Drainage structure of electric parts accommodation box

• US 6,787,698 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Eiji, Shimada, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US10/615,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/58, 174/60, 174/62, 174/63, 220/3.8, 220/4.02, 439/535, 439/206, 439/190
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets

Abstract

A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box includes a drainage port formed on a bottom wall of the box, a cut-out portion that is continuous with the drainage port, a tip of which tapers off to form an acute angle, and a water-leading groove that is continuous with the tip, formed on an outer surface of the bottom wall. With this, a droplet that sticks to the water-leading groove disposed on the outer surface of the bottom wall is brought into contact with a droplet that sticks to the tip of the cut-out portion disposed on an inner surface of the bottom wall to flow out a droplet that sticks to a peripheral edge of the drainage port to the outer surface of the bottom wall. This more effectively drains liquid droplets that would otherwise remain within the box to reduce current leaks caused by such droplets coming into contact with electrical components in the box, such as closely spaced bus bars.

Claims

1. A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box comprising:

a drainage port formed on a bottom wall of the box;

a cut-out portion, continuous with said drainage port, wherein a tip of said cut-out portion off to form an acute angle; and

a water-leading groove, continuous with said tip, formed on an outer surface of said bottom wall,

wherein a droplet that sticks to said water-leading groove disposed on said outer surface of said bottom wall is brought into contact with a droplet that sticks to said tip of said cut-out portion disposed on an inner surface of said bottom wall to flow out a droplet that sticks to a peripheral edge of said drainage port to said outer surface of said bottom wall.

2. A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box according to claim 1, wherein a thin inclined portion is formed on said outer surface of said bottom wall toward said peripheral edge of said drainage port, said water-leading groove being formed on said inclined portion.

3. A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box according to claim 2, wherein multiple cut-out portions and water-leading grooves are spaced around the periphery of said drainage port.

4. A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box according to claim 3, wherein at least three cut-out portions and water-leading grooves are provided.

5. A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box according to claim 3, wherein the multiple cut-out portions and water-leading grooves are spaced at approximately 90°

intervals.

6. A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box according to claim 1, wherein said drainage port has an approximately square central hole and a generally triangular cut-out portion formed at a center of at least one side of said central hole, with said triangular cut-out portion being continuous with said central hole and with a tip of said triangular cut-out portion being continuous with a tip of said water-leading groove.

7. A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box according to claim 1, comprising a fuse box, mounted on an upper surface of a battery box and accommodating a battery fuse and bus bars connected to terminals of said battery fuse,

a battery terminal connected to said bus bars, said battery terminal being fixable to a periphery of a battery post; and

said drainage port and said water-leading groove are formed on said outer surface of said bottom wall of said fuse box so that liquid that has penetrated into said fuse box is drained from said drainage port.

8. A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of drainage ports are formed on the bottom wall, one under said battery fuse and one under at least one of said bus bars.

9. A drainage structure of an electric parts accommodation box according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of drainage ports are formed on the bottom wall.