female terminal

Abstract

Provided is a female terminal capable of checking the arrangement of an auxiliary spring inside a connecting cylinder portion. A female terminal, which is connected to a male terminal, includes a connecting cylinder portion that is inserted into the male terminal and extends in a front-rear direction; an elastic contact piece that is provided inside the connecting cylinder portion and elastically contacts the male terminal; and an auxiliary spring that is provided inside the connecting cylinder portion, contacts the elastic contact piece, and presses the elastic contact piece toward the male terminal. The connecting cylinder portion has a bottom wall, an upper wall that is opposite the bottom wall, and a front opening portion that is open at the front. The elastic contact piece has a fulcrum portion that is folded back in the connecting cylinder portion from a front end edge of the bottom wall toward the rear, and a contact portion that is provided at a position that is rearward of the fulcrum portion and contacts the male terminal. The auxiliary spring is provided at a position that is rearward of the fulcrum portion and lower than the contact portion. The auxiliary spring has a protruding portion that protrudes in a direction that intersects the front-rear direction. The protruding portion and an inner surface of the upper wall can be visually confirmed from the front opening portion of the connecting cylinder portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a female terminal. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the past, as a female terminal, a female terminal described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-062710 is known. The female terminal has a connection cylinder portion into which a male terminal is inserted. An elastic contact piece that elastically contacts the male terminal is provided inside the connection cylinder portion. The male terminal is electrically connected to the female terminal by being sandwiched between the elastic contact piece and an upper wall of the connection cylinder portion.

[0003] Further, an auxiliary spring that contacts the elastic contact piece and presses the elastic contact piece toward the male terminal is provided inside the connection cylinder portion. By being pressed by the auxiliary spring, the contact pressure of the male terminal and the elastic contact piece is increased, so the electrical connection reliability of the female terminal and the male terminal is improved.

[0004] PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

[0005] PATENT DOCUMENT

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-062710 SUMMARY

[0007] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008] In order to improve the electrical connection reliability of the female terminal and the male terminal, it becomes important to manage the strength of the auxiliary spring that presses the elastic contact piece. Therefore, it becomes important to check and manage the relative arrangement of the auxiliary spring and the upper wall of the connection cylinder portion inside the connection cylinder portion.

[0009] However, because the auxiliary spring is arranged inside the connection cylinder portion and is hidden under the elastic contact piece, it is difficult to check the relative arrangement of the auxiliary spring and the upper wall of the connection cylinder portion from the outside.

[0010] The present disclosure is completed based on the above-described situation, with the aim of providing a female terminal in which the arrangement of the auxiliary spring inside the connection cylinder portion can be checked.

[0011] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0012] The present disclosure is a female terminal connected to a male terminal, the female terminal including a connection barrel portion inserted into the male terminal and extending in a front-rear direction; an elastic contact piece provided inside the connection barrel portion and elastically contacting the male terminal; and an auxiliary spring disposed inside the connection barrel portion and pressing the elastic contact piece toward the male terminal in contact with the elastic contact piece, the connection barrel portion having a bottom wall and an upper wall opposite the bottom wall and having a front opening portion opened in front, the elastic contact piece having a fulcrum portion folded back in the connection barrel portion from a front end edge of the bottom wall toward the rear, and a contact point portion provided at a position further rearward than the fulcrum portion and contacting the male terminal, the auxiliary spring being disposed at a position further rearward than the fulcrum portion and a position lower than the contact point portion, the auxiliary spring having a protruding portion protruding in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction, and the protruding portion and an inner surface of the upper wall being visually confirmed from the front opening portion of the connection barrel portion.

[0013] Inventive Effects

[0014] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to check the disposition of the auxiliary spring inside the connection barrel portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a sectional view taken along line I-I in Figure 3 of FIG. 1.

[0016] Figure 2 is a side view of the female terminal.

[0017] Figure 3 is a plan view of the female terminal.

[0018] Figure 4 is a rear view of the female terminal.

[0019] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the auxiliary spring.

[0020] Figure 6 is a sectional view of a partial enlargement of the sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Figure 1 of FIG. 1.

[0021] Figure 7 is a perspective sectional view of the sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Figure 1 of FIG. 1, viewed obliquely from above.

[0022] Figure 8 is a front view of the female terminal, viewed from the front.

[0023] Figure 9 is a sectional view of the sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Figure 1 of FIG. 1.

[0024] Figure 10 FIG. 6 is a side view showing the female terminal of Embodiment 2.

[0025] Figure 11 FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing the female terminal.

[0026] Figure 12 FIG. 8 is a perspective sectional view showing the female terminal.

[0027] Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 5. Figure 10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] [Explanation of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure]

[0029] First, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained.

[0030] (1) The present disclosure is a female terminal connected to a male terminal, the female terminal including: a connection barrel portion into which the male terminal is inserted and extending in a front-rear direction; an elastic contact piece provided inside the connection barrel portion and elastically contacting the male terminal; and an auxiliary spring disposed inside the connection barrel portion and contacting the elastic contact piece to press the elastic contact piece toward the male terminal, the connection barrel portion having a bottom wall and an upper wall opposite the bottom wall and having a front opening portion opened in the front, the elastic contact piece having: a fulcrum portion folded back in the rear from a front end edge of the bottom wall inside the connection barrel portion; and a contact portion provided at a position further in the rear than the fulcrum portion and contacting the male terminal, the auxiliary spring being disposed at a position further in the rear than the fulcrum portion and at a position further in the lower than the contact portion, the auxiliary spring having a protruding portion protruding in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction, and the protruding portion and an inner surface of the upper wall being visually confirmed from the front opening portion of the connection barrel portion.

[0031] By the front opening portion, the interval between the protruding portion of the auxiliary spring and the inner surface of the upper wall can be measured by an optical method. Thus, the relative position of the auxiliary spring with respect to the inner surface of the upper wall can be easily checked.

[0032] (2) Preferably, the connection barrel portion has a rear opening portion opened in the rear, and laser light incident from the front opening portion of the connection barrel portion is emitted from the rear opening portion.

[0033] Laser light emitted from a laser light irradiation device disposed in the front of the connection barrel portion is incident from the front opening portion of the connection barrel portion, is emitted from the rear opening portion of the connection barrel portion, and is received by a laser light receiving device disposed in the rear of the connection barrel portion. Thus, the relative position of the auxiliary spring with respect to the inner surface of the upper wall can be checked by laser light.

[0034] ​(3) Preferably, the connecting cylinder portion has a side wall extending from a side edge of the bottom wall toward the upper wall, and the tip of the protruding portion is located inward of the side wall.

[0035] Since the tip of the protruding portion is protected by the side wall, collision of the tip of the protruding portion with a foreign object can be suppressed.

[0036] (4) Preferably, the connecting cylinder portion has a side wall extending from a side edge of the bottom wall toward the upper wall, and a through hole is formed in the side wall at a position corresponding to the protruding portion, and the protruding portion is suppressed from excessive flexural deformation by abutting against a hole edge portion of the through hole.

[0037] With the through hole, the auxiliary spring can be suppressed from excessive flexural deformation.

[0038] (5) Preferably, the tip of the protruding portion is located inward of an outer surface of the side wall.

[0039] Since the tip of the protruding portion does not protrude outward of the side wall, collision of the tip of the protruding portion with a foreign object can be suppressed.

[0040] (6) Preferably, the elastic contact piece has an abutting portion that abuts against the auxiliary spring at a position rearward of the contact portion, the auxiliary spring has a spring-pressing portion that spring-presses the elastic contact piece by abutting against the abutting portion, and the protruding portion is provided at a position rearward of the spring-pressing portion in the auxiliary spring.

[0041] In the elastic contact piece, the abutting portion that is spring-pressed by the auxiliary spring becomes a force point, the contact portion becomes an action point, and the fulcrum portion becomes a fulcrum, so according to the principle of a lever, a force greater than a force applied to the abutting portion is applied to the contact portion. Thus, the electrical connection reliability of the male terminal and the female terminal can be improved.

[0042] Further, the spring-pressing portion of the auxiliary spring that spring-presses the elastic contact piece can be subjected to a force from the elastic contact piece. By providing the protruding portion at a position rearward of the spring-pressing portion, the relative positions of the auxiliary spring and the upper wall can be correctly checked.

[0043] (7) Preferably, the auxiliary spring that is separate from the connecting cylinder portion is fixed inside the connecting cylinder portion.

[0044] Since the auxiliary spring can be formed of a material different from a material that constitutes the connecting cylinder portion, the strength design of the auxiliary spring can be freely changed. Thus, for example, in a case where the auxiliary spring is formed of a material having a strength greater than a strength of a material that constitutes the connecting cylinder portion, the contact pressure of the male terminal and the elastic contact piece can be improved, so the electrical connection reliability of the male terminal and the female terminal can be improved.

[0045] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure]

[0046] The following describes embodiments of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is shown by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the claims.

[0047] <Embodiment 1>

[0048] While referring to Figures 1 to 9 Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described. As shown in Figure 1 the present embodiment, the female terminal 1 is connected to a male terminal 80 (only the tab 81 is illustrated) having a tab 81. The female terminal 1 is provided with a terminal body 10 and an auxiliary spring 70 that is formed separately from the terminal body 10 and fitted to the terminal body 10. In the following description, the direction indicated by the arrow line Z will be taken as the upper direction, the direction indicated by the arrow line Y will be taken as the front direction, and the direction indicated by the arrow line X will be taken as the left direction. In addition, with respect to a plurality of identical members, only a part will sometimes be labeled with a reference numeral, and the reference numeral will be omitted for the other members.

[0049] The terminal body 10 is formed by press working a metal plate into a predetermined shape. The metal constituting the terminal body 10 can be appropriately selected from any of copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and the like. As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 the terminal body 10 is formed in an elongated shape in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figure 1 a connection cylinder portion 20 into which the tab 81 of the male terminal 80 is inserted from the direction indicated by the arrow line A is formed in the substantially front half region of the terminal body 10, and a wire connection portion 40 that connects an electric wire (not illustrated) is formed in the substantially rear half region.

[0050] As shown in Figure 1 the connection cylinder portion 20 is formed in a square cylinder shape elongated in the front-rear direction, and a front opening portion 21 into which the male terminal 80 is inserted is provided at the front end thereof in a manner opening in the front direction. The rear end portion of the connection cylinder portion 20 is open in the rear direction and is formed as a rear opening portion 28. As shown in Figure 4 the connection cylinder portion 20 is provided with a bottom wall 22, a pair of side walls 23 that rise upward from both end edges of the bottom wall 22, and an upper wall 24 that is disposed in opposition to the bottom wall 22 across the upper ends of the pair of side walls 23. The upper wall 24 of the present embodiment is bent from the upper end portion of one side wall 23 toward the upper end portion of the other side wall 23 and is formed. A rib 29 that protrudes downward and extends in the front-rear direction is formed in the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24. As shown in Figure 4 the rib 29 is formed in the region of the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24 other than the both end portions.

[0051] As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the wire connection part 40 includes a wire tube part 42 that is crimped to the core wire (not shown) of the wire and an insulating tube part 43 that is crimped to the insulating covering part (not shown) of the wire.

[0052] like Figure 1 As shown, an elastic contact piece 50 is disposed inside the connecting cylinder portion 20. The elastic contact piece 50 is formed by folding back from the front end edge of the bottom wall 22. The portion folded back from the front end edge of the bottom wall 22 forms a fulcrum portion 51. With this fulcrum portion 51 as the fulcrum, the elastic contact piece 50 flexes and deforms in the up and down directions.

[0053] The resilient contact piece 50 extends in the front-rear direction to approximately the center of the connecting cylinder portion 20. An upwardly protruding contact portion 54 is formed near the rear end of the resilient contact piece 50. The contact portion 54 resiliently contacts the tab 81 of the male terminal 80 from below. Thus, the male terminal 80 and the female terminal 1 are electrically connected by the tab 81 being sandwiched between the contact portion 54 of the resilient contact piece 50 and the rib 29 of the upper wall 24. When the tab 81 is not inserted into the connecting cylinder portion 20, the contact portion 54 and the rib 29 are facing each other.

[0054] The portion of the elastic contact piece 50 that is rearward from the contact portion 54 is formed as an abutment portion 55 that abuts against the auxiliary spring 70 described later from above.

[0055] The auxiliary spring 70 is formed by stamping a sheet metal into a predetermined shape. This sheet metal is made of a different metal than the metal constituting the terminal body 10. In this embodiment 1, stainless steel is used as the metal constituting the auxiliary spring 70. In this embodiment 1, the elastic modulus of the metal constituting the auxiliary spring 70 is greater than the elastic modulus of the metal constituting the terminal body 10. The auxiliary spring 70 is generally formed as a plate that is elongated in the front-rear direction.

[0056] like Figure 1 As shown, with the auxiliary spring 70 mounted on the bottom wall 22, the front end of the auxiliary spring 70 is located approximately at the center of the connecting cylinder portion 20 in the front-rear direction. The front end of the auxiliary spring 70 is formed as a spring-loaded portion 71, which abuts against the abutment portion 55 of the elastic contact piece 50 from below when the elastic contact piece 50 elastically deforms downward, thus pressing the elastic contact piece 50 upward. As a result, the elastic contact piece 50 is pressed towards the protrusion 81. When the elastic contact piece 50 is in its natural state, the rear end of the elastic contact piece 50 and the spring-loaded portion 71 of the auxiliary spring 70 can either separate or contact. Figure 5 As shown, the spring-loaded part 71 is formed into a shape that tapers slightly as it faces forward.

[0057] like Figure 1As shown, the rear half of the auxiliary spring 70 is formed as a placement portion 72 that is placed on the upper surface of the bottom wall 22 of the terminal body 10. The placement portion 72 is in contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall 22. The region between the press portion 71 and the placement portion 72 is an inclined portion 73 that becomes an upward slope toward the front in the state where the auxiliary spring 70 is placed on the upper surface of the bottom wall 22.

[0058] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the terminal body 10 is formed by a connection cylinder portion 20 that is a hollow cylindrical body, and a terminal main body 10 that is a plate-shaped body. The connection cylinder portion 20 is formed by a pair of side walls 23 that are parallel to each other, and a bottom wall 22 that is a plate-shaped body that connects the side walls 23 to each other. The terminal main body 10 is formed by a pair of terminal main bodies 10 that are parallel to each other, and a pair of terminal main bodies 10 that are parallel to each other. The terminal main body 10 is formed by a pair of terminal main bodies 10 that are parallel to each other, and a pair of terminal main bodies 10 that are parallel to each other. Figure 5 As shown, a locking protrusion 74 that protrudes to the left and right sides from the left and right side edges is formed in the placement portion 72. Two locking protrusions 74 are formed in each side edge of the placement portion 72 at intervals in the front and rear direction.

[0059] As shown, a locking protrusion 74 that protrudes to the left and right sides from the left and right side edges is formed in the placement portion 72. Two locking protrusions 74 are formed in each side edge of the placement portion 72 at intervals in the front and rear direction. Figure 6 Figure 7 As shown, a locking protrusion 74 that protrudes to the left and right sides from the left and right side edges is formed in the placement portion 72. Two locking protrusions 74 are formed in each side edge of the placement portion 72 at intervals in the front and rear direction.

[0060] As shown, a locking protrusion 74 that protrudes to the left and right sides from the left and right side edges is formed in the placement portion 72. Two locking protrusions 74 are formed in each side edge of the placement portion 72 at intervals in the front and rear direction. Figure 1 As shown, a locking protrusion 74 that protrudes to the left and right sides from the left and right side edges is formed in the placement portion 72. Two locking protrusions 74 are formed in each side edge of the placement portion 72 at intervals in the front and rear direction.

[0061] Because the excessive deflection suppression piece 27 is provided further forward than the press portion 71 of the auxiliary spring 70, the excessive deflection suppression piece 27 does not come into contact with the auxiliary spring 70.

[0062] As shown, a locking protrusion 74 that protrudes to the left and right sides from the left and right side edges is formed in the placement portion 72. Two locking protrusions 74 are formed in each side edge of the placement portion 72 at intervals in the front and rear direction. Figure 5 ​As shown, the auxiliary spring 70 has two protrusions 75 that protrude to the left and right (in one example, in a direction that intersects with the front and back directions) at a position slightly behind the spring-loaded portion 71 and near the front end of the inclined portion 73. The protrusions 75 are rectangular when viewed from above.

[0063] like Figure 8 As shown, the tips of the two protrusions 75 protrude to the left and right sides of the elastic contact piece 50. The lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24 is located above the protrusions 75, and the protrusions 75 and the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24 are opposite each other.

[0064] In addition, such as Figure 6 As shown, the tips of the two protrusions 75 are located further inward than the inner surface of the sidewall 23. A gap is formed between the tips of the protrusions 75 and the inner surface of the sidewall 23. The tips of the protrusions 75 are covered by the sidewall 23 and do not protrude to the outside of the connecting cylinder portion 20.

[0065] like Figure 8 As shown, when viewing the connecting cylinder 20 from the front, the opening edge of the front opening 21 can be visually confirmed. Specifically, the front ends of the two side walls 23, the front end of the bottom wall 22, and the front end of the upper wall 24 can be visually confirmed. Furthermore, the interior of the connecting cylinder 20 can be visually confirmed through the front opening 21. Specifically, the fulcrum portion 51 and the contact portion 54 of the elastic contact piece 50 can be visually confirmed. In addition, the lower surface 30 and the rib 29 of the upper wall 24 can be visually confirmed. Two protrusions 75 can be visually confirmed below the contact portion 54 of the elastic contact piece 50 and on both sides of the elastic contact piece 50.

[0066] Because the spring-loaded part 71 of the auxiliary spring 70 is located behind the elastic contact piece 50, it cannot be visually confirmed from the front.

[0067] In addition, the so-called ability to visually confirm refers to the ability to determine the position, size, shape, color, etc. of an object using optical instruments such as cameras and light-receiving elements.

[0068] like Figure 4 As shown, when viewing the connecting cylinder portion 20 from the rear, the rear end portion of the upper wall 24 and the rear ends of the two side walls 23 near the upper end of the opening edge of the rear opening portion 28 can be visually confirmed. Furthermore, the interior of the connecting cylinder portion 20 can be visually confirmed through the rear opening portion 28. Specifically, the contact portion 54 and the abutment portion 55 of the elastic contact piece 50 can be visually confirmed. Additionally, the lower surface 30 and the rib 29 of the upper wall 24 can be visually confirmed. Two protrusions 75 can be visually confirmed below the contact portion 54 of the elastic contact piece 50 and on both sides of the elastic contact piece 50.

[0069] As described above, the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24, the rib 29, the contact portion 54 of the elastic contact piece 50, and the protrusion 75 of the auxiliary spring 70 can be visually confirmed from the front opening 21, and the rib 29 of the upper wall 24, the contact portion 54 of the elastic contact piece 50, and the protrusion 75 of the auxiliary spring 70 can be visually confirmed from the rear opening 28. Thus, as Figure 9 As shown, lasers L1, L2, and L3, irradiated from the laser irradiation device 60 located in front of the connecting cylinder 20 into the interior of the front opening 21 of the connecting cylinder 20, can pass through the connecting cylinder 20 and exit rearward from the rear opening 28 of the connecting cylinder 20, reaching the laser receiving device 61 located at the rear of the connecting cylinder 20. As a result, using the lasers L1, L2, and L3 passing through the connecting cylinder 20, the distance between the rib 29 of the upper wall 24 of the connecting cylinder 20 and the contact portion 54 of the elastic contact piece 50 can be measured, and the distance between the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24 of the connecting cylinder 20 and the protrusion 75 of the auxiliary spring 70 can also be measured.

[0070] [Effects of Implementation Method 1]

[0071] Next, the effects of Implementation Method 1 will be explained. For example... Figure 9 As shown, a laser irradiation device 60 is arranged in front of the female terminal 1, and a laser light receiving device 61 is arranged behind the female terminal 1. Lasers L1, L2, and L3 are irradiated from the laser irradiation device 60 toward the interior of the connecting cylinder 20.

[0072] like Figure 9 As shown, a laser L1, passing in the left-right direction near the center of the connecting cylinder 20, is irradiated. This laser L1 irradiates the contact portion 54 of the elastic contact piece 50 and the rib 29 of the upper wall 24. The laser L1, passing inside the connecting cylinder 20, is received by the laser receiving device 61, thereby allowing the measurement of the distance between the contact portion 54 of the elastic contact piece 50 and the rib 29 of the upper wall 24. Thus, the relative position of the rib 29 of the upper wall 24 and the elastic contact piece 50 can be checked inside the connecting cylinder 20.

[0073] like Figure 9 As shown, laser L2 passes through the interior of the connecting cylinder 20 near the left end, and laser L3 passes through the interior of the connecting cylinder 20 near the right end. These lasers L2 and L3 illuminate the protrusions 75 extending from the left and right sides of the auxiliary spring 70, and also illuminate the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24. The lasers L2 and L3 passing through the interior of the connecting cylinder 20 are received by the laser receiving device 61, thereby allowing the measurement of the distance between the protrusions 75 of the auxiliary spring and the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24. Thus, the relative position of the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24 and the auxiliary spring 70 can be checked within the connecting cylinder 20.

[0074] According to the present embodiment, the auxiliary spring 70 has two protrusions 75 protruding from the left and right side edges, respectively. Thus, by measuring the interval between each protrusion 75 and the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24, it is possible to check whether the auxiliary spring 70 is twisted or not.

[0075] Further, according to the present embodiment, the connecting cylinder portion 20 has a side wall 23 extending from the side edge of the bottom wall 22 toward the upper wall 24, and the tip end of the protrusion 75 is located inward of the side wall 23. In this way, the tip end of the protrusion 75 is protected by the side wall 23, so it is possible to suppress interference of the tip end of the protrusion 75 with foreign matter.

[0076] Further, according to the present embodiment, the elastic contact piece 50 has an abutting portion 55 that abuts against the auxiliary spring 70 at a position rearward of the contact portion 54, the auxiliary spring 70 has a spring-pressing portion 71 that spring-presses the elastic contact piece 50 by abutting against the abutting portion 55, and the protrusion 75 is provided at a position of the auxiliary spring 70 rearward of the spring-pressing portion 71.

[0077] In the elastic contact piece 50, the abutting portion 55 that is spring-pressed by the auxiliary spring 70 becomes a force point, the contact portion 54 becomes an action point, and the fulcrum portion 51 becomes a fulcrum, so according to the principle of a lever, a greater force is applied to the contact portion 54 than the force applied to the abutting portion 55. Thus, it is possible to improve the electrical connection reliability of the male terminal 80 and the female terminal 1.

[0078] Further, the spring-pressing portion 71 of the auxiliary spring 70 that spring-presses the elastic contact piece 50 can be deformed by the force from the elastic contact piece 50. By providing the protrusion 75 at a position rearward of this spring-pressing portion 71, it is possible to correctly check the relative positions of the auxiliary spring 70 and the upper wall 24.

[0079] Further, according to the present embodiment, the auxiliary spring 70 that is separate from the connecting cylinder portion 20 is fixed inside the connecting cylinder portion 20.

[0080] Since it is possible to form the auxiliary spring 70 of a material different from the material that constitutes the connecting cylinder portion 20, it is possible to freely change the strength design of the auxiliary spring 70. Thus, for example, in the case where the auxiliary spring 70 is formed of a material having a greater strength than the material that constitutes the connecting cylinder portion 20, it is possible to increase the contact pressure of the male terminal 80 and the elastic contact piece 50, so it is possible to improve the electrical connection reliability of the male terminal 80 and the female terminal 1.

[0081] <Embodiment 2>

[0082] Next, a female terminal 101 according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 13 to FIG. 9. Figure 10 , Figure 11 and Figure 12As shown, the side wall 123 of the connecting cylinder portion 120 has a through-hole 131 that penetrates the side wall 123 in the left-right direction at a position corresponding to the left side and the right side of the protruding portion 175 of the auxiliary spring 170. As shown in FIG. 2, the through-hole 131 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape as viewed in the left-right direction. The inside shape of the through-hole 131 is formed larger than the outer shape of the tip end of the protruding portion 175. Figure 10 As shown, the through-hole 131 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape as viewed in the left-right direction. The inside shape of the through-hole 131 is formed larger than the outer shape of the tip end of the protruding portion 175.

[0083] As shown, the tip end of the protruding portion 175 is positioned inside the through-hole 131. In detail, the tip end of the protruding portion 175 is positioned between the inner surface of the side wall 123 and the outer surface of the side wall 123. Thus, the tip end of the protruding portion 175 does not protrude outwardly beyond the outer surface of the side wall 123. Figure 11 Figure 13 As shown, the tip end of the protruding portion 175 is positioned inside the through-hole 131. In detail, the tip end of the protruding portion 175 is positioned between the inner surface of the side wall 123 and the outer surface of the side wall 123. Thus, the tip end of the protruding portion 175 does not protrude outwardly beyond the outer surface of the side wall 123.

[0084] By abutting the hole edge portion of the through-hole 131 with the protruding portion 175 of the auxiliary spring 170, excessive flexural deformation of the auxiliary spring 170 is suppressed.

[0085] As for the structures other than the above, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1, and the repeated description is omitted.

[0086] According to the present embodiment, the tip end of the protruding portion 175 is positioned inside the side wall 123. Thus, the tip end of the protruding portion 175 does not protrude outwardly beyond the side wall 123, so interference of the tip end of the protruding portion 175 with foreign matter can be suppressed.

[0087] <Other Embodiments>

[0088] (1) The inside of the connecting cylinder portion 20 can be photographed from the front of the connecting cylinder portion 20 using, for example, a camera, and the interval between the lower surface 30 of the upper wall 24 and the protruding portion 75 of the auxiliary spring 70 can be measured using image analysis. In this case, the connecting cylinder portion 20 can not have the rear opening portion 28, but the rear end portion of the connecting cylinder portion 20 can be closed by some member.

[0089] (2) The structure in which one protruding portion 75 is provided on one of the left and right side edges of the auxiliary spring 70 can be provided. In addition, the auxiliary spring 70 can be provided as a structure having three or more protruding portions 75.

[0090] (3) The auxiliary spring can be provided as a structure integrated with the terminal main body 10.

[0091] (4) The protruding portion 75 can be provided as a structure protruding in an arbitrary direction intersecting the front-rear direction from the side edge of the auxiliary spring 70, for example, a structure protruding obliquely upward to the left, obliquely upward to the right, obliquely downward to the left, or obliquely downward to the right.

[0092] ​(5) The shape of the protrusion 75 is arbitrary, and can be a shape in which the tip becomes thinner and thinner as viewed from above, or a shape in which the tip is rounded into an arc shape as viewed from above.

[0093] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0094] 1, 101: female terminal

[0095] 10, 110: terminal body

[0096] 20, 120: connecting cylinder portion

[0097] 21: front opening portion

[0098] 22: bottom wall

[0099] 23, 123: side wall

[0100] 24: upper wall

[0101] 25: taper portion

[0102] 27: excessive deflection suppression piece

[0103] 28: rear opening portion

[0104] 29: rib

[0105] 30: lower surface

[0106] 40: electric wire connecting portion

[0107] 42: wire cylinder portion

[0108] 43: insulating cylinder portion

[0109] 50: elastic contact piece

[0110] 51: fulcrum portion

[0111] 54: contact point portion

[0112] 55: abutment portion

[0113] 60: laser irradiation device

[0114] 61: laser light receiving device

[0115] 70, 170: auxiliary spring

[0116] 71: spring pressing portion

[0117] 72: placement portion

[0118] 73: inclined portion

[0119] 74: locking protrusion

[0120] 75, 175: protrusion

[0121] 80: male terminal

[0122] 81: tab

[0123] 131: through hole

Claims

1. A female terminal connected to a male terminal, The female terminal includes a connection cylinder portion into which the male terminal is inserted and extending in a front-rear direction, and an elastic contact piece provided inside the connection cylinder portion and elastically contacting the male terminal. and an auxiliary spring disposed in the connection cylinder portion in contact with the elastic contact piece to press the elastic contact piece toward the male terminal, the connection cylinder portion has a bottom wall, an upper wall opposite the bottom wall, and a side wall extending from a side edge of the bottom wall toward the upper wall, and has a front opening portion that is open in the front, the elastic contact piece has a fulcrum portion that is folded back in the connection cylinder portion from a front end edge of the bottom wall toward the rear; and a contact portion that is provided at a position farther back than the fulcrum portion and that is in contact with the male terminal, the auxiliary spring is disposed at a position farther back than the fulcrum portion and at a position lower than the contact portion, the auxiliary spring has a protruding portion that protrudes in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction, a tip end of the protruding portion being located inward of an inner surface of the side wall, the protruding portion and the inner surface of the upper wall are visible from the front opening portion of the connection cylinder portion.

2. The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection cylinder portion has a rear opening portion that is open in the rear, laser light that is incident on the front opening portion of the connection cylinder portion from the front is emitted from the rear opening portion.

3. The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein the elastic contact piece has an abutting portion that abuts against the auxiliary spring at a position farther back than the contact portion, the auxiliary spring has a pressing portion that presses the elastic contact piece by abutting against the abutting portion, the protruding portion is provided at a position farther back than the pressing portion in the auxiliary spring.

4. The female terminal according to claim 2, wherein the elastic contact piece has an abutting portion that abuts against the auxiliary spring at a position farther back than the contact portion, the auxiliary spring has a pressing portion that presses the elastic contact piece by abutting against the abutting portion, the protruding portion is provided at a position farther back than the pressing portion in the auxiliary spring.

5. The female terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the auxiliary spring that is separate from the connection cylinder portion is fixed in the connection cylinder portion.

Images