Terminal fittings

Abstract

To suppress the opening of a terminal metal tool from the joint with a cylindrical part.SOLUTION: A terminal metal tool 10 includes: a cylindrical part 20; and a plurality of elastic contact pieces 31 extending from the cylindrical part 20 in a cantilever state. In the cylindrical part 20, a plate material is bent so that a second joint 22 is exposed to the outer peripheral surface. The cylindrical part 20 has a first site 24 and a second site 25 adjacent to each other across the second joint 22. The first site 24 is provided with an opening prevention unit 50 in contact with the outer surface of the second site 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a terminal fitting. [Background technology]

[0002] The terminal fitting of Patent Document 1 has a cylindrical portion that is curved circumferentially by press working and has end faces that butt together. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-165321 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the cylindrical portion of Patent Document 1, the butted end faces may move outward, causing the cylindrical portion to open. As a result, when connecting the terminal fitting to the mating terminal, the contact load may be weakened or an unintended connection posture may be assumed, which may reduce connection reliability.

[0005] The present disclosure was made in light of the above circumstances, and is capable of suppressing opening of the cylindrical portion of the terminal fitting from the joint. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure comprises: A terminal fitting including a cylindrical portion and a plurality of resilient contact pieces extending in a cantilevered manner from the cylindrical portion, The cylindrical portion is formed by bending a plate material so that a seam is exposed on the outer circumferential surface, The cylindrical portion has two adjacent portions sandwiching the seam, One of the portions is provided with an opening prevention portion that abuts against or faces closely to the outer surface of the other portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the cylindrical portion of the terminal fitting from opening at the joint. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the terminal fitting. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the terminal fitting. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the terminal fitting. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the terminal fitting. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the cylindrical portion of the terminal fitting and its surroundings in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a step of aligning the first portion with the second portion in the manufacturing process of the terminal fitting. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a view equivalent to FIG. 8 of the terminal fitting of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a terminal fitting assembled in a housing. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view of the housing and the terminal fittings of FIG. 11 as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing a cylindrical portion of a terminal fitting according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The terminal fitting of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A terminal fitting including a cylindrical portion and a plurality of resilient contact pieces extending cantilever-like from the cylindrical portion, The cylindrical portion is formed by bending a plate material so that a seam is exposed on the outer circumferential surface, The cylindrical portion has two adjacent portions sandwiching the seam, One of the portions is provided with an opening prevention portion that abuts against or faces closely to the outer surface of the other portion. According to the configuration of the present disclosure, the opening prevention portion provided on one portion of the cylindrical portion abuts or faces closely to the outer surface of the other portion adjacent to the one portion across the seam. Therefore, when the other portion of the cylindrical portion comes into contact with the opening prevention portion, radial outward displacement of the other portion is suppressed. Therefore, opening at the seam of the cylindrical portion can be suppressed. (2) In the terminal fitting assembled to the housing, it is preferable that the opening prevention portion is bent when viewed from the axial direction of the cylindrical portion. This configuration increases the rigidity of the opening prevention part. Therefore, when the highly rigid opening prevention part comes into contact with the other part of the cylindrical part, the radially outward displacement of the other part is further suppressed. Therefore, opening at the joint of the cylindrical part can be further suppressed. (3) It is preferable that the opening prevention portion is inserted into a groove provided in the housing when the terminal fitting is assembled to the housing. This configuration can prevent the terminal fitting from rotating relative to the housing. (4) It is preferable that the opening prevention portion has an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the outer surface of the other portion. With this configuration, the position where the anti-opening portion contacts the outer surface of the other portion is more easily determined than in a configuration in which the anti-opening portion contacts the outer surface of the other portion on a surface parallel to the outer surface of the other portion, thereby reducing variation in the shape of the terminal fitting. (5) It is preferable that the opening prevention portion is provided with a protrusion that bites into the outer surface of the other portion. This configuration makes it difficult for the opening prevention portion and the other portion to become misaligned, further suppressing radial outward displacement of the other portion, thereby further preventing opening from occurring at the joint of the cylindrical portion. (6) It is preferable that the opening prevention portion rises in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion to a position near the tip of the mating terminal that contacts the resilient contact piece. According to this configuration, the opening prevention portion can change the impedance around the cylindrical portion, thereby matching the impedance between the portion of the terminal fitting adjacent to the mating terminal and the portion of the terminal fitting not adjacent to the mating terminal. (7) In the terminal fitting assembled to the housing, it is preferable that a protrusion to be press-fitted into the housing is provided on the outer surface of one of the portions of the cylindrical portion or on the outer surface in the vicinity of one of the portions. With this configuration, the protrusion is press-fitted into the housing, making it difficult for one portion of the cylindrical portion to move radially outward. This makes it easier to maintain contact between the opening prevention part and the other portion, further suppressing radial outward displacement of the other portion. This further prevents the cylindrical portion from opening at the joint.

[0010] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] [Example 1] A first embodiment of a terminal fitting according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 12. In this first embodiment, the up-down direction is defined as the upward direction and the downward direction as they appear in Figures 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 12. The front-rear direction is defined as the left-hand side and the right-hand side as they appear in Figure 4. The left-hand side and the right-hand side are defined as the left-hand side and the right-hand side as they appear in Figures 2, 5, 8, and 10.

[0011] (Terminal metal fitting configuration) As shown in FIG. 1 , the terminal fitting 10 of the first embodiment is a female terminal fitting. The terminal fitting 10 is a single part made of a metal material. The terminal fitting 10 is formed by pressing or bending a conductive metal plate. The terminal fitting 10 has an elongated cylindrical shape as a whole. The terminal fitting 10 includes a cylindrical portion 20, a connecting portion 30, and a mounting portion 40.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical portion 20 constitutes the axial center portion of the terminal fitting 10. The cylindrical portion 20 is formed by bending a plate material in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 6, a first seam 21 and a second seam 22 are exposed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 20. The first seam 21 is parallel to the axial direction. The second seam 22 is aligned in the circumferential direction. The second seam 22 corresponds to the "seam" in this disclosure.

[0013] The connection portion 30 is a portion that connects with a mating terminal 60 (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 1, the connection portion 30 has a pair of resilient contact pieces 31 and a pair of sliding pieces 32 and 33. The pair of resilient contact pieces 31 and the pair of sliding pieces 32 and 33 extend in a cantilevered manner from the cylindrical portion 20. The pair of resilient contact pieces 31 and the pair of sliding pieces 32 and 33 are arranged side by side with a gap between them in the circumferential direction. The pair of resilient contact pieces 31 are arranged facing each other across the axis L (see FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 7, the resilient contact piece 31 first extends obliquely inward from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 20 and then extends obliquely outward. The sliding pieces 32 and 33 guide the insertion of the mating terminal 60 (see FIG. 4) into the connection portion 30. The sliding pieces 32 and 33 are arranged facing each other across the axis L (see FIG. 5). As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the slide pieces 32 and 33 are rectangular plate-shaped. The slide piece 32 has angular corners at the tip, and the slide piece 33 has rounded corners at the tip.

[0014] The mounting portion 40 is connected to, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) of a circuit board. As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting portion 40 has a tapered portion 41, a peripheral wall portion 42, and leg portions 43. The tapered portion 41 is shaped like a truncated cone connecting the lower end of the cylindrical portion 20 and the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 42. The peripheral wall portion 42 is cylindrical. The leg portions 43 protrude downward from the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 42. The leg portions 43 are shaped like an L-shaped bent plate.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 6 , the cylindrical portion 20 has a main body portion 23, a first portion 24, and a second portion 25. The first portion 24 corresponds to "one portion" in the present disclosure. The second portion 25 corresponds to "the other portion" in the present disclosure. The main body portion 23 is arc-shaped when viewed in the axial direction. The axial width of the main body portion 23 is constant in the circumferential direction. The first portion 24 is plate-shaped and extends circumferentially from one circumferential end of the main body portion 23. The axial width of the first portion 24 is smaller than the axial width of the main body portion 23. The first portion 24 is arc-shaped when viewed in the axial direction. A first edge portion 23A extending in the axial direction is provided at an upper end portion of one circumferential end of the main body portion 23 (a portion where the first portion 24 is not provided).

[0016] As shown in Fig. 6, the second portion 25 is plate-shaped and extends circumferentially from the other circumferential end of the main body portion 23. The axial width of the second portion 25 is smaller than the axial width of the main body portion 23. The second portion 25 is arc-shaped when viewed in the axial direction. A second edge portion 23B (see Figs. 3 and 4) extending axially is provided at a lower end portion (a portion where the second portion 25 is not provided) of the other circumferential end of the main body portion 23.

[0017] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6, a pair of arc-shaped slits S1 and S2 are provided along the circumferential direction between the cylindrical portion 20 and the tapered portion 41 of the mounting portion 40. The slit S1 extends toward the main body portion 23 from the base end of the first portion 24. The slit S2 has a length approximately equal to that of the slit S1 and extends in the opposite direction from the slit S1.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 6, the first portion 24 and the second portion 25 are adjacent to each other with the second seam 22 in between. The first portion 24 and the second portion 25 overlap in the vertical direction. The upper end 24A of the first portion 24 and the lower end 25A of the second portion 25 in the axial direction are in contact with each other to form the second seam 22.

[0019] 6, the tip 25B of the second portion 25 and the first edge portion 23A are in contact with each other to form the first seam 21. The tip 25B of the second portion 25 is in contact with the first edge portion 23A in the circumferential direction. A crimped portion 26 is provided between the tip 25B of the second portion 25 and the first edge portion 23A. The crimped portion 26 is formed by welding the tip 25B of the second portion 25 to the first edge portion 23A.

[0020] 8, a gap 27 is provided between the tip 24B (end in the extending direction) of the first portion 24 and the second edge portion 23B of the main body portion 23. The gap 27 is in the form of a slit that is long in the axial direction.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 6, the first portion 24 is provided with an opening prevention portion 50. The opening prevention portion 50 prevents the cylindrical portion 20 from opening at the second seam 22. The opening prevention portion 50 rises radially outward from the tip 24B (see FIG. 8) of the first portion 24. The axial width of the opening prevention portion 50 is wider than the axial width of the first portion 24. The opening prevention portion 50 is formed by folding a plate portion that is wider (wider in the axial direction) than the first portion 24. The opening prevention portion 50 is bent in a U-shape when viewed from the axial direction so that it protrudes radially outward. This increases the rigidity of the opening prevention portion 50.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6, the opening prevention portion 50 has a first plate portion 51, a second plate portion 52, and a bent portion 53. The opening prevention portion 50 is connected to the first section 24 in the order of the first plate portion 51, the bent portion 53, and the second plate portion 52. The first plate portion 51 is a rectangular plate. The second plate portion 52 is a trapezoidal plate having an inclined portion 54 (see FIG. 7) at its tip (the end opposite the bent portion 53). As shown in FIG. 7, the inclined portion 54 is inclined with respect to the outer surface (axial direction) of the second section 25. The inclined portion 54 is inclined downward toward the radially inner side of the second section 25. One plate surface of the first plate portion 51 and one plate surface of the second plate portion 52 face each other in the circumferential direction. The bent portion 53 is bent so as to be convex radially outward.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 6, the opening prevention portion 50 is provided with a protruding portion 55 that protrudes upward (toward the connection portion 30) beyond the first portion 24. The protruding portion 55 constitutes the upper end portion of the opening prevention portion 50. The protruding portion 55 faces the outer surface of the second portion 25. As shown in FIG. 4, the protruding portion 55 rises in the axial direction to a position near the tip of the mating terminal 60 that contacts the resilient contact piece 31 (a position slightly below the tip of the mating terminal 60). This allows the opening prevention portion 50 to change the impedance around the cylindrical portion 20. This makes it possible to match the impedance between the portion of the terminal fitting 10 adjacent to the mating terminal 60 and other portions.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 , the opening prevention portion 50 abuts against the outer surface of the second portion 25. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the lower end side of the inclined portion 54 of the second plate portion 52 enters the gap 27 from the outside. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 , the inclined portion 54 abuts against the outer surface of the lower edge of the second portion 25. The contact of the second portion 25 of the cylindrical portion 20 with the opening prevention portion 50 suppresses radially outward displacement of the second portion 25. This prevents the cylindrical portion 20 from opening from the second seam 22. In particular, the rigidity of the opening prevention portion 50 is increased by the bent shape, which further prevents the cylindrical portion 20 from opening from the second seam 22.

[0025] The impedance of the terminal fitting 10 can be adjusted by changing the radially outward protruding width and axial width of the opening prevention portion 50.

[0026] The inclined portion 54 is in contact with the outer surface of the second portion 25 at an angle. Therefore, the position at which the opening prevention portion 50 contacts the outer surface of the second portion 25 is more easily determined than in a configuration in which the opening prevention portion 50 makes surface contact with the outer surface of the second portion 25 on a surface parallel to the outer surface of the second portion 25. This reduces variation in the shape of the terminal fitting 10.

[0027] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, four protrusions 28 are provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20. The protrusions 28 are press-fit into a housing 70, which will be described later. The protrusions 28 are arranged at equal intervals along the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 20. The protrusions 28 protrude outward. The protrusions 28 are formed by hammering, for example. One of the protrusions 28 is provided near the center of the outer surface of the first portion 24.

[0028] (Assembling the terminal fittings) A conductive metal plate is formed into a long, thin cylindrical shape by pressing, bending, or the like, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Specifically, the first edge portion 23A of the main body portion 23 and the tip end 25B of the second portion 25 are joined to form the first seam 21. Next, the first seam 21 is welded to form the crimped portion 26. Here, the upper end 24A of the first portion 24 is located radially outward of the lower end 25A of the second portion 25, and the second seam 22 is not formed. As shown in FIG. 10, the inclined portion 54 of the second plate portion 52 does not enter the gap 27 (see FIG. 8).

[0029] 9 and 10, the first portion 24 is bent inward (toward the axis L) to form the cylindrical portion 20. Specifically, the upper end 24A of the first portion 24 is opposed to the lower end 25A of the second portion 25, and the second seam 22 is formed as shown in FIG. 6. As the second seam 22 is formed, the opening prevention portion 50 is brought into contact with the outer surface of the second portion 25. Specifically, the lower end portion of the inclined portion 54 of the second plate portion 52 is inserted into the gap 27 (see FIG. 8) from the outside. As a result, the inclined portion 54 comes into contact with the outer surface of the lower edge of the second portion 25.

[0030] (Assembly structure of terminal furniture to housing) As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the terminal fitting 10 is assembled to the housing 70. The housing 70 has a cylindrical shape. The housing 70 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. As shown in Figure 12, the mounting portion 40 and the cylindrical portion 20 are inserted into a central hole 71 of the housing 70. As shown in Figures 8, 11, and 12, the opening prevention portion 50 is inserted into a groove portion 72 (a groove connected to the central hole 71) of the housing 70. This prevents the terminal fitting 10 from rotating relative to the housing 70. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the connecting portion 30 (a pair of resilient contact pieces 31 and a pair of slide pieces 32, 33) protrudes above the top surface of the housing 70.

[0031] The opening prevention portion 50 is the portion that is pressed by the jig 80 when the terminal fitting 10 is assembled to the housing 70. After the lower end side of the opening prevention portion 50 is inserted into the groove portion 72, the upper end of the opening prevention portion 50 is pressed downward by the jig 80, whereby the opening prevention portion 50 is inserted into the groove portion 72 from above.

[0032] By press-fitting the protrusion 28 into the housing 70, the first portion 24 of the cylindrical portion 20 is less likely to move radially outward. This makes it easier to maintain the contact state of the opening prevention portion 50 with the second portion 25, further suppressing radially outward displacement of the second portion 25. This further suppresses opening of the cylindrical portion 20 from the second seam 22.

[0033] (Effects of this embodiment) As described above, according to the terminal fitting 10 of the present disclosure, the first portion 24 is provided with the opening prevention portion 50 that abuts against the outer surface of the second portion 25. As a result, the opening prevention portion 50 provided on the first portion 24 of the cylindrical portion 20 abuts against the outer surface of the second portion 25 that is adjacent to the first portion 24 across the second seam 22. Therefore, the second portion 25 of the cylindrical portion 20 comes into contact with the opening prevention portion 50, thereby suppressing radial outward displacement of the second portion 25. This prevents the cylindrical portion 20 from opening from the second seam 22.

[0034] The terminal fitting 10 of the present disclosure is assembled to a housing 70. The opening prevention portion 50 is bent when viewed from the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 20. This increases the rigidity of the opening prevention portion 50. Therefore, when the highly rigid opening prevention portion 50 comes into contact with the second portion 25 of the cylindrical portion 20, radial outward displacement of the second portion 25 is further suppressed. This further suppresses opening of the cylindrical portion 20 from the second joint 22.

[0035] According to the terminal fitting 10 of the present disclosure, the opening prevention portion 50 is inserted into the groove portion 72 provided in the housing 70 when the terminal fitting 10 is assembled to the housing 70. This prevents the terminal fitting 10 from rotating relative to the housing 70.

[0036] According to the terminal fitting 10 of the present disclosure, the opening prevention portion 50 has an inclined portion 54 that is inclined relative to the outer surface of the second portion 25. This makes it easier to determine the position where the opening prevention portion 50 contacts the outer surface of the second portion 25, compared to a configuration in which the opening prevention portion 50 makes surface contact on a surface parallel to the outer surface of the second portion 25. This reduces variation in the shape of the terminal fitting 10.

[0037] According to the terminal fitting 10 of the present disclosure, the opening prevention portion 50 rises in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 20 to a position near the tip of the mating terminal 60 that contacts the resilient contact piece 31. This allows the opening prevention portion 50 to change the impedance around the cylindrical portion 20. This makes it possible to match the impedance between the portion of the terminal fitting 10 adjacent to the mating terminal 60 and the portion of the terminal fitting 10 not adjacent to the mating terminal 60.

[0038] According to the terminal fitting 10 of the present disclosure, the terminal fitting 10 is assembled to the housing 70, and the protrusion 28 is provided on the outer surface of the first portion 24 of the cylindrical portion 20 and is press-fitted into the housing 70. As a result, when the protrusion 28 is press-fitted into the housing 70, the first portion 24 of the cylindrical portion 20 is less likely to move radially outward. This makes it easier to maintain the contact state of the opening prevention portion 50 with the second portion 25, and further suppresses radially outward displacement of the second portion 25. This further suppresses opening of the cylindrical portion 20 from the second seam 22.

[0039] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the examples described above and in the drawings, but is defined by the claims. The present invention includes the equivalent meaning of the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, and is intended to include the following embodiments. 13 , the opening prevention portion 50 may be provided with a protrusion 56 that bites into the outer surface of the second portion 25. This makes it difficult for the opening prevention portion 50 and the second portion 25 to become misaligned, and further suppresses radially outward displacement of the second portion 25. As a result, opening of the cylindrical portion 20 from the second seam 22 can be further suppressed. In the above-mentioned Example 1, a protrusion 28 that is pressed into the housing 70 is provided on the outer surface of the first portion 24 of the cylindrical portion 20, but the protrusion 28 may also be provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20 near the first portion 24. In the first embodiment, a pair of resilient contact pieces 31 are provided, but any other number of resilient contact pieces 31 may be provided. In the first embodiment, the second seam 22 is shaped to extend along the circumferential direction, but it may be shaped to extend in other directions. In the first embodiment, the opening prevention portion 50 abuts against the outer surface of the second portion 25, but it may be configured to face the outer surface of the second portion 25 in close proximity. In the first embodiment, the inclined portion 54 is inclined with respect to the outer surface of the second portion 25, which is parallel to the axial direction, but other configurations are also possible as long as the inclined portion 54 is inclined with respect to the outer surface of the second portion 25. For example, the inclined portion 54 may be inclined with respect to the second portion 25, which is inclined with respect to the axial direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 10...Terminal fitting 20...Cylindrical part 21...First joint 22...Second joint (joint) 23...Main body 23A…First edge 23B…Second edge 24...First part (one part) 24A…Top end 24B...tip 25...Second part (other part) 25A…lower end 25B...tip 26...Crimped part 27...Gap 28...Protrusion 30...Connection 31...Elastic contact piece 32, 33...Slide pieces 40...Mounting section 41...Tapered section 42...Peripheral wall part 43...legs 50...Opening prevention part 51...1st plate part 52…Second plate part 53...Bend 54…Slope part 55...Protruding part 56...Protrusion 60...Mating terminal 70…Housing 71...Center hole 72...Groove 80...Jig L…Axis line S1, S2...Slits

Claims

1. A terminal fitting includes a cylindrical portion and a plurality of resilient contact pieces extending cantilever-like from the cylindrical portion, the terminal fitting being assembled to a housing, The cylindrical portion is formed by bending a plate material so that a seam is exposed on the outer circumferential surface, The cylindrical portion has two adjacent portions sandwiching the seam, One of the portions is provided with an opening prevention portion that abuts against or faces closely to an outer surface of the other portion, the opening prevention portion is bent when viewed in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, The opening prevention portion is inserted into a groove formed in the housing when the terminal fitting is assembled to the housing.

2. A terminal fitting including a cylindrical portion and a plurality of resilient contact pieces extending in a cantilevered manner from the cylindrical portion, The cylindrical portion is formed by bending a plate material so that a seam is exposed on the outer circumferential surface, The cylindrical portion has two adjacent portions sandwiching the seam, One of the portions is provided with an opening prevention portion that abuts against or faces closely to an outer surface of the other portion, The opening prevention portion rises in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion to a position near the tip of the mating terminal that comes into contact with the resilient contact piece.

3. 3. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the opening prevention portion has an inclined portion inclined with respect to an outer surface of the other portion.

4. 3. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the opening prevention portion is provided with a protrusion that bites into the outer surface of the other portion.

5. A terminal fitting assembled to a housing, The terminal fitting according to claim 1 , wherein a protrusion to be press-fitted into the housing is provided on an outer surface of the cylindrical portion at one of the locations or on an outer surface in the vicinity of the one of the locations.

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