JP2014049334A - Method of manufacturing crimp terminal, crimp terminal, and wire harness - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To mass-produce a closed barrel type crimp terminal while suppressing a production cost, and to simply prevent corrosion caused by contact of dissimilar metals.SOLUTION: This method is to manufacture a crimp terminal 11 integrally including a terminal connection part 12 connected to another terminal making a pair and a crimp part 13 crimped so as to be electrically connected to a coated wire 51 comprising a conductor and an insulating coating to coat it. The method has a primary press molding process for forming the crimp part 13 by rounding a plate-like base material in a cylindrical shape, a secondary press molding process for forming a sealing part 32 having water cut-off performance in a crushed shape at an end part on the terminal connection part 12 side in a cylindrical part 42 obtained through the primary press molding process, and a welding process for forming a joint part 33 to integrally join the end fringes 33a of the plate-like base material 41 obtained through the primary molding process each other by welding. Connection of the coated wire can be carried out only with press-contact by inserting the terminal part of the coated wire from an insertion port 31 opposite to the sealing part 32 while keeping high water cut-off performance.

Description

  The present invention relates to a crimp terminal used for, for example, a wire harness, and more particularly to a closed barrel type crimp terminal capable of suppressing production cost.

  The crimp terminal has a crimp part that electrically connects the conductors of the covered electric wire, and after the covered electric wire is put into the crimp terminal, the crimp part is crimped and crimped to the conductor to connect the covered electric wire.

  Such a crimp terminal is suitably used for, for example, a wire harness that connects electrical components of an automobile.

  Wire harnesses are getting thicker and weight is increasing due to multi-functionality and high performance by improving safety, comfort and convenience of automobiles. For this reason, replacing the covered electric wire, which is said to occupy about 60% of the total weight of the wire harness, with a copper electric wire made of copper or an aluminum electric wire made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy is performed.

  However, since the crimp terminal is made of copper, when the copper wire is replaced with an aluminum wire, the crimp portion of the crimp terminal is in contact with a different metal. In other words, the crimping part is easily corroded by contact with water or moisture.

  For this reason, for example, Patent Document 1 below discloses that an aluminum electric wire can be formed by preventing corrosion. In paragraph [0005] of Patent Document 1, when an aluminum electric wire is used, a closed barrel type having a cylindrical connection part (crimp part) covering the entire core part as a crimp terminal must be used. It is stated that there is no.

  An example of a closed barrel type crimp terminal is disclosed in Patent Document 2 below. As disclosed in FIGS. 9 to 14 of Patent Document 2, the crimp terminal of Patent Document 2 has a cylindrical crimp part with one end in the longitudinal direction closed and the other in the longitudinal direction. Has a hard tongue for connection extending integrally from the closed part of the crimping part. A hole for connection is formed in the center of the tongue-shaped piece.

  However, a crimp terminal having such a shape cannot be obtained unless it is manufactured by a method such as casting. That is, it cannot be manufactured by punching from a strip-shaped copper plate and sequentially bending it while being conveyed, and it is also impossible to connect a covered electric wire while manufacturing.

  For this reason, the closed barrel type crimp terminal as in Patent Document 2 has a problem that the production cost is high and mass production cannot be performed, as described in paragraph [0005] of Patent Document 1. A similar problem is pointed out in paragraph [0012] of Patent Document 3 below.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 employs a configuration in which a copper intermediate cap is interposed between an open barrel-type crimp terminal and an aluminum wire, and Patent Document 3 employs a configuration in which a waterproof tube is covered.

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, a step of covering the intermediate cap is required, and the intermediate cap has a thin tip side portion into which the conductor is inserted, and only the tip side portion is crimped by the crimp portion of the crimp terminal, so that the connection strength There is a difficulty in this point.

  Moreover, in the structure of patent document 2, after connecting a covered electric wire to an open barrel type crimp terminal, the process of inserting a waterproof tube and heat shrinking further is needed.

  As described above, each of them requires a different new process, and there is a problem that the process becomes complicated. In both cases, the anticorrosion is attempted by avoiding the closed barrel type crimp terminal.

Japanese Patent No. 4598039 US Pat. No. 3,955,044 JP 2010-165630 A

  Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to enable the mass production of the closed barrel type crimp terminal while suppressing the production cost, and to simplify the corrosion prevention.

  For this purpose, the first means includes a terminal connecting portion to which the other terminal of the pair is connected, and a crimping portion to be crimped to be electrically connected to a conductor and a covered electric wire made of an insulating coating covering the conductor. A method of manufacturing an integrally provided crimp terminal, wherein the crimp portion has a length that covers from the exposed conductor to a tip portion of the insulation coating, and the end of the covered electric wire when rolled into a cylindrical shape A primary press-molding step of rounding a plate-like base material having a thickness that allows insertion of the portion into a cylindrical shape, and the terminal connecting portion of the cylindrical portion obtained through the primary press-molding step, While the insertion port for inserting the terminal portion of the covered electric wire is left in the opposite end portion, the secondary portion that forms a sealed portion having water-stopping property in a crushed shape at the end portion on the terminal connection portion side The plate shape obtained through the press molding process and the primary press molding process An edge portion facing each other wood is a method for producing a crimp terminal having a welding step of forming a single seam extending longitudinally performing welding to bind together.

  In this configuration, the crimping part undergoes two press moldings of a primary press molding process for rounding into a cylindrical shape and a secondary press molding process for obtaining a sealing part, and at least one welding process for forming a seam part. Manufactured. That is, since the crimping part is obtained by stamping and welding a plate material, it can be manufactured while being conveyed, and mass production is possible while suppressing production costs.

  In addition, the connection of the coated wire to the crimp terminal thus obtained can be achieved by inserting the coated wire through the insertion port of the crimp portion and crimping the entire crimp portion without any special processing. Therefore, it is possible to carry out the production of the electric wire with the crimp terminal in a series of steps, which is suitable for mass production.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the welding process may be performed after the primary press molding process and before the secondary press molding process.

  In this structure, since the shape shape | molded at the primary press molding process by the welding part obtained at a welding process is stabilized, it is easy to perform a secondary press molding process, and can also ensure the water stop of a sealing part.

  As a mode of this invention, it is good to have a secondary welding process of welding to the crushed part after the secondary press molding process.

  In this configuration, the water stop performance is enhanced at the welded portion by the secondary welding process.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the welding is preferably performed using a high energy density beam.

  In this configuration, a high-temperature, deep-penetration weld is obtained with low heat input, and high-precision welding can be performed. Therefore, it is suitable for mass production, and a good weld can be obtained even if the welded part is thin. can get.

  The second means for solving the problem is crimped so as to be electrically connected to a terminal connecting portion to which the other terminal of the pair is connected, and a covered electric wire made of a conductor and an insulating coating covering the conductor. A crimp terminal integrally provided with the crimp portion, the crimp portion being thick enough to insert a terminal portion of the covered electric wire and covering from the exposed conductor to the tip of the insulating coating. While being cylindrical in length and provided with an insertion port for inserting the terminal portion of the covered electric wire at the end opposite to the terminal connecting portion, the end of the terminal connecting portion is crushed In the longitudinal direction, comprising a sealing part having a water-stopping property, and an end edge of a plate-like base material rounded into a cylindrical shape and a welding part integrally connecting them between the insertion port and the sealing part It is a crimp terminal having one seam portion extending in the direction.

  In this configuration, the crimping part has a cylindrical shape joined and integrated at the joint part, and has a sealing part having water-stopping property on the terminal connection part side and an insertion port on the opposite side to the terminal connection part. If the terminal portion of the covered electric wire is exposed and then inserted into the crimping portion through the insertion port and the entire crimping portion is crimped, the connection state between the crimp terminal and the covered electric wire can be obtained. Since the sealing portion is formed in this connected state, a water-stopping state that prevents intrusion of water and moisture can be obtained without any additional processing.

  Moreover, the crimping part is manufactured by two press moldings, ie, press molding for rounding into a cylindrical shape and press molding for obtaining a sealing part, and at least one welding for forming a joint. That is, since the crimping part is obtained by stamping and welding a plate material, it can be manufactured while being conveyed, and mass production is possible while suppressing production costs.

  As an aspect of the present invention, a welded portion that extends in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction may be formed in the sealing portion.

  In this configuration, the water stop performance can be improved as compared with the case of only the crushed shape.

  As an aspect of the present invention, a sealing material may be interposed in the sealing portion.

  In this configuration, in this case as well, the water stop performance can be improved as compared with the case of only the crushed shape.

  As an aspect of this invention, it is preferable that the thickness of the plate-like base material that is the basis of the crimping portion is 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm. More preferably, the thickness is about 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm.

  In this configuration, since the thickness is small, the weight can be reduced, and the terminal portion can be reduced in size without reducing the thickness of the covered electric wire.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the weld may be formed by welding using a high energy density beam.

  In this configuration, a high-temperature, deep-penetration weld is obtained with low heat input, and high-precision welding can be performed. Therefore, it is suitable for mass production, and a good weld can be obtained even if the welded part is thin. can get.

  The 3rd means for solving a subject is a wire harness provided with a plurality of covered electric wires which connected the above-mentioned crimp terminal, and a connector housing holding the above-mentioned crimp terminal of these covered wires.

  In this configuration, since the connection between the crimp terminal having water-stopping property and the covered electric wire can be obtained, corrosion resistance can be suppressed and durability can be improved. Since an aluminum electric wire can be adopted as the covered electric wire, the weight of the wire harness can be reduced.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the crimp terminal may be made of copper or a copper alloy, and the conductor of the covered electric wire may be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

  With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the weight of the wire harness.

  According to the present invention, the closed barrel type crimp terminal can be mass-produced while suppressing the production cost, and as a result, the corrosion prevention can be simplified. In addition, an aluminum electric wire can be used.

The perspective view of a crimp terminal. The perspective view of a covered electric wire with a crimp terminal. The perspective view of a wire harness. Sectional drawing of a crimp terminal, a top view, and sectional drawing of an electric wire with a crimp terminal. The perspective view which shows the manufacturing process of a crimp terminal. Sectional drawing of a primary press molding process. The perspective view of a primary welding process. Sectional drawing of a primary welding process. Sectional drawing of a secondary press molding process. The perspective view which shows a part of manufacturing process of a crimp terminal. The perspective view of a secondary welding process. Sectional drawing of a secondary welding process. The perspective view which shows the manufacturing process of the crimp terminal which concerns on another example. Sectional drawing of the secondary press process which concerns on another example. Sectional drawing which shows the crimping | compression-bonding process in the part which has insulation coating. Sectional drawing which shows the crimping | fixing fixation in a conductor part. The perspective view which shows the manufacturing process of the electric wire with a crimp terminal which concerns on another example.

An embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crimp terminal 11, and this crimp terminal 11 can be made difficult to be corroded even when it comes into contact with a dissimilar metal with a covered electric wire 51 (see FIG. 2) to be connected. This is a closed barrel type crimp terminal 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the crimp terminal 11 is connected to the terminal portion of the covered electric wire 51 and used to obtain the electric wire 61 with a crimp terminal. For this reason, the crimp terminal 11 integrally includes a terminal connection portion 12 to which the other pair of terminals are connected, and a crimp portion 13 to be crimped so as to be electrically connected to the covered electric wire 51. The terminal connection part 12 of the example of illustration is formed in the square cylinder shape, and this is the terminal connection part 12 of the female terminal 11a as an example of the crimp terminal 11. FIG.

  Inside the terminal connection portion 12 is a terminal insertion portion 21 into which the other pair of terminals (male terminal 11b (see FIG. 3)) is inserted, and the terminal insertion portion 21 is integrally provided with an urging spring 22. It has been.

  The female terminal 11a (crimp terminal 11) is connected to the covered electric wire 51 and is held in the cavity 73 of the connector housing 72 of the female connector 71 as shown in FIG. 3, and a plurality of the covered electric wires 51 are bundled. The wire harness 74 is configured. The “wire harness 74” is meant to include a wire harness 74 in a state where a plurality of covered electric wires 51 are further bundled.

  The female connector 71 is detachably connected to a pair of male connectors 75.

  The terminal connection portion 12 is drawn in a square tube shape because the crimp terminal 11 is the female terminal 11a, but the crimp terminal 11 may be a male terminal 11b (see FIG. 3). In the case of the male terminal 11b, the terminal connection portion 12 is formed in a narrow plate shape inserted into the terminal connection portion 12 having a rectangular tube shape.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the covered electric wire 51 includes a conductor 52 and an insulating coating 53 that covers the conductor 52. The conductor 52 is illustrated as an example in which a plurality of aluminum or aluminum alloy aluminum wires are arranged, but the conductor 52 is a single wire, even if it is a stranded wire obtained by twisting a plurality of aluminum wires. Also good.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the crimping portion 13 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with one end on the terminal connection portion 12 side closed. The thickness of the crimping portion 13 is a size that allows the terminal portion of the covered electric wire 51 to be inserted, and is a length that covers from the exposed conductor 52 to the tip of the insulating coating 53.

  An insertion port 31 for inserting the covered electric wire 51 is opened in a substantially circular vertical cross section at the end of the crimping portion 13 opposite to the terminal connection portion 12. On the other hand, the closed portion of the end portion (the one end portion) on the terminal connection portion 12 side has a flat shape that is crushed in the vertical direction. This portion is a sealing portion 32 having a water-stopping property.

  One seam portion 33 extending in the longitudinal direction is provided between the insertion port 31 and the sealing portion 32. The formation position of the joint portion 33 is the upper end portion (top portion) having a substantially circular longitudinal section in the illustrated example, but may be the lower end portion. The seam 33 is formed by a shape-retaining welded portion for integrally retaining the edge 33a of the plate-like base material 41 rounded into a cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 33b (see FIG. 5B and FIG. 1).

  The plate-like base material 41 is a portion to be the crimping portion 13 among materials obtained by punching when the crimping terminal 11 is manufactured. Briefly, the crimp terminal 13 is a material portion (not shown) that becomes a crimp terminal 13 in a state in which a strip-shaped copper plate (not shown) is punched into a desired shape and connected to a strip-shaped carrier (not shown). And is subjected to bending processing and the like in order to form a desired crimp terminal 13 shape.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a water-stop welded portion 32 a for improving water-stop is formed on the sealing portion 32 in the crimping portion 13. The water stop weld 32a is formed to extend in a straight line in the width direction orthogonal to the shape retaining weld 33b.

  These welded portions, that is, the shape retaining welded portion 33b and the water stop welded portion 32a are preferably formed by welding using a high energy density beam.

  This high-density energy beam includes a laser beam and an electron beam. Among them, a single focus using a fiber laser or SM fiber laser is preferable.

A method for manufacturing the crimp terminal having the above-described configuration will be described below.
First, as described above, a strip-shaped copper plate (not shown) is punched into a desired shape, and a material portion (not shown) that becomes a crimp terminal after being connected to a belt-like carrier (not shown) is formed. obtain. Subsequently, the material portion is sequentially subjected to necessary bending processing while being conveyed using a carrier to obtain the crimp terminal 11 having the above-described configuration.

  The portions other than the portion that becomes the crimping portion 13 in the material portion are the same as those in the conventional art, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

  The plate-like base material 41 is formed in a substantially square plate shape capable of forming the crimping part 13. The plate thickness t (see FIG. 6) is set as appropriate, but is desirably as thin as possible. Specifically, it is 0.4 mm or less, specifically 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm, more preferably 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm, and more specifically 0.25 mm. This is because the weight can be reduced and the terminal portion can be reduced in size without reducing the thickness of the covered electric wire 51.

  Such a plate-like base material 41 is rounded so as to have a substantially circular longitudinal section as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6 (primary press molding step). Here, “substantially circular” means to include a perfect circle. The end edges 33a of the plate-like base material 41 are preferably brought into contact with each other by rolling, but there may be a gap as long as welding is possible.

  Next, welding is performed in which the opposing portions of the end portions 33a of the cylindrical tubular portion 42 having both ends opened, which are obtained from the plate-like base material 41 through the primary press molding step, are integrally coupled (primary welding step). ). As shown in FIG. 7, this welding is performed from the end to the end of the tubular portion 42 by using a fiber laser welding apparatus 81. With the formation of the shape retaining weld 33b by this welding, the end edges 33a of the plate-like base material 41 are integrated to form a single seam 33 extending in the longitudinal direction.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8A, fiber laser welding is performed such that the facing portion of the edges 33a to be welded and the laser irradiation portion 82 move in parallel at a predetermined distance. Is called. In other words, since the cylindrical part 42 opened at both ends just rounded in the primary press molding process has the same diameter from end to end, the portion to be welded and the bottom surface of the cylindrical part 42, the cylindrical part 42 The stage 83 to be mounted is parallel to the moving path 84 of the laser irradiation unit.

This fiber laser welding is welding using fiber laser light having a wavelength of about 1.08 μm. The fiber laser beam is an ideal Gaussian beam and can be condensed up to the diffraction limit. Therefore, a condensing spot diameter of 30 μm or less, which could not be realized with a YAG laser or a CO ₂ laser, can be formed. That is, the welding is narrow and energy density is high. Moreover, deep penetration can be obtained at high speed. Nevertheless, since the heat input is low, high-precision welding is possible with little deformation of the material.

  In addition, in welding using a high energy density beam, unlike the case of joining and integrating by brazing, a recess for brazing is not necessary, so that a material having a thin plate thickness can be used as described above. In other words, the material of the crimp terminal can be thinned.

  In addition, since the copper alloy has high reflectance and transmittance with respect to the fiber laser wavelength, it is preferable to apply, for example, tin (Sn) plating as a light absorbing material to the surface of the portion to be welded.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the shape-retaining weld 33b is formed in the entire thickness direction from the surface on which the laser beam hits to the back surface on the opposite side.

After such a primary welding process, the process proceeds to a secondary pressing process.
In the secondary press molding step, as shown in FIG. 9, the end portion on the opposite side of the terminal connection portion 12 of the cylindrical portion 42 having a cylindrical shape with both end openings obtained through the primary press molding step is used. Then, the mold 91 (the lower mold 91a and the upper mold 91b) is pressed in the vertical direction and crushed so as to form a substantially rectangular cross section. By this crushing, the sealing portion 32 having a flat shape and water-stopping property is obtained.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10D, the process proceeds to the secondary welding process.
In the secondary welding process, the water stop weld 32a is formed. That is, the water-stop welded portion 32a is formed in the sealing portion 32 obtained by crushing. The welding is performed by fiber laser welding as one of the welding using a high energy density beam, which is the same as the formation of the shape retaining weld 33b. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the welding direction is a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the crimping part 13, unlike the shape-retaining welded part 33 b. By this secondary welding, as shown in FIG. 12, a water stop weld 32a extending in the entire thickness direction is formed, and the water stop performance obtained in the secondary press forming step can be further enhanced.

  In this way, in addition to the primary press forming step, the primary welding step, the secondary press forming step, and the secondary welding step, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the primary press forming step (see FIG. 13A) is performed. The secondary press molding step (see FIG. 13B) can be performed, followed by the primary welding step (see FIG. 13C). In this case, the cylindrical part 42 is not a cylindrical part opened at both ends, but a cylindrical part closed at one end by the sealing part 32.

  Further, the secondary welding process may be omitted.

  In the case of omitting the secondary welding process, for example, if the sealing material 34 is interposed inside the portion to be crushed when the sealing portion 32 is formed, the water stop performance can be improved without welding. As the sealing material 34, an appropriate liquid or solid material such as silicone rubber or resin is used. This sealing material 34 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 14A, prior to the secondary press molding step. It is used by being applied to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 42 or being sandwiched inside the cylindrical portion 42 in the secondary press molding process as shown in FIG.

  In addition, although the state which has the seam part 33 in the cylindrical part 42 was represented in FIG. 14, the state before performing a primary welding process may be sufficient.

  The covered electric wire 51 is connected to the crimp terminal 11 manufactured in this way.

  That is, as shown in the virtual battle in FIG. 4A, the terminal portion of the covered electric wire 51 with the end portion of the conductor 52 exposed is inserted into the crimping portion 13 (wire insertion step).

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to a crimping step, and the crimping part 13 is crimped to crimp the crimping part 13 to the insulating coating 53 and the conductor 52 of the covered electric wire 51.

  The crimping of the crimping part 13 to the insulating coating 53 is performed with the lower mold 92 and the upper mold 93 as shown in FIG. The lower mold 92 and the upper mold 93 have cavities 94 and 95 that are curved in an arc shape, and the sizes of the cavities 94 and 95 can be compressed so that the crimping portion 13 is in close contact with the insulating coating 53 when the mold is clamped. Yes, the portion having the insulation coating in the crimping portion 13 is compressed by the crimping, and the space between the crimping portion 13 and the insulation coating 53 is sealed in a water-stopped state, as shown in FIG. It becomes a circle.

  The crimping | compression-bonding part 13 with respect to the conductor 52 is performed with the lower mold | type 96 and the upper mold | type 97 as shown to Fig.16 (a). The lower die 96 has a cavity 98 that is curved in an arc shape, and the upper die 97 has a cavity 99 having a shape having a pressing portion 99a that protrudes downward on a recessed ceiling surface. As a result, the portion of the conductor 52 that does not have the insulation coating 53 in the crimping portion 13 is compressed into a substantially concave or U-shaped longitudinal section as shown in FIG. 52 is electrically connected.

  These wire insertion process and crimping process can be performed separately from the carrier (not shown), but it is desirable to perform the process with the carrier attached.

  When connecting the covered electric wire 51 while being connected to the carrier, the crimp terminal 11 is removed from the carrier during the crimping step or after the crimping step (separation step).

  When the covered electric wire 51 is connected to the crimp terminal 11 in this way, the electric wire 61 with the crimp terminal is obtained.

  The connection of the covered wire 51 to the crimp terminal 11 can also be performed in the manufacturing process of the crimp terminal 11. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 17A, the covered electric wire 51 is inserted into the crimp terminal 11 in which the tubular portion 42 is formed through the primary press molding step and the primary welding step, and this state Then, when the process proceeds to the secondary press molding step, a covered electric wire 61 with a crimp terminal is obtained. In this secondary press molding process, the same gap between the insulation coating 53 and the crimping part 13 is stopped using the same lower molds 91 and 95 and upper molds 92 and 96 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) used in the crimping process. While being in a water state, the conductor 52 and the crimping part 13 are electrically connected.

  If necessary, the secondary welding process may be performed thereafter, and then the separation process may be performed. The secondary welding process may be omitted and the sealing material 34 (see FIG. 14) may be interposed as described above.

  Although illustration is omitted, the primary welding process may be performed after the secondary press molding process is performed after the primary press molding process.

  As described above, the crimping portion 13 of the crimping terminal 11 has a cylindrical shape and has the insertion port 31 and the sealing portion 32. Therefore, after connecting the end portion of the covered wire 51, the covered wire 51 is connected. In this connected state, since there is the sealing portion 32, a water-stopped state that prevents water and moisture from entering can be obtained without any additional processing.

  In addition, since the seam 33 is integrated by forming the shape retaining weld 33b, when performing the secondary press molding process, the press molding can be performed reliably and stably. In the state, both the connection state and the water stop state can be maintained firmly.

  For this reason, even if an aluminum electric wire is used for the covered electric wire 51 and copper or a copper alloy is used for the crimp terminal 11, it is possible to prevent water and moisture from adhering to the contact portion between them. Therefore, it can be made difficult to corrode while being in contact with dissimilar metals, and the covered electric wire 51 using the copper electric wire can be replaced with an aluminum electric wire, thereby reducing the weight of the wire harness 74 and hence the vehicle. .

  Moreover, the connection work of the covered wire 51 for obtaining the crimped terminal-equipped electric wire 61 with good water-stopping is only crimping, and there is no need for a separate process for obtaining water-stopping. The number of facilities can be reduced, and the manufacture of the electric wire 61 with the crimp terminal is simple.

  Moreover, unlike the open barrel type crimp terminal, it has a cylindrical crimp part 13 but can be manufactured by press molding, so that it can be manufactured while being transported, and further manufactured while transporting the electric wire 61 with the crimp terminal. It is possible and suitable for mass production with reduced production costs.

  Forming the shape retaining weld 33b and the sealing weld 32a by welding using a fiber laser as a high energy density beam also contributes to mass production. This is because welding using a high energy density beam enables high-precision welding with deep penetration at high speed.

In correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the configuration of the one aspect,
The welded portion of the seam portion of the present invention corresponds to the shape retaining welded portion 33b,
Similarly,
The welded portion of the sealing portion of the present invention corresponds to the water-stop welded portion 32a,
The present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and other configurations can be employed.

  For example, the crimping portion 13 may be a rectangular tube shape instead of a cylindrical shape.

  The material of the crimp terminal 11 may be a metal other than copper. The anticorrosion effect is acquired similarly to the above. You may use this invention in the case of the combination of the crimp terminal 11 and the covered electric wire 51 which does not become a dissimilar metal contact.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Crimp terminal 12 ... Terminal connection part 13 ... Crimp part 31 ... Insertion port 32 ... Sealing part 32a ... Water-stop welding part 33 ... Seam part 33a ... Edge 33b ... Shape retention welding part 34 ... Sealing material 41 ... Plate Shaped substrate 42 ... cylindrical portion 51 ... covered electric wire 52 ... conductor 53 ... insulating coating 61 ... electric wire with crimp terminal 72 ... connector housing 74 ... wire harness 81 ... fiber laser welding apparatus

Claims (11)

Manufacture of a crimp terminal integrally including a terminal connection portion to which the other terminal of the pair is connected and a crimp portion to be crimped to be electrically connected to a covered electric wire made of a conductor and an insulating coating covering the conductor A method,
The crimping part is a length that covers from the exposed conductor to the tip of the insulation coating, and is a plate that is large enough to insert the terminal part of the covered electric wire when rolled into a cylindrical shape A primary press molding process for rounding the base material into a cylinder;
While leaving the insertion port for inserting the terminal portion of the covered electric wire in the end portion on the opposite side to the terminal connection portion of the cylindrical portion obtained through the primary press molding step, the terminal connection A secondary press molding step for forming a sealing part having a water-stopping shape in a crushed shape at the end on the part side;
A crimp terminal having a welding step of forming a single seam portion extending in a longitudinal direction by performing welding for integrally joining opposing portions of edges of the plate-like base material obtained through the primary press molding step. Production method. The method for manufacturing a crimp terminal according to claim 1, wherein the welding step is performed after the primary press molding step and before the secondary press molding step. The manufacturing method of the crimp terminal of Claim 1 or Claim 2 which has the secondary welding process of welding to the crushed part after the said secondary press molding process. The manufacturing method of the crimp terminal as described in any one of Claims 1-3 in which the said welding is performed using a high energy density beam. A crimping terminal provided integrally with a terminal connecting portion to which the other terminal of the pair is connected and a crimping portion to be crimped to be electrically connected to a covered electric wire made of a conductor and an insulating coating covering the conductor. And
The crimping portion has a cylindrical shape with a thickness that allows insertion of a terminal portion of the covered electric wire, and a length that covers from the exposed conductor to the tip of the insulating coating,
While provided with an insertion port for inserting the terminal portion of the covered wire at the end opposite to the terminal connection portion,
Provided with a sealing part having water-stopping in a crushed shape at the end on the terminal connection part side,
Crimping having a single seam extending in the longitudinal direction between the insertion port and the sealing portion, comprising an end edge of the plate-like base material rolled into a cylindrical shape and a welded portion for integrally joining them. Terminal. The crimp terminal according to claim 5, wherein a weld portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is formed in the sealing portion. The crimp terminal according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a sealing material is interposed in the sealing portion. The crimp terminal according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein a thickness of the plate-like base material that is the basis of the crimp portion is 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm. The crimp terminal according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the weld is formed by welding using a high energy density beam. A plurality of covered electric wires to which the crimp terminals according to any one of claims 5 to 9 are connected;
The wire harness provided with the connector housing which hold | maintains the said crimp terminal of these covered electric wires. While the crimp terminal is made of copper or copper alloy,
The wire harness according to claim 10, wherein a conductor of the covered electric wire is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

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