Compulsory drive unit for electrical equipment in a vehicle

• US 6,740,990 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Tozuka, Yuji, Kamiya, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/742,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/125, 307/132.E, 439/76.2, 439/949, 439/900, 439/952, 324/503, 324/538, 324/555
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P

Abstract

A compulsory drive unit (1) for electrical equipment provided in a vehicle is capable of easily and compulsorily driving the electrical equipment (11) in the vehicle to check the operation thereof. The compulsory drive unit (1) brings a power supply unit (30) into contact with a bus bar (21) through a conduction hole (2c) of a junction block (2) to thereby supply the electrical equipment with power from an outside battery (+B) and compulsorily drive the electrical equipment. It is therefore possible to easily check the operation of the electrical equipment, and this significantly improves the operating efficiency.

Claims

1. A compulsory drive unit for electrical equipment in a vehicle, comprising:

a junction block provided in the vehicle, said junction block having a conduction hole that allows an electrical connecting from an outside to an inside of said junction block;

a bus bar provided in said junction block, said bus bar being electrically connected to the electrical equipment; and

a power supply unit that selectively makes contact with said bus bar through said conduction hole to thereby supply the electrical equipment with electrical power, said power supply unit including a power supply rod provided at a first end thereof and adapted to be inserted into said conduction hole, and a clip provided at a second end thereof and adapted to be connected to the power supply unit through a lead wire

wherein said conduction hole is formed at such a position as to supply said bus bar with electrical power directly to said bus bar through said conduction hole.

2. A compulsory drive unit for electrical equipment in a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a relay, one end of which being connected to a battery and another end of which being connected to the electrical equipment for selectively providing electrical power to the electrical equipment,

wherein said power supply unit bypasses said relay to supply said electrical equipment directly with electrical power.

3. A compulsory drive unit for electrical equipment in a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fuse arranged between a battery and the electrical equipment, said fuse being located in close proximity to said bus bar.

4. A compulsory drive unit for electrical equipment in a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fuse arranged between a battery and the electrical equipment,

wherein said power supply unit connects said battery with said bus bar at a downstream side of said fuse.

5. A compulsory drive unit for electrical equipment in a vehicle, comprising:

a junction block provided in said vehicle;

a bus bar provided in said junction block, said bus bar being electrically connected to the electrical equipment provided in said vehicle; and

a switch disposed between said bus bar and a battery connected thereto, said switch adapted to form a short circuit between the battery and said bus bar.

6. A compulsory drive unit for electrical equipment in a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

a relay, a first end of which being connected to the battery and a second end of which being connected to the electrical equipment for selectively providing electrical power to the electrical equipment,

wherein said switch bypasses the relay.

7. A compulsory drive unit for electrical equipment in a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

a fuse arranged between the battery and the electrical equipment, said fuse being located in close proximity to said bus bar.

8. A compulsory drive unit for electrical equipment in a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

a fuse arranged between the battery and the electrical equipment,

wherein said switch selectively connects the battery with the bus bar at a downstream side of said fuse.