Terminal metal fitting

Abstract

To provide a terminal metal fitting that is configured so that an electric wire can be prevented from dropping off from an insulation displacement blade while suppressing the deformation of the insulation displacement blade after insulation displacement connection.SOLUTION: A terminal metal fitting 10 comprises: a terminal connection part 10A that is connected to a mate-side terminal P; and an electric wire connection part 10B leading to a rear end of the terminal connection part 10A, and extending backward to be connected to an electric wire 30. The electric wire connection part 10B has: a bottom wall 10E extending in a longitudinal direction; a pair of side walls 10F protruding in one direction of a plate thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E from each of a pair of side edges extending in the longitudinal direction in the bottom wall 10E; and a pair of insulation displacement blades 10G that spread in a direction crossing the bottom wall 10E and the side walls 10F and expand from the pair of side walls 10F. The insulation displacement blades 10G each have an insulation displacement blade main body part 10J provided at protruding end side of the side wall 10F and a holding part 10K provided at the bottom wall 10E side to hold the electric wire 30. A separation dimension S2 between the pair of holding parts 10K is larger than a separation dimension S1 between the pair of insulation displacement blade main body parts 10J.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for crimping and connecting an electric wire to a crimping slot. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-338701 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, when an electric wire is pressure-connected to the insulation displacement slot, there is a concern that the insulation displacement slot may be deformed outward in the left-right direction by the electric wire. One way to resolve this concern is to increase the left-right dimension of the insulation displacement slot. However, simply increasing the left-right dimension of the insulation displacement slot makes it easier for the electric wire to slip out of the insulation displacement slot (hereinafter also referred to as the insulation displacement blade).

[0005] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure has been completed based on the above circumstances, and aims to provide a terminal fitting that can prevent the wire from falling off the pressure-connecting blade while suppressing deformation of the pressure-connecting blade after pressure-connection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure comprises: a terminal connection portion to be connected to a mating terminal; an electric wire connection portion connected to a rear end of the terminal connection portion and extending rearward to be connected to an insulated electric wire; Equipped with The electric wire connection portion is a bottom wall extending in the front-rear direction; a pair of side walls projecting in one direction in a thickness direction of the bottom wall from each of a pair of side edges extending in a front-rear direction of the bottom wall; a pair of pressure contact blades extending from the pair of side walls while expanding in a direction intersecting the bottom wall and each of the side walls; and Each of the insulation displacement blades has a blade body portion provided on the protruding end side of the side wall and configured to cut through the insulation of the insulated electric wire, and a holding portion provided on the bottom wall side and configured to hold the insulated electric wire, The distance between the pair of holding portions is greater than the distance between the pair of press-connecting blade main bodies. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a terminal fitting that can prevent the wire from falling off the insulation displacement blade while suppressing deformation of the insulation displacement blade after insulation displacement connection. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal fitting of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a terminal fitting to which an electric wire is connected. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the insulation barrel piece and its surroundings. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and shows a state in which the electric wire is disposed above the electric wire connecting portion. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and shows a state in which an electric wire has been inserted between a pair of press-connecting blade main bodies. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a holding portion of another embodiment. 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 terminal connection portion to be connected to a mating terminal; an electric wire connection portion connected to a rear end of the terminal connection portion and extending rearward to be connected to an insulated electric wire; Equipped with The electric wire connection portion is a bottom wall extending in the front-rear direction; a pair of side walls projecting in one direction in a thickness direction of the bottom wall from each of a pair of side edges extending in a front-rear direction of the bottom wall; a pair of pressure contact blades extending from the pair of side walls while expanding in a direction intersecting the bottom wall and each of the side walls; and Each of the insulation displacement blades has a blade body portion provided on the protruding end side of the side wall and configured to cut through the insulation of the insulated electric wire, and a holding portion provided on the bottom wall side and configured to hold the insulated electric wire, The terminal fitting, wherein the distance between the pair of holding portions is larger than the distance between the pair of press-connecting blade main body portions.

[0010] In the terminal fitting (1), when the insulated electric wire is moved between the pair of insulation displacement blades from the protruding ends of the side walls toward the bottom wall, the insulation displacement blade body cuts the insulation displacement of the insulated electric wire and crimps the core wire to the holding portion. The distance between the pair of holding portions is larger than the distance between the pair of insulation displacement blade body portions. Therefore, when the insulated electric wire is placed in the space between the pair of holding portions, the degree of deformation of the pair of side walls is reduced compared to when the insulated electric wire is positioned between the pair of insulation displacement blade body portions. Furthermore, the distance between the pair of insulation displacement blade body portions is smaller than the distance between the pair of holding portions, so that the insulated electric wire is prevented from moving back from between the pair of holding portions into the space between the pair of insulation displacement blade body portions, and thus the insulated electric wire is prevented from falling off the insulation displacement blades.

[0011] (2) The terminal fitting according to (1), wherein the edge of the holding portion away from the side wall is curved so as to be concave toward each of the side walls.

[0012] (2) When the insulated electric wire reaches between the holding parts, the edge of the terminal fitting that is farther from the side wall of the holding part can come into contact with the outer periphery of the core wire of the insulated electric wire, so that the contact distance between the pressure-connecting blade and the core wire of the insulated electric wire can be increased, making it easier to stabilize the electrical connection.

[0013] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] <Embodiment 1> The terminal fitting 10 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. In the figures, "front side," "rear side," "upper side," "lower side," "right side," and "left side" are represented by "F," "B," "U," "D," "R," and "L," respectively. In the following description, the direction in which the mating terminal P and the terminal fitting 10 are mated is defined as the mating direction (front-rear direction).

[0014] The terminal fitting 10 of this embodiment is connected to the end of an electric wire 30 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 1, the electric wire 30 is a so-called coated electric wire, and has a conductive core wire 31 and an insulating coating 32 that covers the outer periphery of the core wire 31. The core wire 31 is a single-core wire made of aluminum, for example. The coating 32 is made of synthetic resin. At the front end of the electric wire 30, the coating 32 is not removed, and only the tip end surface of the core wire 31 is exposed.

[0015] [Terminal metal fitting configuration] The terminal fitting 10 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate or the like. The terminal fitting 10 of this embodiment is a so-called female terminal fitting. As shown in Fig. 1, the terminal fitting 10 includes a rectangular cylindrical terminal connection portion 10A and an electric wire connection portion 10B that is continuous with the rear end of the terminal connection portion 10A and extends rearward. A tab-shaped mating terminal P is inserted into the terminal connection portion 10A and is electrically connected to the mating terminal P (see Fig. 2).

[0016] The wire connection portion 10B has a flat bottom wall 10E elongated in the front-rear direction, a pair of left and right side walls 10F, a pair of left and right insulation blades 10G, and a pair of left and right insulation barrel pieces 10H. The bottom wall 10E is flush with the rear end of the bottom wall of the terminal connection portion 10A. The pair of left and right side walls 10F protrude upward (in one direction in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E) from the left and right edges (pair of side edges) of the bottom wall 10E extending in the front-rear direction. The front ends of each side wall 10F are continuous with the rear ends of the left and right side walls of the terminal connection portion 10A, respectively. The thickness direction of each side wall 10F is oriented in the left-right direction. The pair of left and right side walls 10F face each other and are spaced apart in the left-right direction. The distance S between the side walls 10F is greater than the left-right dimension W of the terminal connection portion 10A (see FIG. 2).

[0017] Two pairs of left and right press-connecting blades 10G are provided, spaced apart in the front-rear direction. Each press-connecting blade 10G extends in a direction intersecting the bottom wall 10E and the side wall 10F and protrudes inward from the pair of left and right side walls 10F. Specifically, each press-connecting blade 10G is formed by cutting and raising a portion of each side wall 10F inward in the left-right direction. The pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G on the front side are cut and raised so that the inward surface of each side wall 10F in the left-right direction faces forward. The pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G on the rear side are cut and raised so that the inward surface of each side wall 10F in the left-right direction faces rearward. The pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G are spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0018] 4, each insulation displacement blade 10G has an insulation displacement blade body 10J provided on the upper side (the protruding end side of the side wall 10F) for cutting open the insulation 32 of the electric wire 30, and a holding portion 10K provided on the lower side (the bottom wall 10E side) for holding the electric wire 30. The upper edge 10L of each insulation displacement blade body 10J is formed to be inclined downward inward in the left-right direction (inclined toward the bottom wall 10E). The inner left-right edge 10M of each insulation displacement blade body 10J is formed to be connected to the lower end of the upper edge 10L and extend downward.

[0019] Each holding portion 10K is connected to the insulation displacement blade main body 10J and disposed below the insulation displacement blade main body 10J. The upper end of the left-right inner edge 10N of each holding portion 10K is connected to the lower end of the left-right inner edge 10M of each insulation displacement blade main body 10J. The upper end of the left-right inner edge 10N of each holding portion 10K and the lower end of the left-right inner edge 10M of each insulation displacement blade main body 10J form a corner 10Q that is pointed inward in the left-right direction. The upper side of the left-right inner edge 10N of each holding portion 10K is concave and curved outward in the left-right direction. In other words, the edge of each holding portion 10K away from the side wall 10F (the left-right inner edge 10N) is curved toward the side wall 10F. The radius of curvature of the edge of each holding portion 10K away from the side wall 10F is approximately the same as the radius of curvature of the core wire 31. The lower side of the inner edge 10N in the left-right direction of each holding portion 10K is formed to extend in the up-down direction.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of left and right insulation barrel pieces 10H are formed by rising one by one from the rear end of each side wall 10F. Each insulation barrel piece 10H is wound around and crimped onto the insulation 32 of the electric wire 30 (see Fig. 2). The pair of left and right insulation barrel pieces 10H are crimped onto the insulation 32 and mechanically connected thereto.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, a bead portion 10P is provided on the base of each insulation barrel piece 10H and on the bottom wall 10E located below each insulation barrel piece 10H. The bead portion 10P provided on the base of each insulation barrel piece 10H protrudes inward in the left-right direction. The bead portion 10P provided on the bottom wall 10E protrudes upward. When the pair of left and right insulation barrel pieces 10H are crimped to the coating 32, each bead portion 10P bites into the coating 32 of the electric wire 30. This prevents the electric wire 30 from slipping out of the terminal fitting 10 even if the electric wire 30 is pulled backward relative to the terminal fitting 10.

[0022] [An example of the process for attaching wires to terminal fittings] The end portion of the electric wire 30 is brought close to the electric wire connection portion 10B from above (see FIG. 4). At this time, the direction in which the electric wire 30 extends is aligned in the front-rear direction, and then the electric wire 30 is brought close to the electric wire connection portion 10B.

[0023] The electric wire 30 is guided to the left-right center by the upper edges 10L of the blade bodies 10J and enters between the pair of left and right blades 10G (see FIG. 5). Specifically, the electric wire 30 first enters between the blade bodies 10J of the pair of left and right blades 10G. Then, both left and right ends of the insulation 32 of the electric wire 30 are cut by the blade bodies 10J of the pair of left and right blades 10G. The cut surfaces formed in the insulation 32 by the blade bodies 10J face the front-rear direction (not shown). The distance S1 between the inner left and right edges 10M of the blade bodies 10J of the pair of left and right blades 10G is smaller than the outer diameter E of the core 31 of the electric wire 30 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, both left and right ends of the insulation 32 of the electric wire 30 are reliably cut open so as to expose the outer periphery of the core 31. When the pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G are pressed outward in the left-right direction by the core wire 31 of the electric wire 30, the pair of left and right side walls 10F are elastically deformed outward in the left-right direction (not shown).

[0024] When the electric wire 30 contacts the upper surface of the bottom wall 10E (see FIG. 6), it enters the space between the pair of left and right holding portions 10K. The maximum distance S2 between the inner edges 10N of the pair of left and right holding portions 10K in the left-right direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the distance S2 of the holding portions 10K) is greater than the distance S1 between the pair of left and right press-connecting blade main bodies 10J (see FIG. 5). This prevents the electric wire 30 from moving back between the pair of left and right holding portions 10K and between the pair of left and right press-connecting blade main bodies 10J. Furthermore, at this time, the electric wire 30 contacts three points: the pair of left and right corners 10Q and the upper surface of the bottom wall 10E. This facilitates determining the vertical and left-right position of the electric wire 30 relative to the terminal fitting 10, preventing misalignment. In this way, the pair of left and right holding portions 10K hold the electric wire 30. Furthermore, since the radius of curvature of the edge of each holding portion 10K away from the side wall 10F is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the core wire 31, each holding portion 10K can come into line contact with the outer periphery of the core wire 31, facilitating a stable electrical connection. The pair of left and right corners 10Q are expected to come into contact with the aluminum core wire 31 in a biting manner, which also facilitates a stable electrical connection between the core wire 31 and the holding portion 10K. As the core wire 31 moves from between the press-connecting blade main bodies 10J with the separation dimension S1 to between the holding portions 10K with the separation dimension S2, the pair of left and right side walls 10F elastically return to their original position, thereby reducing the degree of elastic deformation.

[0025] Then, the pair of left and right insulation barrel pieces 10H are wrapped around and crimped onto the coating 32 (see FIG. 2). In this way, the connection of the electric wire 30 to the electric wire connecting portion 10B is completed, and the attachment of the electric wire 30 to the terminal fitting 10 is also completed.

[0026] Next, the effects of this configuration will be illustrated. The terminal fitting 10 includes a terminal connection portion 10A to be connected to a mating terminal P, and an electric wire connection portion 10B that is continuous with the rear end of the terminal connection portion 10A and extends rearward to be connected to an electric wire 30. The electric wire connection portion 10B includes a bottom wall 10E extending in the front-rear direction, a pair of left and right side walls 10F that protrude in one direction in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E from each of a pair of side edges extending in the front-rear direction of the bottom wall 10E, and a pair of left and right pressure contact blades 10G that extend in a direction intersecting the bottom wall 10E and each side wall 10F and protrude from the pair of left and right side walls 10F. Each pressure contact blade 10G includes a pressure contact blade main body 10J provided on the protruding end of the side wall 10F and that cuts through the insulation 32 of the electric wire 30, and a holding portion 10K provided on the bottom wall 10E side to hold the electric wire 30. The distance S2 between the pair of left and right holding portions 10K is larger than the distance S1 between the pressure-connecting blade main bodies 10J of the pair of left and right pressure-connecting blades 10G.

[0027] According to this configuration, by moving the electric wire 30 between the pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G from the protruding end side of the side wall 10F toward the bottom wall 10E, the insulation displacement blade body 10J cuts open the insulation displacement blade coating 32 of the electric wire 30, and the core wire 31 is press-connected to the holding portion 10K. The separation dimension S2 between the pair of left and right holding portions 10K is larger than the separation dimension S1 between the pair of left and right press-connecting blade body portions 10J. Therefore, when the electric wire 30 is placed in the space between the pair of left and right holding portions 10K, the degree of deformation of the pair of side walls 10F is reduced compared to when the electric wire 30 is positioned between the pair of left and right press-connecting blade body portions 10J. Furthermore, since the spacing dimension S1 between the pair of left and right pressure-connecting blade main bodies 10J is smaller than the spacing dimension S2 between the pair of left and right holding portions 10K, the electric wire 30 is prevented from moving back from between the pair of left and right holding portions 10K into the space between the pair of left and right pressure-connecting blade main bodies 10J, and thus the electric wire 30 is prevented from falling off the pressure-connecting blade 10G.

[0028] The edges of the holding portions 10K that are away from the side walls 10F are curved so as to be recessed toward each side wall 10F. With this configuration, when the electric wire 30 reaches between the holding portions 10K, the edges of the holding portions 10K that are away from the side walls 10F can come into contact with the outer periphery of the core wire 31 of the electric wire 30, so that the contact distance between the insulation displacement blades 10G and the core wire 31 of the electric wire 30 can be increased, making it easier to stabilize the electrical connection.

[0029] <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.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 7, the inner edge 110N of the holding portion 110K in the left-right direction may be configured to expand linearly outward in the left-right direction as it approaches the bottom wall 10E.

[0031] Unlike the first embodiment, the press-fitting blade body and the holding portion may be formed so as to be separated in the vertical direction.

[0032] Unlike the first embodiment, the press-fit blades may be formed so as to be inclined forward or backward as they move inward in the left-right direction.

[0033] The number of pairs of left and right press-fitting blades may be one, or three or more may be arranged in the front-rear direction.

[0034] Unlike the first embodiment, the terminal connection portion may be formed in a tab shape, that is, a male terminal fitting.

[0035] Unlike the first embodiment, the radius of curvature of the edge of the holding portion away from the side wall may be larger or smaller than the radius of curvature of the core wire. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 10: Terminal fitting 10A: Terminal connection 10B: Wire connection part 10E: Bottom wall 10F: Side wall 10G: Pressure blade 10H: Insulation barrel piece 10J: Pressure blade body 10K,110K: Holding part 10L: Upper edge 10M: Inside edge of the blade body in the left and right direction 10N, 110N: Left and right inner edge of the holding part 10P: Bead part 10Q: Corner 30: Electric wire (coated wire) 31: Core wire 32: Covering E: Outer diameter P: Mating terminal S1: Distance between the pressure blade body S2: Distance between holding parts W: Left-right dimension of terminal connection part

Claims

1. a terminal connection portion to be connected to a mating terminal; an electric wire connection portion connected to a rear end of the terminal connection portion and extending rearward to be connected to an insulated electric wire; Equipped with The electric wire connection portion is a bottom wall extending in the front-rear direction; a pair of side walls projecting in one direction in a thickness direction of the bottom wall from each of a pair of side edges extending in a front-rear direction of the bottom wall; a pair of pressure contact blades extending from the pair of side walls while expanding in a direction intersecting the bottom wall and each of the side walls; and Each of the insulation displacement blades has a blade body portion provided on the protruding end side of the side wall and configured to cut through the insulation of the insulated electric wire, and a holding portion provided on the bottom wall side and configured to hold the insulated electric wire, The terminal fitting, wherein the distance between the pair of holding portions is larger than the distance between the pair of press-connecting blade main body portions.

2. The terminal fitting according to claim 1 , wherein an edge of said holding portion remote from said side wall is curved so as to be concave toward each of said side walls.

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