Connection structure of terminal

Abstract

To provide a connection structure of a terminal capable of suppressing an oscillation of a male terminal to a female terminal in a width direction.SOLUTION: A connection structure 1 of a terminal, comprises: a male terminal 2 having a tub part 13; and a female terminal 3 having a box part 23. The box part 23 includes: a pair of internal wall surfaces 25a and 26a opposite in an opposite direction Z across the tub part 13 in a fitting state; a first contact part 31 provided on the first internal wall surface 25a; and four second contact parts 32, 33, 34, and 35 provided on the second internal wall surface 26a. The tub part 13 includes a second contact surface 15 that has a cross sectional shape orthogonal to a withdrawal direction X formed in a circular arc so as to be projected toward the first inner wall surface 25a side, and is opposite to the second internal wall surface 26a in a fitting state. The second contact parts 32, 33, 34, and 35 are in contact with the second contact surface 15 of the tub part 13. Each of the second contact parts 32, 33, 34, and 35 is in pressure contact with both ends in a width direction Y of the second contact surface 15 in a fitting state toward an outside from an inner side in the width direction Y.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal connection structure. [Background technology]

[0002] In a conventional terminal connection structure, a female terminal has a box portion into which a tab portion of a male terminal is inserted, a leaf spring portion that presses against the tab portion inserted into the box portion, and a tab clamping protruding wall that is provided in an opposing direction facing the leaf spring portion across the tab portion and clamps the tab portion in the opposing direction between the leaf spring portion and the tab portion. The tab portion is provided on a protrusion that protrudes from the tab clamping protruding wall toward the leaf spring portion and extends in the insertion direction of the tab portion, is curved so as to be recessed toward the tab clamping protruding wall when viewed from the width direction of the tab portion, and is supported at three points: two contacts that come into contact with the tab portion at the front and rear in the insertion direction, and a spring-side protrusion that protrudes from the leaf spring portion (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-123913 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional terminal connection structures, even when the male terminal and female terminal are mated, there is a possibility that the tab portion of the male terminal may vibrate in the width direction of the male terminal within the box portion of the female terminal due to vibrations applied from the outside, which may cause the resistance value of the contact portion to become unstable, leaving room for improvement.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal connection structure capable of suppressing vibration of a male terminal relative to a female terminal in the width direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a terminal connection structure according to the present invention includes a male terminal having a tab portion, and a female terminal having a box portion into which the tab portion is inserted and removed in an insertion / removal direction, the box portion having an accommodating space in which the tab portion is accommodated, and in a fitted state in which the male terminal is fitted into the female terminal, a pair of inner wall surfaces facing each other in an opposing direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction across the tab portion, a first contact portion formed by protruding from a first inner wall surface of one of the pair of inner wall surfaces toward the accommodating space, and four second contact portions formed by protruding from a second inner wall surface of the other of the pair of inner wall surfaces toward the accommodating space, and the tab portion in the fitted state faces the first inner wall surface in the opposing direction, and has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction that is curved so as to protrude from the second inner wall surface side toward the first inner wall surface side, forming an arc-shaped cross-sectional shape. and a second contact surface that, in the engaged state, faces the second inner wall surface in the opposing direction and has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction that is curved and formed in an arc so as to be recessed from the second inner wall surface side toward the first inner wall surface side, wherein the first contact portion abuts against the first contact surface of the tab portion when viewed from the insertion / removal direction in the engaged state, and the four second contact portions are arranged such that two of the second contact portions are spaced apart from each other in a width direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction and the opposing direction, and two sets are arranged with a space in the insertion / removal direction, and abut against the second contact surface of the tab portion when viewed from the insertion / removal direction in the engaged state, and each of the second contact portions makes pressing contact with both ends of the second contact surface in the width direction from the inside to the outside in the width direction in the engaged state. Effect of the Invention

[0007] Advantageous Effects of Invention The terminal connection structure according to the present invention has the advantage that it is possible to suppress vibration of the male terminal relative to the female terminal in the width direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal connection structure according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a male terminal according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a female terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the terminal connection structure according to the embodiment as viewed from one side in the opposing direction Z. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the terminal connection structure according to the embodiment as viewed from the other side of the opposing direction Z. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In other words, the components in the following embodiments include those that a person skilled in the art can easily imagine or that are substantially the same, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, a terminal connection structure 1 according to the embodiment is composed of a male terminal 2 and a female terminal 3. The male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 are each a terminal fitting made of a metal material having electrical conductivity. The male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 are each made of, for example, copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, etc. The male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 are each housed in, for example, a resin connector (not shown) in a state in which they are connected to an electric wire W shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and when mated with a mating connector (not shown), the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 come into contact with each other to electrically connect the two electric wires W, W.

[0011] In the following description, for convenience, the X direction is defined as the "insertion / removal direction X", the Y direction is defined as the "width direction Y", and the Z direction is defined as the "opposing direction Z" among the X, Y, and Z directions shown in the drawings. The insertion / removal direction X, the width direction Y, and the opposing direction Z are mutually perpendicular. The insertion / removal direction X corresponds to the insertion / removal direction of the male terminal 2 relative to the female terminal 3. Among the insertion / removal directions X, the X1 direction is defined as the "insertion direction X1", and the X2 direction is defined as the "removal direction X2". The width direction Y corresponds to the width direction of each terminal including the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3. The opposing direction Z corresponds to the thickness direction of each terminal including the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3. Among the opposing directions Z, the Z1 direction is defined as the "first contact direction Z1", and the Z2 direction is defined as the "second contact direction Z2". Unless otherwise specified, each direction used in the following description is described as a direction in a state in which the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 are assembled together.

[0012] First, the male terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. FIG.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the male terminal 2 includes a male terminal body 11, a crimping portion 12, and a tab portion 13. The male terminal 2 is connected in the order of the tab portion 13, the male terminal body 11, and the crimping portion 12 from the tip on the insertion direction X1 side toward the removal direction X2. Here, the male terminal body 11 is a portion that is interposed between the crimping portion 12 and the tab portion 13 and connects them. The male terminal body 11 is also a portion that is fixed and held in a connector housing (not shown) when the male terminal 2 is accommodated in the connector. The crimping portion 12 is a portion that electrically connects the electric wire W and the male terminal 2. The electric wire W is, for example, composed of an exposed core portion W1 formed at one end of the electric wire W in the extending direction, and an insulating coating portion W2 formed so as to cover the core. The crimping portion 12 is crimped and crimped to the exposed core portion W1 of the electric wire W.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the tab portion 13 is formed extending from the male terminal body 11 toward the insertion direction X1 of the male terminal 2, and is inserted into the female terminal 3. When the tab portion 13 is inserted into the female terminal 3, it is electrically connected to the female terminal 3. As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, the cross-sectional shape of the tab portion 13 in this embodiment, which is perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X, is formed in an arc shape centered on a central axis (not shown) along the insertion / removal direction X. The tab portion 13 has a first contact surface 14 formed on one side in the plate thickness direction, and a second contact surface 15 formed on the opposite side of the first contact surface 14. The first contact surface 14 and the second contact surface 15 are portions that contact the first contact portion 31 and the four second contact portions 32, 33, 34, and 35 provided on the female terminal 3 in a mated state in which the male terminal 2 is mated with the female terminal 3 shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. Here, the mated state in this embodiment refers to a mated state in which the male terminal 2 is mated with the female terminal 3 in a normal mating position.

[0015] In a mated state in which the male terminal 2 is mated with the female terminal 3, the first contact surface 14 faces a first inner wall surface 25a of a box portion 23 of the female terminal 3, which will be described later, in the facing direction Z. The first contact surface 14 is composed of a pair of curved surfaces 14a and a flat surface 14b provided between the pair of curved surfaces 14a. The pair of curved surfaces 14a are each formed in an arc shape centered on a central axis along the insertion / removal direction X, and are formed to be spaced apart in the width direction Y. The flat surface 14b extends flatly along the insertion / removal direction X and the width direction Y. In a mated state in which the male terminal 2 is mated with the female terminal 3, the flat surface 14b faces the first inner wall surface 25a in the facing direction Z and abuts against the first contact portion 31.

[0016] In a mated state in which the male terminal 2 is mated with the female terminal 3, the second contact surface 15 faces a second inner wall surface 26a of the box portion 23 of the female terminal 3, which will be described later, in the mating direction Z. The second contact surface 15 has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X that is curved and formed into an arc shape recessed from the second inner wall surface 26a side toward the first inner wall surface 25a side. The second contact surface 15 is formed into a uniform arc shape centered on a central axis along the insertion / removal direction X. In a mated state in which the male terminal 2 is mated with the female terminal 3, both ends of the second contact surface 15 in the width direction Y abut against the second inner wall surface 26a.

[0017] Next, the female terminal 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. FIG.

[0018] The female terminal 3 is fitted to the male terminal 2 in the insertion / removal direction X. The female terminal 3 includes a female terminal body 21, a crimping portion 22, and a box portion 23. The female terminal 3 is connected in the order of the box portion 23, the female terminal body 21, and the crimping portion 22 from the tip on the removal direction X2 side toward the insertion direction X1. Here, the female terminal body 21 is a portion that is interposed between the crimping portion 22 and the box portion 23 and connects them. The female terminal body 21 is a portion that is fixed and held in a connector housing (not shown) when the female terminal 3 is accommodated in the connector. The crimping portion 22 is a portion that electrically connects the core exposed portion W1 of the electric wire W and the male terminal 2. The crimping portion 22 is crimped and crimped to the core exposed portion W1 of the electric wire W.

[0019] The box portion 23 extends along the insertion / removal direction X, is open on both sides in the insertion / removal direction X, and is formed in a substantially rectangular tubular shape. The tab portion 13 of the male terminal 2 is inserted into and removed from the box portion 23 in the insertion / removal direction X. The box portion 23 includes an accommodating space 24, four walls 25, 26, 27, 28, and a pair of inner wall surfaces 25a, 26a.

[0020] The storage space 24 is formed by four walls 25, 26, 27, and 28, and communicates with the external space through the opening 23a. The four walls 25, 26, 27, and 28 are integrated to form a box having a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape. The walls 25 and 26 are each formed to have a rectangular shape when viewed from the facing direction Z, and extend along the insertion / removal direction X. The walls 25 and 26 face each other at an interval along the facing direction Z. The wall 25 of this embodiment has a slit 36 ​​that extends in the insertion / removal direction X and penetrates in the plate thickness direction (facing direction Z). That is, the wall 25 is formed by being divided in the width direction Y by the slit 36. The walls 27 and 28 are each formed to have a rectangular shape when viewed from the width direction Y, and extend along the insertion / removal direction X. The walls 27 and 28 face each other at an interval along the width direction Y. The tab portion 13 of the male terminal 2 is inserted in the insertion / removal direction X into an internal accommodation space 24 through an opening 23a formed in the end portion of the box portion 23 on the removal direction X2 side.

[0021] In a mated state in which the male terminal 2 is mated with the female terminal 3 shown in Figures 4 and 6, the pair of inner wall surfaces 25a, 26a face each other in a facing direction Z perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X, sandwiching the tab portion 13 therebetween. The inner wall surface 25a is formed on the housing space 24 side of the wall portion 25. The inner wall surface 26a is formed on the housing space 24 side of the wall portion 26. The pair of inner wall surfaces 25a, 26a face each other in the facing direction Z, sandwiching the housing space 24 therebetween. The inner wall surface 25a has one first contact portion 31. The inner wall surface 26a has four second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35.

[0022] As shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 8, the first contact portion 31 is formed to protrude from one of the pair of inner wall surfaces 25a, 26a, the first inner wall surface 25a, toward the housing space 24. As shown in Fig. 4, the first contact portion 31 is provided at approximately the center of the first inner wall surface 25a in each of the insertion / removal direction X and the width direction Y when viewed from the facing direction Z. The first contact portion 31 is formed to have a semicircular cross section perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X. When viewed from the insertion / removal direction X in a mated state in which the male terminal 2 is mated with the female terminal 3, the first contact portion 31 abuts against the first contact surface 14 of the tab portion 13 of the male terminal 2. More specifically, the first contact portion 31 abuts against the flat surface 14b of the first contact surface 14 in the mated state.

[0023] As shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 8, the four second contact parts 32, 33, 34, and 35 are formed to protrude from the other second inner wall surface 26a of the pair of inner wall surfaces 25a and 26a toward the housing space 24. As shown in Fig. 6, the second contact parts 32, 33 and the second contact parts 34, 35 are arranged at intervals from each other in the width direction Y, and the two pairs are arranged at intervals in the insertion / removal direction X. The second contact parts 32, 33 are both located on the opening 23a side of the box part 23 and are arranged at intervals along the width direction Y. The second contact parts 34, 35 are both located on the female terminal body 21 side and are arranged at intervals along the width direction Y. The four second contact parts 32, 33, 34, and 35 are arranged in a lattice shape when viewed from the facing direction Z. Moreover, none of the four second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35 is disposed at a position overlapping with the first contact portion 31 when viewed from the facing direction Z.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 8, the four second contact portions 32, 33, 34, and 35 abut against the second contact surface 15 of the tab portion 13 when viewed from the insertion / removal direction X in the above-mentioned fitted state. The four second contact portions 32, 33, 34, and 35 are located inside the second contact surface 15 recessed in an arc shape in the fitted state. As shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 8, one end of the tab portion 13 in the width direction Y is located between the second contact portions 33 and 35 and the wall portion 27 in the width direction Y and abuts against the second inner wall surface 26a, and the second contact surface 15 abuts against the second contact portions 33 and 35. The second contact portion 33 abuts against the second contact surface 15, and the second contact portion 35 abuts against the second contact surface 15. The other end of the tab portion 13 in the width direction Y is located between the second contact portions 32, 34 and the wall portion 28 in the width direction Y and abuts against the second inner wall surface 26a, while the second contact surface 15 abuts against the second contact portions 32, 34. The second contact portion 32 abuts against the second contact surface 15 at a contact point 32a, and the second contact portion 34 abuts against the second contact surface 15 at a contact point 34a.

[0025] In the terminal connection structure 1, with the above configuration, in a fitted state in which the male terminal 2 is fitted into the female terminal 3, the box portion 23 clamps the tab portion 13 in the opposing direction Z between the first inner wall surface 25a and the second inner wall surface 26a to hold the tab portion 13. Then, the first contact portion 31 abuts against the flat surface 14b of the first contact surface 14, both ends of the tab portion 13 in the width direction Y abut against the second inner wall surface 26a, and the four second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35 abut against the second contact surface 15, thereby electrically connecting the box portion 23 and the tab portion 13.

[0026] In the present embodiment, in a mated state in which the male terminal 2 is mated with the female terminal 3, the four second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35 each abut against the second contact surface 15, thereby pressing and contacting the tab portion 13 from the inside toward the outside in the width direction Y. This enables the terminal connection structure 1, in the mated state, for the box portion 23 to suppress movement and vibration of the tab portion 13 in the width direction Y.

[0027] As described above, the terminal connection structure 1 according to the present embodiment includes the male terminal 2 having the tab portion 13, and the female terminal 3 having the box portion 23 into which the tab portion 13 is inserted and removed in the insertion / removal direction X. The box portion 23 has an accommodation space 24, a pair of inner wall surfaces 25a, 26a that face each other in the facing direction Z with the tab portion 13 therebetween in the fitted state, a first contact portion 31 provided on the first inner wall surface 25a, and four second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35 provided on the second inner wall surface 26a. The tab portion 13 has a first contact surface 14 whose cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X is formed in an arc shape so as to protrude toward the first inner wall surface 25a, and a second contact surface 15 whose cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X is formed in an arc shape so as to recess toward the first inner wall surface 25a. In the fitted state, the first contact portion 31 abuts against the first contact surface 14 of the tab portion 13, and the second contact portions 32, 33, 34, and 35 abut against the second contact surface 15 of the tab portion 13. In the fitted state, the second contact portions 32, 33, 34, and 35 press against both ends of the second contact surface 15 in the width direction Y from the inside toward the outside in the width direction Y.

[0028] With the above configuration, the terminal connection structure 1 can suppress the swing of the tab portion 13 in the width direction Y in the mated state by the four second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35 that contact and press both ends of the tab portion 13 in the width direction Y. As a result, the terminal connection structure 1 can reliably suppress the swing of the male terminal 2 in the width direction Y relative to the female terminal 3 in the mated state. Furthermore, since the terminal connection structure 1 suppresses the swing of the tab portion 13 in the width direction Y, it is possible to stabilize the contact resistance of each contact portion. Furthermore, by suppressing the swing of the tab portion 13 in the width direction Y, the terminal connection structure 1 can suppress the sliding of each contact and reduce wear between the contacts, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection.

[0029] In the terminal connection structure 1 according to this embodiment, the second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35 are each formed to have a semicircular cross section perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X. As a result, in the terminal connection structure 1, in the above-mentioned fitted state, the contacts 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a between the second contact surface 15 and the second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35 can be secured, and the contact area of ​​the contacts can be increased. In addition, the first contact portion 31 is formed to have a semicircular cross section perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X. As a result, the terminal connection structure 1 can stabilize the contact between the first contact surface 14 and the first contact portion 31.

[0030] The first contact surface 14 has a flat surface 14b which, in the above-mentioned fitted state, faces and abuts against the first contact portion 31. This enables the terminal connection structure 1 to ensure stable contact with the contact point.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the first contact surface 14 is composed of a pair of curved surfaces 14a and a flat surface 14b provided between the pair of curved surfaces 14a, but is not limited thereto. For example, the first contact surface 14 may be formed in a curved arc shape with a cross section perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X protruding from the second inner wall surface 26a side of the female terminal 3 toward the first inner wall surface 25a side without including the flat surface 14b. In this case, the first contact surface 14 is formed in a uniform arc shape centered on a central axis along the insertion / removal direction X, similar to the second contact surface 15.

[0032] In the above embodiment, the first contact portion 31 and the second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35 are each formed to have a semicircular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X, but this is not limited to this. For example, the second contact portions 32, 33, 34, 35 have a semicircular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction X, but the first contact portion 31 may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape or another shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Terminal connection structure 2 Male Terminals 3 female terminal 13 Tab section 14 1st contact surface 15 Second contact surface 23 Hakobe 24 Containment Space 25a First inner wall 26a Second inner wall 31 First contact part 32, 33, 34, 35 Second contact part

Claims

1. a male terminal having a tab portion; a female terminal having a box portion into which the tab portion is inserted and removed in an insertion and removal direction, The box portion is an accommodation space in which the tab portion is accommodated; a pair of inner wall surfaces that face each other in a direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction with the tab portion interposed therebetween in a mated state in which the male terminal is mated with the female terminal; a first contact portion formed to protrude from one of the pair of inner wall surfaces toward the accommodation space; four second contact portions formed to protrude from a second inner wall surface of the other of the pair of inner wall surfaces toward the accommodation space, The tab portion is a first contact surface that faces the first inner wall surface in the facing direction in the fitted state and has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction that is curved and formed in an arc shape so as to protrude from the second inner wall surface side toward the first inner wall surface side; a second contact surface that faces the second inner wall surface in the facing direction in the fitted state and has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction that is curved and formed in an arc shape so as to be recessed from the second inner wall surface side toward the first inner wall surface side, The first contact portion is In the fitted state, when viewed from the insertion / removal direction, the tab portion abuts against the first contact surface, The four second contact portions are the two second contact portions are spaced apart from each other in a width direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction and the opposing direction, two pairs are spaced apart in the insertion / removal direction, and come into contact with the second contact surface of the tab portion when viewed from the insertion / removal direction in the fitted state; Each of the second contact portions is In the fitted state, the second contact surface is pressed against both ends in the width direction from the inside toward the outside in the width direction. A terminal connection structure comprising:

2. The first contact portion and the second contact portion are both The cross section perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction is formed in a semicircular shape. The terminal connection structure according to claim 1 .

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