14a may be provided at an opposite
side from an end of the end opening 40 in the upper stage groove
bottom wall 46 with a recess 50 that may be separated apart from
the peripheral wall 32 of the second electrical component mounting
section unit 14b. A width of the heat radiation drainage groove 34
is enlarged at the recess 50. On the other hand, the upper stage
groove bottom wall 46 has a given dimension in width. Consequently,
the peripheral wall 32 of the first electrical component mounting
section unit 14a may be separated apart from the upper stage groove
bottom wall 46 in the recess 50. The groove bottom surface of the
heat radiation drainage groove 34 comprises the upper stage groove
bottom surface 48 and the lower stage groove bottom surface 44 in
the recess 50. Thus, the groove bottom surface of the heat
radiation drainage groove 34 may have a stepped portion with
different dimensions in height in a width direction (upper and
lower directions in FIG. 1) at the connected portion between the
upper groove bottom surface 48 and the lower stage groove bottom
surface 44. This enhances efficiency in flow in the heat radiation
drainage groove 34.
The upper surface 22 of the main body 12 at an opposite position
from a side of the side wall surface 38 may protrude outward in the
longitudinal direction of the first and second electrical component
mounting section units 14a and 14b at the same level as the upper
stage groove bottom wall 46. A U-shaped projection wall 52
protrudes upward from the upper surface 22 so that the wall 52
holds a bus bar (not shown), which serves as an inner circuit, from
a lower position of the main body 12. The opposite ends of the
projection walls 52 may be connected to the peripheral wall 32 at
the opposite side from the side wall surface 38 in the first and
second electrical component mounting section units 14a and 14b.
Thus, the projection wall 52 may be provided at an opening opposite
from the end opening 40 in the heat radiation drainage groove 34.
The heat radiation drainage groove 34 may be open in the side of
the fuse box 10 only at a side of the end opening 40.
Portions of the first and second electrical component mounting
section units 14a and 14b at the opposite side from the end opening
40 may be interconnected to each other by the upper stage groove
bottom wall 46 higher than the lower stage groove bottom wall 42.
This prevents the fuse mounting sections 24 from being deflected.
On the contrary, a portion of the first electrical component
mounting section unit 14a at the side near the end opening 40 may
be connected to the second electrical component mounting section
unit 14b by the lower stage groove bottom wall 42 disposed at the
same level as the bottom wall 30 of the fusible link mounting
sections 26. Consequently, there is a possibility that the fuse
mounting sections 24 are likely to be deflected. Accordingly, a
portion of the first electrical component mounting section unit 14a
near the fuse mounting sections 24 may be reinforced by a
reinforcement wall 53 in which a thickness of the peripheral wall
32 increases toward the second electrical component mounting
section unit 14b to restrain the fuse mounting sections 24 from
being deflected.
The first electrical component mounting section unit 14a may be
provided on a longitudinal end surface 35a with a guide projection
54 that extends straightly upward from the upper surface 22 to
serve as a drainage guide. The guide projection 54 may protrude
outward from the longitudinal end surface 35a in the longitudinal
direction of the first electrical component mounting segment unit
14a so that the guide projection 54 does not extend over the outer
peripheral surface 36 of the main body 12. An upward projecting
dimension of the guide projection 54 may be set so that it does not
reach an upper part of the longitudinal end surface 35a.
A bus bar or a terminal metal (not shown) is upwardly inserted into
the main body 12 and is secured to the main body 12 by a locking
mechanism. The bus bar or the terminal metal may be contained and
fixed in the fuse mounting section 24 or the fusible link mounting
section 26. The bus bar or the terminal metal may be electrically
coupled to a fuse contained in the fuse mounting section 24 or a
fusible link contained in the fusible link mounting section 26.
Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the fuse box 10 may be
fitted in a cover 60 and locked on the cover 60 by the locking
pawls 16. When the cover 60 is secured to a vehicle body panel or
the like, the fuse box 10 may be attached through the cover 60 to a
motor vehicle.
As also shown in FIG. 6, the fuse box 10 may be attached to the
cover 60 so that the fuse box 10 may be inclined with respect to
the vertical direction. In this case, the fuse box 10 may be
inclined so that the guide projection 54 may be disposed below the
end opening 40 in the vertical direction. An inclination angle of
the fuse box 10 with respect to the vertical direction may be set
to be in a range of no 45.degree. (0 degree to 45 degrees). If the
inclination angle is more than 0.degree. (0 degree), the guide
projection 54 may be disposed below the end opening 40 in the
vertical direction, thereby stably exerting a drainage guide
function. If the inclination angle is less than 45.degree. (45
degrees), it is possible to more stably obtain the drainage guide
function from the guide projection 54 to an anti-mismatch
prevention rib 20, as described after.
According to the fuse box 10 constructed above, plural fuse
mounting sections 24 and plural fusible link mounting sections 26
are arranged on the straight lines to define the first and second
electrical component mounting section units 14a and 14b. Since the
units 14a and 14b are arranged in parallel with each other, it is
possible to provide a number of fuse mounting sections 24 and
fusible mounting sections with excellent efficiency in space.
Since the first and second electrical component mounting section
units 14a and 14b may be separated apart from each other and may be
disposed in parallel with each other, it is possible to very
efficiently obtain a space for providing the heat radiation
drainage groove 34 without upsizing the main body 12. Since the
heat radiation drainage groove 34 does not extend outward from the
main body 12, it is not necessary to provide a special space for
the heat radiation drainage groove 34 at a side of the cover 60 to
which the fuse box 10 is attached. This enhances flexibility in
design for the cover 60 and general versatility for the fuse box
10.
Further, the heat radiation drainage groove 34 may be disposed
between the first and second electrical component mounting section
units 14a and 14b. This can exert a good heat radiation effect and
can avoid a problem of heat radiation while arranging the plural
fuse mounting sections 24 and plural fusible mounting sections 26
in small spaces. Particularly, in the exemplary embodiments, since
the fuse mounting sections 24 and fusible link mounting sections 26
are arranged in the straight lines in the first and second
electrical component mounting section units 14a and 14b, it is
possible to exert a heat radiation effect from the opposite sides
of the first and second electrical component mounting section units
14a and 14b, thereby obtaining a more excellent heat radiation
effect.
Water adhered to the fuse box 10 can be discharged from the end
opening 40 through the heat radiation drainage groove 34 to the
outside. Further, since the groove bottom surfaces of the heat
radiation drainage groove 34 are formed into the stepped-like
configuration by the upper and lower stage groove bottom surfaces
48 and 44 so that a side of the end opening 40 is lowered, it is
possible to effectively guide the water from a side of the end
opening 40, thereby obtaining an excellent drainage effect. The
water discharged from the fuse box 10 is discharged outward from
the cover 60 through a wire harness drawing-out port 62 provided in
the cover 60.
Since the guide projection 54 may be provided on the side wall
surface 38, the water is discharged from the end opening 40 to the
upper surface 22 of the main body 12, collides with the guide
projection 54, and may be guided to a lower part of the fuse box
10. Thus, it is possible to obtain a more excellent drainage
effect, to restrain water from spattering at random, and to reduce
a problem that external electrical devices are immersed in water.
Particularly, the fuse box 10 may be secured to the cover 60 in the
inclined position and the anti-mismatch prevention rib 20 (the left
end rib 20 in FIG. 2) may be disposed below the guide projection 54
in the vertical direction under the secured state. Thus, the water
that collides with the guide projection 54 is guided by the
anti-mismatch prevention rib 20, and may be discharged along the
rib 20 outward from the fuse box 10. The anti-mismatch prevention
rib 20 also serves as a duct.
The exemplary embodiments discussed herein are merely examples and
the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For
example, electrical component mounting sections may be arranged on
more than two arrays and may be surrounded by a peripheral wall to
define a single electrical component mounting section unit. The
number of electrical component mounting section units is not
limited to two units in the above embodiment. More than three units
may be provided. In the case of providing more than three units,
these units may be arranged in parallel with one another and a heat
radiation drainage groove may be provided among the adjacent units.
Accordingly, more than two heat radiation drainage grooves may be
provided.
The heat radiation drainage groove may be open in outer peripheral
surfaces at the opposite sides of the electrical junction box.
Further, a slope surface that gradually lowers downward to a side
of the end opening may be adopted as the groove bottom surface of
the heat radiation drainage groove. In the case of adopting the
stepped-like configuration in the above embodiment, more than three
stages may be selected.
An interior shape of the drainage guide can be set suitably to be a
preferable guide direction in consideration of a shape of an
electrical junction box, a position and a shape for attaching the
electrical junction box. The drainage guide does not always extend
straightly in the vertical direction of the electrical junction
box, as is the case with the above embodiment. For example, the
drainage guide may be inclined in a straight or curved line in the
vertical direction of the electrical junction box, or may be formed
into a recessed groove.
Although the above embodiment is directed to the fuse box for
mounting fuses and fusible link, the electrical component mounting
sections of the present invention may be sections for mounting
relays, connectors, and the like.
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