US 5,703,746 AGranted

Electric junction box and electric current distribution system

AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.

InventorsTakahiro Onizuka, Yuuji Saka

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Wiring harnessess are current feedback paths from the loads to a battery, thereby forming a closed-circuit. For each load, there are provided a current detector and a current control; each current detector compares the current input to a junction box to the output current from the corresponding load via a corresponding wiring harness, and outputs a normal state signal when the two currents are equal. When the input and output currents are at variance with each other, it outputs an abnormal state signal. Each current controller causes, upon receipt of the normal state signal, the input current to flow into the corresponding load along normal current path; upon receipt of the abnormal state signal, the input current is directed to flow to a current cutoff which includes a thermal device which is disposed in parallel with the current path and whose resistance value changes with temperature, thereby cutting off the flow of current to the load. Since the flow of current into each load can be cut off based on variation of the resistance value of the thermal device, the need for replacement of fuses, is thereby obviated and maintenance is simplified.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A junction box for use in connection with an electric current distribution system comprising

a current detector having a detector input and a detector output, a current control having a control input and a control output,
said detector input adapted for electrical connection to a source of electric current and a load output from a load, said detector output electrically connected to said control input, said control output adapted to be electrically connected to a load input to said load,
said current detector adapted to compare an input current from said source with an output current from said load, said current detector outputting, through said detector output, a normal state signal when said input current and said output current are substantially equal, said current detector outputting, through said detector output, an abnormal state signal when said input current and said output current are not substantially equal,
said control adapted to receive said normal signal and said abnormal signal through said control input, when said normal signal is received, said control directs said input current along a normal current path to said load input, when said abnormal signal is received, said control directs said input current to a current cutoff adapted to prevent said input current from reaching said load, said cutoff comprising a cutoff device whose electrical resistance varies with temperature.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.