Terminal, connector and method for manufacturing connector

Abstract

To provide a structure capable of suppressing deterioration in sealing performance even if an electric wire is changed to an electric with a different thickness, in a connector including a terminal crimped to a terminal of an electric wire, a housing and a rubber stopper.SOLUTION: A connector 1A includes a terminal 2A, a housing 4 and a rubber stopper 5. The terminal 2A has a connection part 21 connected to a mating terminal, a crimp part 25A crimped to a terminal of an electric wire 3A, and a coupling part 22. The crimp part 25A includes a first barrel 26, a joint 28 connected to an end of the first barrel 26 on a side opposite the coupling part 22, and a second barrel 27 connected to the joint 28. The first barrel 26 and the second barrel 27 are crimped to a core wire 31 of the electric wire 3A in a state where the second barrel 27 is folded 180 degrees at the joint 28 to be overlapped with the first barrel 26. The rubber stopper 5 seals between the outer periphery of the electric wire 3A and the inner surface of an electric wire housing part 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal that is crimped to an end of an electric wire, and a connector that is provided with the terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of a conventional connector, a connector 501 shown in Fig. 8 is known (see Patent Document 1). This connector 501 includes a terminal 502 crimped to an end of an electric wire 510, a housing 503 that accommodates the terminal 502, and a rubber plug 506 attached to the electric wire 510.

[0003] Terminal 502 is obtained by pressing a metal plate, and its middle part is bent at a right angle to form an L-shape as a whole. Connection part 522 formed at the end of terminal 502 opposite electric wire 510 is positioned outside housing 503 and is connected to a mating terminal.

[0004] Housing 503 has a cavity that accommodates terminal 502 and an electric wire accommodating portion that is continuous with the cavity. One end of electric wire 510, to which rubber plug 506 is attached, is accommodated in the electric wire accommodating portion, and the other end side of electric wire 510 is led out of housing 503 from the outlet of the electric wire accommodating portion.

[0005] Rubber plug 506 is formed in an annular shape, and is attached to electric wire 510 to seal the gap between the outer periphery of electric wire 510 and the inner surface of the electric wire receiving portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-254688 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In the above-mentioned connector 501, if the electric wire 510 is changed to one having a different thickness, the central axis of the electric wire accommodating portion of the housing 503 and the central axis of the electric wire become misaligned, and the rubber plug 506 becomes misaligned, resulting in a problem of reduced sealing performance.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a structure for a connector comprising a terminal crimped to the end of an electric wire, a housing, and a rubber stopper, which can suppress a decrease in sealing performance even when the electric wire is changed to one of a different thickness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The terminal of the present invention has a connection portion connected to a mating terminal and a crimping portion crimped to an end of an electric wire, the crimping portion having a first barrel, a linking portion connected to an end of the first barrel opposite the connection portion, and a second barrel connected to the linking portion, the first barrel and the second barrel being crimped to the end of the electric wire with the second barrel overlapping the first barrel by being folded back 180 degrees at the linking portion.

[0010] The connector of the present invention comprises the terminal, a housing, and a rubber stopper, the housing having a cavity that accommodates the terminal and an electric wire accommodating portion continuous with the cavity, and the rubber stopper is attached to the electric wire to which the terminal is crimped, and seals between the outer periphery of the electric wire and the inner surface of the electric wire accommodating portion.

[0011] A manufacturing method of a connector of the present invention is a manufacturing method of the connector, comprising the steps of: selecting one of a first electric wire and a second electric wire thicker than the first electric wire; if the selected electric wire is the first electric wire, folding back the second barrel 180 degrees so that the second barrel contacts the first electric wire, and then crimping the first barrel and the second barrel to an end of the first electric wire; and if the selected electric wire is the second electric wire, folding back the second barrel 180 degrees so that the first barrel contacts the second electric wire, and then crimping the first barrel and the second barrel to an end of the second electric wire. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, by folding back the second barrel so that the second barrel contacts the electric wire or so that the first barrel contacts the electric wire depending on the thickness of the electric wire, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the sealing performance of the connector. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a developed state of the crimping portion of FIGS. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram showing a state before crimping of the crimping portion of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a diagram showing a state of the crimping portion of FIG. 2 before crimping; FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] A "terminal," a "connector," and a manufacturing method for a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0015] A connector 1A shown in FIG. 1 includes a terminal 2A crimped to an end of an electric wire 3A (corresponding to a "first electric wire"), a housing 4, and a rubber plug 5.

[0016] The electric wire 3A is a round covered electric wire in which a conductive core wire 31 is covered with an insulating covering 32. At an end portion of the electric wire 3A, the covering 32 is removed and the core wire 31 is exposed.

[0017] The terminal 2A is obtained by subjecting a metal plate to press processing etc. The terminal 2A has a connection part 21 to be connected to a mating terminal, a crimping part 25A crimped to an end of the electric wire 3A, and a linking part 22 connecting the connection part 21 and the crimping part 25A.

[0018] Terminal 2A is formed into an L-shape overall, with connecting portion 22 bent at a right angle. The right-angled portion of connecting portion 22 is called a bent portion and is given the reference numeral 24. A locking hole 23 into which a lance 44 of housing 4 is locked is formed on connecting portion 22 closer to connection portion 21 than bent portion 24.

[0019] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the developed state of the pressure-bonding portion 25A in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the state before pressure-bonding of the pressure-bonding portion 25A in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 4.

[0020] The crimping portion 25A has a first barrel 26 connected to the coupling portion 22, a linking portion 28 connected to an end of the first barrel 26 on the opposite side to the coupling portion 22 (opposite side to the connection portion 21), and a second barrel 27 connected to the linking portion 28. The second barrel 27 is folded back 180 degrees at the linking portion 28 to overlap the first barrel 26, and the first barrel 26 and the second barrel 27 are crimped to the core wire 31 at the end of the electric wire 3A. In this example, the second barrel 27 is folded back so that the second barrel 27 comes into contact with the electric wire 3A.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, the first barrel 26 and the second barrel 27 in the expanded state are formed in a band shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3A. In the expanded state of the crimping portion 25A, a plurality of serrations 29 are formed on one surface 26a of the first barrel 26 and the other surface 27b of the second barrel 27. The serrations 29 are grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the first barrel 26 and the second barrel 27. The plurality of serrations 29 extend parallel to each other.

[0022] 4 and 5, when the second barrel 27 is folded back and overlaps the first barrel 26, the surface 26a on which the serrations 29 are formed of the first barrel 26 and the surface 27a on which the serrations 29 are not formed of the second barrel 27 face each other and come into contact with each other. In this example, the surface 27b on which the serrations 29 are formed of the second barrel 27 contacts the core wire 31.

[0023] The housing 4 is made of insulating synthetic resin and has a cavity 40 that houses the terminal 2A, an electric wire housing portion 43 that is continuous with the cavity 40, and a lance 44 that is engaged with the engagement hole 23 of the terminal 2A.

[0024] The cavity 40 has a first cavity 41 that accommodates the connecting portion 21 side of the bending portion 24 of the coupling portion 22, and a second cavity 42 that accommodates the crimping portion 25A side of the bending portion 24 of the coupling portion 22 and the crimping portion 25A. The connecting portion 21 is positioned outside the housing 4.

[0025] The electric wire accommodating portion 43 is continuous with the second cavity 42 and extends in a direction away from the first cavity 41. The dashed dotted line L in FIG.

[0026] The rubber plug 5 is formed in an annular shape and is attached to one end of the electric wire 3A to which the terminal 2A is crimped. One end of the electric wire 3A to which the rubber plug 5 is attached is housed in the electric wire accommodating portion 43, and the other end side of the electric wire 3A is led out of the housing 4 from the outlet of the electric wire accommodating portion 43. The rubber plug 5 seals the gap between the outer periphery of the electric wire 3A and the inner surface of the electric wire accommodating portion 43.

[0027] The central axis of the electric wire 3A located in the electric wire accommodating portion 43 coincides with the central axis L of the electric wire accommodating portion 43. Therefore, the rubber plug 5 is uniformly compressed in the circumferential direction, and exhibits uniform sealing performance in the circumferential direction.

[0028] An example of a manufacturing method of the connector 1A will be described. First, one of two types of electric wires 3A and 3B (see FIG. 2) having different thicknesses is selected. In this example, the thinner electric wire 3A is selected. Then, the coating 32 at the end of the electric wire 3A is removed to expose the core wire 31. Then, the rubber plug 5 is attached to the electric wire 3A. Next, the metal base material punched from the metal plate is formed into the terminal 2A in the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. That is, the second barrel 27 is folded back 180 degrees so that the surface 27b on which the serrations 29 of the second barrel 27 are formed contacts the core wire 31 of the electric wire 3A. Then, the terminal 2A and the electric wire 3A are set in a crimping die, and the first barrel 26 and the second barrel 27 are crimped to the core wire 31 of the electric wire 3A by the crimping die. Then, the terminal 2A crimped to the electric wire 3A is assembled to the housing 4, and the rubber plug 5 is pushed into the electric wire accommodating portion 43. Through these procedures, the connector 1A is manufactured.

[0029] A "terminal," "connector," and "connector manufacturing method" according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 2, 3, 6, and 7. In Figures 2, 3, 6, and 7, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0030] A connector 1B shown in FIG. 2 includes a terminal 2B crimped to an end of an electric wire 3B (corresponding to a "second electric wire"), a housing 4, and a rubber plug 5.

[0031] The electric wire 3B is a round covered electric wire in which a conductive core wire 31 is covered with an insulating covering 32. At an end portion of the electric wire 3B, the covering 32 is removed to expose the core wire 31. The electric wire 3B is thicker than the electric wire 3A used in the first embodiment.

[0032] The terminal 2B is obtained by performing press work on a metal plate. The terminal 2B has a connection part 21 to be connected to a mating terminal, a crimping part 25B crimped to an end of the electric wire 3B, and a linking part 22 connecting the connection part 21 and the crimping part 25B. The terminal 2B has the same configuration as the terminal 2A used in the first embodiment, except for the crimping part 25B.

[0033] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the developed state of the pressure-bonding portion 25B in Fig. 2. That is, the pressure-bonding portion 25A in the first embodiment and the pressure-bonding portion 25B in this example have the same shape in the developed state. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the pressure-bonding portion 25B in Fig. 2 in a state before being pressure-bonded. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Fig. 6.

[0034] In the crimping portion 25B of the present example, the second barrel 27 is folded back 180 degrees at the connecting portion 28 so that the first barrel 26 contacts the electric wire 3B. Then, in a state in which the second barrel 27 is folded back and overlaps the first barrel 26, the first barrel 26 and the second barrel 27 are crimped to the core wire 31 at the end of the electric wire 3B.

[0035] 6 and 7, when the second barrel 27 is folded back and overlaps the first barrel 26, the surface 27b on which the serrations 29 are formed of the second barrel 27 and the surface 26b on which the serrations 29 are not formed of the first barrel 26 face each other and come into contact with each other. In this example, the surface 26a on which the serrations 29 are formed of the first barrel 26 contacts the core wire 31.

[0036] The housing 4 and the rubber plug 5 used are the same as those in the first embodiment. The rubber plug 5 is attached to one end of the electric wire 3B to which the terminal 2B is crimped, and seals the gap between the outer periphery of the electric wire 3B and the inner surface of the electric wire accommodating portion 43.

[0037] The central axis of the electric wire 3B located in the electric wire accommodating portion 43 coincides with the central axis L of the electric wire accommodating portion 43. Therefore, the rubber plug 5 is uniformly compressed in the circumferential direction, and exhibits uniform sealing performance in the circumferential direction.

[0038] An example of a manufacturing method of the connector 1B will be described. First, one of two types of electric wires 3A (see FIG. 1) and 3B with different thicknesses is selected. In this example, the thicker electric wire 3B is selected. Then, the coating 32 at the end of the electric wire 3B is removed to expose the core wire 31. Then, the rubber plug 5 is attached to the electric wire 3B. Next, the metal base material punched from the metal plate is formed into the terminal 2B in the state shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. That is, the second barrel 27 is folded back 180 degrees so that the surface 26a on which the serrations 29 of the first barrel 26 are formed contacts the core wire 31 of the electric wire 3B. Then, the terminal 2B and the electric wire 3B are set in a crimping die, and the first barrel 26 and the second barrel 27 are crimped to the core wire 31 of the electric wire 3B by the crimping die. Then, the terminal 2B crimped to the electric wire 3B is assembled into the housing 4, and the rubber plug 5 is pushed into the electric wire receiving portion 43. Through these procedures, the connector 1B is manufactured.

[0039] According to the present invention, the second barrel is folded back so that the second barrel 27 contacts the electric wire 3A or the first barrel 26 contacts the electric wire 3B depending on the thickness of the electric wire 3A, 3B, thereby suppressing deterioration of the sealing performance in the connectors 1A, 1B. That is, even if the electric wire 3A of the connector 1A is changed to a thick electric wire 3B, the terminal 2A is changed to a terminal 2B only in the folding manner, so that the misalignment between the central axis of the electric wire 3B and the central axis L of the electric wire accommodating portion 43 can be eliminated, and thus the deviation of the rubber plug 5 can be eliminated. Therefore, deterioration of the sealing performance in the connector 1B can be suppressed.

[0040] Furthermore, in the expanded state of the crimping portions 25A, 25B, serrations 29 are formed on one surface 26a of the first barrel 26 and the other surface 27b of the second barrel 27. Therefore, whether the second barrel 27 is folded back to one side or the other side, the serrations 29 come into contact with the core wire 31, thereby improving the connection reliability between the crimping portions 25A, 25B and the core wire 31.

[0041] In the first and second embodiments described above, the central axes of the electric wires 1A, 1B and the central axis L of the electric wire accommodating portion 43 coincide with each other. However, in the present invention, if the sealing performance of the rubber plug is sufficient, the central axis of the electric wire and the central axis of the electric wire accommodating portion do not have to completely coincide with each other.

[0042] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be embodied in various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the configuration of the present invention is still provided even with such modifications, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1A,1B Connector 2A,2B terminal 3A Wire (First Wire) 3B Wire (Second Wire) 4. Housing 5 Rubber stopper 21 Connection 25A, 25B Crimping section 26 First Barrel 27 2nd Barrel 28 Joint

Claims

1. The connector has a connection portion to be connected to a mating terminal and a crimping portion to be crimped to an end of an electric wire, The crimping portion has a first barrel, a connecting portion connected to an end of the first barrel opposite to the connection portion, and a second barrel connected to the connecting portion, The second barrel is folded back 180 degrees at the connecting portion so as to overlap the first barrel, and the first barrel and the second barrel are crimped to the end of the electric wire. A terminal characterized by:

2. When the crimping portion is in an expanded state, serrations are formed on one side surface of the first barrel and on the other side surface of the second barrel.

2. The terminal according to claim 1 .

3. The portion between the connection portion and the crimping portion is bent at a right angle to form an L-shape as a whole.

2. The terminal according to claim 1 .

4. A terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a housing, and a rubber plug, The housing has a cavity that accommodates the terminal and an electric wire accommodating portion that is continuous with the cavity, The rubber plug is attached to the electric wire to which the terminal is crimped, and seals the gap between the outer periphery of the electric wire and the inner surface of the electric wire receiving portion. A connector characterized by:

5. A method for manufacturing the connector according to claim 4, comprising the steps of: selecting one of a first electric wire and a second electric wire that is thicker than the first electric wire; When the selected electric wire is the first electric wire, the second barrel is folded back by 180 degrees so that the second barrel contacts the first electric wire, and then the first barrel and the second barrel are crimped to an end of the first electric wire; When the selected electric wire is the second electric wire, the second barrel is folded back by 180 degrees so that the first barrel contacts the second electric wire, and then the first barrel and the second barrel are crimped to an end of the second electric wire. A method for manufacturing a connector comprising the steps of:

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