Male terminal fittings, terminal mating bodies, and mating connectors
The male terminal fitting with a guide groove reduces insertion force by managing contact pressure during fitting, ensuring secure contact at the completion position, addressing the challenge of high insertion force in existing connectors.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- YAZAKI CORP
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-16
Smart Images
Figure 0007874519000001 
Figure 0007874519000002 
Figure 0007874519000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to male terminal fittings, terminal fittings, and fitting connectors.
Background Art
[0002] Female fitting parts are, for example, female connectors and female terminal blocks, and include a female terminal fitting and a female housing that houses the female terminal fitting. Further, male fitting parts are, for example, male connectors and male terminal blocks, and include a male terminal fitting and a male housing that houses the male terminal fitting. A terminal fitting refers to a fitting in which a female terminal fitting and a male terminal fitting are fittingly connected. A fitting connector refers to a fitting in which a female fitting part and a male fitting part are fittingly connected. The fitting connector fittingly connects the female housing and the male housing to fittingly connect the female terminal connection part of the female terminal fitting and the male terminal connection part of the male terminal fitting, and physically and electrically connects between them. The female terminal fitting and the male terminal fitting are energized between them by bringing the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection part into contact with a plurality of contact parts bulging from the inner peripheral wall surface inside the cylindrical female terminal connection part. The following Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose this type of terminal fitting and fitting connector.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Patent Document 3
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] Incidentally, the contact portion of the female terminal connector has a higher protrusion height from the inner circumferential wall surface, increasing the contact pressure with the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector. This ensures reliable contact with the outer wall surface and contributes to stabilizing the current flow function between the male and female terminal connectors. On the other hand, increasing the contact pressure of this contact portion increases the sliding resistance when the male terminal connector is inserted and fitted into the female terminal connector, thus increasing the insertion force of the male terminal connector into the female terminal connector.
[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a male terminal fitting, a terminal mating body, and a mating connector that can achieve both securing contact pressure at the mating completion position and reducing insertion force. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] The male terminal fitting according to the present invention has a male terminal connector that is fitted into the cylinder of a cylindrical female terminal connector and connected to the female terminal connector at the position where the fitting with the female terminal connector is completed. The female terminal connector has a plurality of contact portions that bulge out from the inner circumferential wall surface within the cylinder and contact the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector at the position where the fitting is completed. The male terminal connector has a groove portion in which a part of its outer wall surface is recessed within the cylinder of the female terminal connector from the tip side to the base side along the cylindrical axis of the female terminal connector to allow the contact portions to enter. Each of the contact portions has a guide groove that guides the contact portion along the cylindrical axis to just before the fitting completion position. The guide groove has a first groove portion which has the deepest groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector, and a guide groove which is located on the tip side of the male terminal connector which is located on the tip side of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion, and guides the contact portion that has entered into the groove along the cylindrical axis. The guide groove has a second groove portion provided with a second groove bottom that slides down to the bottom of the first groove, and a third groove portion provided with a third groove bottom located closer to the base of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion, which slides the contact portion that has entered through the bottom of the first groove along the direction of the cylinder axis, and causes the contact portion to exit the groove before reaching the fitting completion position. The bottom of the second groove is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector becomes deeper as it approaches the bottom of the first groove in the direction of the cylinder axis, and the bottom of the third groove is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector becomes shallower as it moves away from the bottom of the first groove in the direction of the cylinder axis. The guide groove is characterized in that the inclination angle of the bottom of the second groove with respect to the base axis along the direction of the cylinder axis is greater than the inclination angle of the bottom of the third groove with respect to the base axis, so that the sliding range of the contact portion at the bottom of the second groove is shorter than the sliding range of the contact portion at the bottom of the third groove.
[0007] Furthermore, the terminal fitting according to the present invention comprises a female terminal fitting having a cylindrical female terminal connection portion, and a male terminal fitting having a male terminal connection portion that is fitted into the cylinder of the female terminal connection portion and fitted and connected to the female terminal connection portion at the position where fitting with the female terminal connection portion is completed, wherein the female terminal connection portion has a plurality of contact portions that bulge out from the inner circumferential wall surface within the cylinder and contact the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion at the position where fitting is completed, the male terminal connection portion has a groove portion in which a part of its outer wall surface is recessed within the cylinder of the female terminal connection portion from the tip side to the base side along the cylindrical axis of the female terminal connection portion to allow the contact portions to enter, and each of the contact portions has a guide groove that guides the contact portion along the cylindrical axis to just before the fitting completion position, the guide groove has a first groove portion which has the deepest groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion, and the contact portion which is located on the tip side of the male terminal connection portion which has entered into the groove The guide groove has a second groove portion provided with a second groove bottom that allows the male terminal connector to slide along the cylindrical axis direction to the first groove bottom, and a third groove portion provided with a third groove bottom located closer to the root of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion, which allows the contact portion that has entered through the first groove bottom to slide along the cylindrical axis direction and causes the contact portion to exit the groove before reaching the fitting completion position, wherein the second groove bottom is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector portion becomes deeper as it approaches the first groove bottom in the cylindrical axis direction, and the third groove bottom is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector portion becomes shallower as it moves away from the first groove bottom in the cylindrical axis direction, and the guide groove is characterized in that the inclination angle of the second groove bottom with respect to the base axis along the cylindrical axis direction is greater than the inclination angle of the third groove bottom with respect to the base axis, so that the sliding range of the contact portion at the second groove bottom is shorter than the sliding range of the contact portion at the third groove bottom.
[0008] Furthermore, the mating connector according to the present invention comprises a female mating component and a male mating component into which the female mating component is mated and connected at the mating completion position, the female mating component comprises a female terminal fitting having a cylindrical female terminal connection portion and a female housing that houses the female terminal connection portion inside the cylinder of the cylindrical female mating component, the male mating component comprises a male terminal fitting having a male terminal connection portion that is fitted into the cylinder of the female terminal connection portion and mated and connected to the female terminal connection portion at the mating completion position, and the female mating component is fitted into the internal space of the male mating component into which the male terminal connection portion is housed, The female terminal connector comprises a male housing that connects the female terminal connector to the male terminal connector at the completed fitting position, the female terminal connector has a plurality of contact portions that bulge out from the inner circumferential wall surface within the cylinder and contact the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector at the completed fitting position, the male terminal connector has a groove portion in which a part of its outer wall surface is recessed within the cylinder of the female terminal connector from the tip side to the base side along the cylinder axis of the female terminal connector to allow the contact portions to fit, and each of the contact portions has a guide groove that guides the contact portion along the cylinder axis to just before the completed fitting position, and the gas The groove comprises: a first groove portion having a first groove bottom that is the deepest in terms of groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector; a second groove portion having a second groove bottom located closer to the tip of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion, which slides the contact portion that has entered the groove along the cylindrical axis direction to the first groove bottom; and a third groove portion having a third groove bottom located closer to the base of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion, which slides the contact portion that has entered through the first groove bottom along the cylindrical axis direction, causing the contact portion to exit the groove just before the fitting completion position. The second groove bottom is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion becomes deeper as it approaches the first groove bottom in the direction of the cylinder axis, and the third groove bottom is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion becomes shallower as it moves away from the first groove bottom in the direction of the cylinder axis, and the guide groove is characterized in that the inclination angle of the second groove bottom with respect to the base axis along the direction of the cylinder axis is greater than the inclination angle of the third groove bottom with respect to the base axis, so that the sliding range of the contact portion at the second groove bottom is shorter than the sliding range of the contact portion at the third groove bottom. [Effects of the Invention]
[0009] The male terminal fitting, terminal mating body, and mating connector according to the present invention reduce the contact pressure of the contact portion against the outer wall surface of the male terminal fitting portion with the guide groove while the male terminal connector portion is being inserted into the cylinder of the female terminal fitting portion, thereby reducing the insertion force of the male terminal fitting portion into the cylinder of the female terminal fitting portion. Furthermore, the male terminal fitting, terminal mating body, and mating connector guide the contact portion with its guide groove until just before the mating completion position. In other words, the male terminal fitting, terminal mating body, and mating connector are formed with a guide groove such that the female terminal fitting portion and the male terminal fitting portion reach the mating completion position when the contact portion that has emerged from the bottom of the third groove rides up onto the outer wall surface of the male terminal fitting portion. Therefore, the male terminal fitting, terminal mating body, and mating connector can ensure sufficient contact pressure of the contact portion against the outer wall surface of the male terminal fitting portion at the mating completion position. Therefore, the male terminal fitting, terminal mating body, and mating connector according to the present invention can achieve both ensuring contact pressure of the contact portion with the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector at the mating completion position and reducing the insertion force of the male terminal connector during mating connection work. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the female mating component of the embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a plan view showing the female mating component of the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line XX in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the female mating component of the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the male mating component of the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the male mating component of the embodiment, seen from a different angle. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the male mating component of the embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a plan view showing the male mating component of the embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along the YY line in Figure 8. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the female terminal fitting. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the female terminal fitting. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the male terminal connection part and the male terminal connection part at the fitting completion position. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the contact part is located in the second groove part. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the contact part is located in the first groove part. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the contact part is located in the third groove part.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the male terminal fitting, terminal fitting body, and connector fitting body according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment.
[0012] [Embodiment] One embodiment of the male terminal fitting, terminal fitting body, and fitting connector according to the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 15.
[0013] Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4 indicates a female fitting component such as a female connector or a female terminal block. This female fitting component 1 includes a female terminal fitting 10, a female housing 20 that houses and holds the female terminal fitting 10, and a cover member 30 assembled to the female housing 20 (FIGS. 1 to 4). Further, reference numeral 101 in FIGS. 5 to 9 indicates a male fitting component such as a male connector or a male terminal block. This male fitting component 101 includes a male terminal fitting 110 and a male housing 120 that houses and holds the male terminal fitting 110 (FIGS. 5 to 9). The terminal fitting assembly refers to a fitting assembly in which the female terminal fitting 10 and the male terminal fitting 110 are fitted and connected at the fitting completion position. The fitting connection body refers to a fitting assembly in which the female fitting component 1 and the male fitting component 101 are fitted and connected at the fitting completion position. In this fitting connection body, when the female fitting component 1 and the male fitting component 101 are at the fitting completion position, the female terminal fitting 10 and the male terminal fitting 110 are also at the fitting completion position, and the female terminal fitting 10 and the male terminal fitting 110 are physically and electrically connected. Here, the female fitting component 1 as a female connector and the male fitting component 101 as a male terminal block are exemplified. The female fitting component 1 shown here includes two female terminal fittings 10. And the male fitting component 101 shown here includes a male terminal fitting 110 for each female terminal fitting 10.
[0014] The female fitting component 1 is attached to one end of the electric wire We (FIGS. 1 to 4), and electrically connects the electric device (not shown) at the tip of the other end of this electric wire We and the electric device (not shown) on the male fitting component 101 side.
[0015] The female terminal fitting 10 has a wire connection part 11 that is physically and electrically connected to the end of one end of the electric wire We, and a cylindrical female terminal connection part 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4). And the male terminal fitting 110 has a male terminal connection part 112 that is inserted into the cylinder of the female terminal connection part 12 and is fitted and connected to the female terminal connection part 12 at the fitting completion position (FIGS. 5 to 9).
[0016] The female terminal connector 12 shown here is formed in a cylindrical shape. The male terminal connector 112 shown here is formed in a cylindrical axial shape. In this female terminal fitting 10 and male terminal fitting 110, the cylindrical axis direction of the female terminal connector 12 and the axis direction of the male terminal connector 112 are the mating connection direction between the female terminal connector 12 and the male terminal connector 112. In the female terminal fitting 10 shown here, the wire connector 11 and the female terminal connector 12 are arranged in a single row. Therefore, in the female terminal fitting 10 and male terminal fitting 110, the arrangement direction of the wire connector 11 and the female terminal connector 12 is the mating connection direction between the female terminal connector 12 and the male terminal connector 112.
[0017] Here, the female terminal connector 12 has multiple contact portions 13 that bulge out from the inner circumferential wall surface 12a within the cylinder and contact the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112 when the fitting is complete (Figures 3, 10, and 11). These contact portions 13 increase the contact pressure with the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112, ensuring reliable contact with this outer wall surface 112a, thereby stabilizing the current supply function between the female terminal connector 12 and the male terminal connector 112.
[0018] In the female terminal connector 12 shown here, two contact points 13 are formed at a circumferential distance from each other at its tip (i.e., the insertion side where the male terminal connector 112 begins to be inserted) (Figures 3, 10, and 11). Furthermore, in the female terminal connector 12 shown here, the two contact points 13 are arranged on one of the semicircular walls obtained by dividing the inner circumferential wall surface 12a in half along the cylindrical axis (Figure 11).
[0019] Furthermore, the female terminal connector 12 has two additional contact points 14 located on the wire connector 11 side of its contact point 13, which contact the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112 when the mating is complete (Figure 3). These contact points 14, when the mating is complete, place the guide groove 113 described below between them and the contact point 13, and contact the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112 (Figure 12).
[0020] Furthermore, the male terminal connector 112 has a groove formed by recessing a portion of its outer wall surface 112a within the cylinder of the female terminal connector 12 from the tip side to the base side along the cylinder axis direction of the female terminal connector 12 (i.e., the mating connection direction) to allow the contact portion 13 to fit in. It also has a guide groove 113 for each contact portion 13 that guides the contact portion 13 along the cylinder axis direction to just before the mating completion position (Figures 5, 6, 9, and 12 to 15). In addition, a cap 114 for preventing finger contact is provided at the tip of the male terminal connector 112 (Figures 5 and 6).
[0021] The guide groove 113 ensures the contact pressure of the contact portion 13 against the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112 when the mating is complete (Figure 12). On the other hand, the guide groove 113 is provided to reduce the contact pressure of the contact portion 13 against the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112 while the male terminal connector 112 is being inserted into the cylinder of the female terminal connector 12, thereby reducing the insertion force of the male terminal connector 112 into the cylinder of the female terminal connector 12 (Figures 13 to 15). Therefore, the guide groove 113 extends from the tip side of the male terminal connector 112, which is the starting point of insertion of the female terminal connector 12 into the cylinder, towards the base side along the cylinder axis direction (mating connection direction) of the female terminal connector 12 (Figures 5, 6, 9, and 12 to 15). The guide groove 113 extends toward the base of the male terminal connector 112 until the contact portion 13 that has emerged toward its base rides onto the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112, at which point the female terminal connector 12 and the male terminal connector 112 are in a fully engaged position (Figure 12).
[0022] The guide groove 113 has a first groove portion 113A, which is provided with a first groove bottom 113a, the deepest groove depth from the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector portion 112 (Figures 5, 6, 9, and 12 to 15). Furthermore, this guide groove 113 has a second groove portion 113B, which is located closer to the tip of the male terminal connector portion 112 than the first groove portion 113A, and is provided with a second groove bottom 113b, which slides the contact portion 13 that has entered the groove along the cylindrical axis direction (fitting connection direction) of the female terminal connector portion 12 down to the first groove bottom 113a (Figures 5, 6, 9, and 12 to 15). Furthermore, the guide groove 113 is located closer to the base of the male terminal connector 112 than the first groove 113A, and has a third groove 113C which is provided with a third groove bottom 113c that slides the contact portion 13 that has entered through the first groove bottom 113a along the cylindrical axis direction (fitting connection direction) of the female terminal connector 12, and causes the contact portion 13 to come out of the groove just before the fitting completion position (Figures 5, 6, 9, and 12 to 15).
[0023] Thus, in this guide groove 113, the groove depth of the first groove 113A from the outer wall surface 112a is deeper than the groove depths of the second groove 113B and the third groove 113C from the outer wall surface 112a. In this guide groove 113, the second groove 113B is the entrance side of the contact portion 13 and the third groove 113C is the exit side of the contact portion 13. It quickly guides the contact portion 13 that has entered the second groove 113B from the outer wall surface 112a outside the groove to the first groove bottom 113a of the deepest part, the first groove 113A, and gently guides the contact portion 13 that has entered the third groove 113C from the first groove 113A to the outer wall surface 112a outside the groove. In other words, the guide groove 113 drops the contact portion 13 in one go from the outer wall surface 112a outside the groove to the first groove bottom 113a of the deepest part, the first groove portion 113A, and then, taking more time than this drop, guides the contact portion 13 gradually to the outer wall surface 112a outside the groove in the third groove portion 113C.
[0024] Therefore, the second groove bottom 113b is formed as an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connection portion 112 becomes deeper as it approaches the first groove bottom 113a in the cylindrical axis direction (fitting connection direction) of the female terminal connection portion 12 (Figures 9 and 12 to 15). Also, the third groove bottom 113c is formed as an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connection portion 112 becomes shallower as it moves away from the first groove bottom 113a in the cylindrical axis direction (fitting connection direction) of the female terminal connection portion 12 (Figures 9 and 12 to 15). Furthermore, the guide groove 113 has a larger inclination angle θ1 of the second groove bottom 113b with respect to the base axis BL along the cylindrical axis direction (fitting connection direction) of the female terminal connection portion 12 than the inclination angle θ2 of the third groove bottom 113c with respect to the base axis BL, thereby making the sliding range of the contact portion 13 at the second groove bottom 113b shorter than the sliding range of the contact portion 13 at the third groove bottom 113c (Figure 9).
[0025] The first groove 113A is preferably formed as a space large enough to accommodate the contact portion 13 when it is in contact with the first groove bottom 113a, in order to reduce the contact pressure of the contact portion 13 (Figure 14). It is preferable that the first groove 113A is formed as a housing space large enough to accommodate the entire contact portion 13. However, it is preferable that the first groove bottom 113a is positioned within the housing space large enough to accommodate the entire contact portion 13, such that the groove depth from the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112 is shallower than the protrusion height of the contact portion 13 from the inner circumferential wall surface 12a of the female terminal connector 12, thereby suppressing the increase in sliding resistance associated with the contact between the inner circumferential wall surface 12a of the female terminal connector 12 and the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112.
[0026] The larger the inclination angle θ1 of the second groove bottom 113b with respect to the base axis BL, the shorter the time it takes for the contact portion 13 to reach the first groove bottom 113a of the deepest part of the first groove portion 113A from the outer wall surface 112a outside the groove, and the more quickly the insertion force of the male terminal connection portion 112 into the cylinder of the female terminal connection portion 12 is increased (Figure 13).
[0027] The third groove 113C reduces the insertion force of the male terminal connector 112 into the cylinder of the female terminal connector 12 when the contact portion 13 is sliding along the third groove bottom 113c, as the inclination angle θ2 of the third groove bottom 113c with respect to the base shaft BL decreases (Figure 15). The third groove 113C is positioned such that the fitting is completed when the contact portion 13 that has come out of the third groove bottom 113c rides onto the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112.
[0028] As a result, the guide groove 113 can quickly drop the contact portion 13 from the outer wall surface 112a outside the groove to the first groove bottom 113a of the deepest part of the first groove 113A, and then gradually guide the contact portion 13 to the outer wall surface 112a outside the groove over a period of time slower than the time it takes to drop it in. Therefore, the guide groove 113 can quickly guide the contact portion 13 to the first groove bottom 113a of the deepest part of the first groove 113A as soon as the male terminal connector 112 begins to be inserted into the cylinder of the female terminal connector 12, thereby reducing the insertion force of the male terminal connector 112. Furthermore, the guide groove 113 can slowly guide the contact portion 13 along the third groove bottom 113c of the third groove 113C to the outer wall surface 112a outside the groove, thereby gradually increasing the insertion force of the male terminal connector 112. In this way, the guide groove 113 reduces the contact pressure of the contact portion 13 against the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112 while the male terminal connector 112 is being inserted into the cylinder of the female terminal connector 12, thereby reducing the insertion force of the male terminal connector 112 into the cylinder of the female terminal connector 12.
[0029] Furthermore, the guide groove 113 guides the contact portion 13 to just before the mating completion position. In other words, the guide groove 113 is formed so that when the contact portion 13 that has emerged from the bottom of the third groove 113c rides onto the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112, the female terminal connector 12 and the male terminal connector 112 are in the mating completion position. Therefore, the guide groove 113 makes it possible to ensure the contact pressure of the contact portion 13 against the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connector 112 at that mating completion position.
[0030] In this way, the guide groove 113 can ensure contact pressure of the contact portion 13 against the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connection portion 112 at the mating completion position, and reduce the insertion force of the male terminal connection portion 112 during the mating connection work.
[0031] In the female mating component 1, the assembled female housing 20 and cover member 30 form a housing chamber S inside, and the female terminal fitting 10 and one end of the electric wire We are housed in this housing chamber S. This housing chamber S is a space formed by combining the first housing chamber 20a and the second housing chamber 30a in the assembled female housing 20 and cover member 30 (Figures 3 and 4). The electric wire We is housed in the housing chamber S with one end bent at a right angle, and the other end is pulled out of the housing chamber S from the wire outlet Op. This wire outlet Op is a communication opening formed by combining the first groove 20b and the second groove 30b in the assembled female housing 20 and cover member 30 to connect the inside and outside of the housing chamber S (Figures 3 and 4).
[0032] The female housing 20 and the cover member 30 are molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The female housing 20 has the first housing chamber 20a and the first groove 20b as described above, and also has an insertion opening 20c for the female terminal fitting 10 and one end of the electric wire We (Figures 3 and 4). The female terminal fitting 10 and one end of the electric wire We, inserted through the insertion opening 20c, are housed in the first housing chamber 20a. The cover member 30 has the second housing chamber 30a and the second groove 30b as described above, and also has a cover body 31 that closes the insertion opening 20c of the female housing 20 (Figures 3 and 4). Here, the space created by recessing the cover body 31 from the inner wall surface towards the outside of the housing chamber S is used as the second housing chamber 30a. In this female housing 20 and cover member 30, the first groove 20b and the second groove 30b are each formed as semicircular grooves, and when combined they form a circular wire outlet Op.
[0033] The female housing 20 is provided with a cylindrical terminal holding portion 22 that houses and holds the female terminal fitting 10 in the female terminal housing chamber 22a inside the cylinder (Figures 1 to 4). The female terminal fitting 10 is held in the female terminal housing chamber 22a by a locking mechanism (not shown) consisting of claws or the like. The terminal holding portion 22 is provided with a cylindrical female fitting portion 22b that houses the female terminal connection portion 12 inside the cylinder (Figures 1 to 4). This terminal holding portion 22 is located inside the first housing chamber 20a.
[0034] Specifically, the female housing 20 includes an outer housing 21 having a first receiving chamber 20a and a first groove 20b and insertion opening 20c for each electric wire We (Figures 1 to 4). The female housing 20 also includes an inner housing 22 as a terminal holding part 22 for each female terminal fitting 10 (Figures 1 to 4).
[0035] The outer housing 21 has a wire housing section 21a in which one end of each of the two electric wires We is housed, and a terminal housing section 21b in which two female terminal fittings 10 are housed together with their respective inner housings 22 (Figures 1 to 4). In this outer housing 21, a first housing chamber 20a is formed by the space inside the wire housing section 21a and the space inside the terminal housing section 21b. A first groove section 20b and an insertion opening 20c are formed in the wire housing section 21a. A cover member 30 is assembled to the wire housing section 21a, and the cover member 30 is held in place by a plurality of locking mechanisms (not shown) consisting of claws, etc.
[0036] The inner housing (terminal holding portion) 22 is inserted into the first housing chamber 20a from the insertion opening 20c of the outer housing 21 and assembled to the outer housing 21 inside the first housing chamber 20a. The inner housing (terminal holding portion) 22 is housed in the space inside the cylindrical terminal housing portion 21b and is held in place by a plurality of locking mechanisms (not shown) consisting of claws or the like in the terminal housing portion 21b.
[0037] The opening at one end of the inner housing (terminal holding portion) 22 in the axial direction is used as an insertion opening (hereinafter referred to as the "first terminal insertion opening") 22c when inserting the female terminal fitting 10 into the female terminal housing chamber 22a (Figure 3).
[0038] Furthermore, the opening at the other end of the inner housing (terminal holding portion) 22 in the direction of the cylindrical axis is used as an insertion opening (hereinafter referred to as the "second terminal insertion opening") 22d when inserting the male terminal connector 112 into the female terminal housing chamber 22a (Figures 1 and 3). In the female terminal fitting 10 of the female terminal housing chamber 22a, the male terminal connector 112 inserted into the female terminal housing chamber 22a from its second terminal insertion opening 22e is fitted into the female terminal connector 12. Therefore, in the inner housing (terminal holding portion) 22, the side with the second terminal insertion opening 22d in the direction of the cylindrical axis becomes the female fitting portion 22b, and the female terminal connector 12 is housed inside this female fitting portion 22b, and this female fitting portion 22b is fitted and connected to the male fitting portion 121 of the male housing 120 (Figures 5 to 9). The female fitting portion 22b is formed in a cylindrical shape.
[0039] In this female mating part 1, the terminal housing part 21b is inserted and fitted from the tip into the through hole (not shown) in the male side wall of the male mating part 101. For this reason, this female mating part 1 is provided with an annular first waterproof member 41 that fills the annular gap between the outer circumferential surface of the terminal housing part 21b and the inner circumferential surface of the through hole in the male side wall. This first waterproof member 41 is a so-called packing and is assembled to the outer circumferential surface of the terminal housing part 21b (Figures 1, 3, and 4). Therefore, the female housing 20 is provided with an annular front holder 23 that is assembled to the outer circumferential surface from the tip of the terminal housing part 21b and holds the first waterproof member 41 in the assembled position relative to the terminal housing part 21b (Figures 1 to 4).
[0040] Here, the wire housing portion 21a has an annular shape concentric with the terminal housing portion 21b on the outer side of the base of the terminal housing portion 21b, and when the terminal housing portion 21b is inserted and fitted into the through hole of the male side wall portion, the annular portion is positioned facing the wall surface of the male side wall portion. For this reason, the female fitting component 1 is equipped with an annular second waterproof member 42 that fills the gap between the annular portion of the wire housing portion 21a and the wall surface of the male side wall portion (Figures 1, 3, and 4). This second waterproof member 52 is a so-called packing and is assembled to the annular portion of the wire housing portion 21a.
[0041] Furthermore, this female fitting component 1 fills the gap between the periphery of the insertion opening 20c in the wire housing section 21a and the cover body 31, and also includes a third waterproof member 43 that seals the wire outlet Op from the indoor side of the housing chamber S (Figures 3 and 4). This third waterproof member 43 is a so-called packing and is positioned on the housing chamber S side of the wire outlet Op, and allows the wire We to be inserted while being in close contact with its outer surface all the way around. This third waterproof member 43 allows each wire We to be inserted through it.
[0042] Furthermore, this female mating part 1 is housed in a housing chamber S and is equipped with a vibration suppressor 50 that suppresses the vibration of the electric wire We within the housing chamber S (Figures 3 and 4). This vibration suppressor 50 is a so-called inner holder composed of a pair of vibration suppressor members 51 assembled together, and is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin (Figures 3 and 4).
[0043] The vibration suppressor 50 is provided with a wire holding passage 50a for each wire We through which the wire We is inserted and held (Figures 3 and 4). The vibration suppressor member 51 has a semi-cylindrical wire holding groove 51a for each wire We (Figures 3 and 4). In this vibration suppressor 50, a pair of wire holding grooves 51a are assembled together to form a cylindrical wire holding passage 50a. In the wire holding passage 50a, the wire We is held by being sandwiched from its outer surface side by a plurality of protrusions 51b that protrude from the groove wall of each wire holding groove 51a (Figure 4).
[0044] The first housing chamber 20a has a fitting portion 20a1 into which one of the vibration suppression members 51 of the vibration suppression device 50 is fitted (Figure 3). The second housing chamber 30a also has a fitting portion 30a1 into which the other vibration suppression member 51 of the vibration suppression device 50 is fitted (Figure 3). The vibration suppression device 50 is held in place by being sandwiched between the respective fitting portions 20a1 and 40a1 of the female housing 20 and cover member 30 after assembly.
[0045] The male housing 120 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The male housing 120 has a male terminal connection portion 112 housed in its internal space, and a male mating portion 121 into which the female mating portion 22b is fitted (Figures 5 to 9). This male mating portion 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape (here, cylindrical) for each male terminal fitting 110, and the female mating portion 22b that has been fitted into the cylinder (internal space) is mated and connected at the mating completion position.
[0046] The male mating portion 121 has a cylindrical space 122a between it and the inner circumferential wall surface 121a of its internal space, from which the male terminal fitting 110 is housed, and a male terminal housing chamber 122 into which the female mating portion 22b of the inner housing 22 is concentrically fitted (Figures 5 to 9). The female terminal fitting 10 connects its female terminal connection portion 12 to the male terminal connection portion 112 of the male terminal fitting 110 in the male terminal housing chamber 122 at the completed mating position.
[0047] In the mating connector, the terminal housing portion 21b is inserted and fitted into the through-hole of the male side wall from the tip, so that the inner housing 22 assembled to the terminal housing portion 21b is inserted into the through-hole together with the inner female terminal fitting 10. Accordingly, in this mating connector, the female mating portion 22b of the inner housing 22 is fitted into the internal space of the male mating portion 121 of the male housing 120 located in the through-hole, and the female mating portion 22b is fitted and connected to the male mating portion 121 at the mating completion position. In this mating connector, along with the mating connection, the female terminal connection portion 12 of the female terminal fitting 10 is fitted and connected to the male terminal connection portion 112 of the male terminal fitting 110 located inside the male mating portion 121 at the mating completion position.
[0048] As described above, the male terminal fitting 110, terminal fitting body, and mating connector of this embodiment reduce the insertion force of the male terminal fitting 112 into the cylinder of the female terminal fitting 12 by reducing the contact pressure of the contact portion 13 against the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal fitting 112 with the guide groove 113 while the male terminal fitting 112 is being inserted into the cylinder of the female terminal fitting 12. Furthermore, the male terminal fitting 110, terminal fitting body, and mating connector guide the contact portion 13 to just before the mating completion position with the guide groove 113. In other words, the male terminal fitting 110, terminal fitting body, and mating connector are formed such that the female terminal fitting 12 and the male terminal fitting 112 reach the mating completion position when the contact portion 13 that has emerged from the bottom of the third groove 113c rides up onto the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal fitting 112. Therefore, the male terminal fitting 110, terminal fitting body, and mating connector enable the securing of contact pressure of the contact portion 13 against the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connection portion 112 at the mating completion position. Accordingly, the male terminal fitting 110, terminal fitting body, and mating connector of this embodiment can achieve both securing contact pressure of the contact portion 13 against the outer wall surface 112a of the male terminal connection portion 112 at the mating completion position and reducing the insertion force of the male terminal connection portion 112 during mating connection work. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0049] 1 Female mating part 10 Female terminal fittings 12 Female terminal connection section 12a Inner circumferential wall surface 13 Contact point 20 Female Housing 22b Female side fitting part 101 Male mating part 110 Male terminal fittings 112 Male terminal connection 112a Exterior wall surface 113 Guide groove 113A 1st groove 113B 2nd groove 113C 3rd groove 113a 1st groove bottom 113b Second groove bottom 113c 3rd groove bottom 120 Male Housing 121 Male side mating part BL base θ1,θ2 Tilt angle
Claims
1. It has a male terminal connector that is fitted into the cylinder of a cylindrical female terminal connector and connected to the female terminal connector at the position where the fitting with the female terminal connector is completed, The female terminal connection portion has multiple contact portions that bulge out from the inner circumferential wall surface within the cylinder and contact the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion at the completed fitting position. The male terminal connector has a groove formed by recessing a portion of its outer wall surface within the cylinder of the female terminal connector from the tip side to the base side along the axial direction of the female terminal connector, allowing the contact portion to fit into it, and each contact portion has a guide groove that guides the contact portion along the axial direction of the cylinder to just before the completed fitting position. The guide groove includes a first groove portion having a first groove bottom that is the deepest in terms of groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector, a second groove portion having a second groove bottom located closer to the tip of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion and allowing the contact portion that has entered the groove to slide along the cylindrical axis direction to the first groove bottom, and a third groove portion having a third groove bottom located closer to the base of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion and allowing the contact portion that has entered through the first groove bottom to slide along the cylindrical axis direction, causing the contact portion to exit the groove before reaching the fitting completion position. The bottom of the second groove is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion becomes deeper as it approaches the bottom of the first groove in the direction of the cylinder axis. The bottom of the third groove is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion becomes shallower as it moves away from the bottom of the first groove in the direction of the cylinder axis. The male terminal fitting is characterized in that the guide groove has a larger inclination angle of the bottom of the second groove with respect to the base axis along the direction of the cylinder axis than the inclination angle of the bottom of the third groove with respect to the base axis, thereby making the sliding range of the contact portion at the bottom of the second groove shorter than the sliding range of the contact portion at the bottom of the third groove.
2. The male terminal fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the first groove is formed in a space of a size that accommodates the contact portion that contacts the bottom of the first groove.
3. The male terminal fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the smaller the inclination angle of the bottom of the third groove with respect to the base shaft, the less the insertion force of the male terminal connector into the cylinder of the female terminal connector when the contact portion slides along the bottom of the third groove.
4. The male terminal fitting according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the third groove is positioned such that the contact portion that has emerged from the bottom of the third groove becomes the mating completion position when it is on the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion.
5. A female terminal fitting having a cylindrical female terminal connection part, A male terminal fitting having a male terminal connector that is fitted into the cylinder of the female terminal connector and connected to the female terminal connector at the position where the fitting with the female terminal connector is completed, Equipped with, The female terminal connection portion has multiple contact portions that bulge out from the inner circumferential wall surface within the cylinder and contact the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion at the completed fitting position. The male terminal connector has a groove formed by recessing a portion of its outer wall surface within the cylinder of the female terminal connector from the tip side to the base side along the axial direction of the female terminal connector, allowing the contact portion to fit into it, and each contact portion has a guide groove that guides the contact portion along the axial direction of the cylinder to just before the completed fitting position. The guide groove includes a first groove portion having a first groove bottom that is the deepest in terms of groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector, a second groove portion having a second groove bottom located closer to the tip of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion and allowing the contact portion that has entered the groove to slide along the cylindrical axis direction to the first groove bottom, and a third groove portion having a third groove bottom located closer to the base of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion and allowing the contact portion that has entered through the first groove bottom to slide along the cylindrical axis direction, causing the contact portion to exit the groove before reaching the fitting completion position. The bottom of the second groove is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion becomes deeper as it approaches the bottom of the first groove in the direction of the cylinder axis. The bottom of the third groove is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion becomes shallower as it moves away from the bottom of the first groove in the direction of the cylinder axis. The terminal fitting is characterized in that the guide groove has a larger inclination angle of the bottom of the second groove with respect to the base axis along the cylindrical axis than the inclination angle of the bottom of the third groove with respect to the base axis, thereby making the sliding range of the contact portion at the bottom of the second groove shorter than the sliding range of the contact portion at the bottom of the third groove.
6. Female mating part and The female mating part is mated and connected to the male mating part at the mating completion position, Equipped with, The female mating component comprises a female terminal fitting having a cylindrical female terminal connection portion, and a female housing that houses the female terminal connection portion within the cylindrical female mating portion. The male mating component comprises a male terminal fitting having a male terminal connection portion that is fitted into the cylinder of the female terminal connection portion and mated with the female terminal connection portion at the mating completion position, and a male housing into which the female mating portion is fitted into the internal space of the male mating portion that houses the male terminal connection portion, and which mated with the female mating portion at the mating completion position. The female terminal connection portion has multiple contact portions that bulge out from the inner circumferential wall surface within the cylinder and contact the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion at the completed fitting position. The male terminal connector has a groove formed by recessing a portion of its outer wall surface within the cylinder of the female terminal connector from the tip side to the base side along the axial direction of the female terminal connector, allowing the contact portion to fit into it, and each contact portion has a guide groove that guides the contact portion along the axial direction of the cylinder to just before the completed fitting position. The guide groove includes a first groove portion having a first groove bottom that is the deepest in terms of groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connector, a second groove portion having a second groove bottom located closer to the tip of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion and allowing the contact portion that has entered the groove to slide along the cylindrical axis direction to the first groove bottom, and a third groove portion having a third groove bottom located closer to the base of the male terminal connector than the first groove portion and allowing the contact portion that has entered through the first groove bottom to slide along the cylindrical axis direction, causing the contact portion to exit the groove before reaching the fitting completion position. The bottom of the second groove is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion becomes deeper as it approaches the bottom of the first groove in the direction of the cylinder axis. The bottom of the third groove is an inclined surface in which the groove depth from the outer wall surface of the male terminal connection portion becomes shallower as it moves away from the bottom of the first groove in the direction of the cylinder axis. The fitting connector is characterized in that the guide groove has a larger inclination angle of the bottom of the second groove with respect to the base axis along the cylindrical axis than the inclination angle of the bottom of the third groove with respect to the base axis, thereby making the sliding range of the contact portion at the bottom of the second groove shorter than the sliding range of the contact portion at the bottom of the third groove.