JP2001057276A - Bulb socket - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the workability when both terminal fittings are connected while ensuring the reliability in contact of a terminal on bulb side and a terminal on connector side after the connection in an L-shaped bulb socket. SOLUTION: A bulb storage part capable of mounting a bulb 5 and a connector storage part 8 capable of mounting a connector on feed side 7 are provided in such a way that they cross mutually and in the direction of substantially right angle in a socket main body 2. An L-shaped terminal for connector 3 is mounted from the connector storage part 8, and a terminal 4 for bulb is inserted from the bulb storage part. A pair of elastic contact pieces 23 nipping the terminal for connector 3 elastically are provided at a tip of the terminal 4 for bulb. When they are assembled, the terminal for connector 3 is first pushed into a predetermined position and enters a wait and receive condition, and when the terminal 4 for bulb is inserted therein, the terminal 3 for connector is elastically nipped and held between both elastic contact pieces 23 in accordance with the insertion operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve socket.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some valve sockets have an L-shape as a whole, and a connector accommodating portion for accommodating a power supply side connector and a valve accommodating portion for accommodating a valve are opened at substantially right angles to each other. In the case of such an L-shaped valve socket, the valve terminal connected to the valve and the connector terminal connected to the power supply connector are assembled to the socket body as separate parts, and the ends of both terminals are connected to each other. Are connected and the whole is bent in an L-shape.

An example of such an L-shaped valve socket is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-230866. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, in this valve socket 100, a slit-like connection hole 102 is opened in a connector terminal 101, and the connection hole 102
The two terminals 101 and 103 are connected to each other by a structure in which the tab-shaped connection portion 104 of the valve terminal 103 is press-fitted.

[0004]

In the structure for connecting the terminals 101 and 103 by the press-fitting operation as described above,
There is a problem that workability is not good because resistance due to press-fitting is large. As a countermeasure against this problem, it is conceivable to reduce the resistance at the time of press-fitting by enlarging the connection hole 102, but in such a case, there is a possibility that the contact pressure between the terminals 101 and 103 is reduced or a contact failure occurs. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an L-shaped valve socket while ensuring contact reliability between a valve-side terminal and a connector-side terminal after connection. An object of the present invention is to improve workability when connecting a child metal fitting.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a valve socket including a valve housing for mounting a valve and a connector housing for fitting a power supply side connector. A socket body provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to each other, a valve terminal inserted into the socket body from the valve housing portion side, and a connector terminal inserted into the socket body from the connector housing portion side In the socket body, any one of the two terminals is placed in a standby state in a corresponding accommodation portion, and the other terminal is inserted into the corresponding accommodation portion with an insertion operation. The two terminals are connected to each other, and one of the two terminals has a connection means that can elastically contact with the other terminal; and Characterized in that the inclined portion capable guiding the side of the terminals are provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the connecting means has an elasticity which is elastically displaced in a direction intersecting an insertion direction of a terminal provided with the connecting means. A contact piece and a locking piece provided on the elastic contact piece and protruding from a surface side opposite to a surface side to which both terminals are connected are provided, while the socket body is in a state where the two terminals are connected. A receiving surface for elastically contacting the elastic contact piece from a surface side on which the locking piece projects, and a retaining portion for locking the locking piece to prevent a terminal on which the locking piece is formed from being removed. Are provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first and second aspects, at least one of the two terminals is prevented from falling off in a corresponding accommodating portion. A locking piece is provided, and the locking piece is locked to the inner wall of the housing of the terminal on the other side.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the resistance generated when the terminals are connected to each other is the elastic restoring force caused by the elastic bending of the connecting means, and thus is caused by the press-fitting. The resistance at the time of connection is smaller than the resistance, and the contact pressure between the terminals is secured by the elasticity of the connection means. Therefore, it is possible to improve the workability when connecting the terminals while ensuring the contact reliability between the terminals after the connection of the two terminals.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when both terminals are connected, even if there is a positional shift between the terminals, the positional shift is absorbed by a change in the amount of elastic bending of the elastic contact piece. The side surface of the resilient contact piece on the side of the locking piece always keeps contact with the receiving face of the socket body. Therefore, the state in which the locking piece is locked to the retaining portion is maintained, and the reliability of the terminal removal restricted state is excellent.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the socket body has an L-shape, the accommodating portions for both terminals are also provided substantially at right angles to each other. , In a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the terminal on the other side. For this reason, the locking piece provided on the terminal on one side can be locked using the inner wall of the receiving portion of the terminal on the other side. With this configuration, the inner wall of the receiving portion of the counterpart terminal can be used as it is for the engagement of the locking pieces, so that the internal shape of the socket body can be simplified.

[0012]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The valve socket 1 includes a socket body 2 integrally formed in a substantially L-shape from a synthetic resin, and a pair of terminals 3 and 4 housed inside the socket body 2. The socket body 2 has a valve housing 6 opening upward in FIG. 1 and a connector housing 8 opening rightward in FIG.
The connector terminals 3 and the valve terminals 4 of the two terminals 3 and 4 are accommodated in the connector accommodation unit 8 and the valve terminal 4, respectively.

Next, the socket body 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. The valve 5 (shown only in FIG. 11) is provided in the valve housing section 6 of the socket body 2, and the power supply side connector 7 (shown only in FIG. 11) is provided in the connector housing section 8.
Are respectively fittable. Both accommodations 6,8
Are opened substantially perpendicular to each other. Although the valve 5 of the present embodiment is not shown in detail,
It is a wedge-based type.

The outer shape of the valve housing portion 6 is substantially cylindrical, and a pair of first terminal housing portions 9 are provided inside the valve housing portion 6 at positions facing each other across the center (up and down positions in FIG. 2).
Is provided. The first terminal accommodating portion 9 provided in a part of the valve accommodating portion 6 is capable of mounting the valve terminal 4. The first terminal accommodating portion 9 includes a valve terminal 4 described later.
A pair of grooves 9A for accommodating the pair of expanded pieces 10 and a pair of protrusions 9B protruding inward from the opening edges of both grooves 9A. The two groove portions 9A are formed up to the vicinity of the center in the height direction of the valve accommodating portion 6, and where the groove portion 9A ends, the protrusion 9B protrudes as the retaining wall surface 20 to the same position as the convex portion 9B. The biting piece 21 of the valve terminal 4 can slightly bite into the retaining wall 20.

A pair of tapered slopes 11 are formed at the far end of the first terminal accommodating portion 9 so as to reduce the distance between the opposing wall surfaces (see FIG. 1). A pair of receiving surfaces 24 parallel to each other are provided at the lower end of the slope 11.
Is provided. The distal end of the receiving surface 24 communicates with the second terminal accommodating portion 12 of the connector terminal 3. Also,
A pair of retaining portions 13 is provided at a portion where the first terminal accommodating portion 9 communicates with the second terminal accommodating portion 12 of the connector terminal 3. The retaining portion 13 is formed using the inner wall 12 </ b> C of the second terminal housing 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connector accommodating portion 8 has a substantially elliptical opening. On the back side of the connector housing 8, a second terminal housing 12, which is a part of the connector housing 8, is provided. The second terminal accommodating portions 12 are provided in a pair on the left and right, and each of the second terminal accommodating portions 12 can accommodate the connector terminal 3. Both terminal housings 9, 12 for housing both terminals 3, 4
Are communicated with each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to each other on the back side. Guide surfaces 12 </ b> A are provided on the left, right, and lower sides of the opening edge of the second terminal accommodating portion 12 to guide the mounting of the connector terminal 3. The left and right widths of the back side of the second terminal accommodating portion 12 are slightly smaller than the opening side. The rear end face of the second terminal accommodating portion 12 is a contact surface 12B, and the positioning portion 14 of the connector terminal 3 can be contacted. The contact surface 1
2B is provided at a substantially intermediate position between a pair of retaining portions 13 provided on the inner wall 12C on the upper side.

Next, the connector terminal 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector terminal 3 is formed in a substantially L shape from a conductive metal plate material. The connector terminal 3 is provided with two connecting pieces 15 and 16. Among them, the connector connecting piece 15 extended longer
Can be connected to the power supply side connector 7, and the terminal connecting piece 16 that is shorter and longer can be connected to the valve terminal 4. In FIG. 4, the two connecting pieces 15 and 16 are connected at the left end of the connector connecting piece 15 while being bent in a substantially right-angle direction. On the outer surface side of the bent portion of both connecting pieces 15, 16, a portion from terminal connecting piece 16 serves as positioning portion 14, and abuts against contact surface 12 </ b> B of socket body 2, so that the inside of connector terminal 3 can be located. Side positioning is performed. In addition, a pair of abutting ridges 17 are provided so as to protrude laterally from the center of the connector connecting piece 15 or from a position slightly closer to the terminal connecting piece 16. The abutting projections 17 are slightly pressed into the left and right wall surfaces of the second terminal accommodating portion 12 to hold the connector terminal 3 in place. In the connector connecting piece 15, the contact protrusion 17
An inclined surface 28 is provided in the direction from the terminal connecting piece 16 to the terminal connecting piece 16, and the width is narrower from there.

Next, the structure of the valve terminal 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. The valve terminal 4 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate material, and can be elastically contacted with each of the connector terminal 3 and the valve 5. The valve terminal 4 is composed of a substantially rectangular substrate portion 18 and a pair of upright portions 19 which are folded up in the direction substantially perpendicular to the left and right side edges of the lower portion of FIG.

In FIG. 7, a pair of left and right expanding pieces 10 project from the vicinity of the upper edge portion of the substrate portion 18. Both the expanding pieces 10 are bent obliquely in the direction in which the upright portions 19 are folded up. By the bending, the substrate portion 18
From the front end of the expanding piece 10 is slightly larger than the width of the groove 9 </ b> A in the first terminal housing 9. Therefore, when the valve terminal 4 is accommodated in the first terminal accommodating portion 9 of the socket body 2, the distal end of the expanding piece 10 abuts on the inner surface side of the groove 9 </ b> A, so that the valve terminal 4 is held.
Rattling in the thickness direction is restricted. Also, the substrate unit 1
8, a biting piece 21 is provided below each of the expanding pieces 10 so as to protrude therefrom. When the valve terminal 4 is pushed into the first terminal accommodating portion 9 to a predetermined position, the bite pieces 21 slightly bite into the retaining wall 20 to prevent the valve terminal 4 from being removed.

The both standing portions 19 are provided with a connecting portion 19A at the center.
Only the base portion 18 is connected to the substrate portion 18 (see FIG. 8), and both upper and lower sides from the connection portion 19A are formed as free ends. Above the connecting portion 19A, the valve 5
The valve contact piece 22 is in contact with. The lower side than the connecting portion 19A is an elastic contact piece 23 (corresponding to connecting means in the present invention) connected to the connector terminal 3. Of the two contact pieces 22 and 23, the pair of valve contact pieces 22 is smoothly bent in a direction closer to each other above the connecting portion 19A, and a mountain-shaped contact portion 22A is provided at the closest portion. Thereafter, the ends are smoothly folded in a direction away from each other, and their ends are free ends in opposite directions (left and right directions in FIG. 7). The two valve contact pieces 22 are capable of flexing and deforming in a direction approaching or separating from each other, and are capable of elastically contacting the valve 5.

The pair of elastic contact pieces 23 are
Below 9A, it is bent so as to face each other in a substantially right angle direction at a first bent portion 23A, and further bent downward in a substantially right angle direction at a second bent portion 23B. Below the second bent portion 23B, the first contact portion 23C is hung so as to be substantially parallel to each other, then smoothly bent in a direction approaching each other, and a terminal contact portion 23C is provided near the closest position. The distal end side of the terminal contact portion 23C is folded in a hairpin shape in a direction away from each other, and is a free end upward. In addition, a slope-like inclined portion 25 for guiding the terminal connecting piece 16 is provided at the opening edge portion of both terminal contact portions 23C. The two elastic contact pieces 23 can be elastically deformed in a direction approaching or separating from each other (this direction is the same as a direction intersecting the insertion direction in which the valve terminal 4 is inserted into the valve housing portion 6). Existing), and contact the terminal connecting pieces 16 of the connector terminal 3 so as to be elastically held therebetween.

On the tip side of the resilient contact piece 23, a surface facing opposite to each other (a surface facing left or right in FIG. 7) is a contact surface 26. The distance between the two contact surfaces 26 is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the distance between the two receiving surfaces 24 of the first terminal housing 9. In addition, a locking piece 27 is cut and raised from the center of both contact surfaces 26 obliquely upward in a direction away from each other. When the valve terminal 4 is mounted on the first terminal accommodating portion 9, the locking piece 27 engages with the retaining portion 13 and engages with the valve terminal 4.
Is retained.

Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the connector housing 8 of the socket body 2
A pair of connector terminals 3 are inserted from the side. Each of the connector terminals 3 is arranged such that the distal end of the terminal connecting piece 16 faces the valve housing 6, and the second terminal housing 1
Press into 2. When the positioning portion 14 comes into contact with the contact surface 12B, the positioning of the connector terminal 3 to the back side is performed. At this time, the positioning in the left-right direction is performed by abutting the two contact protrusions 17 on both side wall surfaces of the second terminal accommodating portion 12. In this manner, the connector terminal 3 is set in the socket main body 2 in the standby state inside the connector housing portion 8 (see FIG. 10).

Next, a pair of valve terminals 4 is inserted from the valve housing 6 side. The terminals 4 for both valves are connected to the substrate 18
In a parallel state, and are pushed in from the elastic contact pieces 23 in a posture in which the upright portions 19 face each other. When the distal end of the elastic contact piece 23 is inserted into the back of the first terminal accommodating portion 9, the both locking pieces 27 are guided while sliding on the slope 11. Then, when the two locking pieces 27 are pressed by the pair of receiving surfaces 24, the insertion operation further proceeds while the two elastic contact pieces 23 are elastically deformed in the directions approaching each other.

Finally, when the valve terminal 4 is pushed into the predetermined position, the locking piece 27 gets over the tip of the receiving surface 24, and the elastic contact piece 23 is deformed by return. Then, the locking piece 27 is engaged with the retaining portion 13, and the valve terminal 4 is retained and retained in the first terminal accommodating portion 9. At this time, the contact surface 26 elastically contacts the receiving surface 24. In addition, with the operation of inserting the valve terminal 4, the operation of connecting the two terminals 3 and 4 is performed. That is, at a position before the locking piece 27 gets over the tip of the receiving surface 24, the terminal connecting piece 16 of the connector terminal 3 in the waiting state is
It is inserted inside both terminal contact portions 23C. At this time,
An inclined portion 25 for guiding the terminal connecting piece 16 is provided on the opening edge side of the both terminal contact portions 23C.
4 are connected smoothly.

When the valve terminal 4 is pushed into a predetermined position, the terminal connecting piece 16 is inserted into the inside of both terminal contact portions 23C to near the center thereof, and is elastically contacted by both elastic contact pieces 23. State. After the assembly of the valve socket 1 is completed in this manner, the valve 5 is fitted into the valve housing 6 and the power supply side connector 7 is fitted into the connector housing 8 (see FIG. 11).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the resistance generated when the terminals 3 and 4 are connected is determined by the resistance of the elastic contact pieces 2.
3 is an elastic restoring force caused by the elastic bending of the terminal 3, so that the resistance at the time of connection is smaller than the resistance caused by the press-fitting, and the contact pressure is secured between the terminals 3 and 4 by the elastic force of the elastic contact pieces 23. Is done. Therefore, it is possible to improve the workability when connecting the terminals 3 and 4 while ensuring the contact reliability between the pair of terminals 3 and 4 after the connection of the terminals 3 and 4.

When both terminals 3 and 4 are connected, even if there is a displacement between the terminals 3 and 4, the displacement is absorbed by a change in the amount of elastic bending of the elastic contact piece 23. The contact surface 26 of the elastic contact piece 23 always keeps contact with the receiving surface 24 of the socket body 2. Therefore,
The state in which the locking piece 27 is locked to the retaining portion 13 is maintained, and the reliability of the terminal removal restriction state is excellent.

In addition, since the socket body 2 has an L-shape, the accommodating portions 6 and 8 of the terminals 3 and 4 are also provided substantially at right angles to each other. The connector accommodating portion 8 is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the valve terminal 4 is inserted. For this reason, the locking piece 27 provided on the valve terminal 4 can be locked by using the inner wall 12 </ b> C of the second terminal housing 12 which is a part of the connector housing 8. By doing so, the second terminal housing 12
Can be used as it is for the engagement of the locking pieces 27, so that the internal shape of the socket body 2 can be simplified.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited by the above-described embodiment. For example, the followings are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, the technical scope of the present invention extends to an equivalent range. (1) In the above embodiment, the valve terminal 4 is inserted after the connector terminal 3 is set to the standby state. According to the present invention, the connector terminal 3 is set to the standby state after the valve terminal is set to the standby state. May be inserted. (2) In the above embodiment, the valve terminal 4 to be inserted later is provided with the inclined portion 25 and the elastic contact piece 23 which is a connecting means having elasticity. However, according to the present invention, the valve terminal 4 is inserted first and is in a standby state. Connection means may be provided at the terminal to be used.

(3) In the above embodiment, the resilient contact piece 23 as the connecting means is provided on the valve terminal 4, but according to the present invention, the connecting means may be provided on the connector terminal. (4) In the above embodiment, the connecting means of the present invention is provided with the pair of elastic contact pieces 23 sandwiching the terminal connecting piece 16 of the connector terminal 3 to be connected. The contact piece may be any one piece.

(5) In the above embodiment, the elastic contact piece 23 constituting the connecting means has a folded shape. However, according to the present invention, the connecting means may have a serpentine shape, and is bent or bent without being folded. It may be shaped. (6) In the above embodiment, the locking piece 27 for preventing the valve terminal 4 from being removed is formed on the elastic contact piece 23 as the connecting means. However, according to the present invention, the elastic contact piece does not bend differently from the elastic contact piece. A locking piece may be provided at the portion. Further, according to the present invention, a locking piece can be provided at a portion different from the connection means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a state before a valve socket according to an embodiment is assembled.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a socket body.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the socket body.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a connector terminal.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a connector terminal.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the connector terminal.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a valve terminal.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a valve terminal.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a valve terminal.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view when a connector terminal is mounted on a socket body.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a valve socket.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a valve socket.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a valve socket.

FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of a conventional valve socket.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of both terminals in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Valve socket 2 ... Socket body 3 ... Connector terminal 4 ... Valve terminal 5 ... Valve 6 ... Valve accommodating part 7 ... Power supply side connector 8 ... Connector accommodating part 12C ... Inner wall 13 ... Detachment part 23 ... Elastic contact piece (connection Means) 24: receiving surface 25: inclined portion 26: contact surface (opposite surface) 27: locking piece

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A socket body in which a valve accommodating portion for mounting a valve and a connector accommodating portion for fitting a power supply side connector are provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to each other;
A valve terminal inserted into the socket main body from the valve accommodating portion side, and a connector terminal inserted into the socket main body from the connector accommodating portion side; A valve socket in which either one of the terminals is placed in a standby state in a corresponding housing portion and the other terminal is connected with an insertion operation in which the other terminal is inserted into the corresponding housing portion, The terminal on either one of the two terminals is provided with a connecting means capable of elastically contacting the terminal on the other side and an inclined portion capable of inviting the terminal on the other side. A valve socket, characterized in that: 2. An elastic contact piece elastically displaced in a direction intersecting with an insertion direction of a terminal provided with the connecting means, and both terminals provided on the elastic contact piece are connected to the connecting means. A locking piece projecting from a surface side opposite to the surface side is provided.On the other hand, in the socket body, the elastic contact piece is formed from the surface side on which the locking piece protrudes when the two terminals are connected. 2. The receiving surface according to claim 1, further comprising: a receiving surface that elastically abuts, and a retaining portion that locks the locking piece and prevents a terminal on which the locking piece is formed from being removed. Valve socket. 3. The terminal on at least one of the two terminals is provided with a locking piece for retaining the terminal in a corresponding receiving portion, and the locking piece is provided on the other side of the terminal. 2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing is locked to an inner wall of the housing.
Or the valve socket according to any of 2.