Electric wire with terminal, and manufacturing method of the electric wire with terminal

Abstract

To provide an electric wire with a terminal that can strongly attach a terminal to the electric wire, and reduce a possibility that a fastening part of the terminal is damaged to a conductive wire of the electric wire.SOLUTION: An electric wire 1 with a terminal, comprises: an electric wire 10; and a terminal 20 attached to the electric wire 10. The electric wire 10 includes: a conductive wire 11; and a cylinder-like covered body 14 covering an outer periphery of the conductive wire 11, and the conductive wire 11 is extended from an end part of the covered body 14. The covered body 14 includes a lamination structure 15 in which the covered body 14 is laminated to a radial direction so that in the end part, the covered body 14 is folded to a direction opposite to an extension direction of the electric wire 10. The terminal 20 includes a fastening part 23 that is crimped to the end part of the covered body 14 having the lamination structure 15. The covered body 14 includes a cutting 14a extended along a shaft direction of the covered body 14 to a portion where the covered body 14 is folded.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire with a terminal including a wire and a terminal crimped to the wire, and a method for manufacturing the wire with a terminal.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a wire with a terminal in which a terminal is attached to a wire has been proposed. In this type of wire with a terminal, generally, at the end of the wire, the terminal is fixed to the wire by crimping the caulking portion of the terminal to the covering (so-called sheath) of the wire (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional wire with a terminal, in order to firmly attach the terminal to the wire, the crimping portion of the terminal (particularly, the extending end portion of the crimping portion extending from the terminal) may be crimped to the covering of the wire so as to bite into the covering of the wire. In this case, the deeper the crimping portion of the terminal bites into the covering of the wire, the more firmly the terminal is attached to the wire (i.e., the crimping strength can be increased). However, if the crimping portion bites into the covering excessively, the crimping portion may penetrate the covering and damage the conductor wire inside the covering. In particular, when attaching a terminal to a wire having a structure in which a plurality of conductor wires are spirally twisted together (for example, a twisted pair wire), since there is a space between the conductor wires and the covering is easily deformed in the radial direction (i.e., has low rigidity), it is preferable to crimp the crimping portion with a large external force in terms of firmly attaching the terminal to the wire. However, when the crimping portion is crimped with a large external force, the possibility that the crimping portion penetrates the covering and damages the conductor wire increases. Thus, it is generally difficult to achieve both firmly attaching the terminal to the wire and reducing the possibility that the crimping portion of the terminal damages the conductor wire of the wire.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a wire with a terminal and a method for manufacturing a wire with a terminal that can achieve both firmly attaching the terminal to the wire and reducing the possibility that the crimping portion of the terminal damages the conductor wire of the wire.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above-described object, the wire with a terminal and the method for manufacturing a wire with a terminal according to the present invention are characterized as follows.

[0007] A wire with a terminal including a wire and a terminal attached to the wire, wherein the wire has one or a plurality of conductor wires and a tubular covering covering the outer periphery of the conductor wires, and the conductor wires extend from an end portion of the covering, and the covering has, at the end portion, a laminated structure in which the covering is folded back in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the wire and the covering is laminated in the radial direction. The terminal is provided with a caulking portion that is caulked to the end portion of the covering having the laminated structure. an electric wire with a terminal.

[0008] A manufacturing method for manufacturing an electric wire with a terminal, comprising an electric wire and a terminal attached to the electric wire, wherein the electric wire has one or more conductor wires and a tubular covering that covers the outer periphery of the conductor wires, the terminal has a caulking portion that is caulked to the covering, and the manufacturing method includes a folding step of forming a laminated structure in which the covering is laminated in the radial direction at the end portion by folding back the covering in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the electric wire from the end portion of the covering, and a caulking step of caulking the caulking portion of the terminal to the end portion of the covering having the laminated structure. It is a manufacturing method for an electric wire with a terminal.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the electric wire with a terminal and the manufacturing method for an electric wire with a terminal of the present invention, the covering of the electric wire has, at its end portion, a laminated structure in which the covering is folded back in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the electric wire and the covering is laminated in the radial direction. Then, the caulking portion of the terminal is caulked to the end portion of the covering having the laminated structure. Since the thickness of the covering in the radial direction increases by the amount of the covering being laminated, even if the caulking portion of the terminal is caulked to the covering with a large external force, the possibility that the caulking portion penetrates the covering and damages the conductor wire is reduced. Therefore, the electric wire with a terminal and the manufacturing method for an electric wire with a terminal of this configuration can achieve both firmly attaching the terminal to the electric wire and reducing the possibility that the caulking portion of the terminal damages the conductor wire of the electric wire.

[0010] As described above, the present invention has been briefly explained. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the wire with a terminal 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3(a) to 3(f), the wire with a terminal 1 is configured by attaching an outer terminal 20 to the end of a wire 10.

[0013] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down” are defined. The “front-rear direction”, “left-right direction” and “up-down direction” are orthogonal to each other. The front-rear direction coincides with the axial direction of the wire 10. Hereinafter, the structures of the wire 10 and the outer terminal 20 constituting the wire with a terminal 1 will be described in order.

[0014] First, the wire 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3(a) to 3(f), the wire 10 includes a twisted pair wire having a twist structure in which a pair of conductor wires 11 are spirally twisted, a cylindrical inner sheath 12 made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin that covers the outer periphery of the twisted pair wire, a cylindrical shield layer 13 made of a braided conductor that covers the outer periphery of the inner sheath 12, and a cylindrical outer sheath 14 made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin that covers the outer periphery of the shield layer 13. Each conductor wire 11 is composed of a conductor core wire 11a formed of one metal strand or a stranded wire of a plurality of metal strands, and an insulating layer 11b made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin that covers the outer periphery of the conductor core wire 11a, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0015] At the end (front end) of the electric wire 10, terminal processing shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(e) is performed as preparation for attaching the outer terminal 20. Specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the electric wire 10 having the above configuration is prepared. Next, as shown in FIG. 3(b), by removing the inner sheath 12, the shield layer 13, and the outer sheath 14 located at the end of the electric wire 10 all at once, the ends of the twisted pair wire composed of the pair of conductor wires 11 are exposed. As a result, a state is obtained in which the ends of the twisted pair wire extend forward from the end of the outer sheath 14. Next, as shown in FIG. 3(c), at the end of the outer sheath 14, a cut 14a is formed that extends backward along the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the electric wire 10 from the end (front end) of the outer sheath 14. Next, as shown in FIG. 3(d), by folding back the end of the outer sheath 14 in which the cut 14a is formed radially outward in the direction opposite to the extending direction of the twisted pair wire (backward), the end of the shield layer 13 is exposed, and a laminated structure 15 in which the outer sheath 14 is laminated doubly in the radial direction is formed at the end of the outer sheath 14. Here, since the cut 14a is formed at the end of the outer sheath 14 to be folded back, the workability of the work of folding back the outer sheath 14 is improved as compared with the case where such a cut is not present. Next, as shown in FIG. 3(e), at each end (front end) of the pair of conductor wires 11 constituting the exposed twisted pair wire, by removing the insulating layer 11b, the ends of the conductor core wires 11a are exposed, and metal inner terminals 30 extending in the front-rear direction are connected to the exposed ends of the conductor core wires 11a. Thus, the terminal processing performed on the end of the electric wire 10 before attaching the outer terminal 20 is completed.

[0016] Next, the outer terminal 20 will be described. The outer terminal 20 is formed by performing pressing and bending processes on a metal plate, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3(f), has a dielectric holding portion 21, a shield layer clamping portion 22 located behind the dielectric holding portion 21, and a sheath clamping portion 23 located behind the shield layer clamping portion 22 integrally.

[0017] The dielectric holding part 21 has a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction, and inside thereof, a pair of insertion holes into which a pair of inner terminals 30 (see FIG. 3(e)) are respectively to be inserted are formed, and a dielectric 40 (see FIG. 1) extending in the front-rear direction is held. The dielectric 40 functions to maintain the insulation between the inner terminal 30 conductively connected to the conductor core wire 11a and the outer terminal 20 conductively connected to the shield layer 13.

[0018] The shield layer crimping part 22 is a portion that is crimped and pressure-bonded to the exposed end of the shield layer 13 in the wire 10 after the terminal processing is completed (see FIG. 3(e)) (see FIGS. 1 and 3(f)). As shown in FIG. 1, the shield layer crimping part 22 includes a main body part 25 extending rearward via a connecting part 24 extending from the bottom wall (lower wall) of the dielectric holding part 21, and a pair of left and right barrel parts 26 extending upward from the left and right side edges of the main body part 25 in the shape before crimping. The main body part 25 is a plate-like part that protrudes downward in an arc shape and extends in the front-rear direction in the shape before crimping.

[0019] The sheath crimping part 23 is a portion that is crimped and pressure-bonded to the end of the outer sheath 14 having the laminated structure 15 in the wire 10 after the terminal processing is completed (see FIG. 3(e)) (see FIGS. 1 and 3(f)). As shown in FIG. 1, the sheath crimping part 23 includes a main body part 28 extending rearward via a connecting part 27 extending from the main body part 25 of the shield layer crimping part 22, and a pair of left and right barrel parts 29 extending upward from the left and right side edges of the main body part 28 in the shape before crimping. The main body part 28 is a plate-like part that protrudes downward in an arc shape and extends in the front-rear direction in the shape before crimping. The structure of the wire 10 and the outer terminal 20 constituting the wire with terminals 1 has been described above.

[0020] In order to attach the outer terminal 20 having the structure described above to the end of the wire 10 that has undergone terminal processing, first, a pair of inner terminals 30 connected to the end of the wire 10 are respectively inserted into a pair of insertion holes provided in the dielectric 40 held within the dielectric holding portion 21. At the same time, the end of the exposed shield layer 13 is placed on the main body portion 25 of the shield layer caulking portion 22, and the end of the outer sheath 14 having the laminated structure 15 is placed on the main body portion 28 of the sheath caulking portion 23. Next, using a caulking device (not shown) equipped with an anvil and a crimper, the shield layer caulking portion 22 is crimped to the end of the shield layer 13, and the sheath caulking portion 23 is crimped to the end of the outer sheath 14 having the laminated structure 15.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3(f), the shield layer caulking portion 22 is caulked and crimped to the end of the shield layer 13 such that a pair of barrel portions 26 surround the end of the shield layer 13 in the circumferential direction, and the sheath caulking portion 23 is caulked and crimped to the end of the outer sheath 14 having the laminated structure 15 such that a pair of barrel portions 29 surround the end of the outer sheath 14 having the laminated structure 15 in the circumferential direction.

[0022] In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheath crimping portion 23 is crimped such that the extending end portions of the pair of barrel portions 29 penetrate into the end portion of the outer sheath 14 having the laminated structure 15 with the pair of extending end faces 29a facing downward (inward of the electric wire 10) and adjacent to each other left and right. Here, the deeper the extending end portions of the pair of barrel portions 29 penetrate into the outer sheath 14, the stronger the outer terminal 20 is attached to the electric wire 10 (i.e., the crimping strength can be increased). However, if the extending end portions of the pair of barrel portions 29 are made to penetrate into the outer sheath 14 excessively, the extending end portions of the pair of barrel portions 29 may penetrate through the outer sheath 14 and damage the shield layer 13 and the pair of conductor wires 11 located inside the outer sheath 14. In particular, when the extending end portion of the barrel portion 29 contacts the conductor core wire 11a of the conductor wire 11, conduction (so-called short circuit) between the outer terminal 20 and the inner terminal 30 occurs. When attaching the outer terminal 20 to a twisted pair wire having a structure in which a pair of conductor wires 11 are spirally twisted together as in this example, since there are spaces between the conductor wires 11 and around the conductor wires 11 (see FIG. 2), the outer sheath 14 is easily deformed in the radial direction (low rigidity). Although it is preferable to crimp the sheath crimping portion 23 with a large external force in terms of firmly attaching the outer terminal 20 to the electric wire 10, the possibility that the extending end portions of the pair of barrel portions 29 penetrate through the outer sheath 14 increases due to the large external force.

[0023] In this regard, in this example, the sheath crimping portion 23 is crimped to the end portion of the outer sheath 14 having the laminated structure 15. As a result, since the thickness of the outer sheath 14 in the radial direction increases by the amount of the lamination of the outer sheath 14, even if the sheath crimping portion 23 is crimped to the outer sheath 14 with a large external force, it is possible to suppress the pair of barrel portions 29 from penetrating through the outer sheath 14 and damaging the pair of conductor wires 11 and the shield layer 13. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3(f), the location where the extending end portion of the sheath crimping portion 23 penetrates into the outer sheath 14 and the location where the cut 14a is provided in the outer sheath 14 are at different positions in the circumferential direction.

[0024] The crimping operation of the sheath crimping portion 23 described above may be performed simultaneously with the crimping operation of the shield layer crimping portion 22, or may be performed separately. By completing both the crimping operation of the shield layer crimping portion 22 and the crimping operation of the sheath crimping portion 23, the terminal wire 1 with the outer terminal 20 attached to the end of the wire 10 is obtained (see FIGS. 1 and 3(f)).

[0025] <Function and Effect> As described above, according to the terminal wire 1 according to the present embodiment, the outer sheath 14 of the wire 10 has, at its end, a laminated structure 15 in which the outer sheath 14 is folded back in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the wire 10 (backward) and the outer sheath 14 is laminated in the radial direction. Then, the sheath crimping portion 23 of the outer terminal 20 is crimped to the end of the outer sheath 14 having the laminated structure 15. As a result, since the thickness of the outer sheath 14 in the radial direction increases by the amount of the outer sheath 14 being laminated, even if the sheath crimping portion 23 of the outer terminal 20 is crimped to the outer sheath 14 with a large external force, it is possible to suppress the sheath crimping portion 23 (the pair of barrel portions 29) from penetrating the outer sheath 14 and damaging the pair of conductor wires 11. Therefore, the terminal wire 1 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the outer terminal 20 is firmly attached to the wire 10 and the sheath crimping portion 23 of the outer terminal 20 is less likely to damage the pair of conductor wires 11 of the wire 10.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the terminal wire 1 according to the present embodiment, the outer sheath 14 of the wire 10 has a cut 14a extending along the axial direction of the outer sheath 14 at the location where the outer sheath 14 is folded back. Thereby, the workability of the operation of folding back the outer sheath 14 is improved as compared with the case where there is no such cut.

[0027] Furthermore, according to the terminal wire 1 according to the present embodiment, even in the case of the wire 10 having a twist structure in which the pair of conductor wires 11 are spirally twisted, it is possible to firmly attach the outer terminal 20 to the wire 10 while suppressing the sheath crimping portion 23 of the outer terminal 20 from damaging the cylindrical shield layer 13 (braided conductor) and the pair of conductor wires 11.

[0028] <Other aspects> Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0029] Here, the features of the embodiments of the wire with a terminal and the method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed in [1] to [5] below.

[0030] [1] A wire with a terminal (1) comprising a wire (10) and a terminal (20) attached to the wire (10), wherein the wire (10) has one or more conductor wires (11) and a tubular covering (14) covering the outer periphery of the conductor wires (11), and the conductor wires (11) extend from an end portion of the covering (14), wherein the covering (14) has, at the end portion, a laminated structure (15) in which the covering (14) is folded back in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the wire (10) and the covering (14) is laminated in the radial direction, wherein the terminal (20) has a caulking portion (23) crimped to the end portion of the covering (14) having the laminated structure (15), A wire with a terminal (1).

[0031] According to the wire with a terminal having the configuration of [1] above, the covering of the wire has, at its end portion, a laminated structure in which the covering is folded back in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the wire and the coverings are laminated in the radial direction. Then, the crimping portion of the terminal is crimped to the end portion of the covering having the laminated structure. Since the thickness of the covering in the radial direction increases by the amount of the covering being laminated, even if the crimping portion of the terminal is crimped to the covering with a large external force, the possibility that the crimping portion penetrates the covering and damages the conductor wire is reduced. Therefore, the wire with a terminal of this configuration can achieve both firmly attaching the terminal to the wire and reducing the possibility that the crimping portion of the terminal damages the conductor wire of the wire.

[0032] [2] In the wire with a terminal (1) described in [1] above, the covering (14) is provided, at the end portion, with a cut (14a) extending along the axial direction of the covering (14) at the location where the covering (14) is folded back. Wire with a terminal (1).

[0033] According to the wire with a terminal having the configuration of [2] above, the covering of the wire has a cut extending along the axial direction of the covering at the location where the covering is folded back. As a result, the covering can be more easily folded back compared to the case where there is no such cut. As a result, the workability of the operation of folding back the covering is improved.

[0034] [3] In the wire with a terminal (1) described in [1] above, the wire (10) is configured to have a twist structure in which a plurality of the conductor wires (11) are spirally twisted, and has a cylindrical shield body (13) disposed between the plurality of the conductor wires (11) and the covering (14). Wire with a terminal (1).

[0035] According to the wire with terminals having the configuration of [3] above, even in the case of a wire having a twist structure in which a plurality of conductor wires are twisted spirally (for example, a twisted pair wire), the cylindrical shield body (for example, a braided conductor) or the conductor wire inside the covering is prevented from being damaged by the crimping portion of the terminal, and the terminal can be firmly attached to the wire.

[0036] [4] A manufacturing method for manufacturing a wire with terminals (1) including a wire (10) and a terminal (20) attached to the wire (10), The wire (10) has one or more conductor wires (11) and a cylindrical covering (14) covering the outer periphery of the conductor wire (11), The terminal (20) has a crimping portion (23) crimped to the covering (14), The manufacturing method includes: A folding step of forming a laminated structure (15) in which the covering (14) is laminated in the radial direction at the end portion of the covering (14) by folding back the covering (14) in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the wire (10) from the end portion of the covering (14); A crimping step of crimping the crimping portion (23) of the terminal (20) to the end portion of the covering (14) having the laminated structure (15). A manufacturing method for a wire with terminals (1).

[0037] According to the manufacturing method for a wire with terminals having the configuration of [4] above, the covering of the wire has a laminated structure in which the covering is folded back in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the wire at its end portion, and the covering is laminated in the radial direction. Then, the crimping portion of the terminal is crimped to the end portion of the covering having the laminated structure. Since the thickness of the covering in the radial direction increases by the amount of lamination of the covering, even if the crimping portion of the terminal is crimped to the covering with a large external force, the possibility that the crimping portion penetrates the covering and damages the conductor wire is reduced. Therefore, the manufacturing method for a wire with terminals of this configuration can achieve both firmly attaching the terminal to the wire and reducing the possibility that the crimping portion of the terminal damages the conductor wire of the wire.

[0038] [5] The manufacturing method according to [4], before the folding step, further comprising a step of providing, at the end portion, a cut (14a) extending along the axial direction of the covering (14) at a location where the covering (14) is folded back, A method for manufacturing an electric wire with a terminal (1).

[0039] According to the method for manufacturing an electric wire with a terminal having the configuration of [5] above, a cut extending along the axial direction of the covering is provided at a location where the covering of the electric wire is folded back at the end portion of the covering. Thereby, compared with the case where there is no such cut, the covering can be easily folded back. As a result, the workability of the operation of folding back the covering in the folding step is improved.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0040] 1 Electric wire with a terminal 10 Electric wire 11 Conductive wire 13 Shield layer (shield body) 14 Outer sheath (covering) 14a Cut 15 Laminated structure 20 Outer terminal (terminal) 23 Sheath crimping portion (crimping portion)

Claims

1. An electric wire with a terminal, comprising an electric wire and a terminal attached to the electric wire, wherein the electric wire has one or more conductor wires and a cylindrical covering that covers the outer periphery of the conductor wires, and the conductor wires extend from an end portion of the covering, and the covering has a laminated structure at the end portion where the covering is folded back in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the electric wire and the covering is laminated in the radial direction, and the terminal has a caulking portion that is crimped to the end portion of the covering having the laminated structure, an electric wire with a terminal.

2. In the electric wire with a terminal according to Claim 1, the covering has a cut extending along the axial direction of the covering at a location where the covering is folded back at the end portion, an electric wire with a terminal.

3. In the electric wire with a terminal according to Claim 1, the electric wire has a twist structure in which a plurality of the conductor wires are spirally twisted together, and has a cylindrical shield body disposed between the plurality of the conductor wires and the covering, an electric wire with a terminal.

4. A manufacturing method for manufacturing an electric wire with a terminal, comprising an electric wire and a terminal attached to the electric wire, wherein the electric wire has one or more conductor wires and a cylindrical covering that covers the outer periphery of the conductor wires, the terminal has a caulking portion that is crimped to the covering, and the manufacturing method includes a folding step of forming a laminated structure in which the covering is laminated in the radial direction at the end portion by folding back the covering in a direction opposite to the extending direction in which the electric wire extends from the end portion of the covering, and a crimping step of crimping the caulking portion of the terminal to the end portion of the covering having the laminated structure, a manufacturing method for an electric wire with a terminal.

5. The manufacturing method according to Claim 4, further comprising a step of providing a cut extending along the axial direction of the covering at a location where the covering is folded back at the end portion before the folding step, a manufacturing method for an electric wire with a terminal.

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