Terminal metal fitting

Abstract

A terminal metal fitting includes a terminal metal fitting body having a plate-like shape and including a conductor coupling portion to which a conductor portion of an electric wire is coupled on one surface, in which a recessed region is provided in the surface of the terminal metal fitting body, the surface being opposite to the conductor coupling portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a terminal metal fitting. Background Art

[0002] As a method for connecting the conductor portion of an electric wire to a metal terminal, an ultrasonic bonding method is known (see patent document JP2006-172927A). In this ultrasonic bonding method, for example, an electric wire in which the conductor end formed by a plurality of core wires is exposed from an insulating sheath and a connecting terminal formed by erecting two side walls from the bottom surface are made. In addition, the conductor end is located on the bottom surface between the two side walls of the connecting terminal, and ultrasonic vibration is applied while pressing with a welding head. Therefore, the terminal and the conductor end slide against each other, plastically deform, adhere to each other, and then bond to each other. In addition, as a terminal subjected to ultrasonic bonding, a terminal is known in which a protrusion is provided at a position connected to the conductor to increase the bonding area between the terminal and the conductor.

[0003] In order to achieve satisfactory bonding by ultrasonic bonding, it is effective to provide friction heat or the like to cause plastic deformation of the materials to be connected to each other to increase the temperature. However, when the terminal has a large plate thickness, the temperature of the terminal itself is unlikely to increase, and it is difficult to obtain the desired bonding strength. In other words, it is difficult to apply ultrasonic bonding to a terminal with a large plate thickness and obtain sufficient bonding strength. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention has been completed in view of the problems in the prior art. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal metal fitting comprising a terminal metal fitting body in a plate-like shape, which can obtain sufficient bonding strength by ultrasonic bonding even when the terminal metal fitting body has a large plate thickness.

[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, a terminal metal fitting includes: a terminal metal fitting body, which is plate-like in shape and includes a conductor bonding portion on one surface, to which the conductor portion of the electric wire is bonded, wherein a recessed area is provided in a surface of the terminal metal fitting body opposite to the conductor bonding portion.

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a terminal metal fitting including a terminal metal fitting main body in a plate-like shape, which can obtain sufficient bonding strength by ultrasonic bonding even when the terminal metal fitting main body has a large plate thickness. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1A It is a perspective view showing an example of an electric wire in which a conductor portion is exposed from an end portion thereof.

[0008] Figure 1BIt is a diagram showing a state in which a conductor portion of an electric wire is ultrasonically bonded to a conductor bonding portion of a terminal metal fitting.

[0009] Figure 2A is a perspective view showing one example of the terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2B Observed from the rear Figure 2A Schematic diagram of the terminal metal fittings shown.

[0011] Figure 2C is along Figure 2B A cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

[0012] Figure 3A is a perspective view showing one example of the terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment.

[0013] Figure 3B Observed from the rear Figure 3A Schematic diagram of the terminal metal fittings shown.

[0014] Figure 3C is along Figure 3B Cross-section taken along midline BB.

[0015] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing another example of the terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment.

[0016] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment.

[0017] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for ease of description and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0019] The terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment includes a terminal metal fitting body, which is plate-shaped and includes a conductor coupling portion on one surface, to which the conductor portion of the wire is coupled. In addition, a recessed area is provided in the surface of the terminal metal fitting body opposite to the conductor coupling portion.

[0020] First, the ultrasonic bonding method is described. Figure 1A The electric wire 1 is shown bonded to the terminal metal fitting by ultrasonic bonding. Figure 1AAt the end of the electric wire 1 shown, a conductor portion 3 formed of a plurality of core wires 2 is exposed. As the electric wire 1, an electric wire formed of a plastically deformable material (for example, an aluminum electric wire) is used. In addition, the conductor portion 3 of the electric wire 1 is formed to have a flat plate shape by pressure molding.

[0021] Figure 1B A state is shown in which the conductor portion 3 of the electric wire 1 is placed on the conductor bonding portion 6 of the terminal metal fitting 4 and the conductor portion 3 and the conductor bonding portion 6 are ultrasonically bonded to each other. A pressurization / vibration horn 13 is arranged above the conductor portion 3, and the conductor portion 3 is bonded to the terminal metal fitting 4 by ultrasonic vibration applied by pressurization of the pressurization / vibration horn 13. Such ultrasonic bonding is described in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-172927A.

[0022] Next, a specific example of the terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment is described. FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C The terminal metal fitting 4A shown includes a ring terminal 5 located at the end of the terminal metal fitting body 8, and includes a crimping portion 9 located at the rear. The conductor coupling portion 6 to which the conductor portion 3 of the electric wire 1 is coupled is arranged between the ring terminal 5 and the crimping portion 9. The ring terminal 5 is formed to have an annular hole, and is connected and fixed to the mating connection terminal by inserting a pin or a bolt into the annular hole. In addition, the crimping portion 9 is crimped in a state where the electric wire 1 is placed on the terminal metal fitting body 8, thereby fixing the insulating covering portion of the electric wire 1. A groove 7 extending in a direction intersecting with the electric wire 1 is formed in the conductor coupling portion 6. The two side edges of the conductor coupling portion 6 are bent. In other words, side walls exist on the two side edges of the conductor coupling portion 6. In addition, the conductor portion 3 of the electric wire 1 is arranged on the inner side of the side wall.

[0023] like Figure 2C As shown, the recessed area 10 is provided in the surface of the terminal metal fitting body 8, which is located on the opposite side from the conductor bonding portion 6. When viewed from the back side, Figure 2C The recessed area in is a rectangular shape. In other words, a recessed area 10 having a plate thickness smaller than the surrounding plate thickness is formed in the surface opposite to the conductor coupling portion 6. Therefore, the terminal metal fitting body 8 has an area with a small plate thickness in the conductor coupling portion 6, and the heat capacity is reduced compared to the case where the recessed area 10 is not formed. Therefore, when the conductor coupling portion 6 and the conductor portion 3 of the electric wire 1 are ultrasonically bonded to each other, the frictional heat caused by sliding against each other increases, and the temperature rises. As a result, plastic deformation is promoted and the bonding strength is improved. In addition, the groove 7 is formed in the conductor coupling portion 6, and the heat capacity of the conductor coupling portion is reduced compared to the case where the groove 7 is not present. Therefore, even when the terminal metal fitting body has a large plate thickness, the terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment is able to obtain sufficient bonding strength by ultrasonic bonding.

[0024] From the viewpoint of reducing the heat capacity of the conductor joint portion 6, it is preferred to form the recessed area 10 in the entire surface opposite to the conductor joint portion. The "entire area" is an area obtained by projecting the area to which the conductor portion of the electric wire is joined onto the surface opposite to the conductor joint portion 6, and may be an area slightly larger than this area.

[0025] Figure 2C The recessed area 10 shown in the figure is rectangular in shape, but may be other shapes. Other shapes are not particularly limited as long as they can reduce the heat capacity of the conductor joint 6. For example, when viewed from the back side of the terminal metal fitting body 8, a circular, oval, rectangular, etc. may be adopted. In addition, the recessed area may be formed by a plurality of recessed portions. Examples of the plurality of recessed portions include a triangle, a rectangle, a circle, an oval, and a rectangle.

[0026] In addition to the above FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C In addition to the terminal metal fittings shown, other aspects are also described. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C The terminal metal fitting 4B shown in FIG. FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C The terminal metal fitting 4A shown in FIG. 1 is different only in the recessed area 10 in the surface of the terminal metal fitting body 8 on the opposite side to the conductor coupling portion 6. Therefore, only the recessed area 10 as the difference will be described. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C In the terminal metal fitting 4B shown, a plurality of recessed portions in the recessed area 10 are formed to have a groove-like shape extending in a direction intersecting the electric wire 1, as shown in FIG. Figure 3C As described above. Using such a construction, similar to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C The terminal metal fitting shown in the figure has a reduced heat capacity and improved bonding strength in the conductor bonding portion 6 of the terminal metal fitting body 8. At the same time, the recessed area 10 is formed into a groove shape, which is in line with the FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C Compared with the terminal metal fitting 4A shown, the area where the plate thickness of the conductor joint portion 6 is small is reduced, and therefore, strength degradation can be suppressed. Thereby, for example, unexpected deformation due to the pressure applied during ultrasonic bonding can be prevented.

[0027] Even if the plurality of recessed portions in the recessed area 10 are formed to have Figure 3C When the groove shape shown, instead of a straight groove, the groove can also be a curved groove. In addition, the groove can be formed into a lattice shape, a concentric shape or a spiral shape.

[0028] In the terminal metal fitting according to the present embodiment, the heat capacity decreases as the plate thickness of the conductor joint portion of the terminal metal fitting decreases, but the mechanical strength deteriorates as the plate thickness decreases. Therefore, preferably, the area and depth of the recessed area are set so as not to reduce the mechanical strength more than necessary while reducing the heat capacity.

[0029] exist FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C and FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C In the embodiment, the aspect including the crimping portion 9 is given, but the crimping portion 9 is not necessary. Figure 4 In the case of the terminal metal fitting 4C shown, the aspect without the crimping portion 9 can be achieved. In the terminal metal fitting 4C, the recessed area 10 is also provided in the surface of the terminal metal fitting body 8 opposite to the conductor bonding portion 6, just like Figure 2C or Figure 3C As shown in FIG. 1 , the heat capacity in this area during ultrasonic bonding is reduced and the bonding strength is increased.

[0030] In addition, FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C , FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C and Figure 4 In the embodiment, the side wall is formed on the conductor joint portion 6 of the terminal metal fitting body 8, but the side wall is not essential. Figure 5 In the case of the terminal metal fitting 4D shown, the entire conductor coupling portion 6 can be formed only by a plate. In the terminal metal fitting 4D, the recessed area 10 is also provided in the surface of the terminal metal fitting body 8 opposite to the conductor coupling portion 6, just like Figure 2C As shown.

[0031] In addition, FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C , FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment, a groove 7 extending in a direction intersecting the electric wire 1 is formed in the conductor coupling portion 6 of the terminal metal fitting body 8, but the groove 7 is not essential. Figure 6 In the case of the terminal metal fitting 4E shown, the groove may not be formed in the conductor coupling portion 6. In the terminal metal fitting 4E, the recessed area 10 is also provided in the surface of the terminal metal fitting body 8 opposite to the conductor coupling portion 6, as shown in FIG. Figure 2C As shown.

[0032] At the same time, in order to increase the bonding area with the conductor part of the electric wire, a protrusion may be formed on the conductor bonding part of the terminal metal fitting body. In the present embodiment, even when such a protrusion is formed on the conductor bonding part, since the recessed area of ​​the terminal metal fitting body is formed in the surface opposite to the conductor bonding part, interference therebetween is prevented.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the configuration of components can be replaced with any configuration having the same function as long as it is within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A terminal metal fitting, comprising: A terminal metal fitting body having a plate-like shape and including a conductor coupling portion on one surface for coupling a conductor portion of an electric wire thereto, wherein A recessed area is provided in a surface of the terminal metal fitting body opposite to the conductor coupling portion.

2. The terminal metal fitting according to claim 1, wherein: The recessed area is formed in the entire area of ​​the surface opposite to the conductor coupling portion.

3. The terminal metal fitting according to claim 1, wherein: The recessed area is formed by a plurality of recessed portions.

4. The terminal metal fitting according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: A groove is formed in the conductor coupling portion of the terminal metal fitting body, the groove extending in a direction intersecting the electric wire.

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