Electrical wire with terminals

Abstract

The objective is to provide a wire with terminals that can properly connect the conductor and the connection point. [Solution] The wire with terminal 1 comprises a wire W whose outer circumference is covered with a covering portion W2 and whose tip has a conductor portion W1 exposed, and a terminal 50 which is electrically connected to the conductor portion W1 and includes a plate-shaped connecting portion 51 having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. The connecting portion 51 includes a joining surface 51a that joins with the conductor portion W1 and a recess 53 provided on the joining surface 51a. The recess 53 has an oval shape with a major axis La and a minor axis Sa, and is provided so that the transverse axis Sa intersects the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 51.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire with a terminal.

Background Art

[0002] As a technology related to a conventional wire with a terminal, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wire with a terminal in which a terminal end of a wire is connected to a terminal having a wire connection portion with a bottom. The terminal is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The wire connection portion has a smooth bottom wall, and a convex portion formed of a ridge is provided protruding obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wire on the smooth surface, and the convex portion is directly connected to the conductor of the terminal end of the wire by resistance welding.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, such a wire with a terminal has, for example, a conductor portion exposed at the tip of a wire covering the conductor portion and a connection portion of a terminal electrically connected to the conductor portion joined by resistance welding. However, there is room for further improvement in joining the conductor portion and the connection portion.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a wire with a terminal that can properly realize the joining of a conductor portion and a connection portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the wire with a terminal of the present invention comprises a wire whose outer circumference is covered with a covering portion and whose tip is exposed with a conductor portion, and a terminal that is electrically connected to the conductor portion and includes a plate-shaped connecting portion having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, wherein the connecting portion includes a joining surface that joins with the conductor portion and a recess provided on the joining surface, the recess is oval in shape having a long axis and a short axis, and is provided so that the short axis intersects with the longitudinal direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The terminal-equipped wire according to the present invention has the effect of enabling proper joining of the conductor portion and the connection portion. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a wire with terminals according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a wire with terminals according to an embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Furthermore, some of the components in the following embodiments may be easily substituted or substantially identical to those that are easily substituted by those skilled in the art.

[0010] [Embodiment] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the terminal-equipped wire 1 is applied to a wire harness routed in a vehicle or the like. Here, a wire harness is, for example, a bundle of multiple wires W used for power supply and signal communication to connect various devices mounted on a vehicle, and the multiple wires W are connected to each device using connectors or the like. The terminal-equipped wire 1 of this embodiment comprises wires W and a terminal 50.

[0011] In the following explanation, the direction in which the electric wire W extends is defined as the axial direction X, and the directions perpendicular to the axial direction X and perpendicular to each other are defined as the width direction Y and the vertical direction Z. The vertical direction Z refers to the direction in which the plate surface of the plate-shaped connecting portion 51 of the terminal 50 is facing. Furthermore, one side of the axial direction X is defined as side X1, and the other side as side X2. Similarly, in the width direction Y, one side is defined as Y1 and the other side as Y2, and in the vertical direction Z, one side is defined as Z1 and the other side as Z2.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wire with terminal 1 has a conductor portion W1 of the wire W electrically connected to a connection portion 51 of the terminal 50. The conductor portion W1 and the connection portion 51 are joined together. In this embodiment, the conductor portion W1 and the connection portion 51 are joined by resistance welding.

[0013] The electric wire W is composed of a conductive linear conductor W1 and an insulating sheath W2 that covers the outside of the conductor W1. The electric wire W is an insulated electric wire in which the conductor W1 is covered with the sheath W2. The conductor W1 is made of copper or a copper alloy. The conductor W1 is made of a core wire formed by bundling multiple strands of copper or copper alloy, or a twisted core wire formed by twisting multiple strands together. The sheath W2 is an electric wire sheath that covers the outer circumference of the conductor W1. The sheath W2 is formed by extruding an insulating resin material such as PP (Polypropylene), PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), or cross-linked PE (Polyethylene). The insulating resin material that constitutes the sheath W2 is appropriately selected with consideration to abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, etc.

[0014] As shown in Figure 3, the electric wire W is formed such that the covering portion W2 is stripped off at its tip, exposing the tip of the conductor portion W1 from the covering portion W2. The terminal-equipped electric wire 1 has the connection portion 51 of the terminal 50 connected to the tip of the electric wire W where the conductor portion W1 is exposed. In the portion of the electric wire W in this embodiment where the conductor portion W1 is covered by the covering portion W2, the conductor portion W1 has a roughly circular cross-sectional shape in the width direction Y, and the covering portion W2 has a roughly annular shape, forming the overall shape to be roughly circular, and the diameter is roughly the same in the axial direction X.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the terminal 50 has a plate-shaped connecting portion 51 that electrically connects to the conductor portion W1. The connecting portion 51 is formed in the shape of a substantially rectangular plate with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 51 is along the axial direction X, and the transverse direction of the connecting portion 51 is along the width direction Y. The connecting portion 51 extends from the other end X2 in the axial direction X of the terminal body 52, which has a hole for connecting to other equipment, etc., toward the other side X2. The entire terminal 50, including the connecting portion 51 and the terminal body 52, is integrally formed from a conductive metal, such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy. The terminal 50 is formed three-dimensionally as a single piece by pressing and bending a single sheet of metal, which has been punched out in shapes corresponding to each component.

[0016] One side Z1 of the connecting portion 51 in the vertical direction Z is a joining surface 51a that joins with the conductor portion W1. In this embodiment, the joining surface 51a is formed in a substantially flat shape. The joining surface 51a of the connecting portion 51 is provided with a recess 53 that is formed to recess from the joining surface 51a to the other side Z2 in the vertical direction Z. In this embodiment, the recess 53 is an elliptical through-hole that penetrates along the vertical direction Z and has an oval shape with a major axis La and a minor axis Sa.

[0017] Furthermore, there are two recesses 53 on the joint surface 51a, arranged side by side in the width direction Y (the short side direction of the connection portion 51). The recesses 53 on one side Y1 and the recesses 53 on the other side Y2 in the width direction Y are identical in shape. In this embodiment, the major axes La of the two elliptical recesses 53 are parallel to each other. Also, the major axis La of the recesses 53 is parallel to the longitudinal direction (axial direction X) of the connection portion 51. In other words, the minor axis Sa of the recesses 53 intersects perpendicularly with the longitudinal direction of the connection portion 51. In addition, as shown in Figure 3, the opening edge 53a on the joint surface 51a side of the recess 53 is formed in an R shape and chamfered. The opening edge 53a is formed in an R shape around its entire circumference. Note that by making the major axis La of the recess 53 parallel to the axial direction X of the electric wire W, the dimension of the recess 53 in the direction of the major axis La can be increased.

[0018] Furthermore, the connecting portion 51 may be plated in part or in whole, including the opening edge 53a of the recess 53, the inner surface 53b, and the joining surface 51a. The plating can be tin plating, silver plating, or the like. By applying the plating, the fixing force between the conductor portion W1 and the connecting portion 51 can be further increased.

[0019] If the plating is tin plating, which contains tin, a copper with a lower melting point, when heat is applied to the conductor part W1 by resistance welding or the like, the tin plating melts before the conductor part W1 and covers the conductor part W1. At this time, the tin plating covering the conductor part W1 destroys the oxide film of copper on the conductor part W1, exposing a new surface on the conductor part W1. As this new copper surface comes into contact with the joint surface 51a and the opening edge 53a and inner surface 53b of the recess 53, the bonding strength between the conductor part W1 and the connection part 51 is increased.

[0020] As described above, in this embodiment, the conductor portion W1 of the electric wire W is joined to the connection portion 51 by resistance welding. As shown in FIG. 2, the conductor portion W1 melted and solidified by resistance welding includes a conductor portion W1a disposed on the joint surface 51a and a conductor portion W1b disposed inside the recess 53. The conductor portions W1a and W1b are integrally formed. That is, the conductor portion W1 (conductor portions W1a and W1b) melted and solidified by resistance welding is provided from the joint surface 51a of the connection portion 51 to the inside of the recess 53. In other words, the conductor portion W1 melted and solidified by resistance welding is joined to the joint surface 51a and the inner surface 53b of the recess 53. The conductor portion W1a is joined to the joint surface 51a, and the conductor portion W1b is joined to the inner surface 53b of the recess 53.

[0021] In this way, by providing the conductor portion W1b in the recess 53, the height of the connection portion 51 and the conductor portion W1 in the connection portion 51 (i.e., the welding height) can be reduced. And by having the conductor portion W1 enter the recess 53 and providing the conductor portion W1b, in addition to the joint surface 51a, the opening edge 53a and the inner surface 53b of the recess 53 become the contact surfaces between the conductor portion W1 and the connection portion 51. Therefore, in the electric wire 1 with a terminal, the contact area between the conductor portion W1 and the connection portion 51 increases, and the adhesion between the conductor portion W1 and the connection portion 51 can be increased.

[0022] The electric wire 1 with a terminal described above includes an electric wire W whose outer periphery is covered with a covering portion W2 and the conductor portion W1 is exposed at the tip, and a terminal 50 including a plate-shaped connection portion 51 that is electrically connected to the conductor portion W1 and has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction. The connection portion 51 includes a joint surface 51a that joins with the conductor portion W1 and a recess 53 provided on the joint surface 51a. The recess 53 has an oval shape having a long axis La and a short axis Sa, and the short axis Sa is provided so as to intersect the longitudinal direction of the connection portion 51.

[0023] As a result, the recess 53 is provided such that the major axis La of the oval shape is substantially aligned with the longitudinal direction of the connection portion 51 of the terminal 50. Here, for example, if the recess 53 is formed in a circular shape, the space between two adjacent recesses 53 in the short direction of the connection portion 51, and the space from the recess 53 to the edge of the connection portion 51 in the short direction of the connection portion 51, may be formed to be short. In that case, the strength of the connection portion 51 on both sides along the short direction of the recess 53 will be reduced, and the connection portion 51 may be made larger to avoid breakage of the connection portion 51 when the conductor portion W1 and the connection portion 51 are joined by resistance welding or the like. However, with the configuration of this embodiment, without increasing the dimensions of the connecting portion 51 in the short direction, the distance between two adjacent recesses 53 in the short direction of the connecting portion 51, and the distance from the recesses 53 to the edge of the connecting portion 51 in the short direction of the connecting portion 51 can be increased. Thus, the strength around the recesses 53 in the connecting portion 51 can be increased, and the joining of the conductor portion W1 and the connecting portion 51 can be properly achieved.

[0024] Furthermore, the recess 53 is formed in an elliptical shape. As a result, the opening edge 53a of the recess 53 that the conductor portion W1 contacts is entirely curved in a plan view, so that corners do not come into contact, and the tearing and fraying of the conductor portion W1 can be reduced. Moreover, as described above, compared to, for example, when the recess 53 is formed in a circular shape, the distance between two adjacent recesses 53 in the short direction of the connection portion 51, and the distance from the recess 53 to the edge of the connection portion 51 in the short direction of the connection portion 51 can be efficiently increased.

[0025] Furthermore, multiple recesses 53 are provided side by side in the short direction of the connecting portion 51, and the major axes La of each of the multiple recesses 53 are arranged parallel to each other. As a result, similar to the above, compared to, for example, when the recesses 53 are formed in a circular shape, the distance between two adjacent recesses 53 in the short direction of the connecting portion 51, and the distance from the recess 53 to the edge of the connecting portion 51 in the short direction of the connecting portion 51 can be made more efficiently increased.

[0026] Furthermore, the opening edge 53a on the joint surface 51a side of the recess 53 is formed in an R shape. This suppresses breakage, tearing, and fraying of the electric wire W, and increases the contact area between the electric wire W and the connection part 51, thereby increasing the fixing force between the conductor part W1 and the connection part 51.

[0027] Furthermore, the wire with terminals according to the embodiments of the present invention described above is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0028] In the above description, the conductor portion W1 of the electric wire W and the connection portion 51 of the terminal 50 are joined by resistance welding, but this is not limited to this method, and other joining methods such as laser welding or arc welding can also be used. Furthermore, the recess 53 is not limited to a through hole, and a concave portion may be formed at least at one location from the joining surface 51a. Also, if the recess 53 is a through hole, the conductor portion W1b placed in the recess 53 may be filled to the other end Z2 in the vertical direction Z of the connection portion 51. In this embodiment, the recess 53 is elliptical, but it may be any oval shape having a major axis La and a minor axis Sa. The oval shape includes, for example, an egg shape, a rounded rectangular shape, or an irregularly shaped oval. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the minor axis Sa of the recess 53 is provided perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connection portion 51, but the minor axis Sa of the recess 53 may be provided intersecting the longitudinal direction of the connection portion 51. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 51 is arranged along the axial direction X, but for example, the short direction of the connecting portion 51 can also be arranged along the axial direction X.

[0029] The wire with terminals according to this embodiment may be constructed by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments and modified examples described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 1: Wire with terminals 50: Terminals 51: Connection part 51a: Joint surface 53: Recess 53a: Opening edge W: Electric wire W1: Conductor part W2: Covering part

Claims

1. A wire whose outer circumference is covered with a sheath and whose conductor is exposed at the tip, A terminal that is electrically connected to the conductor portion and includes a plate-shaped connecting portion having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, Equipped with, The connecting portion includes a joining surface that joins with the conductor portion and a recess provided on the joining surface. The recess is oval in shape, having a long axis and a short axis, and is provided such that the short axis intersects the longitudinal direction. Electrical wire with terminals.

2. The recess is formed in an elliptical shape. The wire with terminals as described in claim 1.

3. Multiple recesses are provided, arranged in the shorter direction, and the major axes of each of the multiple recesses are arranged parallel to each other. The wire with terminals as described in claim 1.

4. The opening edge on the joining surface side of the recess is formed in an R shape. A wire with a terminal as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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