Terminal metal fitting

Abstract

To provide a technique that can make an inward expansion dimension of an insulation displacement blade larger using a metal material subjected to plating processing, while preventing the plating from being torn off.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 extended 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 first side walls 10F protruding in one direction of a plate thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E from each of a left side edge and a right side edge extending in the longitudinal direction in the bottom wall 10E; and a pair of left and right insulation displacement blades 10G that expand inwardly in a lateral direction while extending in a cantilever shape frontward and backward from the side walls 10F.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a pressure-displacement terminal that cuts open the insulation displacement coating of an electric wire using opposing pressure-displacement blades. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-313448 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is preferable that the surface of the terminal fitting that comes into contact with the core wire of the electric wire is plated. For example, when forming the insulation displacement blade as in Patent Document 1 using a pre-plated (i.e., pre-plated) metal material, the front and rear ends of the insulation displacement blade are connected to the side wall, so if the protrusion dimension of the insulation displacement blade is increased, the insulation displacement blade will be stretched in the front-rear direction, and there is a concern that the plating applied to the surface will peel off. For this reason, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the protrusion dimension of the insulation displacement blade cannot be made too large. It is possible to solve the problem of plating peeling by plating the terminal fitting after the press working is completed (i.e., post-plating), but this is time-consuming and not preferable.

[0005] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure was completed based on the above circumstances, and aims to provide a technology that uses pre-plated metal material and allows for a large inward protrusion dimension of the pressure-contact blade while preventing the plating from peeling off. [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 first side walls protruding in one direction in a thickness direction of the bottom wall from each of a left edge and a right edge of the bottom wall extending in a front-rear direction; a pair of press-connecting blades extending in a cantilevered manner from each of the first side walls in at least one of forward and rearward directions and projecting inward in the left-right direction; It has the following characteristics. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a pre-plated metal material can be used, and the inward protrusion dimension of the pressure contact blades can be made large while preventing the plating from peeling off. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal fitting according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a terminal fitting to which an electric wire is connected in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part showing the electric wire connection part and its surroundings in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the main part showing the electric wire connection part and its surroundings in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a main part showing an electric wire connecting portion and its surroundings in the terminal fitting of the first embodiment to which an electric wire is connected. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a terminal fitting according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the main part showing the electric wire connection part and its surroundings in the second 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 first side walls protruding in one direction in a thickness direction of the bottom wall from each of a left edge and a right edge of the bottom wall extending in a front-rear direction; a pair of press-connecting blades extending in a cantilevered manner from each of the first side walls in at least one of forward and rearward directions and projecting inward in the left-right direction; The terminal fitting has

[0010] The pair of insulation displacement blades in the terminal fitting (1) are cantilevered in at least one of the forward and backward directions, so even if the insulation displacement blades are extended inward in the left-right direction, there is no concern that the metal material will be stretched in the forward and backward direction. Therefore, it is possible to increase the inward extension of the insulation displacement blades in the left-right direction without worrying about the plating peeling. Here, the term "extended" does not mean a stretched state, but means a state that is long in one direction, and this term will be used in the same sense hereinafter.

[0011] (2) The wire connection portion includes a pair of second side walls that protrude in one direction in a thickness direction of the bottom wall from the left edge and the right edge that extend in the front-rear direction of the bottom wall; a pair of auxiliary pieces extending in a cantilevered manner from each of the second side walls in at least one of a forward direction and a rearward direction and facing each of the press-contact blades from outside in the left-right direction so as to be able to come into contact with the press-contact blades; The terminal fitting according to (1), further comprising:

[0012] In the terminal fitting (2), the auxiliary pieces face the insulation displacement blades from the outside in the left and right direction so as to be able to contact the blades, thereby making it possible to compensate for the contact pressure of the cantilevered insulation displacement blades against the core wire of the insulated electric wire.

[0013] (3) The center portion of each of the press-connecting blades in the front-rear direction is positioned inward in the left-right direction from both end portions in the front-rear direction to form a V-shape, The terminal fitting according to (2), wherein the protruding end of each of the auxiliary pieces is arranged so as to fit into the center of the front-rear direction of each of the press-connecting blades from the outer side in the left-right direction.

[0014] (3) The terminal fitting can be configured so that the protruding end of the auxiliary piece is located immediately behind the part of the pressure-connecting blade that is connected to the core wire of the insulated electric wire, thereby efficiently compensating for the contact pressure of the pressure-connecting blade.

[0015] [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 5. 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).

[0016] 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.

[0017] [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).

[0018] The wire connection portion 10B has a flat bottom wall 10E elongated in the front-rear direction, a pair of left and right first side walls 10F, a pair of left and right insulation displacement blades 10G, a pair of left and right second side walls 10S, a pair of left and right auxiliary pieces 10T, 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 first side walls 10F protrude upward (in one direction in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E) from the left and right edges of the bottom wall 10E extending in the front-rear direction. The thickness direction of each first side wall 10F faces the left-right direction. The pair of left and right first side walls 10F face each other and are spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, two pairs of left and right press blades 10G are provided, spaced apart in the front-rear direction. The front pair of left and right press blades 10G extend forward in a cantilevered manner from the pair of left and right first side walls 10F. The rear pair of left and right press blades 10G extend rearward in a cantilevered manner from the pair of left and right first side walls 10F. When viewed from above, the front-rear center portion of each press blade 10G is positioned laterally inward relative to both front-rear end portions and is formed to protrude in a V-shape (see FIG. 4). A recess 10Q is formed on the outer side of each press blade 10G in the left-right direction, recessed inward in the left-right direction (see FIG. 4). The upper edge of each press blade 10G is subjected to a surface pressing process so as to slope downward inward in the left-right direction toward the bottom wall 10E.

[0020] The pair of left and right second side walls 10S is provided in front of the pair of left and right first side walls 10F and in rear of the pair of left and right side walls 10F. The pair of left and right second side walls 10S protrude upward (in one direction in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E) from each of the left and right edges extending in the front-rear direction of the bottom wall 10E. The thickness direction of each second side wall 10S faces the left-right direction. The pair of left and right second side walls 10S face each other and are spaced apart in the left-right direction. The front ends of the pair of left and right second side walls 10S on the front side are continuous with the rear ends of the left and right side walls of the terminal connection portion 10A, respectively.

[0021] A pair of left and right auxiliary pieces 10T is provided on each of the pair of left and right front second side walls 10S and the pair of left and right rear second side walls 10S. Each auxiliary piece 10T is connected to the upper edge of the corresponding second side wall 10S and is folded inward in the left-right direction. The pair of left and right front auxiliary pieces 10T extend in a cantilevered manner rearward from the pair of left and right front second side walls 10S, and have protruding ends 10R bent inward in the left-right direction at their distal ends (rear ends). The pair of left and right rear auxiliary pieces 10T extend in a cantilevered manner forward from the pair of left and right rear second side walls 10S, and have protruding ends 10R bent inward in the left-right direction at their distal ends (front ends). In other words, the pair of left and right auxiliary pieces 10T extend in a cantilevered manner forward and rearward from each second side wall 10S.

[0022] 4, the protruding end 10R of each auxiliary piece 10T is arranged to face the respective press blade 10G so as to be able to contact the respective press blades 10G from the outside in the left-right direction. Each protruding end 10R is arranged to fit from the outside in the left-right direction into a recess 10Q formed in the center of the press blade 10G in the front-rear direction. The part of each protruding end 10R located most inward in the left-right direction is positioned in the same position in the front-rear direction as the part of each press blade 10G that protrudes most inward in the left-right direction.

[0023] 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 the rear second side wall 10S. Each insulation barrel piece 10H is wrapped 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.

[0024] [An example of the process for attaching wires to terminal fittings] After aligning the direction in which the electric wires 30 extend in the front-rear direction, the end portions of the electric wires 30 are brought close to the electric wire connection portion 10B from above.

[0025] When the electric wire 30 enters between the pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G, the pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G cut open both left and right ends of the insulation 32 of the electric wire 30. Since the distance S1 between the pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G is smaller than the outer diameter E of the core wire 31 of the electric wire 30 (see FIG. 5), the insulation 32 of the electric wire 30 is reliably cut open by the pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G.

[0026] At this time, a pressing force is applied outward in the left-right direction to the pair of left and right insulation displacement blades 10G from the core wire 31 of the electric wire. As a result, each insulation displacement blade 10G elastically deforms outward in the left-right direction and comes into contact with each auxiliary piece 10T (see FIG. 5). When each auxiliary piece 10T is pressed outward in the left-right direction by the insulation displacement blade 10G it comes into contact with, it generates an elastic repulsive force inward in the left-right direction, and this elastic repulsive force assists the contact pressure of each insulation displacement blade 10G against the core wire 31. At this time, when viewed from above, each insulation displacement blade 10G comes into contact with the core wire 31 of the electric wire 30 with a width in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 5).

[0027] 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 first side walls 10F that protrude in one direction in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E from each of the left and right edges of the bottom wall 10E that extend in the front-rear direction, and a pair of left and right insulation displacement blades 10G that extend forward and rearward in a cantilevered manner from each first side wall 10F and jut inward in the left-right direction.

[0028] With this configuration, the pair of left and right press-connecting blades 10G extend forward and backward in a cantilevered manner, so even if the press-connecting blades 10G extend inward in the left-right direction in a large dimension, there is no concern that the metal material will be stretched in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, it is possible to increase the inward extension dimension of the press-connecting blades 10G in the left-to-right direction without worrying about the plating peeling off.

[0029] The wire connecting portion 10B further includes a pair of left and right second side walls 10S protruding in one direction in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E from each of the left and right edges extending in the front-rear direction of the bottom wall 10E, and a pair of left and right auxiliary pieces 10T extending forward and rearward in a cantilevered manner from each second side wall 10S and facing each insulation displacement blade 10G so as to be able to come into contact with it from the outside in the left-right direction. With this configuration, the auxiliary pieces 10T cover the insulation displacement blades 10G from the outside in the left-right direction, thereby making it possible to compensate for the contact pressure of the cantilevered insulation displacement blades 10G against the core wire 31 of the wire 30.

[0030] The central portion of each insulation displacement blade 10G in the front-rear direction is positioned laterally inward relative to both ends in the front-rear direction, forming a V-shape. The protruding end portion 10R of each auxiliary piece 10T is positioned so as to fit from the outside in the left-right direction into a recess 10Q formed in the central portion of each insulation displacement blade 10G in the front-rear direction. With this configuration, the protruding end portion 10R of the auxiliary piece 10T can be positioned immediately behind the portion of the insulation displacement blade 10G that is connected to the core wire 31 of the electric wire 30, making it possible to efficiently compensate for the contact pressure of the insulation displacement blade 10G.

[0031] <Embodiment 2> A terminal fitting 110 of embodiment 2 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The terminal fitting 110 of embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in the configurations of a pair of left and right first side walls 110F, a pair of left and right press-contact blades 110G, a pair of left and right second side walls 110S, and a pair of left and right auxiliary pieces 110T. The same components as in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, the wire connection portion 110B has a flat bottom wall 10E that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction, a pair of left and right first side walls 110F, a pair of left and right pressure-connecting blades 110G, a pair of left and right second side walls 110S, a pair of left and right auxiliary pieces 110T, and a pair of left and right insulation barrel pieces 10H.

[0033] Two pairs of left and right first side walls 110F are provided, spaced apart in the front-rear direction. The pair of left and right first side walls 110F protrude upward (in one direction in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E) from each of the left and right edges of the bottom wall 10E, which extend in the front-rear direction. The thickness direction of each first side wall 110F faces the left-right direction. The pair of left and right first side walls 110F face each other and are spaced apart in the left-right direction. The front ends of the pair of left and right first side walls 110F on the front side are continuous with the rear ends of the left and right side walls of the terminal connection portion 10A, respectively.

[0034] The pair of left and right press blades 110G is provided on each of the pair of left and right front first side walls 110F and the pair of left and right rear first side walls 110F. Each press blade 110G is connected to the upper edge of the corresponding first side wall 110F and folded back inward in the left-right direction. The pair of left and right front press blades 110G extend cantilevered rearward from the pair of left and right front first side walls 110F. The pair of left and right rear press blades 110G extend cantilevered forward from the pair of left and right rear first side walls 110F. When viewed from above, the center of each press blade 110G in the front-to-rear direction is positioned inward in the left-to-right direction relative to both end portions in the front-to-rear direction and is formed to protrude in a V-shape. A recess 110Q is formed on the outer side of the cantilevered portion of each press blade 110G, recessed inward in the left-to-right direction (see FIG. 7). The upper edge of the cantilevered portion of each press-connecting blade 110G is subjected to a surface pressing process so as to be inclined downward inward in the left-right direction.

[0035] The pair of left and right second side walls 110S are disposed between the front first side wall 110F and the rear first side wall 110F. The pair of left and right second side walls 110S protrude upward (in one direction in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 10E) from each of the left and right edges of the bottom wall 10E. The thickness direction of each second side wall 110S faces the left-right direction. The pair of left and right second side walls 110S face each other and are spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0036] The pair of left and right auxiliary pieces 110T are provided in pairs on the front and rear sides of the pair of left and right second side walls 110S. The pair of left and right auxiliary pieces 110T on the front side extend forward and inward in the left-right direction from the front ends of the pair of left and right second side walls 110S in a cantilevered manner. The pair of left and right auxiliary pieces 110T on the rear side extend backward and inward in the left-right direction from the rear ends of the pair of left and right second side walls 110S in a cantilevered manner.

[0037] Each auxiliary piece 110T is arranged to face each press contact blade 110G from the outside in the left-right direction so as to be able to come into contact with it. Each auxiliary piece 110T is arranged to fit into a recess 110Q from the outside in the left-right direction (see FIG. 7). The part of each auxiliary piece 110T that is positioned most inward in the left-right direction is positioned in the same position in the front-rear direction as the part of each press contact blade 110G that protrudes most inward in the left-right direction (see FIG. 7).

[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 and second embodiments, a configuration may be adopted in which only one pair of left and right press blades and one pair of left and right auxiliary pieces are provided. That is, the pair of left and right press blades may be configured to extend inward in the left-right direction while cantilevering from each first side wall in at least one of the forward and rearward directions. The pair of left and right auxiliary pieces may be configured to extend in a cantilevered manner from the second side wall in at least one of the forward and rearward directions while facing each press blade from the outside in the left-right direction so as to be able to come into contact with each press blade. Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which three or more pairs of left and right press blades and one pair of left and right auxiliary pieces are provided.

[0040] Unlike the first embodiment, the terminal connection portion may be formed in a tab shape, that is, a male terminal fitting.

[0041] Unlike the first embodiment, the central portion of each press blade in the front-rear direction may be curved inward in the left-right direction in a U-shape or bent in a rectangular shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 10,110: Terminal fittings 10A: Terminal connection 10B, 110B: Wire connection part 10E: Bottom wall 10F, 110F: 1st side wall 10G, 110G: Pressure blade 10H: Insulation barrel piece 10Q, 110Q: recess 10R:Protruding end 10S, 110S: 2nd side wall 10T,110T: Auxiliary piece 30: Electric wire 31: Core wire 32: Covering E: Outer diameter P: Mating terminal S1: Spacing dimension

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 first side walls projecting in one direction in a thickness direction of the bottom wall from each of a left edge and a right edge of the bottom wall extending in a front-rear direction; a pair of press-connecting blades extending in a cantilevered manner from each of the first side walls in at least one of forward and rearward directions and projecting inward in the left-right direction; The terminal fitting has

2. The wire connection portion includes a pair of second side walls that protrude in one direction in a thickness direction of the bottom wall from the left edge and the right edge, which extend in a front-rear direction of the bottom wall; a pair of auxiliary pieces extending in a cantilevered manner from each of the second side walls in at least one of a forward direction and a rearward direction and facing each of the press-contact blades from outside in the left-right direction so as to be able to come into contact with the press-contact blades; The terminal fitting according to claim 1 , further comprising:

3. a central portion of each of the press-connecting blades in the front-rear direction is positioned inward in the left-right direction relative to both end portions in the front-rear direction, forming a V-shape; 3. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the protruding end of each of the auxiliary pieces is arranged to fit into a central portion of each of the press-connecting blades in the front-rear direction from the outer side in the left-right direction.

Images