Terminal fittings

Abstract

To provide a terminal fitting which can orient a covered electric wire in a desired direction and connect it to a mating connection portion.SOLUTION: A terminal fitting 1 includes a round terminal portion 11 connected to the mating connection portion, a wire joining portion 12 that is continuous with this terminal portion 11 and has either the front or back plane serving as a joining plane 121 to which the exposed core wire 21 of a covered wire 2 is joined, and a wire binding portion 13 that is a metal portion provided integrally with the wire joining portion 12, in which an adjacent covered portion 22 adjacent to the exposed core wire 21 of the covered wire 2 is placed, and six through-holes 131 for passing through cable ties 3 for binding and fixing the adjacent covered portions 22 are arranged in a convex arc shape on the side opposite to the wire joining portion 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal fitting for connecting a coated electric wire to a mating connection part.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a terminal fitting for connecting a coated electric wire to a mating connection part has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the terminal fitting of this Patent Document 1, one end side is bolted to the mating connection part, the exposed core wire of the coated electric wire is joined to the other end side, and the adjacent coating part adjacent to the exposed core wire is clamped and fixed by a pair of barrel pieces provided on the other end side. Further, in this terminal fitting, a restricting structure for restricting rotation around the bolt by engaging with the mating connection part is provided on one end side to be bolted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, in the above terminal fitting, the direction of the coated electric wire when connected to the mating connection part is uniquely determined. Therefore, in order to direct the coated electric wire in a desired direction, it is necessary to prepare and properly use a plurality of terminal fittings corresponding to a plurality of assumed directing directions. Such proper use of a plurality of terminal fittings is not desirable in terms of component cost and the like.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention focuses on the above problems and aims to provide a terminal fitting that can direct a coated electric wire in a desired direction and connect it to a mating connection part.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the terminal fitting is characterized by comprising: a round terminal portion which is a part of one end of a strip-shaped metal plate with an arc-shaped edge on one end and is connected to a mating connection portion; a wire joining portion which is a part of the other end of the metal plate that is continuous with the terminal portion and has a plane on either the front or back side which is a joining plane to which the exposed core wire of the insulated wire is joined; and a wire bundling portion which is a metal portion provided integrally with the wire joining portion adjacent to the other end edge of the metal plate and on which an adjacent insulated portion adjacent to the exposed core wire of the insulated wire is placed, and through holes for passing a bundling band that bundles and fixes the adjacent insulated portion are formed in a convex arc shape on the opposite side from the wire joining portion, with three or more holes arranged. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the terminal fitting described above, the insulated wire can be directed in a desired direction and connected to the mating connector. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a terminal fitting according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing how an insulated wire is connected to the terminal fitting shown. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a plan view of the terminal fitting with an insulated wire, as seen from the insulated wire side. [Figure 4] Figures 3 and 4 show a terminal fitting with an insulated wire, viewed from the direction of arrow V11 in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figures 1 to 4 show schematic diagrams illustrating how, even when it is difficult to change the mounting direction at the terminal, the insulated wire can be connected to the mating connector while being oriented in the desired direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes one embodiment of a terminal fitting.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal fitting according to one embodiment, and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the terminal fitting shown in Figure 1 with an insulated wire attached. Figure 3 is a plan view of the terminal fitting with the insulated wire shown in Figure 2, as seen from the insulated wire side, and Figure 4 is a side view of the terminal fitting with the insulated wire shown in Figures 3 and 4, as seen from the direction of arrow V11 in Figure 3.

[0011] The terminal fitting 1 of this embodiment is a component for connecting an insulated electric wire 2 to a mating connection part, such as a battery terminal attached to a battery of an automobile or the like. This terminal fitting 1 comprises a terminal portion 11, an electric wire joining portion 12, and an electric wire bundling portion 13, and is formed as a single metal part by, for example, machining.

[0012] The terminal portion 11 is part of a strip-shaped metal plate 1a as follows. This metal plate 1a has a strip shape with semicircular ends, where one end 1a-1 edge 1a-2 is semicircular and the other end 1a-3 edge 1a-4 is a semicircular shape that is convex on the opposite side from the edge 1a-2 of the one end 1a-1. The terminal portion 11 is a part of the one end 1a-1 of this metal plate 1a and is a round part that is connected to the mating connector. A connection hole 111 is provided through the center of the arc shape of the edge 1a-2 of the one end 1a-1, for connecting the mating connector and the terminal portion 11. The terminal portion 11 is connected to the mating connector by a bolt or the like that passes through this connection hole 111.

[0013] The wire joint portion 12 is the other end side 1a-3 of the metal plate 1a that is continuous with the terminal portion 11, and one of its surfaces is a joint surface 121 to which the exposed core wire 21 of the insulated wire 2 is joined. The exposed core wire 21 is joined to the joint surface 121 by, for example, ultrasonic bonding.

[0014] The wire bundling portion 13 is a metal portion provided integrally with the wire joining portion 12, adjacent to the edge 1a-4 of the other end side 1a-3 of the metal plate 1a. The adjacent covering portion 22 adjacent to the exposed core wire 21 of the insulated wire 2 is placed on the wire bundling portion 13, and the adjacent covering portion 22 is bundled and fixed by a cable tie 3. The exposed core wire 21 from the adjacent covering portion 22 bundled and fixed to the wire bundling portion 13 is joined to the wire joining portion 12 by ultrasonic bonding or the like. The wire bundling portion 13 has three or more through holes 131 for passing the cable tie 3 through, arranged in a convex arc shape on the opposite side from the wire joining portion 12; in this embodiment, there are six.

[0015] Furthermore, in the wire bundling portion 13, a bundling surface 132 is formed that is one step lower than the joining surface 121 of the wire joining portion 11, corresponding to the thickness t11 of the coating 2a of the coated wire 2, in the thickness direction D11 of the metal plate 1a. In addition, through holes 131 are formed in the wire bundling portion 13, opening into this bundling surface 132. In this wire bundling portion 13, six through holes 131 are formed in a semicircular shape, spaced equally apart, along the edge 1a-4 of the other end side 1a-3 of the metal plate 1a. The wire bundling portion 13 has a semicircular arc-shaped strip that extends along the arrangement of these six through holes 131.

[0016] Also, in this wire bundling portion 13, the surface on the joining plane 121 side is a bundling plane 132 that is one step lower than this joining plane 121. On the other hand, the thickness t12 of the wire bundling portion 13 is substantially the same as the thickness t13 of the metal plate 1a including the wire joining portion 12. As a result, the back surface 133 on the side opposite to the bundling plane 132 in the wire bundling portion 13 is a surface that is one step higher from the back surface 122 on the side opposite to the joining plane 121 in the wire joining portion 12 according to the thickness t11 of the coating 2a. Further, on the back surface 133 side in the wire bundling portion 13, as shown in FIG. 1, an arc-shaped shelf portion 134 is formed that projects in an arc shape toward the wire joining portion 12 side so as to cover the back surface 122 of the wire joining portion 12 with a portion that rises one step toward the back side. The wire bundling portion 13 is integrally formed with the metal plate 1a with the edge 1a-4 of the other end side 1a-3 of the metal plate 1a including the wire joining portion 12 placed on the arc-shaped shelf portion 134.

[0017] According to the terminal fitting 1 of the embodiment described above, first, depending on the shape of the mating connection portion or the like, the mounting direction of the terminal fitting 1 can be changed along the arc shape of the edge 112 of the round terminal portion 11, that is, the edge 1a-2 of the one end side 1a-1 of the metal plate 1a. That is, by connecting this terminal fitting 1 to the mating connection portion in a desired mounting direction, the covered electric wire 2 connected via the wire joining portion 12 and the wire bundling portion 13 can be directed in a desired direction and connected to the mating connection portion.

[0018] Here, depending on the shape of the mating connection portion or the like, it may be difficult to change the mounting direction at this terminal portion 11. According to the terminal fitting 1 of the present embodiment, even in such a case, as described below, the covered electric wire 2 can be directed in a desired direction and connected to the mating connection portion.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which, according to the terminal fitting shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, even when it is difficult to change the mounting direction at the terminal portion, the covered electric wire is connected to the mating connection portion in a state where it is directed in a desired direction.

[0020] In the example of FIG. 5, as the counterpart connection part, the battery terminal 4 attached to the battery is illustrated. This battery terminal 4 includes a battery connection part 41 that is connected in a coupled manner to a battery post erected on the battery, and a bolt terminal 42 to which a component on the load side to which power from the battery is supplied is fastened. The load side connection part 43 on which the bolt terminal 42 is erected is a part partitioned by a pair of side wall ribs 44 erected with the bolt terminal 42 sandwiched therebetween. The component on the load side is connected to the load side connection part 43 in a state where the movement around the bolt terminal 42 is restricted by these pair of side wall ribs 44. In the example of FIG. 5, the terminal fitting 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is connected to the load side connection part 43 in a state where it is substantially immovable by the pair of side wall ribs 44. That is, in the example of FIG. 5, the terminal fitting 1 is connected to the load side connection part 43 in a state where it is difficult to change the mounting direction at the terminal portion 11.

[0021] According to the terminal fitting 1 of the present embodiment, even in such a case, by using the six through holes 131 arranged in an arc shape in the wire bundling part 13, the coated wire 2 can be directed in a desired direction. That is, by selecting a desired pair of through holes 131 from these six through holes 131, passing the binding band 3 through them, and binding and fixing while surrounding the adjacent coated part 22 in the circumferential direction, the coated wire 2 can be directed in a desired direction. FIG. 5 illustrates how the coated wire 2 is directed in three directions.

[0022] As described above, according to the terminal fitting 1 of the present embodiment, in combination with the edge shape of the round terminal portion 11 and the arrangement shape of the six through holes 131 in the wire bundling part 13, the coated wire 2 can be directed in a desired direction. And since it is possible to direct the coated wire 2 in a desired direction with one terminal fitting 1, there is no need to prepare and use a plurality of terminal fittings separately with respect to the direction of the coated wire 2, and the component cost can be reduced.

[0023] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the wire bundling portion 13 has a bundling surface 132 that is lowered by one step from the joining surface 121 according to the thickness t11 of the covering 2a. With this configuration, the exposed core wire 21 can be extended from the adjacent covering portion 22 placed on the bundling surface 132 onto the joining surface 121 while minimizing the gap between them. By minimizing the gap between the exposed core wire 21 and the joining surface 121, joining work of the exposed core wire 21 to the joining surface 121, such as ultrasonic bonding, can be performed smoothly. In addition, by pressing the end of the adjacent covering portion 22 against the stepped portion 123 at the boundary between the joining surface 121 and the bundling surface 132, the positioning of the exposed core wire 21 extending from this end with respect to the joining surface 121 can be easily performed.

[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the wire bundling portion 13 has an arc-shaped strip that extends along the arrangement of the through holes 131. With this configuration, because the wire bundling portion 13 has an arc-shaped strip, the contact area of ​​adjacent insulated portions 22 in the wire bundling portion 13 remains substantially constant regardless of the direction in which the insulated wire 2 is oriented. As the contact area of ​​adjacent insulated portions 22 remains substantially constant in this way, adjacent insulated portions 22 can be bundled and fixed to the wire bundling portion 13 under substantially the same working conditions regardless of the orientation of the insulated wire 2.

[0025] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the metal plate 1a including the terminal portion 11 and the wire joining portion 12 has a strip shape with semicircular ends, and the through holes 131 in the wire bundling portion 13 are arranged in a semicircular shape along the edge 1a-4 of the other end side 1a-3 of the metal plate 1a. With this configuration, the edge 1a-4 of the other end side 1a-3 of the metal plate 1a, that is, the edge 124 of the wire joining portion 12, is semicircular, and the through holes 131 are arranged along this edge 124. Due to this arrangement of through holes 131, the contact area of ​​the exposed core wire 21 on the joining plane 121 of the wire joining portion 12 remains substantially constant regardless of the direction in which the insulated wire 2 is oriented. As the contact area of ​​the exposed core wire 21 remains substantially constant in this way, the exposed core wire 21 can be joined to the joining plane 121 under substantially the same working conditions regardless of the orientation of the insulated wire 2.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the terminal portion 11 is provided with a connection hole 111 that penetrates through the center of the arc shape of the edge 1a-2 of one end side 1a-1. With this configuration, depending on the shape of the mating connection part, the mounting direction of the terminal fitting 1 by bolt fixing via the connection hole 111 can be easily changed along the arc shape of the edge 1a-2, centered on the connection hole 111.

[0027] It should be noted that the embodiments described above merely represent typical forms of terminal fittings. Terminal fittings are not limited to these and can be implemented in various modified forms.

[0028] For example, in the embodiment described above, a battery terminal 4 attached to a battery of an automobile or the like is given as an example of a mating connection part to which the terminal fitting is attached. However, the mating connection part of the terminal fitting is not limited to this, and its specific form is not limited.

[0029] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a terminal fitting 1 is provided as an example, comprising a terminal portion 11, a wire joining portion 12, and a wire bundling portion 13, and formed as a single metal part by machining or the like. However, the terminal fitting is not limited to this, and may also be formed by, for example, a metal plate including the terminal portion and the wire joining portion and the wire bundling portion being formed as separate metal parts and then joined together by welding or the like.

[0030] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a wire bundling portion 13 is exemplified as an example of a wire bundling portion, in which six through holes 131 for passing the cable ties 3 are formed. However, the wire bundling portion is not limited to this, and the number of through holes can be set to any number, as long as there are three or more.

[0031] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, a wire joint 12 is exemplified as an example of a wire joint, in which the exposed core wire 21 is joined by ultrasonic bonding or the like. However, the wire joint is not limited to this, and the exposed core wire may be joined by other joining methods such as soldering.

[0032] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, a wire bundling portion 13 having a bundling plane 132 that is one step lower than the joining plane 121 is exemplified as an example of a wire bundling portion. However, the wire bundling portion is not limited to this, and may, for example, have a bundling plane that is flush with the joining plane. However, as described above, by providing a bundling plane 132 that is one step lower than the joining plane 121, the joining work of the exposed core wire 21 to the joining plane 121 can be performed well, and the positioning of the exposed core wire 21 with respect to the joining plane 121 can be easily performed.

[0033] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a wire bundling portion 13 having an arc-shaped strip along the arrangement of through holes 131 is exemplified as an example of a wire bundling portion. However, the shape of the wire bundling portion is not limited to such an arc-shaped strip; for example, it may be a rectangular plate shape, and the specific shape is not limited. However, as mentioned above, with a wire bundling portion 13 having an arc-shaped strip, adjacent insulated portions 22 can be bundled and fixed to the wire bundling portion 13 under substantially the same working conditions regardless of the orientation of the insulated wire 2.

[0034] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, a terminal fitting 1 is exemplified in which the through holes 131 of the wire bundling portion 13 are arranged in a semicircular shape along the edges 1a-4 of the semicircular metal plate 1a at both ends. However, the terminal fitting is not limited to this, and the shape of the edge on the wire joining portion side of the metal plate including the terminal portion and the wire joining portion may be any shape, and the shape of the arc arrangement of the through holes in the wire bundling portion may be independent of the edge shape of the metal plate. However, as described above, by arranging the through holes 131 in a semicircular shape along the edges 1a-4 of the semicircular metal plate 1a at both ends, the exposed core wire 21 can be joined to the joining plane 121 under substantially the same working conditions regardless of the orientation of the insulated wire 2.

[0035] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a terminal portion 11 is provided as an example of a terminal portion, in which a connection hole 111 for connecting to a mating connection portion is provided at the center of the arc shape of the edge 1a-2. However, the terminal portion is not limited to this, and any other configuration other than a connection hole can be adopted for connecting to the mating connection portion in the terminal portion. However, as mentioned above, by adopting a terminal portion 11 provided with a connection hole 111, the mounting direction of the terminal fitting 1 can be easily changed when bolting or otherwise fastening. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1 Terminal fittings 1a metal plate 1a-1 One end side 1a-2,1a―4,112,124 Edge 1a-3 Other end side 2. Insulated wire 2a Covering 3 Cable ties 4. Battery terminals 11 Terminal part 12 Wire joint part 13 Wire bundling part 21 Exposed core wire 22 Adjacent covering area 41 Battery connection 42-volt terminal 43 Load-side connection section 44 Side wall ribs 111 connection holes 121 Joint plane 122,133 back side 123 Stepped section 131 Through hole 132 Binding plane D11 Thickness direction t11, t12, t13 thickness

Claims

1. A part of a strip-shaped metal plate with an arc-shaped edge at one end, comprising a round terminal portion connected to the mating connector, In the metal plate, the other end portion continuous with the terminal portion, where either the front or back surface is a wire joining portion where the exposed core wire of the insulated wire is joined, A metal portion provided integrally with the wire connection portion adjacent to the other end edge of the metal plate, wherein an adjacent covering portion adjacent to the exposed core wire of the covered wire is placed on it, and three or more through holes for passing a cable tie for securing the adjacent covering portion are arranged in a convex arc shape on the opposite side from the wire connection portion, forming a wire bundling portion, A terminal fitting characterized by having the following features.

2. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the wire bundling portion is a portion on which the adjacent coated portion is placed and secured, and in the thickness direction of the metal plate, a bundling plane is formed that is one step lower from the joining plane at the wire joining portion according to the thickness of the coated wire, and the through hole is formed opening in the bundling plane.

3. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the wire bundling portion has an arc-shaped strip extending along the arrangement of three or more through holes.

4. The metal plate has a strip shape with semicircular ends, where one end has a semicircular edge and the other end has a semicircular edge that is convex on the opposite side from the first end. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the wire bundling portion is formed with three or more through holes arranged in a semicircular shape along the edge of the other end.

5. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal portion has a connecting hole provided through the center of the arc shape of the edge on one end side for connecting the mating connecting portion and the terminal portion.

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