CN110391530B

CN110391530B - Female terminal

Info

Publication number: CN110391530B
Application number: CN201910302128.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 正田进也; 胜本早纪
Original assignee: JST Mfg Co Ltd
Current assignee: JST Mfg Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-04-19
Filing date: 2019-04-16
Publication date: 2021-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-16
Also published as: CN110391530A; JP2019192370A; JP7114053B2

Abstract

A female terminal capable of suppressing damage to an elastic contact piece. The female terminal (10) has a connection terminal portion for receiving the elastic contact piece (17). The connecting terminal portion is configured in a square tube shape surrounded by a bottom plate (11), a pair of side plates (12, 13), and a set of a first top panel (14) and a second top panel (15). The connecting terminal portion further includes a strip-shaped connecting piece connected to a part of the elastic contact piece. The connecting piece is formed as a part of one of the side plates. The connecting piece has: an end portion bent in accordance with a bent portion between one side panel and the first upper panel; and the other end portion, which is bent in accordance with the bent portion between the one side plate and the bottom plate, and is connected to the base end portion of the elastic contact piece. The elastic contact piece has a portion inclined upward toward the inner wall of the second upper panel, and is disposed inside the connection terminal portion. Since the base end portion (17a) of the elastic contact piece does not include a structure that is tightly bent, damage to the elastic contact piece can be suppressed.

Description

Female terminal

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a female terminal. In particular, the present invention relates to a structure of a female terminal having a connection terminal portion electrically connected to a male terminal on a distal end portion side and a connection terminal portion connectable to an electric wire on a proximal end portion side.

Background

For example, the female terminal has a square tubular connecting terminal portion electrically connected to the male terminal on the distal end portion side, and a wire connecting portion for connecting an electric wire on the proximal end portion side. In addition, the female terminal is formed by bending an expanded plate made of a conductive metal plate to form a connection terminal portion and a wire connecting portion.

The connection terminal portion of the female terminal is formed in a square tube shape. The square tubular structure has a structure surrounded by, for example, a band-shaped bottom plate, a pair of side plates bent substantially perpendicular to both sides of the bottom plate, and an upper plate bending the pair of side plates inward from each other. The connection terminal portion of the female terminal has an elastic contact piece inside, and the elastic contact piece extends toward the upper surface plate in a state of being inclined from the bottom plate. In such a configuration, the male terminal and the female terminal can be electrically connected by inserting the blade-shaped male terminal on the mating side between the distal end portion of the elastic contact piece and the upper surface plate.

In the female terminal, as the elastic contact piece, an elastic contact piece is known which is inverted from an end portion of the bottom plate toward an inside of the connection terminal portion. However, in the female terminal having the reversed elastic contact piece, since the elastic contact piece protrudes from the end of the bottom plate in the state of the developed plate, there is a disadvantage that the area of the developed plate having a rectangular shape before the outer shape processing becomes large and the material is wasted much.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a female terminal in which an upper panel and an elastic contact piece are arranged substantially in parallel with each other in a state where a plate is unfolded, and eliminates the above-described disadvantage.

On the other hand, as a technique for providing a small female terminal, for example, patent document 2 is disclosed. When the female terminal is miniaturized, the tip end surface of the blade-shaped (or pin-shaped) male terminal on the opposite side collides with the contact portion of the elastic contact piece, and damage is caused, the plated surface of gold, tin, or the like is roughened, the contact resistance is increased, and in the worst case, conduction may be interrupted. In order to avoid this problem, according to the female terminal (female contact) of patent document 2, the following structure is disclosed: a protrusion is provided on the elastic contact piece, and displaces the contact portion from the initial position before the front end surface of the male contact comes into contact with the contact portion.

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 3-93175

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open No. 2008-123720

In the female terminals of

patent documents

1 and 2, as described below, the durability of the elastic contact piece is problematic.

The elastic contact piece of patent document 1 has a structure in which a base end portion is in close contact with one side plate and is bent. Therefore, the base end portion of the elastic contact piece may be plastically deformed. When the male terminal on the mating side is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the connecting terminal portion of the female terminal, a crack may be generated in the close contact bent portion of the elastic contact piece.

In the elastic contact piece of patent document 2, one side edge of the front end portion of the lower second upper plate 13b is folded back to be doubled down below the second upper plate to form a third upper plate 13c, and the elastic contact piece 14 extends in a cantilever shape from the rear end portion thereof. That is, since the base end portion of the elastic contact piece is folded back and closely supported, the base end portion of the elastic contact piece may be plastically deformed. When the male terminal on the mating side is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the connecting terminal portion of the female terminal, a crack may be generated in the close contact bent portion of the elastic contact piece.

There is a need for a female terminal in which there is no fear of damage to an elastic contact piece even if a male terminal on the mating side is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the inside of a connection terminal portion of the female terminal. The above matters may be referred to as the subject of the present invention.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a female terminal in which there is no fear of damage to an elastic contact piece.

The present invention relates to a connecting terminal portion which is formed in a cylindrical shape by a bottom plate, a pair of side plates, a first top plate, a second top plate, and a strip-shaped connecting piece to which an elastic contact piece is connected. The connecting piece forms a part of one of the side plates. The elastic contact piece is disposed on the bottom plate side by bending an end portion of the connecting piece from one side plate side to the bottom plate side. Thus, the proximal end portion of the elastic contact piece is not configured to be closely bent. Based on this, the present invention provides a novel female terminal as follows.

(1) A female terminal formed by bending a metal plate, the female terminal comprising: a cylindrical connection terminal portion having an opening into which a male terminal is introduced, the connection terminal portion accommodating therein an elastic contact piece electrically connected to the male terminal; and a wire connecting portion connected to a terminal of an electric wire, wherein the connecting terminal portion has: a base plate continuously extending in a band shape from a bottom of the wire connection portion; a pair of side plates facing each other on both sides of the bottom plate; a first upper panel of an upper portion of one of the side panels, which is located at a position opposed to the bottom panel; a second upper panel located at a position opposite to the bottom panel and overlapping an inner wall of the first upper panel; and a connecting piece which partially extends from the second upper panel in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the bottom panel extends, and is connected to a part of the elastic contact piece, wherein the connecting piece is configured as a part of one of the side panels, and has one end portion of the connecting piece bent in accordance with a bent portion between the one of the side panels and the first upper panel, and the other end portion of the connecting piece connected to a base end portion of the elastic contact piece bent in accordance with a bent portion between the one of the side panels and the bottom panel, and the elastic contact piece is disposed on the side of the bottom panel, and has a portion inclined upward toward the inner wall of the second upper panel.

(2) Preferably, a plate thickness surface of the connecting piece is disposed near a front edge of one of the side plates, and the connecting piece partially constitutes a front portion of the connecting terminal portion.

(3) Preferably, in the connecting piece and the one side plate, an inner wall and an outer wall of the connecting piece and an inner wall and an outer wall of the one side plate are arranged in a coplanar state with each other.

(4) Preferably, the base plate has a first pressing piece at a front edge thereof for pressing a base end portion of the elastic contact piece from a bottom surface side, the first upper panel has a second pressing piece at a front edge thereof for pressing a front portion of the second upper panel, and the other side plate has a third pressing piece at a front edge thereof for pressing a base end portion of the elastic contact piece from an upper surface side with a plate thickness surface.

According to the female terminal of the present invention, the elastic contact piece of the connection terminal portion is connected to the connection piece constituting a part of one side plate. By bending the end portion (the other end portion) of the connecting piece from the one side plate side toward the bottom plate side, a bent portion toward the base end portion of the elastic contact piece is realized, and the elastic contact piece is disposed on the bottom plate side. Therefore, the proximal end portion of the elastic contact piece is not formed to be closely bent. Therefore, the base end portion of the elastic contact piece can be prevented from being cracked due to the close bending. Further, the connecting pieces constituting a part of the one side plate are configured not to overlap in the thickness direction of the one side plate, so that the connecting terminal portion can be prevented from becoming large in the width direction.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a female terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a state in which an electric wire is connected to a wire connecting portion.

Fig. 2A to 2E are respective views showing the structure of the female terminal of the above embodiment, fig. 2A is a perspective view, fig. 2B is a plan view, fig. 2C is a left side view, fig. 2D is a front view, and fig. 2E is a bottom view.

Fig. 3A and 3B are respective views showing the structure of the female terminal of the above embodiment, fig. 3A is a perspective view, and fig. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view and a sectional view taken along line a-a in fig. 2D.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the female terminal of the above embodiment, showing a state in which the female terminal is connected to the contact carrier.

Fig. 5A to 5G are views showing the structure of the female terminal of the above embodiment, fig. 5A is a perspective view, fig. 5B is a front view, fig. 5C is a sectional view taken along the line a-a in fig. 5B, fig. 5D is a right side view, fig. 5E is a plan view, fig. 5F is a left side view, and fig. 5G is a bottom view, all of which show a state before an electric wire is connected to the wire connecting portion.

Fig. 6A and 6B are enlarged views of the female terminal according to the above-described embodiment, each of fig. 6A is a perspective view, and each of fig. 6B is a rear view showing a state before an electric wire is connected to the wire connecting portion.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the structure of the exploding plate of the female terminal of the above embodiment.

Description of the reference symbols

1: a connection terminal section; 2: a wiring portion; 10: a female terminal; 11: a base plate; 12. 13: a pair of side plates; 14: a first upper panel; 15: a second upper panel; 16: connecting sheets; 17: an elastic contact piece; 17 a: a base end portion of the elastic contact piece; w: an electric wire.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[ Structure of female terminal ]

First, a structure of a female terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(Overall Structure)

Referring to fig. 1 to 6A and 6B, a female terminal 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a square-tube-shaped connection terminal portion 1 and a wire connection portion 2. The connection terminal portion 1 can introduce a male terminal in a blade shape, not shown, from an opening of the connection terminal portion 1 of the female terminal 10. The wire connecting portion 2 can connect the terminal ends of the electric wires W.

A waterproof cover 3 made of rubber is attached to the end of the electric wire W. According to such a configuration, when the female terminal 10 is mounted in the cavity of the plug housing, not shown, can be waterproofed.

Referring to fig. 7, the female terminal 10 is formed by punching and bending an expanded plate 10e made of a conductive metal plate. A part (the wire portion 2 side) of the base end portion of the female terminal 10 is continuously connected to the first contact carrier C1. When the wire connecting portion 2 is crimped onto the electric wire W, the female terminal 10 can be separated from the first contact carrier C1. Further, a part of the tip end portion of the female terminal 10 (the connection terminal portion 1 side) is continuously connected to the second contact carrier C2. The extending plate 10e is connected to the second contact carrier C2 when punched by the press die, and is separated from the second contact carrier C2 when the extending plate 10e is bent.

(Structure of connection part)

Next, the structure of the wire connecting portion 2 will be explained. Referring to fig. 4 to 6A and 6B, the wire connecting portion 2 includes a pair of conductor barrels 2c and 2c opened in a U shape and a pair of

insulation barrels

2i and 2i opened in a U shape. The lead wire Wc of the electric wire W is introduced into the pair of conductor barrels 2c and 2c, and the pair of conductor barrels 2c and 2c are crimped, whereby the lead wire Wc can be electrically connected. Further, the wire W with the insulation coating Wi is introduced into the pair of

insulation barrels

2i and 2i, and the pair of

insulation barrels

2i and 2i are pressure-bonded, whereby the terminal end of the wire W can be held by the wire connecting portion 2 (see fig. 1 to 3A and 3B).

(Structure of connection terminal portion)

Next, a structure of the connection terminal portion 1 will be explained. Referring to fig. 1 to 7, the connection terminal portion 1 includes a belt-shaped bottom plate 11 and a pair of opposing

side plates

12 and 13. The bottom plate 11 is formed to extend continuously in a band shape from the bottom of the wire connecting portion 2, and the pair of

side plates

12 and 13 are opposed to each other on both sides of the bottom plate 11 via bent portions bent at substantially right angles from both sides of the bottom plate 11.

The connection terminal portion 1 has a set of a first upper panel 14 and a second upper panel 15. The first top panel 14 is located at a position facing the bottom plate 11 via a bent portion bent at substantially right angles from an upper portion of the one side plate 12. The second top panel 15 is positioned so as to overlap the inner wall of the first top panel 14 and face the bottom plate 11 via a bent portion bent at substantially right angles from the upper portion of the other side plate 13 (see fig. 3B or 5C).

According to the above configuration, the connection terminal portion 1 has a square tubular structure surrounded by the bottom plate 11, the pair of

side plates

12 and 13, and the set of the first top panel 14 and the second top panel 15.

The connection terminal portion 1 has a strip-shaped connection piece 16 and an elastic contact piece 17. The elastic contact piece 17 is disposed inside the connection terminal portion 1 via the connection piece 16. The connecting piece 16 extends from the front portion of the second top panel 15 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the bottom panel 11 extends, and is connected to a part of the elastic contact piece 17. The connecting piece 16 is formed as a part of one side plate 12. The connecting piece 16 has: an end portion 161 bent in accordance with a bent portion between one side plate 12 and the first upper panel 14; and another end portion 162 connected to a base end portion of the elastic contact piece 17, which is bent in accordance with a bent portion between the one side plate 12 and the bottom plate 11. Thus, the elastic contact piece 17 is disposed on the bottom plate 11 side and has a portion inclined upward toward the inner wall of the second top panel 15. More specifically, the elastic contact piece 17 is disposed on the bottom plate 11 side, and has a portion inclined upward in the direction of the wire connecting portion 2 from the opening side of the connecting terminal portion 1 toward the inner wall of the second upper panel 15.

For example, referring to fig. 2A, the plate thickness surface of the connecting piece 16 is disposed near the front edge of one side plate 12, and the connecting piece 16 constitutes a part of the one side plate 12 and partially constitutes the front portion (i.e., the vicinity of the opening) of the connecting terminal portion 1. More preferably, in the connecting piece 16 and the one side plate 12, an inner wall and an outer wall of the connecting piece 16 and an inner wall and an outer wall of the one side plate 12 are arranged in a coplanar state with each other. In other words, in the structure of the connection terminal portion 1, the metal plate for bending is formed so that the plate thickness surface of the portion 12t formed as the front edge of the one side plate 12 is close to the plate thickness surface of the connection piece 16. Referring to fig. 7, a portion 12t formed as a front edge of the one side plate 12 is a cutout portion into which the connecting piece 16 is fitted.

The elastic contact piece 17 is connected to the other end 162 of the connecting piece 16 at the base end portion 17 a. The proximal end portion 17a of the elastic contact piece 17 is provided on the front portion (i.e., the vicinity of the opening) side of the connection terminal portion 1. The base end portion 17a of the elastic contact piece 17 is pressed by the other end portion (or the bent portion thereof) 162 of the connecting piece 16 on the side of the one side plate 12 as described above, by a third pressing piece 13a described later on the side of the other side plate 13, and by a first pressing piece 11a of the bottom plate 11 described later on the front side.

According to the above configuration, in the female terminal 10 of the embodiment, the elastic contact piece 17 of the connection terminal portion 1 is configured not to include a structure in which it is bent in close contact such as by folding back a metal plate at the base end portion 17a thereof. Therefore, damage to the elastic contact piece 17 can be suppressed.

Next, the structure of the connection terminal portion 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 6. The first top panel 14 has a hemispherical first locking projection 141 formed on the front portion and a hemispherical second locking projection 142 formed on the rear portion. Thus, when the connection terminal 1 is mounted in the cavity of the plug housing, not shown, the first locking projection 141 and the second locking projection 142 can be locked to the inner wall of the cavity.

The connecting terminal portion 1 further has an auxiliary spring piece 18 inside. The auxiliary spring piece 18 is provided on the bottom plate 11, and has a structure inclined upward toward the inner wall of the second upper panel 15 from the direction from the wire connecting portion 2 side toward the opening of the connecting terminal portion 1. The tip end portion of the auxiliary spring piece 18 is located below the tip end portion of the elastic contact piece 17. This can suppress excessive deflection of the elastic contact piece 17 when a male terminal, not shown, is inserted into the connection terminal portion 1.

The connecting terminal portion 1 includes a first pressing piece 11a, a second pressing piece 14a, and a third pressing piece 13 a. The first pressing piece 11a is a protruding region of the front edge provided on the front edge of the base plate 11. The first pressing piece 11a is configured to press the base end portion 17a of the elastic contact piece 17 from the bottom surface side of the elastic contact piece 17. The first pressing piece 11a is configured to support the lower surface of the front portion (i.e., the vicinity of the opening) of the connection terminal portion 1.

The second pressing piece 14a is a protruding region of the front edge provided on the front edge of the first upper panel 14. The second pressing piece 14a is configured to press the front portion of the second upper panel 15. The second pressing piece 14a is configured to support the upper surface of the front portion (the vicinity of the opening) of the connection terminal portion 1.

The third pressing piece 13a is a protruding region of the front edge provided on the front edge of the other side plate 13. The third pressing piece 13a is configured to press the base end portion 17a of the elastic contact piece 17 from the upper surface side of the elastic contact piece 17 with the plate thickness surface of the other side plate 13.

According to the above configuration, since the female terminal 10 of the embodiment has the first pressing piece 11a, the second pressing piece 14a, and the third pressing piece 13a in the front portion (the vicinity of the opening) of the connection terminal portion 1, it contributes to the stabilization of the base end portion 17a of the elastic contact piece 17 and the reinforcement of the front portion of the connection terminal portion 1, and the deformation of the front portion of the connection terminal portion 1 can be reduced.

[ function of female terminal ]

Next, the operation and effect of the female terminal 10 of the embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 6.

Referring to fig. 1 to 6, in a female terminal 10 according to the embodiment, a connection terminal portion 1 is configured in a square tube shape by a bottom plate 11, a pair of

side plates

12 and 13, a first top plate 14, a second top plate 15, and a strip-shaped connecting piece 16. One end 161 of the connecting piece 16 is bent at a substantially right angle in accordance with a bent portion between the one side plate 12 and the first top panel 14, the other end 162 of the connecting piece is bent at a substantially right angle in accordance with a bent portion between the one side plate 12 and the bottom plate 11, and the elastic contact piece 17 is disposed on the bottom plate 11 side without including a structure in which the base end portion 17a thereof is bent in close contact therewith. This can suppress damage to the elastic contact piece 17.

Further, by not including the above-described structure in which the connection terminal portion is tightly bent, it is possible to prevent the connection terminal portion from becoming large in the width direction (the width in the vertical direction and/or the width in the lateral direction). The connecting piece 16 constituting a part of one side plate 12 is configured not to overlap in the thickness direction of the side plate 12. Therefore, the female terminal can be miniaturized in the lateral width direction. Such a structure is advantageous for miniaturization of the plug housing in which the plurality of female terminals are mounted.

The female terminal 10 of the embodiment has a first pressing piece 11a, a second pressing piece 14a, and a third pressing piece 13a at the front portion (near the opening) of the connection terminal portion 1. This stabilizes the arrangement of the base end portions 17a of the elastic contact pieces 17, reinforces the front portion of the connection terminal portion 1, and reduces the deformation of the front portion of the connection terminal portion 1.

Further, the base end portion 17a of the elastic contact piece 17 of the embodiment is disposed on the opening side of the connection terminal portion 1, and the base end portion 17a of the elastic contact piece 17 may be disposed on the back side of the connection terminal portion 1. For example, in the metal plate of fig. 7, it is conceivable to extend the form of connecting piece 16 and elastic contact piece 17 extending from the front portion of second upper plate 15 and notch portion 12t corresponding thereto to the deep portion of connecting terminal portion 1 or to change the form to another place. For example, it is conceivable to expand the above-described form in the rear portion of connection terminal portion 1 or in the vicinity of the center of connection terminal portion 1.

In addition, although the female terminal 10 of the embodiment is provided with the auxiliary spring piece 18, a configuration may be adopted in which the auxiliary spring piece 18 is eliminated. The elastic contact piece 17 of the embodiment is supported by a cantilever, but the elastic contact piece 17 may have another form in which both ends are supported. For example, in the metal plate of fig. 7, it is conceivable to form a fitting groove or the like in a predetermined portion of the bottom plate 11, apply predetermined bending work to the elastic contact piece 17 formed longer, and fit the tip of the elastic contact piece 17 into the fitting groove.

Claims

1. A female terminal, the female terminal having: a cylindrical connection terminal portion having an opening into which a male terminal is introduced, the connection terminal portion accommodating therein an elastic contact piece electrically connected to the male terminal; and a wire connecting portion capable of connecting a terminal of an electric wire, wherein,

the connection terminal portion includes:

a base plate continuously extending in a band shape from a bottom of the wire connection portion;

a pair of side plates facing each other on both sides of the bottom plate;

a first upper panel of an upper portion of one of the side panels, which is located at a position opposed to the bottom panel;

a second upper panel located at a position opposite to the bottom panel and overlapping an inner wall of the first upper panel; and

a connecting piece partially extending from the second upper panel in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the base plate extends, the connecting piece being connected to a part of the elastic contact piece,

the connecting piece is configured as a part of one of the side plates, and has one end portion of the connecting piece bent in accordance with a bent portion between the one side plate and the first upper surface plate, and the other end portion of the connecting piece connected to a base end portion of the elastic contact piece bent in accordance with a bent portion between the one side plate and the bottom plate,

the elastic contact piece is arranged on the side of the bottom plate and is provided with a part which inclines upwards towards the inner wall of the second upper panel.

2. The female terminal of claim 1,

the connecting piece is disposed so that a plate thickness surface thereof is close to a front edge of one of the side plates, and the connecting piece partially constitutes a front portion of the connecting terminal portion.

3. The female terminal as claimed in claim 2,

in the connecting piece and one of the side plates, an inner wall and an outer wall of the connecting piece and an inner wall and an outer wall of one of the side plates are arranged in a coplanar state with each other.

4. The female terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the base plate has a first pressing piece at its front edge for pressing the base end of the elastic contact piece from the bottom surface side,

the first upper panel has a second pressing piece at a front edge thereof to press a front portion of the second upper panel,

the other side plate has, at a front edge thereof, a third pressing piece for pressing a proximal end portion of the elastic contact piece from an upper surface side with a plate thickness surface.