Terminals

Abstract

To provide a terminal that facilitates insertion of an electric wire and secures sufficient contact pressure between the electric wire and a terminal.SOLUTION: A terminal 10 includes a terminal body 20 and a sleeve 30. The terminal body 20 includes a terminal contact portion 21 that is in charge of contact with the mating terminal, and a wire contact portion 22 that has an insertion space 23 and is charge of contact with an inserted electric wire 50. The sleeve 30 slides between the open position and the contact position. The wire contact portion 22 includes a protruding portion 24 formed with a recess 24a on the outer surface and protruding on the inner surface, and a receiving portion 25 that divides an insertion space 23 by opening the insertion space 23 between the receiving portion and the protruding portion 24. The sleeve 30 includes a pressing portion 31 that enters the recess 24a when the sleeve is in the open position, and presses the protruding portion 24 against the electric wire 50 by sliding in the direction of the arrow F to the contact position to press the electric wire 50 against the receiving portion 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal having a terminal contact portion for contacting a mating terminal and an electric wire contact portion for contacting an electric wire. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, crimping technology has been widely used to connect terminals and electric wires. Crimping is a technology in which the terminal is connected to the electric wire by crushing the terminal. In this crimping, the electric wire is plastically deformed, and this plastic deformation of the electric wire contributes greatly to the stability of the crimping performance.

[0003] In recent years, there has been a trend toward thinner electric wires that are connected to terminals. If electric wires are simply made thinner, they become more likely to break, so electric wires made of harder materials are used. Electric wires made of hard materials are less susceptible to plastic deformation and are not suitable for crimping, so it is necessary to adopt technology that allows the electric wire to contact the terminal with sufficient strength without relying on plastic deformation of the electric wire.

[0004] Here, Patent Document 1 discloses a connection terminal having a cantilever-shaped spring piece for connecting an electric wire, in which when an electric wire is inserted, the spring piece for connecting an electric wire is elastically deformed by the electric wire to press down on the inserted electric wire. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-346935 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the case of the connection terminal of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is difficult to make the contact pressure between the electric wire and the terminal a pressure sufficient to replace crimping. Alternatively, if the spring force of the spring piece for connecting the electric wire is increased in an attempt to increase the contact pressure between the electric wire and the terminal, it may become difficult to insert the electric wire.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal which allows easy insertion of an electric wire and ensures sufficient contact pressure between the electric wire and the terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The terminal of the present invention that achieves the above object comprises: A terminal body having a terminal contact portion for contacting a mating terminal and an electric wire contact portion having an insertion space into which an electric wire is inserted and for contacting the electric wire inserted into the insertion space; The connector is characterized by having a sleeve that surrounds the electric wire contact portion and slides in the electric wire insertion direction between an open position that allows the electric wire to be inserted into the insertion space and a contact position that deforms the electric wire contact portion in a direction that narrows the insertion space and brings the electric wire contact portion into contact with the electric wire.

[0009] The terminal of the present invention includes the above-mentioned sleeve. The sleeve is placed in the open position, an electric wire is inserted, and then the sleeve is slid to the contact position. This makes it easy to insert the electric wire and ensures sufficient contact pressure between the electric wire and the terminal.

[0010] Here, in the terminal of the present invention, The wire contact portion has a protruding portion that forms a recess on an outer surface facing the opposite side to an inner surface facing the insertion space, and a receiving portion that defines the insertion space by opening the insertion space between the receiving portion and the protruding portion, It is preferable that the sleeve has a pressing portion which, when in the open position, fits into a recess on the outer surface of the protrusion and, when slid to the contact position, presses the protrusion against the electric wire inserted into the insertion space, thereby pressing the electric wire against the receiving portion.

[0011] By providing such a protruding portion and a pressing portion, it is possible to achieve both ease of insertion of the electric wire and sufficient contact pressure between the electric wire and the terminal with a simple structure.

[0012] In a structure having a protrusion and a pressing portion, it is preferable that a plurality of both the protrusion and the pressing portion are arranged in the wire insertion direction.

[0013] By arranging a plurality of terminals, the electric wire can be brought into contact with the terminal more reliably.

[0014] Furthermore, in the terminal of the present invention, it is preferable that the receiving portion has a base facing the protruding portion across the insertion space, and a first pressed portion and a second pressed portion on either side of the base, which are formed obliquely with respect to the base in a direction approaching the electric wire inserted into the insertion space, and which receive pressure from the electric wire as the sleeve slides to the contact position.

[0015] In the case of the structure in which the above-mentioned first and second pressed parts are formed, the electric wire is supported at three points, the protruding part, the first pressed part, and the second pressed part, in a cross section expanding in the direction in which the electric wire is cut. As a result, compared to a structure in which the first and second pressed parts do not exist and the electric wire is sandwiched at two points, the protruding part and the flat receiving part, the normal force against the electric wire is improved even with the same spring force. Also, in the case of the structure in which the above-mentioned first and second pressed parts are formed, stable contact can be obtained in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0016] Furthermore, in the terminal of the present invention, it is preferable that the rear end of the wire contact portion in the wire insertion direction has a wire winding portion that surrounds a part of the wire when the sleeve slides to the contact position and contacts the receiving portion.

[0017] In the case of a structure having this electric wire winding portion, the position of the electric wire is stable, and the desired contact pressure can be obtained.

[0018] Furthermore, the terminal of the present invention preferably has a lock structure that prevents the sleeve, once slid to the contact position, from sliding to the open position.

[0019] With this locking structure, inadvertent sliding of the sleeve to the open position is suppressed, and stable contact between the terminal and the electric wire is maintained.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention described above, a terminal is realized in which the insertion of an electric wire is easy and a sufficient contact pressure between the electric wire and the terminal is ensured.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] It is a figure which shows the terminal as 1st Embodiment of this invention. [Diagram 2] It is the figure which showed the terminal in the state which inserted the electric wire where the sleeve was in the open position. [Diagram 3] It is the figure which showed the terminal in the state which slid the sleeve to the contact position. [Figure 4] It is a figure which shows the terminal as 2nd Embodiment of this invention. [Diagram 5] It is the figure which showed the terminal in the state which inserted the electric wire where the sleeve was in the open position. [Figure 6] It is the figure which showed the terminal in the state which slid the sleeve to the contact position. [Figure 7] It is an enlarged view of the rear view shown surrounded by the circle R1 in FIG. 5(C). [Figure 8] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rear end portion of the electric wire contact portion.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a terminal as a first embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIGS. 1(A), (B), (C), and (D) are a perspective view, a side view, a rear view, and a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow XX shown in FIG. 1(C), respectively.

[0024] The terminal 10 shown here comprises a terminal body 20 and a sleeve 30. The terminal body 20 and the sleeve 30 are each formed by sheet metal processing and are assembled together.

[0025] The terminal body 20 has a terminal contact portion 21 and an electric wire contact portion 22. The terminal contact portion 21 is responsible for contact with a mating terminal (not shown). The electric wire contact portion 22 has an insertion space 23 into which an electric wire is inserted, and is responsible for contact with an electric wire 50 (see FIG. 2) inserted into the insertion space 23.

[0026] The sleeve 30 surrounds the electric wire contact portion 22 of the terminal body 20. The sleeve 30 slides in the electric wire insertion direction indicated by the arrow F relative to the terminal body 20 between an open position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and a contact position shown in Figure 3. The sliding of the sleeve 30 will be described later.

[0027] The wire contact portion 22 of the terminal body 20 has a protrusion 24 on the bottom plate side thereof that protrudes toward the insertion space 23. In this embodiment, a plurality of protrusions 24 (two in this embodiment) are arranged in the wire insertion direction indicated by the arrow F. The protrusions 24 have recesses 24a formed on their outer surfaces.

[0028] Moreover, the sleeve 30 has a pressing portion 31 on its bottom plate side, which has a shape similar to that of the protruding portion 24 of the electric wire contact portion 22. This pressing portion 31 fits into a recess 24a on the outer surface of the protruding portion 24 when the sleeve 30 is in the open position shown in Fig. 1. A plurality of pressing portions 31 (three in this example) are also arranged in the electric wire insertion direction shown by the arrow F, i.e., in the direction in which the sleeve 30 slides. In this embodiment, the electric wire contact portion 22 has two protruding portions 24, while three pressing portions 31 are arranged in order to lift the protruding portion 24 at its front and rear ends, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0029] Figure 2 shows the terminal with the sleeve in the open position and the wire inserted. Figures 2(A), (B), (C), and (D) are a side view, a front view, a rear view, and a cross-sectional view (see arrow XX in Figure 1(C)), respectively.

[0030] In Fig. 2, the sleeve is in the open position, as in Fig. 1. When the sleeve 30 is in the open position, the pressing portion 31 fits into the recess 24a on the outer surface of the protruding portion 24. A certain amount of force is required to slide the sleeve 30 from this open position, and the sleeve 30 is in a provisionally locked state in this open position.

[0031] When the sleeve 30 is in the open position, the insertion space 23 has a sufficient size for inserting the electric wire 50, and the electric wire 50 is inserted in the electric wire insertion direction indicated by the arrow F without encountering significant resistance and enters between the protruding portion 24 of the electric wire contact portion 22 and the top plate 25. This top plate 25 corresponds to an example of the receiving portion referred to in the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the terminal with the sleeve slid to the contact position.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the electric wire 50 is inserted with the sleeve 30 in the open position. Then, the sleeve 30 is slid in the direction of the arrow F, which is the same as the direction of the electric wire insertion in this embodiment, to the contact position shown in FIG. 3 with a force exceeding the force that temporarily holds the sleeve 30 in the open position. Then, the pressing portion 31, which was inserted into the recess 24a on the outer surface of the protrusion 24 when the sleeve 30 was in the open position, comes out of the recess 24a and pushes up the protrusion 24. Then, the electric wire 50 is strongly pressed against the top plate 25 by the protrusion 24, that is, it is in contact with the top plate 25 with a predetermined contact pressure. In this embodiment, the surface of the top plate 25 against which the electric wire 50 is pressed is a flat surface facing the protrusion 24.

[0034] Here, the terminal body 20 is formed with a folded piece 26 folded forward. Meanwhile, the sleeve 30 is formed with a housing portion 32 for housing the folded piece 26 when in the open position shown in FIG. 2. Then, when the sleeve 30 is slid to the contact position shown in FIG. 3, the folded piece 26 comes out of the housing portion 32 and is positioned immediately behind the housing portion 32. When the folded piece 26 comes out of the housing portion 32, it is elastically deformed once and returns to its original shape when it comes out. Therefore, even if the sleeve 30 slid to the contact position is tried to slide to the open position, the folded piece 26 gets caught on the entrance of the housing portion 32 and the sliding is prevented. That is, the sleeve 30 slid to the contact position is locked at the contact position. The folded piece 26 and the housing portion 32 constitute an example of the lock structure referred to in the present invention.

[0035] Here, the surface of the top plate 25 in this embodiment that comes into contact with the electric wire 50 is formed flat. This is due to the hardness of the electric wire 50. Here, in the case of crimping, an uneven shape called serration is formed on the surface that the electric wire comes into contact with. This is because an electric wire suitable for crimping is somewhat soft, and high contact pressure can be obtained by plastically deforming the electric wire by crimping and making it enter the serration. In contrast, the electric wire 50 employed in this embodiment is hard, and even if an uneven shape similar to serration is formed on the surface of the top plate 25 that comes into contact with the electric wire 50, an improvement in contact pressure cannot be expected. However, when a certain degree of improvement in contact pressure can be expected, an uneven shape similar to serration may be formed.

[0036] Moreover, the top plate 25 in this embodiment may be a top plate with the protruding portion 24 turned upside down, that is, a top plate with a shape in which the portion facing the protruding portion 24 protrudes toward the insertion space 23. In this way, the electric wire 50 is sandwiched between the protruding portion 24 protruding upward and the portion of the top plate protruding downward.

[0037] In this embodiment, the contact position of the sleeve 30 is located forward of the open position as indicated by the arrow F, and the sleeve 30 in the open position is moved to the contact position by sliding the sleeve 30 forward as indicated by the arrow F. However, the contact position of the sleeve 30 does not have to be located forward of the open position. A structure may be adopted in which the contact position is located behind the open position, and the sleeve 30 in the open position is slid backward to move the sleeve 30 to the contact position.

[0038] Next, a terminal according to a second embodiment will be described.

[0039] In the following, elements that are the same as those of the terminal of the first embodiment described so far will be given the same reference numerals as those in each figure of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. The differences from the terminal of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0040] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 4(A), (B), (C) and (D) are a perspective view, a side view, a rear view and a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow YY shown in Fig. 4(C), respectively.

[0041] The features of the second embodiment are also seen in FIGS. 4(C) and 4(D), but the explanation of these will be given later.

[0042] Fig. 5 shows the terminal with the sleeve in the open position and the wire inserted. Figs. 2(A), (B), (C), and (D) are a side view, a front view, a rear view, and a cross-sectional view (see arrow YY in Fig. 4(C)), respectively.

[0043] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the terminal with the sleeve slid to the contact position.

[0044] The differences from the terminal of the first embodiment will be described below.

[0045] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the rear view of the area enclosed by the circle R1 in FIG.

[0046] The wire contact portion 22 of the terminal body 20 is provided with a top plate 25 on the side facing the protruding portion 24 across the insertion space 23. The portion of the top plate 25 in the first embodiment where the wire 50 is pressed against the protruding portion 24 is a flat plate. In contrast, the top plate 25 in the second embodiment has a base portion 251 facing the protruding portion 24 across the insertion space 23, and a first pressed portion 252 and a second pressed portion 253 formed at an angle to the base portion 251 in the direction approaching the wire 50 inserted in the insertion space 23, i.e., in the direction indicated by the arrows S1 and S2 in FIG. 7, on the left and right sides of the base portion 251. In the case of the second embodiment, it is not the base portion 251 that receives the press of the wire 50 when the sleeve 30 slides to the contact position, but the first pressed portion 252 and the second pressed portion 253 formed on both sides of the base portion 251. That is, when the sleeve 30 slides to the contact position, the electric wire 50 receives an upward force indicated by an arrow U from the protruding portion 24, and also receives diagonal forces indicated by arrows S1 and S2 from the first pressed portion 252 and the second pressed portion 253. That is, the electric wire 50 is pressed at three points in its circumferential direction. As a result, compared to the structure in which the electric wire 50 is sandwiched between the protruding portion 24 and the flat top plate 25 as in the first embodiment described above, the normal force against the electric wire 50 is improved even with the same spring force. Also, in the case of the structure in which the first pressed portion 252 and the second pressed portion 253 are formed, stable contact can be obtained both in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0047] Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rear end of the wire contact portion, where Fig. 8(A), (B), and (C) are an enlarged view of the part enclosed by circle R2 in Fig. 4(D), an enlarged view of the part enclosed by circle R3 in Fig. 5(D), and an enlarged view of the part enclosed by circle R4 in Fig. 6(B), respectively.

[0048] 8, in the case of the second embodiment, an electric wire winding portion 27 is formed at the rear end of the electric wire contact portion 22 in the electric wire insertion direction indicated by the arrow F. This electric wire winding portion 27 has a shape in which a groove 271 that opens upward and receives the electric wire 50 is formed, and when the sleeve 30 slides to the contact position, the electric wire 50 is surrounded and a lip 272 of the groove 271 comes into contact with the top plate 25. In the case of a structure having this electric wire winding portion 27, the posture of the portion of the electric wire 50 inserted into the insertion space 23 is stable, and the desired contact pressure can be obtained.

[0049] As described above, in both the first and second embodiments, the electric wire 50 can be easily inserted with the sleeve 30 in the open position, and sufficient contact pressure between the electric wire 50 and the terminal 10 is ensured by sliding the sleeve to the contact position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10 Terminals 20 Terminal body 21 Terminal contact part 22 Wire contact part 23 Insertion space 24 Protrusion 24a Depression 25 Top plate (receiving part) 251 Base 252 Pressed part 26 Folding piece 27 Wire winding section 30 Sleeve 31 Pushing part 32 Storage unit 50 Electric wire

Claims

1. A terminal body having a terminal contact portion for contacting a mating terminal and an electric wire contact portion having an insertion space into which an electric wire is inserted and for contacting the electric wire inserted into the insertion space; a sleeve surrounding the electric wire contact portion and sliding in an electric wire insertion direction between an open position that allows the electric wire to be inserted into the insertion space and a contact position that deforms the electric wire contact portion in a direction that narrows the insertion space to bring the electric wire contact portion into contact with the electric wire, The wire contact portion has a protruding portion that forms a recess on an outer surface opposite to an inner surface facing the insertion space, and the inner surface protrudes, and a receiving portion that defines the insertion space by opening the insertion space between the receiving portion and the protruding portion, A terminal characterized in that the sleeve has a pressing portion that, when in the open position, enters a recess on the outer surface of the protrusion, and when slid to the contact position, presses the protrusion against the electric wire inserted into the insertion space, thereby pressing the electric wire against the receiving portion.

2. The terminal according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the protruding portions and a plurality of the pressing portions are arranged in a wire insertion direction.

3. The terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving portion has a base facing the protruding portion across the insertion space, and a first pressed portion and a second pressed portion on either side of the base, which are formed obliquely with respect to the base in a direction approaching the electric wire inserted into the insertion space, and which are pressed against the electric wire when the sleeve slides to the contact position.

4. A terminal as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rear end of the wire contact portion in the direction of wire insertion has a wire winding portion that surrounds a portion of the wire and contacts the receiving portion when the sleeve slides to the contact position.

5. 5. The terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a lock structure for preventing the sleeve, which has been slid to the contact position, from sliding to the open position.

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