Butt joint terminal and terminal assembly

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a butt joint terminal and a terminal assembly, and belongs to the technical field of connectors. The butt joint terminal is used for being connected with a male terminal in an inserted mode and comprises a terminal body which is provided with a limiting cavity for containing the male terminal. The at least one contact elastic sheet is arranged on the terminal body, the contact elastic sheet comprises a mounting part connected with the terminal body and a bending part connected with the mounting part, and the bending part is located in the limiting cavity and is used for being in elastic contact with the male terminal; wherein one side of the bending part is provided with a groove, and the opening of the groove is arranged away from the male terminal. According to the butt-joint terminal provided by the embodiment of the invention, mechanical force generated in a contact process can be uniformly distributed by utilizing the grooves formed in the bending part, stress concentration is reduced, and positive pressure of the contact elastic sheet is enhanced, so that the overall mechanical strength of the butt-joint terminal is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to connector technology, and in particular to a docking terminal and a terminal assembly. Background Art

[0002] Electrical connectors are widely used in multiple industrial fields. The electrical connectors include male terminals and mating terminals. The male terminals are inserted into the mating terminals to form a reliable electrical connection and a stable structure.

[0003] Common docking terminals utilize a spring-loaded structure that uses its deformation to apply positive pressure to the male terminal at the contact edge, ensuring a stable current signal between the male and docking terminals. To ensure reliable contact, the spring-loaded structure must provide as much positive pressure as possible.

[0004] In related technologies, the method of increasing the positive force of the spring structure is generally to modify the material width and thickness, or to modify the elastic force arm and add auxiliary springs. However, the above methods often require a larger space structure and additional material costs, and the use effect is not good. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a docking terminal and a terminal assembly, which are used to solve the technical problem in the related art that the mechanical strength of the spring structure of the docking terminal generally leads to insufficient positive force on the male terminal.

[0006] In one aspect, the present application provides a docking terminal for plugging with a male terminal, comprising:

[0007] The terminal body has a limiting cavity for accommodating the male terminal;

[0008] At least one contact spring, provided on the terminal body, the contact spring comprising a mounting portion connected to the terminal body, and a bent portion connected to the mounting portion, the bent portion being located in the limiting cavity and configured to elastically contact the male terminal;

[0009] A groove is formed on one side of the bent portion, and an opening of the groove is arranged away from the male terminal.

[0010] In a possible implementation manner, the groove is connected to the mounting portion along an extension direction of the bending portion.

[0011] In a possible implementation manner, the cross-section of the groove is arc-shaped or trapezoidal.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the contact spring includes a first side and a second side disposed on both sides, the first side and the second side surround each other to form the groove, and the first side and the second side are symmetrically arranged.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the bending portion includes:

[0014] A bent edge is connected to the mounting portion and is gradually inclined in a direction toward the limiting cavity;

[0015] a contact edge connected to the bent edge, the contact edge being configured to at least partially contact the male terminal;

[0016] A guide folded edge is provided at one end of the contact edge away from the bent edge, and the guide folded edge is gradually inclined in a direction away from the limiting cavity to guide the male terminal to be inserted into the limiting cavity.

[0017] In a possible implementation manner, a protruding support portion is configured in the limiting cavity, and the support portion is configured to clamp the male terminal together with the contact edge.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0019] a reinforcing end plate connected to the terminal body, the reinforcing end plate cover being provided on the mounting portion to prevent the mounting portion from deviating in a direction away from the limiting cavity;

[0020] A protective end plate is connected to the terminal body, and the protective end plate cover is arranged on the guide fold to prevent the guide fold from deviating in a direction away from the limiting cavity.

[0021] In a possible implementation manner, the groove is a stamped groove.

[0022] In a possible implementation manner, there are at least two contact springs, and the two contact springs jointly clamp the male terminal inserted into the limiting cavity.

[0023] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application further provides a terminal assembly, comprising the docking terminal as described in any one of the above items;

[0024] It also includes a male terminal having a pin inserted into the limiting cavity of the docking terminal.

[0025] The docking terminal provided in the present application has a contact spring connected to the terminal body through a mounting portion and elastically contacts the male terminal through a bending portion. The elastic contact design enables the contact spring to maintain good contact with the male terminal while adapting to the dynamic range of insertion of the male terminal, thereby enhancing the elastic recovery force of the contact spring and ensuring reliable connection during long-term use.

[0026] In addition, since a groove is constructed on one side of the bending portion, the opening of the groove is set away from the male terminal. The groove design can evenly distribute and transmit the mechanical force generated during the contact process, reduce stress concentration, and enhance the positive pressure of the contact spring, thereby helping to improve the overall mechanical strength of the docking terminal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0028] Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of a docking terminal provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional image from another angle;

[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Partial structural cross-sectional view;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the groove portion of the contact spring in an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the plugging of the docking terminal and the male terminal in the embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Partial structural cross-sectional view.

[0034] The above drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the present application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and the textual description are not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way, but rather to illustrate the concepts of the present application to those skilled in the art by reference to specific embodiments.

[0035] Description of Reference Numerals

[0036] 100, terminal body; 110, limiting cavity; 120, reinforcing end plate; 130, supporting portion; 140, protective end plate; 150, crimping end;

[0037] 200, contact spring; 210, mounting portion; 220, bending portion; 221, bending edge; 222, contact edge; 223, guide folding edge; 230, first side edge; 240, second side edge; 250, groove;

[0038] 300, male terminal; 310, pin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, with examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, when referring to the drawings, identical numerals in different figures represent identical or similar elements, unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments are not intended to represent all embodiments consistent with the present application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present application, as detailed in the appended claims.

[0040] As described in the background art, in the related art, the method of increasing the positive force of the spring structure of the docking terminal is generally achieved by modifying the material width and thickness, or modifying the arm length of the spring and adding auxiliary springs.

[0041] However, regardless of which approach is used, the overall amount of spring material required increases, increasing the product cost. For some compact terminal assemblies, modifying the spring's lever length or increasing its width and thickness requires more space in the connector. For some compact terminal assemblies, varying the spring's width and thickness cannot be accommodated within the limited space, resulting in poor practical performance.

[0042] Based on the above description, one or more embodiments of the present application provide a docking terminal, which will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the docking terminal described in the present application includes a terminal body 100 and at least one contact spring 200 .

[0044] The terminal body 100 has a limiting cavity 110 for accommodating the male terminal 300; at least one contact spring 200 is arranged on the terminal body 100, and the contact spring 200 includes a mounting portion 210 connected to the terminal body 100, and a bending portion 220 connected to the mounting portion 210, the bending portion 220 is located in the limiting cavity 110, and is used to elastically contact the male terminal 300; wherein, a groove 250 is constructed on one side of the bending portion 220, and the opening of the groove 250 is set away from the male terminal 300.

[0045] From the above description, it can be seen that the docking terminal described in the present application has a contact spring 200 connected to the terminal body 100 through the mounting portion 210, and elastically contacts the male terminal 300 through the bending portion 220. The elastic contact design enables the contact spring 200 to maintain good contact with the male terminal 300 while being able to adapt to the dynamic range of insertion of the male terminal 300, thereby enhancing the elastic recovery force of the contact spring 200 and ensuring reliable connection during long-term use.

[0046] Furthermore, because a groove 250 is formed on one side of the bent portion 220, with the opening of the groove 250 facing away from the male terminal 300, the groove-shaped design evenly distributes and transmits the mechanical forces generated during the contact process, reducing stress concentration and increasing the positive pressure of the contact spring 200, thereby improving the overall mechanical strength of the mating terminal. Furthermore, compared to the related art method of changing the width or thickness of the spring structure, the provision of the groove 250 on the bent portion 220 of the present application strengthens the overall structural strength of the contact spring 200 without increasing the cost of the original material, contributing to the overall lightweight design of the terminal assembly.

[0047] In the embodiment of the present application, the docking terminal is also called the female terminal, and the male terminal 300 is inserted into the docking terminal to form a closed loop to achieve the effect of transmitting current and electrical signals. Generally, the outside of the male terminal 300 and the female terminal are both covered with an insulating protective plastic shell. Here, taking the docking terminal as an example, the docking terminal also includes a plurality of crimping ends 150, which are used to cooperate with the wire through the crimping process so that the wire is fixed on the corresponding crimping area of ​​the docking terminal. Of course, the shape, number and position of the crimping end 150 can be designed with reference to the actual assembly scenario, and are not absolutely limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0048] like Figure 3 As shown, in the embodiment of the present application, the groove 250 is connected to the mounting portion 210 along the extension direction of the bending portion 220. Specifically, along the extension direction of the contact spring 200, the groove 250 is continuously arranged on the contact spring 200. This arrangement can further enhance the overall structural strength of the contact spring 200. At the same time, the continuously arranged groove 250 also facilitates the stamping process of the contact spring 200 as a whole, thereby simplifying the preparation process and process.

[0049] like Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, in the embodiment of the present application, the contact spring 200 includes a first side 230 and a second side 240 on both sides, the first side 230 and the second side 240 are surrounded to form the groove 250, and the first side 230 and the second side 240 are symmetrically arranged.

[0050] The symmetrical design ensures that the force applied to both ends of the contact spring 200 is evenly distributed when elastically contacted by the male terminal 300, avoiding the risk of displacement or distortion of the contact spring 200 due to an asymmetrical design, and ensuring long-term reliability and plug-in / plug-out consistency. Furthermore, the symmetrical design itself more evenly distributes the stress acting on the contact spring 200, preventing the risk of fatigue damage caused by localized stress concentration, thereby extending the service life of the contact spring 200. The symmetrical design of the left and right sides of the contact spring 200 also simplifies the production and assembly process.

[0051] Here, in the embodiment of the present application, the length direction of the contact spring 200 mentioned refers to the direction in which the contact spring 200 extends along the plugging direction or the opposite plugging direction, and the width direction refers to the direction in which the contact spring 200 extends along the plugging direction or the opposite plugging direction. Figure 4 In the embodiment, in the direction of the left and right opposite sides of the contact spring 200 , the first side 230 and the second side 240 are respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the contact spring 200 .

[0052] Further, if Figure 4 As shown, the cross-section of the groove 250 is arc-shaped.

[0053] Here, illustratively, the contact spring piece 200 is protruded as a whole toward the direction of the limiting cavity 110, and the cross-sectional shape of the groove 250 is arc-shaped. Furthermore, the cross-sectional profile is "C"-shaped or "U"-shaped, and the protruding bottom end portion can directly form elastic contact with the male terminal 300. Compared with the flat spring piece structure, the contact spring piece 200 designed with the groove 250 can further improve the elastic performance and mechanical structure strength, which is conducive to ensuring continuous contact positive pressure during long-term use, reducing contact looseness, and improving the reliability of electrical connection.

[0054] As an alternative embodiment, the cross-section of the groove 250 is trapezoidal.

[0055] Furthermore, the cross-sectional profile of the groove 250 is an isosceles trapezoid, and the angles formed between the first side 230 and the second side 240 of the contact spring 200 and the bottom end are the same, both being obtuse angles. Since the bottom end of the contact spring 200 is a straight end face, the bottom end of the contact spring 200 forms a surface contact with the male terminal 300 when in elastic contact, thereby increasing the contact area and facilitating stable and reliable electrical connection between the docking terminal and the male terminal 300.

[0056] Reference Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present application, the bending portion 220 includes a bending edge 221, a contact edge 222 and a guide bending edge 223 which are arranged in sequence.

[0057] Among them, the bent edge 221 is connected to the mounting portion 210 and is gradually inclined in the direction toward the limiting cavity 110; the contact edge 222 is connected to the bent edge 221, and the contact edge 222 is configured to at least partially contact the male terminal 300; the guide folded edge 223 is provided at one end of the contact edge 222 away from the bent edge 221, and the guide folded edge 223 is gradually inclined in the direction away from the limiting cavity 110 to guide the male terminal 300 to be inserted into the limiting cavity 110.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the mounting portion 210 is horizontally bent relative to the side wall of the terminal body 100, and the bent mounting portion 210 overlaps the opposite side wall end of the terminal body 100. The mounting portion 210 and the side wall of the terminal body 100 together form a limiting cavity 110.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the bent edge 221 gradually tilts toward the limiting cavity 110. The larger the inclination angle of the bent edge 221, the greater the elastic positive pressure of the contact spring 200 on the male terminal 300, and the greater the plug-in and pull-out force between the male terminal 300 and the docking terminal. Therefore, by reasonably adjusting the bending inclination angle of the bent edge 221, the magnitude of the plug-in and pull-out force can be controlled.

[0060] The adjustment of the insertion and extraction force should adhere to the following principles: ensuring a secure connection between the male terminal 300 and the mating terminal while minimizing the operator's discomfort during insertion and extraction. Furthermore, in designs with limited space, the angled design of the bent edge 221 can help optimize the internal spatial layout of the retaining cavity 110, achieving a more compact design while maintaining good electrical performance.

[0061] The contact edge 222 in the embodiment of the present application is the portion that actually elastically contacts the male terminal 300. The shape of the contact edge 222 can be Figure 3 The slightly curved surface shown can also be constructed as a straight end surface parallel to the plug-in direction, as long as it can be firmly plugged into the male terminal 300 .

[0062] like Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the guide fold 223 in the embodiment of the present application is located at the front end of the docking terminal toward the plug-in direction, and an outward-expanding opening is formed between the guide fold 223 and the docking terminal, that is, the guide fold 223 gradually tilts toward the limiting cavity 110 along the plug-in direction. When the male terminal 300 is inserted into the docking terminal, it is guided by the guide fold 223 into the limiting cavity 110 and elastically contacts the contact edge 222.

[0063] The design of the contact spring 200 in the above embodiment utilizes the elastic deformation characteristics of the contact spring 200 itself to compensate for the insertion error between the male terminal 300 and the mating terminal, so that the male terminal 300 and the mating terminal always maintain a good electrical connection state.

[0064] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, a protruding support portion 130 is configured in the limiting cavity 110 , and the support portion 130 is configured to clamp the male terminal 300 together with the contact edge 222 .

[0065] Here, the support portion 130 is a boss that protrudes a certain height from the bottom end of the terminal body 100. The support portion 130 and the terminal body 100 can be integrally formed or detachably disposed within the terminal body 100. When the support portion 130 and the terminal body 100 are detachably connected, the clamping force applied to the male terminal 300 when entering the limiting cavity 110 can be adjusted by changing the support height of the support portion 130. The support portion 130 and the terminal body 100 can be detachably connected by means of bolts or snap fasteners, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0066] On the one hand, the provision of the support portion 130 can enhance the elastic clamping effect of the docking terminal on the male terminal 300, thereby preventing the problem of unstable contact caused by the elasticity reduction of the contact spring 200 under long-term use; on the other hand, the support portion 130 can also cooperate with the guide fold 223 as a guiding component to assist in guiding the male terminal 300 to be inserted into the limiting cavity 110 and be elastically contacted and limited by the contact spring 200.

[0067] As an alternative embodiment, a contact spring 200 is provided on each of the two opposing side walls of the terminal body 100. The two contact springs 200 jointly clamp the male terminal 300 inserted into the limiting cavity 110. Here, when the male terminal 300 is inserted into the limiting cavity 110, it is elastically clamped and fixed by the two contact springs 200. This arrangement can further compensate for vertical docking errors between the male terminal 300 and the mating terminal, ensuring a secure and stable connection between the male terminal 300 and the mating terminal.

[0068] In some embodiments, a reinforcing end plate 120 is further provided on the side wall of the terminal body 100. The reinforcing end plate 120 is connected to the terminal body 100 and is located on the same side of the terminal body 100 as the contact spring 200. The reinforcing end plate 120 is bent and covered on the mounting portion 210. The reinforcing end plate 120 can reinforce the mounting portion 210 of the contact spring 200, preventing the mounting portion 210 from bending and falling out of the limiting cavity 110 under long-term use. Since the reinforcing end plate 120 is provided on the outside of the terminal body 100, that is, outside the limiting cavity 110, this design enhances the structural strength of the contact spring 200 without affecting the original internal space layout design of the limiting cavity 110. Here, the reinforcing side plate can be integrally formed with the terminal body 100, or it can be fixed to the terminal body 100 by screws, bolts or clips.

[0069] like Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, in some embodiments, a protective end plate 140 is further bent and provided at the outer end of the terminal body 100 corresponding to the contact spring 200. The protective end plate 140 covers the contact edge 222 of the contact spring 200 and limits the excessive upward displacement of the contact spring 200. After long-term use, after the elasticity of the contact spring 200 fails, it is blocked by the protective end plate 140 and rests against the protective end plate 140, thereby preventing the contact spring 200 from elastically failing and excessively deviating from the electrical connection with the male terminal 300, which is beneficial to ensure that the contact spring 200 always maintains good contact with the male terminal 300.

[0070] It should be noted that the contact spring 200 in the above embodiment is integrally formed with the terminal body 100. The contact spring 200 can first be punched out into the shape of the groove 250, and then the contact spring 200 can be made into the corresponding bent portion 220 through a bending process. The contact spring 200 and the terminal body 100 can both be made of the same metal material, such as aluminum sheet or copper sheet, as long as the contact spring 200 has a certain elastic effect. In addition, the reinforcing end plate 120 and the protective end plate 140 are integrally formed with the terminal body 100, and the reinforcing end plate 120 and the protective end plate 140 are bent through a bending process. This design is also conducive to simplifying the preparation process and improving production efficiency.

[0071] As an alternative embodiment, the contact spring 200 and the terminal body 100 are not integrally formed. The independent contact spring 200 is first punched out into a concave shape, and then formed into a bent portion 220 through a bending process. The contact spring 200 and the terminal body 100 are fixedly connected by other means. For example, the mounting portion 210 of the contact spring 200 is connected to the side wall of the terminal body 100 by welding, or is fixedly connected by screws, bolts or snap fasteners.

[0072] A terminal assembly is also provided in an embodiment of the present application, including a docking terminal as described in any of the above embodiments. Since it includes the docking terminal as described in any of the above embodiments, it has all the advantages of the docking terminal.

[0073] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, in the terminal assembly in the embodiment of the present application, the male terminal 300 can adopt the plug-in terminal in the related art. The male terminal 300 has a pin 310 inserted into the limiting cavity 110 of the docking terminal. After the male terminal 300 forms a connection with the wire, it is electrically connected to the docking terminal using the pin 310.

[0074] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments of the present application after considering the specification and practicing the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present application that follow the general principles of the present application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The description and examples are to be considered as exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the present application are indicated by the following claims.

[0075] It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the exact structure described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A butt terminal for plugging with a male terminal (300), characterized in that: include: A terminal body (100) having a limiting cavity (110) for accommodating the male terminal (300); At least one contact spring (200) is provided on the terminal body (100), the contact spring (200) comprising a mounting portion (210) connected to the terminal body (100), and a bending portion (220) connected to the mounting portion (210), the bending portion (220) being located in the limiting cavity (110) and being used for elastically contacting the male terminal (300); A groove (250) is formed on one side of the bending portion (220), and an opening of the groove (250) is arranged away from the male terminal (300).

2. The butt terminal according to claim 1, wherein: The groove (250) is connected to the mounting portion (210) along the extension direction of the bending portion (220).

3. The butt-jointed terminal according to claim 2, wherein: The cross-sectional shape of the groove (250) is arc-shaped or trapezoidal.

4. The butt-jointed terminal according to claim 2, wherein: The contact spring (200) comprises a first side (230) and a second side (240) disposed on both sides, the first side (230) and the second side (240) surrounding each other to form the groove (250), and the first side (230) and the second side (240) are symmetrically arranged.

5. The butt-jointed terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The bending portion (220) includes: A bent edge (221) is connected to the mounting portion (210) and is gradually inclined in a direction toward the limiting cavity (110); a contact edge (222) connected to the bent edge (221), the contact edge (222) being configured to at least partially contact the male terminal (300); A guide folded edge (223) is provided at one end of the contact edge (222) away from the bent edge (221), and the guide folded edge (223) is gradually inclined in a direction away from the limiting cavity (110) to guide the male terminal (300) to be inserted into the limiting cavity (110).

6. The butt-jointed terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that: A protruding support portion (130) is constructed in the limiting cavity (110), and the support portion (130) is configured to clamp the male terminal (300) together with the contact edge (222).

7. The butt-jointed terminal according to claim 5, wherein: Also includes: A reinforcing end plate (120) is connected to the terminal body (100), and the reinforcing end plate (120) is covered on the mounting portion (210) to prevent the mounting portion (210) from deviating in a direction away from the limiting cavity (110); A protective end plate (140) is connected to the terminal body (100), and the protective end plate (140) is covered on the guide fold (223) to prevent the guide fold (223) from deviating in a direction away from the limiting cavity (110).

8. The butt-jointed terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The groove (250) is a stamped groove.

9. The butt-jointed terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: There is at least one contact spring (200), and two contact springs (200) jointly clamp the male terminal (300) inserted into the limiting cavity (110).

10. A terminal assembly, characterized in that: comprising a butt terminal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9; It also includes a male terminal (300), wherein the male terminal (300) has a pin (310) inserted into the limiting cavity (110) of the docking terminal.

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