Patent Publication Number: US-11394138-B2

Title: Terminal block and wire routing unit

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a terminal block and a wire routing unit. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The terminal block described in JP 2017-004874A (Patent Document 1) is known as an example of a terminal block that connects a connection terminal connected to a terminal end of a wire and a circuit terminal provided in a device to each other. The terminal block electrically connects the connection terminal and the circuit terminal to each other by fastening the connection terminal and the circuit terminal using a terminal bolt and a nut. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Documents 
     Patent Document 1: JP 2017-004874A 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Meanwhile, when the wire connected to the connection terminal is used, for example, for large current and high voltage applications, the wire thermally expands or contracts due to the heat generated by the wire itself, the heat conducted from the connected terminal, and the like. When the wire thermally expands or contracts, the connection terminal connected to the wire is pushed or pulled in the axial direction of the wire, and stress is concentrated on the contact portion between the connection terminal and the circuit terminal, resulting in a failure in the contact portion. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a terminal block and a wire routing unit each having a novel structure that can inhibit the occurrence of failures in a contact portion between a connection portion provided at a terminal end of a wire and a counterpart connection portion. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A terminal block according to the present disclosure is a terminal block that electrically connects a connection portion provided at a terminal end of a wire and a counterpart connection portion to each other, the terminal block including: a contact placement portion on which the connection portion and the counterpart connection portion are disposed in contact with each other; a wire installation portion that is provided continuously with the contact placement portion and on which the wire is disposed; and a stress relaxation portion that is disposed between the wire installation portion and the wire so as to be elastically displaceable, and that bends and holds the wire in a state in which a clearance is provided between the wire and the wire installation portion. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to inhibit the occurrence of failures in a contact portion between a connection portion provided at a terminal end of a wire and a counterpart connection portion 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wire routing unit according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the wire routing unit. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a terminal block according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the terminal block. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the terminal block. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a state in which one wire has thermally expanded in the wire routing unit. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view showing a state in which one wire has thermally contracted in the wire routing unit. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a wire routing unit according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of the wire routing unit. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a terminal block according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a wire routing unit according to Embodiment 3. 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view of the wire routing unit. 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the wire routing unit. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view showing a set state before terminals are fastened with bolts. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure 
     First, aspects of the present disclosure will be listed and described. 
     A terminal block according to the present disclosure is 
     (1) a terminal block that electrically connects a connection portion provided at a terminal end of a wire and a counterpart connection portion to each other, the terminal block including: a contact placement portion on which the connection portion and the counterpart connection portion are disposed in contact with each other; a wire installation portion that is provided continuously with the contact placement portion and on which the wire is disposed; and a stress relaxation portion that is disposed between the wire installation portion and the wire so as to be elastically displaceable, and that bends and holds the wire in a state in which a clearance is provided between the wire and the wire installation portion. 
     With a terminal block having such a configuration, when the wire thermally expands due to heat generation or the like, the wire is further bent from the portion thereof that has already been bent, and the stress relaxation portion is elastically displaced to cause the wire to enter inside the clearance formed between the wire and the wire installation portion. This makes it possible to absorb the excess length resulting from the covered wire being extended due to thermal expansion. 
     On the other hand, when the wire thermally contracts due to cooling or the like, the stress relaxation portion is elastically displaced to cause the wire to enter the inside of the clearance formed between the wire and the wire installation portion, this making the bent wire straight. Thus, it is possible to inhibit a tensile stress in the axial direction from being applied to the wire. Accordingly, it is possible to inhibit stress due to thermal expansion or contraction of the wire from being applied to the contact portion between the connection portion and the counterpart connection portion. That is, when the wire thermally expands or contracts, it is possible to inhibit the occurrence of failures in the contact portion between the connection portion and the counterpart connection portion. 
     (2) It is preferable that the wire installation portion includes a plurality of side wall portions disposed along the wire, and the stress relaxation portion includes a plurality of elastic portions that are provided on the plurality of side wall portions so as to be elastically displaceable in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the wire, and that hold the wire in a bent state so as to provide a clearance between the wire and the side wall portions. 
     This allows the wire to be bent and held by the plurality of elastic portions between the plurality of side wall portions. When the wire thermally expands, the elastic portion is elastically displaced to cause the wire to enter the inside of the clearance between the wire and the side wall portion. When the wire thermally contracts, the stress relaxation portion is elastically displaced to cause the wire to enter the inside of the clearance between the wire and the side wall portions, thus making the bent wire straight. Therefore, in either the case where the wire is in a thermally expanded state or the case where the wire is in a thermally contracted state, it is possible to inhibit stress from being generated in the contact portion between the connection portion and the counterpart connection portion. 
     (3) It is preferable that the plurality of side wall portions are a pair of side wall portions disposed on opposite sides of the wire, the plurality of elastic portions are a pair of elastic portions provided in the same region in the axial direction of the wire, and one of the two elastic portions is configured as a large elastic portion protruding further toward the wire than the other. 
     (4) It is preferable that the wire installation portion includes a bottom wall portion on which the wire is mounted, and the pair of side wall portions extending from the bottom wall portion, and the pair of elastic portions are formed protruding in a cantilevered manner toward the wire from the side wall portions. 
     This allows the wire disposed between the pair of side wall portions to be bent by the pair of elastic portions, and it is thus possible to make the configuration of the terminal block simpler than in the case of providing three or more elastic portions, for example. 
     Since the pair of elastic portions are disposed in the same region in the axial direction, it is possible to reduce the size of the stress relaxation portion in the axial direction than when the pair of elastic portions are disposed offset in the axial direction, for example. Hence, it is possible to reduce the size of the terminal block in the axial direction. 
     Meanwhile, when the pair of elastic portions are disposed in the same region in the axial direction, and the pair of elastic portions come into contact with the wire from opposite sides in the axial direction, there is concern that the wire cannot be bent. However, since one of the two elastic portions is configured as the large elastic portion protruding further toward the wire than the other, the wire can be reliably bent by the large elastic portion toward the other elastic portion. 
     Since the pair of elastic portions are formed protruding in a cantilevered manner from the side wall portions toward the wire, the proportion of the wire to be bent can be easily adjusted by changing the dimensions in which the pair of elastic portions protrude from the side wall portions. 
     (5) It is preferable that the pair of elastic portions extend in a cantilevered manner in a direction intersecting the bottom wall portion. 
     With this configuration, when the pair of elastic portions extend in a cantilevered manner, for example, downward, which is a direction intersecting the bottom wall portion, the length dimension in the axial direction of the wire at the pair of elastic portions can be reduced as compared with that of an elastic portion extending in a cantilevered manner in the axial direction of the wire. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the stress relaxation portion, and hence the terminal block, in the axial direction of the wire. 
     (6) It is preferable that the connection portion has a flat plate shape, and the terminal block includes: positioning portions that position the connection portion in a normal orientation by abutting against at least surfaces of opposite side edges of the connection portion; and an elastic pressing portion that urges the connection portion by coming into contact with a back surface of the connection portion. 
     With this configuration, when setting the connection portion on the terminal block, the surface of the flat plate-shaped connection portion that is urged by the elastic pressing portion toward the positioning portions abuts against the positioning portions at least at opposite side edges. Therefore, so-called displacement in a torsion direction of the connection portion, or displacement in which the connection portion rotates about the axis of the wire, is prevented. That is, although one of the opposite side edges of the connection portion is displaced obliquely upward when torsional force is applied to the flat plate-shaped connection portion, the connection portion is positioned in a normal orientation as a result of being pushed back by abutting against the positioning portions. 
     In particular, with the terminal block according to the present embodiment, there is a possibility that torsional force is applied to the connection portion due to the wire being bent and held by the stress relaxation portion. In addition, there is a possibility that torsional force is applied to the connection portion also when the wire has a large diameter and high bendability. In such a case, even if one of the opposite side edges of the flat plate-shaped connection portion is to be displaced in a torsion direction, the connection portion is held in a normal orientation as a result being pushed back by abutting against the positioning portions, and it is thus possible to advantageously prevent the occurrence of torsion in the connection portion. 
     As a result, the connection portion is positioned so as to be disposed in a normal orientation relative to the contact placement portion, thus facilitating the operation of connecting the connection portion to the counterpart connection portion. Stress due to the rotational displacement in a torsion direction of the connection portion is also prevented from acting on the connection portion between the connection portion and the counterpart connection portion. 
     (7) It is preferable that leg portions are provided that are disposed on opposite sides in a width direction of the connection portion and are elastically deformable outwardly in the width direction of the connection portion, and the positioning portions are formed protruding from the leg portions. 
     With this configuration, when the connection portion is pushed in while pressing the opposite side ends of the connection portion on the back surface onto the positioning portions, for example, the leg portions are elastically deformed outward in the width direction of the connection portion, and the positioning portions move outward in the width direction of the connection portion. Therefore, through a simple operation of pushing in the connection portion, the connection portion can be inserted between the positioning portions and the elastic pressing portion. 
     Preferably, each of the positioning portions is provided with a pressing guide surface that elastically deforms the elastic leg portion through the above-described pressing of the connection portion, thus moving the positioning portion outward in the width direction of the connection portion. With this configuration, by pushing in the connection portion while pressing the opposite side ends of the connection portion on the back surface side onto the pressing guide surfaces of the positioning portions, the leg portions can be easily elastically deformed outward in the width direction of the connection portion, thus allowing the connection portion to be more easily inserted between the positioning portions and the elastic pressing portion. 
     (8) It is preferable that the elastic pressing portion is formed as a single piece with the contact placement portion. 
     This configuration reduces the number of components, and thus may simplify the structure. 
     (9) It is preferable that the positioning portions are provided on opposite sides in a length direction of the connection portion relative to the elastic pressing portion. 
     With this configuration, displacement in a twisting direction of the connection portion is less likely to occur in a state in which the connection portion is pressed onto the positioning portions by the elastic pressing portion. Since not only displacement in a torsion direction, but also displacement in a twisting direction of the connection portion is restricted, the connection portion can be more easily held in a normal set state in which the connection portion is positioned in a normal orientation relative to the contact placement portion. 
     Note that the contact placement portion may be provided with a guide surface that guides the connection portion during attachment of the connection portion. 
     With this configuration, the connection portion is guided by the guide surface to a normal set position of the contact placement portion, and therefore an attachment operation for setting the connection portion on the contact placement portion is facilitated. 
     (10) A wire routing unit including: the above-described terminal block; and an enclosure portion that accommodates the wire pulled out from the wire installation portion of the terminal block to a side opposite to the contact placement portion, wherein the wire accommodated in the enclosure portion and a wall portion of the enclosure portion are disposed in proximity to each other. 
     The wire that is accommodated in the enclosure portion and is in proximity to the wall portion is close to the wall portion. Accordingly, when the wire thermally expands, the wire accommodated in the enclosure portion cannot be bent, and the amount of thermal expansion of the wire is accumulated to extend to the position of the wire installation portion of the terminal block. 
     That is, when the wall portion of the enclosure portion that accommodates the wire and the wire are in proximity to each other, the technique by which the stress relaxation portion absorbs the excess length of the thermally expanded covered wire is highly effective. 
     Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure 
     Specific examples of the terminal block and the wire routing unit according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications which fall within the scope of the claims and the meaning and scope of equivalents thereof. 
     Embodiment 1 
     Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 10 . 
     Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure illustrates a wire routing unit  10  that is connected to a device-side connection portion (an example of a “counterpart connection portion”) T of a device mounted to a vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pair of device-side connection portions T have a flat plate shape and are arranged in the left-right direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wire routing unit  10  includes a pair of covered wires  20 , a pair of terminals  30  connected to front-side terminal ends of the pair of covered wires  20 , a terminal block  40  on which the front-side terminal end portions of the pair of covered wires  20  and the pair of terminals  30  are disposed, and an enclosure portion  60  that accommodates the covered wires  20  that are pulled out rearward from the terminal block  40 . 
     Each covered wire  20  is formed by a core wire  22  constituted by a conductive stranded wire being covered with an insulating covering  24 . For the core wire  22 , it is possible to use any material such as copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy. At a front end portion of the covered wire  20 , the insulating covering  24  is stripped off such that the core wire  22  is exposed. 
     Each terminal  30  is formed by processing a conductive metal plate material by pressing or the like, and has a smaller cross-sectional area than the covered wire  20 . For the terminal  30 , it is possible to use any material such as copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy. The terminal  30  includes a terminal connection portion (an example of a “connection portion”)  32  that is connected to the device-side connection portion T, and a wire connection portion  34  that is connected to the core wire  22  of the covered wire  20 . 
     The terminal connection portion  32  has a flat plate shape, and the wire connection portion  34  is formed rearward of the terminal connection portion  32  so as to be continuous therewith. 
     The wire connection portion  34  includes a pair of barrels  35 , and is electrically connected to the front end portion of the covered wire  20  by the pair of barrels  35  being crimped to the core wire  22  of the covered wire  20 . 
     The terminal block  40  is generally made of a synthetic resin, and includes an attachment plate  41  having a substantially square shape in a plan view, and a pair of contact placement portions  50  protruding forward from the attachment plate  41 . The attachment plate  41  has a flat plate shape, and a metal collar  42  through which an attachment bolt (not shown) is passed is embedded in each of the four corners of the attachment plate  41 . 
     A substantially central portion of the attachment plate  41  in the left-right direction is configured as a wire installation portion  44  on which the pair of covered wires  20  are disposed extending in the front-rear direction. 
     The wire installation portion  44  includes a bottom wall portion  45  that is elongated long in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of side wall portions  46  extending upward from the bottom wall portion  45 . 
     The bottom wall portion  45  is formed extending along the entire length of the attachment plate  41  in the front-rear direction, and the wire connection portions  34  of the pair of terminals  30  and the front end portions of the pair of covered wires  20  can be mounted on the bottom wall portion  45  so as to be disposed side by side in the left-right direction. 
     The plurality of side wall portions  46  are provided at a total of three positions, namely, between the pair of covered wires  20  mounted on the bottom wall portion  45 , and on opposite sides of the pair of covered wires  20  in the left-right direction. 
     The side wall portions  46  are shaped to extend linearly in the front-rear direction along the covered wire  20 , and are formed over the entire length of the bottom wall portion  45  in the front-rear direction. 
     Of the plurality of side wall portions  46 , a central side wall portion  46 A disposed between the pair of covered wires  20  is set to have a larger thickness dimension than outer side wall portions  46 B disposed on opposite sides of the pair of covered wires  20  in the left-right direction. The central side wall portion  46 A protrudes forward from the attachment plate  41 , and is shaped to extend to the front end positions of the terminal connection portions  32  of the pair of terminals  30  that protrude forward from the bottom wall portion  45 . Accordingly, the central side wall portion  46 A serves as an insulating wall for providing insulation between the pair of terminals  30  disposed on the bottom wall portion  45 . 
     The dimension in the left-right direction between the central side wall portion  46 A and each outer side wall portion  46 B is set to be larger than the outer diameter dimension of the covered wire  20 . When the covered wire  20  is disposed between the central side wall portion  46 A and the outer side wall portion  46 B, a clearance CL is formed between the covered wires  20  and each of the side wall portions  46 . 
     That is, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 10 , the wire installation portion  44  has two wire routing paths  47  formed by the bottom wall portion  45 , the central side wall portion  46 A, and the outer side wall portions  46 B. When one of the covered wires  20  is installed in each of the wire routing paths  47 , a clearance CL is formed between the covered wire  20  and each of the side wall portions  46 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The pair of contact placement portions  50  have a flat plate shape. The pair of contact placement portions  50  are shaped to protrude forward from a front edge of the attachment plate  41  so as to extend along the central side wall portion  46 A, and each of the contact placement portions  50  extends continuously with a front edge of the bottom wall portion  45  that is disposed between the central side wall portion  46 A and the outer side wall portions  46 B of the wire installation portion  44 , and with the central side wall portion  46 A. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , a nut N is fixed at a front end part of each of the contact placement portions  50 , and the terminal connection portion  32  of the terminal  30  and the device-side connection portion T can be mounted on the nut N so as to be overlapped on top of each other. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a fastening bolt B is passed through the terminal connection portion  32  and the device-side connection portion T disposed overlapping on the nut N, and is then fastened to the nut N, whereby the terminal connection portion  32  and the device-side connection portion T are electrically connected to each other. 
     Meanwhile, the pair of covered wires  20  that are pulled out rearward from a rear end of the wire installation portion  44  are accommodated in wire accommodating portions  61  provided in the enclosure portion  60 . 
     Each of the wire accommodating portions  61  is formed by four wall portions  62  that cover the corresponding covered wire  20  from four directions, namely, from above, below, left, and right, and each of the covered wires  20  is separately surrounded by the four wall portions  62 . Each of the wall portions  62  in the wire accommodating portion  61  is disposed in proximity to the covered wire  20 , and the wall portions  62  and the covered wire  20  are close to each other. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , a stress relaxation portion  70  that bends and holds the covered wire  20  is disposed between each covered wire  20  mounted on the bottom wall portion  45  and each of the outer side wall portions  46 B and the central side wall portion  46 A of the wire installation portion  44 . 
     Each stress relaxation portion  70  includes a plurality of elastic portions  72  provided respectively at the outer side wall portion  46 B and the corresponding central side wall portion  46 A. 
     The elastic portions  72  of Embodiment 1 are provided respectively at the corresponding outer side wall portion  46 B and the central side wall portion  46 A so as to be disposed in the same region in the front-rear direction, and the pair of elastic portions  72  come into contact, from opposite sides, with the same region, in the front-rear direction, of the covered wire  20  disposed in the wire routing path  47 . 
     The elastic portion  72  provided on the central side wall portion  46 A is configured as a small elastic portion  73  protruding into the wire installation portion  44 , and then extending forward in a cantilevered manner. On the other hand, the elastic portion  72  provided on the outer side wall portion  46 B is configured as a large elastic portion  74  protruding into the wire installation portion  44 , and then extending rearward in a cantilevered manner. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the large elastic portion  74  is formed so as to have an amount of protrusion L 1  into the wire installation portion  44  that is larger than an amount of protrusion L 2  of the small elastic portion  73  into the wire installation portion  44 , and to be elongated in the front-rear direction. 
     The distance between a part  74 A of the large elastic portion  74  that comes into contact with the covered wire  20  and a part  73 A of the small elastic portion  73  that comes into contact with the covered wire  20  is set to be the same as the outer diameter of the covered wire  20 . Here, the same dimension may mean that the distance between the part  74 A of the large elastic portion  74  that comes into contact with the covered wire  20  and the part  73 A of the small elastic portion  73  that comes into contact with the covered wire  20  is the same as the outer diameter dimension of the covered wire  20 , and also include a case where the distance can be recognized to be substantially the same as the outer diameter dimension even if it is not the same. 
     Accordingly, when the covered wire  20  is disposed between the outer side wall portion  46 B and the central side wall portion  46 A, the covered wire  20  extends along, and comes into contact with, the large elastic portion  74  protruding further to the covered wire  20  side than the small elastic portion  73  side, and is bent toward the central side wall portion  46 A side, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the covered wire  20  is disposed so as to be held by the large elastic portion  74  and the small elastic portion  73  from opposite sides in the left-right direction in a state in which the covered wire  20  is bent toward the central side wall portion  46 A side. In addition, the covered wire  20  comes into contact with the small elastic portion  73  so as to extend along therewith, and is disposed in the wire installation portion  44  in a state in which a clearance CL is provided between the covered wire  20  and the central side wall portion  46 A. 
     The configuration according to Embodiment 1 is as described above. Next, the operation and effects of the wire routing unit  10  will be described. 
     For instance, when the wire routing unit is used, for example, for large current and high voltage applications, if the covered wire is exposed to the heat generated by itself, the heat conducted from the contact portion with the device-side connection portion T, and so forth, the covered wire, which has a larger cross-sectional area than the terminal, undergoes a significant change in its length in the axial direction due to thermal expansion or contraction. Accordingly, the terminal connection portion connected to the covered wire is pushed or pulled in the front-rear direction, which is the axial direction of the covered wire, and there is concern that stress may be concentrated on the contact portion between the terminal connection portion and the device-side connection portion, thus resulting in a failure in the contact portion. 
     Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present inventors have conducted intensive studies, and, as a result, have found the configuration of the present embodiment. That is, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present embodiment is a terminal block  40  that electrically connects a terminal connection portion  32  provided at a terminal end of a covered wire  20  and a device-side connection portion T provided in a device to each other, the terminal block  40  including: a contact placement portion  50  on which the terminal connection portion  32  and the device-side connection portion T are disposed in contact with each other; a wire installation portion  44  that is provided continuously with the contact placement portion  50  and on which the covered wire  20  is disposed; and a stress relaxation portion  70  that is disposed between the wire installation portion  44  and the covered wire  20  so as to be elastically displaceable, and that bends and holds the covered wire  20  in a state in which a clearance CL is provided between the covered wire  20  and the wire installation portion  44 . 
     Therefore, in the terminal block  40  according to Embodiment 1, when the covered wire  20  thermally expands due to heat generation or the like, the covered wire  20  is further bent from the portion thereof that has already been bent, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Then, the stress relaxation portion  70  is elastically displaced to cause the covered wire  20  to enter the clearance CL formed between the covered wire  20  and the wire installation portion  44 , thus making it possible to absorb the excess length resulting from the thermal expansion of the covered wire  20 . Note that in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in order to clearly differentiate between the thermally expanded state and the thermally unexpanded state of the covered wire  20 , the covered wire  20  on the right side (the upper side in the drawing) shows the thermally unexpanded state, and the covered wire  20  on the left side (the lower side in the drawing) shows the thermally expanded state. 
     On the other hand, when the covered wire  20  thermally contracts due to cooling or the like, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the stress relaxation portion  70  is elastically displaced to cause the covered wire  20  to enter the clearance CL between the covered wire  20  and the wire installation portion  44 . This makes the bent covered wire  20  straight, and it is thus possible to inhibit a tensile stress in the axial direction from being applied to the covered wire  20 . Note that in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in order to clearly differentiate between the thermally contracted state and the thermally uncontracted state of the covered wire  20 , the covered wire  20  on the right side (the upper side in the drawing) shows the thermally uncontracted state, and the covered wire  20  on the left side (the lower side in the drawing) shows the thermally contracted state. 
     That is, it is possible to inhibit the stress due to thermal expansion or contraction of the covered wire  20  from being applied to the contact portion between the terminal connection portion  32  and the device-side connection portion T. This makes it possible to inhibit the occurrence of failures in the contact portion between the terminal connection portion  32  and the device-side connection portion T. 
     The wire installation portion  44  includes a plurality of side wall portions  46  disposed along the covered wire  20 . The stress relaxation portion  70  includes a plurality of elastic portions  72  that are provided on the plurality of side wall portions  46  so as to be elastically displaceable in the left-right direction, which is a direction intersecting the axial direction of the covered wire  20 , and that hold the covered wire  20  in a bent state in a state in which a clearance CL is provided between the covered wire  20  and the side wall portions  46 . 
     This allows the covered wire  20  to be bent and held by the plurality of elastic portions  72  between the plurality of side wall portions  46 . When the covered wire  20  thermally expands, the elastic portion (small elastic portion  73 )  72  is elastically displaced toward the side wall portion (central side wall portion  46 A)  46  side, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . This allows the covered wire  20  to enter inside the clearance CL formed between the covered wire  20  and the side wall portion (central side wall portion  46 A)  46 , thus absorbing the excess length resulting from the thermal expansion. 
     On the other hand, when the covered wire  20  thermally contracts, the elastic portion (large elastic portion  74 )  72  is elastically displaced toward the side wall portion (outer side wall portion  46 B)  46  side, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . This allows the covered wire  20  to enter the inside of the clearance CL between the side wall portion (outer side wall portion  46 B) and the covered wire  20 . This makes the bent covered wire  20  straight, and it is thus possible to inhibit tensile stress from being applied to the covered wire  20 . 
     Therefore, when the covered wire  20  thermally expands or contracts, it is possible to inhibit stress from being generated in the contact portion between the terminal connection portion  32  and the device-side connection portion T. 
     When the covered wire  20  has thermally contracted to become straight, the covered wire  20  and the elastic portion (small elastic portion  73 ) are spaced apart in the left-right direction. 
     The plurality of side wall portions  46  are formed by the pair of side wall portions  46  disposed on opposite sides of the covered wire  20  in the left-right direction. As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the plurality of elastic portions  72  are formed by the pair of elastic portions  72  provided in the same region in the front-rear direction of the covered wire  20 , and one of the two elastic portions  72  is configured as a large elastic portion  74  protruding further toward the covered wire  20  than the other. 
     This allows the covered wire  20  disposed between the pair of side wall portions  46  to be bent by the pair of elastic portions  72 , and it is therefore possible to make the configuration of the terminal block  40  simpler than in the case of providing three or more elastic portions, for example. 
     According to Embodiment 1, the pair of elastic portions  72  are disposed in the same region in the front-rear direction, and it is therefore possible to make the size of the stress relaxation portion  70  in the front-rear direction smaller than when the pair of elastic portions are disposed offset in the front-rear direction, for example. Hence, it is possible to reduce the size of the terminal block  40  in the front-rear direction. 
     Meanwhile, when the pair of elastic portions  72  are disposed in the same region in the front-rear direction, there is concern that the covered wire  20  cannot be bent if the pair of elastic portions  72  come into contact with the covered wire  20  from opposite sides. However, according to Embodiment 1, one of the two elastic portions  72  is configured as the large elastic portion  74  protruding further toward the covered wire  20  than the other. 
     That is, the amount of protrusion L 1  of the large elastic portion  74  from the outer side wall portion  46 B is set to be larger than the amount of protrusion L 2  of the small elastic portion  73  from the central side wall portion  46 A. Accordingly, the covered wire  20  can be reliably bent toward the small elastic portion  73  side by the large elastic portion  74 . 
     The wire installation portion  44  includes the bottom wall portion  45  on which the covered wire  20  is mounted, and the pair of side wall portions  46  extending from the bottom wall portion  45 , and the pair of elastic portions  72  are formed protruding in a cantilevered manner from the side wall portions  46  toward the covered wire  20 . 
     Accordingly, the pair of elastic portions  72  protrude in a cantilevered manner from the side wall portions  46  toward the covered wire  20 , and therefore the proportion of the covered wire  20  to be bent can be easily adjusted by adjusting the dimensions in which the pair of elastic portions  72  protrude from the side wall portions  46 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wire routing unit  10  includes the enclosure portion  60  that accommodates the covered wire  20  pulled out rearward, which is the side opposite to the contact placement portion  50 , from the wire installation portion  44  of the terminal block  40 , and the covered wire  20  accommodated in the enclosure portion  60  and the wall portions  62  of the enclosure portion  60  are disposed in proximity to each other. 
     That is, the covered wire  20  accommodated in the enclosure portion  60  is surrounded by the wall portions  62 , and each of the wall portions  62  and the covered wire  20  are close to each other. Accordingly, when the covered wire  20  thermally expands, the covered wire  20  accommodated in the enclosure portion  60  cannot be bent, and the amount of thermal expansion of the covered wire  20  is accumulated to extend to the position of the wire installation portion  44  of the terminal block  40 . Therefore, when the wall portions  62  of the enclosure portion  60  that accommodates the covered wire  20  and the covered wire  20  are in proximity to each other, the technique by which the stress relaxation portion  70  absorbs the excess length of the thermally expanded covered wire  20  is highly effective. 
     Embodiment 2 
     Next, Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to  FIGS. 11 to 14 . 
     A stress relaxation portion  170  of a terminal block  140  of a wire routing unit  110  according to Embodiment 2 is formed by changing the shape of the pair of elastic portions  72  of the stress relaxation portion  70  according to Embodiment 1. The description of the components, function, and effect that are common to Embodiment 1 is redundant and therefore has been omitted. In addition, components that are the same as those of Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 to 14 , a pair of elastic portions  172  according to Embodiment 2 are formed protruding toward the inside of the wire installation portion  44  from a central side wall portion  46 A and an outer side wall portion  46 B, and then extending in a cantilevered manner downward, which is a direction intersecting the bottom wall portion  45 . 
     Of the pair of elastic portions  172 , the elastic portion  172  provided on the outer side wall portion  46 B is configured as a large elastic portion  174  whose amount of protrusion L 4  to the inside of the wire installation portion  44  is set to be larger than an amount of protrusion L 3  of the elastic portion  172  provided on the central side wall portion  46 A, as shown in  FIG. 13 . The elastic portion  72  provided on the central side wall portion  46 A is configured as a small elastic portion  173 . 
     The large elastic portion  174  and the small elastic portion  173  are disposed side by side in the left-right direction, and come into contact with the same region, in the front-rear direction, of the covered wire  20  disposed between the outer side wall portion  46 B and the central side wall portion  46 A. The distance between the large elastic portion  174  and the small elastic portion  173  is set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter dimension of the covered wire  20 . 
     Therefore, the covered wire  20  disposed between the outer side wall portion  46 B and the central side wall portion  46 A is bent toward the central side wall portion  46 A side by the large elastic portion  174  protruding further toward the covered wire side than the small elastic portion  173 . Accordingly, the covered wire  20  is disposed so as to be held by the large elastic portion  174  and the small elastic portion  173  from opposite sides in the left-right direction in a state in which the covered wire  20  is bent toward the central side wall portion  46 A side. In addition, by coming into contact with the small elastic portion  173 , the covered wire  20  is disposed in the wire installation portion  44  in a state in which a clearance CL is provided between the central side wall portion  46 A and itself. 
     Therefore, the length dimension in the front-rear direction of the pair of elastic portions  172  of the present embodiment can be reduced as compared with that of an elastic portion extending in a cantilevered manner in, for example, the front-rear direction, which is the axial direction of the covered wire. This can reduce the size of the stress relaxation portion  170  and hence the size of the terminal block  140 , in the front-rear direction. 
     Embodiment 3 
     Next, Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to  FIGS. 15 to 19 . 
     A terminal block  182  of a wire routing unit  180  according to Embodiment 3 is formed by changing the terminal block  40  of Embodiment 1 so as to provide a contact placement portion  184  in place of the contact placement portion  50 . The description of the components, function, and effect that are common to Embodiment 1 is redundant and therefore has been omitted. In addition, components that are the same as those of Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     The contact placement portion  184  includes a bottom plate  185  that is smaller than the attachment plate  41  and that has a substantially square shape in a plan view, and the bottom plate  185  protrudes forward of the attachment plate  41 . The side wall portions  46  of the wire installation portion  44  extend out onto the contact placement portion  184 , and are connected to opposite side surfaces of the bottom plate  185 . Vertical wall portions  186  to which the side wall portions  46  are connected are provided at a front end of the bottom plate  185 , and a distal end part of the terminal connection portion  32  is surrounded by the vertical wall portions  186 . 
     A guide surface  188  inclined down toward a terminal accommodating region  190 , which will be described later, is provided at an upper end part of each of the vertical wall portions  186 . The guide surface  188  is formed as a flat surface having a fixed inclination angle, but may be formed, for example, as a curved surface, or may have an inclination angle that changes gradually. In the present embodiment, the periphery of each terminal  30  is surrounded by the central side wall portion  46 A, the outer side wall portion  46 B, and the vertical wall portions  186  on the contact placement portion  184 , and a terminal accommodating region  190  that extends continuously with the wire routing path  47  and accommodates the terminal  30  is provided on the contact placement portion  184 . 
     Note that in Embodiment 3, the flat plate-shaped terminal connection portion  32  provided on each of the terminals  30  extends longer in the front-rear direction, which is the axial direction of the covered wire  20 , as compared with those in Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, and is formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the front-rear direction in a plan view. 
     A plurality of retaining portions  192  are provided on the contact placement portion  184 . The retaining portions  192  are provided at positions spaced apart from the corresponding vertical wall portions  186  toward the wire installation portion  44  side in the front-rear direction. Each of the retaining portions  192  includes a leg portion  194  extending upward from the bottom plate  185  of the contact placement portion  184 , and a positioning portion  196  formed as a single piece with a distal end part of the leg portion  194 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the leg portion  194  is formed in a flat plate shape extending parallel to a side surface of the terminal connection portion  32 . The leg portion  194  is made of a metal, a synthetic resin, or the like, and is formed as a single piece with the contact placement portion  184  in the present embodiment. The leg portion  194  is configured to be able to undergo elastic bending deformation in the thickness direction thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , each positioning portion  196  is provided protruding from a protruding end part of the leg portion  194  in the thickness direction of the leg portion  194 . The upper surface of the positioning portion  196  is configured as a pressing guide surface  198  formed by an inclined surface that is inclined down toward the protruding end. When a downward force is exerted on the pressing guide surface  198 , the leg portion  194  undergoes bending deformation due to a component force, whereby the positioning portion  196  moves outward in the width direction. 
     A pair of retaining portions  192  having such a shape are provided facing each other on opposite sides in the width direction of the terminal connection portion  32  that is inserted between the side wall portions  46 A and  46 B. In the present embodiment, a pair of retaining portions  192  disposed opposed to each other on opposite sides in the width direction of the terminal connection portion  32  are provided at two locations at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the terminal connection portion  32 , which is the front-rear direction. Note that the positioning portions  196  of the pair of retaining portions  192  protrude inward in the opposing direction of the retaining portions  192 . 
     Elastic pressing portions  200  are provided between the pair of retaining portions  192  provided on the front side in the longitudinal direction of the terminal connection portion  32  and between the pair of retaining portions  192  provided on the rear side thereof. Each of the elastic pressing portions  200  is formed in a plate shape, and is configured to be capable of undergoing elastic bending deformation in the thickness direction thereof. As shown in  FIG. 18 , the elastic pressing portions  200  are each formed as a single piece with the corresponding side wall portion  46 , resulting in a reduction in the number of components. The elastic pressing portions  200  extend respectively from the central side wall portion  46 A and the outer side wall portions  46 B and  46 B toward the inner side of the terminal accommodating region  190  in the left-right direction. A distal end part of each of the elastic pressing portions  200  is located on the inner side in the left-right direction than the positioning portion  196  of the corresponding retaining portion  192 . The elastic pressing portion  200  is gradually inclined up toward the distal end thereof. The elastic pressing portion  200  has a curved cross section such that a distal end part thereof is upwardly convex. The upper surface of the distal end part of the elastic pressing portion  200  is located below the lower surface of the positioning portion  196  of the corresponding retaining portion  192 . Note that the bottom plate  185  of the contact placement portion  184  has manufacturing punch-out holes formed in parts thereof located below the elastic pressing portions  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , each of the elastic pressing portions  200  is provided between the retaining portions  192  provided forward and rearward in the longitudinal direction of the terminal connection portion  32 , at substantially the center therebetween. That is, in the present embodiment, the respective pairs of retaining portions  192  are provided at positions spaced by the same distance on both the front and rear sides of the elastic pressing portions  200 . 
     In a state in which the covered wires  20  and the terminals  30  are arranged in the wire routing paths  47  and  47  and the terminal accommodating regions  190  of the terminal block  140 , each terminal connection portion  32  is inserted between opposed surfaces of the leg portions  194  of each pair of retaining portions  192  provided in the terminal accommodating region  190 . The opposed distance between the leg portions  194  located on opposite sides in the width direction of the terminal connection portion  32  is set to be larger than the width dimension of the terminal connection portion  32 . The distance between the positioning portions  196  provided at each pair of retaining portions  192  is set to be smaller than the width dimension of the terminal connection portion  32 . Accordingly, the positioning portions  196  are provided at positions overlapping the upper surface of the terminal connection portion  32  at opposite side edges of the terminal connection portion  32 , and upward removal of the terminal connection portion  32  from the terminal accommodating region  190  can be prevented by the positioning portions  196 . 
     By being inserted between the opposed surfaces of each pair of retaining portions  192  from the upper side, the terminal connection portion  32  can easily move over the positioning portions  196  and be disposed between the pair of leg portions  194 . That is, lower corners of opposite side parts of the terminal connection portion  32  are pressed downward onto the pressing guide surfaces  198  of the positioning portion  196  from above. Accordingly, a component force directed outward in the width direction of the terminal connection portion  32  is exerted on the positioning portions  196 , thus causing the leg portions  194  to be elastically bent, and the positioning portions  196  to move outward in the width direction. Then, through the space between the positioning portions  196  that are spread out by the bending deformation of the leg portions  194 , the terminal connection portion  32  is inserted until it abuts against the elastic pressing portions  200 . When the terminal connection portion  32  has been inserted to a position below the positioning portions  196 , the bending deformation of the leg portions  194  is released, whereby the positioning portions  196  approach each other in the width direction so as to be disposed above opposite side edges of the terminal connection portion  32 . 
     By being inserted into the terminal accommodating region  190  while coming into contact with the pressing guide surfaces  198  of the positioning portions  196 , the terminal connection portion  32  is accommodated into the terminal accommodating region  190  while being guided to a predetermined position in the width direction. Accordingly, through a simple operation of inserting the terminal connection portion  32  between the positioning portion  196 , the terminal connection portion  32  is positioned at a proper position in the terminal accommodating region  190  in the width direction. Therefore, the terminal connection portion  32  can be easily disposed at a proper position in the terminal accommodating region  190 . 
     A guide surface  188  is provided on each of the vertical wall portions  186  constituting part of the wall of the terminal accommodating region  190  in the contact placement portion  184 . Accordingly, when the terminal connection portion  32  is disposed in the terminal accommodating region  190  and attached to the contact placement portions  184 , the terminal connection portion  32  is also guided to a proper position of the terminal accommodating region  190  by the distal end side of the terminal connection portion  32  moving downward while coming into contact with the guide surfaces  188 . In particular, in the case where the terminal connection portion  32  is inserted from the distal end side (the lower side in  FIG. 16 ) into the terminal accommodating region  190 , the distal end side of the terminal connection portion  32  can be easily inserted into the terminal accommodating region  190 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , the upper surface, which is the front surface, of the terminal connection portion  32  inserted between each pair of retaining portions  192  is overlapped with the positioning portions  196  at opposite side edges in the width direction, and the lower surface, which is the back surface, thereof abuts against the upper surfaces of the elastic pressing portions  200 . The terminal connection portion  32  is urged to the upper side, which is the positioning portion  196  side, by the elasticity of the elastic pressing portions  200 , and opposite side edges of the terminal connection portion  32  abut against the positioning portions  196 . The terminal connection portion  32  is inserted between each pair of retaining portions  192 , and, in a set state in which the terminal connection portion  32  is not fixed through fastening of a fastening bolt B and a nut N, which will be described later, the terminal connection portion  32  is sandwiched between the positioning portions  196  and the elastic pressing portions  200 . 
     Accordingly, in a set state before the terminal connection portion  32  is fixed as a result of the fastening bolt B being screwed to the nut N, the terminal connection portion  32  is sandwiched and held between the positioning portions  196  abutting against opposite side edges of the upper surface thereof and the elastic pressing portions  200  pressed onto the lower surface thereof. In the present embodiment, there is a possibility that torsional force is applied to the terminal connection portion  32  due to the covered wire  20  being bent and held by the stress relaxation portion  70 . In addition, torsional force may be applied due to the bendability of the covered wire  20 . Even in such a case, the terminal connection portion  32  is sandwiched and held between the positioning portions  196  abutting against opposite side edges of the upper surface thereof and the elastic pressing portion  200  pressed onto the lower surface thereof. Accordingly, displacement in a torsion direction of the terminal connection portion  32  is prevented, and the terminal connection portion  32  is positioned and held in a normal orientation in the terminal accommodating region  190 . The normal orientation of the terminal connection portion  32  refers to an orientation in which the upper surface and the lower surface of the terminal connection portion  32  extend orthogonal to the up-down direction, which is the fastening direction of the fastening bolt B and the nut N. Therefore, the terminal connection portion  32  is prevented from being inclined in the fastening direction of the fastening bolt B and the nut N, and the operation of fastening the fastening bolt B to the nut N is facilitated, thus making it possible to stably attach the terminal connection portion  32  to the contact placement portion  50 . During fastening of the terminal connection portion  32  using the fastening bolt B and the nut N, the stress acting on the fastening bolt B due to the torsional displacement of the terminal connection portion  32  is reduced. 
     In particular, the elastic pressing portions  200  are also respectively provided on opposite sides of the terminal connection portion  32  in the width direction, and are pressed onto the lower surface of the terminal connection portion  32  at two locations in the width direction. Accordingly, displacement in a torsion direction of the terminal connection portion  32  can be more effectively prevented. 
     A pair of retaining portions  192  are provided at two locations on both the front and rear sides relative to the elastic pressing portions  200 . When the terminal connection portion  32  is displaced in a torsion direction, displacement in the torsion direction of the terminal connection portion  32  is restricted by the positioning portions  196  respectively at two locations spaced in the front-rear direction from the part where the lower surface of the terminal connection portion  32  is supported by the elastic pressing portions  200 . This makes it possible to prevent the terminal connection portion  32  from being displaced in a twisting direction by the action of a moment due to the terminal connection portion  32  abutting against the positioning portions  196 . In particular, the pairs of retaining portions  192  provided at two locations spaced apart in the front-rear direction are disposed spaced from the elastic pressing portions  200  by the same distance on opposite sides in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the moment due to the abutment between the terminal connection portion  32  and the positioning portions  196  can be more effectively cancelled out. 
     In the above-described set state shown in  FIG. 19 , the terminal connection portion  32  is spaced above the nut N. Accordingly, an error in the relative distance in the up-down direction between the upper surface of the nut N and the lower surfaces of the positioning portions  196  is allowed, thus enabling the terminal connection portion  32  to be stably inserted between the top and bottom of the positioning portions  196  and the nut N. 
     As in the cases of Embodiments 1 and 2, a terminal end part of the terminal connection portion  32  that is set in the terminal accommodating region  190  is fixed to the contact placement portion  50  through fastening of the fastening bolt B to the nut N. As shown in  FIG. 18 , as a result of the fastening bolt B being fastened to the nut N, the terminal connection portion  32  is moved downward and overlapped with the nut N in abutment thereagainst. Accordingly, in a state in which the fastening bolt B is fastened to the nut N, the terminal connection portion  32  is spaced below the positioning portions  196 , thus forming a gap  202  between the upper surface of the terminal connection portion  32  and the lower surfaces of the positioning portions  196 . Although the illustration of the device-side connection portion T has been omitted in  FIG. 18 , the terminal connection portion  32  is connected to the device-side connection portion T in contact therewith through fastening of the fastening bolt B to the nut N, as in the cases of Embodiments 1 and 2. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Although Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 have been described in detail as specific examples of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited by the specific descriptions thereof. Modifications, improvements, and the like in a range in which the object of the present disclosure can be achieved are encompassed by the present disclosure. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. 
     (1) In the above embodiments, the stress relaxation portion  70  or  170  is formed by the plurality of elastic portions  72  or  172 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the stress relaxation portions  70  and  170  may be formed by installing a separate rubber material between the wire installation portion and the covered wire, or may be formed by disposing a metal clip or the like between the wire installation portion and the covered wire. 
     (2) In the above embodiments, the covered wire  20  is bent by the pair of elastic portions  72  or  172 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it is possible to adopt a configuration in which three or more elastic portions are provided as long as a space can be secured in the front-rear direction. 
     (3) In the above embodiments, the elastic portions  72  or  172  are formed on the pair of side wall portions  46  extending upward from the bottom wall portion  45 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the elastic portions may be formed on the bottom wall portion. 
     (4) In the above embodiments, the pair of elastic portions  72  or  172  are disposed in the same region in the front-rear direction. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the pair of elastic portions are shifted in the front-rear direction as long as a space can be secured in the front-rear direction. 
     (5) In the above embodiments, the pair of elastic portions  72  or  172  are configured in a cantilevered manner. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the elastic portions may be configured to be supported at both ends. 
     (6) Although Embodiment 3 described above illustrates a structure in which four retaining portions  192  are provided in each of the terminal accommodating regions  190 , the number of retaining portions  192  is not limited. The number of retaining portions  192  provided on opposite sides in the width direction of the terminal connection portion  32  may be different between the left side and the right side. Similarly, the number of elastic pressing portions  200  is not limited, and may be different between the left and right elastic pressing portions  200 . 
     (7) In Embodiment 3 described above, the positioning portions  196  may be overlapped with the surface of the terminal connection portion  32  at least at opposite side ends in the left-right direction, and may not necessarily be overlapped only at opposite side ends in the left-right direction. The positioning portions  196  are not limited to structures that are separately provided on opposite sides in the left-right direction of the terminal connection portion  32 . For example, it is possible to adopt a positioning portion extending across the terminal connection portion  32  in the width direction, and the positioning portion may be continuously overlapped with the surface of the terminal connection portion  32  over the entire length in the width direction. In this case, for example, the positioning portion may be configured to be removable from the contact placement portion  50 , and the positioning portion may be attached to the contact placement portion  50  after setting the terminal connection portion  32  to the contact placement portion  50 . Alternatively, for example, the terminal connection portion  32  may be inserted and set between the positioning portions and the elastic pressing portions  200  in the front-rear direction. 
     (8) In Embodiment 3 described above, the elastic pressing portions  200  are not necessarily limited to portions extending from the side wall portion  46 , and may be each formed as a single piece with the bottom wall portion  45  of the wire installation portion  44 , for example. The elastic pressing portions may also be each formed, for example, by a separate coil spring or the like supported by the bottom wall portion  45  of the wire installation portion  44 . 
     (9) In Embodiment 3 described above, the retaining portions  192  are provided on both the front and rear sides of the elastic pressing portions  200 ; however, the retaining portions  192  may be provided only one of the front and rear sides relative to the elastic pressing portion  200 . It is also possible that the elastic pressing portions  200  are provided on both the front and rear sides of the retaining portion  192 . In that case as well, the tilting in a twisting direction of the terminal connection portion  32  can be prevented. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       10 ,  110 ,  180  Wire routing unit 
       20  Covered wire (example of “wire”) 
       22  Core wire 
       24  Insulating covering 
       30  Terminal 
       32  Terminal connection portion (example of “connection portion”) 
       34  Wire connection portion 
       35  Barrel 
       40 ,  140 ,  182  Terminal block 
       41  Attachment plate 
       42  Collar 
       44  Wire installation portion 
       45  Bottom wall portion 
       46  Side wall portion 
       46 A Central side wall portion 
       46 B Outer side wall portion 
       47  Wire routing path 
       50 ,  184  Contact placement portion 
       60  Enclosure portion 
       61  Wire accommodating portion 
       62  Wall portion 
       70 ,  170  Stress relaxation portion 
       72 ,  172  Elastic portion 
       73 ,  173  Small elastic portion 
       73 A Part coming into contact with covered wire 
       74 ,  174  Large elastic portion 
       74 A Part coming into contact with covered wire 
       185  Bottom plate 
       186  Vertical wall portion 
       188  Guide surface 
       190  Terminal accommodating region 
       192  Retaining portion 
       194  Leg portion 
       196  Positioning portion 
       198  Pressing guide surface 
       200  Elastic pressing portion 
       202  Gap 
     B Fastening bolt 
     CL Clearance 
     L 1  Amount of protrusion 
     L 2  Amount of protrusion 
     L 3  Amount of protrusion 
     L 4  Amount of protrusion 
     N Nut 
     T Device-side connection portion (example of “counterpart connection portion”)