connector

Abstract

A connector (1) comprises a contact part (11) that allows a portion of a mating connection to be attached to it, and a connecting part (12) that is integral with the contact part (11) and allows a core conductor (101) of an electrical conductor (100) to be attached to it by welding. The connecting part (12) is a V-shaped plate comprising a first inner surface (12b) and a second inner surface (12c) that define a bending angle (θ) which is an obtuse angle, and having a V-shaped cross-section perpendicular to a bending line (12a). The first inner surface (12b) and the second inner surface (12c) are planar.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. background

[0002] In a vehicle such as an automobile, a terminal fitting attached to a terminal of an electric wire has been used as a component for connecting the electric wire to a predetermined part. JP 2015-111509 A discloses a technique related to a terminal fitting where a core wire exposed at a terminal of an electric wire is connected to a support surface, which is a flat surface, using solder. In the terminal fitting disclosed in JP 2015-111509 A, a core wire is positioned with respect to a support surface by gripping a covering of an electric wire with an insertion groove prior to connecting the core wire. Summary of the invention

[0003] In the terminal disclosed in JP 2015-111509 A, for example, if an electric wire is prone to bending or fraying before connecting a core wire, it may not be possible to adjust the position of the core wire to a processing area for connection on a support surface. Thus, various operations are required before connecting the core wire, such as correcting fraying of the core wire, detecting a connection position using a camera, or correcting a position on the connection object side or the connection device side. That is, difficulties may arise in the overall processability regarding the connection, such as an increase in processing time or processing cost related to the core wire connection.

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

[0005] A terminal according to the present invention comprises a contact part that allows a part of a mating terminal to be connected thereto, and a connecting part that is integral with the contact part and allows a core wire of an electric wire to be connected thereto by welding, wherein the connecting part is a V-shaped plate including a first inner surface and a second inner surface defining a bending angle that is an obtuse angle and has a V-shaped cross-sectional shape perpendicular to a bending line, and the first inner surface and the second inner surface are flat.

[0006] In the above configuration, it is possible to provide a terminal that improves workability of connection of a core wire of an electric wire. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment. Fig. 1B is a rear view of the connector according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2A is a plan view illustrating a state in which a core wire is connected when an electric wire has an ideal shape. Fig. 2B is a plan view illustrating a state in which a core wire is connected when an electric wire tends to bend. Fig. 2C is a plan view illustrating a state in which a core wire is connected when fraying occurs. Fig. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a joint part on which a core wire is arranged when a bending angle is 100°. Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a joint part on which a core wire is arranged when the bending angle is 120°. Fig. 3C is a cross-sectional view of a joint part on which a core wire is arranged when the bending angle is 160°. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the axial deviation amount of a core line from a center plane with respect to the bending angle. Fig. 5A is a perspective view of a connector according to a second embodiment. Fig. 5B is a rear view of the connector according to the second embodiment. Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a connecting part where a radius of curvature is half of a conductor diameter of a core wire. Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view of a connecting part where the radius of curvature is equal to the conductor diameter of the core wire. Fig. 6C is a cross-sectional view of a connecting part where the radius of curvature is one-quarter of the conductor diameter of the core wire. Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a connecting part before connecting when the conductor diameter of the core wire is large. Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a connecting part after connecting when the conductor diameter of the core wire is large. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a metal plate material used as a material of a terminal fitting according to a third embodiment. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the connector according to the third embodiment. Detailed description of the invention

[0007] Referring to the drawings, connectors according to the embodiments are described in detail below. Please note that dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of description and sometimes differ from actual proportions. First embodiment

[0008] The Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B are views illustrating a connector 1 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 1A is a perspective view of the connector 1. Fig. 1B is a rear view of the connector 1 when one side of a connecting part 12 thereof is viewed along a direction extending along the connector 1.

[0009] The Fig. 2A to 2C are plan views each exemplifying a state in which a core wire 101 of an electric wire 100 is connected to the connecting part 12 of the terminal fitting 1. Fig. 2A is a view illustrating a case where the electric wire 100 has what can be called an ideal shape, where the electric wire 100 has no tendency to bend, and the core wire 101 does not fray. Fig. 2B is a view illustrating a case where the electric wire 100 tends to bend. Fig. 2C is a view illustrating a case where the core line 101 frays. In the Fig. 2A to 2C, a support member 200 that pre-supports an insulation 102 of the electrical wire 100 before the core wire 101 is connected by welding is schematically shown as a pair of triangles.

[0010] Generally, in a connector structure for connecting a plug and a receptacle, a male terminal may be provided on the plug as a terminal, and a female terminal may be provided on the female terminal as a terminal. The terminal 1 according to the present embodiment is, as an example, a female terminal to which a part of a male terminal can be freely connected as a mating terminal. The terminal 1 may, for example, be attached to the core wire 101 exposed at the terminal of the electrical wire 100.

[0011] The electrical wire 100 includes the core wire 101, which is a conductor, and the insulation 102 covering the core wire 101. Note that there are no specific restrictions on the type of electrical wire 100. For example, the electrical wire 100 may be one of two strands of wires in an electrical line that includes differential wiring, such as a shielded twisted pair (STP). The core wire 101 is a stranded wire formed by distributing a plurality of individual wires 101a, such as tinned soft copper wires.

[0012] The terminal 1 is manufactured by performing bending or the like on a plate formed by punching a conductive metal plate with a constant thickness into a predetermined shape. The terminal 1 has a rod shape with an X direction considered to extend longitudinally and includes a contact part 11, a connecting part 12, and a coupling part 13 arranged as one body along the X direction. Two directions perpendicular to the X direction and perpendicular to each other are referred to as a Y direction and a Z direction hereinafter.

[0013] The contact part 11 allows a part of the male terminal, which is a mating terminal, to be inserted. In the present embodiment, the contact part 11 has a rectangular tubular shape, with the X direction being the axial direction, and the outer periphery of a cross section perpendicular to the X direction being rectangular. Here, the cross section of the contact part 11 is parallel to both the Y direction, which is considered a width direction, and the Z direction, which is considered a height direction. Note that the contact part 11 having such a shape is sometimes referred to as a "box part." The contact part 11 includes, for example, a bottom plate 11a, a first side plate 11b, a second side plate 11c, a top plate 11d, and an uppermost plate 11e.

[0014] When the contact part 11 is processed into a product shape, 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 of the bottom plate 11a in the Y direction. The second side plate 11c rises in the Z direction from the other end of the bottom plate 11a in the Y direction. 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 an 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 uppermost plate 11e is bent from an upper end of the first side plate 11b toward the second side plate 11c to oppose the upper plate 11d in close proximity to each other in the Z direction. One end of the contact part 11 in the axial direction is an insertion hole 11f into which a part of the male terminal is inserted. The other end of the contact part 11 in the axial direction is continuous with the coupling part 13. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. Fig. 1B, a central axis X1 of the terminal piece 1 along the X direction is defined as an axis approximately passing through the center of gravity of a cross section of an internal space IS in the contact part 11.

[0015] It should be noted that in Fig. 1 and the following drawings, the shape of the contact part 11 is schematically illustrated. For example, the contact part 11 may comprise an elastic contact piece on the inner surface of the base plate 11a, which elastically contacts a part of the plug terminal for electrical connection that is inserted into the interior space IS.

[0016] The shape of the contact part 11 is not limited to a rectangular tubular shape as described above, but may, for example, be a cylindrical shape having an axial direction along the X direction. Here, a portion of the open end of the cylindrical contact part 11 may be formed with a pair of elastic contact pieces.

[0017] The connecting part 12 allows the core wire 101 of the electric wire 100 to be joined thereto by welding. In the present embodiment, the connecting part 12 is integral with the contact part 11 via the coupling part 13. The connecting part 12 is a V-shaped plate including a first inner surface 12b and a second inner surface 12c defining a bending angle θ, where the X direction is a longitudinal direction, and having a V-shaped cross section perpendicular to a bending line 12a. The bending line 12a is located along the X direction. The bending angle θ is an obtuse angle. The first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c are flat. That is, the connecting part 12 can be formed by performing bending processing on a flat plate part having a constant thickness with a predetermined bending angle θ with respect to the bending line 12a.

[0018] Here is how in Fig. 1B, an imaginary plane passing through the center axis X1 and the bending line 12a, which are spaced from each other, is defined as a center plane P. The Z direction is parallel to the center plane P. The Y direction is perpendicular 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.

[0019] As further shown by using double-dashed lines in the Fig. As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, a welding processing area WL is defined for connecting the core wire 101 thereto by welding at the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c. At this point, the core wire 101 can be connected using laser welding as an example of fusion joining. Here, when the core wire 101 is irradiated with a laser beam in the welding processing area WL, the temperature of the core wire 101 rises to generate molten spheres, and then the connecting part 12 is heated to connect with the molten spheres, so that the core wire 101 is connected to the connecting part 12.

[0020] The coupling part 13 is positioned between the contact part 11 and the connecting part 12 along the X direction and connects the contact part 11 and the connecting part 12. In the present embodiment, a part of the coupling part 13 is formed in a tapered shape because the width of the contact part 11, which has a rectangular tube shape, in the Y direction is set smaller than the width of the connecting part 12 in the Y direction.

[0021] Next, the function and effect of connector 1 is described.

[0022] The terminal 1 includes the contact part 11, which allows a part of the mating terminal to be connected thereto, and the connecting part 12, which is integral with the contact part 11 and allows the core wire 101 of the electrical wire 100 to be joined thereto by welding. The connecting part 12 is a V-shaped plate including the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c, which define the bending angle θ, which is an obtuse angle, and has a V-shaped cross section perpendicular to the bending line 12a. The first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c are flat.

[0023] In the terminal fitting 1, when the core wire 101 is connected to the connecting part 12, the core wire 101 is arranged on the connecting part 12 on a side where the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c are located, and the insulation 102 of the electric wire 100 is supported by the support part 200.

[0024] If here, as in Fig. 2A, the electric wire 100 has an ideal shape, the core wire 101 is appropriately positioned in the welding processing area WL at the time of placement on the connecting part 12, so that joining by laser welding or the like can be started immediately.

[0025] In contrast, if the electric wire 100 is prone to bending, if the connecting part 12 is merely a flat plate part, the core wire 101 may protrude from the side of the assumed connecting part 12 and deviate from the welding processing area WL. In this case, joining by laser welding or the like cannot be started immediately. If it is started, there is a possibility of producing a terminal whose quality cannot be maintained.

[0026] In contrast, if, as in Fig. 2B, in the connector 1, the electric wire 100 tends to bend, the core wire 101 comes into contact with one of the inner surfaces during the arrangement on the connecting part 12. The inner surfaces are inclined in the direction of the bending line 12a, ie in the direction of the center plane P. It should be noted that in the Fig. 2B, the core line 101 first comes into contact with the second inner surface 12c. Since the second inner surface 12c is flat, a centering effect acts on the core line 101, which can be considered to have an approximately circular cross-section, and the core line 101 moves in a direction indicated by a white arrow in Fig. 2B. Thus, even if the core wire 101 has a shape that may protrude from the side of the connecting part 12, when it is in contact with the second inner surface 12c, it is guided by the second inner surface 12c and appropriately positioned in the welding processing area WL.

[0027] Furthermore, when the core wire 101 is frayed and the connecting part 12 is a rather flat plate part, even if some of the individual wires 101a constituting the core wire 101 are located within the welding processing area WL, other individual wires 101a may deviate from the welding processing area WL. Also in this case, joining by laser welding or the like cannot be started immediately, and even if it is started, there is a possibility of producing a connector whose quality cannot be maintained.

[0028] In contrast, as in Fig. 2C, when the core line 101 frays, individual wires 101a that have spread outward come into contact with the first inner surface 12b or the second inner surface 12c that are inclined toward the center plane P when they are placed on the connecting part 12. Thus, the individual wires 101a that have spread out come together toward the center plane P in a direction indicated by a white arrow in Fig. 2C when they come into contact with the first inner surface 12b or the second inner surface 12c. That is, fraying is automatically corrected, and the core wire 101 is positioned to be properly positioned in the welding processing area WL.

[0029] As described above, in the terminal fitting 1, even if the electric wire 100 is bent or the core wire 101 frays, the core wire 101 is properly positioned in the welding processing area WL during the assembly stage on the connecting part 12. Therefore, for example, before joining the core wire 101, there is no need for various processing in response to the above-described problems, such as correcting the fraying of the core wire 101, detecting the joining position using a camera, and the correction position on the joining object side or the joining device side. Thus, in the terminal fitting 1, an increase in processing time or processing cost for connecting the core wire 101 can be avoided.

[0030] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the terminal fitting 1 for improving workability during connection of the core wire 101 of the electric wire 100.

[0031] Further, in the terminal fitting 1, the bending angle θ may be set so that the core wire 101 comes into contact with the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c when placed on the connecting part 12 in an orientation along the direction extending along the bending line 12a.

[0032] Here, in the example above, the direction extending along the bending line 12a corresponds to the X direction.

[0033] The Fig. 3A to 3C are cross-sectional views of connecting parts 12 for illustrating a derivation of a more suitable bending angle θ, assuming that the electrical wire 100 has a certain structure and dimensions. Fig. Figure 3A is a view when the bending angle θ is set to 100°. Fig. Figure 3B is a view when the bending angle θ is set to 120°. Fig. Figure 3C is a view when the bending angle θ is set to 160°. The core wire 101 of the electrical wire 100 shown here is a stranded conductor comprising seven individual wires 101a. Each individual wire 101a has an outer diameter of 0.16 mm. The core wire 101 has a conductor diameter D of 0.48 mm and is represented by a double-dashed line in the figures. Fig. 3A to 3C, the core line 101 is arranged on the connecting part 12 in an orientation along the X direction.

[0034] Fig. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an axial displacement amount W (in mm) with respect to the bending angle θ (in degrees), including results according to the Fig. 3A to 3C. Here is how in the Fig. As shown in Figures 3A to 3C, the center axis of the core line 101 is defined as a center axis AX2. The axial offset amount W is an offset amount of the center axis AX2 from the center plane P.

[0035] First, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 3A, when the bending angle θ is set to 100°, one single lead 101a is in contact with the first inner surface 12b, and another single lead 101a is in contact with the second inner surface 12c. At this time, the axial displacement amount W is approximately 0.017 mm.

[0036] Furthermore, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 3B, when the bending angle θ is set to 120°, as in the case of 100°, one single lead 101a is in contact with the first inner surface 12b, and another single lead 101a is in contact with the second inner surface 12c. At this time, the axial displacement amount W is approximately 0.004 mm, which is smaller than that in the case where the bending angle θ is set to 100°.

[0037] In contrast, as in Fig. 3C, when the bending angle θ is set to 160°, even if one single lead 101a is clearly in contact with the first inner surface 12b, another single lead 101a is located approximately on the bending line 12a and cannot be said to be clearly in contact with the second inner surface 12c. At this time, the axial displacement amount W is approximately 0.055 mm, which is larger than that in the cases where the bending angle θ is set to 100° or 120°. Since the outer diameter of the one single lead 101a is 0.16 mm, the axial displacement amount W in this case is close to a value of 0.08 mm, which is the axial displacement amount W of one single lead 101a when considered as laterally displaced along the Y direction.

[0038] Furthermore, when the bending angle θ is set to 80°, the axial offset amount W is approximately 0.012 mm. When the bending angle θ is set to 140°, the axial offset amount W is approximately 0.028 mm. These cases follow the trend of the cases described above, where the values ​​of the bending angles θ are approximate.

[0039] Thus, if the bending angle θ is set so that the core wire 101 comes into contact with the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c when placed on the connecting part 12, the core wire 101 can be positioned in the more suitable welding processing area WL where the axial offset amount W is small. In the example, the bending angle θ is preferably set to about 120°. Second embodiment

[0040] The Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B are views illustrating a connector 2 according to a second embodiment. Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the connector 2. Fig. 5B is a rear view of the terminal fitting 2 when one side of the connecting part 22 is viewed along a direction extending along the terminal fitting 2.

[0041] The basic shape of the connector 2 corresponds to the shape of the connector 1. The connector 2 comprises a contact part 21, a connecting part 22, and a coupling part 23. The shape of the contact part 21 is the same as the shape of the contact part 11 of the connector 1. That is, in the same way as the contact part 11, the contact part 21 also comprises a bottom plate 21a, a first side plate 21b, a second side plate 21c, a top plate 21d, and an uppermost plate 21e. The shape of the coupling part 23 is the same as the shape of the coupling part 13 of the connecting piece 1.

[0042] In contrast, in the same manner as the connecting part 12 of the fitting 1, the connecting part 22 includes 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, with respect to a bending line 22a corresponding to the bending line 12a. Unlike the connecting part 12, the connecting part 22 includes a curved surface part 22d between the first inner surface 22b and the second inner surface 22c. The curved surface part 22d has a symmetrical shape with respect to the bending line 22a, including the bending line 22a. That is, one side of the curved surface part 22d smoothly continues to the first inner surface 22b, and the other side of the curved surface part 22d smoothly continues to the second inner surface 22c. The radius of curvature of the curved surface part 22d is defined as a radius of curvature R below.

[0043] The Fig. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views of connecting parts 22 for illustrating derivation of a more suitable radius of curvature R, assuming that the electrical wire 100 has a certain structure and dimensions. Fig. 6A is a view when the radius of curvature R is set to a value (D / 2) of one half of the conductor diameter D. Fig. Figure 6B is a view when the radius of curvature R is set to a value equal to the conductor diameter D. Fig. Figure 6C illustrates a case in which the radius of curvature R is set to a value (D / 4) of one quarter of the conductor diameter D. The core wires 101 in the electrical wires 100 shown here are the same as those shown in the Fig. 3A to 3C. In the Fig. 6A to 6C, the bending angle θ is standardized to 120° for each connecting part 22. It should be noted that in Fig. 6A, the core line 101 arranged on the connecting part 12 in an orientation along the X direction, in the same manner as in Fig. 3A is drawn, and in the Fig. 6B and Fig. 6C only the conductor diameter D of the core line 101 is shown schematically.

[0044] First, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 6A, when the curvature radius R is set to a value of one-half of the conductor diameter D, one single wire 101a is in contact with the first inner surface 22b, and another single wire 101a is in contact with the second inner surface 22c. Thus, in the terminal fitting 2, a centering action acts on the core wire 101 in the same manner as the action in the terminal fitting 1 according to the first embodiment, so that the core wire 101 can be properly positioned in the welding processing area WL.

[0045] Furthermore, in the connector 2 as described above, the connecting part 22 may include the curved surface part 22d between the first inner surface 22b and the second inner surface 22c, which includes the bending line 22a and has a symmetrical shape with respect to the bending line 22a.

[0046] According to the connector 2, as in Fig. As shown in Fig. 6A, a gap S between the core wire 101 and the curved surface part 22d becomes small when the core wire 101 is arranged on the connecting part 22. Thus, when the core wire 101 is connected to the connecting part 22 by welding, a fit between the core wire 101 and the connecting part 22 is improved more than in the case of the terminal fitting 1, and thus a decrease in tensile shear strength can be avoided.

[0047] In contrast, as in Fig. 6B when the radius of curvature R is set to the value of the conductor diameter D, ie when the radius of curvature R is larger than that in the case of Fig. 6A, a situation may occur where none of the individual leads 101a touches either the first inner surface 22b or the second inner surface 22c. Since no centering effect occurs on the core lead 101, this case is undesirable in that the core lead 101 cannot be properly positioned in the welding processing area WL.

[0048] Furthermore, if, as in Fig. 6C, the radius of curvature R is set to a quarter of the conductor diameter D, ie if the radius of curvature R is smaller than that in the case of Fig. 6A, one single wire 101a is in contact with the first inner surface 22b, and another single wire 101a is in contact with the second inner surface 22c. Thus, in the terminal fitting 2, since the centering effect acts on the core wire 101, the core wire 101 can be appropriately positioned in the welding processing area WL. However, in this case, when the core wire 101 is arranged on the connecting part 22, the gap S does not become comparatively smaller. Thus, when the core wire 101 is connected to the connecting part 22 by welding, the effect of improving the fitting between the core wire 101 and the connecting part 22 is small.

[0049] Thus, in the connector 2, when D is the conductor diameter of the core wire 101 and R is the radius of curvature of the curved surface part 22d, the radius of curvature can satisfy a condition (D / 4) < R < D.

[0050] In the connector 2, it is possible to improve the fit between the core wire 101 and the connecting part 22 if the core wire 101 is appropriately positioned in the welding processing area WL and the core wire 101 is connected to the connecting part 22 by welding.

[0051] Note that the description prepared so far has been given using an example in which the conductor diameter D of the core wire 101 of the electric wire 100 is 0.48 mm. However, the terminal fitting 1 and the like according to each embodiment can also be applied to an electric wire 100 having different sizes, in which the core wire 101 has a conductor diameter D larger than 0.48 mm or in which the core wire 101 has a conductor diameter D smaller than 0.48 mm, as long as various conditions are met.

[0052] For example, the shape of the terminal 2 according to the second embodiment is advantageous for connecting the electrical wire 100 when the core wire 101 has a conductor diameter D that is larger than 0.48 mm. In this case, as shown in Fig. 7A, the radius of curvature R is equal to that shown in Fig. 6A, and when the core line 101 is arranged on the connecting part 22, the gap S between the core line 101 and the curved surface part 22d is comparatively wide. However, when the core line 101 is connected to the connecting part 22 by welding, as shown in Fig. 7B, the volume of the molten balls becomes larger, so that the molten balls flow into the gap S and consequently fill the gap S. Thus, the core line 101 and the connecting part 22 do not have an insufficient fit and consequently the tensile shear strength does not need to decrease. Third embodiment

[0053] In each of the above embodiments, a metal plate having a constant thickness is used as the material to form both the terminal fitting 1 and the terminal fitting 2. In contrast, in the present embodiment, a metal plate material 300 is used as the material of the terminal fitting, which has different thicknesses according to the respective parts of the terminal fitting, instead of a constant thickness. Hereinafter, a case of manufacturing a terminal fitting having a shape similar to that of the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment using the metal plate material 300 as the material will be exemplified. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0054] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the metal plate material 300. The metal plate material 300 includes a first plate part 301 set to a first thickness t1 and a second plate part 302 set to a second thickness t2. The first plate part 301 and the second plate part 302 are continuously aligned in series along the X direction with the direction extending from the terminal fitting 2. The first plate part 301 is a part where the contact part 21 and the coupling part 23 of the terminal fitting 2 are formed. The second plate part 302 is a part where the connection part 24 of the terminal fitting 2 is formed. The second thickness t2 is thicker than the first thickness t1. Here, one surface of the first plate part 301 is defined as a first surface 301a.In the present embodiment, the second thickness t2 of the second plate part 302 is set so that a second surface 302a facing in the same direction as the first surface 301a is one step higher than the first surface 301a in the Z direction.

[0055] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting 2 according to the third embodiment, made of the metal plate material 300. The terminal fitting 2 according to the present embodiment includes the contact part 21, the connecting part 24 instead of the connecting part 22 of the second embodiment, and the coupling part 23. The connecting part 24 includes a first inner surface 24b and a second inner surface 24c in the same manner as the connecting part 22 in the second embodiment. The connecting part 24 also includes a curved surface 24d between the first inner surface 24b and the second inner surface 24c.

[0056] In the manufacturing stage of the terminal fitting 2, a part that will become the contact part 21 and the coupling part 23 is punched into a portion of the first plate part 301, and at the same time, a part that will become the connecting part 24 is punched into a portion of the second plate part 302. Then, the punched plate is subjected to bending or the like to finally manufacture the terminal fitting 2. At this time, a surface that was the first surface 301a of the first plate part 301 becomes the inner surface of the contact part 21, and at the same time, a surface that was the second surface 302a of the second plate part 302 becomes the first inner surface 24b or the second inner surface 24c of the connecting part 24. When the terminal fitting 2 according to the present embodiment is compared with the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment as shown in Fig. 5A, the thicknesses of the contact part 21 and the coupling part 23 are equal to the first thickness t1. In contrast, in the terminal fitting 2 according to the second embodiment, the thickness of the connection part 22 is the same as the first thickness t1, whereas in the terminal fitting 2 according to the present embodiment, the first inner surface 24b and the second inner surface 24c move inwardly thicker. For example, when a core wire 101 having a conductor diameter D of 0.48 mm is to be connected, the first thickness t1 may be set to approximately 0.15 mm, and the second thickness t2 may be set to approximately 0.3 mm.

[0057] Thus, in the terminal fitting 2 according to the present embodiment, when the thickness of the first plate part 301 as a plate part constituting the contact part 21 is defined as the first thickness t1 and the thickness of the connecting part 24 is defined as the second thickness t2, the second thickness t2 may be thicker than the first thickness t1.

[0058] Since, in the terminal fitting 2, the first thickness t1 of the first plate part 301 constituting the contact part 21 can be set equal to that of a general terminal fitting, compatibility conditions for the terminal fitting 2 as a product are not restricted. In contrast, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that a connection of the core wire 101 to the connecting part 24 is via fusion joining, such as laser welding, as in each of the above embodiments. Thus, in the terminal fitting 2, since the second thickness t2 of the connecting part 24 is set thicker than the first thickness t1, a limitation on welding conditions due to thinness can be alleviated, and compatibility conditions of the terminal fitting 2 as a product can be expanded.

[0059] In the present embodiment, the second thickness t2 of the connecting part 24 is thicker than the first thickness t1, so that the first inner surface 24b and the second inner surface 24c are further inside, as shown in Fig. 9. In this case, the shape of the outer surface part of the connecting part 24, which is opposite to the first inner surface 24b and the second inner surface 24c, does not differ from the same part of the connector 2 according to the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5A. That is, since the connecting part 24 is not enlarged outward, there is an advantage that compatibility conditions of the connecting piece 2 as a product cannot be restricted. In contrast, if compatibility conditions of the connecting piece 2 are not restricted, the second thickness t2 can be set so that the outer surface of the connecting part 24 is further outward than that shown in Fig. 5A.

[0060] Note that in the present embodiment, the metal plate material 300 is used as a material for manufacturing a terminal having the shape of the terminal 2 according to the second embodiment. The metal plate material 300 can also be used to manufacture a terminal having the shape of the terminal 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0061] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of parts may be replaced with any configuration having a similar function as long as they are within the scope of the claims. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2015-111509 A [0002, 0003]

Claims

[1] Connector (1, 2), comprising: a contact part (11, 21) which allows a part of a mating terminal to be connected thereto; and a connecting part (12, 22, 24) which is integral with the contact part (11, 21) and allows a core wire (101) of an electric wire (100) to be connected thereto by welding, wherein the connecting part (12, 22, 24) is a V-shaped plate comprising a first inner surface (12b, 22b) and a second inner surface (12c, 22c) defining a bending angle (θ) which is an obtuse angle and has a V-shaped cross-sectional shape perpendicular to a bending line (12a, 22a), and the first inner surface (12b, 22b) and the second inner surface (12c, 22c) are flat. [2] The terminal fitting (1, 2) according to claim 1, wherein the bending angle (θ) is set so that the core wire (101) comes into contact with the first inner surface (12b, 22b) and the second inner surface (12c, 22c) when placed on the connecting part (12, 22, 24) in an orientation along a direction extending along the bending line (12a, 22a). [3] The connector (2) according to claim 2, wherein the connecting part (22) between the first inner surface (22b) and the second inner surface (22c) comprises a curved surface part (22d) which includes the bending line (22a) and has a symmetrical shape with respect to the bending line (22a). [4] The terminal fitting (2) according to claim 3, wherein when a conductor diameter of the core wire (101) is D and a radius of curvature of the curved surface part (22d) is R, the radius of curvature satisfies a condition (D / 4) < R < D. [5] The terminal piece (1, 2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when a thickness of a plate part (301) constituting the contact part (11, 21) is defined as a first thickness (t1) and a thickness of the connecting part (11, 21) is defined as a second thickness (t2), the second thickness (t2) is thicker than the first thickness (t1).

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