Terminal spring retention structure

Abstract

To provide a holding structure for a terminal spring which can achieve high connection reliability while suppressing the processing cost.SOLUTION: A holding structure for a terminal spring comprises: a connection terminal 10 which is made of a conductive metal plate and is formed into a cylindrical shape by press work; an annular terminal spring 30 which is obtained by bending a conductive coil spring into an annular shape and bonding its both ends to each other; and an insulation cap 20 which is fixed to one opening end 11a of the connection terminal 10, and which has an annular cap body part 21 sandwiching the annular terminal spring 30 between itself and an opening end surface 15 of the opening end 11a, and a plurality of flexible locking pieces 23. An inner circumferential part of the annular terminal spring 30 protrudes inward along an inner circumferential surface of the connection terminal 10 and an inner circumferential surface of the cap body part 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a holding structure for a terminal spring. [Background technology]

[0002] High-voltage connectors used in electric vehicles, such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, are divided into female connectors and male connectors. The male connector and female connector house male terminals and female terminals, respectively, that allow current to flow and insertion / removal, and these male terminals and female terminals are electrically connected via terminal springs. More specifically, the male connector houses a rod-shaped male terminal, and the female connector houses a cylindrical female terminal.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a contact device in which a hollow portion (female terminal) of one of a pair of conductors is fitted with a small diameter portion (male terminal) of the other conductor to pass current through a spring contact. This spring contact is formed as an annular spring contact (annular terminal spring) in which a wire is wound in a spiral shape at an angle to the winding axis and both ends are joined. The annular spring contact is fitted and housed in a groove formed along the circumferential direction of one of the fitting surfaces. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-204634 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the contact device of Patent Document 1, a groove for holding the annular spring contact must be machined on the mating surface, which increases the processing cost. Also, when fitting the annular spring contact (annular terminal spring) into the groove provided on the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion (male terminal), the annular spring contact must be expanded in diameter before being fitted into the groove, which may cause undesirable deformation of the spring contact.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal spring holding structure that can achieve high connection reliability while suppressing processing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configuration (1) or (2). (1) a conductive member formed into a cylindrical shape by pressing a conductive metal plate; an annular terminal spring in which a conductive coil spring is bent into an annular shape and both ends are joined; an insulating cap including: an annular cap body portion that holds the annular terminal spring between itself and an opening end surface of one of the opening ends of the conductive member; and a plurality of flexible locking pieces that protrude from the cap body portion and extend along an outer peripheral surface of the conductive member toward the other opening end of the conductive member; Equipped with one open end of the conductive member has a locking hole for locking the locking portion of the flexible locking piece; an inner peripheral portion of the annular terminal spring protrudes inward along an inner peripheral surface of the conductive member and an inner peripheral surface of the cap body; A terminal spring holding structure comprising: (2) a conductive member formed into a cylindrical shape by pressing a conductive metal plate; a plurality of cut-and-raised pieces formed at one open end of the conductive member so as to rise inward from an inner circumferential surface thereof along a circumferential direction; an annular terminal spring in which a conductive coil spring is bent into an annular shape and both ends are joined; an insulating cap including: an annular cap body portion facing an opening end surface of one opening end of the conductive member; and a plurality of flexible engagement pieces protruding from the cap body portion and extending along an inner peripheral surface of the conductive member toward the other opening end of the conductive member; Equipped with one open end of the conductive member has a locking hole for locking the locking portion of the flexible locking piece; a tip end surface of the flexible locking piece restricts axial movement of the annular terminal spring attached to the inner peripheral portion of the conductive member between the tip end surface and the cut-and-raised piece; an inner peripheral portion of the annular terminal spring protrudes inward along a tip surface of the cut-and-raised piece and an inner peripheral surface of the flexible locking piece; A terminal spring holding structure comprising: Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a terminal spring holding structure that can achieve high connection reliability while suppressing processing costs.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the following description of the embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiment") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connection terminal as a cylindrical conductive member having a terminal spring holding structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, showing the state before an annular terminal spring is attached to the connection terminal. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the annular terminal spring shown in FIG. 1 attached to a connection terminal. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the connection terminal shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state in which the connection terminal shown in FIG. 3 is fitted to a mating connection terminal. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a connection terminal as a cylindrical conductive member having a terminal spring holding structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the state before an annular terminal spring is attached to the connection terminal. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the annular terminal spring shown in FIG. 5 attached to a connection terminal. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the connection terminal shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state in which the connection terminal shown in FIG. 7 is fitted to the mating connection terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a connection terminal 10 as a cylindrical conductive member having a terminal spring holding structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a state before an annular terminal spring 30 is attached to the connection terminal 10. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which the annular terminal spring 30 shown in Fig. 1 is attached to the connection terminal 10. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the connection terminal shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a mating state of the connection terminal 10 and the mating connection terminal 50 shown in Fig. 3.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal spring holding structure according to the first embodiment includes a connection terminal 10 which is a conductive member, an insulating cap 20, and an annular terminal spring 30. As shown in FIG. The connection terminal 10 is configured to include a terminal connection portion 11 formed in a cylindrical shape and a conductor connection portion 13 . The connection terminal 10 is a female terminal formed by pressing a conductive metal plate (copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, etc.) having good electrical conductivity through punching, bending, etc., so that the cylindrical terminal connection portion 11 and the conductor connection portion 13 are integrally formed.

[0013] The conductor connection part 13 extending from the other open end 11b of the terminal connection part 11 is formed in a rectangular plate shape and is electrically connected to a conductor (bus bar, LA terminal, etc.) by bolts, nuts, etc. The conductor connection part 13 can be connected to the conductor end of the electric wire by various connection means such as crimping or crimping.

[0014] 1, one open end 11a of the terminal connection portion 11 is formed with locking holes 17 for locking the locking portions 25 of the flexible locking pieces 23 of the insulating cap 20. The pair of locking holes 17 correspond to the locking portions 25 of the pair of flexible locking pieces 23 and are disposed opposite each other at diametric positions of the one open end 11a.

[0015] 1, the insulating cap 20 has a cap body 21 that faces the opening end face 15 of one opening end 11a and holds the annular terminal spring 30 therebetween, and a plurality of (a pair in this embodiment) flexible locking pieces 23 that are integrally provided on the cap body 21 and extend along the outer circumferential surface of the terminal connection part 11 (connection terminal 10) toward the other opening end 11b of the terminal connection part 11. The insulating cap 20 is made of synthetic resin having electrical insulation properties, and is fixed to the tip of the connection terminal 10 to provide a function of preventing touching of the connection terminal 10 by fingers.

[0016] The cap body 21 has a terminal insertion hole 26 through which the electrical contact portion 51 of the mating connection terminal 50, which is a male terminal, is inserted, and is formed in a cylindrical shape having approximately the same outer diameter as the terminal connection portion 11. The cap body 21 has an annular rear end face 21a, whose inner peripheral edge faces the annular opening end face 15 at one opening end 11a.

[0017] The pair of flexible locking pieces 23 are vertically provided on the outer periphery of the rear end face 21a. The inner periphery of the flexible locking pieces 23 has a curved surface corresponding to the outer periphery of the terminal connection part 11. A locking part 25 that is locked into the locking hole 17 of the terminal connection part 11 is protruded from the inner periphery of the tip of the flexible locking piece 23.

[0018] The annular terminal spring 30 is formed in an annular shape, with an outer circumferential portion having an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the terminal connection portion 11, and an inner circumferential portion having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the terminal connection portion 11. This annular terminal spring 30 is made of a coil spring formed by spirally winding a filament made of a conductive and elastic metal material such as spring steel, and this coil spring is bent into an annular shape, and both ends of the filament are joined by welding or the like.

[0019] For example, with the insulating cap 20 sandwiched between the pair of flexible locking pieces 23 with the annular terminal spring 30 abutting against the rear end surface 21a, the pair of flexible locking pieces 23 are moved from the front along the outer surface of one opening end 11a of the terminal connection part 11 (connection terminal 10). Then, the flexible locking pieces 23 with the locking parts 25 abutting against the outer circumferential surface of the terminal connection part 11 move outside the one opening end 11a in a state of being bent outward. Then, when the locking parts 25 reach the locking holes 17 formed in the one opening end 11a, the flexible locking pieces 23 elastically return to their original state and the locking parts 25 are locked in the locking holes 17, so that the insulating cap 20 is fixed to the one opening end 11a of the terminal connection part 11.

[0020] 2 and 3, the insulating cap 20 fixed to one opening end 11a has a rear end surface 21a facing the opening end surface 15 of the one opening end 11a, which sandwiches the annular terminal spring 30 between the opening end surface 15. At this time, the annular terminal spring 30 is held at the one opening end 11a without expanding in diameter. As shown in FIG. 3, the annular terminal spring 30 held at one opening end 11a has its outer periphery supported by a pair of flexible locking pieces 23, and its inner periphery protruding radially inward along the inner periphery of the terminal connection portion 11 (connection terminal 10) and the inner periphery of the cap main body portion 21 (terminal insertion hole 26).

[0021] Next, the fitting operation of the connection terminal 10 and the mating connection terminal 50 configured as above will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the electrical contact portion 51 of the mating connection terminal 50 is a cylindrical male terminal pin and has an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the terminal insertion hole 26 and the inner diameter of the terminal connection portion 11, and is larger than the inner diameter of the inner circumference of the annular terminal spring 30.

[0022] When the electrical contact portion 51 of the mating connection terminal 50, which is a male terminal, is inserted into one opening end 11a of the connection terminal 10, which is a female terminal, the annular terminal spring 30 held at one opening end 11a elastically deforms and comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the electrical contact portion 51. This electrically connects the terminal connection portion 11 of the connection terminal 10 and the mating connection terminal 50 via the annular terminal spring 30.

[0023] At the initial stage of insertion when the electrical contact portion 51 of the mating connection terminal 50 is inserted into one of the opening ends 11a, the tip portion of the electrical contact portion 51 is inserted while sliding into the terminal insertion hole 26 of the insulating cap 20. This reduces the insertion force (frictional force) of the mating connection terminal 50 with respect to the connection terminal 10, and the connector fitting force decreases. Furthermore, the terminal insertion hole 26 of the insulating cap 20 can reduce the dimensional tolerance with respect to the electrical contact portion 51 of the mating connection terminal 50, thereby reducing the clearance (because the insulating cap 20 made of synthetic resin is unlikely to scrape the inserted electrical contact portion 51). This makes it easier to restrict the movement of the electrical contact portion 51 in a direction intersecting the terminal insertion direction, improving the vibration resistance of the connector.

[0024] Therefore, according to the terminal spring holding structure of the first embodiment, the connection terminal 10 as a cylindrical conductive member is formed by pressing a conductive metal plate, and there is no need to cut a groove for holding the annular terminal spring 30. Thus, the connection terminal 10 can reduce processing costs.

[0025] Moreover, the annular terminal spring 30 attached to the connection terminal 10 is sandwiched between the opening end surface 15 of one opening end 11a of the terminal connection portion 11 of the connection terminal 10 and the insulating cap 20. Therefore, when attaching the annular terminal spring 30 to the terminal connection portion 11, the annular terminal spring 30 does not need to be expanded in diameter to be attached, so that undesired deformation, etc., is unlikely to occur in the annular terminal spring 30. As a result, the connection reliability of the annular terminal spring 30 with the mating connection terminal 50 can be improved.

[0026] Therefore, according to the terminal spring holding structure of the first embodiment, it is possible to configure the connection terminal 10 having a terminal spring holding structure that can achieve high connection reliability while suppressing processing costs.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a view showing a connection terminal 10A as a cylindrical conductive member having a terminal spring holding structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a state before an annular terminal spring 30A is attached to the connection terminal 10A. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a state in which the annular terminal spring 30A shown in FIG. 5 is attached to the connection terminal 10A. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the connection terminal 10A shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a mating state of the connection terminal 10A shown in FIG. 7 and the mating connection terminal 50. Note that the components of the connection terminal 10A in this second embodiment that are similar to those of the connection terminal 10 in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and detailed description is omitted.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal spring holding structure according to the second embodiment includes a connection terminal 10A, which is a conductive member, an insulating cap 20A, and an annular terminal spring 30A. The connection terminal 10A includes a terminal connection portion 11 formed in a cylindrical shape and a conductor connection portion 13.

[0029] Like the connection terminal 10, the connection terminal 10A is a female terminal formed by pressing a conductive metal plate (copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, etc.) having good conductivity through punching, bending, etc., so that the cylindrical terminal connection portion 11 and the conductor connection portion 13 are integrally formed.

[0030] 5, one open end 11a of the terminal connection portion 11 is formed with locking holes 17 for locking the locking portions 25 of the flexible locking pieces 23A of the insulating cap 20A. The pair of locking holes 17 correspond to the locking portions 25 of the pair of flexible locking pieces 23 and are disposed opposite each other at diametric positions of the one open end 11a.

[0031] Furthermore, raised pieces 19 are protrudingly provided on the inner peripheral surface of one opening end 11a on the other opening end 11b side of the locking holes 17, with a predetermined distance between them and the locking holes 17. The raised pieces 19 are formed to correspond to each of the pair of locking holes 17. The raised pieces 19 are cut and formed in a rectangular shape so as to rise inward from the inner peripheral surface of one opening end 11a.

[0032] The cut-and-raised pieces 19 are cut and raised perpendicularly to the inner peripheral surface of the terminal connection portion 11 (connection terminal 10A). As a result, the cut-and-raised pieces 19 have a front surface 19a perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface of one opening end 11a and a tip surface 19b parallel to the inner peripheral surface of one opening end 11a. The height of the cut-and-raised pieces 19 is smaller than the winding diameter d of the annular terminal spring 30A. These cut-and-raised pieces 19 are formed, for example, during press working to form the conductive metal plate constituting the terminal connection portion 11 (connection terminal 10A) into a cylindrical shape.

[0033] 5, the insulating cap 20A has a cap body 21A facing the opening end surface 15 of one opening end 11a, and a plurality of (a pair of in this embodiment) flexible locking pieces 23A integrally provided on the cap body 21A and extending along the inner peripheral surface of the terminal connection part 11 (connection terminal 10A) toward the other opening end 11b of the terminal connection part 11. The insulating cap 20A is made of synthetic resin having electrical insulation properties, similar to the insulating cap 20 described above, and is fixed to the tip of the connection terminal 10A to provide a function of preventing touching of the connection terminal 10A by fingers.

[0034] The cap body 21A has a terminal insertion hole 26 through which the electrical contact portion 51 of the mating connection terminal 50, which is a male terminal, is inserted, and is formed in a cylindrical shape having approximately the same outer diameter as the terminal connection portion 11. The cap body 21A has an annular rear end surface 21a, with the outer peripheral edge facing the opening end surface 15 of one opening end 11a.

[0035] The pair of flexible locking pieces 23A are vertically attached to the inner peripheral edge of the rear end surface 21a. The outer peripheral surface of the flexible locking pieces 23A has a curved surface corresponding to the inner peripheral surface of the terminal connection part 11. A locking portion 25 that is locked into the locking hole 17 of the terminal connection part 11 is protruded from the middle outer peripheral surface of the flexible locking pieces 23A.

[0036] The annular terminal spring 30A is formed in a circular ring shape, with its outer periphery having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the terminal connection portion 11, and its inner periphery having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the terminal insertion hole 26. This annular terminal spring 30A is made of a coil spring formed by spirally winding a filament made of a metal material having electrical conductivity and elasticity, such as spring steel, and this coil spring is bent into a circular ring shape, and both ends of the filament are joined by welding or the like.

[0037] For example, the insulating cap 20A has a pair of flexible locking pieces 23A inserted from the front into one open end 11a of the terminal connection part 11 (connection terminal 10A) with the annular terminal spring 30A attached to the inner periphery of the terminal connection part 11 abutting against the front surface 19a of the internal cut-and-raised piece 19. Then, the flexible locking pieces 23A, whose locking parts 25 abut against the inner periphery of the terminal connection part 11, move within the one open end 11a in a state of being bent inward. When the locking parts 25 reach the locking holes 17 formed in the one open end 11a, the flexible locking pieces 23 elastically return to their original position and the locking parts 25 are locked into the locking holes 17, so that the insulating cap 20A is fixed to the one open end 11a of the terminal connection part 11.

[0038] 7, the insulating cap 20A fixed to one opening end 11a has an outer peripheral edge of a rear end face 21a abutting against the opening end face 15 of the one opening end 11a, and restricts the axial movement (terminal insertion direction) of the annular terminal spring 30A attached to the inner peripheral portion of the terminal connection part 11 between the front end face 24 of the flexible locking piece 23A and the front face 19a of the cut-and-raised piece 19. At this time, the annular terminal spring 30A is held within the one opening end 11a without expanding in diameter. The annular terminal spring 30A held in one of the opening ends 11a has an outer circumferential portion supported by the inner circumferential surface of the one of the opening ends 11a, and an inner circumferential portion protruding radially inward along the tip surface 19b of the cut-and-raised piece 19 and the inner circumferential surface of the flexible locking piece 23A (insulating cap 20A).

[0039] Next, the fitting operation of the connection terminal 10A having the above-mentioned configuration and the mating connection terminal 50 will be described. 8, when the electrical contact portion 51 of the mating connection terminal 50, which is a male terminal, is inserted into one opening end 11a of the connection terminal 10A, which is a female terminal, the annular terminal spring 30A held at one opening end 11a elastically deforms and comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the electrical contact portion 51. As a result, the terminal connection portion 11 of the connection terminal 10A and the mating connection terminal 50 are electrically connected via the annular terminal spring 30A.

[0040] At the initial stage of insertion when the electrical contact portion 51 of the mating connection terminal 50 is inserted into one of the opening ends 11a, the tip portion of the electrical contact portion 51 is inserted while sliding into the terminal insertion hole 26 of the insulating cap 20A. This reduces the insertion force (frictional force) of the mating connection terminal 50 with respect to the connection terminal 10A, and the connector fitting force decreases. Furthermore, the terminal insertion hole 26 of the insulating cap 20A can reduce the dimensional tolerance with respect to the electrical contact portion 51 of the mating connection terminal 50, thereby reducing the clearance (because the insulating cap 20A made of synthetic resin is unlikely to scrape the inserted electrical contact portion 51). This makes it easier to restrict the movement of the electrical contact portion 51 in a direction intersecting the terminal insertion direction, improving the vibration resistance of the connector.

[0041] Therefore, according to the terminal spring holding structure of the second embodiment, the connection terminal 10A as a cylindrical conductive member is formed by pressing a conductive metal plate, and there is no need to cut a groove for holding the annular terminal spring 30A, so the processing cost of the connection terminal 10A can be reduced.

[0042] Moreover, the annular terminal spring 30A attached to the inner periphery of the terminal connection part 11 is restricted in its axial movement (terminal insertion direction) between the tip surface 24 of the flexible locking piece 23A of the insulating cap 20A and the cut-and-raised piece 19 formed on one open end 11a of the terminal connection part 11. Therefore, when attaching the annular terminal spring 30A to the terminal connection part 11, the annular terminal spring 30A does not need to be expanded in diameter to be attached, so that the annular terminal spring 30A is less likely to be deformed undesirably. As a result, the annular terminal spring 30A can improve the connection reliability with the mating connection terminal 50. Furthermore, in the annular terminal spring 30A, the inner peripheral surface of the terminal connection portion 11 (connection terminal 10A) and the front surface 19a of the cut-and-raised piece 19 form a conductive path. Therefore, the contact resistance of the contact portion between the annular terminal spring 30A and the terminal connection portion 11 (connection terminal 10A) can be reduced, and a stable low electrical resistance can be maintained.

[0043] Therefore, according to the terminal spring holding structure of the second embodiment, it is possible to configure the connection terminal 10A having a terminal spring holding structure that can achieve high connection reliability while suppressing processing costs.

[0044] Here, the features of the embodiments of the terminal spring holding structure according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [3]. [1] A conductive member (connection terminal 10) formed into a cylindrical shape by pressing a conductive metal plate; an annular terminal spring (30) in which a conductive coil spring is bent into an annular shape and both ends are joined; an insulating cap (20) including an annular cap body (21) that holds the annular terminal spring between itself and an opening end surface (15) of one opening end (11a) of the conductive member, and a plurality of flexible locking pieces (23) that protrude from the cap body and extend along an outer peripheral surface of the conductive member toward the other opening end (11b) of the conductive member; Equipped with One open end of the conductive member has a locking hole (17) for locking the lock portion (25) of the flexible locking piece, an inner peripheral portion of the annular terminal spring protrudes inward along an inner peripheral surface of the conductive member and an inner peripheral surface of the cap body; A terminal spring holding structure comprising:

[0045] According to the terminal spring holding structure of the above configuration [1], the cylindrical conductive member (connection terminal 10) is formed by pressing a conductive metal plate, and there is no need to cut a groove for holding the annular terminal spring 30. Therefore, the processing cost of the conductive member can be reduced. In addition, the annular terminal spring attached to the conductive member is sandwiched between the opening end surface (15) of one opening end (11a) of the conductive member and the insulating cap (20). Therefore, when attaching the annular terminal spring to the conductive member, the work of expanding the diameter of the annular terminal spring to attach it is not required, so undesirable deformation, etc., is unlikely to occur in the annular terminal spring. As a result, the annular terminal spring can improve the connection reliability with the mating connection terminal (50). Furthermore, at the initial stage of insertion when the electrical contact portion (51) of the mating connection terminal is inserted into one of the opening ends, the tip of the electrical contact portion slides into the terminal insertion hole (26) of the insulating cap, thus reducing the insertion force (frictional force) of the mating connection terminal against the conductive member, and thus reducing the connector mating force. In addition, the terminal insertion hole of the insulating cap can reduce the dimensional tolerance with respect to the electrical contact part of the mating connection terminal, thereby reducing the clearance (since there is no risk of scraping the inserted electrical contact part with an insulating cap made of synthetic resin). This makes it easier to restrict the movement of the electrical contact part in a direction that intersects with the terminal insertion direction, improving the vibration resistance of the connector.

[0046] [2] A conductive member (connection terminal 10A) formed into a cylindrical shape by pressing a conductive metal plate; a plurality of cut-and-raised pieces (19) formed on one open end (11a) of the conductive member so as to rise inward from an inner peripheral surface and provided along a circumferential direction; an annular terminal spring in which a conductive coil spring is bent into an annular shape and both ends are joined; an insulating cap including: an annular cap body portion facing an opening end surface of one opening end of the conductive member; and a plurality of flexible engagement pieces protruding from the cap body portion and extending along an inner peripheral surface of the conductive member toward the other opening end of the conductive member; Equipped with one open end of the conductive member has a locking hole for locking the locking portion of the flexible locking piece; a tip end surface of the flexible locking piece restricts axial movement of the annular terminal spring attached to the inner peripheral portion of the conductive member between the tip end surface and the cut-and-raised piece, an inner peripheral portion of the annular terminal spring protrudes inward along a tip surface of the cut-and-raised piece and an inner peripheral surface of the flexible locking piece; A terminal spring holding structure comprising:

[0047] According to the terminal spring holding structure of the above configuration [2], the cylindrical conductive member (connection terminal 10A) is formed by pressing a conductive metal plate, and there is no need to cut a groove for holding the annular terminal spring (30A). Therefore, the processing cost of the conductive member can be reduced. In addition, the annular terminal spring attached to the inner periphery of the conductive member is restricted in its axial movement (terminal insertion direction) between the tip surface (24) of the flexible locking piece (23A) of the insulating cap (20A) and the cut-and-raised piece (19) formed on one open end (11a) of the conductive member. Therefore, when attaching the annular terminal spring to the conductive member, the annular terminal does not need to be expanded in diameter to be attached, so that the annular terminal spring is less likely to be deformed undesirably. As a result, the annular terminal spring can improve the connection reliability with the mating connection terminal (50). Furthermore, at the initial stage of insertion when the electrical contact portion (51) of the mating connection terminal is inserted into one of the opening ends, the tip of the electrical contact portion slides into the terminal insertion hole (26) of the insulating cap, thus reducing the insertion force (frictional force) of the mating connection terminal against the conductive member, and thus reducing the connector mating force. In addition, the terminal insertion hole of the insulating cap can reduce the dimensional tolerance with respect to the electrical contact part of the mating connection terminal, thereby reducing the clearance (since there is no risk of scraping the inserted electrical contact part with an insulating cap made of synthetic resin). This makes it easier to restrict the movement of the electrical contact part in a direction that intersects with the terminal insertion direction, improving the vibration resistance of the connector.

[0048] [3] The conductive member is a cylindrical connection terminal (10, 10A) that is fitted into and electrically connected to a mating connection terminal (50). The terminal spring holding structure according to the above [1] or [2],

[0049] According to the terminal spring holding structure of the above configuration [3], it is possible to form a connection terminal (10, 10A) having a terminal spring holding structure that can obtain high connection reliability while suppressing processing costs.

[0050] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10...Connection terminal (conductive member) 11a...One open end 15...Opening end surface 17…Latching hole 20…Insulating cap 21…Cap body 23...Flexible locking piece 25…Rock section 30...Annular terminal spring

Claims

1. a conductive member formed into a cylindrical shape by pressing a conductive metal plate; an annular terminal spring in which a conductive coil spring is bent into an annular shape and both ends are joined; an insulating cap including: an annular cap body portion that holds the annular terminal spring between itself and an opening end surface of one of the opening ends of the conductive member; and a plurality of flexible locking pieces that protrude from the cap body portion and extend along an outer peripheral surface of the conductive member toward the other opening end of the conductive member; Equipped with one open end of the conductive member has a locking hole for locking the locking portion of the flexible locking piece; an inner peripheral portion of the annular terminal spring protrudes inward along an inner peripheral surface of the conductive member and an inner peripheral surface of the cap body; A terminal spring holding structure comprising:

2. a conductive member formed into a cylindrical shape by pressing a conductive metal plate; a plurality of cut-and-raised pieces formed at one open end of the conductive member so as to rise inward from an inner circumferential surface thereof along a circumferential direction; an annular terminal spring in which a conductive coil spring is bent into an annular shape and both ends are joined; an insulating cap including: an annular cap body portion facing an opening end surface of one opening end of the conductive member; and a plurality of flexible engagement pieces protruding from the cap body portion and extending along an inner peripheral surface of the conductive member toward the other opening end of the conductive member; Equipped with one open end of the conductive member has a locking hole for locking the locking portion of the flexible locking piece; a tip end surface of the flexible locking piece restricts axial movement of the annular terminal spring attached to the inner peripheral portion of the conductive member between the tip end surface and the cut-and-raised piece, an inner peripheral portion of the annular terminal spring protrudes inward along a tip surface of the cut-and-raised piece and an inner peripheral surface of the flexible locking piece; A terminal spring holding structure comprising:

3. The conductive member is a cylindrical connection terminal that is fitted into and electrically connected to a mating connection terminal.

3. The terminal spring holding structure according to claim 1, wherein the terminal spring holding structure is a terminal spring.

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