Terminal fitting

Abstract

To provide a terminal fitting capable of, when a rubber plug is crimped, inhibiting the rubber plug behind the terminal fitting from bending relative to the crimped portion.SOLUTION: A terminal fitting 10 comprises: a base portion 13A extending in a strip shape in the longitudinal direction; a barrel piece 13B rising from a left edge of the base portion 13A; and a pressing piece 13C disposed rearward of the barrel piece 13B and rising from a right edge of the base portion 13A. The barrel piece 13B is for crimping a rubber plug 30 attached to a terminal portion of an electric wire W between the barrel piece and the base portion 13A. The pressing piece 13C is for suppressing inclination of a rubber plug body 30A of the rubber plug 30 relative to the base portion 13A. The base portion 13A has a protrusion 13D protruding upward between a tip end of the barrel piece 13B and a tip end of the pressing piece 13C, the protrusion biting into a lower surface of the rubber plug 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a terminal fitting. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent documents 1 to 14 disclose techniques in which a waterproof rubber plug is crimped together with an electric wire by an insulation barrel or a portion equivalent to an insulation barrel. Patent document 15 discloses a waterproof connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-203636 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-168514 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-171850 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-190347 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-102853 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-14420 [Patent Document 7] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-14421 [Patent Document 8] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-170996 [Patent Document 9] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-54832 [Patent Document 10] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-201403 [Patent Document 11] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 5-2382 [Patent Document 12] Actual publication No. 60-80680 [Patent Document 13] Jitszen Showa 63-202074 Publication [Patent Document 14] Publication No. 03-104955 [Patent Document 15] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-143574 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As shown in FIG. 5 , in a conventional terminal fitting 90, when the insulation barrel 91 is used to crimp the waterproof rubber stopper 93 together with the electric wire W2, the tip of the insulation barrel 91 bites into part of the outer circumferential surface of the waterproof rubber stopper 93. As a result, the electric wire W2 protruding from the rear of the insulation barrel 91 and the waterproof rubber stopper 93 may bend so as to tilt toward the side where the tip of the insulation barrel 91 bites into (the upper side in FIG. 5 ). When the terminal fitting 90 is crimped in this manner with the waterproof rubber stopper 93 bent upward, there is a concern that the terminal fitting 90 may be accommodated at an angle relative to the cavity 94, which may reduce the engagement allowance of the locking piece 90A of the terminal fitting 90 with the lance 95 of the cavity 94, resulting in the terminal fitting 90 slipping out of the cavity 94. For this reason, there is a need for a technology that prevents the bending of the waterproof rubber stopper that occurs when the waterproof rubber stopper is crimped.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a terminal fitting that can prevent the rubber plug, which is located behind the terminal fitting, from bending relative to the crimped portion when the rubber plug is crimped. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure comprises: A base portion extending in a band shape in the front-to-rear direction; a barrel piece rising from at least one edge in the left and right direction of the base; a pressing piece that is disposed rearward of the barrel piece and stands upright from at least the other edge of the base in the left-right direction; and The barrel piece is configured to crimp a rubber plug attached to an end portion of an electric wire between the barrel piece and the base portion, The pressing piece contacts the upper surface of the rubber stopper from above to prevent the rubber stopper from tilting relative to the base, The base portion has a protrusion that protrudes upward between the tip of the barrel piece and the tip of the pressing piece and bites into the underside of the rubber plug. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the pressing piece can suppress bending of the rubber stopper caused by the barrel piece crimping the rubber stopper. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a terminal fitting, an electric wire, and a rubber plug according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the terminal fitting of the present disclosure in a crimped state. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the rubber stopper of the present disclosure cut in half. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting of the present disclosure is accommodated in a housing. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view showing a conventional terminal fitting in a crimped state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) a base portion extending in a band-like manner in the front-to-back direction; a barrel piece rising from at least one edge in the left and right direction of the base; a pressing piece that is disposed rearward of the barrel piece and stands upright from at least the other edge of the base in the left-right direction; and The barrel piece is configured to crimp a rubber plug attached to an end portion of an electric wire between the barrel piece and the base portion, The pressing piece contacts the upper surface of the rubber stopper from above to prevent the rubber stopper from tilting relative to the base, The base portion has a protrusion that protrudes upward between the tip of the barrel piece and the tip of the pressing piece and bites into the underside of the rubber plug.

[0010] The terminal fitting (1) uses the barrel piece to crimp the rubber plug together with the wire. At this time, the rubber plug tilts behind the protrusion on the base, using the protrusion as a fulcrum. The retaining piece prevents this tilting of the rubber plug. The protrusion bites into the rubber plug, preventing it from falling off the terminal fitting. Here, "arranged rearward" means that it is sufficient to have a portion that is arranged rearward of the entire barrel piece. Furthermore, the portion between the barrel piece and the retaining piece includes the overlapping portion if the barrel piece and the retaining piece overlap in the front-to-rear direction.

[0011] (2) The terminal fitting according to (1), wherein when the barrel piece is crimped onto the rubber plug and the pressing piece suppresses the inclination of the rubber plug, the vinyl height of the pressing piece is higher than the vinyl height of the barrel piece.

[0012] In the terminal fitting (2), the degree to which the tip of the pressing piece bites into the rubber stopper can be made smaller than the degree to which the tip of the barrel piece bites into the rubber stopper, thereby preventing stress from being applied to the rubber stopper due to the pressing piece biting into it and suppressing tilt of the rubber stopper caused by the pressing piece biting into it, and ultimately suppressing tilt of the rubber stopper behind the pressing piece. Here, the vinyl height is the maximum vertical dimension of the barrel piece and the pressing piece when the barrel piece is pressed against the rubber stopper and the pressing piece is suppressing tilt of the rubber stopper.

[0013] (3) The terminal fitting according to (2), wherein the contact area between the pressing piece and the rubber plug is larger than the contact area between the barrel piece and the rubber plug.

[0014] (3) The terminal fitting distributes the pressure of the pressing piece against the rubber stopper, preventing the stress on the rubber stopper from concentrating in one place, making it difficult for the pressing piece to bite into the rubber stopper, thereby preventing the rubber stopper from tilting behind the pressing piece.

[0015] (4) The terminal fitting according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the protruding portion has a protruding dimension that is equal to or greater than 1 / 4 and equal to or less than 1 / 2 of the plate thickness dimension of the base portion.

[0016] (4) The terminal fittings may have protrusions provided that the base is not broken.

[0017] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment of a terminal fitting 10 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. In the drawings, "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "right," and "left" are represented by "F," "B," "U," "D," "R," and "L," respectively. Note that the directional references are defined for convenience and do not necessarily coincide with the directions when the terminal fitting 10 is installed in a vehicle or the like. For example, the up-down direction is not limited to the direction of gravity.

[0018] [Terminal metal fitting configuration] As shown in Fig. 1, the terminal fitting 10 is formed integrally by punching out a conductive metal plate and then bending it, etc. The terminal fitting 10 is crimped onto the end of an electric wire W to which a rubber plug 30 is attached (see Fig. 2).

[0019] The terminal fitting 10 is a so-called female terminal fitting that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction. The terminal fitting 10 has a box portion 11, an open-barrel-shaped wire barrel 12 that is arranged to extend rearward from the rear end of the box portion 11, and an open-barrel-shaped insulation barrel 13 that is arranged rearward of the wire barrel 12 and is connected to the wire barrel 12.

[0020] The box portion 11 has a rectangular cylindrical shape as a whole and extends in the front-to-rear direction. A resilient contact piece (not shown) is provided inside the box portion 11. A male tab of a mating terminal fitting (not shown) is inserted into the box portion 11, and the resilient contact piece comes into resilient contact with the male tab, thereby electrically connecting the two terminal fittings. A locking piece 11A protruding downward is provided on the bottom wall of the box portion 11 (see Figure 2).

[0021] The wire barrel 12 has a base 12B and a pair of barrel pieces 12A formed to rise from both left and right edges of the base 12B. The wire barrel 12 is connected by crimping the pair of barrel pieces 12A to the core wire C exposed by removing the coating S at the end of the electric wire W (see FIG. 2).

[0022] The insulation barrel 13 has a base 13A, a barrel piece 13B, and a pressing piece 13C. The base 13A is strip-shaped and is connected to the rear end of the base 12B, extending in the front-to-rear direction. The base 13A has a uniform thickness throughout. The base 13A curves upward toward both left-to-right edges. When viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the base 13A is U-shaped.

[0023] The barrel piece 13B is located toward the front of the base 13A and is formed to rise from the left edge of the base 13A (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The front edge of the barrel piece 13B rises in the vertical direction, and the rear edge of the barrel piece 13B is formed to be inclined backward from the upper end to the lower end.

[0024] The pressing piece 13C has a portion that is disposed rearward of the barrel piece 13B. Specifically, the tip end (top) of the pressing piece 13C is disposed rearward of the tip end (top) of the barrel piece 13B. In the front-rear direction in a side view, the base end side of the pressing piece 13C that is connected to the base portion 13A is disposed at a position that overlaps with the base end side of the barrel piece 13B that is connected to the base portion 13A (see FIG. 2). The pressing piece 13C is located rearward of the base portion 13A and is formed rising from the right end edge of the base portion 13A (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The front end edge of the pressing piece 13C is formed to be inclined forward from the upper end (top) to the lower end (base end), and the rear end edge of the pressing piece 13C is formed to be rising vertically.

[0025] Only one protrusion 13D is provided on the base 13A. The protrusion 13D has a rib-like shape extending in the left-right direction to a position not interfering with the barrel piece 13B and the pressing piece 13C, and protrudes upward from the upper surface of the base 13A. In other words, the protrusion 13D is formed to protrude inward from the inner surface of the base 13A so as to reduce in diameter. In the front-rear direction in a side view, the protrusion 13D is arranged only at a position where the base end side of the pressing piece 13C, which is connected to the base 13A, and the base end side of the barrel piece 13B, which is connected to the base 13A, overlap. In other words, the protrusion 13D is arranged to protrude upward from the barrel piece 13B forward of the position where the base end sides of the pressing piece 13C and the barrel piece 13B overlap in the front-rear direction, and from the pressing piece 13C rearward of the position where the base end sides overlap in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 2). Only the protrusion 13D protrudes from the inner surface of the base 13A.

[0026] For example, if the protrusion 13D's protrusion dimension is less than ¼ of the thickness of the base 13A, the protrusion 13D will not penetrate into the rubber plug 30 as much, potentially reducing its ability to prevent the rubber plug 30 from falling off the terminal fitting 10. Furthermore, if the protrusion 13D's protrusion dimension is greater than half the thickness of the base 13A, the area around the protrusion 13D will be thin, potentially reducing the strength of the base 13A. For this reason, the protrusion dimension of the protrusion 13D is preferably between ¼ and ½ of the thickness of the base 13A. The insulation barrel 13 is connected to the rubber plug 30 inserted into the insulation S of the terminal end of the electric wire W by primarily crimping the barrel piece 13B (see FIG. 2). The pressing piece 13C contacts the upper surface of the crimped portion 30B of the rubber plug 30 from above, thereby preventing the rubber plug 30 from tilting upward relative to the base 13A.

[0027] [Rubber stopper configuration] The rubber stopper 30 is made of rubber such as silicone rubber. As shown in FIG. 3, the rubber stopper 30 has an overall cylindrical shape. The rubber stopper 30 includes a rubber stopper body 30A and a crimped portion 30B extending forward from the front end of the rubber stopper body 30A. In FIG. 3, the rubber stopper 30 is shown split in half in the axial direction. The rubber stopper body 30A is provided with multiple outer lips 30C and multiple inner lips 30D. Each outer lip 30C protrudes outward and is aligned in the front-rear direction. Each inner lip 30D protrudes inward and is aligned in the front-rear direction so as to reduce in diameter. The crimped portion 30B is arranged coaxially with the rubber stopper body 30A. The outer diameter of the crimped portion 30B is smaller than the outer diameter of the rubber stopper body 30A. An insertion hole 30E is formed in the rubber stopper 30, penetrating in the front-rear direction and allowing an electric wire W to pass therethrough.

[0028] [Connection of wires and rubber plugs to terminal fittings] Next, an example of a process for connecting the terminal fitting 10 with the electric wire W and rubber stopper 30 will be described. First, the electric wire W, from which the coating S of the end portion has been removed, is inserted into the insertion hole 30E of the rubber stopper 30 (see FIG. 1). The outer diameter of the electric wire W is larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 30E. Therefore, when the electric wire W is inserted into the insertion hole 30E, the insertion hole 30E is expanded. Then, the exposed core wire C is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the pair of barrel pieces 12A of the wire barrel 12, and the crimped portion 30B of the rubber stopper 30 is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the barrel piece 13B and the pressing piece 13C of the insulation barrel 13 (see FIG. 1).

[0029] Next, the wire barrel 12 and the insulation barrel 13 are crimped together using a crimping die (not shown). This completes the connection between the terminal fitting 10, the electric wire W, and the rubber plug 30 (see FIG. 2). At this time, the vinyl height Vh2 of the pressing piece 13C is set higher than the vinyl height Vh1 of the barrel piece 13B (see FIG. 2). As a result, the barrel piece 13B bites into and crimps the crimped portion 30B of the rubber plug 30 attached to the terminal portion of the electric wire W between the barrel piece 13B and the base portion 13A. At the same time, the protrusion 13D is pressed from below against the crimped portion 30B of the rubber plug 30. This applies a force to the rubber plug 30 such that the portion behind the protrusion 13D bends upward, starting from the protrusion 13D.

[0030] In contrast, the pressing piece 13C does not bite into the crimped portion 30B as much as the barrel piece 13B, and is arranged so as to contact the upper surface of the crimped portion 30B from above along the outer circumferential surface of the crimped portion 30B. Therefore, the pressing piece 13C prevents the portion behind the protrusion 13D from bending upward, using the protrusion 13D as a base point. As a result, the pressing piece 13C prevents the wire W from tilting upward together with the rubber stopper 30, which extends rearward beyond the pressing piece 13C. Furthermore, the barrel piece 13B bites into the upper surface of the outer circumferential surface of the crimped portion 30B of the rubber stopper 30, and the protrusion 13D presses against and bites into the lower surface of the outer circumferential surface of the crimped portion 30B of the rubber stopper 30. As a result, because the barrel piece 13B and the protrusion 13D bite into the crimped portion 30B, the rubber stopper 30 is less likely to fall off the terminal fitting 10 even if it is pulled backward.

[0031] The terminal fitting 10 thus formed is inserted from the rear into the cavity 61 of the housing 60 shown in Figure 4. At this time, the lance 62 elastically deforms downward as the box portion 11 is inserted from the rear into the cavity 61 and moved forward. When the terminal fitting 10 is inserted to the correct position in the cavity 61, the lance 62 elastically returns to its original position and is positioned so as to face the rear end of the locking piece 11A from behind and be able to lock onto it. This holds the terminal fitting 10 in the cavity 61 in a locked state.

[0032] For example, consider inserting the terminal fitting 10 into the cavity 61 with the rubber stopper 30 and the wire W, which extend rearward beyond the insulation barrel 13, tilted upward. In this case, the wire barrel 12 and the insulation barrel 13 are biased downward within the cavity 61, and the box portion 11 is biased upward within the cavity 61. In this case, the locking piece 11A, along with the box portion 11, is also biased upward, reducing the engagement with the lance 62 and potentially reducing the function of retaining the terminal fitting 10. However, the terminal fitting 10 of the present disclosure uses the pressing piece 13C to prevent the rubber stopper 30, which extends rearward beyond the pressing piece 13C, from tilting upward. Therefore, the terminal fitting 10 of the present disclosure does not tilt when inserted into the cavity 61, ensuring the engagement between the locking piece 11A and the lance 62.

[0033] Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

[0034] The terminal fitting 10 has a base 13A extending in a strip-like shape in the front-to-rear direction, a barrel piece 13B rising from the left edge of the base 13A, and a pressing piece 13C positioned rearward of the barrel piece 13B and rising from the right edge of the base 13A. The barrel piece 13B crimps a rubber stopper 30 attached to the terminal portion of the electric wire W between the barrel piece 13B and the base 13A. The pressing piece 13C contacts the upper surface of the crimped portion 30B of the rubber stopper 30 from above to prevent the rubber stopper body 30A of the rubber stopper 30 from tilting relative to the base 13A. The base 13A has a protrusion 13D that protrudes upward between the tip of the barrel piece 13B and the tip of the pressing piece 13C and bites into the underside of the rubber stopper 30.

[0035] The terminal fitting 10 crimps the rubber stopper 30 together with the electric wire W by the barrel piece 13B. At this time, the rubber stopper 30 behind the protrusion 13D of the base 13A tilts upward, with the protrusion 13D serving as a fulcrum. This tilt of the rubber stopper 30 is then suppressed by the pressing piece 13C. Furthermore, the protrusion 13D bites into the rubber stopper 30, preventing the rubber stopper 30 from falling off the terminal fitting 10.

[0036] When the barrel piece 13B is pressed against the rubber stopper 30 and the pressing piece 13C is in contact with the outer surface of the rubber stopper 30, thereby suppressing the inclination of the rubber stopper 30 relative to the base 13A, the vinyl height Vh2 of the pressing piece 13C is higher than the vinyl height Vh1 of the barrel piece 13B. With this configuration, the extent to which the tip of the pressing piece 13C bites into the rubber stopper 30 can be made smaller than the extent to which the tip of the barrel piece 13B bites into the rubber stopper 30, thereby reducing the stress applied to the rubber stopper 30 due to the pressing piece 13C biting into the rubber stopper 30 and suppressing the inclination of the rubber stopper 30 caused by the pressing piece 13C biting into it, and ultimately suppressing the inclination of the rubber stopper 30 behind the pressing piece 13C.

[0037] The protruding dimension of the protrusion 13D is between ¼ and ½ of the thickness of the base 13A. With this configuration, the protrusion 13D can be provided without straining the base 13A without breaking it.

[0038] [Other embodiments] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0039] Unlike the first embodiment, the contact area between the pressing piece and the rubber stopper may be larger than the contact area between the barrel piece and the rubber stopper. For example, it is conceivable to make the dimension of the tip of the pressing piece in the front-rear direction larger than the dimension of the tip of the barrel piece in the front-rear direction. With this configuration, the contact pressure of the pressing piece against the rubber stopper can be dispersed, making it difficult for the pressing piece to bite into the rubber stopper and the rubber stopper to be deformed by the pressing piece.

[0040] Unlike the first embodiment, the present disclosure may be applied to a male terminal fitting having a tab.

[0041] Unlike in embodiment 1, the barrel piece and the pressing piece may have the same vinyl height. In this case, it is preferable to make the contact area of ​​the pressing piece with the rubber stopper larger than that of the barrel piece so that the pressing piece is less likely to bite into the rubber stopper.

[0042] Unlike the first embodiment, the protrusions may be provided in a perforated (mesh) pattern in the left-right direction.

[0043] Unlike the first embodiment, the barrel piece may be provided to rise from the right edge of the base, and the pressing piece may be provided to rise from the left edge of the base. Also, the barrel piece may be provided to rise from both the left and right edges of the front side of the base, and the pressing piece may be provided to rise from both the left and right edges of the rear side of the base. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10,90: Terminal fittings 11: Hakobe 11A, 90A: Locking piece 12: Wire barrel 12A: Barrel piece 13,91: Insulated barrel 13A: Base 13B: Barrel piece 13C: Clamp piece 13D: Projection 30: Rubber stopper 30A: Rubber stopper body 30B: Crimp part 30C: Outer lip 30D: Inner lip 30E: Insertion hole 60: Housing 61,94:Cavity 62,95:Rance 93: Waterproof rubber stopper C: Core wire S: Coating Vh1: Vinyl height of barrel piece Vh2: Vinyl height of the clamping piece W,W2: Electric wire

Claims

1. A base portion extending in a band shape in the front-to-rear direction; a barrel piece rising from at least one edge in the left and right direction of the base; a pressing piece that is disposed rearward of the barrel piece and stands upright from at least the other edge of the base in the left-right direction; and The barrel piece is configured to crimp a rubber plug attached to an end portion of an electric wire between the barrel piece and the base portion, The pressing piece contacts the upper surface of the rubber stopper from above to prevent the rubber stopper from tilting relative to the base, The base portion has a protrusion that protrudes upward between the tip of the barrel piece and the tip of the pressing piece and bites into the underside of the rubber plug.

2. 2. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein when the barrel piece is pressed against the rubber plug and the pressing piece prevents the rubber plug from tilting, a vinyl height of the pressing piece is higher than a vinyl height of the barrel piece.

3. The terminal fitting according to claim 2 , wherein a contact area between the pressing piece and the rubber plug is larger than a contact area between the barrel piece and the rubber plug.

4. 4. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein a protruding dimension of the protrusion is equal to or greater than 1 / 4 and equal to or less than 1 / 2 of a plate thickness dimension of the base portion.

Images