JP2006079996A - Joint connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify structure, reduce cost, and secure electrical conduction between terminal metal fittings. <P>SOLUTION: In a joint connector, in which an openable/closable cover 4 is attached to a housing 1 accommodating a plurality of the terminal metal fittings 2, and a bus bar 3 to be contacted to the terminal metal fittings 2 in the housing 1 with the cover 4 opened and to make the terminal metal fittings 2 electrically conductive, is inserted in the housing 1; the end sides of the terminal metal fittings 2 are each constituted of a pair of spring pieces 2A, 2B contacting each other; the bus bar 3 is formed in a planar shape of a conductive metal plate; and the bus bar 3 is inserted between the pairs of the spring pieces 2A, 2B of the terminal metal fittings 2, and pinched by the spring pieces 2A, 2B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a joint connector in which a plurality of terminal fittings are accommodated in a housing to achieve electrical continuity with each other.

As a conventional joint connector, an openable / closable cover is attached to the housing, a plurality of terminal fittings are accommodated in the housing, a joint terminal (bus bar) is assembled to the cover, and the bus bar and the terminal fitting are fitted to each other for electrical connection. Something that was aimed at continuity was known. The cover covers the exposed part of the rear surface of the joint terminal (bus bar). In addition, a plurality of retaining claws that can be attached to the inner surface of the cover with the joint terminal (bus bar) being secured are formed, and the joint terminal is integrated with the cover by these claws to facilitate maintenance work. Are known. The joint terminal (bus bar) used at this time is formed of a conductive metal plate, and is integrally formed from a connecting plate and a total of four tab portions bent forward at the lower end of the connecting plate and extending forward. The part is inserted into the terminal fitting (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-352926 A (2nd and 3rd pages, FIG. 1)

  In the one disclosed in Patent Document 1, the structure of the bus bar is complicated, and the tip end portion of the terminal fitting into which the tab portion of the bus bar is inserted also has a receiving port for the tab portion. It was necessary to devise in order to ensure contact with the part. Therefore, it is difficult to simplify the structure of the bus bar and the terminal fitting, and there is a limit to cost reduction.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a joint connector in which the structure of the bus bar and the terminal fitting is extremely simplified, the cost is reduced, and the electrical continuity between the terminal fittings can be reliably achieved.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention attaches an openable / closable cover to a housing containing a plurality of terminal fittings, contacts each terminal fitting in the housing with the cover opened, and electrically connects each terminal fitting. In the joint connector in which the bus bar to be in a conductive state is inserted into the housing, the distal end side of the terminal fitting is constituted by a pair of spring pieces that contact each other, and the bus bar is formed into a flat plate shape by a conductive metal plate. It is inserted between a pair of spring pieces of the terminal metal fitting and sandwiched between the spring pieces.

  The present invention attaches a cover that can be opened and closed to a housing that accommodates a plurality of terminal fittings, contacts the terminal fittings in the housing with the cover opened, and houses the bus bar that electrically connects each terminal fitting. In the joint connector inserted into the terminal connector, the distal end side of the terminal fitting is composed of a pair of spring pieces that contact each other, the bus bar is formed into a flat plate shape with a conductive metal plate, and the bus bar is formed between the pair of spring pieces of each terminal fitting. Since the bus bar is a single plate, it is not necessary to bend or form a tab portion, and the cost can be greatly reduced. Also, the terminal metal fittings are simple in structure, can be manufactured at low cost, and the joint connector cost can be reduced. In addition, since each spring piece of the plurality of terminal fittings holds one flat bus bar by its spring force, electrical conduction is also ensured.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view before assembling the terminal fitting 2 and the bus bar 3 into the housing 1. A plurality of terminal fittings 2 (four in this embodiment) are accommodated from the rear surface of the housing 1, and are mounted on the front surface of the housing 1. Has a cover 4 that can be opened and closed. The bus bar 3 that contacts each terminal fitting 2 in the housing 1 with the cover 4 opened and electrically connects each terminal fitting 2 is inserted through the insertion port 5 provided on the front side of the housing 1. It has become. The bus bar 3 is formed in a flat plate shape, in this example, a rectangular shape by a conductive metal plate. The distal end side of the terminal fitting 2 is composed of a pair of spring pieces 2A and 2B that contact each other. The terminal fitting 2 is formed of a conductive metal material and holds the electric wire 10. Further, the cover 4 can be opened and closed by a hinge 4A and is integrally connected to the housing 1. The lock piece 4 </ b> B formed on the cover 4 is engaged with an engagement hole 4 </ b> C provided in the housing 1 to cover the front side of the housing 1.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting 2 is accommodated in the housing 1, the bus bar 3 is inserted between the spring pieces 2A and 2B of the terminal fitting 2, and the bus bar 3 is sandwiched between the spring pieces 2A and 2B. is there. One plate-like bus bar 3 is in contact with the plurality of terminal fittings 2 so that each terminal fitting 2 is electrically connected to each other. In FIG. 2, the insertion holes 6 of the terminal fittings 2 are formed on the rear surface side of the housing 1, and the positioning holes 7 of the terminal fittings 2 are formed following the insertion openings 6. The terminal fitting 2 is inserted from the insertion opening 6 and positioned in the positioning hole 7. On the other hand, the front end side of the bus bar 3 inserted from the insertion port 5 is inserted between the spring pieces 2A and 2B from the front side of the housing 1.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the details of the terminal fitting 2 formed of a conductive material. The electric wire 10 is held by the barrel portion 11, and the two plate-like tips are substantially U-shaped from the outside to the inside. The spring pieces 2A and 2B are formed so as to be folded back to each other and to be pressed against each other.

  FIG. 4 shows another terminal fitting 2, which holds the electric wire 10 by the barrel portion 11, and its tip side is fork-like, and the two fork-like tip sides are shown. Are bulged inward and brought into contact with each other to form spring pieces 2A and 2B. A hole 2C is formed near the base ends of the spring pieces 2A and 2B. The presence of the hole 2C allows the spring pieces 2A and 2B to bend in the opening direction.

  By adopting a structure like the cover 4, the number of parts can be reduced and the handleability can be improved. Further, the terminal fitting 2 used here has a simple structure by constituting the distal end side with a pair of spring pieces 2A and 2B that come into contact with each other, and the manufacturing cost of the terminal fitting itself can be reduced. Further, these spring pieces 2A and 2B come into contact with the bus bar 3 so as to be pressed by the elastic force of the spring pieces, and it is possible to ensure the reliability of conduction between the terminal fittings 2. is there.

The perspective view before an assembly | attachment. Sectional drawing after an assembly | attachment. The perspective view of a terminal metal fitting. The perspective view which shows the example of another terminal metal fitting.

Explanation of symbols

1 Housing 2 Terminal fitting 2A, 2B Spring piece 3 Bus bar 4 Cover

Claims (3)

A joint in which a cover that can be opened and closed is attached to a housing that contains multiple terminal fittings, and a bus bar is inserted into the housing that contacts each terminal fitting in the housing with the cover open to electrically connect each terminal fitting. In the connector,
The distal end side of the terminal fitting is composed of a pair of spring pieces that contact each other,
The bus bar is formed into a flat plate shape with a conductive metal plate,
A joint connector characterized in that the bus bar is inserted between a pair of spring pieces of each terminal fitting and held between the spring pieces.   2. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the pair of spring pieces are formed by folding back two plate-shaped leading ends from the outside to the inside in a substantially U shape.   2. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the pair of spring pieces are formed by causing the fork-shaped tips to bulge inward from each other.

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