JP2013054832A - Electric wire terminal structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply and precisely check whether or not a cylindrical mounting part of a rubber plug is caulked and crimped at a desired position.SOLUTION: A terminal structure of an electric wire 10 comprises a terminal fitting 20 having an insulation barrel 30 on which a barrel piece 31 strands from a side edge of a bottom plate 32, and a rubber plug 40 that is inserted in the electric wire 10 and on which front surface a cylindrical mounting part 43 projects. The cylindrical mounting part 43 of the rubber plug 40 is fitted with the outside of a terminal of an insulation coating 12 of the electric wire 10, and the insulation barrel 30 of the terminal fitting 20 is caulked and crimped across the terminal of the insulation coating 12 and the cylindrical mounting part 43, so that the terminal fitting 20 and the rubber plug 40 are fixed to the terminal of the electric wire 10. An inspection hole 35 from which existence of the cylindrical mounting part 43 of the rubber plug 40 can be visually inspected at a rearer position than a front edge 31A is opened on the barrel piece 31 in the insulation barrel 30 of the terminal fitting 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal structure in which a rubber plug is fixed to a terminal of an electric wire together with a terminal fitting.

  As an example of a terminal structure in which a rubber plug is fixed to a terminal end of an electric wire to be applied to a waterproof connector, a terminal structure described in Patent Document 1 is known. This is provided with a covered electric wire, and a terminal treatment is performed in which the end of the covered electric wire is peeled off and the core wire is exposed. The terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity of the housing of the waterproof connector. The wire barrel is caulked and crimped to the end of the core wire of the covered electric wire behind the connecting portion connected to the mating terminal, and the remaining insulation coating The structure is provided with an insulation barrel that is crimped and crimped to the terminal. Both the wire barrel and the insulation barrel have a structure in which a pair of barrel pieces are raised from both side edges of the bottom plate. The rubber plug can be closely fitted to the inlet of the cavity, can be inserted into the covered electric wire, and has an annular mounting portion protruding from the front surface.

A rubber plug is inserted into the covered wire in advance, and the terminal treatment for peeling is performed. Then, the rubber plug is moved to the end side of the covered wire, and the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug is externally fitted to the end of the insulation coating. The From this state, the wire barrel of the terminal metal fitting is crimped and crimped over the end of the core wire in the coated electric wire, and the insulation barrel is crimped and crimped over the end of the insulating coating and the cylindrical mounting portion fitted on the terminal. A terminal fitting and a rubber plug are fixed to the terminal.
When the terminal fitting is inserted to a normal position in the cavity of the housing and is prevented from being pulled out, the rubber stopper fits into the inlet of the cavity and closes it, thereby performing a waterproof function.

JP 2002-203636 A

  By the way, in the rubber plug mounting structure in the above conventional example, for example, when the insulation barrel is caulked in a positional relationship in which the tip of the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug protrudes forward from the front edge of the barrel piece of the insulation barrel. In some cases, the tip of the cylindrical mounting portion is caulked upward (outward), referred to as jumping up. In this case, depending on the amount of bounce, there is a possibility that the insertion work may be difficult due to the bounce-up portion being caught by the mouth edge of the entrance or being rubbed against the inner surface of the cavity when the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity. In order to avoid this, when the position of the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug is retracted and caulked, if the amount of retraction is too large, the caulking range of the cylindrical mounting portion is shortened, and there is a dislike that the fixing force is insufficient.

Therefore, preferably, when the tip of the cylindrical mounting portion is caulked in a state where it is located immediately after the front edge of the barrel piece in the insulation barrel, it does not jump up and a large fixing force is obtained. However, there is no way to confirm the position of the tip of the cylindrical mounting portion, and there has been a strong demand for the appearance of a means for accurately confirming that the tube is fixed at a desired position.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a means for easily and accurately confirming whether or not the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug has been crimped and crimped at a desired position. There is to offer.

  The present invention comprises a terminal fitting having an insulation barrel in which a barrel piece rises from a side edge of a bottom plate, and a rubber plug that is inserted into the electric wire and has a cylindrical mounting portion protruding on the front surface. The tubular mounting portion of the rubber plug is fitted on the end of the insulating coating, and the insulation barrel of the terminal fitting is crimped and crimped across the terminal of the insulating coating and the cylindrical mounting portion. In the terminal structure of the electric wire in which the terminal fitting and the rubber plug are fixed to the terminal of the terminal, the barrel piece of the insulation barrel of the terminal fitting has the cylinder of the rubber plug at a position behind the front edge. It has the characteristic in the place where the inspection hole which can visually check the presence or absence of a shape attachment part is opened.

  According to the above configuration, the rubber plug is formed by observing that the inspection hole is filled with the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug and that the tip of the cylindrical mounting portion does not protrude from the front edge of the barrel piece of the insulation barrel. It is confirmed that the tip of the cylindrical mounting portion is caulked at a desired position located immediately after the front edge of the barrel piece.

  Another invention comprises a terminal fitting having an insulation barrel in which a barrel piece rises from a side edge of a bottom plate, and a rubber plug that is inserted into the electric wire and has a cylindrical mounting portion protruding on the front surface. The tubular mounting portion of the rubber plug is fitted on the end of the insulating coating in the case, and the insulation barrel of the terminal fitting is caulked and crimped across the terminal of the insulating coating and the cylindrical mounting portion. In the end structure of the electric wire in which the terminal fitting and the rubber plug are fixed to the end of the electric wire, the bottom plate of the insulation barrel of the terminal fitting is directed rearward from a position coincident with the front edge of the barrel piece. It has a feature in that an inspection hole that is opened is formed.

  According to the above configuration, by visually observing that the tip of the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug is in the inspection hole, at the desired position where the tip of the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug is located immediately after the front edge of the barrel piece. It is confirmed that it is crimped. It is possible to confirm whether or not the tip of the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug has been crimped and crimped at a desired position by only looking at the inspection hole.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and accurately confirm whether or not the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug has been crimped and crimped at a desired position.

The side view which shows the adhering operation | movement of the terminal structure which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Top view of female terminal Side view showing terminal structure after fixing Side view of female terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Plan view Side view showing terminal structure after fixing Bottom view Side view of female terminal according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention Plan view Side view showing terminal structure after fixing Bottom view

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the present embodiment, a terminal structure in which a female terminal fitting 20 (hereinafter referred to as a female terminal 20) and a rubber plug 40 are fixed to the terminal of the covered electric wire 10 is illustrated.
The female terminal 20 is inserted into a cavity of a female housing (not shown) and is prevented from being detached, and accordingly, the rubber plug 40 is tightly fitted to the inlet of the cavity so that a seal is taken. Yes.

As shown in FIG. 1, the covered electric wire 10 has a structure in which a core wire 11 made of a plurality of metal strands is covered with a synthetic resin insulating coating 12.
In fixing the female terminal 20 and the rubber plug 40 to the end of the covered electric wire 10, the insulating coating 12 is cut off over a predetermined length at the end of the covered electric wire 10, so-called skinning is performed, and the end of the core wire 11 is attached. Terminal processing exposed for a predetermined length is performed.

The female terminal 20 is formed by pressing a metal plate having excellent conductivity, and has a substantially rectangular tube shape that is electrically connected to a mating male terminal (not shown) as shown in FIG. A wire barrel 25 and an insulation barrel 30 are provided behind the terminal connection portion 21 formed.
An elastic contact piece 23 is provided inside the terminal connection portion 21 so as to be folded back from the front edge of the bottom plate 22, and a tab of a mating male terminal is inserted into the terminal connection portion 21 from the front, By elastically contacting the elastic contact piece 23, the male terminal and the female terminal 20 are electrically connected.

  The wire barrel 25 is an open barrel type, and a pair of left and right wide barrel pieces 26 are formed to rise from the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 27 so as to face each other. The wire barrel 25 is crimped and crimped to the end of the core wire 11 of the above-described covered electric wire 10, and both barrel pieces 26 hold the outer periphery of the end of the core wire 11 from both the left and right sides while abutting each protruding end. In other words, it can be caulked into a so-called heart shape. A serration 28 is formed on the inner surface of the bottom plate 27.

The insulation barrel 30 is also of an open barrel type, and a pair of left and right barrel pieces 31 that are narrower and taller than the barrel piece 26 on the wire barrel 25 side are similarly connected to each other from the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 32. It is formed so as to face each other.
On the other hand, a cylindrical mounting portion 43 of a rubber plug 40 which will be described later is fitted to the end of the insulating coating 12 where the covered electric wire 10 is left, and the above-described insulation barrel 30 includes the terminal of the insulating coating 12 and the rubber plug 40. The cylindrical mounting portion 43 is caulked and pressure-bonded. The insulation barrel 30 can be caulked in a so-called overlap type, for example, by embedding the outer periphery of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 from both the left and right sides while the two barrel pieces 31 overlap each other. ing.

The rubber plug 40 is made of oil-impregnated silicon or the like and is formed in a cylindrical shape that is long in the front-rear direction as a whole as shown in FIG. The insulating coating 12 of the covered electric wire 10 is tightly inserted into the central hole of the rubber plug 40.
The rubber plug 40 has a main body portion 41 having a large diameter (thick wall), and on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 41, specifically, on the outer peripheral surface of the front half portion of the main body portion 41, the cavity of the female housing described above is provided. Two ring-shaped lips 42 that are elastically adhered to the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface of the inner circumferential surface of the inner circumferential surface are formed at intervals.

A cylindrical mounting portion 43 is connected to the front surface of the main body portion 41, and a central hole is provided concentrically with the main body portion 41. The cylindrical attachment portion 43 has, for example, a substantially intermediate outer diameter between the outer diameter of the covered electric wire 10 and the outer diameter of the main body portion 41 of the rubber plug 40, and the length is the main body portion 41 of the rubber plug 40. Is more than 20% of the length.
The insulation barrel 30 described above is caulked in a state where the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is fitted to the end of the insulating coating 12.

  Note that the wire barrel 25 and the insulation barrel 30 have different outer diameters such as the core wire 11 of the covered electric wire 10 and the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40, and therefore, even after the wire barrel 25 and the insulation barrel 30 are caulked. The height positions of the bottom plates 27 and 32 are shifted vertically so that the axis of the covered electric wire 10 can maintain a straight posture.

In this embodiment, when the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 is caulked by the insulation barrel 30 together with the end of the insulating coating 12 in the covered electric wire 10, the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is desired for the insulation barrel 30. Means are provided for visually confirming whether or not crimping has been performed at the position.
In the present embodiment, the desired caulking position of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 means that the distal end 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is positioned immediately after the front edge 31A of the barrel piece 31 in the insulation barrel 30. . If the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is crimped at the above position, when the tip 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is caulked due to popping out from the front edge 31A of the insulation barrel 30 (barrel piece 31). This is because the tip 43 </ b> A is prevented from jumping up, and the caulking range of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is ensured to have a long dimension so that a sufficient fixing force can be obtained.

  Therefore, inspection holes 35 are opened in the pair of barrel pieces 31 constituting the insulation barrel 30. The inspection hole 35 is formed in a vertically long rectangle having a width that is a little less than one third of the width of the barrel piece 31, and the inspection hole 35 extends from the front edge 31 </ b> A of the barrel piece 31 in the middle of the barrel piece 31 in the height direction. It is formed at a position entering the rear by a predetermined dimension comparable to the width of 35.

Then, the effect | action of this embodiment is demonstrated. The procedure for crimping the female terminal 20 and the rubber plug 40 to the end of the covered electric wire 10 is as follows.
The rubber plug 40 is passed through the end of the covered electric wire 10, and the end of the insulating coating 12 of the covered electric wire 10 is peeled in a state where the rubber plug 40 is once retracted to the rear, and the end of the core wire 11 has a predetermined length. It is made an exposure state over. After that, as shown in FIG. 1, the rubber plug 40 is moved forward and is fitted to the outer periphery of the terminal of the insulating coating 12 where the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is left. In this embodiment, the distal end 43 </ b> A of the cylindrical attachment portion 43 is set at a position so as to come behind a predetermined length slightly shorter than the length of the cylindrical attachment portion 43 from the distal end edge of the insulating coating 12.

Then, the female terminal 20 and the rubber plug 40 are crimped and connected to the end of the covered electric wire 10 using a crimping device. Specifically, the crimping device is provided with an anvil and a crimper, and as shown by the arrow line in FIG. 1, the exposed end of the core wire 11 and the insulation barrel with respect to the wire barrel 25 of the female terminal 20. 30, the remaining end of the insulation coating 12 and the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 fitted therein are set in a state where both barrels 25 and 30 are connected to the anvil and the crimper. It is clamped between them.
As a result, the female terminal 20 is crimped and fixed to the end of the covered electric wire 10 together with the rubber plug 40.

  In the inspection step, the terminal portion of the covered electric wire 10, particularly the caulking portion of the insulation barrel 30, is visually observed, and the inspection hole 35 opened in the barrel piece 31 of the insulation barrel 30 is formed by the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40. If it can be seen that the tip 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is not protruding from the front edge 31A of the barrel piece 31 of the insulation barrel 30, the tip 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 is It is confirmed that it is caulked at the normal position located immediately after the front edge 31A of the piece 31.

On the other hand, if for some reason, for example, the mounting position of the rubber plug 40 to the terminal of the covered electric wire 10 is shifted, or the setting position of the female terminal 20 in the crimping device is shifted, the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 The position of the tip 43A may vary with respect to the insulation barrel 30 and may be crimped and crimped in that state.
For example, if the cylindrical mounting portion 43 protrudes too far forward, the tip 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 jumps out of the front edge 31A of the barrel piece 31 and jumps up and is caulked. Is processed as
Conversely, if the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is retracted too much later, it can be visually observed that the tip 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 faces the inspection hole 35 or the inspection hole 35 is open. In some cases, there is a concern about insufficient adhesion, so that it is treated as a defective product.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, in the terminal structure of the covered electric wire 10 after crimping, the inspection hole 35 opened in the barrel piece 31 of the insulation barrel 30 is filled with the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40, Further, by visually observing that the distal end 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 does not protrude from the front edge 31A of the barrel piece 31 of the insulation barrel 30, the distal end 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 becomes the barrel piece 31. It can be confirmed easily and accurately that it is caulked at a desired position located immediately after the front edge 31A.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the entire structure of the female terminal 20 including the insulation barrel 30 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the desired caulking position of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 is cylindrical. Similarly, the tip 43A of the mounting portion 43 is positioned immediately after the front edge 31A of the barrel piece 31 in the insulation barrel 30. However, the means for confirming the crimping pressure bonding position is different from that of the first embodiment.
In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and portions and members having common functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and redundant description will be omitted.

  The inspection hole 37 of this embodiment has a rectangular shape that is the same width and slightly longer than the inspection hole 35 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the inspection hole 37 takes a posture in which the length direction is orthogonal to the axis of the female terminal 20, and in the center portion in the width direction of the bottom plate 32 of the insulation barrel 30. The front edge is opened at a position that coincides with the front edge 31 </ b> A of the barrel piece 31.

In the second embodiment, in the inspection process after the caulking and crimping process, as shown in FIG. 7, the female terminal 20 is turned over and the inspection hole 37 opened in the bottom plate 32 of the insulation barrel 30 is visually observed, and the rubber plug 40 If it can be seen that the tip 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 is in the inspection hole 37, the tip 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 is a normal position located immediately after the front edge 31A of the barrel piece 31. It is confirmed that it is crimped.
It is possible to confirm whether or not the tip 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 has been crimped and crimped at a desired position by only looking at the inspection hole 37 once.

<Embodiment 3>
8 to 11 show Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The third embodiment is also a modification of the second embodiment, and the shape of the insulation barrel 50 provided on the female terminal 20A is different.
The insulation barrel 50 of the female terminal 20A of the third embodiment is formed to rise from the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 53 in a form in which the pair of barrel pieces 51 and 52 are displaced in the front-rear direction, which is the axial direction of the female terminal 20A. ing. Both the barrel pieces 51 and 52 are formed to be narrow and have a slightly pointed tip, and are caulked around the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 so as to be wound from the left and right in a form shifted back and forth. In particular, the front barrel piece 51 is formed such that its front edge 51A stands up at right angles to the axis of the female terminal 20A.

In the third embodiment, the desired caulking position of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 is positioned immediately after the front edge 51 </ b> A of the front barrel piece 51 in the insulation barrel 50. Is.
Based on the desired caulking position, the inspection hole 37 is located at the center of the bottom plate 53 of the insulation barrel 50 in the width direction, particularly at the position where the front edge 37A coincides with the front edge 51A of the barrel piece 51 on the front side. An opening is formed.

Also in the third embodiment, in the inspection process after the caulking and crimping process, as shown in FIG. 11, the female terminal 20A is turned over and the inspection hole 37 opened in the bottom plate 53 of the insulation barrel 50 is visually observed, and the rubber plug If it can be seen that the distal end 43A of the 40 cylindrical mounting portion 43 is in the inspection hole 37, the distal end 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 is immediately after the front edge 51A of the barrel piece 51 on the front side. It is confirmed that it is caulked at the normal position where it is located.
Similarly, it is possible to confirm whether or not the tip 43A of the cylindrical mounting portion 43 of the rubber plug 40 has been crimped and crimped at a desired position by only looking at the inspection hole 37 once.

<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 Embodiment 1, the shape of the inspection hole is not limited to a rectangle, and can be formed in an arbitrary shape such as a triangle or a circle.
(2) In Embodiments 2 and 3, the shape of the inspection hole can be arbitrarily selected, but it is preferable that the front edge has a straight part parallel to the front edge of the barrel piece.

(3) In the present invention, the shape of the insulation barrel is caulked so that one barrel piece rises from one side edge of the bottom plate and the barrel piece is wound around the entire circumference of the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug. The present invention can be similarly applied to a structure having a different structure.
(4) The present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a rubber plug is caulked and crimped to the end of a covered electric wire.
(5) The electric wire is not limited to a covered electric wire but may be a shielded electric wire. In short, the present invention can be widely applied to all terminal structures in which a rubber plug is fixed to a terminal end of an electric wire.

10 ... covered wire 12 ... insulating coating 20, 20A ... female terminal (terminal fitting)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Insulation barrel 31 ... Barrel piece 31A ... Front edge (of barrel piece 31) 32 ... Bottom plate 35 ... Inspection hole 37 ... Inspection hole 37A ... Front edge (of inspection hole 37) 40 ... Rubber plug 43 ... Cylindrical attachment part 43A ... tip (of the cylindrical mounting portion 43) 50 ... insulation barrel 51, 52 ... barrel piece 51A ... front edge (front barrel piece 51) 53 ... bottom plate

Claims (2)

A terminal fitting having an insulation barrel formed with a barrel piece rising from the side edge of the bottom plate;
A rubber plug that is inserted through the electric wire and has a cylindrical mounting portion protruding on the front surface, and
The tubular mounting portion of the rubber plug is fitted on the end of the insulation coating of the electric wire, and the insulation barrel of the terminal fitting is crimped and crimped across the end of the insulation coating and the cylindrical mounting portion. In the terminal structure of the electric wire in which the terminal fitting and the rubber plug are fixed to the terminal of the electric wire,
The barrel piece in the insulation barrel of the terminal fitting is provided with an inspection hole in which the presence or absence of the cylindrical mounting portion of the rubber plug can be visually observed at a position behind the front edge. Electric wire terminal structure. A terminal fitting having an insulation barrel formed with a barrel piece rising from the side edge of the bottom plate;
A rubber plug that is inserted through the electric wire and has a cylindrical mounting portion protruding on the front surface, and
The tubular mounting portion of the rubber plug is fitted on the end of the insulation coating of the electric wire, and the insulation barrel of the terminal fitting is crimped and crimped across the end of the insulation coating and the cylindrical mounting portion. In the terminal structure of the electric wire in which the terminal fitting and the rubber plug are fixed to the terminal of the electric wire,
A terminal structure for an electric wire, characterized in that an inspection hole is formed in the bottom plate of the insulation barrel of the terminal fitting, the inspection hole being opened rearward from a position coinciding with the front edge of the barrel piece.

Images