JP2020156287A - Electric connection box - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box which can suppress reduction of the intensity of holding a connector terminal and a resin plate even if the resin plate of a terminal pressure input unit has a small thickness.SOLUTION: A swaging fixing unit 42c is provided in a connector terminal 42 and the connector terminal 42 is held to a resin plate 4 more strongly. This can suppress generation of shaking between the connector terminal 42 and the resin plate 4 even if a vibration is applied by a vibration of a vehicle. In that connection, even if the thickness of a terminal pressure input hole 45b, that is, the thickness of the resin plate of the terminal pressure input unit is small, it becomes possible to present reduction of the strength of holding the connector terminal 42 and the resin plate 4. Thus, it becomes possible to suppress generation of removal of a terminal or a depression by an external force at the time of assembly and vibrations of the vehicle in a market.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5B

Description

The present invention relates to an electric junction box in which a circuit board is hermetically sealed and electrically connected to the outside through a connector portion. In the present invention, in particular, the circuit board provided with the relay circuit portion is sealed by the case and the connector portion, and the connector terminal for electrical connection with the relay circuit portion is exposed to the outside from the connector portion to be exposed to the outside. It is suitable when applied to a relay module device in which an electrical connection is made.

Conventionally, in Patent Document 1, electricity is made so that the stress applied to the soldered portion between the connector terminal and the circuit board can be reduced without exposing the connector portion to a high temperature and without using a screwing structure. A junction box has been proposed. In this electrical junction box, the resin plate provided with the connector terminal and the housing are separate bodies. Then, after soldering the connector terminal provided on the resin plate to the through via formed on the circuit board, the circuit board and the resin plate are arranged in the case, and the resin plate is sandwiched between the case and the housing to form a resin. The circuit board is supported by a plate with a gap between the housing and the case.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-163530

In recent years, there has been a demand for miniaturization of electric junction boxes due to an increase in the loading load of vehicles and an improvement in design, and for that purpose, it is also necessary to miniaturize the products mounted on the electric junction boxes. Mechanical relays and semiconductor relay modules mounted on a circuit board are becoming smaller, but it is difficult to reduce the size of products because they are dominated by the mounting area of the connector portion including the connector terminal.

In order to reduce the area of the connector mounting portion, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of the resin plate of the terminal press-fitting portion, and even in the electrical connection box described in Patent Document 1 described above, the terminal press-fitting portion provided on the resin plate The thickness of the resin plate is reduced.

However, if the thickness of the resin plate of the terminal press-fitting portion is reduced, the contact area between the resin plate and the connector terminal becomes smaller, and the holding strength between the connector terminal and the resin plate decreases. As a result, there is a concern that terminals may come off or collapse due to external force during product assembly and vehicle vibration in the market.

In view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical junction box capable of suppressing a decrease in holding strength between the connector terminal and the resin plate even if the resin plate thickness of the terminal press-fitting portion is small. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 1, the circuit board (3) in which the wiring pattern is formed and the connecting portion (32) connected to the wiring pattern is formed, and the terminal press-fitting. A resin plate (4) in which a hole (45b) is formed, has a connector terminal (42) that is press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting hole and is connected to a connection portion, and is integrated with a circuit board. A case (2) in which one surface is an opening surface (21) and an opening for accommodating a circuit board and a resin plate is formed from the opening surface, and a cover for closing the opening surface are configured, and the resin plate is sandwiched together with the case. The connector terminal is press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting hole to penetrate the resin plate and protrude to the opposite side of the housing, and to the circuit board side on the opposite side of the housing. It is characterized in that it has a bent portion (42a) that is bent toward it, and also has a caulking fixing portion (42c) that presses the resin plate against the housing side on the resin plate side of the bent portion.

As described above, the crimping fixing portion (42c) for pressing the resin plate against the housing side is provided on the resin plate side of the bent portion. Therefore, even if vibration is applied, rattling between the connector terminal and the resin plate is suppressed. Therefore, even if the area of the terminal press-fitting hole, that is, the terminal press-fitting area is small, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the holding strength of the connector terminal and the resin plate.

In the invention according to claim 2, the connector terminal has a stopper (42b) that abuts on the wall surface of the resin plate on the housing side and restricts the connector terminal from moving in the direction of being press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting hole. It is characterized by having.

By providing the stopper in this way, the resin plate can be sandwiched between the caulking fixing portion and the stopper, and the holding force of the connector terminal on the resin plate can be increased.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the caulking fixing portion is characterized in that the bent portion is bent in the same direction as the bent direction.

With such a configuration, it is possible to form the caulked fixing portion and the bent portion by bending together by bending using a jig.

For example, as described in claim 4, the resin plate is erected in the normal direction with respect to the surface of the circuit board, and the caulking fixing portion is provided on one side of the resin plate perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board. It is configured to be bent while having a predetermined angle. In that case, as described in claim 5, it is preferable that the predetermined angle is 35 ° or less. In this way, in addition to obtaining a high holding power from the initial stage of production, it is possible to maintain a high holding power even after that.

The reference numerals in parentheses of each of the above means indicate an example of the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiment described later.

It is external perspective view of the relay module apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing when the area surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1 is seen from the direction of an arrow. It is an exploded perspective view of the relay module device. It is a perspective view which showed the state of the assembly of a part of a relay module apparatus. It is the figure which looked at the resin plate from the front side of a relay module device. It is a perspective view when the resin plate is seen from the side opposite to the housing. It is a figure when the resin plate is seen from the side opposite to the housing. It is sectional drawing of VD-VD in FIG. 5C. It is a perspective view which showed the state after assembling a part of a relay module apparatus. It is a figure which showed the state before bending process of a connector terminal. It is a figure which shows the result of having investigated the durability of the holding force between the structure of 1st Embodiment and a comparative example. It is a figure which showed the state before bending process of the connector terminal used for the relay module apparatus 1 of the 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the following embodiments, parts that are the same or equal to each other will be described with the same reference numerals.

(First Embodiment)
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the relay module device will be described as an example of the electrical connection box.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the relay module device 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the area surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1 when viewed from the direction of the arrow. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the relay module device 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state of assembling a part of the relay module device 1. 5A to 5C are a front view of the resin plate 4, a perspective view of the resin plate 4 when viewed from the opposite side of the housing 5, and a view of the resin plate 4 when viewed from the opposite side of the housing 5. .. FIG. 5D is a sectional view taken along line VD-VD in FIG. 5C. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state after assembling a part of the relay module device 1. It should be noted that FIGS. 3 and 4 correspond to the views viewed from the directions of arrows III and IV of FIG. 1, respectively.

The relay module device 1 is a device provided with a relay circuit used to drive a load. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the relay module device 1 is configured by fitting the housing 5 into the opening of the case 2 having an opening opened in one direction while inserting the circuit board 3 and the resin plate 4. Has been done. As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit board 3 and the resin plate 4 are housed in the case 2, and the resin plate 4 assembled to the circuit board 3 in the case 2 is sandwiched between the case 2 and the housing 5. The circuit board 3 and the resin plate 4 are held.

As shown in FIG. 3, one side of the case 2 is open, and one side facing the open one side (hereinafter referred to as an opening surface) 21 is a bottom surface 22, and four sides extending from the bottom surface 22 to the opening surface 21 side. It is composed of substantially rectangular parallelepiped members having side surfaces 23 to 26. Then, the inside of the case 2 is sealed by fitting the housing 5 into the opening surface 21 of the case 2.

The case 2 has a stepped portion 23a having a stepped surface corresponding to one surface 23 of the side surfaces 23 to 26, specifically, one surface of the circuit board 3 on the side on which the resin plate 4 is arranged. Since the surface is attached, the opening area is reduced on the bottom surface 22 side rather than the opening surface 21 side. Further, the side surfaces 24 and 25 adjacent to the one surface 23 are rail surfaces on which the case rail portions 24a and 25a protruding toward the opening side are formed on the inner wall surface, and along the case rail portions 24a and 25a. The circuit board 3 is guided. Then, the circuit board 3 is installed along one surface 26 on the opposite side of the case 2 on which the step portion 23a is formed. Hereinafter, one surface 23 is referred to as a stepped surface 23, both side surfaces 24 and 25 are referred to as rail surfaces 24 and 25, and one surface 26 is referred to as an installation surface 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stepped portion 23a formed on the stepped surface 23 constitutes an inner wall surface that is perpendicular to the stepped surface 23, and the inner wall surface abuts on the resin plate 4. Be made to. The formation position of the step portion 23a, that is, the distance from the bottom surface 22 to the step portion 23a is made longer than the amount of protrusion of the circuit board 3 from the resin plate 4 to the bottom surface 22 side, and is between the end surface of the circuit board 3 and the bottom surface 22. It is set so that there is a gap in.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a protrusion 23b is formed on the opening surface 21 side of the inner wall surface of the stepped surface 23, and when the housing 5 is fitted into the case 2, the protrusion 23b is formed on the housing 5. The housing 5 is prevented from falling off from the case 2 due to the portion 23b being caught.

The case rail portions 24a and 25a formed on the rail surfaces 24 and 25 extend along the insertion direction of the circuit board 3 into the case 2 (direction of arrow A1 in FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 2, the installation surface 26 is separated from the circuit board 3 inserted in the case 2 by a predetermined distance. The distance between the installation surface 26 and the circuit board 3 is set so that the protruding portion of the tip of the terminals of various mounting components soldered to the circuit board 3 does not interfere with the installation surface 26. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a protrusion 26a is formed on the opening surface 21 side of the inner wall surface of the installation surface 26, and when the housing 5 is fitted into the case 2, the protrusion 26a is formed on the housing 5. The housing 5 is prevented from falling off from the case 2 due to the portion 26a being caught.

The circuit board 3 is formed with a wiring pattern of a relay circuit, and is composed of, for example, a printed circuit board. The width of the circuit board 3 in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction into the case 2 is smaller than the opening width in the same direction of the case 2, and a predetermined gap is provided between the circuit board 3 and the inner wall surface of the case 2. It has become like. Then, both ends of the circuit board 3 in the width direction are inserted into the case rail portions 24a and 25a described above.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of penetrating vias 31 and 32 corresponding to connection portions are formed on the circuit board 3, and the tips of the connector terminals 41 and 42 described later are formed for the penetrating vias 31 and 32. Is inserted and electrically connected by soldering. In the present embodiment, the penetrating vias 31 and 32 are used as connecting portions, but other connecting structures may be used. Further, although not shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 3, electronic components 33 and 34 such as a microcomputer (or IC) and an electrolytic capacitor provided in the relay circuit are mounted on the circuit board 3. , It is electrically connected to the wiring pattern formed on the circuit board 3 by soldering.

Further, a plurality of through holes 35a to 35c are formed in the circuit board 3. The resin plate 4 is positioned with respect to the circuit board 3 by fitting the tips of the boss portions 46a to 46c of the resin plate 4 described later into the plurality of through holes 35a to 35c.

As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the resin plate 4 holds a plurality of connector terminals 41 and 42, and the resin portion is made of heat-resistant resin and is erected in the normal direction with respect to the surface of the circuit board 3. Has been done. The resin plate 4 is formed by press-fitting the connector terminals 41 and 42 into the terminal press-fit holes 45a and 45b composed of a plurality of through holes. Of the resin plate 4, the portion where the connector terminal 41 is arranged is a rectangular plate-shaped portion 43. Further, in the resin plate 4, the portion where the connector terminal 42 is arranged is a protruding portion 44 protruding from the plate-shaped portion 43 toward the housing 5.

Around the connector terminal 41 of the plate-shaped portion 43, a convex portion 43a having a shape corresponding to the first penetrating portion 51 formed in the housing 5 described later is formed. Further, a convex portion 44a having a shape corresponding to the second penetrating portion 52 formed in the housing 5 described later is also formed around the connector terminal 42 in the protruding portion 44.

The resin plate 4 is held on the circuit board 3 so that the plane of the plate-shaped portion 43 faces the normal direction of the circuit board 3. Of the resin plate 4, boss portions 46a to 46c formed of protrusions protruding toward the circuit board 3 are formed on the end surface of the circuit board 3 side. By fitting the tips of the boss portions 46a to 46c into the through holes 35a to 35c formed in the circuit board 3, the resin plate 4 is held in a state of being positioned with respect to the circuit board 3.

Each of the connector terminals 41 and 42 provided on the resin plate 4 penetrates the plate-shaped portion 43 and the protruding portion 44 and projects to the housing 5 side and the opposite side. Of the connector terminals 41 and 42, the portion opposite to the housing 5 protrudes from the resin plate 4 in the normal direction of the plate-shaped portion 43 and is bent vertically toward the circuit board 3 side, and the end thereof. The part protrudes to the circuit board 3 side. This end is inserted into a plurality of through vias 31 and 32 formed on the circuit board 3 and soldered to be electrically connected. The portions of the connector terminals 41 and 42 that are bent in the vertical direction are referred to as bent portions 41a and 42a in the following description.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the portion of the connector terminal 42 on the housing 5 side, a stopper 42b that comes into contact with the surface of the protruding portion 44 that faces the housing 5 side is formed. The stopper 42b is configured such that the connector terminal 42 is partially widened on both sides in the width direction. The stopper 42b makes it possible to prevent the connector terminal 42 from being pushed into the resin plate 4 when the external connector portion is fitted into the connector terminal 42.

Here, since the connector terminals 41 and 42 are used for different purposes, the plate thickness and width are set according to the application. For example, the connector terminal 41 is a signal line or an output of each relay provided in a relay circuit, that is, a current supply line to each load, and the connector terminal 42 is a power supply line to which a current is supplied from a power source. Since the connector terminal 42 is a power supply line before being distributed to each relay, the connector terminal 42 has a larger plate width than the connector terminal 41.

In order to reduce the size of the product, the thickness of the resin plates of the terminal press-fitting holes 45a and 45b formed in the resin plate 4 for press-fitting the connector terminals 41 and 42 is reduced. Since the connector terminal 41 is a current supply line for distributing the current supplied from the signal line and the power supply line and supplying it to each load, a large number of connector terminals 41 are provided and many connections with external connector portions are also integrated. Is done. Therefore, even if vibration is applied in the left-right direction of FIG. 6 due to vehicle vibration, a large number of connector terminals 41 are collectively vibrated, so that rattling is unlikely to occur. On the other hand, since the connector terminal 42 is used as a power supply line and is provided as a one-pole terminal apart from the connector terminal 41, it is independently connected to an external connector portion and vibrates in the left-right direction in FIG. When added, rattling is likely to occur.

Therefore, the caulking fixing portion 42c is provided at a position of the connector terminal 42 protruding from the resin plate 4 on the side opposite to the housing 5. The caulking fixing portion 42c is located on the resin plate 4 side of the connector terminal 42 with respect to the bent portion 42a, and is configured to be bent in the same direction as the bent portion 42a in the present embodiment, and the resin plate 4 is housed 5 It plays a role of pushing to the side. More specifically, the connector terminal 42 is formed into a plate-shaped member as shown in FIG. 7 before being bent, the central portion thereof is a punched portion 42d, and the tongue piece portion surrounded by the punched portion 42d is caulked and fixed. It becomes part 42c.

Then, the connector terminal 42 is press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting hole 45b of the resin plate 4 from the lower side of the paper surface of FIG. 7, and is fitted until the stopper 42b abuts on the resin plate 4. Then, the outer and inner tongue pieces of the punched portion 42d are both bent with a jig to form the bent portion 42a and the caulked fixing portion 42c. The bent portion 42a is bent at a position separated from the resin plate 4 by a predetermined distance, and is bent perpendicular to the state before being bent. Since the caulking fixing portion 42c is bent at the position of the wall surface of the resin plate 4, the connector terminal 42 is designated as shown in FIG. 5D with respect to the surface of the resin plate 4, that is, one surface perpendicular to the circuit board 3. It is in a state of having an angle. The angle formed by the caulking fixing portion 42c and the surface of the resin plate 4 (hereinafter referred to as bending angle θ) is 45 ° or less, preferably 35 ° or less, and more preferably 20 ° or less.

Since the caulking fixing portion 42c is provided in this way, the resin plate 4 is sandwiched between the caulking fixing portion 42c and the stopper 42b, so that the holding force of the connector terminal 42 to the resin plate 4 is enhanced. There is.

On both sides of the connector terminal 42 in the width direction, saw-shaped protrusions 42e are formed at portions located between the stopper 42b and the caulking fixing portion 42c. The protrusion 42e bites into the wall surface of the terminal press-fitting hole 45b so that the holding force of the connector terminal 42 on the resin plate 4 is enhanced.

The plate-shaped portion 43 of the resin plate 4 is formed with a guide hole 43b penetrating the plate-shaped portion 43 at a position different from the convex portion 43a where the connector terminal 41 is arranged. The guide hole 43b is a portion into which the guide 55c formed in the housing 5 described later is fitted.

In the housing 5, the connector terminals 41 and 42 of the resin plate 4 are mounted on the circuit board 3, and then the resin plate 4 is assembled. After inserting the circuit board 3 and the resin plate 4 into the opening of the case 2. By being fitted into the opening of the case 2, it becomes a cover that closes the opening surface 21 of the case 2. Further, when the housing 5 is fitted into the case 2, the resin plate 4 is pressed against the stepped portion 23a and the tips of the case rail portions 24a and 25a at the end surface on the side where the first penetrating portion 51 is formed. 4 is sandwiched together with the tips of the stepped portion 23a and the case rail portions 24a and 25a.

Note that FIG. 6 shows a state in which the housing 5 is fixed to the resin plate 4 after the connector terminals 41 and 42 of the resin plate 4 are mounted on the circuit board 3, but the hatching in this figure is shown. When the resin plate 4 is pressed against the case 2 by the housing 5, the indicated portions come into contact with the tips of the stepped portion 23a and the case rail portions 24a and 25a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 5 is formed with the first and second penetrating portions 51 and 52, and the tips of the connector terminals 41 and 42 protruding from the resin plate 4 are inserted into the penetrating portions 51 and 52. Will be done. In the case of the present embodiment, the first and second penetrating portions 51 and 52 are penetrated in a rectangular shape. The convex portions 43a and 44a in the vicinity of the connector terminals 41 and 42 of the resin plate 4 have a protruding shape corresponding to the first and second penetrating portions 51 and 52, and the convex portions 43a and 44a are the first. , It is adapted to fit into the second penetrating portions 51 and 52.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, one surface of the housing 5 opposite to the resin plate 4 is opened, and as shown in FIG. 2, the first, first, is formed in the opening 53. The connector terminals 41 and 42 inserted into the second penetrating portions 51 and 52 are exposed. By using the housing 5 as a connector portion and inserting another connector portion (not shown) into the opening 53, electrical connection with the connector terminals 41 and 42 can be achieved.

As shown in FIG. 4, a hook 54a extending toward the resin plate 4 is formed at a position corresponding to one side of the circumference of the first penetrating portion 51 formed in the housing 5 opposite to the second penetrating portion 52. ing. The tip of the hook 54a is formed with a claw extending inward of the first penetrating portion 51, and the claw portion is hooked on the resin plate 4. Similarly, a hook 54b extending toward the resin plate 4 is formed at a position corresponding to one side opposite to the first penetrating portion 51 in the periphery of the second penetrating portion 52 formed in the housing 5. The tip of the hook 54b is formed with a claw extending inward of the second penetrating portion 52, and the claw portion is hooked on the resin plate 4.

Further, the housing 5 is provided with guides (first to fourth guides) 55a to 55d extending toward the resin plate 4 side corresponding to each side of the first penetrating portion 51 having a rectangular shape. The guides 55a to 55d are formed in a flat plate shape extending parallel to each side of the first penetrating portion 51.

The relay module device 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by the above configuration. The relay module device 1 configured in this way is manufactured as follows.

First, a circuit board 3 on which a wiring pattern is formed is prepared, and a resin plate 4 provided with a plurality of connector terminals 41 and 42 and electronic components 33 and 34 are prepared. Then, the plurality of connector terminals 41 and 42 are press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting holes 45a and 45b of the resin plate 4, and the connector terminals 42 are fitted until the stopper 42b abuts on the wall surface of the resin plate 4. At this time, since the connector terminal 42 is provided with the stopper 42b, it is press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting hole 45b from below the paper surface of FIG. 7, but the press-fitting direction is arbitrary. After that, the connector terminals 41 and 42 are bent by bending using a jig to form the bent portions 41a and 42a and the caulking fixing portion 42c, and these and the resin plate 4 are integrated. At this time, by forming the caulking fixing portion 42c, the connector terminal 42 can be more firmly held by the resin plate 4.

Subsequently, cream solder is printed on the front and back surfaces of the circuit board 3 so as to be applied to the mounting portions of the plurality of through vias 31 and 32 and the electronic components 33 and 34 formed on the circuit board 3. Then, the electronic components 33 and 34 are mounted on the cream solder, and the tips of the boss portions 46a to 46c are inserted into the through holes 35a to 35c to position the resin plate 4, and then the resin plates 4 are positioned in the plurality of through vias 31. Insert the tips of the connector terminals 41 and 42.

In this state, it is conveyed into the reflow mounting device (reflow furnace), the cream solder is melted by the reflow, and each part is soldered.

When the soldering is completed in this way, the circuit board 3 and the resin plate 4 are taken out from the reflow mounting device, and the housing 5 is fixed to the resin plate 4. Specifically, the connector terminal 41 and the convex portion 43a are fitted in the first penetrating portion 51, and the connector terminal 42 and the convex portion 44a are fitted in the second penetrating portion 52. Further, the guides 55a, 55b, 55d are brought into contact with each side of the plate-shaped portion 43, and the guides 55c are fitted into the guide holes 43b so that the claws of the hooks 54a, 54b are caught on the resin plate 4.

As a result, the housing 5 is fixed to the resin plate 4, and the circuit board 3, the resin plate 4, and the housing 5 are integrated.

After that, the circuit board 3 and the resin plate 4 are inserted into the case 2 from the opening surface 21, and the opening surface 21 of the case 2 is closed with the housing 5 as a cover. At this time, the circuit board 3 is inserted into the case rail portions 24a and 25a so that the circuit board 3 is arranged at a desired position in the case 2.

As a result, the resin plate 4 is sandwiched between the housing 5 and the case 2, and the circuit board 3 is supported with a gap between the housing 5 and the case 2 via the resin plate 4. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the resin plate 4 is sandwiched between the step portion 23a of the housing 5 and the case 2 and between the housing 5 and the tips of the case rail portions 24a and 25a. .. At this time, the resin plate 4 is sandwiched between the case 2 and the housing 5, but the circuit board 3 is supported by the resin plate 4 in a state where a gap is provided between the case 2 and the housing 5 in the case 2. It will be in the state of being.

Therefore, by inserting or pulling out an external connector portion (not shown) into the opening of the housing 5, even if stress is applied to the connector terminals 41 and 42, the stress applied to the soldered portion can be reduced. It becomes.

In the electrical junction box manufactured as described above, the connector terminal 42 is provided with a caulking fixing portion 42c so that the connector terminal 42 is held more firmly against the resin plate 4. Therefore, even if vibration is applied in the left-right direction of FIG. 6 due to vehicle vibration, rattling between the connector terminal 42 and the resin plate 4 is suppressed. Therefore, even if the thickness of the terminal press-fitting hole 45b, that is, the resin plate thickness of the terminal press-fitting portion is small, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the holding strength of the connector terminal 42 and the resin plate 4. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of terminal disconnection / depression due to external force during product assembly and vehicle vibration in the market.

Further, as described above, the bending angle θ of the caulking fixing portion 42c is set to 45 ° or less, preferably 35 ° or less, and more preferably 20 ° or less. It was experimentally investigated how the holding force of the connector terminal 42 on the resin plate 4 changes depending on the presence or absence of the caulking fixing portion 42c and the bending angle θ. FIG. 8 shows the result. In this experiment, as a comparative example, the holding force is examined in the case where the caulking fixing portion 42c is not provided and in the case where the crimping fixing portion 42c is provided and the bending angle θ is changed as in the present embodiment. Regarding the holding power, the change in the holding power was obtained between the initial stage of manufacturing the electrical junction box and after the durability test in which 100 N was alternately and repeatedly applied to the connector terminal 42 in the left-right direction in FIG. 6 five times. I'm researching.

As a result, when the caulking fixing portion 42c was not provided, the holding force was only 100 N from the initial stage. On the other hand, when the caulking fixing portion 42c is provided, a holding force of 150 N or more, which is 1.5 times that of the case where it is not provided, can be obtained, and when the bending angle θ is 35 ° or less, a high holding force of 200 N can be obtained. I was able to do it. In addition, after the durability test, the holding force decreased to zero when the caulking fixing portion 42c was not provided, but when the caulking fixing portion 42c was provided, the bending angle θ was close to 120 N even when the bending angle θ was 45 °. The holding power was maintained, and if the temperature was 35 ° or less, the holding power of 150 N or more was maintained.

As described above, it is possible to obtain a high holding force by providing the caulking fixing portion 42c, and in particular, it is possible to obtain a higher holding force by setting the bending angle θ to 35 ° or less.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the shape of the connector terminal 42 is changed with respect to the first embodiment, and the other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flat plate-like state before fixing the connector terminal 42 to the resin plate 4. As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, the caulking fixing portions 42c are provided on both sides in the width direction of the connector terminal 42. Specifically, L-shaped notches 42f extending toward the inside of the connector terminal 42 and further extending toward the stopper 42b along the longitudinal direction of the connector terminal 42 are formed on both sides of the connector terminal 42 in the width direction. There is. Then, the caulking fixing portion 42c is formed by the notch.

In this way, the caulking fixing portions 42c may be provided on both sides of the connector terminal 42 in the width direction. In this case as well, for example, when the connector terminal 42 is bent to form the bent portion 42a, the caulking fixing portion 42c may also be bent to form the bent portion 42a.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the claims.

For example, the relay module device 1 has been given as an example of an electrical connection box, but the present invention can also be applied to an electronic connection box provided with an ECU or the like.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the caulking fixing portion 42c is bent to the same side according to the bending direction of the bending portion 42a, but it may be bent in different directions. In that case, the bending process for forming the bent portion 42a and the bending process for forming the caulking fixing portion 42c may be performed as different steps.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the stopper 42b provided on the housing 5 side portion of the connector terminal 42 has a configuration in which the width of the connector terminal 42 is partially widened on both sides in the width direction. This is only an example of the configuration of the stopper 42b, and the connector terminal 42 abuts on the wall surface of the resin plate 4 on the housing 5 side and moves in the direction of being press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting holes 45a and 45b. The shape and location can be used as long as the structure can be regulated.

Needless to say, in the above embodiment, the elements constituting the embodiment are not necessarily essential except when it is clearly stated that they are essential and when they are clearly considered to be essential in principle. .. Further, in the above embodiment, when numerical values such as the number, numerical value, amount, range, etc. of the constituent elements of the embodiment are mentioned, when it is clearly stated that they are particularly essential, and in principle, they are clearly limited to a specific number. It is not limited to the specific number except when In addition, in each of the above embodiments, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of a component or the like, the shape, unless otherwise specified or limited in principle to a specific shape, positional relationship, etc. It is not limited to the positional relationship.

1 ... Relay module device, 2 ... Case, 3 ... Circuit board, 4 ... Resin plate, 5 ... Housing, 21 ... Opening surface, 22 ... Bottom surface, 23 ... Stepped surface, 24, 25 ... Rail surface, 24a, 25a ... Case rail part, 26 ... Installation surface, 31, 32 ... Penetration via, 33, 34 ... Electronic parts, 41, 42 ... Connector terminal, 41a, 42a ... Bending part, 42c ... Caulking fixing part, 43 ... Plate-shaped part, 43a ... Convex part, 44 ... Protruding part, 44a ... Convex part, 45a, 45b ... Terminal press-fitting hole

Claims (5)

A circuit board (3) in which a wiring pattern is formed and a connection portion (32) connected to the wiring pattern is formed.
A resin plate in which a terminal press-fitting hole (45b) is formed, has a connector terminal (42) that is press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting hole and is connected to the connection portion, and is integrated with the circuit board. (4) and
A case (2) in which one surface is an opening surface (21) and an opening for accommodating the circuit board and the resin plate is formed from the opening surface.
It has a housing (5) that constitutes a cover for closing the opening surface and holds the resin plate together with the case.
The connector terminal is press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting hole to penetrate the resin plate and protrude to the opposite side of the housing, and is bent toward the circuit board side on the opposite side of the housing. An electrical connector box having a portion (42a) and having a caulking fixing portion (42c) for pressing the resin plate against the housing side on the resin plate side of the bent portion. The connector terminal is provided with a stopper (42b) that comes into contact with the wall surface of the resin plate on the housing side and restricts the connector terminal from moving in the direction of being press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting hole. The electrical connector according to claim 1. The electrical connection box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the caulking fixing portion is bent in the same direction as the bent portion. The resin plate is erected in the normal direction with respect to the surface of the circuit board.
The electrical connection box according to claim 3, wherein the caulking fixing portion is bent in a state of having a predetermined angle with respect to one surface of the resin plate perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board. The electrical connection box according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined angle is 35 ° or less.

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