JP2014229572A - Wire with terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent corrosion of a core wire, by preventing formation of a gap between a terminal fitting and a water stop tube, while preventing the portion of a water stop tube from becoming excessively thick, in a wire with a terminal.SOLUTION: A water stop tube 3 includes a heat-shrinkable tube and a thermoplastic adhesive layer. The water stop tube 3 adheres to the water stop region of an insulated wire 9 and a terminal fitting 8, in a state shrinking by receiving heat, and covers the water stop region. In the water stop tube 3, a press trace 33 is formed while traversing the planar intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8, by pressing the adhesive layer against the intermediate portion 82 in the softened state.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric wire with a terminal including an insulated wire and a terminal fitting.

  Generally, the wire harness mounted in vehicles, such as a motor vehicle, is equipped with the electric wire with a terminal containing the insulated wire and the terminal metal fitting connected to the edge part.

  In the electric wire with terminal, when the core wire of the insulated wire is an aluminum wire, the contact portion between the core wire and the crimp terminal is likely to be corroded by different metal contact corrosion. In order to prevent different metal contact corrosion in the electric wire with terminal, it is effective to prevent liquid from entering the portion where the core wire of the insulated wire and the crimp terminal are in contact.

  For example, a terminal-attached electric wire disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an insulated wire, a crimp terminal, and a heat-shrinkable waterproof tube that prevents liquid from entering the core wire of the insulated wire. The heat-shrinkable water stop tube has a two-layer structure including a heat-shrink tube and a thermoplastic adhesive layer formed on the inner surface thereof.

  In the electric wire with a terminal shown in Patent Document 1, the heat-shrinkable water-stop tube covers an area from the outside of the crimp terminal to a region extending from the portion where the insulation barrel of the insulated wire is crimped to the tip of the core wire.

JP 2011-29102 A

  By the way, the terminal fitting has a plate-shaped intermediate portion between the core wire connecting portion to which the end portion of the core wire is connected and the contact portion directly connected to the connection partner. The heat-shrinkable water stop tube covers a region extending from the insulation coating portion of the insulated wire to the intermediate portion of the terminal fitting in the terminal-attached electric wire.

  When a heat-shrinkable water stop tube is used in a terminal-equipped electric wire with a terminal fitting, a gap may be formed between the surface of the plate-shaped intermediate portion of the terminal fitting and the inner surface of the water stop tube. is there. In particular, a gap is easily formed when the intermediate portion is a wide flat plate. The gap serves as a liquid intrusion path into the core wire portion.

  In addition, if the amount of the thermoplastic adhesive in the water stop tube is increased so that there is no gap between the surface of the intermediate portion and the inner surface of the water stop tube, the portion of the water stop tube in the electric wire with terminal, The portion of the water tube that covers the insulation coating becomes too thick.

  Moreover, if the time for heating the water stop tube is too long, the outermost layer of the water stop tube may be damaged by overheating. For this reason, even if the adhesive amount of the water stop tube is increased, the entire amount of the adhesive cannot be filled in the entire area between the water stop tube and the terminal fitting within the heating time that does not cause the above damage. Things can happen.

  The object of the present invention is to reliably prevent the formation of a gap between the terminal fitting and the water stop tube while preventing the water stop tube portion from becoming excessively thick in the electric wire with terminal, and to prevent corrosion of the core wire. It is to be.

  The electric wire with a terminal concerning the 1st mode is provided with an insulated electric wire, a terminal metal fitting, and a water stop tube. The terminal fitting has a core wire connecting portion to which an end portion of the core wire of the insulated wire is connected, a plate-like intermediate portion connected to the core wire connecting portion, and a contact portion connected to the intermediate portion and directly connected to the connection partner. . The water blocking tube has a two-layer structure including a heat shrinkable tube and a thermoplastic adhesive layer formed on the inner surface of the heat shrinkable tube. In the state which received the heat and shrink | contracted, the said water stop tube closely_contact | adheres to the water stop area | region in the said insulated wire and the said terminal metal fitting, and covers the water stop area | region. The said water stop area | region is an area | region ranging from the part of the insulation coating of the said insulated wire in the said insulated wire and the said terminal metal fitting to the said intermediate part. A press mark, which is a mark pressed against the intermediate part of the terminal fitting in a state where the adhesive layer is softened, is formed across the intermediate part in the water stop tube.

  The electric wire with a terminal concerning the 2nd mode is one mode of the electric wire with a terminal concerning the 1st mode. The electric wire with a terminal concerning the 2nd mode WHEREIN: The said press trace of the said water stop tube is formed cyclically | annularly over the perimeter direction of the said intermediate part.

  The electric wire with a terminal concerning the 3rd mode is one mode of the electric wire with a terminal concerning the 1st mode or the 2nd mode. The electric wire with a terminal concerning the 3rd mode WHEREIN: The said core wire of the said insulated wire is a member which has aluminum as a main component, and the said terminal metal fitting is a member which has copper as a main component.

  In each of the above aspects, the heat-shrinkable water stop tube is in close contact with the insulated wire and the terminal fitting located in the water stop region. The water stop tube is formed with a press mark traversing the plate-shaped intermediate portion of the terminal fitting, that is, the portion between the contact portion and the core wire connecting portion. The press mark is a mark that the water stop tube is pressed against the intermediate portion in a state where the adhesive layer of the water stop tube is softened.

  As described above, the heat-shrinkable water-stopping tube is likely to have a gap with the plate-shaped intermediate portion simply by being heated. However, when the water stop tube is pressed against the plate-shaped intermediate portion with the adhesive layer softened, the outer heat shrinkable tube is bonded to the plate-shaped intermediate portion without gaps by the inner adhesive layer. It becomes a state. As a result, it is possible to avoid the formation of a gap between the terminal fitting and the water stop tube, thereby preventing the core wire from being corroded.

  Further, it is not necessary to form a large amount of thermoplastic adhesive on the inner surface of the heat shrinkable tube, and the portion of the water stop tube that covers the insulating coating of the insulated wire does not become excessively thick.

  Moreover, in the 2nd aspect, the press trace of the water stop tube is formed cyclically | annularly over the perimeter direction of the intermediate part of a terminal metal fitting. A gap between the water stop tube and the plate-shaped intermediate portion is likely to occur on both main surfaces of the intermediate portion. Even so, if the press mark is formed in an annular shape over both the main surface and both side surfaces of the intermediate portion, it is more reliably prevented that a gap is formed between the water stop tube and the intermediate portion. it can.

  Moreover, in the 3rd aspect, the core wire and terminal metal fitting of an insulated wire are comprised with the kind of different metal material. This configuration is a configuration in which dissimilar metal contact corrosion is particularly likely to occur when the liquid enters the core wire portion of the insulated wire. Therefore, the effect which can prevent the penetration | invasion of the liquid to the part of the core wire of an insulated wire becomes more remarkable.

It is a top view of electric wire 1 with a terminal concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the electric wire 1 with a terminal. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire 1 with a terminal in the heating process before forming a press mark. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire 1 with a terminal in the press process which forms a press mark. It is sectional drawing of the electric wire 1 with a terminal in which the press trace was formed. It is a top view of electric wire 1A with a terminal concerning a 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and is not an example of limiting the technical scope of the present invention. The electric wire with terminal in each embodiment is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

<First Embodiment>
First, the configuration of the terminal-attached electric wire 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The terminal-attached electric wire 1 includes an insulated wire 9, a terminal fitting 8 attached to an end portion thereof, and a heat-shrinkable water stop tube 3 that covers the end portion of the insulated wire 9.

<Insulated wire>
The insulated wire 9 includes a core wire 91 that is a long conductor, and an insulating coating 92 that is an insulator covering the periphery of the core wire 91. Usually, the core wire 91 is a stranded wire in which a plurality of thin strands are twisted together, but the core wire 91 may be a single wire.

  The end portion of the insulated wire 9 to which the terminal fitting 8 is attached is in a state in which the insulation coating 92 has been peeled from the periphery of the core wire 91 of a certain length in advance, that is, the end of the core wire 91 of a certain length is insulated It is processed so as to extend from the end of the coating 92.

  In the terminal-attached electric wire 1, the core wire of the insulated electric wire 9 is, for example, a metal wire whose main component is copper or aluminum.

<Terminal fitting>
The terminal fitting 8 is connected to the end of the insulated wire 9. The terminal fitting 8 has at least a contact part 81, an intermediate part 82 and a core wire connection part 83. The terminal fitting 8 in this embodiment further has a covering crimping portion 84.

  The covering crimping portion 84 is a portion that is crimped to the end portion of the insulating coating 92 portion of the insulated wire 9. The core wire connection portion 83 is a portion to which the end portion of the core wire 91 of the insulated wire 9 is connected. For example, the end of the core wire 91 is connected to the core wire connecting portion 83 by welding such as ultrasonic welding.

  The intermediate portion 82 is a plate-like portion that is continuous with the core wire connecting portion 83 and the contact portion 81. In the present embodiment, the intermediate portion 82 has a flat plate shape. In the following description, a main surface on the side where the core wire 91 is located in the intermediate portion 82 is referred to as a first main surface, and a main surface on the opposite side is referred to as a second main surface.

  The contact portion 81 is a portion that is directly connected to the connection partner. The contact portion 81 is connected to the intermediate portion 82 on the opposite side to the core wire connecting portion 83. The contact part 81 in this embodiment is a flat part. For example, a hole 811 through which a screw for fixing to a connection partner is passed is formed in the flat contact portion 81.

  In the electric wire with terminal 1, it is conceivable that the core wire 91 and the terminal fitting 8 of the insulated electric wire 9 are made of different metals. For example, it is conceivable that the core wire 91 is an aluminum wire, that is, a wire (aluminum or aluminum alloy) containing aluminum as a main component. On the other hand, the terminal fitting 8 is plated with a tin alloy in which silver (Ag), copper (Cu), bismuth (Bi) or the like is added to tin (Sn) or tin on a copper alloy base material such as copper or brass. It is conceivable that the member has been applied. In this case, the core wire 91 in contact with the terminal fitting 8 is likely to be corroded when a liquid as an electrolyte enters.

<Water stop tube>
The terminal-attached electric wire 1 has a water stop structure that prevents liquid from entering in order to prevent corrosion of the core wire 91. The water stop structure in the terminal-attached electric wire 1 includes a water stop tube 3.

  The water stop tube 3 is a heat contraction type tube that contracts by receiving heat. FIG. 2 shows the water stop tube 3 before contraction, and FIG. 1 shows the water stop tube 3 after contraction.

  The water stop tube 3 has a two-layer structure including a heat shrinkable tube 31 and a thermoplastic adhesive layer 32 formed on the inner surface of the heat shrinkable tube 31.

  The heat shrinkable tube 31 is a cylindrical member made of a synthetic resin such as polyolefin resin or nylon resin. The heat-shrinkable tube 31 is obtained by cooling a resin member that has been formed into a very thin cylindrical shape by extrusion, after being stretched into a thick cylindrical shape in a heated state. The heat-shrinkable tube 31 thus obtained has a shape memory characteristic that, when heated, contracts to a thin cylindrical shape before being stretched.

  The water-stop tube 3 is in contact with the water-stop region in the insulated wire 9 and the terminal fitting 8 in a contracted state by receiving heat, and covers the water-stop region. The water stop region is a region extending from the insulating coating 92 portion to the intermediate portion 82 in the insulated wire 9 and the terminal fitting 8.

  Further, a press mark 33 is formed across the intermediate portion 82 at a portion of the water stop tube 3 that covers the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8. The press mark 33 is a mark in which the water stop tube 3 in a state where the adhesive layer 32 is softened is pressed against the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8. The press mark 33 is formed across at least the first main surface and the second main surface of the intermediate portion 82.

  Therefore, the first end portion of the heat shrinkable tube 31 is bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 92 portion of the insulated wire 9 by the adhesive layer 32 without any gap over the entire circumferential direction. In addition, the 1st edge part of the heat contraction tube 31 is an edge part on the opposite side with respect to the contact part 81 side, and the 2nd edge part of the heat contraction tube 31 is an edge part on the contact part 81 side. .

  Further, at the position of the press mark 33, the heat shrinkable tube 31 is bonded to the surface of the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8 by the adhesive layer 32 over the entire circumferential direction without a gap. More specifically, the heat shrinkable tube 31 is bonded to the first main surface, the second main surface, and both side surfaces of the plate-shaped intermediate portion 82 by the adhesive layer 32 at the position of the press mark 33. .

  That is, the water stop tube 3 seals the end portion of the core wire 91 of the insulated wire 9 and the portion of the terminal fitting 8 that contacts the core wire 91. In addition, in order to improve sealing performance, it is desirable that the press mark 33 of the water stop tube 3 is formed in an annular shape over the entire circumferential direction of the intermediate portion 82. In this case, the press mark 33 is formed across the first main surface, the second main surface, and both side surfaces of the intermediate portion 82.

  Then, an example of the method of forming the press trace 33 of the water stop tube 3 is demonstrated, referring FIGS. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal-attached electric wire 1 in a heating process before forming the press mark 33. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal-attached electric wire 1 in the pressing step for forming the press mark 33. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the terminal-attached electric wire 1 on which the press mark 33 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the heat-shrinkable water-stopping tube 3 is likely to have a gap with the plate-shaped intermediate portion 82 simply by being heated. Therefore, the gap between the water stop tube 3 and the intermediate part 82 is eliminated by pressing the water stop tube 3 against the intermediate part 82 of the terminal fitting 8.

  As shown in FIG. 3, as a preparation for the step of pressing the water stop tube 3 against the terminal fitting 8, a heating step of heating a portion of the water stop tube 3 that covers the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8 is executed. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the water stop tube 3 is heated by the hot air blower 70. In this heating step, the water stop tube 3 is heated until the adhesive layer 32 is softened to such an extent that it can stick to the intermediate portion 82. In addition, the process of heating the whole water stop tube 3 in order to shrink the water stop tube 3 may serve as the heating process for a pressing process.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pressing process is performed in which the water stop tube 3 in a state where the adhesive layer 32 is softened is pressed against the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8. For example, the pressing step is a step of sandwiching a portion of the water stop tube 3 that covers the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8 between the pair of pressing members 7.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pair of press members 7 includes a first metal member 71 and a second metal member 72. The first metal member 71 presses the water stop tube 3 against one main surface and both side surfaces of the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8. The second metal member 72 and the water stop tube 3 are pressed against the other main surface of the intermediate portion 82.

  The pair of press members 7 also serve to cool the water stop tube 3 pressed against the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8. The heat of the water stop tube 3 is radiated through the first metal member 71 and the second metal member 72 having high thermal conductivity. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the adhesive layer 32 is fixed to the intermediate portion 82, and a press mark 33 is formed at a portion of the water stop tube 3 where the pair of press members 7 are in contact.

Second Embodiment
Next, an electric wire with terminal 1A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 A of this electric wire with a terminal differs in the point provided with the some insulated wire 9 compared with the electric wire 1 with a terminal shown by FIG. 6, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are given the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, only the differences between the terminal-attached electric wire 1A and the terminal-attached electric wire 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the terminal-attached electric wire 1A.

  The terminal-attached electric wire 1 </ b> A includes an electric wire bundle 90, a terminal fitting 8 </ b> A, an inter-cover water stop member 2, and a water stop tube 3. The wire bundle 90 includes a plurality of insulated wires 9 in which core wires 91 are joined together.

  The terminal fitting 8 is attached to the end of the insulated wire 9. The terminal fitting 8 has a contact part 81, an intermediate part 82, a core wire connection part 83 </ b> A, and a covering crimping part 84.

  The cover crimping portion 84 is crimped to the portion of the insulation coating 92 in the wire bundle 90 and bundles the portions of the insulation coating 92 of the plurality of insulated wires 9.

  The core wire connection portion 83A is a portion that forms a joint portion 910 in which a plurality of core wires 91 are joined. For example, the plurality of core wires 91 are joined by welding to the core wire connecting portion 83A. In addition, the case where 83 A of core wire connection parts are crimped | bonded to the edge part of the core wire 91 in the state which bundles the edge part of the some core wire 91 is also considered. In this case, a bundle of a plurality of core wires 91 bundled at the core wire connection portion 83 </ b> A forms a joint portion 910 of the core wire 91.

  The intermediate part 82 is a plate-like part that continues to the core wire connection part 83 </ b> A and the contact part 81. In the present embodiment, the intermediate portion 82 has a flat plate shape.

  The terminal-attached electric wire 1 </ b> A includes a water stop structure that prevents liquid from entering in order to prevent corrosion of the core 91. The water stop structure in the terminal-attached electric wire 1 </ b> A includes an inter-cover water stop member 2 and a water stop tube 3.

  The inter-cover water-stop member 2 is a member formed in advance, and blocks between the portions of the insulating coating 92 of each of the plurality of insulated wires 9. The inter-cover water-stop member 2 in the present embodiment is an elastic member mainly composed of an elastomer, rubber, foamed resin, or the like.

  For example, the inter-cover water-stopping member 2 is an elastic member in which a plurality of through-holes through which a portion of the insulating coating 92 of each of the plurality of insulated wires 9 passes are formed. The edge of the through hole is formed in a shape that is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the insulating coating 92 of the insulated wire 9 over the entire circumferential direction.

  The terminal-attached electric wire 1 </ b> A in the present embodiment includes two insulated electric wires 9. Therefore, two through holes are formed in the inter-cover water-stopping member 2. In this case, the inter-cover water-stopping member 2 blocks between the portions of the insulating coating 92 of each of the plurality of insulated wires 9 and further blocks between the plurality of insulated wires 9 and the water-stop tube 3. . The outer surface of the inter-cover water-stopping member 2 is formed in a shape without a dent in the circumferential direction.

  The water stop tube 3 is in contact with the water stop regions of the wire bundle 90, the inter-cover water stop member 2 and the terminal fitting 8 in a contracted state by receiving heat and covers the water stop region.

  The water stop region in the present embodiment is a region extending from the portion of the insulating coating 92 where the inter-cover water stop member 2 in the wire bundle 90 and the terminal fitting 8 exists to the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8.

  Further, a press mark 33 is formed across the intermediate portion 82 at a portion of the water stop tube 3 that covers the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8. The press mark 33 is formed across at least the first main surface and the second main surface of the intermediate portion 82.

  The heat-shrinkable tube 31 is bonded to the outer surface of the inter-coat water-stopping member 2 that closes the space between the insulating coatings 92 at the portion near the first end portion without any gap by the adhesive layer 32 over the entire circumferential direction. ing.

  Further, at the position of the press mark 33, the heat shrinkable tube 31 is bonded to the surface of the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8 by the adhesive layer 32 over the entire circumferential direction without a gap.

  As described above, the water stop tube 3 on which the inter-cover water stop member 2 and the press mark 33 are formed seals the joint portion 910 of the core wire 91.

<Effect>
In the terminal-attached electric wires 1 and 1A, the heat-shrinkable water stop tube 3 is in close contact with the insulated wire 9 and the terminal fittings 8 and 8A located in the water stop region. The water stop tube 3 is formed with a press mark 33 that crosses the plate-shaped intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fittings 8 and 8A.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the heat-shrinkable water-stopping tube 3 is likely to have a gap with the plate-shaped intermediate portion 82 simply by being heated.

  However, when the water stop tube 3 is pressed against the plate-shaped intermediate portion 82 in a state where the adhesive layer 32 is softened, the outer heat shrinkable tube 31 is plate-shaped by the inner adhesive layer 32 as shown in FIG. It will be in the state where it was pasted up to the middle part 82 of this no gap. As a result, the formation of a gap between the terminal fitting 8 and the water stop tube 3 can be avoided, and consequently the corrosion of the core wire 91 can be prevented.

  Moreover, it is not necessary to form a large amount of thermoplastic adhesive on the inner surface of the heat shrinkable tube 31, and the portion of the water blocking tube 3 that covers the insulating coating 92 of the insulated wire 9 does not become excessively thick.

  Moreover, in the electric wires with terminals 1, 1 </ b> A, it is desirable that the press mark 33 of the water stop tube 3 is formed in an annular shape over the entire circumferential direction of the intermediate portion 82 of the terminal fitting 8. A gap between the water stop tube 3 and the plate-like intermediate portion 82 is likely to occur on both main surfaces of the intermediate portion 82. Even so, if the press mark 33 is formed in an annular shape over both main surfaces and both side surfaces of the intermediate portion 82, a gap is formed between the water stop tube 3 and the intermediate portion 82. This can be prevented more reliably.

  In addition, when the core wire 91 of the insulated wire 9 and the terminal fittings 8 and 8A are made of different types of metal materials, different metal contact corrosion is particularly likely to occur. In such a case, the effect of preventing liquid from entering the portion of the core 91 of the insulated wire 9 becomes more prominent.

<Application example>
In the terminal-attached electric wire 1, it is also conceivable that the core wire connecting portion 83 is a portion that is crimped by being crimped to the end portion of the core wire 91. In each embodiment, it is also conceivable that the terminal fitting 8 does not include the covering crimping portion 84.

  The terminal-attached electric wire according to the present invention can be freely combined with each of the embodiments and application examples shown above within the scope of the invention described in each claim, or each of the embodiments and application examples as appropriate. It is also possible to constitute by changing or omitting a part.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A Electric wire with a terminal 2 Water insulation member between coverings 3 Water stop tube 7 Press member 8, 8A Terminal metal fitting 9 Insulated wire 31 Heat shrinkable tube 32 Adhesive layer 33 Press mark 70 Hot air blower 71 First metal member (press member)
72 Second metal member (press member)
81 Contact portion 82 Intermediate portion 83, 83A Core wire connection portion 84 Cover crimp portion 90 Wire bundle 91 Core wire 92 Insulation coating 811 Hole 910 Core wire joint portion

Claims (3)

Insulated wires,
A terminal fitting having a core wire connecting portion to which an end portion of the core wire of the insulated wire is connected, a plate-like intermediate portion connected to the core wire connecting portion, and a contact portion connected to the intermediate portion and directly connected to a connection partner;
It has a two-layer structure including a heat-shrinkable tube and a thermoplastic adhesive layer formed on the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube, and in a state where the heat-shrinkable tube shrinks by receiving heat, the insulated wire and the terminal fitting A water stop tube that covers the water stop region in close contact with the water stop region extending from the insulation coating portion of the insulated wire to the intermediate portion, and
A terminal-attached electric wire, wherein a press mark, which is a mark pressed against the intermediate part of the terminal fitting in a state where the adhesive layer is softened, is formed across the intermediate part in the water stop tube. It is an electric wire with a terminal according to claim 1,
The press trace of the water stop tube is an electric wire with a terminal that is formed in an annular shape over the entire circumferential direction of the intermediate portion. It is an electric wire with a terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
The core wire of the insulated wire is a member mainly composed of aluminum,
The terminal fitting is an electric wire with a terminal, which is a member mainly composed of copper.

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