JP2006236899A - Terminal fitting for connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal fitting for a connector with excellent ease of attachment to a connector housing. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal fitting part 13 is formed on the front side of a female terminal fitting 1, and an elastic contact piece 15 is formed in the terminal fitting part 13. A restriction beam 20 facing a rear part 15b of the elastic contact piece 15 is projected inward from an outer wall 14 of the terminal fitting part 13. Even if a tip of the terminal fitting part 13 receives external force inward by hitting against another member before housing the female terminal fitting 1 in the connector housing 3, the rear part 15b of the elastic contact piece 15 is bent outward and abuts on the restriction beam 20 to prevent the position of a contact part 16 of the elastic contact piece 15 from changing. By inserting a contact 7 for continuity inspection into the terminal fitting part 13 after housing the female terminal fitting 1 into the connector housing 3, the restriction beam 20 is plastically deformed outward through the elastic contact piece 15 and a predetermined clearance is formed between the elastic contact piece 15 and the restriction beam 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector terminal fitting housed in a connector housing.

  There has been a related art relating to a terminal fitting that conducts electrical continuity by inserting a mating terminal inside (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A terminal fitting of the type disclosed therein is usually called a female terminal, and as shown in FIG. 8 (A), on one wall of a rectangular tube-shaped terminal fitting portion 101, the tip is directed rearward. After being folded back, an elastic piece 102 extending backward is formed. When the mating terminal is inserted into the female terminal 100, the contact portion 103 formed on the upper surface of the elastic piece 102 comes into contact with the tab while being bent downward, and the conductive state with the mating terminal can be maintained. it can.

By the way, in the manufacturing process of the connector, before the female terminal fitting 100 is housed in the housing, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the tip of the elastic piece 102 is hit against the other member OB, The rear part including the contact part 103 is plastically deformed so as to escape outward (in FIG. 8, the ceiling surface of the contact part 103 and the terminal fitting part 101). Therefore, the contact between the contact portion 103 and the counterpart terminal may be insufficient. In order to avoid this, since a sufficient space is required between the terminal fitting 100 and the other member so that the terminal fitting 100 and the other member do not collide in the manufacturing process, a large work space is required. did. In addition, in the manufacturing process, an operator has to perform the work with great care, and the assembling work takes time and the workability is poor.
JP-A-7-161429 (FIG. 8)

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector terminal fitting that is easy to assemble to a connector housing.

  As means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 comprises a wire connecting portion connected to the electric wire at the rear and a terminal fitting portion for fitting with the mating terminal at the front thereof. The terminal fitting portion is formed with an elastic contact piece extending rearward after the front end of the outer wall is folded inward, and after being accommodated in the connector housing, In the connector terminal fitting that engages with the mating terminal while the elastic contact piece is bent by inserting the terminal, the terminal fitting portion protrudes inward from the outer wall, and the elastic contact Even if the front part of the elastic contact piece is pressed inward by the formation of a regulating beam facing the rear part of the piece outward and the tip of the terminal fitting part colliding with another member, the rear part Bend outward and engage with the restriction beam. Thus, the position of the contact point of the elastic contact piece with the counterpart terminal is prevented from changing, and after being accommodated in the connector housing, the restriction beam is deformed in a direction away from the elastic contact piece. Thus, the connector contact metal fitting is characterized in that the elastic contact piece is allowed to bend when the gap with the elastic contact piece is enlarged and the mating terminal is inserted.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, after the housing is accommodated in the connector housing, a continuity test contact is inserted into the terminal fitting portion, and the rear portion of the elastic contact piece biased thereby is bent outward. The connector terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the restriction beam is pressed to be deformed.

<Invention of Claim 1>
The terminal fitting part is formed with a regulating beam that protrudes inward from the outer wall and faces the rear part of the elastic contact piece on the outside, and the tip of the terminal fitting part collides with another member, thereby elastically Even if the front part of the contact piece is pressed inward, the rear part bends outward and engages with the regulating beam to prevent the position of the contact point of the elastic contact piece with the mating terminal from changing. Since it was set as the structure, even if a terminal fitting part collides with another member, sufficient contact with an elastic contact piece and the other party terminal is maintained. Therefore, in the manufacturing process of the connector, it is not necessary to provide a large space between the two to prevent the terminal metal fitting and other members from colliding with each other, and it is not necessary for the operator to pay extra attention. Will also improve. In addition, after being accommodated in the connector housing, the restriction beam is plastically deformed in a direction away from the elastic contact piece, so that the gap with the elastic contact piece is expanded, and when the mating terminal is inserted, the elastic contact piece Since it was set as the structure which accept | permits bending, fitting resistance with the other party terminal does not increase.

<Invention of Claim 2>
After being accommodated in the connector housing, a contact test contact is inserted into the terminal fitting part, the rear part of the elastic contact piece biased by this is bent outward, and the deformation is pushed and deformed. A gap can be provided between the regulating beam and the elastic contact piece without performing any special work.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the description, the left side in FIG. The female terminal fitting 1 is formed by press-molding a conductive metal plate, and has a terminal fitting portion 13 at the front, a wire barrel portion 11 at the rear, and an insulation barrel portion 12 (with the wire barrel portion 11 at the rear, (Corresponding to the electric wire connecting portion of the present invention) are integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 2, the wire barrel portion 11 is formed by a pair of caulking pieces 11 a and 11 b, which are caulked to the core wire of the electric wire W and connected. Similarly, the insulation barrel portion 12 has a pair of caulking pieces 12a and 12b, and is caulked to the insulation coating of the electric wire W (shown in FIG. 4).

  As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the terminal fitting portion 13 extends in the front-rear direction, and is bent so as to have a rectangular tube shape, and then the end portion is overlapped and closed on the upper surface. The front end of the outer wall 14 located below the terminal fitting portion 13 is folded back inward (upward in FIG. 3) of the terminal fitting portion 13 and then extended backward to form an elastic contact piece 15. Has been. The elastic contact piece 15 is formed in a cantilever shape that can be bent downward, and is opposed to the ceiling surface 17 of the terminal fitting portion 13 with a predetermined interval, and the rear portion 15b swells in a spherical shape. A contact portion 16 is provided. Further, a lance engagement portion 18 and a retainer engagement portion 19 protrude from the upper surface of the terminal fitting portion 13, and when the female terminal fitting 1 is accommodated in the connector housing 3, as shown in FIG. The female terminal fitting 1 is prevented from coming off by engaging with the lance 32 and the retainer 4, respectively.

  Further, from the outer wall 14 on which the elastic contact piece 15 of the terminal fitting portion 13 is formed, the restriction beam 20 facing the rear portion 15b of the elastic contact piece 15 on the outside is directed inward of the terminal fitting portion 13. Protruding. Before the female terminal fitting 1 is accommodated in the connector housing 3, the restricting beam 20 is opposed to the rear portion 15b of the elastic contact piece 15 with a slight gap and has a predetermined rigidity. In the manufacturing process of the connector, the front end 15a of the elastic contact piece 15 is inward (upward in FIG. 3) due to an external force when the tip of the terminal fitting portion 13 collides with (collides with) another member. Even if pressed, the rear portion 15b of the elastic contact piece 15 bends outward (downward in FIG. 3) and engages with the restriction beam 20, and the contact portion 16 that is a contact point with the mating terminal of the elastic contact piece 15 The position is prevented from changing.

  Next, a method for housing the female terminal fitting 1 in the connector housing 3 and fitting it with the male terminal fitting 81 that is the counterpart terminal will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, the female terminal fitting 1 is tightened and connected to an electric wire W on which a rubber plug R for preventing water entry is attached. The female terminal fitting 1 in this state is accommodated by being inserted into the terminal accommodating hole 31 of the connector housing 3 integrally formed of a synthetic resin material from the rear. At this time, the lance 32 projecting into the terminal receiving hole 31 of the connector housing 3 is bent upward by the female terminal fitting 1 and gets over the lance engaging portion 18, and then returns to its shape to engage with the lance engaging portion 18. The female terminal fitting 1 is prevented from coming off by being able to be connected.

  Next, the retainer 4 integrally formed of a synthetic resin material in the same manner as the connector housing 3 is attached to the connector housing 3 from the side so that the retainer engaging portion 19 can be engaged with the female terminal fitting 1. This prevents the connector housing 3 from coming off. Thereafter, the waterproof rubber 5 for preventing water entry is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the housing portion 33 of the connector housing 3, and then the housing cover 6 is attached from the front. The housing cover 6 is formed of a synthetic resin material, and is formed separately from the connector housing 3 for the mounting property of the waterproof rubber 5 and the like.

  After the female terminal fitting 1 is accommodated in the connector housing 3, as shown in FIG. 5, the contact 7 provided in the device (not shown) for checking the continuity of the accommodated female terminal fitting 1 is provided in the housing. It is inserted into the terminal fitting portion 13 through the terminal insertion hole 61 of the cover 6. The contact 7 for continuity test enters between the ceiling surface 17 of the terminal fitting portion 13 and the elastic contact piece 15, and the elastic contact piece 15 is moved downward (terminal fitting portion) in FIG. 13). When the elastic contact piece 15 is pushed down, its rear portion 15b is bent outward and engages with the restriction beam 20, and plastically deforms the restriction beam 20 away from the elastic contact piece 15 (restriction of the female terminal fitting 1). The dimensions of the beam 20 and the like are determined so as to be plastically deformed by inserting the contact 7 into the terminal fitting portion 13 in consideration of the properties of the material). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, when the contact 7 for continuity inspection is pulled out, the elastic contact piece 15 returns to the upper shape, but the restriction beam 20 pressed against the elastic contact piece 15 is deformed, so that It returns only to the position, and a predetermined gap is formed between the lower surface of the elastic contact piece 15 (the gap is enlarged).

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the female terminal fitting 1 and the male terminal fitting 81 accommodated in the male connector housing 8 are fitted, the tab portion 81a of the male terminal fitting 81 pushes down the elastic contact piece 15 while 17 and the contact portion 16 of the elastic contact piece 15. When the elastic contact piece 15 is bent and engages with the male terminal fitting 81, the tab portion 81 a of the male terminal fitting 81 comes into contact with the contact portion 16, and both the terminal fittings 1 and 81 are conducted. When the male terminal fitting 81 is inserted into the terminal fitting portion 13, a predetermined gap is formed in advance between the lower surface of the elastic contact piece 15 and the restriction beam 20. , The bending is allowed, and the insertion resistance of the male terminal fitting 81 does not increase.

  According to the present embodiment, the terminal fitting portion 13 is formed with the restriction beam 20 that protrudes inward from the outer wall 14 and faces the rear portion 15b of the elastic contact piece 15 outward. Even if the front part 15a of the elastic contact piece 15 is pressed inward due to the tip of the part 13 colliding with another member, the rear part 15b bends outward and engages with the restricting beam 20 to be elastic. By preventing the position of the contact portion 16 that is a contact point with the mating terminal of the contact piece 15 from changing, even if the terminal fitting portion 13 collides with another member, the contact portion 16 of the elastic contact piece 15 Sufficient contact with the male terminal fitting 81 is maintained. Therefore, in the manufacturing process of the connector, there is no need to provide a large space between the female terminal fitting 1 and the other member in order to prevent the female terminal fitting 1 from colliding with other members, and the operator does not need to pay extra attention. Workability is also improved.

  Further, after being accommodated in the connector housing 3, the restriction beam 20 is plastically deformed in a direction away from the elastic contact piece 15, thereby expanding a gap with the elastic contact piece 15 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). ) Since the elastic contact piece 15 is allowed to bend when the male terminal fitting 81 is inserted, the fitting resistance does not increase. Further, after being accommodated in the connector housing 3, the contact test contact 7 is inserted into the terminal fitting portion 13, and the rear portion 15 b of the elastic contact piece 15 biased by this is bent outward, and the rear portion 15 b. Since the restriction beam 20 is plastically deformed by being pressed, a gap can be provided between the restriction beam 20 and the elastic contact piece 15 without performing any special work.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) The restriction beam 20 may not be a cantilever beam but may be a both-end support beam.
(2) Before accommodating the female terminal fitting 1 in the connector housing 3, the restriction beam 20 may be in contact with the lower surface of the elastic contact piece 15.

It is a side view of the female terminal metal fitting by this embodiment. It is a left view of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the female terminal metal fitting shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing showing the place which accommodated the female terminal metal fitting shown in FIG. 1 in the connector housing. It is sectional drawing showing the place which inserted the contact for a conductivity test | inspection into the female terminal metal fitting shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing showing the place which pulled out the contact for a conduction test from the female terminal metal fitting shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing showing the place which made the male terminal metal fitting fit to the female terminal metal fitting shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing (A) of the terminal fitting part of the female terminal metal fitting by a prior art, and sectional drawing (B) which showed the place where the front-end | tip part of the elastic contact piece fell inward.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Female terminal metal fitting 3 ... Connector housing 7 ... Contact for continuity inspection 11 ... Wire barrel part 12 ... Insulation barrel part 13 ... Terminal fitting part 14 ... Outer wall 15 ... Elastic contact piece 15a ... Front part 15b of elastic contact piece ... Rear part of elastic contact piece 16 ... Contact part 20 ... Regulating beam 81 ... Male terminal fitting W ... Electric wire

Claims (2)

A wire connecting part connected to the electric wire is provided at the rear, and a terminal fitting part to be fitted to the mating terminal is provided at the front, and the front end of the outer wall of the terminal fitting part is folded inward. After the elastic contact piece extending rearward is formed and accommodated in the connector housing, the counterpart terminal is inserted into the terminal fitting portion, so that the elastic contact piece is bent while the counterpart side is bent. In terminal fittings for connectors that engage with terminals,
The terminal fitting portion is formed with a regulating beam that protrudes inward from the outer wall and faces the rear portion of the elastic contact piece on the outer side, and the tip of the terminal fitting portion collides with another member. Thus, even if the front portion of the elastic contact piece is pressed inward, the rear portion bends outward and engages with the restriction beam, thereby allowing the elastic contact piece to contact the counterpart terminal. Is changed, and after being accommodated in the connector housing, the restriction beam is deformed in a direction away from the elastic contact piece, so that a gap with the elastic contact piece is enlarged, The connector terminal fitting, wherein the elastic contact piece is allowed to bend when the mating terminal is inserted. After being accommodated in the connector housing, a continuity test contact is inserted into the terminal fitting portion, and the rear portion of the elastic contact piece biased by this is bent outwardly to press the restriction beam. The connector terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the connector terminal fitting is deformed.

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