JP2008123997A - Socket terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize quality in an external spring type socket terminal. <P>SOLUTION: In both side fringes of a C type ring 65, width extended parts 68 are formed within a range of a prescribed length, and in neighboring fingers 56 in a sleeve part 53, front and rear pairs of protrusions 60A, 60B are formed, respectively. The C type ring 65 is mounted on the outer periphery of the sleeve part 53 while the width extended part 68 is fitted inside of the four pieces of protrusions 60A, 60B. In the C type ring 65, since the both side fringes 67 are pinched between one front pair and one rear pair of protrusions 60A, 60B of the respective fingers 56, movement of the sleeve parts 53 along the axial line direction becomes restricted, and since the both ends of the width extended part 68 in the longitudinal direction are pinched between both front side protrusions 60A mutually and both rear side protrusions 60B mutually, rotating of the sleeve part 53 around the axial line becomes restricted. A gap 66S of the C type ring 65 comes to a fixed position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an outer spring type socket terminal.

An example of a connector terminal provided at a connecting portion of a large-capacity electric wire such as a power wire is a connector terminal composed of a pin terminal and a socket terminal. Further, the socket terminal has a louver type in which a louver is fitted. And those of the external spring type are known.
In this outer spring type socket terminal, a sleeve part to which a round pin of a mating pin terminal is fitted is connected in front of an electric wire connecting part connected to an end of an electric wire, and an outer spring ring is connected to the sleeve part. It is a fitted structure. More specifically, the sleeve portion has a structure in which a plurality of slits cut from the opening edge are formed at predetermined angular intervals, so that the same number of fingers are cantilevered between the slits. The sleeve part is narrowed by the elasticity of the outer spring ring, and the finger is elastically pressed against the outer periphery of the round pin inserted inside, so that electrical connection between both terminals can be taken. ing. This type of external spring type socket terminal is described in Patent Document 1.
JP-A-10-270110

  By the way, the above-described outer spring ring is ideally endless, that is, O-shaped, but it is difficult to externally fit to the sleeve portion. For this reason, a so-called C-type member is generally used, which is formed by turning an elastic band member (leaf spring) into a circular shape so that the end edges are abutted with each other. However, since this C type inevitably creates a gap between the edges of the band material, it corresponds to the position of the gap when it is externally fitted to the sleeve portion and a spring force (elastic force) is applied. In other words, the spring force does not act on the part, and in other words, the contact area / contact pressure between the sleeve portion (finger) and the round pin, and hence the contact resistance value, is not uniform in the circumferential direction.

This is unavoidable to some extent as long as a C-type outer spring ring is used, but in the conventional one, the C-type outer spring ring is simply fitted on the sleeve portion, and the rotational posture is not fixed. Therefore, there is a problem in that the quality of the product (socket terminal) is not stable because the contact resistance value increases due to insufficient contact area and contact pressure. Further, when the position of the outer spring ring in the axial direction changes, the contact pressure or the like varies.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to stabilize the quality of a socket terminal of an external spring type.

  The present invention is a socket terminal to be fitted and connected to a mating pin terminal, wherein the round pin of the pin terminal can be inserted, and a plurality of slits are formed by cutting from an opening edge with a predetermined angular interval. A sleeve portion that can be reduced in diameter by forming the same number of fingers in a cantilever shape between the slits, and a sleeve that has an elastic band that is curved in a circular shape so that the edges meet each other. Provided with a C-shaped outer spring ring that urges the sleeve portion to reduce its diameter by being fitted to the outer periphery of the portion, and the outer spring ring is interposed between the sleeve portion and the outer spring ring. Is characterized in that there is provided a restricting means for restricting rotation around the axis of the sleeve portion and movement along the axial direction of the sleeve portion.

According to the above configuration, the C-shaped outer spring ring is placed at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the sleeve portion in a state where the rotation of the sleeve portion around the axis line and the movement along the axial direction are restricted by the restriction means. It is mounted while being held in a predetermined rotational posture.
As long as it is a C-type outer spring ring, there is a portion where the spring force is insufficient with respect to the sleeve portion corresponding to the gap portion between the edges, but the outer spring ring is positioned in a fixed rotational posture. Since it is mounted, it is possible to always take a mounting structure intended by the designer, such as bringing a portion where the spring force is insufficient to a specific position. In other words, since the mounting posture and mounting position of the outer spring ring can be made the same for each product (socket terminal), it is possible to ensure a certain quality without variation across all products.

The following configuration may also be used.
(1) The sleeve portion is formed so that a cross section thereof is line-symmetrical, and the outer spring ring is lined with respect to the line-symmetric axis of the sleeve portion at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the sleeve portion. They are fitted in a symmetrical rotational posture.
In the C-type outer spring ring, when the distance between both end edges that are abutted with each other is increased to some extent, when a spring force (elastic force) is applied to the sleeve portion to apply a spring force (elastic force), Spring force is mainly obtained at three locations. If such a C-shaped outer spring ring is simply fitted on the sleeve portion and the rotational posture is not determined, which finger among the plurality of fingers each of which has three spring forces, However, the position in the width direction of one finger is not determined, so that the contact pressure acting on the round pin from each finger is not constant, and the quality is not stable.

  Therefore, according to the above configuration, the C-shaped outer spring ring is fitted in a rotational posture that is symmetric about the line symmetric axis of the sleeve portion at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the sleeve portion whose cross section is line symmetric. , The fitting posture is maintained. Therefore, each of the three locations where the spring force can be obtained can be made to correspond to a specific position in the width direction with a specific finger, and as a result, the contact pressure acting on the round pin from each finger can always be made constant. Depending on the design of the outer spring ring and the like, the contact pressure obtained from each finger can be made uniform. In any case, the mode of action of the contact pressure acting on the round pin from the finger can be made constant for all products, that is, a constant quality without variation can be ensured across all products.

(2) In the restricting portion that restricts rotation of the outer spring ring about the axis of the sleeve portion, in the outer spring ring, the restricting portion is a portion other than both end edges of the outer spring ring that face each other. It is provided in the place.
(3) In the restricting portion that restricts movement of the outer spring ring along the axial direction of the sleeve portion, in the outer spring ring, the restricting portion is other than both end edges of the outer spring ring that are butted against each other. It is provided in the location.
According to both the configurations described above, it is possible to suppress a change in contact pressure received from positions corresponding to both end edges of the outer spring ring.

(4) On the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve portion, between the first clamping portion that clamps the outer spring ring in the width direction, and a pair of clamped portions that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction in the outer spring ring The restricting means is configured by providing a second sandwiching portion that is sandwiched between the two.
In this configuration, the outer spring ring is clamped in the width direction by the first clamping part, so that the movement of the sleeve part along the axial direction is restricted, and the pair of clamped parts are clamped by the second clamping part. As a result, the rotation of the sleeve portion around the axis is restricted.

(5) A widened portion is formed over the side edge of the outer spring ring over a predetermined circumferential length range, and the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve portion is sandwiched between both side edges of the outer spring ring. Two pairs of protrusions are formed at an interval in the circumferential direction equal to the length of the widened portion.
In this configuration, the outer spring ring is a pair of protrusions arranged in the axial direction of the sleeve portion, and both side edges in the width direction are sandwiched, thereby restricting the movement of the sleeve portion along the axial direction. The both ends in the length direction of the widened portion are clamped by the respective pairs of protrusions facing each other in the circumferential direction, thereby restricting the rotation of the sleeve portion around the axis.

(6) A pair of restricting pieces that protrude along the circumferential direction of the outer spring ring and whose protruding ends are bent inward in the radial direction are formed on the side edges other than both end edges of the outer spring ring. The protruding end of each restricting piece can be brought into contact with the side surface of a predetermined finger in the sleeve portion, and the axial direction of the position where the restricting piece comes into contact with the side surface of the finger. Protrusions that restrict movement of the protruding ends of the restricting pieces in the width direction are formed on both sides.
In this configuration, the outer spring ring is configured such that the pair of restricting pieces at the line-symmetrical positions are in contact with the side surfaces of the predetermined fingers in opposite directions in the circumferential direction, so that the sleeve portion rotates around the axis. The movement of the sleeve portion along the axial direction is restricted by restricting the movement of the protruding end of each restriction piece in the width direction by the protrusions on both sides.

(7) A concave portion into which a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve portion is fitted is formed in the middle position of the side edge on the back side of the outer spring ring, and the tip edge of the sleeve portion is A flange is formed that is engaged with a side edge in front of the outer spring ring and sandwiches between both side edges of the outer spring ring between the protrusions.
In this configuration, the outer spring ring has both side edges in the width direction sandwiched between the flange and the protrusion, so that movement along the axial direction of the sleeve portion is restricted, and the outer spring ring is formed in a recess provided on the side edge on the back side. By fitting the protrusion, the rotation of the sleeve portion around the axis is restricted.

(8) Bends that are bent inward are formed at both end edges of the outer spring ring that face each other, while the bent portions are formed at opposite side edges of the predetermined slit of the sleeve portion. The regulating means is configured by forming a fitting groove into which the fitting is cut out.
In this configuration, the outer spring ring is attached to the outer periphery of the sleeve portion in a state where the bent portions at both end edges that are abutted are fitted into fitting grooves that are formed in a notch so as to face a predetermined slit. The outer spring ring has the bent portion fitted in the fitting groove, so that the movement of the sleeve portion along the axial direction is restricted, and the bent portion is locked to the groove bottom of the corresponding fitting groove. The rotation of the part around the axis is restricted.

(9) At the opening edge of the slit in which the fitting groove is formed, a tapered portion that is first opened is formed.
In this configuration, when the outer spring ring is externally fitted to the sleeve portion from the front in a posture in which both bent portions are aligned with the tapered portion of the predetermined slit, both bent portions are pushed into the slit through the tapered portion, When both the bent portions reach the fitting groove, both the bent portions are elastically fitted into the fitting groove, and the outer spring ring is positioned and mounted on the outer periphery of the sleeve portion. The outer spring ring can be easily attached from the front of the sleeve portion.

(10) The sleeve portion has a shape in which three fingers having the same width are arranged at equal angular intervals.
In this configuration, particularly when the spring force is obtained mainly at three positions from the outer spring ring, each spring force can be individually applied to each finger, that is, the spring force is used more efficiently. be able to.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, quality can be stabilized in the socket terminal of an external spring type | mold.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the case where it applies to the connector interposed in the power wire wired between a motor and an inverter apparatus, for example in a hybrid vehicle is illustrated.
As shown in FIG. 1, the connector includes a male connector 10 provided at the end of the electric wire 30X connected to the motor and a female connector 40 provided at the end of the electric wire 30Y connected to the inverter device. ing. In the following, the connectors 10 and 40 will be described with the fitting surface side being the front.

First, the male connector 10 will be described. The male connector 10 is configured by housing three pin terminals 20 in a male housing 11.
The male housing 11 is made of synthetic resin and is formed in a block shape having a horizontally long oval cross section, and a flange 12 is formed on the outer periphery of the front end. In the male housing 11, three cavities 14 facing in the front-rear direction in which the pin terminals 20 are inserted are formed side by side at a constant pitch in the lateral direction.

  The pin terminal 20 is formed of a copper alloy by forging or the like, and further plated with silver, tin, or the like. As for the pin terminal 20, the round pin 22 protrudes concentrically on the front surface of the column-shaped main-body part 21, and the front end surface of the same round pin 22 is chamfered. A wire connection hole 24 is formed at the center of the rear surface of the main body 21, and a locking groove 25 is formed on the entire outer periphery of the front half of the main body 21.

  The cavity 14 in the male housing 11 is basically a circular hole, and contains a large-diameter inlet 15 and a main body 21 of the pin terminal 20 sequentially from the rear end side (left side in FIG. 1). 16, with a partition wall 17 in between, a fitting recess 18 into which a tower portion 43 of a mating female housing 41 to be described later is fitted is formed. A lance 19 is formed on the bottom surface of the storage chamber 16, and an insertion hole 17 </ b> A through which the round pin 22 of the pin terminal 20 is inserted is opened in the partition wall 17.

Then, the exposed core wire 31 of the end of the electric wire 30X is inserted into the electric wire connection hole 24 of the main body portion 21 of the pin terminal 20, and crimped by crimping the outer periphery thereof. The pin terminal 20 connected to the end of the electric wire 30 </ b> X is inserted into the corresponding cavity 14 of the male housing 11 from the rear entrance 15, and is inserted to a proper position where the front step portion of the main body 21 hits the partition wall 17. At this point, the lance 19 is elastically locked to the locking groove 25 to prevent it from coming off. At this time, the round pin 22 passes through the insertion hole 17A of the partition wall 17 so as to protrude into the fitting recess 18. It has become.
The inlet 15 of the cavity 14 is sealed by an individual rubber stopper 34 that is prevented from being removed by the holder 33, and a plurality of bolt insertion holes 12A are formed in the flange 12 at predetermined locations.

Next, the female connector 40 will be described. The female connector 40 is configured by accommodating three socket terminals 50 connected to the respective pin terminals 20 in a female housing 41.
The female housing 41 is also made of synthetic resin and includes a housing main body 41A having a block shape with a horizontally long oval cross section, and a flange that abuts the flange 12 of the male housing 11 on the outer periphery of the front end of the housing main body 41A. 42 is formed, and the flange 42 is formed with a bolt insertion hole 42A that is aligned with the bolt insertion hole 12A of the flange 12 on the male housing 11 side.

  Further, on the front surface of the housing main body 41A, three tower portions 43 each having a substantially cylindrical shape that can be fitted in the fitting recess 18 of the male housing 11 are provided in a protruding manner in the left-right direction. Inside the female housing 41, three cavities 44 are formed side by side in the lateral direction from the rear surface of the housing body 41A to the front end of each tower portion 43. A socket terminal 50, which will be described later, is inserted into each cavity 44 from behind, and a large-diameter inlet 45 is formed on the rear end side of the cavity 14, and a bottom surface at a substantially central depth position. In addition, a lance 49 is formed. Further, a terminal insertion port 47 into which the round pin 22 of the pin terminal 20 accommodated in the male housing 11 is inserted is opened in the front wall 46 of each cavity 44.

Next, the socket terminal 50 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the socket terminal 50 includes a terminal body 51 and an outer spring ring 65.
The terminal body 51 is formed by pressing a copper alloy sheet metal, and is similarly plated with silver, tin, etc., and has a shape in which a sleeve portion 53 is continuously provided on the front side of an open-type barrel 52. It is.
The sleeve portion 53 is formed by turning a rectangular flat plate serving as a base material into a cylindrical shape. Specifically, the flat plate has two slits 54 having a predetermined width at a position where the central portion in the width direction at the rear edge is connected to the bottom plate 52A of the barrel 52 and the flat plate is divided into three in the width direction. Is cut from the front edge to a position slightly before the rear edge. The flat plate has an inner diameter that allows the round pin 22 of the mating pin terminal 20 to be inserted almost tightly so that the left and right end edges 55 are abutted at the same interval as the width of the slit 54. It is bent into a cylindrical shape.

As a result of the above processing, the sleeve portion 53 as a whole has a cylindrical shape into which the round pin 22 of the pin terminal 20 is inserted almost tightly, and the three slits 54 shown in the figure are spaced from each other by 120 degrees from the front edge. By being cut (one slit 54 is cut over the entire length), three cantilevered fingers 56 are provided between the slits 54.
A contact portion 57 struck out to the inner surface side at the central portion in the width direction is formed at a position slightly closer to the front end than the center in the length direction of each finger 56, and the inner edge of the front end surface of each finger 56 A tapered guide portion 58 is formed. Further, a locking hole 59 of the lance 19 is opened on the bottom side finger 56, that is, the base end side of the finger 56 connected to the bottom plate 52A of the barrel 52 (see FIG. 1).

  On the other hand, an outer spring ring 65 fitted to the outer periphery of the sleeve portion 53 is provided to elastically reduce the diameter of the sleeve portion 53 described above. The outer spring ring 65 has a shape in which a leaf spring 65A (see FIG. 3) in the form of a metal band such as a stainless steel plate is circularly bent so that both end edges 66 in the lengthwise direction face each other. The endless O-type is referred to as a C-type outer spring ring 65 (hereinafter referred to as a C-type ring 65). The C-shaped ring 65 is formed so that the inner diameter dimension in the natural state is slightly smaller than the outer diameter dimension of the sleeve portion 53 in the natural state. Therefore, as will be described later, when the C-shaped ring 65 is fitted to the outer periphery of the sleeve portion 53, the sleeve portion 53 can be biased to reduce its diameter by its spring force.

In the present embodiment, means for mounting the C-shaped ring 65 described above at a predetermined position on the sleeve portion 53 in a fixed rotational posture is provided.
Therefore, on the C-shaped ring 65 side, as shown in FIG. 3, at both side edges 67 of the leaf spring 65A serving as a base material, a widening of a predetermined width is performed over a predetermined region (about 1/3 of the entire length) in the center in the length direction. The portion 68 is formed so as to protrude at a right angle with respect to the side edge 67. As shown in FIG. 2, the both widened portions 68 have a curved surface shape that matches the main body portion as the leaf spring 65A is formed by turning.

On the other hand, on the sleeve portion 53 side, a pair of front and rear projections 60A and 60B are formed on the outer surface of the finger 56 arranged on the upper side, that is, on both sides sandwiching the slit 54 extending over the entire length. More specifically, a pair of protrusions 60A and 60B are formed on both fingers 56 at the center in the width direction and at two front and rear positions sandwiching the position where the contact portion 57 is formed. The protrusions are formed so as to face each other.
Here, the distance between the opposing surfaces 61 of the front and rear projections 60 </ b> A and 60 </ b> B in each finger 56 is a dimension that can hold both side edges 67 of the C-shaped ring 65. Further, the distance between the opposing side surfaces 62 of the front projections 60 </ b> A and the rear projections 60 </ b> B of each finger 56 is a dimension that can hold both ends in the length direction of the widened portion 68 in the C-shaped ring 65. Yes.

The socket terminal 50 of this embodiment is used as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, the socket terminal 50 is formed with a terminal main body 51 and a C-shaped ring 65 as separate bodies, and the C-shaped ring 65 is elastically opened, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. The outer periphery of the sleeve portion 53 is fitted from the outside in the radial direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the widened portion 68 of the C-shaped ring 65 is mounted on the sleeve portion 53 so as to fit inside the four protrusions 60A and 60B. Due to the restoring elasticity of 65, the sleeve portion 53 (finger 56) is slightly narrowed.

At this time, the side edge 67 of the C-shaped ring 65 is sandwiched between a pair of front and rear projections 60A and 60B provided on each finger 56, so that the movement of the sleeve portion 53 along the axial direction is restricted. Further, both ends in the length direction of the widened portion 68 are sandwiched between the front projections 60A and the rear projections 60B of both fingers 56, thereby restricting the rotation of the sleeve portion 53 about the axis. Is done.
That is, the C-shaped ring 65 has a width at the lower finger 56 where the gap 66S between the butted edges 66 is connected to the bottom plate 52A of the barrel 52 at a predetermined position covering the position where the contact portion 57 is formed on the outer periphery of the sleeve portion 53. It will be in the state where it was mounted | worn with the fixed rotation attitude | position which comes to the center part of a direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the exposed core wire 31 of the terminal of the electric wire 30Y on the inverter device side is inserted into the barrel 52 of the terminal body 51, and the barrel 52 is crimped and crimped. Thus, the socket terminal 50 connected to the end of the electric wire 30Y with the C-shaped ring 65 attached is inserted into the corresponding cavity 44 of the female housing 41 from the inlet 45 on the rear surface, and the tip of the sleeve portion 53 is When the lance 49 is inserted to the normal position where it hits the front wall 46, the lance 49 is elastically locked to the locking hole 59 on the bottom surface to be retained and accommodated. Similarly, the inlet 45 of the cavity 44 is sealed by an individual rubber stopper 34 that is secured to the holder 33.

As described above, the female connector 40 in which the socket terminal 50 is accommodated in the female housing 41 is fitted to the male connector 10 in which the pin terminal 20 is accommodated in the male housing 11 as described above. Specifically, the tower portion 43 of the female housing 41 is fitted into the fitting recess 18 of the male housing 11, and the fitting is stopped when the flanges 12 and 42 of both the housings 11 and 41 abut against each other.
During this time, the round pin 22 of the pin terminal 20 enters the cavity 44 through the terminal insertion port 47 of the front wall 46 of the tower portion 43, and the sleeve of the corresponding socket terminal 50 accommodated in the cavity 44. The unit 53 enters from the front. The pin terminal 20 is slidably brought into contact with the contact portion 57 on the inner surface of each finger 56 and is pushed in while slightly opening the finger 56 and the C-shaped ring 65. As described above, the fitting operation of both the connectors 10 and 40 is performed. When stopped, the sleeve portion 53 is narrowed by receiving the restoring elasticity of the C-shaped ring 65, and the contact portion 57 of each finger 56 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the round pin 22, whereby the corresponding pin terminal 20 and socket terminal The electrical connection between 50 is taken.

  In addition, both the connectors 10 and 40 are hold | maintained in the normal fitting state by fastening the flanges 12 and 42 mutually abutted with the volt | bolt and nut which let the bolt insertion holes 12A and 42A pass. Moreover, if both the connectors 10 and 40 are hold | maintained at a fitting state, it is good to cover the electric wire 30X and 30Y of both sides, and the braided wire for a shield on the outer side of both the connectors 10 and 40 fitted.

  As described above, in the socket terminal 50 of the present embodiment, when the C-shaped ring 65 is fitted to the outer periphery of the sleeve portion 53, the socket terminal 50 is abutted at a predetermined position that covers the formation position of the contact portion 57 in the axial direction of the sleeve portion 53. The gap 66 </ b> S between the end edges 66 is fitted with a fixed rotational posture such that it comes to the center portion in the width direction of the lower finger 56 connected to the barrel 52. As long as it is the C-shaped ring 65, there is a portion where the spring force is insufficient with respect to the sleeve portion 53 corresponding to the gap 66S portion between the end edges 66, but the C-shaped ring 65 has a constant rotation as described above. Since it is positioned in a moving posture, a mounting structure that brings a portion where the spring force is insufficient to a specific position can be taken.

In this embodiment, the portion where the spring force is insufficient corresponds to the lower finger 56. However, for example, the end of the spring force may be insufficient by bending both end edges 66 of the C-shaped ring 65 slightly inward in advance. By supplementing, a substantially uniform spring force can be applied to the sleeve portion 53 over the entire circumference. As a result, the contact area / contact pressure between the contact portion 57 of each finger 56 and the round pin 22 in the sleeve portion 53 can be increased substantially uniformly, and the occurrence of a location where the contact resistance value increases can be avoided. .
In addition, since the mounting posture and the mounting position of the C-shaped ring 65 can be made the same for each product (socket terminal 50), it is possible to ensure a certain quality without variation among all products.
Further, the means for positioning the C-shaped ring 65 is a structure in which the widened portion 68 is formed on the C-shaped ring 65, and a pair of front and rear projections 60A and 60B are formed on the two fingers 56, and is relatively simple. It can correspond to.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the socket terminal 70 of the second embodiment, the structure of the portion where the C-shaped ring 80 is positioned and mounted is changed. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and portions having the same functions as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

  The terminal body 71 of the second embodiment is also formed by pressing a copper alloy sheet metal (plated with silver, tin or the like). Similarly, the sleeve portion 73 is formed into a cylindrical shape into which the round pin 21 of the pin terminal 20 is inserted almost tightly by turning a square flat plate serving as a base material into a circular shape with both end edges 75 facing each other. A relatively wide slit 74 is formed by cutting from a front edge to a position in front of a predetermined dimension at three positions that are formed and spaced apart at an angular interval of 120 degrees including the butted portion, The shape is such that three cantilever fingers 76 are provided between the slits 74.

Compared with the C-shaped ring 65 of the first embodiment, the C-shaped ring 80 of the second embodiment has a large interval between both butted edges 81 of the leaf springs, which is about 1/6 of the entire circumference.
As for the positioning structure, at both butted edges 81 of the C-shaped ring 80, a projecting piece having a width of about 1/3 of the C-shaped ring 80 is formed from the center in the width direction. A bent portion 82 is formed by being bent into a shape. On the other hand, on the sleeve portion 73 side, a fitting groove 77 into which the bent portion 82 of the C-shaped ring 80 fits is formed in the opposite side edge of the slit 74 inserted in the butted portion of the sleeve portion 73. The formation position of the fitting groove 77 is a position corresponding to the formation position of the contact portion 57 in the axial direction of the sleeve portion 73.

When attaching the C-shaped ring 80, the distal end side of the sleeve portion 73 is narrowed, while the C-shaped ring 80 is slightly closed so that the bent portions 82 of both end edges 81 are close to each other, and both bent portions 82 are fitted. While being inserted into the slit 74 in which the groove 77 is formed, it is pushed into the outer periphery of the sleeve portion 73 from the front. When both the bent portions 82 reach the position of the fitting groove 77, the C-shaped ring 80 expands and the bent portion 82 is elastically fitted into the corresponding fitting groove 77, and the mounting is completed.
In the mounted state, the C-shaped ring 80 has the bent portion 82 fitted in the fitting groove 77, so that movement of the sleeve portion 73 along the axial direction is restricted, and the bent portion 82 corresponds to the corresponding fitting groove 77. By engaging with the groove bottom, the rotation of the sleeve portion 73 around the axis is restricted.

In the case where the distance between the both end edges 81 is somewhat wide like the C-shaped ring 80 of the second embodiment, when the spring force (elastic force) is applied to the sleeve portion 73 to apply the spring force (elastic force), the both end edges 81 and both end edges The spring force is mainly obtained at three positions with the intermediate position 81, and usually the spring force at both end edges 81 is the same, and the spring force is smaller than that at the intermediate position.
When such a C-shaped ring 80 is mounted and held in the above position, the spring force of the two end edges 81 is caused by the adjacent side edges (the side on which the fitting groove 77 is formed) of the upper two fingers 76. The spring force at the intermediate position of the both end edges 81 acting on the edge) side position acts on the center in the width direction of the remaining lower finger 76. Thereby, the contact pressure obtained from each finger 76 can be made uniform.
In other words, a substantially uniform contact pressure is obtained from the position of the sleeve portion 73 divided into three in the circumferential direction, and a stable contact pressure can be obtained with the counterpart round pin 22. In addition, since the mounting posture and the mounting position of the C-shaped ring 80 can be made the same for each product (socket terminal 70), it is possible to ensure a certain quality without variation across all products.

  As shown by the chain line in FIG. 5, if the opening portion of the slit 74 in which the fitting groove 77 is formed is formed with a tapered portion 79 that is first opened, the C-shaped ring 80 is not so closed. However, both bent portions 82 can be guided into the slit 74 through the tapered portion 79. The mounting operation of the C-shaped ring 80 can be performed more easily.

<Embodiment 3>
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, a case where a C-shaped ring having a relatively large distance between both butted edges is used as the outer spring ring.
As shown in FIG. 7, the socket terminal 100 includes a terminal body 101 and a C-shaped ring 110 that is an outer spring ring. The terminal main body 101 is formed by pressing a copper alloy sheet metal (with silver or tin plating), and a sleeve portion 103 is continuously provided on the front side of the open barrel 102. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the sleeve portion 103 is a round pin of the pin terminal 20 described above by turning a square flat plate serving as a base material into a circular shape so that both end edges 104 substantially match each other. 21 is formed into a cylindrical shape that can be inserted almost tightly and is tapered as a whole. However, the predetermined length portion on the front end side has an equal diameter. At the same time, the slit 105 is formed by cutting from the front edge to a position in front of a predetermined dimension at the three positions with an angular interval of 120 degrees including the above-mentioned butted portions. It has a shape in which a single cantilevered finger 106 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 8, the slit 105 has a narrow width at the front end of less than 10% of the entire length of the slit 105, and a length portion of about 30% behind the slit 105 (about the rear side of the equal-diameter portion). (3/4 region) is a little wider than that, and from there to the back end, it is formed to be wider and gradually wider toward the back end. A region where the width of the slit 105 in the sleeve portion 103 is medium is a fitting region 107 of the C-shaped ring 110 described later.
It should be noted that the cross section of the fitting region 107 of the C-shaped ring 110 in the sleeve portion 103 described above is such that the center of the width of the slit 105 on the upper surface side and the finger 106 on the lower surface side as shown in FIG. It is left-right symmetric (line symmetric) across the line symmetry axis X connecting the center of the width.

On the other hand, a C-shaped ring 110 is fitted in the fitting region 107 of the sleeve portion 103 described above. As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the C-shaped ring 110 is configured such that a metal plate-like leaf spring having a width over almost the entire length of the fitting region 107 has both ends in the length direction. The edges 111 are formed in a circular shape so as to abut each other. More specifically, the interval between both end edges 111 is set to be about 1/6 of the entire circumference, and the inner diameter dimension in the natural state is also larger than the outer diameter dimension of the fitting region 107 of the sleeve portion 103 in the natural state. Is formed to be a little smaller.
As shown in FIG. 13, the C-shaped ring 110 also has left and right sides sandwiching a line symmetry axis Y that connects an intermediate position of the gap between both end edges 111 and an intermediate position 112 in the length direction of the leaf spring. Symmetry (line symmetry).

  The positioning structure of the C-shaped ring 110 is as follows. A support portion 114 is formed so as to protrude from the central portion in the length direction at the side edge on the back side of the C-shaped ring 110. They are formed at symmetrical positions with Y in between. Both restricting pieces 115 are formed to rise up to the vicinity of the center of the C-shaped ring 110 in a curved posture that follows the shape of the peripheral surface of the C-shaped ring 110, but the protruding end side has a straight posture. Bent radially inward. The degree of bending is about half of the thickness of the strip.

As will be described later, when the C-shaped ring 110 is attached to the fitting region 107 of the sleeve portion 103 in a normal rotation posture, as shown in FIG. The lower side surface 106A (substantially a horizontal plane) of the upper left and right fingers 106 is opposed to a position immediately behind the fitting region 107.
On the sleeve portion 103 side, as shown in FIG. 9, the protruding end of the regulating piece 115 has a width that allows the protruding end of the regulating piece 115 to enter the position where the regulating piece 115 faces on the lower side surface 106A of each finger 106 described above. The recess 108 is cut out. On the other hand, a protrusion 109 having substantially the same width is formed on the back side of the recess 108 on the side surface 106A.

The C-shaped ring 110 is attached as follows. The C-shaped ring 110 is fitted with the sleeve portion 103 in a state in which the gap between the two end edges 111 is in an upward position and the line symmetry axis Y coincides with the line symmetry axis X of the sleeve portion 103. The area 107 is fitted. Specifically, first, the back side portion of the C-shaped ring 110 where both restriction pieces 115 are provided is fitted from below while elastically expanding both restriction pieces 115 with respect to the tip of the sleeve portion 103, and then the sleeve portion. The C-shaped ring 110 is pushed into the back side while constricting the tip end side of 103.
When the main body portion of the C-shaped ring 110 is pushed into the fitting area 107, the two restricting pieces 115 are restored inward by exceeding the fitting area 107, and the protruding end of the side face 106A of the corresponding finger 106 is deformed. Pushing is stopped by fitting into the recess 108 and hitting the back side surface (side surface before the projection 109) of the recess 108, and the mounting is completed.

In the mounted state, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 18, both end edges 111 of the C-shaped ring 110 correspond to positions close to adjacent side edges in the upper two fingers 106, and are intermediate between both end edges 111. The position 112 corresponds to the central portion in the width direction of the remaining lower finger 106.
In the C-shaped ring 110 mounted in this way, as shown in FIG. 19, the protruding ends of the left and right regulating pieces 115 are provided on the lower side surfaces 106 </ b> A of the upper left and right two fingers 106. By facing the inner surface of the recess 108, the rotation of the sleeve portion 103 around the axis is restricted, and the movement of the protruding end of the restriction piece 115 in the width direction is restricted by both side surfaces of the recess 108. Thus, the movement of the sleeve portion 103 along the axial direction is restricted.

As in the case of the C-shaped ring 110 of the third embodiment, in the case where the distance between the both end edges 111 is wide to some extent, as described above, when it is externally fitted to the sleeve portion 103 to apply a spring force (elastic force), The spring force is mainly obtained at three positions of the both end edges 111 and the intermediate position 112 of the both end edges 111. Usually, the spring force of the both end edges 111 is the same, and the intermediate position 112 has a smaller spring force.
Then, such a C-shaped ring 110 is mounted and held with respect to the fitting region 107 of the sleeve portion 103 in a rotational posture that is symmetric about the line symmetry axis X of the sleeve portion 103 as described above. Then, the spring force of the both end edges 111 acts on the position adjacent to the adjacent side edges of the upper two fingers 106, and the spring force at the intermediate position 112 of the smaller end edges 111 is lower than the remaining lower side. Acting on the center of the finger 106 in the width direction. Thereby, the contact pressure obtained from each finger 106 can be made substantially uniform.

In other words, a substantially uniform contact pressure can be obtained from the position of the sleeve portion 103 divided into three in the circumferential direction, and a stable contact pressure can be obtained with the counterpart round pin 22. In addition, since the mounting posture and the mounting position of the C-shaped ring 110 can be made the same for each product (socket terminal 100), it is possible to ensure a certain quality with no variation across all products.
In addition, since the part that restricts the movement of the C-shaped ring 110 is set at a position that is mainly distant from the both end edges 111 and the intermediate position 112 between the both end edges 111 where the spring force mainly acts, It can suppress that the contact pressure based on changes.

<Embodiment 4>
FIG. 20 shows Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The basic structure of the socket terminal 120 of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment in that a C-shaped ring having a relatively large distance between both butted edges is used. Changes have been made to the structure of the part where the mold ring is positioned and mounted.

The terminal body 121 of the fourth embodiment is also formed by pressing a copper alloy sheet metal (plated with silver, tin, or the like). Similarly, the sleeve portion 123 is formed into a cylindrical shape into which the round pin 21 of the pin terminal 20 is inserted almost tightly by turning a square flat plate as a base material into a circular shape with both end edges 124 facing each other. The slits 125 are formed by cutting from the front edge to a position of a predetermined dimension before the rear edge at three positions that are formed and spaced apart at an angular interval of 120 degrees including the butted portion. It has a shape in which three cantilever fingers 126 are provided therebetween.
A fitting region 127 of the C-shaped ring 130 is set on the distal end side of the sleeve portion 123, and the cross section of the fitting region 127 has a center of the width of the slit 125 on the lower surface side and a finger on the upper surface side in FIG. It is left-right symmetric (line symmetric) across an axis of line symmetry connecting the center of the width of 126.

  The C-shaped ring 130 is formed by turning a leaf spring in the form of a metal strip such as a stainless steel plate into a circular shape so that both end edges in the length direction are abutted with each other. It is formed to be as large as about 1/6 of the entire circumference, and the inner diameter dimension in the natural state is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter dimension of the sleeve portion 123 in the natural state. The C-shaped ring 130 is also symmetric (line symmetric) with a line symmetry axis connecting an intermediate position of the gap between both end edges and an intermediate position in the length direction of the leaf spring interposed therebetween.

  Regarding the positioning structure of the C-shaped ring 130, a flange 128 is formed at the tip of each finger 126. In the C-shaped ring 130, a widened portion 132 is formed so as to extend over a predetermined region in the longitudinal direction on the side edge on the back side, and a concave portion 133 is notched and formed in a further central portion on the side edge of the widened portion 132. ing. Further, a protrusion 129 that fits into the above-described recess 133 is formed by knocking out from the back surface at the center in the width direction of the outer peripheral surface of the upper finger 126 in FIG. The position of the projection 129 in the front-rear direction is a position where the front side edge of the C-shaped ring 130 and the back edge of the recess 133 are substantially sandwiched between the flange 128 described above.

  The C-ring 130 is attached as follows. The C-shaped ring 130 is fitted to the front end side of the sleeve portion 123 in a state in which the gap between both end edges is located downward and the line symmetry axis thereof coincides with the line symmetry axis of the sleeve portion 123. The region 127 is fitted. Specifically, the C-shaped ring 130 is elastically opened, and fitted into the fitting region 127 of the sleeve portion 123 in the radial direction from above while the position of the concave portion 133 is aligned with the protrusion 129. After that, the C-shaped ring 130 is elastically reduced in diameter, and the mounting is completed with the sleeve portion 123 (finger 126) slightly narrowed.

In the mounted state, both end edges of the C-shaped ring 130 correspond to positions close to adjacent side edges in the lower two fingers 126, and an intermediate position between both end edges is the width direction of the remaining upper fingers 126. Corresponds to the center of
Further, the C-shaped ring 130 mounted in this way is restricted from moving along the axial direction of the sleeve portion 123 by sandwiching the front and rear side edges between the flange 128 at the tip of the finger 126 and the protrusion 129. Then, the protrusion 129 is fitted in the concave portion 133 on the side edge on the back side of the C-shaped ring 130, so that the rotation of the sleeve portion 123 around the axis is restricted.

When the C-shaped ring 130 is mounted in the above-described rotational posture, the spring force of both end edges acts on the position close to the adjacent side edges of the lower two fingers 126, and both end edges are smaller than that. The spring force at the intermediate position acts on the center of the remaining upper finger 126 in the width direction. Thereby, the contact pressure obtained from each finger 126 can be made substantially uniform.
Similarly, a substantially uniform contact pressure can be obtained from the position of the sleeve portion 123 divided into three in the circumferential direction, and a stable contact pressure can be obtained with the counterpart round pin 22. In addition, since the mounting posture and the mounting position of the C-shaped ring 130 can be made the same for each product (socket terminal 120), it is possible to ensure a certain quality without variation among all products.
Moreover, the part which controls the movement of the C-shaped ring 130 is set at a position at least away from both end edges, and it is possible to suppress a change in contact pressure based on the spring force at the same position.

<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.
(1) In the first embodiment, the widened portion provided in the C-shaped ring does not necessarily have the entire length of the predetermined length region, and is formed so as to be divided into two portions with a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction. Also good. Further, the widened portion may be provided only on one side edge.
(2) In the first embodiment, the projections provided on the sleeve portion may be arranged so as to face each other between adjacent fingers, and two pairs of projections facing each other may be provided.

(3) In the first embodiment, the case where the gap between the edges of the C-shaped ring is mounted in a rotating posture corresponding to one finger is exemplified, but the gap of the C-shaped ring is formed in one slit. You may make it mount | wear with another rotation attitude | position, such as corresponding | compatible.
(4) The C-ring positioning structure exemplified in the first embodiment can be applied to the socket terminal of the third or fourth embodiment.
(5) In the first embodiment, the terminal body may be formed by forging, cutting, or the like depending on the shape of the protrusion. In the second embodiment, the terminal body can be formed by forging, cutting, or the like depending on the shape of the fitting groove. Further, in the third and fourth embodiments, the terminal body may be similarly formed by forging, cutting, or the like.

(6) In the first and second embodiments, the contact portion is provided on the back surface of the finger, but the contact portion may be removed. Conversely, in Embodiments 3 and 4, a contact portion may be provided on the back surface of the finger.
(7) The number of slits, that is, fingers, is not limited to three illustrated in the above embodiments, but may be two or four or more.
(8) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a wire-wire connector has been exemplified. However, the present invention is also applicable to a device directly connected type in which either male or female connector is provided integrally with a device case. Can be applied as well.

Sectional drawing which shows the fitting state of the male and female connector which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Perspective view of socket terminal before C-shaped ring is mounted Plan view of base material of C-shaped ring Perspective view of the socket terminal after mounting the C-shaped ring The perspective view before mounting | wearing with the C-shaped ring of the socket terminal which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. Perspective view of the socket terminal after mounting the C-shaped ring The perspective view before C-type ring mounting | wearing of the socket terminal which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. Top view of terminal body Side view Front view Top view of C-shaped ring Side view Rear view Perspective view of the socket terminal after mounting the C-shaped ring Perspective view seen from the bottom side Plan view Side view Front view AA line enlarged sectional view of FIG. The fragmentary perspective view of the socket terminal which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Pin terminal 22 ... Round pin 50 ... Socket terminal 51 ... Terminal main body 53 ... Sleeve part 54 ... Slit 56 ... Finger 60A, 60B ... Protrusion (clamping part: control means)
65 ... C-shaped ring (C-shaped outer spring ring)
65A ... leaf spring (band material)
66S ... Gap 67 ... Side edge 68 ... Widened part (Clamped part: Restricting part)
70 ... Socket terminal 71 ... Terminal body 73 ... Sleeve part 74 ... Slit 76 ... Finger 77 ... Fitting groove (regulation part)
79 ... Tapered portion 80 ... C-shaped ring 82 ... Bent portion (regulating portion)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Socket terminal 101 ... Terminal body 103 ... Sleeve part 105 ... Slit 106 ... Finger 106A ... Side surface (finger 106) (regulation means)
107 ... fitting area 108 ... recess (regulating means)
109 ... Projection (regulation means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... C-shaped ring 111 ... Edge 112 ... Intermediate position 115 ... Restriction piece (regulation part: Restriction means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... Socket terminal 121 ... Terminal main body 123 ... Sleeve part 125 ... Slit 126 ... Finger 127 ... Fitting area | region 128 ... Flange (regulation means)
129 ... projection (regulating means)
130 ... C-shaped ring 133 ... Recessed part (regulating part: restricting means)
X: Axisymmetric axis (of the sleeve portion 103) Y: Axisymmetric axis (of the C-shaped ring 110)

Claims (11)

A socket terminal fitted and connected to the mating pin terminal,
The pin pin can be inserted into a round pin, and a plurality of slits are cut from the opening edge at predetermined angular intervals, and the same number of fingers are cantilevered between the slits to reduce the diameter. Possible sleeve part,
A C-shaped outer spring ring that is formed by bending an elastic band member into a circular shape so that the edges of each other are in contact with each other, and is urged to reduce the diameter of the sleeve portion by being fitted to the outer periphery of the sleeve portion; In those with
Between the sleeve portion and the outer spring ring, a restricting means for restricting the outer spring ring from rotating around the axis of the sleeve portion and moving along the axial direction of the sleeve portion. A socket terminal characterized in that is provided. The sleeve portion is formed so that the cross section thereof is line symmetric, and the outer spring ring is line symmetric with respect to the line symmetric axis of the sleeve portion at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the sleeve portion. The socket terminal according to claim 1, wherein the socket terminal is fitted in a rotating posture. In the restricting portion for restricting the outer spring ring from rotating around the axis of the sleeve portion, the restricting portion is provided at a place other than both end edges of the outer spring ring which are abutted with each other. 3. The socket terminal according to claim 2, wherein the socket terminal is provided. In the restricting portion that restricts movement of the outer spring ring along the axial direction of the sleeve portion, in the outer spring ring, the restricting portion is provided at a place other than both end edges of the outer spring ring that are abutted with each other. 4. The socket terminal according to claim 2, wherein the socket terminal is provided. The outer peripheral surface of the sleeve portion is sandwiched between a first sandwiching portion that sandwiches the outer spring ring in the width direction and a pair of sandwiched portions that are provided in the outer spring ring at intervals in the circumferential direction. The socket terminal according to claim 1, wherein the restricting means is configured by providing a second clamping portion. A widened portion is formed over the side edge of the outer spring ring over a predetermined circumferential length range, and a pair of protrusions sandwiching between both side edges of the outer spring ring is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve portion. The socket terminal according to claim 5, wherein two sets are formed with an interval in the circumferential direction equal to the length of the widened portion. A pair of restricting pieces that protrude along the circumferential direction of the outer spring ring and whose protruding ends are bent inward in the radial direction are formed on the side edges other than both end edges of the outer spring ring so as to project in line symmetry. The protruding ends of the restricting pieces can be brought into contact with the side surfaces of the predetermined finger in the sleeve portion, and the axially opposite sides of the finger are in contact with the restricting pieces on the side surface. The socket terminal according to claim 2, wherein a protrusion for restricting the movement of the protruding end of the restricting piece in the width direction is formed. A concave portion into which a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve portion is fitted is formed in the middle position of the side edge on the back side of the outer spring ring, and the outer spring ring is formed at the distal end edge of the sleeve portion. 3. A socket terminal according to claim 2, wherein a flange is formed which is engaged with a side edge on the front side of said outer ring and sandwiches between both side edges of said outer spring ring between said projections. In the outer spring ring, both end edges that are abutted with each other are formed with bent portions that are bent inward, respectively, while the bent portions are fitted on opposite side edges of the predetermined slit of the sleeve portion. 3. The socket terminal according to claim 1, wherein the restricting means is configured by forming a notch in the cutout. The socket terminal according to claim 9, wherein a taper portion having a first opening is formed at an opening edge of the slit in which the fitting groove is formed. The socket terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sleeve portion has a shape in which three fingers having the same width are arranged at equal angular intervals.

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