Terminals and wires with terminals

Abstract

To provide a terminal capable of suppressing a spring part from being deformed by an external force such as vibration added from the outside, and an electric wire equipped with the terminal.SOLUTION: A female terminal 20 comprises a cylindrical box unit 31 into which a male terminal 40 is inserted, and a contact spring 32 that extends in the lengthwise direction from the front end toward the rear end of the box unit 31 and is deformed in a warping direction to separate from the male terminal 40 when the male terminal 40 inserted into the box unit 31 comes into contact. The contact spring 32 includes a pair of projections 34, 34 that project in the lengthwise direction from a free end 32a on the rear end side of the contact spring 32 to the outside in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction. The box unit 31 includes pressing pieces 35 which are formed so as to protrude from upper walls 31a constituting the box unit 31 toward the projections 34, and lower ends 35a of which are brought into contact with the projections 34, for holding the contact spring 32 in the state of being elastically deformed in a warping direction from a natural state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal and a terminal-fitted electric wire. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, terminals (such as so-called crimp terminals) have been used to be attached to the ends of electric wires. These terminals include, for example, a cylindrical box portion into which a mating terminal is inserted, a cantilever-shaped spring portion provided inside the box portion and having a contact portion with the mating terminal, and a fixing portion that fixes the terminal to the electric wire (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-160544 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to electrically connect an electric wire having a terminal attached thereto as described above to another electric wire, the core wires of both electric wires may be joined together by ultrasonic bonding while the core wires are in close contact with each other. In this case, ultrasonic vibrations applied to the joint may be transmitted to the terminal via the electric wire, causing the terminal to vibrate. In particular, since the spring portion is formed in a cantilever shape, it is prone to vibrations that repeatedly swing upward and downward around the fixed end. Depending on the degree of this vibration, repeated excessive deflection or the like may occur in the spring portion, which may result in deterioration or plastic deformation of the spring portion. From the viewpoint of improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal and the mating terminal, it is preferable to minimize such deterioration or the like of the spring portion.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal and an electric wire with a terminal that can prevent deformation of the spring portion due to external forces such as vibrations applied from the outside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A terminal according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a cylindrical box portion into which a mating terminal is inserted, and a spring portion extending longitudinally from the front end to the rear end of the box portion and deforming in a bending direction away from the mating terminal when the mating terminal inserted into the box portion comes into contact with the spring portion, the spring portion having a pair of protrusions protruding outward in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from the free end portion on the rear end side of the spring portion, and the box portion has pressing piece portions formed so as to protrude from the wall portions constituting the box portion toward the protrusions, with their tips abutting the protrusions and holding the spring portion in a state elastically deformed in the bending direction from its natural state.

[0007] An electric wire with a terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an electric wire and a terminal attached to the electric wire, the terminal including a cylindrical box portion into which a mating terminal is inserted, and a spring portion extending longitudinally from the front end to the rear end of the box portion and deforming in a bending direction away from the mating terminal when the mating terminal inserted in the box portion comes into contact with the spring portion, the spring portion having a pair of protrusions protruding outward in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from a free end portion on the rear end side of the spring portion, and the box portion has pressing piece portions formed so as to protrude from the wall portions constituting the box portion toward the protrusions, with their tips abutting the protrusions and holding the spring portion in a state elastically deformed in the bending direction from its natural state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a terminal and an electric wire with a terminal that can suppress deformation of a spring portion due to an external force such as vibration applied from the outside. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing an example of a terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a side view of a main part showing an example of a terminal according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the terminals showing a state before mating. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the terminals showing the mated state. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a wire harness having a joint in which core wires of a plurality of electric wires with terminals are joined together by ultrasonic welding. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a wire harness having a joint in which core wires of a plurality of electric wires with terminals are joined together by ultrasonic welding. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part showing an example of a terminal according to another embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a side view of a main part showing an example of a terminal according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The terminal and the electric wire with terminal according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0011] For ease of explanation, in the longitudinal direction (mating direction) of the terminal (female terminal 20), the side where the mating terminal (male terminal 40) is mated (left side in Figs. 1 and 2) will be referred to as the tip side (front side), and the opposite side (right side in Figs. 1 and 2) will be referred to as the base side (rear side). Also, the upper and lower sides in Figs. 1 and 2 will be referred to as the upper side and lower side, respectively. Also, the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and up-down direction of the female terminal 20 will be referred to as the width direction.

[0012] 8 and 9, a female terminal 20 is crimped and fixed to the end of an electric wire 10, and the female terminal 20 and the conductor core wire (core wire 11) of the electric wire 10 are electrically connected. The electric wire 10 and the female terminal 20 constitute an electric wire with terminal 1, and this electric wire with terminal 1 constitutes a wire harness 2 (see FIG. 9) that is arranged in a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0013] The electric wire 10 is an insulated electric wire having a core wire 11 and a coating 12 made of resin that covers the core wire 11. For example, the core wire 11 is made by twisting together a plurality of wires made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. By making the core wire 11 of the electric wire 10 from aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the weight of the electric wire with terminal 1 is reduced, and the weight of the wire harness 2 that includes the electric wire with terminal 1 is also reduced. The lightweight electric wire with terminal 1 is particularly suitable for use in vehicles that frequently use wire harnesses, such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. The core wire 11 is not limited to aluminum or an aluminum alloy and may be made of other materials (for example, copper or a copper alloy).

[0014] 1 to 5, female terminal 20 has a box portion 31 at its tip end into which conductive contact portion 41 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) of a mating terminal (male terminal 40) is inserted. Furthermore, female terminal 20 has, at its base end side of box portion 31, a first barrel portion (core crimping piece 45) that is crimped to core wire 11 exposed from the end of electric wire 10, and a second barrel portion (coating crimping piece 46) that is crimped to coating 12 at the end of electric wire 10 (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0015] The female terminal 20 is formed by performing press processing (punching and bending) on ​​a metal plate (plate-shaped body). For example, the female terminal 20 is formed from a metal material different from that of the core wire 11, which is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Specifically, the female terminal 20 is formed using a metal plate (plate-shaped body) made of copper, a copper alloy, or the like as a base material. The core wire 11 of the electric wire 10 and the female terminal 20 do not necessarily have to be made of different metal materials, and may be made of the same metal material.

[0016] After the above-mentioned press working, the female terminal 20 is preferably plated before being crimped to the electric wire 10, for the purpose of suppressing corrosion of the core wire 11 of the electric wire 10 and improving corrosion resistance. For example, the female terminal 20 is plated with tin (Sn) before being crimped to the electric wire 10. Specifically, a plating layer containing tin is provided on the female terminal 20 so as to cover the front and back surfaces and the side surfaces formed from the cut surfaces formed by the press working. The surface of the female terminal 20 is not limited to being plated with tin (Sn), and may be plated with other materials (for example, gold (Au), silver (Ag), nickel (Ni), and alloys thereof).

[0017] The box portion 31 has a rectangular cylindrical shape that extends in the front-rear direction and penetrates in the front-rear direction. The box portion 31 is configured with a top wall 31a, a bottom wall 31b, and a pair of side walls 31c, 31c. A spring portion (contact spring 32) is integrally formed inside the box portion 31. The contact spring 32 is a cantilever-shaped leaf spring that extends from the tip end of the bottom wall 31b of the box portion 31 and extends from the tip end toward the base end inside the box portion 31. The contact spring 32 is elastically deformable in the up-down direction. Furthermore, the contact spring 32 extends from the base end of the box portion 31 to a predetermined position on the tip side. Therefore, the free end portion 32a of the contact spring 32 is located inside the box portion 31.

[0018] The contact spring 32 has a contact portion 32c that comes into contact with the conductive contact portion 41 of the male terminal 40 formed in a portion near the fixed end 32b of the contact spring 32 (the tip end of the box portion 31). The contact portion 32c is a portion that protrudes upward and extends in the width direction. Furthermore, a terminal portion 33 is formed inside the box portion 31 at a location facing the contact portion 32c of the contact spring 32. This terminal portion 33 is a portion that protrudes downward and extends in the width direction. When the conductive contact portion 41 of the male terminal 40 (see FIG. 6) is inserted through the tip end opening of the box portion 31, the conductive contact portion 41 presses the contact portion 32c of the contact spring 32 downward, causing the contact spring 32 to elastically deform downward and the conductive contact portion 41 to be accommodated inside the box portion 31. This maintains contact between the contact portion 32c of the female terminal 20 and the conductive contact portion 41 of the male terminal 40, electrically connecting the terminal (female terminal 20) and the mating terminal (male terminal 40) (see Figure 7).

[0019] The contact spring 32 is integrally formed with a pair of protrusions 34, 34 that protrude outward in the width direction from the free end 32a of the contact spring 32. Meanwhile, the box portion 31 is formed with pressing pieces 35 that protrude from the top wall 31a of the box portion 31 toward the protrusions 34 and have their tips (lower ends 35a) abut against the protrusions 34. In this embodiment, the pair of pressing pieces 35, 35 are formed by bending a part of a metal plate (plate-shaped body) that constitutes the top wall 31a of the box portion 31 downward. Therefore, the pair of pressing pieces 35, 35 are integrally formed with the top wall 31a of the box portion 31. In addition, a pair of side walls 31c, 31c of the box portion 31 are each formed with a slit 36 ​​into which the protrusion 34 is inserted. In this embodiment, the pair of slits 36, 36 each extend in the up-down direction.

[0020] 2 and 4, in this embodiment, a protrusion 34 formed on the contact spring 32 is brought into contact with a pressing piece 35 formed to hang down from the upper wall 31a of the box part 31. Therefore, the pressing piece 35 holds the contact spring 32 in a state where it is elastically deformed in the bending direction from its natural state, and the free end 32a of the contact spring 32 is urged upward.

[0021] Furthermore, the female terminal 20 has a fixing portion that fixes the female terminal 20 to the electric wire 10. This fixing portion is configured to have a first barrel portion (core crimping pieces 45) and a second barrel portion (coat crimping pieces 46) (see FIGS. 8 and 9). A pair of core crimping pieces 45 that extend upward are formed on a pair of side walls 31c, 31c belonging to the first barrel portion before crimping to the electric wire 10. On the other hand, a pair of side walls 31c, 31c belonging to the second barrel portion are formed with a pair of cover crimping pieces 46 that extend upward are formed on a pair of side walls 31c, 31c belonging to the second barrel portion before crimping to the electric wire 10.

[0022] 8 and 9, the electric wire 10 is placed in the female terminal 20 before being crimped to the electric wire 10 so that the core wire 11 exposed from the end of the electric wire 10 is sandwiched between a pair of core wire crimping pieces 45 and the coating 12 at the end of the electric wire 10 is sandwiched between a pair of coating crimping pieces 46. In this state, the pair of core wire crimping pieces 45 and the coating crimping pieces 46 are crimped using a predetermined crimping machine, thereby obtaining the electric wire with terminal 1 shown in FIGS.

[0023] The electric wires with terminals 1 shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 constitute, for example, a wire harness 2. As shown in Fig. 9, the wire harness 2 has a branched connection portion (joint portion 13) in which exposed core wires 11 of the electric wires 10 of a plurality of (two in the drawing) electric wires with terminals 1 are ultrasonically joined together. However, the wire harness 2 is not limited to this, and may have a joint portion 13 in which exposed core wires 11 of three or more electric wires 10 are ultrasonically joined together. Furthermore, terminals other than female terminals 20 may be attached to some of the plurality of electric wires 10 constituting the wire harness 2, or no terminals may be attached to them.

[0024] The joining machine 50 used to form the joint 13 will be described below.

[0025] 8, the joining machine 50 includes a pair of joining indenters (so-called anvil 51 and horn 52) facing each other in the vertical direction, and a control device (not shown) that controls joining energy (ultrasonic excitation) applied between the pair of joining indenters (anvil 51, horn 52). A joining space is defined by the pair of joining indenters (anvil 51, horn 52), and exposed core wires 11 of multiple electric wires 10 are arranged inside this joining space.

[0026] With the core wires 11 sandwiched between the anvil 51 and the horn 52, a predetermined amount of energy (ultrasonic excitation) is applied between the anvil 51 and the horn 52. By subjecting the core wires 11 to ultrasonic bonding in this manner, a bonded portion 13 (see FIG. 9) is formed in which the core wires 11 are bonded together.

[0027] A joining mark due to ultrasonic joining is formed on the outer surface of the joint 13 between the multiple core wires 11. In this embodiment, the joining mark has a shape that is a transfer of the irregularities on the surfaces of the anvil 51 and horn 52 used in the ultrasonic joining, and is distinguishable from the outer surface of the joint 13.

[0028] 9 is preferably attached to the joint 13 between the core wires 11 so as to cover the entire outer surface of the joint 13. This prevents the joint 13 from being damaged due to contact with surrounding members, and also prevents the joint 13 from coming into contact with surrounding conductive members, resulting in an unintended short circuit or the like.

[0029] As described above, the terminal (female terminal 20) according to this embodiment includes a cylindrical box portion 31 into which a mating terminal (male terminal 40) is inserted. The terminal (female terminal 20) includes a spring portion (contact spring 32) that extends in the longitudinal direction from the front end to the rear end of the box portion 31 and that deforms in a bending direction away from the mating terminal (male terminal 40) inserted into the box portion 31 when it comes into contact with the mating terminal. The spring portion (contact spring 32) has a pair of protrusions 34, 34 that protrude outward in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from a free end portion 32a on the rear end side of the spring portion (contact spring 32). The box portion 31 has a pressing piece portion 35 formed so as to protrude from each of the wall portions (upper wall 31a) constituting the box portion 31 toward the protrusion portion 34, with the tip (lower end 35a) abutting against the protrusion portion 34, and maintaining the spring portion (contact spring 32) in a state elastically deformed in the bending direction from its natural state.

[0030] In this embodiment, the protrusions 34 formed on the contact springs 32 abut against the pressure pieces 35 formed hanging down from the top wall 31a of the box portion 31, thereby preventing the contact springs 32 from deforming upward due to external forces such as ultrasonic vibrations during ultrasonic bonding. Furthermore, when the protrusions 34 formed on the contact springs 32 abut against the pressure pieces 35 formed hanging down from the top wall 31a of the box portion 31, the contact springs 32 are elastically deformed in the bending direction (downward). This generates an elastic force (biasing force) in the contact springs 32, and the contact springs 32 do not deform downward unless an external force greater than the elastic force (biasing force) generated in the contact springs 32 is applied. Therefore, the contact springs 32 are less likely to deform downward. This prevents the contact springs 32 from deforming in the bending direction due to external forces other than the force acting on the contact springs 32 when the conductive contact portions 41 of the male terminals 40 are inserted into the box portion 31.

[0031] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a terminal (female terminal 20) that can prevent the spring portion (contact spring 32) from being deformed by an external force such as vibration applied from the outside.

[0032] In the terminal (female terminal 20), the box portion 31 may have slit portions 36 formed on each of a pair of side walls 31c, 31c that constitute the box portion 31, into which the protrusion portion 34 is inserted and positioned.

[0033] In this embodiment, by inserting the protrusions 34 into the slits 36, the range of movement of the protrusions 34 can be restricted by the slits 36.

[0034] Moreover, the electric wire with terminal 1 according to this embodiment includes an electric wire 10 and a terminal (female terminal 20) attached to the electric wire 10. The terminal (female terminal 20) includes a cylindrical box portion 31 into which a mating terminal (male terminal 40) is inserted. The terminal (female terminal 20) extends in the longitudinal direction from the front end to the rear end of the box portion 31 and includes a spring portion (contact spring 32) that deforms in a bending direction away from the mating terminal (male terminal 40) inserted into the box portion 31 when the terminal comes into contact with the mating terminal. The spring portion (contact spring 32) has a pair of protrusions 34, 34 that protrude outward in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from a free end portion 32a on the rear end side of the spring portion (contact spring 32). The box portion 31 has a pressing piece portion 35 formed so as to protrude from each of the wall portions (upper wall 31a) constituting the box portion 31 toward the protrusion portion 34, with the tip (lower end 35a) abutting against the protrusion portion 34, and maintaining the spring portion (contact spring 32) in a state elastically deformed in the bending direction from its natural state.

[0035] In this embodiment, the protrusions 34 formed on the contact springs 32 abut against the pressure pieces 35 formed hanging down from the top wall 31a of the box portion 31, thereby preventing the contact springs 32 from deforming upward due to external forces such as ultrasonic vibrations during ultrasonic bonding. Furthermore, when the protrusions 34 formed on the contact springs 32 abut against the pressure pieces 35 formed hanging down from the top wall 31a of the box portion 31, the contact springs 32 are elastically deformed in the bending direction (downward). This generates an elastic force (biasing force) in the contact springs 32, and the contact springs 32 do not deform downward unless an external force greater than the elastic force (biasing force) generated in the contact springs 32 is applied. Therefore, the contact springs 32 are less likely to deform downward. This prevents the contact springs 32 from deforming in the bending direction due to external forces other than the force acting on the contact springs 32 when the conductive contact portions 41 of the male terminals 40 are inserted into the box portion 31. Furthermore, since the contact spring 32 is less likely to deform due to external forces generated when manufacturing the wire harness 2, such as ultrasonic bonding, the ultrasonic bonding method described above can be applied to the terminal-attached electric wire 1 without reducing the reliability of the electrical contact.

[0036] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an electric wire with terminal 1 that can prevent the spring portion (contact spring 32) from being deformed by an external force such as vibration applied from the outside.

[0037] In the electric wire with terminal 1, the box portion 31 may have slit portions 36 formed on each of a pair of side walls 31c, 31c constituting the box portion 31, into which the protrusion portion 34 is inserted and disposed.

[0038] In this embodiment, by inserting the protrusions 34 into the slits 36, the range of movement of the protrusions 34 can be restricted by the slits 36.

[0039] [Other embodiments] Hereinafter, a terminal (female terminal 20A) and a terminal-fitted wire 1A according to another embodiment will be described. Note that components that are substantially the same as those in the above-described terminal (female terminal 20) and terminal-fitted wire 1 will be assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0040] 10 and 11, holes 37 into which the protrusions 34 are inserted are formed in each of the pair of side walls 31c of the box portion 31. In this embodiment, each of the pair of holes 37 is formed in a rectangular hole shape.

[0041] In this way, in the terminal (female terminal 20A), the box portion 31 may have hole portions 37 formed on each of a pair of side walls 31c, 31c that constitute the box portion 31, into which the protrusion portion 34 is inserted and positioned.

[0042] In this embodiment, by inserting the protrusions 34 into the holes 37, the movement range of the protrusions 34 can be restricted by the holes 37.

[0043] In the electric wire with terminal 1A, the box portion 31 may have holes 37 formed in each of the pair of side walls 31c, 31c constituting the box portion 31, into which the protrusions 34 are inserted and disposed.

[0044] In this embodiment, by inserting the protrusions 34 into the holes 37, the movement range of the protrusions 34 can be restricted by the holes 37.

[0045] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1.1A terminal wire 10 Electric wire 20,20A female terminal 31 Hakobe 31a Upper wall 31c side wall 32 Contact spring 32a Free end 34 Protrusion 35 Presser foot 35a bottom end 36 Slit section 37 Hole 40 male terminal

Claims

1. a cylindrical box portion into which a mating terminal is inserted; a spring portion that extends in a longitudinal direction from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the box portion and that deforms in a bending direction away from the mating terminal when the mating terminal inserted into the box portion comes into contact with the spring portion, the spring portion has a pair of protrusions protruding outward in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from a free end portion on a rear end side of the spring portion, The box portion has a pressing piece portion formed so as to protrude from each wall portion constituting the box portion toward the protrusion portion, the tip of which abuts against the protrusion portion, and which maintains the spring portion in a state elastically deformed in the deflection direction from a natural state. Terminal.

2. The terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the box portion has a pair of side walls that define the box portion, each of which has a slit or hole formed therein, into which the protrusion is inserted and disposed.

3. An electric wire and a terminal attached to the electric wire, The terminal is a cylindrical box portion into which a mating terminal is inserted; a spring portion that extends in a longitudinal direction from a front end portion to a rear end portion of the box portion and that deforms in a bending direction away from the mating terminal when the mating terminal inserted into the box portion comes into contact with the spring portion, the spring portion has a pair of protrusions protruding outward in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from a free end portion on a rear end side of the spring portion, The box portion has a pressing piece portion formed so as to protrude from each wall portion constituting the box portion toward the protrusion portion, the tip of which abuts against the protrusion portion, and which maintains the spring portion in a state elastically deformed in the deflection direction from a natural state. Wire with terminals.

4. The electric wire with terminal according to claim 3 , wherein the box portion has a pair of side walls that constitute the box portion, each of which has a slit portion or a hole portion into which the protrusion portion is inserted and disposed.

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