JP2001185255A - Board-fixing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a board fixed in an electrical connection box from receiving unnatural stress from acting. SOLUTION: For a structure of fixing a board 1 retaining connectors 2, 3, 4 to a connecting box main body 6, the board 1 is fixed to the connecting box main body 6 at both sides of connector 2 and/or a group of connectors 5. Means 12, 12', fixing the connector 2, the board 1, and the connecting box main body 6, are installed to both sides of the connector 2. The connector 2 and/or the group of connectors 5 are so allocated, that they are disposed in the direction orthogonal with each other. The length of the connector 2 is close to that of the length of a side 8 of the board 1. The means 12, 12' which fix the connector 2, the board 1, and the connecting box main body 6, are installed to both sides of longitudinal direction. The group of connectors 5 are constructed with plurality of connectors 3, 4 and the board 1 is fixed to the connecting box body 6 at both one side and the other side of the row of connectors 3, 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a board fixing structure for fixing a board on which an electronic control unit (ECU) or the like is assembled in an electric connection box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a conventional substrate fixing structure. In this structure, a substrate 53 is fixed between the upper cover 51 and the lower cover 52 of the electric connection box 50. For example, terminals and electronic components are mounted on the substrate 53 in addition to a printed circuit (not shown). Upper cover 51
The lower cover 52 and the lower cover 52 are formed of a synthetic resin, and the substrate 53 includes an insulating substrate 54 made of an insulating resin and a circuit, a mounted product, and the like (not shown) on the insulating substrate 54.

The lower cover 52 is provided with four bosses 55 for fixing, and the bosses 5 are provided at four corners (squares) of the substrate 53.
5 is provided, through which the upper cover 51 is inserted.
A cylindrical wall 57 is provided for inserting the boss 55 and fixing it by welding. The boss portion 55 has a small-diameter projecting portion 55a for welding at the tip, and the cylindrical wall 57 of the upper cover 51 has
A lid wall 59 having a small-diameter hole 58 through which the projection 55a is inserted is provided. The hole 56 of the substrate 53 is the boss 5
5 is slightly larger than the outer diameter.

The boss 55 is inserted through the hole 56 of the substrate 53 into the cylindrical wall 57 of the upper cover 51, and the projection 55a is vibrated by, for example, an ultrasonic horn (not shown) to be melted. It is welded to the wall 59. The substrate 53 is pressed by the lower end of the cylindrical wall 57 of the upper cover 51. Thereby, the lower cover 5
2, the substrate 53 and the upper cover 51 are firmly fixed. Note that the number of substrates 53 is not limited to one, and a plurality of substrates can be stacked and used.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the conventional substrate fixing structure. In this structure, the substrate 60 is fastened and fixed to a connection box main body 62 made of synthetic resin with bolts 61. The connection box main body 62 is provided with a support 63 on which the substrate 60 is mounted, and the support 63 is provided with a hole 64 into which the bolt 61 is screwed. The hole 64 may be an unthreaded pilot hole or an internally threaded screw hole. In the case of a pilot hole, a tap screw type bolt 61 is used.

A hole 6 through which a bolt 61 is inserted is formed in the substrate 60.
The hole 65 is formed, for example, to have a slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter of the bolt 61. Alternatively, the hole 65 is formed to have a slightly smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the tap screw type bolt 61, and the hole 65 of the substrate 60 and the support 63 are formed by the tap screw type bolt 61.
Can be fixed without displacement. A printed circuit, terminals, electronic components, and the like (not shown) are mounted on the substrate 60 as in the previous example.

[0007] With the substrate 60 placed on the column 63, and with the substrate 60 positioned on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 66 of the connection box body 62, the bolts 61 are passed through the substrate 60 and screwed into the holes 64 of the column 63. tighten. Thereby, the board 60 is fixed to the connection box main body 62. After fixing the substrate 60,
By mounting the upper cover 67 on the connection box main body 62, the board 60 is protected. The electric connection box 18 is composed of the connection box main body 62, the board 60, and the cover 67. The screwing and fixing operation of the substrate 60 does not require larger equipment than the welding and fixing operation of the above-described embodiment, and can be easily performed regardless of the place.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit board 7 in an electric connection box (not shown).
9 shows another embodiment of a conventional substrate fixing structure in which 0 is fastened and fixed by bolts. EC not shown on the substrate 70
U (electronic control unit) is mounted. Alternatively, the ECU itself is composed of an insulating substrate 71 made of synthetic resin and electronic components mounted on the insulating substrate 71. Substrate 70
The four corners (squares) are provided with four holes 72 for fixing the substrate 70 to a connection box main body (not shown).

Various connectors 73 are provided on one surface of the substrate 70.
To 75 are provided. The longer connector 73 is a flange 7 on both longitudinal sides of a connector housing 76 made of synthetic resin.
7, a bolt (not shown) is inserted into the hole 78 of the
The screw is fixed. The connector 73 is, for example, for electrically connecting an electric connection box to another electric wire connection box, or for connecting an electric connection box including the board 70 to a battery of an automobile to supply power. . A plurality of female terminals (not shown) are accommodated in the connector housing 76, and the pin-shaped base of each terminal is connected to a circuit (not shown) of the board 70 by soldering.

The other two connectors 74 and 75 are
Are arranged in parallel along one side 79, and have pin-shaped or tab-shaped male terminals 81 in each connector housing 80 made of synthetic resin, and the base 81 a of the terminal 81 penetrates the base wall of the connector housing 80. And protrude to the outside, and L
It is bent in a letter shape and penetrates the substrate 70, and is connected to a printed circuit (not shown) of the substrate 70 by soldering. The board 70 is composed of an insulating board 71 made of a synthetic resin and the ECU or the electronic components.

Bolts (not shown) are respectively inserted into the holes 72 at the four corners of the substrate 70, and are screwed and fixed to a connection box body (not shown) made of synthetic resin. Each hole 72 of the board 70 is formed to have a slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter of the bolt, and secures the board 70 without back and forth and left and right play in response to vibration and the like during running of the vehicle. The bolt may be a tap screw type,
In that case, each hole 72 of the substrate 70 can be set to a smaller diameter.

[0012]

However, in the above-described conventional structure, two bolts for fixing the long connector 73 to the board 70 are required, and four bolts for fixing the board 70 in the electric connection box are required. And a total of six bolts must be tightened, resulting in a problem that many man-hours and parts costs are required. Further, as an external dimension of the board 70, for example, when the pitch of the holes 72 at the four corners is out of order, when the board 70 is tightened and fixed to the connection box main body, the front and rear or the left and right direction or the front and rear left and right directions There is a concern that stress is applied in the combining direction, for example, an excessive force is applied to the solder connection portions of the terminals of the connectors 73 to 75, and cracks are generated in the solder connection portions. These problems are the same even when a boss for welding is used instead of the bolt. Further, when a mating connector (not shown) is fitted to the connectors 73 to 75, a twisting force is applied,
The substrate 70 receives the twisting force to cause displacement or bending, which has an adverse effect on the solder connection portion of the terminal 81 or exerts an unreasonable stress on the substrate 70, and similarly has an adverse effect on the solder connection portion. There was a concern that

In view of the above, the present invention can reduce the number of steps for fixing a substrate to an electrical junction box by means such as bolts or welding, and does not apply excessive stress to the substrate.
Moreover, an object of the present invention is to provide a board fixing structure that can securely fix a board to an electric connection box without rattling or the like.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a structure for fixing a board having a connector to a connection box body, wherein the board is provided on both sides of the connector and / or both sides of a connector group. The substrate is fixed to the connection box body (claim 1). It is also effective that means for fixing the connector, the substrate, and the connection box body are provided on both sides of the connector (claim 2). It is also effective that the connector and / or the connector group are arranged in a direction orthogonal to each other (claim 3). It is also effective that the connector has a length close to the length of one side of the board, and means for fixing the connector, the board and the connection box body are provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the connector. (Claim 4). It is also effective that the connector group is constituted by a plurality of parallel connectors, and the board is fixed to the connection box main body at one side of one side connector and the other side of the other side connector. (Claim 5).

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a substrate fixing structure according to the present invention. This structure corresponds to the substrate 1
On both sides of a connector (first connector) 2 and on both sides of a connector group 5 composed of a plurality of connectors (second and third connectors) 3 and 4 to a connection box main body 6 made of a synthetic resin of an electric connection box. It is characterized by doing. The holes at the four corners (squares) of the conventional board are eliminated, and the board 1 is fixed to the junction box body 6 on both sides of the long connector 2 and on both sides of the two parallel connectors 3 and 4, that is, both sides of the connector group 5. This configuration is also effective as a substrate fixing method.

By fixing the board 1 to the connection box body 6 on both sides of the connector 2 and on both sides of the connector group 5, the connector of the external wire harness (not shown) can be connected to the connector 2 of the board 1.
The board 1 can be firmly held and fixed to the connection box body 6 in response to the twisting at the time of fitting and connecting to the connectors 3 and 4. That is, when the connector is mated with an excessive twisting force,
However, since the board 1 is fixed on both sides of the connector 2 and the connector group 5, the board 1 may be displaced in the board width direction (front-back, left-right direction, that is, XY direction), or rattling may occur. Nothing.

The longer connector 2 is located substantially at the center of the right half of the board 1, the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the connector 2 matches the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the board 1, and the longer side 7 of the connector 2 1 (more precisely, the insulating substrate 9) is located parallel to the short side (one side) 8. The center of the long side 7 of the connector 2 is the substrate 1
Substantially coincides with the center of the short side portion 8 of.

The connector 2 has flanges 11 and 11 'on both sides in the longitudinal direction of a connector housing 10 made of synthetic resin.
Holes (fixing means) 12 and 12 'in the thickness direction of the substrate are provided at the center of each of the flanges 11 and 11'.
1 and 11 ′, and communicates concentrically with a hole 13 (FIG. 2) of the substrate 1 (more precisely, the insulating substrate 9). The hole 13 of the substrate 1 is inserted into a female screw hole or a pilot hole of the connection box body 6. Communicates concentrically. The connection box body 6 is defined to include an upper cover and a lower cover made of a synthetic resin of the electric connection box.

Holes 1 on both sides of connector housing 10
Bolts 14 (FIG. 2) are inserted through the holes 2 and 12 'from above, through the holes 13 (FIG. 2) of the substrate 1, and screwed into the screw holes or pilot holes 15 (FIG. 2) of the connection box body 6. By tightening, the connector 2 is fixed to the board 1 and the board 1 is fixed to the connection box body 6. That is, the connector 2, the board 1, and the connection box body 6 are fixed to each other by the two bolts 14 on both sides. This eliminates the need for two holes on at least one side of the conventional (FIG. 5) substrate.

2, the male connector housing 10 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 16 facing upward, and the female terminal 17 is inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber 16 from below. The tab 18 on the lower side of each terminal 17 projects downward from the connector housing 10, penetrates through the insertion hole 19 of the board 1, and is connected and fixed to a printed circuit (not shown) of the board 1 by solder 20. The connector housing 10 and the terminals 17 constitute the male connector 2. The electric contact portion 21 on the upper side of the terminal 17 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape, and has an elastic contact piece (not shown) inside. An insertion hole 22 for a male terminal of a female connector such as an external wire harness or an auxiliary machine is provided at an upper end portion of the terminal accommodating chamber 16.

The connector housing 2 has side walls 23 projecting from lower halves of both sides, and the flange 11 is provided below the side walls 23.
Are provided integrally. A positioning projection 24 is provided on the lower surface of the side wall 23, and the projection 24 is
5 and the connector 2 is positioned on the substrate 1. The lower surface of the flange portion 11 is in contact with the upper surface of the substrate 1, the lower surface of the substrate 1 is in contact with the end surface of a support or a support wall serving as the support portion 26 of the connection box body 6, and the support portion 26 has an internal female screw hole or pilot hole in the axial direction. 15 are provided. An ordinary bolt is screwed into the female screw hole, and a tap screw type bolt 14 is screwed into the small diameter pilot hole 15.

A hole (not shown) is provided in the bottom wall 27 of the connection box body 6 so as to penetrate therethrough, and the bolt 14 is inserted upward from the bottom of the bottom wall 27 into the hole of the support 26 (from the lower hole 15). (A large-diameter hole), and screwed into the female screw hole or lower hole of the flange portion 11 through the hole portion of the substrate 1, or the tip of a bolt 14 projecting upward from the hole portion 12 of the flange portion 11. It is also possible to tighten the parts with nuts (not shown). In addition, a boss (not shown) for welding as shown in the conventional example (FIG. 3) is provided upright instead of the column 26 of the connection box body 6, and the boss is formed in the hole 13 of the substrate 1 and the connector housing. The small-diameter projection at the tip of the boss can be welded to a lid wall (not shown) having a small-diameter hole in the hole of the flange 11 by penetrating through the hole 12 of the flange 11. .

As described above, the connector of the wire harness, the connector of the auxiliary machine and the electrical component, and the like are fitted and connected to the longer connector 2 from above. In FIG. 1, a long connector 2
Of the other two connectors 3 and 4 beside one of the flanges 11 '.
Are arranged in parallel, and fixing holes 29 and 30 are provided in the substrate 1 one by one on one side of the connector 3 and on the other side of the other connector 4.

The two connectors 3 and 4 are connected to the long side 3 of the substrate 1.
It is located at the end on one side and is arranged in parallel in the direction (X direction) orthogonal to the longer connector 2. The longer connector 2 and the two parallel connectors 3 and 4 are substantially L-shaped. Are located in The two connectors 3 and 4 are female connectors each having a connector fitting chamber 32, and the opening 32 a of the connector fitting chamber 32 is directed from the long side 31 of the substrate 1 to the side (Y direction). And a pin-shaped or tab-shaped male terminal 33 is accommodated in the connector fitting chamber 32, and a pin-shaped base 34 of each male terminal 33 is connected to each connector housing 35,
It is bent downward in an L-shape through the vertical base wall 37 of 36, and penetrates through the substrate 1 and is soldered to a circuit (not shown) of the substrate 1.

One hole 2 on both sides of the connector group 5
9 is an opening 32 near one side wall 38 of one connector 3.
a connector 2 located closer to a and longer in the Y direction
Is located closer to the long side 31 than the one hole 12 ′, and the one hole 12 ′ and the one connector 3
And one side wall 38. The other hole 30 is located near the other side wall 39 of the other connector 4, substantially near the center of the other side wall 39, and relatively near the other short side 40. The other hole 40 is located substantially near one of the four corners (squares) of the substrate 1. Three holes 1
2 ', 29 and 30, one hole 29 is located closest to the longest side 31 of the substrate 1 in the Y direction, and then the other hole 30 and one hole 12' of the longer connector 2 are arranged in this order. positioned.

Each of the holes 29, 30 on both sides of the connector group 5 communicates concentrically with the female screw hole or the pilot hole 15 (FIG. 2) of the connection box body 6 similarly to the holes 12, 12 'of the longer connector 2. ing. The board 1 is securely fixed to the connection box body 6 by inserting the bolts 14 (FIG. 2) into the holes 29 and 30 and screwing it into the screw holes or the pilot holes 15 of the connection box body 6 and tightening. . Of course, the bolt 14 is inserted from the lower side of the connection box main body 6 into the holes 29 and 30 and tightened with a nut, or the tap screw-type bolt 14 is screwed into the holes 29 and 30 from below, or instead of the bolt 14. It is also possible to use a boss for welding.

To the two connectors 3 and 4, for example, connectors (not shown) for branching or signal lines of a wire harness are fitted and connected in the Y direction from the side. At this time, one side of one connector 3 and the other side of the other connector 4
Is fixed to the connection box body 6, even if a large twisting force is applied during the connector fitting operation, the board 1 does not shift in the X direction and is firmly fixed to the connection box body 6. . The displacement of the substrate 1 is caused, for example, by a difference between the inner diameter of the holes 29 and 30 and the outer diameter of the bolt 14 (FIG. 2). The bending and distortion of the substrate 1 can be prevented even when the substrate 1 is not misaligned.

The displacement of the board 1 is determined by the connectors 2, 3, 4
In this case, an excessive force is generated in a solder connection portion (not shown) between the terminals 17 and 33 and the substrate 1 to cause cracks in the solder connection portion. According to the present embodiment, the longer connector 2 is also used. In addition, the displacement of the board 1 when the connector is fitted is reliably prevented. There is no need to provide any fixing holes between the two parallel connectors 3,4. According to the present embodiment, the number of fixing holes is reduced by two compared to the conventional one (FIG. 5) to four, so that the same or higher fixing strength as the conventional one can be secured. Man-hours can be reduced.

The two holes 12, 1 of the longer connector 2
The pitch of 2 ′ is smaller than the pitch of the holes in the Y direction of the conventional board, and the two holes 29,
Since the pitch of the holes 30 is much smaller than the two holes in the X direction of the conventional substrate, the pitches of the holes 12, 12 ', 29, and 30 are less likely to be out of order, and the pitch size, that is, the two holes in the X direction, Two holes 1 in the Y direction with the distance between 29 and 30
The distance between 2 and 12 'is ensured within the specified dimension intersection.

Even if the four holes 12, 12 ', 29, 3
Even if the positional accuracy of 0 is deviated, since at least three holes 12, 12 ', and 29 are located not in the four corners of the substrate 1 but in the middle, excessive stress acts on the substrate 1 when the substrate is fixed. Is avoided. As a result, the terminal 17,
Unreasonable stress does not act on the solder connection portion 33, and the occurrence of cracks and the like in the solder 20 (FIG. 2) is prevented.

On the substrate 1, electronic components such as a printed circuit and an ECU (electronic control unit or engine control unit), not shown, are mounted on the front surface or the back surface of the insulating substrate 9. It is called the substrate 1 inclusive.

In this embodiment, at least three corners (triangular portions) of the substrate 1 are not provided with fixing holes,
Since the substrate 1 is not fixed in a rectangular shape and is not restricted in the XY directions, no stress remains in the substrate 1. That is, when the line connecting the four holes for fixing draws a rectangle as in a conventional substrate, the substrate is completely restrained by each hole, and there is no escape hole for internal stress. Since the line connecting the holes 12, 12 ', 29, 30 is substantially L-shaped, the escape hole for the internal stress of the substrate 1 is provided in the diagonal direction of the central hole 12' (29), It is formed on the upper left corner of the substrate 1 so that the internal stress of the substrate 1 can be easily released. Thereby, even if the positional accuracy of the holes 12, 12 ', 29, 30 is deviated, the internal stress of the board 1 is released, and the solder connection portions of the terminals 17, 33 of the connectors 2, 3, 4 are formed. No excessive force acts. From the viewpoint of the fixing force of the substrate 1, it can be said that it is optimal that the line connecting the holes 12, 12 ', 29, 30 is substantially L-shaped.

It is also possible to arrange three or more parallel connectors, that is, a group of connectors, on the board instead of the two parallel connectors 3 and 4. In this case, a total of two fixing holes are provided on one side of the one side connector and the other side of the other side connector. That is, the boards are fixed to the connection box body 6 on both sides of the connector group. In addition, one long connector is arranged on the substrate 1 instead of the plurality of parallel connectors 3 and 4, and two long connectors are arranged so as to be substantially L-shaped with the long connector 2 in FIG. Is also possible. It is also possible to provide flanges (11, 11 ') having holes as in a longer connector on one side and the other side of the two connectors 3, 4. Further, in the claims of this specification, only the substrate fixing structure is described, but the configuration in the claims can be read as a substrate fixing method.

[0034]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the connector and the connector are fixed when the connector on the wiring harness or the connector on the auxiliary equipment is fitted to the connector on the board. A torsion force, ie, a force in the direction perpendicular to the connector fitting, acts on the board, but since the board is fixed to the connection box body on both sides of the connector, the fixing portion reliably receives the torsion force, and the board is displaced or bent. And no distortion is caused, so that the solder connection between the circuit of the board and the terminal of the connector or the like is not adversely affected by cracks or the like.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the means for fixing the connector to the board also functions as the means for fixing the board to the connection box body, the number of bolts used as an example of the fixing means is reduced. Parts costs and man-hours are reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the connector and the connector group are arranged in a direction orthogonal to each other,
Even if the position (pitch) of the fixing means is slightly out of order, there is an escape area for substrate distortion and stress compared to the conventional case where the four corners (squares) of the substrate are fixed to the junction box body. Therefore, undesired stress and distortion do not remain, and adverse effects on the solder connection portion between the circuit of the board and the terminal of the connector can be more reliably prevented.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the connector has a length near one side of the board, the board can be fixed to the connection box main body at a position near both sides of the board. Therefore, when a force in the rotating direction is applied to the substrate, the force is reliably received, and the backlash in the rotating direction of the substrate and the adverse effect on the solder connection between the circuit and the terminal due to the play can be reliably prevented. .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in order to cope with the twisting force at the time of fitting the connectors, the board may be fixed to the connection box body only on both sides of the plurality of parallel connectors. Since it is not necessary to fix each connector at the intermediate portion, the number of bolts and the like as fixing means and the number of fastening steps are reduced, and the connection box body is provided at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of a substrate fixing structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, showing one embodiment of a structure for fixing the connector to the board.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a conventional substrate fixing structure.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the conventional substrate fixing structure.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the conventional substrate fixing structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Substrate 2, 3, 4 Connector 5 Connector group 6 Connection box main body 8 Short side (one side) 12, 12 'Hole (fixing means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A structure for fixing a board having a connector to a connection box body, wherein the board is fixed to the connection box body on both sides of the connector and / or both sides of the connector group. Fixed structure. 2. The board fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein means for fixing the connector, the board, and the connection box body are provided on both sides of the connector. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector and / or the connector group is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the connector.
Or the substrate fixing structure according to 2. 4. The connector has a length close to the length of one side of the board, and means for fixing the connector, the board, and the connection box body are provided on both longitudinal sides of the connector. The substrate fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The connector group is composed of a plurality of parallel connectors, and the board is fixed to the connection box body by one side of one side connector and the other side of the other side connector. The substrate fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein: