JP2006324065A - Terminal cover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal cover with which workability can be improved. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal cover 1 is made of synthetic resin, and it insulates and protects a connection terminal 3 which is attached to an end of an electric wire 2 and is connected to a bolt-nut type fixed terminal 5. The cover 1 includes a main part 6 consisting of a terminal protection 8 and a wire protection 9, and a lid 7 which covers the main part 6. The lid 7 is configured with a rear cover 20 which covers the wire protection 9, and a front cover 21 which can slide freely in relation to the rear cover 20 and covers the terminal protection 8 when the front cover 21 is slid in a direction projecting from the rear cover 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a resin-made terminal cover that is attached to a connection terminal of an electric wire terminal and insulates and protects a connection portion between the connection terminal and the bolt and nut type fixed terminal.

  For example, a terminal of a device or the like mounted on a vehicle has a structure in which a connection terminal of an electric wire terminal is fastened with a bolt and a nut so that the terminal does not loosen even when subjected to vibration. In order to protect and insulate the connection portion tightened with such bolts and nuts from external force, a terminal cover is provided on the connection terminal.

  A conventional terminal cover disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 to 34. The conventional terminal cover 101 includes a main body 102 and a lid 103 that is integrated with the main body 102. The terminal cover 101 is molded using an insulating synthetic resin material.

  The main body 102 has two parts, a terminal protection part 104 and a wire protection part 105. The terminal protection unit 104 is formed in a shape surrounding a bolt-nut type fixed terminal 106 provided on the device side, for example. The terminal protection part 104 is formed in an annular shape. The wire protector 105 is formed so as to accommodate a wire terminal connection portion where a connection terminal 107 connected to the fixed terminal 106 and a terminal portion of the wire 108 are connected.

  The connection terminal 107 includes an electric wire crimping portion 109 that constitutes the electric wire terminal connection portion, and a terminal body 110 that is continuous with the electric wire crimping portion 109. The terminal body 110 is formed in a plate shape. A through hole 112 through which the bolt portion 111 of the fixed terminal 106 is inserted is formed at the center of the terminal body 110.

  The lid 103 includes a front cover 113 that covers the upper surface opening of the terminal protection unit 104 and a rear cover 114 that covers the upper surface opening of the wire protection unit 105. One side wall of the rear cover 114 is connected to one side edge of the wire protection part 105 through a hinge 115 so as to be freely opened and closed. The rear edge of the front cover 113 is connected to the front edge of the rear cover 114 via a hinge 116 so as to be opened and closed. The front cover 113 is formed so that the nut 117 can be fastened to the bolt portion 111 of the fixed terminal 106 with the front cover 113 opened.

  A locking frame 118 is formed on the other side wall of the rear cover 114. A locking projection 119 is formed on the other side edge of the wire protection part 105. When the rear cover 114 is closed and the electric wire protection part 105 is covered, the locking frame 118 and the locking projection 119 are hooked, whereby the rear cover 114 is kept closed.

  A pair of sandwiching walls 120 are formed on both side edges of the terminal protection portion 104 so as to be positioned outside the both side walls of the front cover 113 when the front cover 113 is closed. A locking hole 121 is formed in the lower part of the inner surface of each holding wall 120. On the other hand, locking projections 122 that are locked to the locking holes 121 when the front cover 113 is closed are formed on the outer lower portions of both side walls of the front cover 113. The locking holes 121 and the locking projections 122 are formed as portions constituting a locking mechanism between the terminal protection part 104 and the front cover 113.

  Cut portions 123 are formed on both side walls of the front cover 113. The cut portion 123 is formed in the vicinity of the locking projection 121. Both side walls of the front cover 113 are formed so as to be partially bent easily by the cut portions 123.

  Based on the above configuration, the assembly and usage of the terminal cover 101 will be described. First, the terminal cover 101 is attached to the connection terminal 107 connected in advance to the terminal of the electric wire 108. Specifically, the rear cover 114 is opened with respect to the wire protection unit 105. And the said electric wire terminal connection part is accommodated in the electric wire protection part 105, and the back cover 114 is closed. At this time, the terminal body 110 of the connection terminal 107 is located in the terminal protection unit 104. Since the front cover 113 is unstable and easily damaged when left open, the front cover 113 is then closed (the front cover 113 is locked to the terminal protection unit 104 by the locking mechanism). The front cover 113 is carried into the next assembly process in a closed state.

In the assembly process, first, an operator performs the work of inserting the electric wire 108 by inserting the terminal cover 101 into a narrow space while holding the electric wire 108. The wiring 108 is routed toward the fixed terminal 106. When the connection terminal 107 protected by the terminal cover 101 approaches the fixed terminal 106, the front cover 113 and the terminal protection unit 104 are then unlocked and the front cover 113 is opened. Subsequently, the terminal body 110 of the connection terminal 107 is fitted into the bolt portion 111 of the fixed terminal 106, and the nut 117 is tightened in this state. When the connection between the connection terminal 107 and the fixed terminal 106 is completed, the front cover 113 is closed (the front cover 113 is locked to the terminal protection unit 104). A series of work is completed by the above.
JP-A-6-267600

  By the way, in the above prior art, if there is an operation of routing the electric wire 108 while inserting the terminal cover 101 into a narrow space, the front cover 113 may hit somewhere on the routing path. At this time, when the lock is released and the front cover 113 is opened, the opened front cover 113 is likely to be caught further on the routing route. Therefore, the conventional terminal cover 101 has a problem that workability may be affected.

  Note that if the lock of the front cover 113 is strengthened (if the locking mechanism is changed so as to increase the locking force), the above problem can be solved. However, this measure makes it very difficult to open the front cover 113 when the connection terminal 107 and the fixed terminal 106 are connected.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the situation mentioned above, and makes it a subject to provide the terminal cover which can aim at the improvement of workability | operativity.

  The terminal cover of the present invention according to claim 1 made to solve the above-mentioned problems is a terminal made of a synthetic resin that insulates and protects a connection terminal connected to a bolt and nut type fixed terminal in a state of being attached to the end of an electric wire In the terminal cover which is a cover and has a main body in which the terminal protection part and the wire protection part are formed, and a lid body that covers the main body, the lid body includes a rear cover that covers the wire protection part, and the rear cover. A front cover that is slidable with respect to the terminal protection portion when being slid in a direction protruding from the rear cover.

  According to the present invention having such characteristics, the terminal cover is of a type that opens and closes by sliding the front cover. Since the front cover is not a conventional type that opens and closes via a hinge, even if the front cover is opened, the height of the terminal cover itself is basically unchanged. If the height of the terminal cover itself increases when the front cover is opened, this makes it easier to hit somewhere on the routing path during the wire routing operation in the assembly process. Since it does not change basically, it does not affect the work.

  The terminal cover according to a second aspect of the present invention is the terminal cover according to the first aspect, wherein the front cover slides to cover the terminal protection portion, and extends from the front cover main body to an end portion. And a telescopic leg-shaped spring portion fixed to the rear cover.

  According to the present invention having such characteristics, the front cover can be slid without using a complicated structure. In addition, the number of parts can be suppressed as much as possible.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that a terminal cover with improved workability can be provided. Further, according to the present invention described in claim 2, there is an effect that a better form of the front cover constituting the terminal cover can be provided.

  Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a terminal cover according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a terminal cover of the present invention. The terminal cover 1 is attached so as to straddle the terminal of the electric wire 2 and the connection terminal 3 (see FIG. 15) provided at the terminal. The connection terminal 3 (see FIG. 15) is connected to, for example, a bolt and nut type fixed terminal 5 of a starter 4 in a vehicle with the terminal cover 1 attached. The terminal cover 1 is formed so as to be able to insulate and protect the connection portion between the connection terminal 3 (see FIG. 15) and the bolt and nut type fixed terminal 5.

  The terminal cover 1 has a structure in which a later-described front cover 21 constituting the terminal cover 1 slides in the direction of arrow P. The terminal cover 1 is configured so that the workability can be improved as compared with the conventional case by a slide structure of the front cover 21 described later.

  First, each component will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a perspective view of the terminal cover with the cover fully opened with respect to the main body, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the terminal cover with the cover half open, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal cover. 5 is a sectional view of the terminal cover of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the terminal cover half-opened with respect to FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the terminal cover of FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal cover of FIG. 8, FIG. 10 (a) is a bottom view of the terminal cover with the connection terminals attached, and FIG. 10 (b) is a connection terminal attached. FIG. 11A is a bottom view of the terminal cover in a state where the front cover is half-opened with respect to FIG. 10, FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the terminal cover in which the front cover is half-opened with respect to FIG. 10A is a bottom view of the state in which the front cover is fully opened with respect to FIG. 10, and FIG. It is a cross-sectional view of a state in which fully opens the front cover.

  The terminal cover 1 is molded using an insulating synthetic resin material. The terminal cover 1 includes a main body 6 and a lid body 7 that covers the main body 6. The main body 6 has a terminal protection part 8 and a wire protection part 9. The terminal protection part 8 is formed in a substantially U shape in plan view. The terminal protection part 8 is formed to have an upper surface opening and a lower surface opening. The terminal protection part 8 has a curved side wall 10 and a pair of straight side walls 11 continuous thereto. The curved side wall 10 and the pair of side walls 11 are formed to have a sufficient height. A convex portion 12 is formed on the curved side wall 10. The convex portion 12 is formed at an edge portion serving as an upper surface opening and at a central position of the curved side wall 10.

  The wire protection part 9 has a bottom wall 13, a side wall 14 that continues to the pair of side walls 11 of the terminal protection part 8, and a rear wall 15. The wire protection part 9 is formed in a substantially box shape with the terminal protection part 8 side opened and the upper surface opened. On one side wall 14, a plurality of hinges 16 for connecting the lid body 7 are formed. A plurality of locking projections 17 for the lid body 7 are formed on the other side wall 14. A sliding portion 18 with respect to a front cover body 28 (described later) of the lid body 7 is formed on the upper surface opening side of the pair of side walls 14. The sliding portion 18 is formed along the extending direction of the side wall 14. A semicircular electric wire lead-out portion 19 is formed on the rear wall 15.

  The lid body 7 includes a rear cover 20 that covers the wire protection part 9 and a front cover 21 that is slidable with respect to the rear cover 20. The rear cover 20 has a ceiling wall 22, a pair of side walls 23, and a rear wall 24. The rear cover 20 is formed in a substantially box shape with the front cover 21 side opened and the lower surface opened. The ceiling wall 22 is formed to be curved. A locking hole 25 penetrating the front and back is formed in the ceiling wall 22. The locking hole 25 is formed for locking the front cover 21. A plurality of hinges 16 are coupled to one side wall 23. A plurality of locking frames 26 are formed on the other side wall 23. The locking frame 26 is formed in accordance with the position of the locking projection 17 of the main body 6. A semicircular electric wire lead-out portion 27 is formed on the rear wall 24. The wire lead portions 27 and 19 are arranged and formed so as to overlap each other.

  As described above, the front cover 21 is formed to be slidable with respect to the rear cover 20. The front cover 21 is formed so as to be housed or projected inside the rear cover 20. The front cover 21 is formed so as to be able to cover the terminal protection part 8 of the main body 6 when sliding in the direction protruding from the rear cover 20 (see the arrow P direction). The front cover 21 includes a front cover main body 28 that covers the terminal protection unit 8 by sliding, and a pair of leg-like spring portions 29 extending from the front cover main body 28. The front cover 21 is set as a separate part with respect to the rear cover 20.

  The front cover main body 28 includes a ceiling wall 30, a curved side wall 31, and a pair of straight side walls 32 that are continuous with the curved side wall 31. The ceiling wall 30 is formed to bend toward the curved side wall 31 and the pair of side walls 32. A locking arm 33 is formed on the ceiling wall 30. The locking arm 33 is formed in a cantilever arm shape having flexibility. The locking arm 33 is formed with a locking projection 34 that hooks into the locking hole 25 of the rear cover 20. The locking arm 33 is protected by a pair of protective walls 35. An end portion of the locking arm 33 and an end portion of the pair of protective walls 35 are disposed and formed so as to contact the convex portion 12 of the main body 6. The curved side wall 31 and the pair of side walls 32 are formed to have a low height. The pair of side walls 32 are formed to slide on the sliding portion 18 of the wire protection portion 9.

  The leg-shaped spring portion 29 is formed in a leg-like shape as shown in the figure that has three bent portions and is extendable and retractable. One end of the leg-shaped spring portion 29 is coupled to the rear edge of the ceiling wall 30 and the vicinity of the side wall 32. The other end of the leg-shaped spring portion 29 is inserted into and fixed to a fixing portion 36 formed across the side wall 23 and the rear wall 24 of the rear cover 20.

  The connection terminal 3 (see FIGS. 10 to 12 and 15) is formed by plastic working a conductive metal plate. The connection terminal 3 includes an electric wire crimping portion 37 that crimps and connects the end of the electric wire 2, and a terminal main body 38 that is continuous with the electric wire crimping portion 37. The terminal body 38 is formed in a plate shape. A through hole 39 for inserting a bolt is formed in the center of the terminal body 38. A pair of strip-shaped terminal detents 40 are formed on the outer peripheral edge of the terminal body 38.

  The bolt-nut type fixed terminal 5 has conductivity and is provided as an electrical connection portion of the starter 4 (or an alternator, a generator, or the like). The bolt / nut type fixed terminal 5 includes a pedestal 41, a bolt 42 erected on the pedestal 41, and a nut 43 that is screwed onto the bolt 42.

  Next, the assembly and usage of the terminal cover 1 of the present invention will be described based on the above configuration. The description will refer to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 13, the front cover 21 is attached to the inside of the rear cover 20 with the rear cover 20 fully opened. FIG. 14 shows a state in which the front cover 21 is attached to the inner side of the rear cover 20. In the state of FIG. 14, the rear portion of the front cover main body 28 is positioned inside the rear cover 20, and the other end of the leg-shaped spring portion 29 is inserted into the fixing portion 36 of the rear cover 20. The front cover 21 is fixed to the rear cover 20 via a leg-shaped spring portion 29. The front cover 21 is slid in a direction protruding from the rear cover 20 (an example).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15, the connection terminal 3 connected to the terminal of the electric wire 2 is set on the upper surface opening side of the main body 6, and the connection terminal 3 is stored in the main body 6. FIG. 16 shows a state in which the connection terminal 3 is housed in the main body 6. In the state of FIG. 16, the end of the electric wire 2 and the electric wire crimping part 37 are accommodated in the electric wire protection part 9, and the terminal main body 38 is accommodated in the terminal protection part 8. The pair of terminal detents 40 of the terminal body 38 protrude from the lower surface opening of the terminal protector 8 (see FIGS. 10 to 12).

  Subsequently, the lid 7 is closed as shown in FIGS. The lid 7 is locked by the locking frame 26 being hooked on the locking projection 17 of the main body 6. In the front cover 21, the end of the locking arm 33 and the end of the pair of protective walls 35 abut against the convex portion 12 of the main body 6. The main body 6 and the lid body 7 are closed. Thus, the assembly of the terminal cover 1 itself is completed. The terminal cover 1 is carried into the assembly process in the state shown in FIG.

  The terminal cover 1 carried into the assembly process in the state as shown in FIG. 18 is not particularly shown, but first, an electric wire routing operation is performed in which the terminal cover 1 is inserted into a narrow space first. The wire routing operation is performed with the aim of the bolt-nut type fixed terminal 5. Next, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the front cover 21 is slid so as to be housed inside the rear cover 20, and the locking protrusion 34 of the locking arm 33 is hooked to the locking hole 25 of the rear cover 20. Do work. The front cover 21 is locked.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, an operation of inserting the through hole 39 of the connection terminal 3 into the bolt 42 of the bolt-nut type fixed terminal 5 is performed. The terminal detent 40 of the connection terminal 3 is located around the base 41 of the bolt and nut type fixed terminal 5. The connection terminal 3 is positioned and stopped in this state. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 22, a nut 43 is prepared, and the nut 43 is screwed onto the bolt 42 of the bolt-nut type fixed terminal 5. 23 to 25 show a state in which the nut 43 is screwed into the bolt 42. FIG. The nut 43 is tightened by a nut tightening jig 44.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 26, the operation of pressing the end of the locking arm 33 is performed in a state where the tightening of the nut 43 is completed. When the end of the locking arm 33 is pressed, the locking state between the locking projection 34 of the locking arm 33 and the locking hole 25 of the rear cover 20 is released. The front cover 21 slightly protrudes forward due to the elasticity of the leg-shaped spring portion 29 simultaneously with the release of the locked state. Finally, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, when the operation of fully closing the front cover 21 is performed, a series of operations is completed. A connection portion between the connection terminal 3 and the bolt / nut type fixed terminal 5 is insulated and protected by the terminal cover 1.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 28, the terminal cover 1 of the present invention has a structure in which the front cover 21 is slid in the direction of the arrow P, so that the height of the terminal cover 1 itself is high. It will be basically unchanged. Therefore, in particular, the conventional problems that have an influence on the wire routing work are solved.

  In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the terminal cover of this invention. It is a perspective view in the state where the lid of the terminal cover was fully opened with respect to the main body. It is a perspective view in the state where the lid of the terminal cover was half opened with respect to the main body. It is a perspective view of a terminal cover. It is sectional drawing of the terminal cover of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state in which the front cover is half opened with respect to FIG. 4. It is sectional drawing of the terminal cover of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state in which the front cover is fully opened with respect to FIG. 4. It is sectional drawing of the terminal cover of FIG. (A) is a bottom view of the terminal cover in a state where the connection terminals are attached, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the terminal cover in a state where the connection terminals are attached. (A) is a bottom view of the state where the front cover is half-opened with respect to FIG. 10, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the state where the front cover is half-opened with respect to FIG. (A) is a bottom view in a state where the front cover is fully opened with respect to FIG. 10, and (b) is a cross-sectional view in a state where the front cover is fully opened with respect to FIG. It is a perspective view of the terminal cover before attaching a front cover. It is a perspective view of a terminal cover after attaching a front cover. It is a perspective view of the terminal cover before attaching a connection terminal. It is a perspective view of the terminal cover after attaching a connection terminal. It is a perspective view of the state in the middle of closing a front cover from the state of FIG. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a state where the front cover is fully closed from the state of FIG. 16. It is a perspective view of the state which opened the front cover half from the state of FIG. It is a perspective view of the state which opened the front cover from the state of FIG. It is a perspective view just before attaching to a bolt nut type fixed terminal. It is a perspective view of the state which prepared the nut. It is a perspective view of the state which set the nut to the bolt. It is a perspective view in the state where a nut tightening jig was prepared. It is a perspective view in the state where a nut is tightened with a nut tightening jig. It is a perspective view in the state where nut tightening was completed. It is a perspective view of the state in the middle of closing a front cover. It is a perspective view in the state where the front cover was fully closed. It is a perspective view of the terminal cover of a prior art example. It is a perspective view of the state which opened the front cover of the terminal cover of the prior art example. It is sectional drawing of the terminal cover of a prior art example. It is sectional drawing of the terminal cover of a prior art example. It is sectional drawing of the state which opened the rear cover of the terminal cover of the prior art example. It is a top view of the connection terminal protected by the terminal cover of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal cover 2 Electric wire 3 Connection terminal 4 Starter 5 Bolt nut type fixed terminal 6 Main body 7 Cover body 8 Terminal protection part 9 Electric wire protection part 17 Locking protrusion 18 Sliding part 20 Rear cover 21 Front cover 25 Locking hole 26 Locking Frame 28 Front cover body 29 Leg-shaped spring part 33 Locking arm 34 Locking projection 35 Protective wall 36 Fixing part 37 Electric wire crimping part 38 Terminal body 39 Through hole 40 Terminal detent 41 Base 42 Bolt 43 Nut 44 Nut tightening jig

Claims (2)

It is a synthetic resin terminal cover that insulates and protects the connection terminal connected to the bolt and nut type fixed terminal in a state attached to the end of the electric wire,
In a terminal cover having a main body in which a terminal protection part and a wire protection part are formed, and a lid that covers the main body,
The lid body includes a rear cover that covers the wire protection part, and a front cover that is slidable with respect to the rear cover and covers the terminal protection part when slid in a direction protruding from the rear cover. Features terminal cover. The terminal cover according to claim 1,
The front cover includes a front cover main body that slides to cover the terminal protection portion, and an extendable leg spring portion that extends from the front cover main body and has an end portion fixed to the rear cover. Terminal cover to be used.

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