JP2015005429A - Connector structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for securing stable conductivity between a male terminal and a female terminal in a connector structure for connecting/separating the male terminal and the female terminal by reducing abrasion caused by repeat of insertion/extraction of the terminals.SOLUTION: A male connector 12 includes a male terminal 15. A female connector includes a female terminal 8 having a cylindrical part into which the male terminal 15 is inserted. A flat spring 5 for pressing the inserted male terminal 15 to an inside face 8a of the cylindrical part is arranged on the inside of the cylindrical part of the female terminal 8. A projection portion 5a is formed on the surface of the flat spring 5 opposed to the male terminal 15. A flat part 15b with which an upper end of the projection portion 5a is brought into contact in a situation where insertion into the female terminal 8 is completed is formed on the male terminal 15, a groove 15a is formed on a route on which the projection portion 5a is moved up to completion of insertion into the female terminal 8, and when the projection portion 5a is opposed to the groove 15a, a gap is secured between the upper end of the projection portion 5a and the groove 15a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector structure for connecting / disconnecting an electric (signal or electric power) transmission path.

  Connectors for connecting / disconnecting electrical transmission paths are used in various electrical devices. The electrical transmission path is connected / disconnected by fitting / separating the pair of connectors. Typically, one connector (male connector) is provided with a plate-shaped or rod-shaped metal male terminal, and the other connector (female connector) is a metal having a cylindrical portion through which the male terminal is inserted. A female terminal is provided. A metal spring member that presses the inserted male terminal against the inner surface of the cylinder part is disposed in the cylinder part. The spring member closely contacts the male terminal and the female terminal. The male terminal is inserted into the cylindrical portion of the female terminal and the two are brought into contact with each other to ensure electrical connection. The spring member is also a part of the female terminal and contributes to electrical connection between the male terminal and the female terminal. The male connector is sometimes called a “plug”.

  In order to make the electrical connection between the male terminal and the female terminal more reliable, one of the male terminal and the female terminal may be provided with a convex portion that contacts the other. The other terminal is provided with a groove (or hole) that comes into contact with the convex portion, and when the convex portion and the groove (or hole) are fitted, the electrical contact between both terminals becomes more reliable. Further, the fitting between the convex portion and the groove (or hole) contributes to prevention of the male terminal from coming off.

  Examples of the above structure are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4. In the structure, a convex portion is provided on a surface facing the inserted male terminal in the leaf spring disposed inside the cylinder of the female terminal. The male terminal is provided with a groove extending in the longitudinal direction at a position facing the convex portion of the leaf spring when inserted into the female terminal. Here, the “longitudinal direction of the male terminal” means a direction in which the male terminal is inserted into the female terminal. That is, when the male terminal is inserted, the convex portion of the leaf spring slides in the groove of the male terminal.

  In the connector structure of Patent Document 2, a hole is provided in a surface facing the inserted male terminal in the leaf spring disposed in the cylinder of the female terminal. The male terminal is provided with a convex portion at a position facing the hole of the leaf spring in a completely inserted state. When the male terminal is completely inserted, the convex portion and the hole are fitted, and it becomes difficult to come off.

  In the connector structure of Patent Document 3, a convex portion is provided on a surface facing the inserted male terminal in the leaf spring disposed in the female terminal. The male terminal is provided with a hole at a position facing the convex portion of the leaf spring in a completely inserted state. When the male terminal is completely inserted, the convex portion and the hole are fitted, and it becomes difficult to come off.

  In the connector structure of patent document 4, the front-end | tip of the leaf | plate spring arrange | positioned in a female terminal contacts the side surface of the inserted male terminal. The male terminal is provided with a hole at a position facing the tip of the leaf spring when it is completely inserted. The tip of the leaf spring and the hole are fitted, making it difficult to remove.

JP 2001-351712 A JP 2000-277197 A JP 2004-139826 A JP 2011-129271 A

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, the same portion of the convex portion and the groove slides each time the male terminal is inserted and removed, and wear of both terminals proceeds. If the wear of the terminal progresses, the conductivity may be affected. This specification is different from the structures disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4, and provides a technique for reducing the wear caused by repeated insertion and removal of terminals and ensuring stable continuity between male and female terminals. To do.

  The connector structure disclosed in this specification includes a male connector having a plate-like or rod-like male terminal and a female connector having a female terminal having a cylindrical portion through which the male terminal is inserted. The male terminal is connected to one cable or the like, and the female terminal is connected to another cable or the like. When the male connector and the female connector are fitted, that is, when the male terminal comes into contact with the female terminal, electrical connection between the two cables is ensured. When the male connector and the female connector are separated, that is, when the male terminal and the female terminal are separated, the electrical connection is interrupted. In the connector structure disclosed in this specification, a spring member that presses the inserted male terminal against the inner surface of the cylinder portion is disposed inside the cylinder portion of the female terminal. A convex portion is provided on the surface of the spring member facing the male terminal. Furthermore, the male terminal is provided with a flat portion that is in contact with the upper end of the convex portion in a state where the insertion into the female terminal is completed, and the path along which the convex portion moves until the insertion into the female terminal is completed. A groove is provided above, and when the convex portion faces the groove, a gap is secured between the upper end of the convex portion and the groove. This gap is formed by the leaf spring contacting the male terminal at a portion other than the upper end of the convex portion.

  According to the connector structure described above, when the fitting of the male terminal and the female terminal is completed, the upper end of the convex portion of the female terminal and the flat portion of the male terminal come into contact with each other to ensure electrical connection. The upper end of the convex portion does not slide while passing through the groove during movement when the male terminal is inserted or removed. Therefore, wear at the upper end of the convex portion is suppressed.

  Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in this specification will be described in the following “DETAILED DESCRIPTION”.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the connector structure of the embodiment (a state where the male and female connectors are separated). FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the connector structure of an Example (in the middle of male and female connector fitting). 2A is a cross-sectional view in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a contact portion between a male terminal and a leaf spring in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the connector structure of an Example (state which the fitting of the male and female connector was completed). 4A shows a cross-sectional view in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4A.

  The connector structure of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The connector structure of the embodiment includes a male connector 12 and a female connector 2. A set of the male connector 12 and the female connector 2 may be referred to as a connector structure 30 or a connector set 30. This connector set 30 is used, for example, for cable connection of an in-vehicle device of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

  FIG. 1A shows a state in which the male connector 12 and the female connector 2 are arranged opposite to each other but are completely separated. The male connector 12 moves in the X-axis direction in the figure and fits into the female connector 2. For convenience of explanation, the direction in which the male connector 12 faces the female connector (X-axis direction in the drawing) is referred to as an insertion direction or a fitting direction. Further, in the male connector 12 (or male terminal 15) and the female connector 2 (or female terminal 8), the sides facing each other are referred to as “front ends”, and the opposite ends are referred to as “rear ends”. Sometimes called.

  FIG. 1B shows a BB cross section in FIG. 1A, that is, a transverse cross section near the tip of the male connector 12. FIG. 1C shows a CC cross section in FIG. 1A, that is, a cross section of the female connector 2. The “cross section” means a section orthogonal to the fitting direction of the connector.

  When the male connector 12 and the female connector 2 are fitted, the metal terminals provided in each connector come into contact with each other, and electrical conduction is ensured. In FIG. 1 (and FIG. 2 and FIG. 4), the rear ends of the male and female connectors 12, 2 are omitted, that is, the portion where the cable is fixed to the metal terminal, and only the fitting portion is shown in cross section. Is shown.

  The male connector 12 includes a resin housing 13 (male connector housing) and metal male terminals 15. The front end of the housing 13 (that is, the end on the side facing the female connector when fitted) is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an elongated plate-like male terminal 15 extends inside the cylinder. The extending direction of the male terminal 15 is a fitting direction with the female connector 2.

  As well shown in FIG. 1B, a V-shaped groove 15 a is provided near the tip of the male terminal 15. The groove 15 a extends from the tip of the male terminal 15 along the insertion direction of the male terminal 15. A flat portion following the end of the groove 15a (the end portion on the rear end side of the male terminal 15) is denoted by reference numeral 15b and is referred to as a “flat portion 15b” (see FIG. 1A). Although not shown, an electrical cable extending from the electrical device is fixed to the rear end of the male terminal 15 by soldering or crimping.

  The female connector 2 includes a resin housing 3 (female connector housing), a female terminal 8, and a leaf spring 5. As well shown in the cross section of FIG. 1C, the female terminal 8 has a metal cylindrical shape and is covered with the housing 3. A hole 3 a is provided at the tip of the housing 3, and when mating with the male connector 12, the male terminal 15 is inserted through the hole 3 a into the cylinder of the female terminal 8. Although not shown, an electrical cable extending from another electrical device is fixed to the rear end of the female terminal 8 by soldering or crimping. When the male connector 12 and the female connector 2 are fitted, the above-described electrical device and another electrical device are electrically connected.

  The leaf spring 5 is disposed inside the cylinder of the female terminal 8. The plate spring 5 is a plate member continuous from the tip of the tube of the female terminal 8 and is folded back from the tip of the tube of the female terminal 8 toward the inside of the tube. The tip of the leaf spring 5 faces the passage path of the male terminal 15 in the cylinder of the female terminal 8, and a hemispherical convex portion 5 a is provided on the surface facing the inserted male terminal 15. The convex portion 5a protrudes from the passage route of the male terminal 15 and when the male terminal 15 passes (in other words, when the male terminal 15 is inserted into the cylinder of the female terminal 8), The male terminal 15 is pressed against the cylinder inner surface 8a by rigidity. As will be described in detail below, the convex portion 5a faces the V-shaped groove 15a when the male terminal 15 is in the middle of insertion, and faces the flat portion 15b when the insertion is completed. The contact between the male terminal 15 and the female terminal 8 establishes an electrical connection between the two connectors. However, since the leaf spring 5 is made of metal that is integral with the female terminal 8, the leaf spring 5 also contributes to the electrical connection between the two connectors. To do. That is, the leaf spring 5 is a part of the female terminal 8.

  The relationship between the male terminal 15 and the leaf spring 5 when the male connector 12 is fitted to the female connector 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. The housing 13 of the male connector 12 has a cylindrical tip, and the housing 3 of the female connector 2 is fitted into this. The male terminal 15 is long in the insertion direction of the male connector 12 into the female connector 2 (X-axis direction in the drawing), and when the male connector 12 is fitted into the female connector 2, the female terminal 15 is inserted into the female terminal 2 through the hole 3a of the housing 3. The terminal 8 is inserted into the cylinder. As is well shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the middle of the connector fitting, the V-shaped groove 15 a provided at the tip of the male terminal 15 faces the convex portion 5 a of the leaf spring 5. As described above, since the convex portion 5a protrudes from the insertion path of the male terminal 15, when the male terminal 15 is inserted, it contacts the side surface of the groove 15a. The direction in which the V-shaped groove 15 a extends is the insertion direction of the male terminal 15, and this direction corresponds to the direction in which the convex portion 5 a moves with respect to the inserted male terminal 15. That is, during the insertion of the male terminal 15, the convex portion 5a moves in the longitudinal direction of the groove while being in contact with the V-shaped groove 15a.

  FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2B, that is, a cross-sectional view of the male terminal 15 in the middle of fitting and the leaf spring 5 in contact with the side surface of the groove 15a. However, in FIG. 3, hatching that represents a cross section is omitted to facilitate understanding. The hemispherical convex portion 5a is in contact with the side surface of the V-shaped groove 15a between the root and the upper end of the convex portion. In FIG. 2, the symbol CP indicates a contact point between the groove 15a and the convex portion 5a (a black dot indicates a contact point). At this time, a gap SP is secured above the convex portion 5a and between the bottom of the V-shaped groove 15a. In FIG. 3, a gap d is also secured between the flat surface of the male terminal 15 on both sides of the groove 15 a and the leaf spring 5. That is, during the fitting of the male and female connectors, the male terminal 15 and the leaf spring 5 slide only on the side surface of the convex portion 5a and the side surface of the groove 15a, and do not slide on other portions. In particular, it should be noted that the upper end of the convex portion 5a does not slide with the male terminal 15 during the fitting between the connectors.

  FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view in a state where the male and female connectors have been fitted. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. At the position where the male and female connectors are completely fitted, the convex portion 5 a of the leaf spring 5 contacts the flat portion 15 b of the male terminal 15. At this time, the upper end of the convex part 5a contacts the flat part 15b. The male terminal 15 and the female terminal 8 conduct electricity at the part where they are in contact. In particular, the contact point between the upper end of the convex portion 5a and the flat portion 15b is the main electricity between the male terminal 15 and the female terminal 8. It becomes a path of automatic conduction. As apparent from a comparison between FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, in the state of FIG. 4, that is, in a state where the male and female connectors are completely fitted, the leaf spring 5 is folded back at the tip of the cylindrical portion as compared with the state of FIG. 3. It is bent greatly from the point. That is, in the state of FIG. 4, the male spring 15 is firmly held between the leaf spring 5 and the inner surface 8 a of the female terminal 8. The contact pressure between the male terminal 15 and the female terminal 8 (leaf spring 5) increases, and the electrical resistance between the two decreases.

  As described above, the upper end of the convex portion 5a does not slide in the middle of connector fitting, and therefore wear is small. The convex part 5a (namely, female terminal 8) always contacts the male terminal 15 in a clean state. Therefore, a good electrical connection state between the male terminal 15 and the female terminal 8 is ensured. Here, “good” means “without an increase in electrical resistance due to impurities such as oxides”.

  The advantages of the connector of the embodiment will be described in more detail. In the case of a connector mounted on a vehicle, sliding may occur at the electrical contact between the male terminal and the female terminal due to vibration of the engine or vehicle, thermal deformation when a large current is applied, or a change in environmental temperature. Furthermore, sliding also occurs by inserting and removing terminals. This sliding wears the contact surface of the terminal (terminal plating, base material, etc.) and generates an oxide. When sliding and wear are repeated, the oxide gradually accumulates at the contact points of the terminals. Since this oxide is high resistance, the volume of the oxide increases the contact resistance of the contact. The increase in contact resistance causes the temperature of the terminal to rise during energization. If the temperature of the terminal rises excessively, the resin (housing) that holds the terminal may be damaged. In the connector structure of the embodiment, the contact part (that is, the sliding part) of the male terminal and the female terminal in the middle of fitting between the connectors is different from the contact part (that is, the part that secures electrical connection) in the fitting completion state. As a result, the effect of suppressing the increase in the contact resistance is exhibited.

  Points to be noted regarding the connector structure 30 described in the embodiment will be described. The groove 15a provided in the male terminal 15 extends from the front end of the male terminal 15 to the front end side of the male terminal slightly from the contact position between the convex portion 5a and the male terminal 15 when the fitting between the connectors is completed. It is provided along the insertion direction.

  The convex part 5a of the leaf spring 5 is hemispherical. However, although hemispherical is preferable, it is not limited to this. The groove 15a provided in the male terminal 15 has a V-shaped cross section. The cross section of the groove is not limited to the V shape, and may be a trapezoidal shape, for example. However, when the convex portion is fitted in the groove, a gap needs to be secured between the convex portion and the groove side surface (bottom surface).

  Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology exemplified in this specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical usefulness by achieving one of the objects.

2: Female connector 3: Housing (female connector housing)
3a: hole 5: leaf spring 5a: convex portion 8: female terminal 8a: inner surface 12 of female terminal cylinder 12: male connector 13: housing (male connector housing)
15: Male terminal 15a: Groove 15b: Flat part 30: Connector structure (connector set)
CP: contact point SP: gap

Claims (1)

A connector structure in which a male connector including a plate-shaped or rod-shaped male terminal and a female connector including a female terminal having a cylindrical portion through which the male terminal is inserted are fitted / separated,
A spring member that presses the inserted male terminal against the inner surface of the cylinder part is disposed inside the cylinder part,
A convex portion is provided on the surface of the spring member facing the male terminal,
The male terminal is provided with a flat portion in contact with the upper end of the convex portion in a state where the insertion to the female terminal is completed, and the path along which the convex portion moves until the insertion to the female terminal is completed A groove is provided on the top, and when the convex portion is opposed to the groove, a gap is secured between the upper end of the convex portion and the groove.
A connector structure characterized by that.

Images