JP2003346956A - Terminal for connecting electric wire - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal for connecting an electric wire without requiring bending work to manufacture the terminal for connecting an aluminum electric wire of aluminum alloy high in mechanical strength but difficult in bending. <P>SOLUTION: This terminal comprises a plate-like slender metal plate of which the outline is worked, and has an electric wire connecting part 12 connected to the electric wire in its one end side, and a mating side terminal connecting part 14 connected to a mating side terminal of the same shape under the condition where a plate face of the mating terminal is made orthogonal, in the other end side. The electric wire connecting part 12 is formed into a form of a pressure contact part having a slot 18 pressed in with an electric wire. The mating side terminal connecting part 14 has a pair of clamping parts 2 branched in its tip side, a clamped part 22 sandwiched by a clamping part of the mating side terminal in a portion of a this side just before branched, and a clamping part 24 for sandwiching the clamped part of the mating side terminal in a tip part of the paired clamping parts 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to terminals used for connecting electric wires, and more particularly to terminals suitable for connecting aluminum electric wires (including aluminum alloy wires).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A connector for connecting a normal copper wire is:
Electrical connection is made using copper alloy terminals. Aluminum is known to undergo more severe corrosion than normal electrolytic corrosion in the presence of water and copper ions. For this reason, if a copper alloy terminal is used for the connector to connect the aluminum wire,
When water adheres to the connection between the terminal and the aluminum wire due to, for example, condensation, the aluminum wire is selectively severely corroded,
It is expected that problems such as breakage of the aluminum wire will occur. Therefore, it is not desirable from the viewpoint of corrosion to arrange aluminum and copper in direct contact with each other in a relatively small space such as a connector or to arrange them at a short distance.

[0003]

In order to solve the above problems, it is conceivable to use an aluminum alloy terminal for a connector for connecting an aluminum wire. However, aluminum alloys, which have mechanical properties such as hardness and spring properties comparable to copper alloys for terminals, tend to have low elongation, and will break if subjected to complicated press bending to form the terminals. It is not suitable for manufacturing terminals.

An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal for electric wire connection that does not require complicated bending, and thereby an aluminum electric wire made of an aluminum alloy having mechanical properties such as hardness and spring properties comparable to those of a copper alloy for terminals. An object of the present invention is to make a terminal for connection.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems Although the terminal has the mechanical properties required for the terminal such as hardness and spring property, even an aluminum alloy with a small elongation does not require bending such as punching or upsetting. Pressing is possible. The present invention pays attention to this point, and makes the terminal into a simple shape that does not require bending.

That is, the electric wire connection terminal according to the present invention is made of an elongated metal plate having an outer shape processed, has an electric wire connection portion to which an electric wire is connected at one end, and has the same shape at the other end. The counterpart terminal has a counterpart terminal connection part connected in a state where the plate surfaces are orthogonal to each other, and the counterpart terminal connection part is divided into two forks at the distal end side, forming a pair of holding pieces, just before being split into two branches. Is a pinched portion that is pinched by the pinching portion of the counterpart terminal, and the inside of the distal end portions of the pair of pinching pieces is a pinching portion that pinches the pinched portion of the counterpart terminal. Things.

[0007] There is no distinction between male terminals and female terminals, and the terminals connected to each other have the same shape. The terminal can be formed by punching a metal plate or the like, and does not require bending. Therefore, it can be formed from an aluminum alloy plate that is difficult to bend. Although the terminal of the present invention is mainly formed of an aluminum alloy plate and used for connecting an aluminum electric wire, it is also possible to form a terminal of a copper alloy plate or the like and used for connecting a copper electric wire. Also as a terminal for connecting a copper electric wire, since the shape is simple, there is an advantage that processing cost is low.

In the terminal according to the present invention, both sides of the pinched portion of the terminal according to the present invention are recessed from the existing plate surface of the metal plate, and the pinching portion bulges inward from the inner surface on the base side (root side) of the pair of pinching pieces. It is preferable to have a shape. By adopting such a shape, the connection state of the terminals connected to each other (sandwich state)
Can be stabilized.

Further, the electric wire connecting portion of the terminal according to the present invention is preferably in the form of a press contact portion having a slot into which the electric wire is press-fitted. This is the simplest structurally.
However, since the electric wire connection portion may have any shape that does not require bending, the electric wire connection portion may be, for example, a form in which the electric wire is connected by welding.

[0010]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electric wire connection terminal according to the present invention. In the figure, 10a10b are terminals connected to each other. (A) is a plan view of one terminal 10a,
(B) is a side view of the same, (C) is a plan view of the other terminal 10b,
(D) is a sectional view taken along line DD of (C). Terminals 10a and 10
b has the same shape except that the left and right directions are opposite.

Each of the terminals 10a and 10b is formed of a flat and long metal plate whose outer shape is processed by press punching or the like, and has a wire connection portion 12 to which a wire is connected at one end, and a counterpart terminal at the other end. It has a mating terminal connection portion 14 connected in a state where the surfaces are orthogonal to each other. Between the electric wire connection portion 12 and the counterpart terminal connection portion 14, there is formed a locking hole 16 serving as a locking portion when the terminals 10a and 10b are assembled into the connector housing.

The electric wire connection portion 12 is in the form of a press contact portion having a slot 18 into which the electric wire is press-fitted. Mating terminal connection
Reference numeral 14 denotes a pair of holding pieces 20 which are bifurcated on the distal end side, and a portion before the bifurcation is a held portion 22 which is sandwiched by a counterpart terminal. A pair of holding pieces
The distal end of 20 constitutes a holding portion 24 which swells inward to hold the held portion of the counterpart terminal.

The sandwiched portion 22 is thinner on both sides than the existing plate surface of the metal plate. The inner surface distance d of the holding portion 24 is set slightly smaller than the thickness t of the held portion 22.

When the terminals 10a and 10b are for connecting an aluminum electric wire, the terminals 10a and 10b are preferably formed of an aluminum alloy. In this case, as aluminum alloy, 2000 series or 7000 with high strength
Although it is preferable to use a system aluminum alloy, other aluminum alloys can also be used.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the terminals 10a and 10b are connected to each other. The terminals 10a and 10b have the plate surfaces orthogonal to each other, and the holding portion 24 of one terminal 10a holds the held portion 22 of the other terminal 10b, and the holding portion 24 of the other terminal 10b is connected to the terminal 10a of the other terminal 10b. It is connected so as to hold the held portion 22. Since the inner surface distance d of the holding portion 24 is slightly narrower than the thickness t of the held portion 22, the holding portion 24 is pushed out by the held portion 22, and the held portion 22 is strongly pinched by the elastic repulsive force due to this. wear. Therefore, a good electrical connection state can be obtained. Also, since the sandwiched portion 24 has both sides recessed from the existing plate surface of the metal plate, when the sandwiched portion 24 sandwiches the sandwiched portion 24, it is difficult to shift in the pushing direction and the width direction, and the sandwiched state can be stabilized. it can.

FIG. 3 shows connectors 28a and 28b in which terminals 10a and 10b are incorporated in plastic connector housings 26a and 26b, respectively. Connector housing 26a,
26b has an elastic tongue 30 inside, and terminals 10a, 10b
Is assembled, the projection 32 at the tip of the elastic tongue 30 enters the locking hole 16 of the terminal 10a, 10b, and locks the terminal 10a, 10b at a predetermined position. Further, grooves 34 are formed in the connector housings 26a and 26b at positions corresponding to the electric wire connection portions 12 of the terminals 10a and 10b. This groove 34
Is. The terminal 10a, 10b is press-fitted into the slot 18 and the terminal 10
This is a portion for accommodating the electric wires 36a and 36b which are press-connected to a and 10b. Further, the outer end surfaces of the connector housings 26a, 26b are covered with a lid 38 after the electric wires 36a, 36b are connected by pressure welding.

The connector 28a configured as described above,
When 28b are connected to each other, the result is as shown in FIG. Terminal 10
The connection states of a and 10b are the same as in FIG.

[0019]

According to the present invention as described above,
An electric wire connection terminal having a simple shape that does not require bending can be provided. Since this terminal does not require bending, it does not require a metal mold for bending, is excellent in mass productivity, and has the advantage of lower cost than male and female terminals. Further, since this terminal can be formed of an aluminum alloy plate which is difficult to bend, it is suitable as a terminal for connecting an aluminum electric wire.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electric wire connection terminal according to the present invention, wherein (A) is a plan view of one terminal, (B) is a side view thereof, and (C) is a plan view of the other terminal. , (D) is (C)
FIG.

FIG. 2 is a one-side cutaway plan view showing a state in which the two terminals shown in FIG. 1 are connected.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a connector in which the terminal of FIG. 1 is incorporated in a connector housing.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where the connector of FIG. 3 is connected.

[Explanation of symbols]

10a, 10b: Terminal for wire connection 12: Wire connection 14: Counterpart terminal connection 16: Lock hole 18: Slot 20: clamping piece 22: clamped part 24: clamping section 26a, 26b: Connector housing 28a, 28b: Connector 36a, 36b: Electric wire

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An externally formed flat elongated metal plate having an electric wire connection portion (12) to which an electric wire is connected at one end side, and a counterpart terminal of the same shape at the other end side orthogonal to the plate surface. A mating terminal connecting portion (14) that is connected in a state in which the mating terminal is connected. The mating terminal connecting portion (14) has a pair of holding pieces (20) with the distal end side divided into two branches. The portion before the separation is a pinched portion (22) pinched by the pinching portion of the counterpart terminal, and the inside of the distal ends of the pair of pinching pieces (20) pinches the pinched portion of the counterpart terminal ( 24) An electric wire connection terminal, characterized in that: 2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein both sides of the holding portion (22) are recessed from the existing plate surface of the metal plate, and the holding portion (24) is a base of the pair of holding pieces (20). A terminal for connecting an electric wire, characterized in that it protrudes inward from the inner surface on the side. 3. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the electric wire connection portion is in the form of a press-contact portion having a slot into which the electric wire is press-fitted. Terminal. 4. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the metal plate is an aluminum alloy plate.