Connectors and male terminals

Abstract

This technology provides a way to reduce damage to terminals caused by arc discharge. [Solution] The connector comprises a female terminal having an insertion opening, a first contact portion formed inside the insertion opening, and a second contact portion formed inside the insertion opening and biasing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the biasing direction of the first contact portion, and a male terminal 10 that is inserted into the insertion opening, having a pair of first side surfaces 12 that can contact the first contact portion, and a pair of second side surfaces 14 that can contact the second contact portion. The second contact portion contacts the male terminal on the insertion opening side of the first contact portion, and the first side surfaces 12 have a first tapered surface 12a that slopes to taper toward the tip. The second side surfaces 14 have a second tapered surface 14a that slopes to taper toward the tip.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a female terminal having two contact portions, a connector including a male terminal that can be inserted into the female terminal, and the male terminal.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal body including a female terminal and a male terminal inserted into the female terminal. The female terminal has a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls extending from the bottom wall, a main contact disposed along the bottom wall, and an arc discharge contact disposed in front of the main contact along each of the pair of side walls. When the male terminal is inserted into the female terminal, before the male terminal contacts the main contact, it contacts at least one of the arc discharge contacts, and arc discharge between the male terminal and the female terminal occurs at the arc discharge contact.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Although the arc discharge contacts described in Patent Document 1 are provided, if the time during which arc discharge occurs becomes long, there is a risk that damage to the terminals will progress excessively.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing damage to terminals due to arc discharge.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a connector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a female terminal having an insertion opening, a first contact portion formed inside the insertion opening, and a second contact portion formed inside the insertion opening and biasing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the biasing direction of the first contact portion, and a male terminal having a pair of first sides that can contact the first contact portion and a pair of second sides that can contact the second contact portion, and being inserted into the insertion opening. The second contact portion contacts the male terminal on the insertion opening side of the first contact portion, and the first sides have a first tapered surface that slopes to taper toward the tip. The second sides have a second tapered surface that slopes to taper toward the tip.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a male terminal. This male terminal is inserted into a female terminal having an insertion opening, a first contact portion formed inside the insertion opening, and a second contact portion formed inside the insertion opening and biasing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the biasing direction of the first contact portion, and comprises a pair of first sides that can contact the first contact portion and a pair of second sides that can contact the second contact portion. The first sides have a first tapered surface that slopes to taper toward the tip. The second sides have a second tapered surface that slopes to taper toward the tip. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a technology can be provided to suppress damage to terminals caused by arc discharge. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the male terminal of the example. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the connector in the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a diagram illustrating the process of inserting a male connector into a female connector. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the change in insertion force during the process of inserting a male terminal into a female terminal. [Figure 5] This figure shows the change in the separation force during the process of a male terminal being separated from a female terminal. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Figure 1 shows a male terminal 10 of an embodiment. Figure 1(a) is a top view of the male terminal 10, Figure 1(b) is a side view of the male terminal 10, and Figure 1(c) is a front view of the male terminal 10. The male terminal 10 is inserted into the female terminal, which will be described later, to form a connector and make an electrical connection.

[0011] The male terminal 10 is formed in a rectangular prism shape, with its longitudinal side running along the central axis. The cross-section of the male terminal 10 is rectangular. The male terminal 10 has a first side surface 12, a second side surface 14, and a tip 16. As shown in Figure 1(c), the tip 16 is formed in a planar shape.

[0012] The male terminal 10 comprises a pair of first sides 12 and a pair of second sides 14. The first sides 12 and the second sides 14 are connected. The first side 12 has a first tapered surface 12a on the tip 16 side. The second side 14 has a second side 14 on the tip 16 side. The pair of first sides 12 extend in parallel, and the pair of second sides 14 extend in parallel. As shown in Figure 1(c), the first width W2 of the first side 12 is greater than the second width W1 of the second side 14.

[0013] The pair of first tapered surfaces 12a are inclined to taper towards the tip 16 and to widen from the tip 16 towards the base. The pair of second tapered surfaces 14a have second sides 14 that are inclined to taper towards the tip 16 and to widen from the tip 16 towards the base. The formation of not only the first tapered surfaces 12a but also the second tapered surfaces 14a makes insertion into the female terminal easier and allows for faster removal from the female terminal.

[0014] The first inclination angle θ1 of the first tapered surface 12a is smaller than the second inclination angle θ2 of the second tapered surface 14a. The second inclination angle θ2 is set in the range of 40 to 50 degrees. The first inclination angle θ1 is set in the range of 15 to 25 degrees. In any case, the first inclination angle θ1 of the first tapered surface 12a is 15 degrees or more smaller than the second inclination angle θ2 of the second tapered surface 14a.

[0015] The longitudinal length L1 of the first tapered surface 12a is longer than the longitudinal length L2 of the second tapered surface 14a. In other words, the first tapered surface 12a extends longitudinally to a position further from the tip 16 than the second tapered surface 14a. In other words, the second tapered surface 14a is shorter than the first tapered surface 12a.

[0016] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1 of the embodiment. Figure 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1 along the second side surface 14, and Figure 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1 along the first side surface 12. The female terminal 20 has an insertion opening 22, a first contact portion 24a, a first contact portion 24b, a second contact portion 26, a base portion 28, a first connecting portion 30a, and a second connecting portion 30b.

[0017] The base portion 28 has a bottom portion 32 and a pair of side wall portions 34. The pair of side wall portions 34 are erected from both edges of the bottom portion 32 and are positioned opposite each other. An insertion opening 22 is formed at one end of the female terminal 20, and a second connection portion 30b is formed at the other end. The side wall portion 34 is located on the one end side. The first connection portion 30a and the second connection portion 30b are located on the other end side and are erected from the base portion 28. The first connection portion 30a and the second connection portion 30b are connected to an electric wire and can be crimped for connection to an electric wire.

[0018] The insertion opening 22 is located at one end of the female terminal 20, and the male terminal 10 can be inserted into it. The first contact portion 24a and the first contact portion 24b shown in Figure 2(b) are located opposite each other. The first contact portion 24a extends from the bottom 32 of the base portion 28 and bends so as to fold back on the insertion opening 22 side. The first contact portion 24a is a cantilever piece, its tip is a free end, and it is formed to be more flexible than the first contact portion 24b. The first contact portion 24b is supported on both sides by a pair of side wall portions 34. The first contact portion 24a is flexible in the opposite direction. The first contact portion 24a and the first contact portion 24b are sometimes collectively referred to simply as the first contact portion 24.

[0019] The second contact portion 26 is formed on each of the pair of side wall portions 34 and is provided in a pair. The second contact portion 26 is formed so as to notch the side wall portion 34 and is a cantilever extending to one end side. The pair of second contact portions 26 approach each other from the base to one end and are bent in a direction in which the tip sides are separated from each other. The pair of second contact portions 26 can be bent in the opposing direction.

[0020] The first contact portion 24 and the second contact portion 26 are located inside the insertion port 22. The direction in which the first contact portion 24 is biased and the direction in which the second contact portion 26 is biased are substantially orthogonal. The opening of the insertion port 22 is at the first position P1.

[0021] The second position P2 indicates the position where the second contact portion 26 contacts the male terminal 10. The third position P3 indicates the position where the first contact portion 24 contacts the male terminal 10. The second contact portion 26 contacts the male terminal 10 closer to the insertion port 22 side than the first contact portion 24.

[0022] The male terminal 10 is inserted into the insertion port 22. The pair of first side surfaces 12 contact the first contact portion 24. The pair of second side surfaces 14 contact the second contact portion 26. The female terminal 20 receives the male terminal 10, the first contact portion 24 biases the pair of first side surfaces 12, and the second contact portion 26 biases the pair of second side surfaces 14. The biasing force of the first contact portion 24 is larger than the biasing force of the second contact portion 26.

[0023] When the male terminal 10 is pulled out from the state of being inserted into the female terminal 20, when the contact with the first contact portion 24 is disengaged, the contact at the second contact portion 26 is supported, and then the contact with the second contact portion 26 is disengaged. Therefore, even if an arc discharge occurs, it does not occur in the first contact portion 24 but occurs in the second contact portion 26. The first contact portion 24 is a contact for conduction, and the second contact portion 26 is a contact for arc discharge.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the process in which the male terminal 10 is inserted into the female terminal 20. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the change in the insertion force during the process in which the male terminal 10 is inserted into the female terminal 20.

[0025] In Figure 4, the vertical axis represents the insertion force F, and the horizontal axis represents time t. Figure 4 shows the second insertion force 40 generated on the second side surface 14 and the second contact portion 26, the first insertion force 42 generated on the first side surface 12 and the first contact portion 24, and the total insertion force 44 which is the sum of the second insertion force 40 and the first insertion force 42.

[0026] Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show the state in which the tip 16 of the male terminal 10 has been inserted to the second position P2. At time t1 shown in Figure 4, the tip 16 of the male terminal 10 shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b) has been inserted to the second position P2, and the second tapered surface 14a of the second side surface 14 begins to contact the second contact portion 26 and receives a biasing force.

[0027] From time t1 to time t2, the second insertion force 40 against the second contact portion 26 increases. Since the first insertion force 42 against the first contact portion 24 does not increase, the total insertion force 44 is the same as the second insertion force 40. The second tapered surface 14a causes the second insertion force 40 to increase smoothly. As a result, the male terminal 10 is inserted smoothly into the second contact portion 26 without getting caught, and the time during which arc discharge occurs can be shortened.

[0028] Figures 3(c) and 3(d) show the state in which the tip 16 of the male terminal 10 has been inserted to the third position P3. When the tip 16 reaches the third position P3, it coincides with time t2 in Figure 4. Time t2 is the timing when the first tapered surface 12a begins to be biased from the first contact portion 24.

[0029] From time t2 to time t3, the second insertion force 40 applied to the second contact portion 26 decreases. This is because at time t2, the second tapered surface 14a reaches the peak of the second contact portion 26, and after time t2, it passes the peak of the second contact portion 26. As the second tapered surface 14a passes the peak of the second contact portion 26, the second insertion force 40 decreases. The peak of the second contact portion 26 is located at or near the position where the pair of second contact portions 26 are closest together.

[0030] From time t2, the first insertion force 42 applied to the first contact point 24 increases. From time t2, the first tapered surface 12a begins to receive biasing force from the first contact point 24, and reaches its peak at time t3.

[0031] The first insertion force 42, generated by the contact between the first tapered surface 12a and the first contact portion, falls below its peak in a downward region from time t2. This overlaps with the second insertion force 40, generated by the contact between the second tapered surface 14a and the second contact portion 26, which rises towards its peak from time t2. As a result, the insertion force in the upward region becomes greater than the second insertion force 40 in the downward region. Therefore, from time t2 to time t3, the total insertion force 44 does not decrease but increases. Consequently, the peak of the total insertion force 44 occurs only once at time t3. This makes it easier for the user to recognize completion of insertion when inserting the male terminal 10 into the female terminal 20, allowing for smooth insertion.

[0032] Figures 3(e) and 3(f) show the state where the tip 16 of the male terminal 10 is inserted further in than the third position P3, the first tapered surface 12a is about to pass the third position P3, and the first insertion force 42 of the first tapered surface 12a and the first contact portion 24 has reached its peak. At time t3 shown in Figure 4, the first insertion force 42 has reached its peak.

[0033] From time t3 to time t4, the first insertion force 42 decreases, while the second insertion force 40 remains constant. Therefore, the total insertion force 44 decreases in accordance with the decrease in the first insertion force 42. From time t4 onward, both the first insertion force 42 and the second insertion force 40 become constant, and the total insertion force 44 also becomes constant.

[0034] As described above, the total insertion force 44 generated when the male terminal 10 is inserted into the female terminal 20 has only one peak at time t3. This is because the first insertion force 42 begins to increase before time t2 when the second insertion force 40 reaches its peak, and from time t2 to time t3 the first insertion force 42 is greater than the second insertion force 40.

[0035] Figure 5 shows the change in release force during the process of the male terminal 10 being released from the female terminal 20. In Figure 5, the vertical axis represents the release force F, and the horizontal axis represents time t. Figure 5 shows the second release force 46 generated at the second side surface 14 and the second contact portion 26, the first release force 48 generated at the first side surface 12 and the first contact portion 24, and the total release force 50 which is the sum of the second insertion force 40 and the first insertion force 42. The release process shown in Figure 5 is the reverse process of the insertion process shown in Figure 3, so it will be explained with reference to Figure 3 as well.

[0036] The worker pulls the male terminal 10 out of the female terminal 20 at time t5. From time t5 to time t6, the first release force 48 and the second release force 46 remain constant. From time t6, the first contact portion 24 begins to press against the first tapered surface 12a, and the first release force 48 begins to decrease.

[0037] At time t7, the second contact point 26 begins to press against the second tapered surface 14a, and the second release force 46 begins to decrease. As the force with which the second contact point 26 presses against the second tapered surface 14a becomes greater than the frictional force, the second release force 46 becomes zero or less, and the male terminal 10 detaches from the female terminal 20 without being pulled. At time t8, the second release force 46 becomes larger, and the first release force 48 is close to zero, so the total release force 50 also becomes zero or less. Because the second inclination angle θ2 of the second tapered surface 14a is large, a large proportion of the biasing force of the second contact point 26 is converted into release force.

[0038] This shortens the time the male terminal 10 is in contact with the second tapered surface 14a and the second contact portion 26 when it detaches. Therefore, even if an arc discharge occurs on the second tapered surface 14a and the second contact portion 26, the duration of the arc discharge can be shortened, and the effects of the arc discharge can be reduced.

[0039] The present disclosure has been explained above based on the examples described. The present disclosure is not limited to the examples described above, and various modifications such as design changes can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0040] Although the embodiment shows the second tapered surface 14a being formed flat, it is not limited to this embodiment and may be formed in a curved, concave shape. This allows for a momentary increase in the force acting in the detachment direction when the male terminal 10 is detached. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 1 Connector, 10 Male terminal, 12 First side, 14 Second side, 12a First tapered surface, 14a Second tapered surface, 16 Tip, 20 Female terminal, 22 Insertion opening, 24a, 24b First contact part, 26 Second contact part, 28 Base part, 30a First connection part, 30b Second connection part, 34 Side wall part, 32 Bottom part, 24 First contact part, 40 Second insertion force, 42 First insertion force, 44 Total insertion force, 46 Second release force, 48 First release force, 50 Total release force.

Claims

1. A female terminal having an insertion opening, a first contact portion formed inside the insertion opening, and a second contact portion formed inside the insertion opening and biasing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the biasing direction of the first contact portion, A male terminal is inserted into the insertion opening, having a pair of first sides that can contact the first contact portion and a pair of second sides that can contact the second contact portion. The second contact portion contacts the male terminal on the insertion side of the first contact portion, The first side surface has a first tapered surface that slopes to become narrower towards the tip, The connector is characterized in that the second side surface has a second tapered surface that slopes to become narrower towards the tip.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the first inclination angle of the first tapered surface is smaller than the second inclination angle of the second tapered surface.

3. The male terminal is formed in an elongated shape, The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first tapered surface extends longitudinally from the tip of the male terminal to a position further away from the second tapered surface.

4. The first contact portion biases the first tapered surface when the male terminal is inserted. The second contact portion biases the second tapered surface when the male terminal is inserted. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a descending region in which the insertion force generated by the contact between the second tapered surface and the second contact portion decreases below its peak overlaps with an ascending region in which the insertion force generated by the contact between the first tapered surface and the first contact portion increases towards its peak, and the insertion force in the ascending region is greater than the insertion force in the descending region.

5. A male terminal to be inserted into a female terminal having an insertion opening, a first contact portion formed inside the insertion opening, and a second contact portion formed inside the insertion opening that biases in a direction substantially perpendicular to the biasing direction of the first contact portion, A pair of first surfaces that can contact the first contact portion, It comprises a pair of second sides that can contact the second contact portion, The first side surface has a first tapered surface that slopes to become narrower towards the tip, The male terminal is characterized in that the second side surface has a second tapered surface that slopes to become narrower towards the tip.

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