Mechanical inter-lock fail-safe for high voltage connection

1 . A junction box assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening for accessing an interior of the housing, and a male or female high-voltage connector adjacent the opening; and an access panel mounted to the housing;

wherein the access panel is movable between a first position and a second position, the first position restricting access to the opening of the housing and permitting a cooperating high-voltage connector to engage the male or female high-voltage connector adjacent the opening and the second position permitting access to the opening of the housing and restricting the cooperating high-voltage connector from engaging the male or female high-voltage connector adjacent the opening; and

wherein at least a portion of the access panel that covers the opening in the first position extends over the male or female high-voltage connector in the second position.

2 . The junction box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the access panel is pivotally mounted to the housing such that the access panel can be rotated between a first orientation corresponding to the first position and a second orientation corresponding to the second position.

3 . The junction box assembly of claim 2 , wherein the access panel includes a generally planar surface and is pivotable about an axis extending perpendicular to the generally planar surface.

4 . The junction box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the access panel is fixed to the housing in both the first and second positions.

5 . The junction box assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners securing the access panel to the housing.

6 . The junction box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes first and second slots extending along opposite sides of the opening, the slots configured to receive laterally extending portions of the access panel for sliding movement of the access panel between the first and second positions.

7 . The junction box assembly of claim 6 , wherein the slots are formed in the housing.

8 . The junction box assembly of claim 7 , wherein the slots include a horizontal portion and at least two vertical portions, whereby the access panel can be displaced and spaced apart from a portion of the housing surrounding the opening.

9 . The junction box assembly claim 6 , wherein the slots are formed by rails mounted to the housing on opposite sides of the opening, each rail forming a slot with a surface of the housing.

10 . The junction box assembly of claim 9 , wherein the slots have a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the laterally extending portions of the access panel received therein, whereby the access panel can be displaced and spaced apart from a portion of the housing surrounding the opening.

11 . The junction box assembly of claim 6 , wherein the access panel has a rectangular shape with each laterally extending protrusion extending from an opposite parallel side of the access panel.

12 . The junction box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the access panel is planar, and wherein the first and second positions of the access panel are coplanar.

13 . A junction box assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening for accessing an interior of the housing, and high-voltage connector adjacent the opening; and an access panel mounted to the housing;

wherein the access panel is movable between a first position and a second position, the first position restricting access to the opening of the housing and permitting a cooperating high-voltage connector to engage the high-voltage connector adjacent the opening and the second position permitting access to the opening of the housing and restricting the cooperating high-voltage connector from engaging the high-voltage connector adjacent the opening;

wherein the access panel is pivotally mounted to the housing such that the access panel can be rotated between a first orientation corresponding to the first position and a second orientation corresponding to the second position;

wherein the access panel includes a generally planar surface and is pivotable about an axis extending perpendicular to the generally planar surface; and

further comprising a shoulder bolt extending through the access panel and received in the housing, wherein the access panel is pivotable about the shoulder bolt between the first and second positions.

14 . The junction box assembly of claim 13 , wherein an exposed shank portion of the shoulder bolt has an axial length that is greater than a thickness of the access panel such that the access panel can be separated from the housing prior to and during rotation between the first and second positions.

15 . The junction box assembly of claim 14 , wherein the exposed shank portion of the shoulder bolt has an axial length of at least twice a thickness of the access panel.

16 . The junction box assembly of claim 15 , wherein the shoulder bolt is permanently installed in the housing.

17 . A method of accessing an interior of a junction box assembly, the method comprising:

providing a junction box assembly having a housing with an opening for accessing the interior of the housing, an access panel for selectively closing the opening, and a male or female high-voltage connector adjacent the opening;

disconnecting a high-voltage cable from the male or female high voltage connector; and

moving the access panel from a first position to a second position, the first position restricting access to the opening of the housing and permitting a cooperating high-voltage connector of the high-voltage cable to engage the male or female high-voltage connector adjacent the opening and the second position permitting access to the opening of the housing and restricting the cooperating high-voltage connecter of the high voltage cable from engaging the male or female high-voltage connector adjacent the opening;

wherein at least a portion of the access panel that covers the opening in the first position extends over the male or female high-voltage connector in the second position.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the access panel is planar, and wherein the first and second positions of the access panel are coplanar.