Electrical junction box

• US 6,796,809 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Furukawa Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Takayuki, Tanaka, Mitsuo, Kakuta, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): PAUMEN, GARY F
• Application Number:
  US10/443,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20030219998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.2, 439/949, 439/206, 439/205, 439/934
• US Class Current: 439/76.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5227 with evacuation of penetrating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/24 Terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0039 having a tubular housing wherein the PCB is inserted longitudinally
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0069 having connector relating features for connecting the connector pins with the PCB or for mounting the connector body with the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0212 Condensation eliminators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/949 Junction box with busbar for plug-socket type interconnection with receptacle

Abstract

An electrical junction box includes a lower case containing wiring boards with busbars such that the boards stand upright, an upper case combined with the lower case, upper and lower connection terminals extended from each wiring board and vertically penetrating through an inclined upper terminal supporting member and a lower terminal supporting member, respectively. The upper terminal supporting member forms part of drain path which has a rim formed at a peripheral edge thereof except for the lower end thereof. Water that has entered the junction box is guided along the inclined upper terminal supporting member, and then drops from the lower end thereof into a drainpipe of the lower case.

Claims

1. An electrical junction box comprising:

a lower case containing a wiring board with busbars such that the wiring board stands upright;

an upper case combined with said lower case;

a plurality of upper connection terminals extended from the wiring board and vertically penetrating through an upper terminal supporting member attached to the wiring board to be supported by the upper terminal supporting member, said upper connection terminals extending upward and fitted to said upper case;

a plurality of lower connection terminals extended from the wiring board and vertically penetrating through a lower terminal supporting member attached to the wiring board to be supported by the lower terminal supporting member, said lower connection terminals extending downward and penetrating through said lower case; and

short circuit prevention means for preventing said upper connection terminals and/or said lower connection terminals from being connected and thus short-circuited by water that has entered said electrical junction box.

2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein said short circuit prevention means includes tapered holes formed in said upper case, the tapered holes being located beneath slits in said upper case where said upper connection terminals are fitted.

3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein said short circuit prevention means includes a rim formed at a peripheral edge of the upper terminal supporting member, and tapered bumps which are formed on the upper terminal supporting member and through which respective ones of said upper connection terminals vertically penetrate.

4. The electrical junction box according to claim 2, wherein said short circuit prevention means includes

a bottom formed on the upper terminal supporting member, the bottom being inclined in a manner such that one end thereof is located lower than the other,

a rim formed at a peripheral edge of the bottom except for the lower end thereof, and

a drainpipe located right under the lower end of the bottom and communicating with an opening formed through a case bottom of said lower case.

5. The electrical junction box according to claim 3, wherein said short circuit prevention means includes

a bottom formed on the upper terminal supporting member, the bottom being inclined in a manner such that one end thereof is located lower than the other,

a rim formed at a peripheral edge of the bottom except for the lower end thereof, and

a drainpipe located right under the lower end of the bottom and communicating with an opening formed through a case bottom of said lower case.

6. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein said short circuit prevention means includes a rim formed at a peripheral edge the lower terminal supporting member, and tapered ribs which are formed on the lower terminal supporting member and through which respective ones of said lower connection terminals vertically penetrate.

7. An electrical junction box comprising:

a lower case;

a upper case combined with said lower case;

a wiring board contained in said lower case, said wiring board including busbars, upper connection terminals extending upward from said wiring board and fitted to said upper case, and lower connection terminals extending downward from said wiring board and penetrating through said lower case;

a upper supporting member attached to said wiring board, said upper supporting member allowing the upper connection terminals to penetrate therethrough and supporting the upper connection terminals;

a lower supporting member attached to said wiring board, said lower supporting member allowing the lower connection terminals to penetrate therethrough and supporting the lower connection terminals; and

drain paths for preventing the connection terminals from being short-circuited by water that has entered said electrical junction box.