Electrical connection terminals

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrical connection terminal that can prevent permanent deformation or damage to the spring piece by limiting the amount of deflection of the spring piece. [Solution] The fuse terminal 1 comprises a bottom wall 4, a pair of side walls 5, 6 rising from both side edges of the bottom wall 4, a spring piece 10 extending from the tip side of the side walls 5, 6, folded inward at a bent portion 11, and extending toward the rear end, a curved contact portion 13 formed convex toward the tab terminal 50 in the middle portion along the extension direction of the spring piece 10 in order to contact the tab terminal 50 inserted between the pair of side walls 5, 6, a displacement restricting portion 19 projecting along the extension line of the free end portion 15 extending toward the rear end from the curved contact portion 13, and a groove portion 20 formed along the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the side walls 5, 6 to which the spring piece 10 is attached, which restricts the amount of deflection δ1 of the spring piece 10 by guiding the tip of the displacement restricting portion 19, which is receptacled in the groove, to move within a predetermined groove length range.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connection terminal.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, fuse terminals have been used as electrical connection terminals that are housed in pairs within the housing of an electrical connection box such as a fuse box, and a pair of tab terminals of a fuse are respectively inserted between contact spring pieces (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] For example, the fuse terminal (electrical connection terminal) of Patent Document 1 has a pair of standing side walls formed by bending on a substrate portion, and contact spring pieces (spring pieces) are integrally protruded from each end of the pair of standing side walls. These pair of contact spring pieces have respective curved portions (bending portions) that curve toward the center. The tip side from each of these curved portions can elastically contact the opposing surfaces of the inserted tab terminal of the fuse by spring force.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the conventional fuse terminal did not have a structure for restricting the distance (amount of deflection) that the tip of the spring piece on the side opposite to the curved portion moves. Therefore, there is a risk of excessively deflecting the spring piece when the tab terminal of the fuse is inserted, which may cause problems such as permanent deformation or breakage of the spring piece or the curved portion. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an electrical connection terminal that can prevent permanent deformation or damage of a spring piece by limiting the amount of deflection of the spring piece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the electrical connection terminal according to the present invention is characterized by the following: The bottom wall is flat, A pair of side walls rising upward from both side edges of the bottom wall, A spring piece extending from at least one of the front ends of the side wall, folded inward at the bent portion, and extending toward the rear end, A curved contact portion is formed in a convex shape toward the tab terminal in the intermediate portion along the extending direction of the spring piece in order to contact the tab terminal inserted between the pair of side walls, A displacement restricting portion is provided that protrudes along the extension line of the free end that extends from the curved contact portion toward the rear end, A groove is formed along the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the side wall on which the spring pieces are arranged in series, and guides the tip of the displacement restricting part, which is retracted into the groove, to move within a predetermined groove length range, thereby restricting the amount of deflection of the spring pieces. An electrical connection terminal equipped with this feature. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the electrical connection terminal of the present invention, by limiting the amount of deflection of the spring piece, permanent deformation or damage to the spring piece can be prevented.

[0008] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by referring to the attached drawings and reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments"). [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the main part of an electrical connection terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]Figure 2 is a rearward perspective view of the main part of the electrical connection terminal of this embodiment, which has been partially broken. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a rear view of the main part of the electrical connection terminal of this embodiment, partially broken. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a view of the section IV-IV in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state in which the tab terminal is inserted straight into the electrical connection terminal of this embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a key part showing a state in which a tab terminal is inserted into an electrical connection terminal in an unintended direction. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a plan view of the main part showing an electrical connection terminal in a reference example where a tab terminal has been inserted in an unintended direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the figures. (Embodiment) Figure 1 is a perspective view of the main part of a fuse terminal 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the main part of the fuse terminal 1 of this embodiment, partially broken, viewed from the rear. Figure 3 is a rear view of the main part of the electrical connection terminal 1 of this embodiment, partially broken. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 3.

[0011] A fuse terminal 1, which serves as an electrical connection terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention, is manufactured by bending a conductive member that has been punched into a predetermined shape. The fuse terminal 1 is housed in the cavity of a fuse housing (not shown).

[0012] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the "front-rear direction", the "left-right direction", and the "up-down direction" are defined. These "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "up-down direction" are orthogonal to each other. The front-rear direction coincides with the fitting direction of the fuse terminal 1 and the tab terminal 50. Looking from the fuse terminal 1, the front side in the fitting direction (the side where the tab terminal 50 approaches) is called the "front side", and the release side in the fitting direction (the side where the tab terminal 50 moves away) looking from the fuse terminal 1 is called the "rear side".

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the fuse terminal (electrical connection terminal) 1 according to the present embodiment includes a terminal connection portion 2 and a wire crimping portion 35. The terminal connection portion 2 has a rear frame body 30 and an electrical contact portion 3 connected to the front of the frame body 30.

[0014] The electrical contact portion 3 is composed of a flat bottom wall 4 and a pair of side walls 5 and 6 rising upward from both side edges of the bottom wall 4. At the left and right positions inside the electrical contact portion 3, spring pieces 10 that are folded inward at the bending portion 11 from the tip side of each side wall 5 and 6 and extend to the rear end side are provided on the pair of side walls 5 and 6, respectively. A terminal entry portion 8 is formed on the front surface of the electrical contact portion 3, and a tab terminal 50 of a fuse (not shown) can enter the electrical contact portion 3 from the terminal entry portion 8.

[0015] Each spring piece 10 contacts the tab terminal 50 of the fuse inserted between the pair of side walls 5 and 6 constituting the terminal entry portion 8. Therefore, at an intermediate portion along the extending direction (rear direction) of the spring piece 10 folded inward at the bending portion 11, a curved contact portion 13 formed convexly toward the tab terminal 50 and a displacement restricting portion 19 protruding along the extension line of the free end portion 15 extending from the curved contact portion 13 to the rear end side are provided.

[0016] Each displacement restricting portion 19 is a protruding piece having a width narrower than that of the free end portion 15 and extending on the extension line of the free end portion 15, and the tip is bent outward in the left-right direction on each of the side walls 5 and 6.

[0017] On the inner surfaces of both side walls 5 and 6, grooves 20 are formed by lance bending, where a portion of each wall is cut and bent between two slits extending in the vertical direction, causing it to protrude outward. Each groove 20 is formed on the inner surface of both side walls 5 and 6 with a predetermined groove length and extends along the front-rear direction of the terminal. The grooves are arranged to restrict the amount of deflection δ1 of the spring piece 10 by guiding the tip of the displacement restricting part 19, which is embedded in the groove, to move within a predetermined groove length range (see Figure 6).

[0018] In other words, when the spring piece 10 is bent by the tab terminal 50 inserted into the electrical contact portion 3, the free end 15 moves toward the respective side walls 5 and 6 to which the spring piece 10 is connected, as well as toward the rear end of the terminal. As a result, the tip of the displacement restricting portion 19, which is receptacled into the groove portion 20, is guided to move within a predetermined groove length range and moves toward the end face 20a on the rear end side of the groove portion 20.

[0019] When the tip of the displacement restricting portion 19 comes into contact with the rear end face 20a of the groove portion 20, the displacement restricting portion 19 cannot move any further, thus hindering the movement of the spring piece 10, and preventing the spring piece 10 from being pushed in any further. Therefore, excessive bending of the spring piece 10 can be suppressed.

[0020] The frame 30 is composed of the rear end of the bottom wall 4, the rear ends of a pair of side walls 5 and 6, a locking portion 33 formed by bending inward at approximately a right angle from the rising end of the rear end of one side wall 5, and a top wall portion 31 extending at approximately a right angle toward the side wall 5 from the rising end of the rear end of the other side wall 6.

[0021] A roughly rectangular locking hole 34 is formed in the locking portion 33, and a roughly rectangular locking piece 32 is provided protruding from the leading edge of the top wall portion 31. When the locking piece 32 is bent downward (towards the bottom wall 4) and locked into the locking hole 34, a frame 30 is formed at the rear end of the terminal connection portion 2, which is closed (continuous) around the entire circumference by the bottom wall 4, the left and right side walls 5 and 6, the locking portion 33, and the top wall portion 31. The frame 30 prevents the terminal connection portion 2 of the fuse terminal 1 from being deformed by external forces.

[0022] The wire crimping section 35 has a bottom wall 36 extending from the bottom wall 4 of the terminal connection section 2, and a pair of wire crimping sections 37, 37 extending from both ends of the bottom wall 36. The wire is crimped by crimping it with these wire crimping sections 37, 37.

[0023] Next, the operation of inserting the fuse tab terminal 50 into the fuse terminal 1 configured in this way will be explained. Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state in which the tab terminal 50 is inserted straight into the fuse terminal 1 of this embodiment. Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state in which the tab terminal 50 is inserted into the fuse terminal 1 in an unintended direction, and the state before the spring piece 10 bends is illustrated with dashed lines.

[0024] When the tab terminal 50 of the fuse enters the electrical contact portion 3 of the fuse terminal 1 through the terminal entry portion 8, the tab terminal 50 is inserted between the spring pieces 10, 10 between the pair of side walls 5, 6. Then, each spring piece 10 bends, and as shown in Figure 5, the elastic restoring force of the spring pieces 10 keeps the curved contact portion 13 and the tab terminal 50 in constant contact.

[0025] Here, when the fuse tab terminal 50 is inserted straight between the pair of spring pieces 10, 10, each spring piece 10 elastically deforms in a balanced manner on both sides, as shown in Figure 5, in the direction of separating from each other and in the direction toward the rear end of the terminal. As a result, the spring pieces 10 do not bend excessively, so that the tip of the displacement restricting portion 19 does not come into contact with the end face 20a on the rear end side of the groove portion 20 formed on both side walls 5, 6.

[0026] Furthermore, if the fuse tab terminal 50 is pushed in an unintended direction (for example, diagonally to the left rear) between the pair of spring pieces 10, 10, the left spring piece 10 connected to the side wall 6 undergoes significant elastic deformation in the direction approaching the side wall 6 and towards the rear end of the terminal, as shown in Figure 6. In this case, the tip of the displacement restricting portion 19 on the left spring piece 10, which is pushed by the tab terminal 50, comes into contact with the rear end face 20a of the groove portion 20 on the side wall 6, and the amount of deflection of the spring piece 10 (the distance the curved contact portion 13 moves) δ1 is restricted, thereby suppressing excessive deflection of the left spring piece 10.

[0027] Therefore, according to the fuse terminal 1 of this embodiment, the tip of the displacement restricting portion 19 in the spring piece 10 abuts against the rear end face 20a of the groove portion 20, thereby restricting the amount of deflection δ1 of the spring piece 10, and thus preventing permanent deformation or damage to the spring piece 10 and the bent portion 11.

[0028] Furthermore, in the fuse terminal 1 of this embodiment, spring pieces 10 are provided on a pair of side walls 5 and 6, and the tab terminal 50 of the fuse is inserted between these pairs of spring pieces 10, 10. Therefore, when the tab terminal 50 of the fuse is inserted between these pair of spring pieces 10, 10, each spring piece 10 elastically deforms in a direction that separates them from each other, thereby allowing the insertion of the tab terminal 50 of the fuse. As a result, the spring force acts evenly on each tab terminal 50 of the fuse being inserted, allowing the tab terminal 50 of the fuse to be inserted smoothly.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the fuse terminal 1 of this embodiment, the groove portion 20 is formed by lance bending, which is performed by cutting and bending between two slits extending in the rising direction on a part of the side walls 5 and 6 on which the spring pieces 10 are connected. Therefore, when forming the fuse terminal 1 from a metal plate of conductive metal (copper or copper alloy, etc.) by press processing (punching, bending), the groove portion 20 can be easily formed at the same time, thereby suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0030] (Reference example) Figure 7 is a plan view of the main part showing the state in which the tab terminal 50 is inserted into the fuse terminal 1A of the reference example in an unintended direction. Note that components of the fuse terminal 1A of the reference example that are the same as those of the fuse terminal 1 of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0031] As shown in Figure 7, the fuse terminal 1A, which serves as an electrical connection terminal in the reference example, comprises a terminal connection portion 2A and a wire crimping portion 35. The terminal connection section 2A has a rear frame 30 and an electrical contact section 3A connected to the front of the frame 30.

[0032] The electrical contact portion 3A consists of a flat bottom wall 4 and a pair of side walls 5A and 6A that rise upward from both side edges of the bottom wall 4. The side walls 5A and 6A are not provided with grooves 20 for regulating the amount of deflection of the spring piece 10A.

[0033] Within the electrical contact portion 3A, spring pieces 10A are provided on each of the pair of side walls 5A and 6A, extending inward from the tip side of each side wall 5A and 6A at the bent portion 11 and towards the rear end.

[0034] Each spring piece 10A contacts the tab terminal 50 of the fuse inserted between a pair of side walls 5A and 6A that constitute the terminal entry portion 8. It includes a curved contact portion 13 formed convexly toward the tab terminal 50 in the middle portion along the extension direction (rear direction) of the spring piece 10A that is folded inward at the bent portion 11, and a curved portion 14 formed convexly toward the inner surfaces of the side walls 5A and 6A to which the spring pieces 10A are connected, between the extension end 16 along the extension direction of the spring piece 10A and the curved contact portion 13. Each spring piece 10A is not provided with a displacement restricting portion 19.

[0035] A terminal entry portion 8 is formed on the front surface of the electrical contact portion 3A, allowing a tab terminal 50 of a fuse (not shown) to enter the electrical contact portion 3A through the terminal entry portion 8.

[0036] Furthermore, if the fuse tab terminal 50 is pushed in an unintended direction (for example, diagonally to the left and rear) between the pair of spring pieces 10A, 10A, the left spring piece 10A connected to the side wall 6A undergoes a large elastic deformation in the direction toward the side wall 6A, as shown in Figure 7.

[0037] Therefore, the left spring piece 10A is excessively deformed to the point where the curved portion 14 of the left spring piece 10A contacts the inner surface of the side wall 6A by a deflection amount δ2. As a result, the fuse terminal 1A in the reference example may suffer permanent deformation or damage to the spring piece 10A or the bent portion 11.

[0038] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc., as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, placement, etc. of each component in the embodiments described above are arbitrary and not limited, as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0039] In the fuse terminal 1 of the embodiment described above, two spring pieces 10 are provided on a pair of side walls 5 and 6, respectively, but the electrical connection terminal of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one spring piece is provided at the tip of one of the pair of side walls that rise upward from both side edges of the bottom wall, and is folded inward at the bent portion and extends toward the rear end. On the inner surface of the other side wall, a contact projection is provided, which is formed flat along the longitudinal direction of the tab terminal inserted between the pair of side walls. Then, one spring piece biases the tab terminal toward the contact projection, and the tab terminal is sandwiched between the contact projection and the spring piece.

[0040] Herein, the features of the embodiments of the electrical connection terminal according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3]. [1] A flat bottom wall (4), A pair of side walls (5,6) rise upward from both edges of the bottom wall (4), A spring piece (10) extends from the tip side of at least one of the aforementioned side walls (5:6) by being folded inward at the bent portion (11) and extending toward the rear end, In order to contact the tab terminal (50) inserted between the pair of side walls (5,6), the spring piece (10) has a curved contact portion (13) that is convex toward the tab terminal (50) in the middle portion along the extending direction of the spring piece (10), A displacement restricting portion (19) is provided along the extension line of the free end portion (15) that extends from the curved contact portion (13) toward the rear end, A groove (20) is formed along the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the side wall (5:6) on which the spring pieces (10) are connected, and guides the tip of the displacement restricting part (19) that is embedded in the groove to move within a predetermined groove length range, thereby restricting the amount of deflection (δ1) of the spring pieces (10), An electrical connection terminal (fuse terminal 1) equipped with the following.

[0041] In the electrical connection terminal (fuse terminal 1) with the configuration described in [1] above, if the tab terminal (50) is pushed in an unintended direction between the pair of side walls (5,6), the spring piece (10) pushed by the tab terminal (50) undergoes significant elastic deformation in the direction approaching the side walls (5:6) and in the direction toward the rear end of the terminal. Therefore, the tip of the displacement restricting portion (19) of the spring piece (10) pushed by the tab terminal (50) comes into contact with the end face (20a) on the rear end side of the groove portion (20) in the side walls (5:6), and the amount of deflection (δ1) of the spring piece (10) pushed by the tab terminal (50) is restricted, thereby suppressing excessive deflection of the pushed spring piece (10).

[0042] [2] The spring pieces (10) are provided on the pair of side walls (5,6), and the tab terminal (50) is inserted between these pair of spring pieces (10,10). The electrical connection terminal (fuse terminal 1) described in [1] above.

[0043] According to the electrical connection terminal (fuse terminal 1) with the configuration described in [2] above, when a tab terminal (50) is inserted between these pair of spring pieces (10, 10), each spring piece (10) elastically deforms in a direction that separates them from each other, thereby allowing the insertion of the tab terminal (50). As a result, the spring force acts on the inserted tab terminal (50) in a balanced manner on both sides, allowing the tab terminal (50) to be inserted smoothly.

[0044] [3] The groove (20) is formed by lance bending, which is performed by cutting and bending between two slits extending in the rising direction in a part of the side wall (5,6) on which the spring pieces (10) are connected. The electrical connection terminal (fuse terminal 1) as described in [2] above.

[0045] According to the electrical connection terminal (fuse terminal 1) with the configuration described in [3] above, when the electrical connection terminal (fuse terminal 1) is formed by press working from a metal plate of conductive metal, the groove (20) can be easily formed at the same time, thereby suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1…Electrical connection terminal (fuse terminal) 4…Bottom wall 5,6…Side wall 10... Spring piece 11...Folded part 13... Curved contact section 15...Free end 19... Displacement control section 20… Groove 50... Tab terminals

Claims

1. The bottom wall is flat, A pair of side walls rising upward from both side edges of the bottom wall, A spring piece extending from at least one of the front ends of the side wall, folded inward at the bent portion, and extending toward the rear end, A curved contact portion is formed in a convex shape toward the tab terminal in the intermediate portion along the extending direction of the spring piece in order to contact the tab terminal inserted between the pair of side walls, A displacement restricting portion is provided that protrudes along the extension line of the free end that extends from the curved contact portion toward the rear end, A groove is formed along the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the side wall on which the spring pieces are arranged in series, and the amount of deflection of the spring pieces is restricted by guiding the tip of the displacement restricting part, which is retracted into the groove, to move within a predetermined groove length range, An electrical connection terminal equipped with this feature.

2. The spring pieces are provided on each of the pair of side walls, and the tab terminal is inserted between these pair of spring pieces. The electrical connection terminal according to claim 1.

3. The groove is formed by lance bending, which is performed by cutting and bending the space between two slits extending in the rising direction in a part of the side wall on which the spring pieces are connected. The electrical connection terminal according to claim 2.

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