Female terminals, connectors, wires with terminals, wires with connectors, and wire harnesses

Abstract

To provide a female terminal, a female connector, an electric wire with a terminal, an electric wire with a connector, and a wire harness capable of welding between a bottom wall of a base part and a bottom plate of a spring member with certainty and securing excellent conductivity.SOLUTION: A female terminal 10 has a terminal main body 13 consisting of a base part 20 connected with an electric wire 3 and a spring member 30 attached to the base part 20. The base part 20 has a pair of side walls 21 arranged at a predetermined interval into which a male terminal 5 can be inserted, and a bottom wall 22 connecting between the respective side walls 21. The spring member 30 has a bottom plate 32 provided along the bottom wall 22 in a state fitted between the pair of side walls 21. The bottom wall 22 and the bottom plate 32 are welded with each other via a contact part 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a female terminal for an electric circuit through which a large current flows, a connector, an electric wire with a terminal, an electric wire with a connector, and a wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electrical devices have been configured to form electrical circuits by connecting electrically driven devices and power supply devices via wire harnesses. The wire harness and the electrically driven device, and the wire harness and the power supply device are connected to each other via connectors attached to each of them.

[0003] For example, the connector shown in Patent Document 1 has a female terminal accommodated in a connector housing. The female terminal has a terminal body formed by a base and a spring member, and a base plate for the spring member is provided along a pair of side walls that form the base. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-205711 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the electrical circuits of an automobile, such as the drivetrain, a large current flows, so good electrical conductivity is required. However, when welding each of the pair of side walls constituting the base, there is a risk that a gap will occur on at least one side due to distortion or the like, making the welding unreliable. In other words, there is a risk of unreliable electrical conductivity.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a female terminal, a connector, an electric wire with a terminal, an electric wire with a connector, and a wire harness in which the bottom wall of the base portion and the bottom plate of the spring member are reliably welded to ensure good electrical conductivity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In this invention, a terminal body is provided by a base part connected to an electric wire and a spring member attached to the base part, and the base part has a pair of side walls arranged at a predetermined interval into which a male terminal can be inserted, and a bottom wall connecting the side walls, a width direction in which the pair of side walls are spaced apart, a height direction in which the male terminal is inserted between the pair of side walls, and a longitudinal direction in which the direction perpendicular to the width direction and the height direction is defined; The spring member has a bottom plate that is disposed along the bottom wall when fitted between the pair of side walls, and the bottom wall and the bottom plate are welded via an abutment portion that is provided on the bottom plate and protrudes toward the bottom wall. At the same time, the opposite side to the bottom wall is a concave recessed portion, and convex part In minutes The tip of the convex portion is in line contact with the mating part. At the same time, dotted line welds were formed along the longitudinal direction. It is a female terminal.

[0008] In the present invention, the abutting portion means the portion where the bottom wall and the bottom plate are in contact with each other, and unless otherwise specified, includes all manners of abutting portion.

[0009] The present invention also includes a connector having the aforementioned female terminal and a connector housing that accommodates the female terminal, as well as a terminal-attached electric wire having the aforementioned female terminal and the electric wire connected to the base portion of the female terminal.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention includes an electric wire with a connector that includes the above-mentioned electric wire with a terminal and a connector housing that accommodates the above-mentioned electric wire with a terminal, and a wire harness that includes at least one of the above-mentioned electric wire with a terminal and the above-mentioned electric wire with a connector.

[0011] In the present invention, the convex portion refers to a portion that locally protrudes toward the bottom wall side by bending or forming a protrusion, when the convex portion is provided on the bottom plate. . HoweverHowever, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to an arc shape.

[0012] According to this invention, the bottom wall of the base portion and the bottom plate of the spring member can be reliably welded together to ensure good electrical conductivity. More specifically, in the female terminals and the like according to the present invention, the base portion has a pair of side walls spaced a predetermined distance apart to allow insertion of the male terminal, and a bottom wall connecting the side walls. The spring member has a bottom plate that is fitted between the pair of side walls and is disposed along the bottom wall. The bottom wall and the bottom plate are welded via abutment portions. In this way, in the female terminals and the like according to the present invention, the abutment portions are provided so that the bottom wall and the bottom plate abut without gaps, and welding is performed via this abutment portion, preventing welding defects due to gaps. Therefore, the bottom wall of the base portion and the bottom plate of the spring member can be reliably welded to ensure good electrical conductivity.

[0013] In addition, in the female terminals and the like according to the present invention, welding is performed not on each of the pair of side walls constituting the base, but rather on the bottom wall of the base and the bottom plate of the spring member, thereby reducing the number of welding points. This allows for improved productivity compared to female terminals in which welding is performed on each of the pair of side walls. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide the spring member with a portion to be welded to the side walls, the shape of the spring member can be simplified, further improving productivity. Furthermore, weight can also be reduced.

[0014] The abutment portion is a convex portion provided on the bottom plate and protruding toward the bottom wall. In minutes Therefore, when the abutment portion is provided on the bottom plate, the tip of the abutment portion abuts against the bottom wall. Conversely, when the abutment portion is provided on the bottom wall, the tip of the abutment portion abuts against the bottom plate. Therefore, the bottom wall of the base portion and the bottom plate of the spring member can be reliably welded together to ensure good electrical conductivity.

[0015] In addition, because the contact portion is a convex portion, the heat capacity at the tip is small. This allows the temperature at the tip to rise quickly and to a high temperature during welding. This allows the bottom wall of the base portion and the bottom plate of the spring member to be welded more reliably, ensuring good electrical conductivity.

[0016] As another aspect of the present invention, a concave portion into which the abutting portion (convex portion) fits may be provided at a position facing the abutting portion. In the present invention, the position facing the abutment portion refers to the opposing position on the bottom wall when the abutment portion is provided on the bottom plate, and refers to the opposing position on the bottom plate when the abutment portion is provided on the bottom wall. Furthermore, in the present invention, the concave portion refers to a locally recessed portion formed by bending or forming a recess when provided on the bottom wall. Even when provided on the bottom plate, it refers to a locally recessed portion formed by bending or forming a recess. However, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to being arc-shaped.

[0017] This invention allows the convex and concave portions of the contacting parts to fit together, ensuring a large contact area between the outer surface of the convex portion and the inner surface of the concave portion. This reduces the electrical resistance of the terminals. This structure is particularly suitable for electrical circuits that carry large currents.

[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the spring member may have an inner plate arranged along the inner surface of the side wall, and may have an arm spring extending from the inner plate arranged along one side wall toward the opening end of the opposing side wall. The arm spring in this invention refers to a cantilevered contact piece that abuts against the side of the male terminal inserted inside the female terminal. This invention limits the extension direction of the arm spring provided on the inner plate, but does not limit the detailed shape or structure.

[0019] This invention allows current to flow through a relatively short path. That is, when current flows from the male terminal to the female terminal, it flows from the tip of the arm spring abutting the male terminal, through the base of the arm spring, and through the welded portion of the bottom plate nearby, before reaching the bottom wall. Conversely, when current flows from the female terminal to the male terminal, it flows from the bottom wall, through the welded portion of the bottom plate, through the base of the arm spring nearby, and then to the male terminal abutting the tip of the arm spring. Therefore, electrical resistance can be kept low compared to a female terminal in which the arm spring extends from the inner plate toward the closed bottom end of the opposing side wall. This structure is particularly suitable for electrical circuits through which large currents flow.

[0020] In addition, when the inner plate abuts against the inside surface of the side wall, rattle of the spring member during assembly work before welding can be suppressed, improving productivity. Furthermore, it can also prevent the spring member from shifting or coming off. Therefore, there is no need to reinsert the spring member that has shifted or come off before welding, which improves productivity.

[0021] As another aspect of the present invention, the spring member may have an arm spring extending from a lateral end of the bottom plate adjacent to one of the side walls toward the open end of the opposing side wall. The arm spring in this invention also refers to a cantilevered contact piece that abuts against the side of the male terminal inserted inside the female terminal. In this invention, the extension direction of the arm spring provided on the bottom plate is limited, but the detailed shape and structure are not limited.

[0022] This invention allows current to flow through a shorter path. That is, when current flows from a male terminal to a female terminal, it flows from the tip of the arm spring abutting the male terminal, through the base of the arm spring, and then through the welded portion of the bottom plate nearby to the bottom wall. Conversely, when current flows from a female terminal to a male terminal, it flows from the bottom wall, through the welded portion of the bottom plate, through the base of the arm spring nearby, and then to the male terminal abutting the tip of the arm spring. Therefore, electrical resistance can be kept lower than not only female terminals in which the arm spring extends from the inner plate toward the closed bottom end of the opposing side wall, but also female terminals in which the arm spring extends from the inner plate toward the open end of the opposing side wall. This structure is particularly suitable for electrical circuits through which large currents flow.

[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, the spring member may have an inner plate arranged along the inner surface of the side wall, and may have an arm spring extending from the inner plate arranged along one side wall toward the closed bottom end of the opposing side wall. The arm spring in this invention also refers to a cantilevered contact piece that abuts against the side of the male terminal inserted inside the female terminal. In this invention, too, the extension direction of the arm spring provided on the inner plate is limited, but the detailed shape and structure are not limited.

[0024] This invention facilitates the insertion of a male terminal into a female terminal. Specifically, an arm spring extends from an inner plate along one side wall toward the closed bottom end of the opposing side wall, widening the insertion passage for the male terminal toward the open end and narrowing the insertion passage toward the closed bottom end. This arm spring therefore functions as a guide plate for the male terminal, guiding the male terminal to a predetermined insertion completion position. Specifically, the open end of the insertion passage for the male terminal is widened, allowing the male terminal to be guided along the inclination of the arm spring, thereby guiding the male terminal to a predetermined insertion completion position.

[0025] In addition, when the inner plate abuts against the inside surface of the side wall, rattle of the spring member during assembly work before welding can be suppressed, improving productivity. Furthermore, it can also prevent the spring member from shifting or coming off. Therefore, there is no need to reinsert the spring member that has shifted or come off before welding, which improves productivity.

[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the arm springs may be arranged at predetermined intervals along the side wall, and a weld between the bottom wall and the bottom plate may be provided between adjacent arm springs.

[0027] This invention eliminates line welding along the base end of the arm spring. This prevents the base end of the arm spring from being affected by welding heat, preventing the arm spring from collapsing when a male terminal is inserted into a female terminal. This prevents the arm spring from collapsing (deformation in which the arm spring, bent up from the inner or bottom plate, easily collapses from its base end). This allows the tip of the arm spring to press against the male terminal. This allows the arm spring to be tightly attached to the male terminal, ensuring better electrical conductivity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] Side view of a female terminal. [Figure 5] Front view of the female terminal. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows BB and CC in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a male terminal inserted inside a female terminal. [Figure 10] Assembly instructions for female terminals. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a female terminal according to another embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a female terminal according to another embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a female terminal according to another embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a welding mode of a female terminal according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a connector 1. In Fig. 1, a connector housing 4 that accommodates female terminals 10 is shown by a broken line.

[0030] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of female terminal 10. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of female terminal 10. Fig. 4 is a side view of female terminal 10, Fig. 5 is a front view of female terminal 10, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of female terminal 10. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB and CC in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of female terminal 10 with male terminal 5 inserted inside, and Fig. 10 is an assembly explanatory diagram of female terminal 10.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 1, a connector 1 is attached to the tip portion of electric wires 3 that make up a wire harness 2. The connector 1 has two female terminals 10 accommodated in a connector housing 4 in parallel.

[0032] The wire harness 2 is formed by bundling a plurality of electric wires 3. The electric wires 3 have core wires 3a, which are conductors, covered with insulating coatings 3b, and the core wires 3a exposed at their tips are connected to the base 20 of the female terminal 10.

[0033] The connector housing 4 has an electric wire insertion portion 41 through which the electric wire 3 is inserted, and a terminal accommodating portion 42 that accommodates the female terminal 10. The accommodating space 4S that accommodates the female terminal 10 has a substantially rectangular opening, and a protruding portion of the connector housing that accommodates the male terminal 5 (see FIG. 9) is fitted into this opening. At this time, the male terminal 5 is inserted inside the female terminal 10, and the terminals are electrically connected to each other.

[0034] As shown in Figures 2 to 9, the female terminal 10 is composed of an electric wire connection portion 11 and a terminal connection portion 12. The electric wire connection portion 11 and the terminal connection portion 12 are arranged in series on an extension line of the electric wire 3. In the present application, this direction will be described as a longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, a direction parallel to the direction in which the male terminal 5 (see Figure 9) is inserted will be described as a height direction H, and a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H will be described as a width direction W.

[0035] The electric wire connection portion 11 is provided with a connection plate 111 that is perpendicular to the width direction W. The upper and lower ends of the connection plate 111 are bent to provide guide pieces 112. Each guide piece 112 serves to prevent the core wire 3a connected to the connection plate 111 from spreading out.

[0036] The terminal connection portion 12 is provided with a terminal body 13 that is electrically connected to the male terminal 5. In the female terminal 10 according to this embodiment, the terminal body 13 is composed of a base portion 20 that is integrally formed with the electric wire connection portion 11, and a spring member 30 that is attached to the base portion 20. The base portion 20 and the spring member 30 will be described in detail below.

[0037] The base portion 20 has a pair of side walls 21 spaced a predetermined distance apart so that the male terminals 5 can be inserted therein. More specifically, the base portion 20 has a pair of side walls 21 spaced a predetermined distance apart, each of which is perpendicular to the width direction W. The base portion 20 also has a bottom wall 22 connecting the lower ends of the side walls 21. Therefore, the base portion 20 is substantially U-shaped when viewed in the longitudinal direction L (see FIG. 4).

[0038] Moreover, one side wall 21 of the base portion 20 is formed by extending the connecting plate 111 in the longitudinal direction L. The other side wall 21 is formed by folding back a plate material (the base material of the base portion 20) on the side where the guide piece 112 is formed. Therefore, the base portion 20 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the height direction H (see FIG. 6). In this way, by forming the other side wall 21 of the base portion 20 on the side where the guide piece 112 is formed, the female terminal 10 can be made compact.

[0039] Furthermore, the upper guide piece 112 of the base part 20 is formed by bending the upper end part of the connecting plate 111, and a notch 11a is provided to prevent the side wall 21 from being distorted when forming the guide piece 112. Similarly, the lower guide piece 112 of the base part 20 is formed by bending the lower end part of the connecting plate 111, and a notch 11b is provided to prevent the side wall 21 from being distorted when forming the guide piece 112. Note that a part of the spring member 30 is exposed at the notch 11b, and the spring member 30 can be removed by pushing it out from the lower side (see FIG. 5).

[0040] In addition, the base portion 20 is formed by cutting out and bending a conductive plate material such as a copper alloy or an aluminum alloy. The surface of the base portion 20 is not plated, but this is not a limitation. Therefore, the surface may be plated with silver plating, tin plating, or the like to improve conductivity. Alternatively, the base portion 20 may be partially plated. An example of a partially plated portion is one in which the wire connection portion 11 or the terminal connection portion 12 is plated. Alternatively, only the wire connection portion 11 or only the terminal connection portion 12 may be plated.

[0041] The spring member 30 has inner plates 31 arranged along the inner surfaces 21a of the pair of side walls 21. The spring member 30 also has a bottom plate 32 connecting the lower ends of the inner plates 31. Therefore, the bottom plate 32 is arranged along the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22. In other words, the spring member 30 has the bottom plate 32 that is arranged along the bottom wall 22 when fitted between the pair of side walls 21.

[0042] Furthermore, the inner plate 31 on one side of the spring member 30 extends in the longitudinal direction L along the side wall 21, and six arm springs 35 extend from this inner plate 31 toward the opposing side wall 21 (see FIG. 7). These arm springs 35 all have the same shape, and more specifically, they extend obliquely upward so as to approach the opposing side wall 21 when viewed from the longitudinal direction L, and have a shape in which a portion including the tip edge is folded back (see FIG. 8). Note that a base end portion 35P of each arm spring 35 is provided at the upper end of the inner plate 31 extending along the side wall 21 (see FIG. 9).

[0043] Furthermore, the inner plate 31 on the other side of the spring member 30 also extends in the longitudinal direction L along the side wall 21, and six arm springs 35 extend from this inner plate 31 toward the opposing side wall 21 (see FIG. 7). These arm springs 35 all have the same shape, and specifically, they extend obliquely upward so as to approach the opposing side wall 21 when viewed from the longitudinal direction L, and have a shape in which a part including the tip edge is folded back (see FIG. 8). Note that a base end portion 35P of each arm spring 35 is provided at the upper end of the inner plate 31 extending along the side wall 21 (see FIG. 9).

[0044] Additionally, the spring member 30 has a contact portion 36 on the bottom plate 32 that protrudes toward the bottom wall 22. More specifically, the contact portion 36 protrudes toward the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22 from the center of the bottom plate 32 in the width direction W. The contact portion 36 is provided along the longitudinal direction L, and its cross-sectional shape is a convex arc-shaped portion that curves downward. Therefore, the apex of the contact portion 36 abuts (makes line contact with) the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22. Welding is performed along this line of contact (line contact). With this configuration, a weld 36W is formed along the line of contact (line contact) (see FIGS. 6 to 9).

[0045] Furthermore, in the female terminal 10 according to this embodiment, the bottom plate 32 is provided with an abutment portion 36, which is a convex portion curved downward along the longitudinal direction L. As a result, a linear recessed portion 36D is formed on the inner surface of the bottom plate 32 along the longitudinal direction L. The recessed portion 36D functions as a receptacle for molten metal (liquid metal that is generated when a portion of the bottom wall 22 or the bottom plate 32 melts during welding). In other words, the recessed portion 36D functions as a receptacle that catches the molten metal generated during welding so that it does not spread. This prevents the molten metal from spreading over the bottom plate 32 and cooling and solidifying in a location away from the welded portion 36W.

[0046] Furthermore, in the female terminal 10 according to this embodiment, the spring member 30 has an arm spring 35 that abuts against the side surface of the male terminal 5, and this arm spring 35 extends obliquely from an inner plate 31 provided along one side wall 21 toward the open end of the opposing side wall 21. When a current flows from the male terminal 5 to the female terminal 10, the current flows from the tip portion 35T of the arm spring 35 abutting against the male terminal 5, through the base end portion 35P of the arm spring 35, and through the welded portion 36W of the bottom plate 32 nearby to the tip portion 35T, to the bottom wall 22 (see arrow A in FIG. 9). Conversely, when current flows from the female terminal 10 to the male terminal 5, the current flows from the bottom wall 22 through the welded portion 36W of the bottom plate 32, through the base end portion 35P of the arm spring 35 close to it, and to the male terminal 5 abutting the tip portion 35T of the arm spring 35 (see arrow A in Figure 9).

[0047] In the female terminal 10 according to this embodiment, when the width dimension from one side wall 21 to the other side wall 21 is d (see FIG. 10) and the width dimension from one inner plate 31 to the other inner plate 31 is D (see FIG. 10), the relationship d≦D is established. This configuration can reduce rattle of the spring member 30 during assembly work before welding, improving productivity. Furthermore, it can also prevent the spring member 30 from shifting or coming off.

[0048] The female terminal 10 is assembled as follows. That is, as shown in Fig. 10, the spring member 30 is placed above the base 20 (see Fig. 10(a)), the spring member 30 is fitted between a pair of side walls 21 constituting the base 20 (see Fig. 10(b)), and the bottom plate 32 is welded in a state of abutting against the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22 (see Fig. 10(c)). In the female terminal 10 according to this embodiment, the bottom plate 32 is provided with the abutment portion 36, so that the apex of the abutment portion 36 always abuts against the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22. Therefore, it is possible to weld the portions where they abut against each other and no gap is generated.

[0049] Furthermore, in the female terminal 10 according to this embodiment, a concave portion 37 into which the abutment portion 36 (convex portion) fits may be provided at a position opposite the abutment portion 36 (see FIG. 10 ). The concave portion 37 is a recess formed in the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22. Specifically, the recess is an arc-shaped recess formed by transferring the shape of the convex portion that is the abutment portion 36 and having a cross-sectional shape that curves downward. With this configuration, when the bottom plate 32 is brought into contact with the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22, the convex portion (abutment portion 36) and the concave portion 37 fit together, ensuring a wide contact area. However, the bottom plate 32 may simply be in surface contact with the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22 without having either the convex portion (abutment portion 36) or the concave portion 37.

[0050] As described above, the female terminal 10 according to this embodiment has a terminal body 13 formed by the base portion 20 connected to the electric wire 3 and the spring member 30 attached to the base portion 20. The base portion 20 has a pair of side walls 21 arranged at a predetermined interval so that the male terminal 5 can be inserted thereinto, and a bottom wall 22 connecting the side walls 21. The spring member 30 has a bottom plate 32 that is disposed along the bottom wall 22 when fitted between the pair of side walls 21. The bottom wall 22 and the bottom plate 32 are welded together via an abutment portion 36.

[0051] According to such a female terminal 10, the bottom wall 22 of the base portion 20 and the bottom plate 32 of the spring member 30 can be reliably welded together to ensure good electrical conductivity. More specifically, in the female terminal 10 according to the present invention, the base portion 20 has a pair of side walls 21 spaced a predetermined distance apart to allow insertion of the male terminal 5, and a bottom wall 22 connecting the side walls 21. The spring member 30 has a bottom plate 32 that is disposed along the bottom wall 22 when fitted between the pair of side walls 21. The bottom wall 22 and the bottom plate 32 are welded via abutment portions 36. In this way, in the female terminal 10 according to the present invention, the abutment portions 36 are provided so that the bottom wall 22 and the bottom plate 32 abut against each other without any gaps, and welding is performed via the abutment portions 36, preventing welding defects due to gaps. Therefore, the bottom wall 22 of the base portion 20 and the bottom plate 32 of the spring member 30 can be reliably welded to ensure good electrical conductivity.

[0052] Additionally, in the female terminal 10 according to the present invention, welding is not performed on each of the pair of side walls 21 constituting the base portion 20, but rather on the bottom wall 22 of the base portion 20 and the bottom plate 32 of the spring member 30, thereby reducing the number of welding points. This allows for improved productivity compared to the female terminal 10 in which welding is performed on each of the pair of side walls 21. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide the spring member 30 with a portion (such as the flange plate 33 described below) that will be welded to the side walls 21, the shape of the spring member 30 can be simplified, further improving productivity. Furthermore, weight can also be reduced.

[0053] In the female terminal 10 according to the present invention, the abutting portion 36 is a convex portion that protrudes toward the bottom wall 22 (more specifically, the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22) provided on the bottom plate 32. The convex portion is a portion that protrudes locally due to bending.

[0054] According to such a female terminal 10, the abutting portion 36 is provided on the bottom plate 32, and therefore the tip portion of this abutting portion 36 abuts against the bottom wall 22 (more specifically, the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22). Therefore, the bottom wall 22 of the base portion 20 and the bottom plate 32 of the spring member 30 can be reliably welded together to ensure good electrical conductivity.

[0055] In addition, because the contact portion 36 is a convex portion, the heat capacity at its tip is small. This allows the temperature at the tip to be raised quickly and to a high temperature during welding. Therefore, the bottom wall 22 of the base portion 20 and the bottom plate 32 of the spring member 30 can be welded more reliably to ensure good electrical conductivity.

[0056] Furthermore, in the female terminal 10 according to the present invention, a concave portion 37 into which the abutment portion 36 (convex portion) fits may be provided at a position opposite the abutment portion 36. The position opposite the abutment portion 36 is the opposing position on the bottom wall 22. The concave portion 37 is a portion that is locally depressed by forming a depression. However, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to an arc shape.

[0057] With this type of female terminal 10, the convex portion of the contact portion 36 fits into the concave portion 37, and the outer surface of the convex portion (contact portion 36) contacts the inner surface of the concave portion 37, ensuring a wide contact area. This reduces the electrical resistance of these terminals. This structure is particularly suitable for electrical circuits that carry large currents.

[0058] In the female terminal 10 according to the present invention, the spring member 30 has an inner plate 31 provided along the inner surface 21a of the side wall 21, and has an arm spring 35 extending from the inner plate 31 provided along one side wall 21 toward the open end of the opposing side wall 21. The arm spring 35 is a cantilevered contact piece that abuts against the side surface of the male terminal 5 inserted inside the female terminal 10.

[0059] With this female terminal 10, current flows through a relatively short path. That is, when current flows from the male terminal 5 to the female terminal 10, the current flows from the tip portion 35T of the arm spring 35 abutting the male terminal 5, through the base end portion 35P of the arm spring 35, and through the nearby welded portion 36W of the bottom plate 32 to the bottom wall 22 (see arrow A in FIG. 9 ). Conversely, when current flows from the female terminal 10 to the male terminal 5, the current flows from the bottom wall 22, through the welded portion 36W of the bottom plate 32, through the nearby base end portion 35P of the arm spring 35, and to the male terminal 5 abutting the tip portion 35T of the arm spring 35 (see arrow A in FIG. 9 ). Therefore, electrical resistance can be kept low compared to a female terminal 10 in which the arm spring 35 extends from the inner plate 31 toward the closed bottom end of the opposing side wall 21. Such a structure is particularly suitable for an electric circuit through which a large current flows.

[0060] In addition, because the inner plate 31 abuts against the inner surface 21a of the side wall 21, rattle of the spring member 30 during assembly work before welding can be suppressed, making it possible to improve productivity. Furthermore, it is also possible to prevent the spring member 30 from shifting or coming off. Therefore, since there is no need to re-insert the spring member 30 that has shifted or come off before welding, it is possible to improve productivity.

[0061] In the female terminal 10 according to this embodiment, the bottom wall 22 and the bottom plate 32 are welded together using a fiber laser welding machine, but welding may also be performed using an arc welding machine or the like. Furthermore, welding may also be performed using a welding machine capable of ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, friction welding, or other welding methods. Furthermore, brazing and soldering are also included in the concept of welding.

[0062] In correspondence between the configuration of this invention and the above-described embodiment, the connector of this invention corresponds to the connector 1, Similarly, The wire harness corresponds to wire harness 2, The wire corresponds to wire 3, The connector housing is compatible with connector housing 4, The male terminal corresponds to the male terminal 5, The female terminal corresponds to the female terminal 10, The terminal body corresponds to the terminal body 13, The base part corresponds to the base part 20, The side wall corresponds to the side wall 21; The bottom wall corresponds to the bottom wall 22; The spring member corresponds to the spring member 30, The inner plate corresponds to inner plate 31, The bottom plate corresponds to bottom plate 32, The arm spring is compatible with arm spring 35. The abutment corresponds to the abutment 36, Although the concave portion corresponds to the concave portion 37, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and many other embodiments can be obtained.

[0063] For example, as shown in Fig. 9, the female terminal 10 described above has an arm spring 35 extending from an inner plate 31 provided along one side wall 21 toward the open end of the opposing side wall 21. However, as shown in Fig. 11, regardless of whether the spring member 30 has an inner plate 31 or not, the spring member 30 may have an arm spring 35 extending from a lateral end of a bottom plate 32 adjacent to one side wall 21 toward the open end of the opposing side wall 21.

[0064] Such a female terminal 10 allows current to flow through an even shorter path. That is, when current flows from the male terminal 5 to the female terminal 10, the current flows from the tip portion 35T of the arm spring 35 abutting against the male terminal 5, through the base end portion 35P of the arm spring 35, and through the nearby welded portion 36W of the bottom plate 32 to the bottom wall 22. Conversely, when current flows from the female terminal 10 to the male terminal 5, the current flows from the bottom wall 22, through the welded portion 36W of the bottom plate 32, through the nearby base end portion 35P of the arm spring 35, and to the male terminal 5 abutting against the tip portion 35T of the arm spring 35. Therefore, electrical resistance can be kept low compared to not only female terminal 10 in which arm spring 35 extends from inner plate 31 toward the closed bottom end of the opposing side wall 21, but also female terminal 10 in which arm spring 35 extends from inner plate 31 toward the open end of the opposing side wall 21. This structure is particularly suitable for electrical circuits through which large currents flow.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, an inner plate 31 may be extended toward the open end of the side wall 21, and an arm spring 35 may be provided extending from the inner plate 31 provided along one side wall 21 toward the closed bottom end of the opposing side wall 21.

[0066] This female terminal 10 makes it easy to insert the male terminal 5 into the female terminal 10. That is, the arm spring 35 extends from the inner plate 31 provided along one side wall 21 toward the closed bottom end of the opposing side wall 21, so the insertion path for the male terminal 5 is wide at the open end and narrow at the closed bottom end. This allows the arm spring 35 to function as a guide plate for the male terminal 5, making it possible to guide the male terminal 5 to a predetermined insertion completion position. Specifically, the open end side of the insertion path for the male terminal 5 is wide, and the male terminal 5 can be guided along the inclination of the arm spring 35, making it possible to guide the male terminal 5 to a predetermined insertion completion position.

[0067] In addition, because the inner plate 31 abuts against the inner surface 21a of the side wall 21, rattle of the spring member 30 during assembly work before welding can be suppressed, making it possible to improve productivity. Furthermore, it is also possible to prevent the spring member 30 from shifting or coming off. Therefore, since there is no need to re-insert the spring member 30 that has shifted or come off before welding, it is possible to improve productivity.

[0068] In a female terminal 10 in which the inner plate 31 extends toward the open end of the side wall 21, a flange plate 33 may be formed along the tip surface 21b of the side wall 21, regardless of the extending direction of the arm spring 35, as shown in Figures 12 and 13. Furthermore, an outer plate 34 may be formed along the outer surface 21c of the side wall 21. This increases the rigidity of the spring member 30 and enables the spring member 30 to be more stably fixed to the base portion 20. Therefore, for example, when a male terminal 5 is inserted into the female terminal 10, deformation or damage to the spring member 30 can be prevented.

[0069] In all of the female terminals 10 described above, the inner surface 22a of the bottom wall 22 and the apex of the abutment portion 36 are in line contact with each other, and therefore linear welding is performed along this line (see FIGS. 6 and 7). However, as shown in FIG. 14, dotted line welding may be performed between the arm springs 35 arranged opposite each other in the width direction W. In this case, each weld 36W is provided at a position where a line Lc passing between the arm springs 35 arranged opposite each other in the width direction W intersects with a line Lv passing between the arm springs 35 arranged adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction L. In this regard, each weld 36W may extend a predetermined length in the direction of the line Lc, or may extend a predetermined length in the direction of the line Lv.

[0070] With this female terminal 10, line welding is not performed along the base end portion 35P of the arm spring 35. Therefore, the base end portion 35P of the arm spring 35 is less susceptible to the effects of welding heat, and collapse of the arm spring 35 (deformation in which the arm spring 35, bent up from the inner plate 31 or the bottom plate 32, easily collapses from the base end portion 35P) when the male terminal 5 is inserted into the female terminal 10 can be suppressed. Consequently, the tip portion 35T of the arm spring 35 can press against the male terminal 5. Therefore, the arm spring 35 can be brought into close contact with the male terminal 5, ensuring better electrical conductivity.

[0071] Finally, the present invention includes a connector 1 (see Figure 1) equipped with the aforementioned female terminal 10 and a connector housing 4 that accommodates the female terminal 10, as well as a terminal-equipped electric wire 6 (see Figure 1) equipped with the aforementioned female terminal 10 and an electric wire 3 connected to the base portion 20 of the female terminal 10.

[0072] Furthermore, the present invention includes an electric wire with connector 7 (see FIG. 1) that includes the aforementioned electric wire with terminal 6 and a connector housing 4 that accommodates the electric wire with terminal 6, and a wire harness 2 (see FIG. 1) that includes at least one of the aforementioned electric wire with terminal 6 and the aforementioned electric wire with connector 7.

[0073] These also achieve the same effects as the female terminal 10 according to the present invention. That is, the bottom wall 22 of the base portion 20 and the bottom plate 32 of the spring member 30 can be reliably welded to ensure good electrical conductivity. In addition, effects according to the embodiment of the female terminal 10 can be obtained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1...Connector 2...Wire harness 3...Electric wire 4...Connector housing 5...Male terminal 6...Wire with terminal 7...Wire with connector 10...Female terminal 13...Terminal body 20...Base 21…Side wall 22...Bottom wall 30...Spring member 31…Inner plate 32…Bottom plate 35...Arm spring 36...Contact part 37…Concave part

Claims

1. a base portion connected to the electric wire; a terminal body is provided by the spring member attached to the base portion, the base portion has a pair of side walls arranged at a predetermined interval into which the male terminals can be inserted, and a bottom wall connecting the side walls; a width direction in which the pair of side walls are spaced apart, a height direction in which the male terminal is inserted between the pair of side walls, and a longitudinal direction in which the direction perpendicular to the width direction and the height direction is defined; the spring member has a bottom plate that is fitted between the pair of side walls and is provided along the bottom wall, The bottom wall and the bottom plate are welded together via abutment portions, The abutment portion is a convex portion provided along the longitudinal direction, protruding toward the bottom wall provided on the bottom plate, and having a concave recess on the side opposite to the bottom wall, and the tip portion of the convex portion is in line contact with the other end, and a dotted line-shaped weld portion is formed along the longitudinal direction. Female terminal.

2. The spring member has an inner plate provided along the inner surface of the side wall, and an arm spring extending from the inner plate provided along one side wall toward the open end of the opposing side wall. The female terminal according to claim 1 .

3. The spring member has an arm spring extending from a side end of the bottom plate adjacent to one of the side walls toward the open end of the opposing side wall. The female terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The spring member has an inner plate provided along the inner surface of the side wall, and an arm spring extending from the inner plate provided along one side wall toward the closed bottom end of the opposing side wall. The female terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The female terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a connector housing that accommodates the female terminal. connector.

6. The female terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The electric wire is connected to the base portion of the female terminal. Wire with terminals.

7. The electric wire with terminal according to claim 6 ; and a connector housing that accommodates the terminal-attached electric wire. Wires with connectors.

8. A device comprising at least one of the electric wire with terminal according to claim 6 and the electric wire with connector according to claim 7. Wire harness.

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