Terminal fitting

Abstract

A terminal fitting includes: a contact portion to which a portion of a mating terminal is connectable; and a joint part integrated with the contact part and allowing the core wire of the electric wire to be connected to the joint part by welding. The joint is a V-plate including a first inner surface and a second inner surface defining a bend angle, the bend angle being an obtuse angle, and the V-plate having a V-shaped cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the bend line. The first inner surface and the second inner surface are planar.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In vehicles such as automobiles, terminal fittings attached to the ends of electric wires have been used as components for connecting the electric wires to predetermined portions. Patent document JP2015-111509A discloses a technology related to terminal fittings, in which a core wire exposed at the end of an electric wire is joined to a support surface that is a flat surface using solder. In the terminal fitting disclosed in JP2015-111509A, before joining the core wire, the core wire is positioned relative to the support surface by holding the coating of the electric wire with an introduction groove. Summary of the invention

[0003] In the terminal fitting disclosed in JP2015-111509A, for example, if the wire has a tendency to bend or spread before the core wire is joined, it may be impossible to adjust the position of the core wire to the processing range for joining on the support surface. Therefore, before joining the core wire, various processes are required, such as correcting any spread of the core wire, using a camera to detect the joining position, or correcting the position of the joining object side or the joining machine side. That is, there may be difficulties in the overall operability related to the joining, such as an increase in the operation time or operation cost related to joining the core wire.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal fitting which improves the workability during the joining of core wires of an electric wire.

[0005] The terminal fitting according to the present invention includes: a contact portion, to which a part of a mating terminal can be connected; and a joining portion, which is integrated with the contact portion and enables the core wire of the electric wire to be connected to the joining portion by welding, wherein the joining portion is a V-shaped plate, the V-shaped plate includes a first inner surface and a second inner surface defining a bending angle, the bending angle is an obtuse angle, and the V-shaped plate has a V-shaped cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the bending line, and the first inner surface and the second inner surface are planes.

[0006] In the above configuration, it is possible to provide a terminal fitting which improves the workability during the joining of the core wires of the electric wires. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1A is a perspective view of a terminal fitting according to the first embodiment.

[0008] Figure 1B is a rear view of the terminal fitting according to the first embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2A It is a plan view showing a state of joining core wires when the electric wires are in an ideal shape.

[0010] Figure 2B It is a plan view showing a state where the core wires are joined when the electric wires tend to bend.

[0011] Figure 2C It is a plan view showing a state of the joined core wires when there is fray.

[0012] Figure 3A It is a cross-sectional view of the joint portion where the core wire is placed when the bending angle is 100°.

[0013] Figure 3B It is a cross-sectional view of the joint portion where the core wire is placed when the bending angle is 120°.

[0014] Figure 3C It is a cross-sectional view of the joint portion where the core wire is placed when the bending angle is 160°.

[0015] Figure 4 is a graph showing the axis offset of the core wire from the center plane relative to the bend angle.

[0016] Figure 5A is a perspective view of a terminal fitting according to a second embodiment.

[0017] Figure 5B is a rear view of the terminal fitting according to the second embodiment.

[0018] Fig. 6A This is a cross-sectional view of a joint portion having a curvature radius that is half the conductor diameter of the core wire.

[0019] Figure 6B It is a cross-sectional view of the joint portion having a radius of curvature equal to the conductor diameter of the core wire.

[0020] Figure 6C This is a cross-sectional view of a joint portion having a curvature radius that is one-fourth of the conductor diameter of the core wire.

[0021] Fig. 7A This is a cross-sectional view of a joint portion before joining when the conductor diameter of the core wire is large.

[0022] Figure 7B This is a cross-sectional view of a joint portion after joining when the conductor diameter of the core wire is large.

[0023] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a metal plate material used as a material of a terminal fitting according to a third embodiment.

[0024] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the terminal fitting according to the embodiment will be described in detail below. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for ease of description and are sometimes different from the actual ratios.

[0026] First embodiment

[0027] Figure 1A and 1B : is a diagram showing a terminal fitting 1 according to a first embodiment. Figure 1A It is a perspective view of the terminal fitting 1 . Figure 1B It is a rear view of the terminal fitting 1 when the engaging portion 12 side of the terminal fitting 1 is viewed in the direction along which the terminal fitting 1 extends.

[0028] Figures 2A to 2C 1 and 2 are plan views each illustrating a state in which a core wire 101 of an electric wire 100 is joined to a joining portion 12 of a terminal fitting 1 . Figure 2A 1 is a view showing a case where the electric wire 100 has what can be called an ideal shape in which the electric wire 100 has no tendency to bend and the core wire 101 is not unraveled. Figure 2B 1 is a view showing a case where the electric wire 100 has a tendency to bend. Figure 2C 1 is a view showing the condition where the core wire 101 is unfurled. Figures 2A to 2C , the support portion 200 that preliminarily supports the insulator 102 of the electric wire 100 before the core wire 101 is joined by welding is schematically illustrated as a pair of triangles.

[0029] Generally, in a connector structure for connecting a male connector to a female connector, a male terminal can be provided on the male connector as a terminal fitting, and a female terminal can be provided on the female connector as a terminal fitting. As an example, the terminal fitting 1 according to the present embodiment is a female terminal to which a part of a male terminal as a mating terminal can be freely connected. For example, the terminal fitting 1 can be attached to a core wire 101 exposed at the end of an electric wire 100.

[0030] The electric wire 100 includes a core wire 101 as a conductor and an insulator 102 covering the core wire 101. Note that there is no particular limitation on the type of the electric wire 100. For example, the electric wire 100 may be one of two wirings in an electric wire including wiring as differential wiring, such as a shielded twisted pair (STP). The core wire 101 is a twisted wire made by twisting a plurality of single wires 101a such as tinned soft copper wires.

[0031] The terminal fitting 1 is manufactured by bending a plate formed by punching a conductive metal plate having a constant thickness into a predetermined shape, etc. The terminal fitting 1 has a rod shape extending in the X direction as a length direction, and includes a contact portion 11, an engaging portion 12, and a connecting portion 13 arranged as a whole along the X direction. Hereinafter, two directions orthogonal to the X direction and orthogonal to each other are referred to as the Y direction and the Z direction.

[0032] The contact portion 11 allows a portion of a male terminal as a mating terminal to be inserted. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 11 has a rectangular tubular shape, the outer periphery of the cross section of which is orthogonal to the X direction and has an axial direction in the X direction. Here, the cross section of the contact portion 11 is parallel to both the Y direction as the width direction and the Z direction as the height direction. Note that the contact portion 11 having such a shape is sometimes referred to as a "box portion". As an example, the contact portion 11 has a bottom plate 11a, a first side plate 11b, a second side plate 11c, an upper plate 11d, and a top plate 11e.

[0033] When the contact portion 11 is processed into a product form, the top plate 11e, the first side plate 11b, the bottom plate 11a, the second side plate 11c and the upper plate 11d are continuous around an axis based on the X-direction axis. The first side plate 11b rises in the height direction from one end in the Y direction of the bottom plate 11a. The second side plate 11c rises in the Z direction from the other end in the Y direction of the bottom plate 11a. That is, the first side plate 11b and the second side plate 11c are opposite to each other in the Y direction. The upper plate 11d is bent from the upper end of the second side plate 11c toward the first side plate 11b and is opposite to the bottom plate 11a in the Z direction. The top plate 11e is bent from the upper end of the first side plate 11b toward the second side plate 11c, and is opposite to the upper plate 11d in a manner that they are superimposed on the upper plate 11d very closely in the Z direction. One end of the contact portion 11 in the axial direction is an insertion port 11f, into which a part of the male terminal is inserted. The other end of the contact portion 11 in the axial direction is continuous with the connecting portion 13. In this embodiment, Figure 1B As shown, a central axis AX1 of the terminal fitting 1 in the X direction is defined as an axis that substantially passes through the center of gravity of a cross section of the internal space IS in the contact portion 11 .

[0034] 1 and subsequent figures schematically illustrate the shape of the contact portion 11. For example, the contact portion 11 may have an elastic contact piece on the inner surface of the bottom plate 11a that elastically contacts a portion of the male terminal inserted into the internal space IS for electrical connection.

[0035] The shape of the contact portion 11 is not limited to the rectangular tube shape as described above, and may be, for example, a cylindrical shape having an axial direction along the X direction. Here, a portion of the open end of the cylindrical contact portion 11 may be formed with a pair of elastic contact pieces.

[0036] The joint portion 12 allows the core wire 101 of the electric wire 100 to be joined thereto by welding. In the present embodiment, the joint portion 12 is integrated with the contact portion 11 via the connecting portion 13. The joint portion 12 is a V-shaped plate, which includes a first inner surface 12b and a second inner surface 12c defining a bending angle θ with the X direction as the length direction, and has a V-shaped cross section orthogonal to the bending line 12a. The bending line 12a is along the X direction. The bending angle θ is an obtuse angle. The first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c are planar. That is, the joint portion 12 can be formed by bending a flat plate portion having a constant thickness at a preset bending angle θ relative to the bending line 12a.

[0037] Here, if Figure 1B As shown, an imaginary plane passing through the center axis AX1 and the bending line 12a spaced apart from each other is defined as a center plane P. The Z direction is parallel to the center plane P. The Y direction is orthogonal to the center plane P. Here, the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c are symmetrical with respect to the center plane P.

[0038] In addition, if Figures 2A to 2C As shown by double-dashed lines in FIG. 1 , a welding processing range WL for joining the core wire 101 thereto by welding is set on the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c. At this time, laser welding can be used as an example of fusion joining to join the core wire 101. Here, when the core wire 101 in the welding processing range WL is irradiated with a laser beam, the temperature of the core wire 101 rises to generate a molten ball, and then the joint portion 12 is heated to join with the molten ball, thereby joining the core wire 101 to the joint portion 12.

[0039] The connecting portion 13 is located between the contact portion 11 and the engaging portion 12 in the X direction and connects the contact portion 11 and the engaging portion 12. In the present embodiment, since the width of the contact portion 11 having a rectangular tubular shape in the Y direction is set to be smaller than the width of the engaging portion 12 in the Y direction, a portion of the connecting portion 13 is formed in a tapered shape.

[0040] Next, the action and effect of the terminal fitting 1 will be described.

[0041] The terminal fitting 1 has a contact portion 11 that allows a portion of a mating terminal to be connected thereto, and an engaging portion 12 that is formed integrally with the contact portion 11 and allows a core wire 101 of an electric wire 100 to be joined thereto by welding. The engaging portion 12 is a V-shaped plate that includes a first inner surface 12b and a second inner surface 12c that define a bending angle θ that is an obtuse angle, and has a V-shaped cross section that is orthogonal to the bending line 12a. The first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c are plane.

[0042] In the terminal fitting 1 , when the core wire 101 is joined to the joint portion 12 , the core wire 101 is placed on the joint portion 12 on the side where the first and second inner surfaces 12 b and 12 c are located with the insulator 102 of the wire 100 supported by the support portion 200 .

[0043] Here, if Figure 2A As shown, when the electric wire 100 has an ideal shape, the core wire 101 is properly positioned in the welding processing range WL when placed on the joint portion 12, so that joining by laser welding or the like can be started immediately.

[0044] In contrast, when the electric wire 100 has a tendency to bend, if the joint portion 12 is only a flat plate portion, the core wire 101 may protrude from the side of the assumed joint portion 12 and deviate from the welding processing range WL. In this case, joining by laser welding or the like cannot be started immediately. If started, there is a possibility that a terminal fitting whose quality cannot be maintained will be produced.

[0045] In contrast, Figure 2B As shown, in the terminal fitting 1, when the electric wire 100 tends to bend, the core wire 101 comes into contact with any inner surface during placement in the joint 12. The inner surface is inclined toward the bending line 12a, that is, toward the center plane P. Note that Figure 2B In the example shown, the core wire 101 first comes into contact with the second inner surface 12c. Here, since the second inner surface 12c is planar, a centering effect acts on the core wire 101 which can be regarded as having a substantially circular cross section, and the core wire 101 is moved along the Figure 2B Therefore, even if the core wire 101 has a shape that may protrude from the side of the joint portion 12 when in contact with the second inner surface 12c, it is guided by the second inner surface 12c and properly positioned within the welding processing range WL.

[0046] Furthermore, when the core wire 101 is flared and the joint portion 12 is only a flat plate portion, even if a part of the single wires 101a constituting the core wire 101 is within the welding process range WL, the other single wires 101a may deviate from the welding process range WL. Also in this case, joining by laser welding or the like cannot be started immediately, and if started, there is a possibility that a terminal fitting whose quality cannot be maintained will be produced.

[0047] In contrast, Figure 2C As shown, in the terminal fitting 1, when the core wire 101 is unrolled, the unrolled single wire 101a contacts the first inner surface 12b or the second inner surface 12c inclined toward the center plane P when placed on the joint portion 12. Therefore, when the unrolled single wire 101a contacts the first inner surface 12b or the second inner surface 12c, they are connected along the Figure 2CThe direction indicated by the white arrow in the middle is gathered toward the center plane P. That is, the flaring is automatically corrected, and the core wire 101 is properly positioned in the welding processing range WL.

[0048] As described above, in the terminal fitting 1, even when the electric wire 100 is bent or the core wire 101 is untied, the core wire 101 is properly positioned within the welding processing range WL at the stage of being placed on the joint 12. Thus, for example, before joining the core wire 101, various processes for dealing with the above-mentioned problems, such as correcting the untied core wire 101, detecting the joining position using a camera, or correcting the position on the joining object side or the joining machine side, are not required. Therefore, in the terminal fitting 1, an increase in the operation time or operation cost for joining the core wire 101 can be avoided.

[0049] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the terminal fitting 1 for improving the workability during the joining of the core wires 101 of the electric wires 100 .

[0050] Furthermore, in the terminal fitting 1, the bend angle θ may be set in such a manner that when the core wire 101 is placed on the engagement portion 12 in an orientation along the direction in which the bend line 12a extends, the core wire 101 comes into contact with the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c.

[0051] Here, in the above-described example, the direction extending along the bending line 12 a corresponds to the X direction.

[0052] Figures 3A to 3C This is a cross-sectional view of the joint portion 12 for explaining how to derive a more appropriate bending angle θ assuming that the electric wire 100 has a specific structure and size. Figure 3A This is a view when the bending angle θ is set to 100°. Figure 3B This is a view when the bending angle θ is set to 120°. Figure 3C 1 is a view when the bending angle θ is set to 160°. The core wire 101 of the electric wire 100 illustrated herein is a twisted wire including seven single wires 101a. The outer diameter of one single wire 101a is 0.16 mm. The conductor diameter D of the core wire 101 is 0.48 mm and is indicated by a double-dashed line in the figure. Figures 3A to 3C , the core wire 101 is placed on the bonding portion 12 in an orientation along the X direction.

[0053] Figure 4 is a graph showing the axis offset W (in mm) relative to the bending angle θ (in degrees), including Figures 3A to 3C The corresponding result. Here, Figures 3A to 3C As shown, the central axis of the core wire 101 is defined as the central axis AX2. The axis offset W is the offset of the central axis AX2 from the central plane P.

[0054] First, if Figure 3A As shown, when the bending angle θ is set to 100°, one single wire 101a contacts the first inner surface 12b, and the other single wire 101a contacts the second inner surface 12c. At this time, the axis offset W is about 0.017 mm.

[0055] In addition, if Figure 3B As shown, when the bending angle θ is set to 120°, one single wire 101a contacts the first inner surface 12b and the other single wire 101a contacts the second inner surface 12c as in the case of 100°. At this time, the axis offset W is about 0.004 mm, which is smaller than the case of setting the bending angle θ to 100°.

[0056] In contrast, Figure 3C As shown in FIG. 1 , when the bending angle θ is set to 160°, although one single wire 101a is clearly in contact with the first inner surface 12b, the other single wire 101a is approximately located on the bending line 12a but cannot be said to be clearly in contact with the second inner surface 12c. In this case, the axis offset W is approximately 0.055 mm, which is greater than the case where the bending angle θ is set to 100° or 120°. Since the outer diameter of one single wire 101a is 0.16 mm, the axis offset W in this case is close to a value of 0.08 mm, which is the axis offset W of one single wire 101a when it is regarded as being laterally offset in the Y direction.

[0057] Furthermore, when the bending angle θ is set to 80°, the axis deviation amount W is approximately 0.012 mm. When the bending angle θ is set to 140°, the axis deviation amount W is approximately 0.028 mm. These cases follow the tendency of the above-mentioned cases where the value of the bending angle θ is approximate.

[0058] Therefore, when the bending angle θ is set in such a manner that the core wire 101 contacts both the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c when placed on the joint portion 12, the core wire 101 can be positioned in a more appropriate welding processing range WL where the axis offset W is small. In this example, it is preferred that the bending angle θ is set to about 120°.

[0059] Second embodiment

[0060] Figure 5A and 5B 2 is a view showing a terminal fitting 2 according to a second embodiment. Figure 5A It is a perspective view of the terminal fitting 2 . Figure 5B It is a rear view of the terminal fitting 2 when the engaging portion 22 side is viewed in the direction in which the terminal fitting 2 extends.

[0061] The basic shape of the terminal fitting 2 corresponds to the shape of the terminal fitting 1. The terminal fitting 2 includes a contact portion 21, an engaging portion 22, and a connecting portion 23. The shape of the contact portion 21 is the same as the shape of the contact portion 11 of the terminal fitting 1. That is, in the same manner as in the contact portion 11, the contact portion 21 also includes a bottom plate 21a, a first side plate 21b, a second side plate 21c, an upper plate 21d, and a top plate 21e. The shape of the connecting portion 23 is the same as the shape of the connecting portion 13 of the terminal fitting 1.

[0062] On the other hand, in the same manner as the joint portion 12 of the terminal fitting 1, the joint portion 22 includes: relative to the bending line 22a corresponding to the bending line 12a, a first inner surface 22b corresponding to the first inner surface 12b, and a second inner surface 22c corresponding to the second inner surface 12c. However, unlike the joint portion 12, the joint portion 22 includes a curved portion 22d located between the first inner surface 22b and the second inner surface 22c. The curved portion 22d has a symmetrical shape relative to the bending line 22a while including the bending line 22a. That is, one side of the curved portion 22d smoothly continues to the first inner surface 22b, and the other side of the curved portion 22d smoothly continues to the second inner surface 22c. Hereinafter, the radius of curvature of the curved portion 22d is defined as the radius of curvature R.

[0063] Figures 6A to 6C This is a cross-sectional view of the joint portion 22 for explaining how a more appropriate curvature radius R is derived assuming that the electric wire 100 has a specific structure and size. Fig. 6A This is a view when the curvature radius R is set to a value half the conductor diameter D (D / 2). Figure 6B This is a view when the radius of curvature R is set to a value equal to the diameter D of the conductor. Figure 6C The case where the curvature radius R is set to a value (D / 4) of one quarter of the conductor diameter D is shown. Figures 3A to 3C The core wires shown are the same. Figures 6A to 6C In the embodiment, the bending angle θ at each joint 22 is uniformly 120°. Fig. 6A In Figure 3A The core line 101 placed on the joint 12 in the orientation along the X direction is drawn in the same manner, but in Figure 6B and 6C , only the conductor diameter D of the core wire 101 is schematically shown.

[0064] First, if Fig. 6AAs shown, when the curvature radius R is set to a value half of the conductor diameter D, one single wire 101a contacts the first inner surface 22b, and the other single wire 101a contacts the second inner surface 22c. Thus, in the terminal fitting 2, the centering effect acts on the core wire 101 in the same manner as in the terminal fitting 1 according to the first embodiment, so that the core wire 101 can be properly positioned within the welding processing range WL.

[0065] Furthermore, in the terminal fitting 2, as described above, the engagement portion 22 may include the curved portion 22d between the first inner surface 22b and the second inner surface 22c, the curved portion 22d including the bending line 22a and having a shape symmetrical with respect to the bending line 22a.

[0066] According to terminal fittings 2, such as Fig. 6A As shown, when the core wire 101 is placed on the joint portion 22, the gap space S between the core wire 101 and the curved surface portion 22d becomes smaller. Thus, when the core wire 101 is joined to the joint portion 22 by welding, the fit between the core wire 101 and the joint portion 22 is more improved than in the case of the terminal fitting 1, and thus a decrease in shear tensile strength can be avoided.

[0067] On the other hand, Figure 6B As shown, when the curvature radius R is set to the value of the conductor diameter D, that is, when the curvature radius R is greater than Fig. 6A In the case of, there may be a situation where none of the single wires 101a contacts the first inner surface 22b or the second inner surface 22c. Since no centering effect occurs on the core wire 101, the core wire 101 cannot be properly positioned within the welding processing range WL, which is not ideal.

[0068] In addition, if Figure 6C As shown, when the curvature radius R is set to one quarter of the conductor diameter D, that is, when the curvature radius R is less than Fig. 6A In the case of, one single wire 101a is in contact with the first inner surface 22b, and the other single wire 101a is in contact with the second inner surface 22c. Therefore, in the terminal fitting 2, since the centering effect acts on the core wire 101, the core wire 101 can be properly positioned in the welding processing range WL. However, in this case, when the core wire 101 is placed on the joint 22, the gap space S does not become relatively small. Thus, when the core wire 101 is joined to the joint 22 by welding, the effect of improving the fit between the core wire 101 and the joint 22 is slight.

[0069] Therefore, in the terminal fitting 2 , if D is the conductor diameter of the core wire 101 , and R is the radius of curvature of the curved surface portion 22 d , the radius of curvature may satisfy the condition of (D / 4)<R<D.

[0070] In the terminal fitting 2 , when the core wire 101 is appropriately positioned in the welding processing range WL and the core wire 101 is joined to the joining portion 22 by welding, the fit between the core wire 101 and the joining portion 22 can be improved.

[0071] Note that, so far, description has been made by using an example in which the conductor diameter D of the core wire 101 of the electric wire 100 is 0.48 mm. However, as long as various conditions are satisfied, the terminal fittings 1 and the like according to the various embodiments can also be applied to electric wires 100 having different sizes, such as the conductor diameter D of the core wire 101 being greater than 0.48 mm or the conductor diameter D of the core wire 101 being less than 0.48 mm.

[0072] For example, when the core wire 101 has a conductor diameter D greater than 0.48 mm, the shape of the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment is advantageous for connecting the electric wire 100. In this case, as shown in FIG. Fig. 7A As shown, the radius of curvature R is equal to Fig. 6A The curvature radius in the embodiment is 22d, and when the core wire 101 is placed on the joint portion 22, the gap space S between the core wire 101 and the curved surface portion 22d is relatively wide. However, when the core wire 101 is joined to the joint portion 22 by welding, as shown in FIG. Figure 7B As shown, the volume of the molten ball becomes larger, so that the molten ball flows into the gap space S and thus fills the gap space S. Thereby, the core wire 101 and the joint portion 22 are not insufficiently fitted, and therefore, the shear tensile strength is not reduced.

[0073] Third embodiment

[0074] In the above-mentioned various embodiments, a metal plate having a constant thickness is used as a material for forming both the terminal fitting 1 and the terminal fitting 2. In contrast, in the present embodiment, a metal plate material 300 having different thicknesses according to the various parts of the terminal fitting is used as the material of the terminal fitting, instead of a material having a constant thickness. Hereinafter, a case where a terminal fitting having a shape similar to that of the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment is manufactured using the metal plate material 300 as a material will be exemplified. Thus, the same components as those of the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment are given the same figure marks, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0075] Figure 8: is a three-dimensional view of a metal plate material 300. The metal plate material 300 includes a first plate portion 301 set to a first thickness t1 and a second plate portion 302 set to a second thickness t2. The first plate portion 301 and the second plate portion 302 are connected in series along the X direction consistent with the extension direction of the terminal fitting 2. The first plate portion 301 is a portion that forms the contact portion 21 and the connecting portion 23 of the terminal fitting 2. The second plate portion 302 is a portion that forms the joining portion 24 of the terminal fitting 2. The second thickness t2 is thicker than the first thickness t1. Here, one surface of the first plate portion 301 is defined as a first surface 301a. In the present embodiment, the second thickness t2 of the second plate portion 302 is set in such a way that the second surface 302a in the same direction as the first surface 301a is one level higher than the first surface 301a in the Z direction.

[0076] Fig. 9 3 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting 2 according to a third embodiment made of a metal plate material 300. The terminal fitting 2 according to the present embodiment includes a contact portion 21, a joint portion 24 replacing the joint portion 22 of the second embodiment, and a connecting portion 23. In the same manner as the joint portion 22 in the second embodiment, the joint portion 24 includes a first inner surface 24b and a second inner surface 24c. The joint portion 24 also includes a curved surface 24d located between the first inner surface 24b and the second inner surface 24c.

[0077] In the manufacturing stage of the terminal fitting 2, portions that will become the contact portion 21 and the connecting portion 23 are punched out in a portion of the first plate portion 301, and at the same time, portions that will become the engaging portion 24 are punched out in a portion of the second plate portion 302. The punched plate is then subjected to bending processing, etc., to finally manufacture the terminal fitting 2. At this time, the surface that is the first surface 301a of the first plate portion 301 becomes the inner surface of the contact portion 21, and at the same time, the surface that is the second surface 302a of the second plate portion 302 becomes the first inner surface 24b or the second inner surface 24c of the engaging portion 24. The terminal fitting 2 according to the present embodiment is connected to Figure 5A Compared with the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the thickness of the contact portion 21 and the connecting portion 23 are the same as the first thickness t1. On the other hand, the thickness of the engaging portion 22 in the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment is the same as the first thickness t1, while in the terminal fitting 2 according to the present embodiment, the first inner surface 24b and the second inner surface 24c become thicker toward the inner side. For example, when the core wire 101 with a conductor diameter D of 0.48 mm to be engaged, the first thickness t1 can be set to about 0.15 mm, and the second thickness t2 can be set to about 0.3 mm.

[0078] Therefore, in the terminal fitting 2 according to the present embodiment, when the thickness of the first plate portion 301 as the plate portion forming the contact portion 21 is defined as the first thickness t1, and the thickness of the engaging portion 24 is defined as the second thickness t2, the second thickness t2 may be thicker than the first thickness t1.

[0079] In the terminal fitting 2, since the first thickness t1 of the first plate portion 301 forming the contact portion 21 can be set to be equal to the thickness of a general terminal fitting, the applicable conditions of the terminal fitting 2 as a product are not narrowed. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the joining of the core wire 101 and the joining portion 24 is by fusion joining, such as laser welding, as in each of the above-mentioned embodiments. Thus, in the terminal fitting 2, since the second thickness t2 of the joining portion 24 is set to be thicker than the first thickness t1, the limitation of the welding conditions due to the thin thickness can be alleviated, and the applicable conditions of the terminal fitting 2 as a product can be expanded.

[0080] In this embodiment, if Fig. 9 As shown, the second thickness t2 of the joint 24 is thicker than the first thickness t1, so that the first inner surface 24b and the second inner surface 24c are more inward. In this case, the outer surface of the joint 24 opposite to the first inner surface 24b and the second inner surface 24c is similar in shape to the outer surface of the joint 24. Figure 5A The same part of the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment shown is not different. That is, since the engaging portion 24 is not enlarged outward, there is an advantage that the applicable conditions of the terminal fitting 2 as a product will not be reduced. On the other hand, if the applicable conditions of the terminal fitting 2 are not reduced, the outer surface of the engaging portion 24 can be made larger than that of the terminal fitting 2. Figure 5A The more outward approach shown sets the second thickness t2.

[0081] Note that in the present embodiment, the metal plate material 300 is used as a material for manufacturing the terminal fitting having the shape of the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment. The metal plate material 300 can also be used for manufacturing the terminal fitting having the shape of the terminal fitting 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0082] Although specific embodiments have been described, these embodiments are disclosed only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In fact, the novel embodiments described herein may be implemented in various other forms; in addition, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the embodiment forms described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The attached claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A terminal fitting, comprising: A contact portion to which a part of a mating terminal can be connected; And A joint portion that is integrated with the contact portion and enables a core wire of a wire to be connected to the joint portion by welding, wherein, The joint portion is a V-shaped plate that includes a first inner surface and a second inner surface, the first inner surface and the second inner surface define a bending angle that is an obtuse angle, and the V-shaped plate has a V-shaped cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the bending line, and The first inner surface and the second inner surface are flat surfaces.

2. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein The bending angle is set in such a manner that when the core wire is placed on the joint portion in a direction along the extension direction of the bending line, the core wire contacts the first inner surface and the second inner surface.

3. The terminal fitting according to claim 2, wherein: The joint portion includes a curved surface portion between the first inner surface and the second inner surface, the curved surface portion includes the bending line and has a shape symmetric with respect to the bending line.

4. The terminal fitting according to claim 3, wherein: When the conductor diameter of the core wire is D and the radius of curvature of the curved surface portion is R, The radius of curvature satisfies the condition of (D / 4) < R < D.

5. The terminal fitting according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: When the thickness of the plate portion forming the contact portion is defined as a first thickness and the thickness of the joint portion is defined as a second thickness, The second thickness is thicker than the first thickness.

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