JP2015216112A - Contact connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contact connection structure capable of reducing contact resistance without increasing a size of a terminal and complicating the terminal as much as possible.SOLUTION: A contact connection structure includes first contact parts 2a, 3 including an indented part 4 projecting therefrom and having a tin plating layer 3b formed on an outer surface thereof, and a tab section 11 having a tin plating layer 11b formed on an outer surface thereof, the indented part 4 of the first contact parts 2a, 3 sliding along the contact surface of the tab section 11 during a terminal insertion step, and the indented part 4 being brought into contact with the tab section 11 at a terminal-insertion completion position. On the contact surface of the tab section 11 on which the indented part 4 slides, there is provided an impact load applying section 13 for landing the indented part 4 on the contact surface of the tab section 11 at a position proceeding the terminal-insertion completion position in the indented part 4.

Description

  The present invention relates to a contact connection structure that performs electrical connection between a first terminal and a second terminal.

  8 and 9 show a female terminal and a male terminal to which a conventional contact connection structure is applied (see Patent Document 1 as a similar technique). As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the female terminal 51 has a rectangular box portion 52. In the box portion 52, an elastic bending portion 53 provided integrally with the box portion 52 is disposed. The elastic bending portion 53 is provided with an indent portion 54 that protrudes toward the bottom surface side. The indented portion 54 has a substantially spherical outer peripheral surface, and the center vertex is located at the lowest position. A tin-plated layer (not shown) is formed on the outer surface of the female terminal 51 from the viewpoint of improving connection reliability in a high temperature environment and improving corrosion resistance in a corrosive environment.

  As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the male terminal 60 has a flat tab portion 61. A tin-plated layer (not shown) is formed on the outer surface of the male terminal 60 from the viewpoint of improving connection reliability in a high temperature environment and improving corrosion resistance in a corrosive environment.

  In the above configuration, when the tab portion 61 of the male terminal 60 is inserted into the box portion 52 of the female terminal 51 at the position of FIG. 8, the elastic bending portion 53 is deformed and insertion of the tab portion 61 is allowed. In the insertion process of the tab portion 61, the tab portion 61 slides on the indent portion 54 of the elastic bending portion 53, and at the terminal insertion completion position, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the indent portion 54 of the elastic bending portion 53 is shown. And the contact surface of the tab part 61 contact. At the terminal insertion completion position, the indented portion 54 of the female terminal 51 and the contact surface of the tab portion 61 of the male terminal 60 are in electrical contact with each other using the bending return force of the elastic bending portion 53 as a contact load. A current flows through the contact surface to energize the female terminal 51 and the male terminal 60.

JP 2007-280825 A

  By the way, the contact surface between the contacts can be considered as an apparent contact surface E2 because the entire region does not carry electrical conduction (see FIG. 13). Of the apparent contact surface E2, the surface that actually contacts (the true contact surface) is responsible for electrical energization. The true contact surface is formed at a point (ohmic point) at which the oxide film formed on the surface of the tin plating layer is destroyed and tin contacts each other.

  In the conventional contact connection structure, the oxide film is destroyed by the contact load between the contact surfaces of the indent portion 54 and the tab portion 61. For this reason, it is conceivable to increase the contact load of the contact portion (the bending return force of the elastic bending portion 53) to promote the destruction of the oxide film. Becomes larger or more complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a contact connection structure capable of reducing contact resistance without increasing the size of a terminal or making it as complex as possible.

  The present invention includes a first contact portion having an indented portion projecting and having a plated layer formed on the outer surface, and a second contact portion having a plated layer formed on the outer surface, and in the terminal insertion process, the first contact point The indent portion of the contact portion slides on the contact surface of the second contact portion, and at the terminal insertion completion position, the indent portion contacts the second contact portion. The surface on which the indent portion slides is provided with an impact load addition portion for landing the indent portion on the contact surface of the second contact portion at a position before the terminal insertion completion position of the indent portion. This is a contact connection structure.

  The impact load adding part preferably has a protrusion.

  In the case where the impact load adding portion has a protrusion, the indent portion gets over the protrusion at a position before the terminal insertion completion position, and the indent portion overcoming the landing touches the contact surface of the second contact portion.

  It is preferable that the protrusion has a tapered surface on the distal end side of the second contact portion and a vertical surface on the proximal end side of the second contact portion.

  The impact load adding part preferably has a step part.

  When the impact load adding portion has a step portion, the indent portion falls from the step portion before the terminal insertion completion position, and the dropped indent portion lands on the contact surface of the second contact portion.

  It is preferable that the step portion is located on the tip side of the second contact portion of the recess.

  According to the present invention, in the terminal insertion process, the indent portion of the first contact portion slides on the contact surface of the second contact portion, but the indent portion is placed by the impact load adding portion at a position before the terminal insertion completion position. Land on the contact surface of the second contact portion and reach the terminal insertion completion position. When the indented portion reaches the terminal insertion completion position, an impact load acts on the contact surface of the indented portion and the second contact portion, and the impact load causes the oxide film on the contact surface side of the indented portion and the second contact portion to Destruction is promoted and the number of contact points between platings increases. As described above, the contact resistance can be reduced without increasing the size of the terminal or making it as complex as possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a female terminal and a male terminal before a terminal connection (a tin plating layer is not shown). 1A and 1B show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a female terminal and a male terminal in a terminal connection state (a tin plating layer is not shown), and FIG. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is principal part sectional drawing of the elastic bending part of a female terminal, (b) is A arrow directional view of (a). It is principal part sectional drawing of the tab part of a male terminal which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention. The 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown and it is principal part sectional drawing of the female terminal of a connection state, and a male terminal. It is a principal part perspective view of the tab part of a male terminal which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The 3rd Embodiment of this invention is shown and it is a principal part perspective view of the tab part of a male terminal. It is a sectional view of a female terminal and a male terminal before showing a conventional example and connecting a terminal. It is a sectional view of a female terminal and a male terminal in a terminal connected state, showing a conventional example. A prior art example is shown, (a) is a principal part side view of the elastic bending part of a female terminal, (b) is B arrow directional view of (a). A prior art example is shown, (a) is a principal part side view of the tab part of a male terminal, (b) is a principal part top view of the tab part of a male terminal. It is a principal part side view of a contact connection part which shows a prior art example. It is a figure which shows a prior art example and shows an apparent contact surface diameter.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The contact connection structure according to the present invention is applied between the female terminal as the first terminal and the male terminal as the second terminal. This will be described below.

  The female terminal 1 is disposed in a terminal accommodating chamber in a female connector housing (not shown). The female terminal 1 is formed by bending a conductive metal (for example, copper alloy) punched into a predetermined shape. The female terminal 1 has a box portion 2 that is a first contact portion. The box part 2 has a rectangular shape with an opening at the front. In the box part 2, an elastic bending part 3 bent from the upper surface part of the box part 2 is arranged. The elastic bending portion 3 is provided with an indent portion 4 protruding toward the bottom surface side. The indented portion 4 has a substantially spherical outer peripheral surface, and the center vertex is located at the lowest position. The indent portion 4 can be shifted upward by the bending deformation of the bending deformation portion 3. The elastic deflecting portion 3 and the bottom surface portion 2a of the box portion 2 which is a fixed surface portion are arranged with an interval therebetween. A male terminal 10 is inserted between the elastic bending portion 3 and the bottom surface portion 2 a of the box portion 2.

  The female terminal 1 is tin-plated from the viewpoints of improving connection reliability in a high temperature environment and improving corrosion resistance in a corrosive environment. Therefore, as shown in detail in FIGS. 2B and 3A, the elastic bending portion 3 (including the indent portion 4) has a tin plating layer 3b on the outer surface of the base material layer 3a of the copper alloy material. (FIGS. 1 and 2A do not show the tin plating layer 3a). An oxide film (not shown) is formed on the surface of the tin plating layer 3b after the reflow process or the like.

  The male terminal 10 is disposed in a terminal accommodating chamber in a male connector housing (not shown). The male terminal 10 is formed by bending a conductive metal (for example, copper alloy) punched into a predetermined shape. The male terminal 10 has a tab portion 11 that is a second contact portion. The tab portion 11 has a flat plate outer shape. The male terminal 10 is tin-plated from the viewpoints of improving connection reliability in a high temperature environment and improving corrosion resistance in a corrosive environment. Therefore, as shown in detail in FIGS. 2B and 4, the tab portion 11 is formed with a tin plating layer 11 b on the outer surface of the copper alloy base material layer 11 a (FIGS. 1 and 2A). ) Does not show the tin plating layer 11b). An oxide film (not shown) is formed on the surface of the tin plating layer 11b after the reflow process or the like.

  On the surface of the tab portion 11 on which the indent portion 4 slides, a protrusion 12 is provided at a position before (a position immediately before) the terminal insertion completion position of the indent portion 4. The protrusion 12 has a taper surface (a surface on the downstream side in the terminal insertion direction of the tab portion 11) 12 a on the tip side of the tab portion 11 and a vertical surface (a surface of the tab portion 11 on the tab portion 11). (Upstream surface in the terminal insertion direction) 12b. The tapered surface 12a is a surface that gradually increases in height from the tip side. That is, in the terminal insertion process, the indent portion 4 slides on the tapered surface 12 a, and then the indent portion 4 exceeds the vertical surface 12.

  In the above configuration, when the female connector housing (not shown) and the male connector housing (not shown) are mated, the tab portion 11 of the male terminal 10 is connected to the box portion 2 of the female terminal 1 in the mating process. Inserted. Then, first, the tip of the tab portion 11 comes into contact with the elastic bending portion 3, and when the insertion further proceeds from this contact portion, the elastic bending portion 3 is bent and deformed, and insertion of the tab portion 11 is allowed. In the insertion process of the tab part 11 (terminal insertion process), the indent part 4 slides on the contact surface of the tab part 11 (see the phantom line in FIG. 2B). At the position before the terminal insertion completion position, the indent portion 4 gets over the protrusion 12, and the indent portion 4 that has passed over reaches the contact surface of the tab portion 11 to reach the terminal insertion completion position (FIGS. 2A and 2B). Position of).

  In this contact connection structure, a protrusion 12 is provided on the surface of the tab portion 11 on which the indent portion 4 slides, at a position before the terminal insertion completion position of the indent portion 4. Accordingly, in the process of inserting the male terminal, when the indent portion 4 lands at the terminal insertion completion position, an impact load acts on the contact surface of the indent portion 4 and the tab portion 11, and the indent portion 4 and the tab are caused by this impact load. The destruction of the oxide film on the contact surface side of the portion 11 is promoted, the tin oozes out from the broken portion of the oxide film to the surface, and the contact point (ohmic point) between the tin platings increases. As described above, the contact resistance can be reduced without increasing the size of the terminal or making it as complex as possible.

  Although the terminal insertion force temporarily increases at a position before the terminal insertion completion position, the terminal insertion force does not increase in other terminal insertion processes, so that it is possible to prevent the terminal insertion performance from being lowered as much as possible. That is, in the structure of the conventional example, if the bending return force of the elastic bending portion 53 is increased, the destruction of the oxide film can be promoted. However, since the terminal insertion force increases in proportion thereto, the terminal insertion property is deteriorated. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the contact resistance while preventing the terminal insertability from being lowered as much as possible.

  The protrusion 12 has a taper surface (a surface on the downstream side in the terminal insertion direction of the tab portion 11) 12 a on the tip side of the tab portion 11 and a vertical surface (a surface of the tab portion 11 on the tab portion 11). (Upstream surface in the terminal insertion direction) 12b. Therefore, the indented portion 4 can smoothly ride on the protrusion 12, and after the indented portion 4 gets over the protruding portion 12, the indented portion 4 is landed so as to fall on the contact surface of the tab portion 11. A large impact load is applied. Thereby, destruction of the oxide film on the contact surface side of the indent portion 4 and the tab portion 11 can be effectively promoted.

  In the present embodiment, the protrusion 12 serves as an impact load adding portion 13 for landing the indent portion 4 on the contact surface of the tab portion 11.

  The impact load adding portion 13 is provided on the contact surface of the tab portion 11 on which the indent portion 4 slides, at a position before the terminal insertion completion position of the indent portion 4 (a position immediately before).

  For this reason, the impact load adding portion 13 is tabbed so that the indent portion 4 collides with the contact surface of the tab portion 11 when the indent portion 4 reaches the impact load adding portion 13 at a position before the terminal insertion completion position. Land on the contact surface of the part 11.

  At this time, a large impact load acts on the contact surface between the indent portion 4 and the tab portion 11, and the destruction of the oxide film generated on the contact surface between the indent portion 4 and the tab portion 11 is promoted.

  In the contact connection structure provided with the impact load adding portion 13 as described above, the indent portion 4 slides on the contact surface of the tab portion 11 in the terminal insertion process, but the indent portion is in a position before the terminal insertion completion position. 4 lands on the contact surface of the tab portion 11 by the impact load addition portion 13 and reaches the terminal insertion completion position.

  When the indented portion 4 lands at the terminal insertion completion position, an impact load acts on the contact surfaces of the indented portion 4 and the tab portion 11, and the impact load causes oxidation on the contact surface side of the indented portion 4 and the tab portion 11. The destruction of the film is promoted, and the number of contact points between the platings increases.

  Therefore, in such a contact connection structure, the contact resistance can be reduced without increasing the size of the terminal or complicating it as much as possible.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the contact connection structure according to the present embodiment, the impact load adding portion 13 is a step portion 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the contact surface of the tab portion 11 that comes into contact with the indent portion 4 is positioned in front of the terminal insertion completion position of the indent portion 4, and the indent portion 4 is landed on the contact surface of the tab portion 11. The impact load addition part 13 to be made is provided. The impact load adding portion 13 is a step portion 15.

  In the contact surface of the tab portion 11, the stepped portion 15 is such that the contact surface 11 c (contact surface shown on the left side in FIG. 6) of the indent portion 4 is on the near side of the terminal insertion completion position of the indent portion 4. The contact surface 11d (the contact surface shown on the right side in FIG. 6) is provided via a connecting surface 17 bent substantially vertically.

  The connecting surface 17 may be set so that the angle formed by the contact surfaces 11c and 11d and the connecting surface 17 is an acute angle, for example, so that the cross-sectional shape of the step portion 15 is Z-shaped.

  The step portion 15 is positioned lower than the contact surface 11d when the indent portion 4 that slides on the contact surface 11d of the tab portion 11 while receiving the urging force of the elastic bending portion 3 reaches the step portion 15 in the terminal insertion process. The indented portion 4 is dropped so as to release the urging force of the elastic deflecting portion 3 toward the contact surface 11c arranged at.

  The indented portion 4 dropped by the step portion 15 collides with the contact surface 11c of the tab portion 11 arranged at a position lower than the contact surface 11d that has been slid so far when reaching the terminal insertion completion position.

  Due to the collision between the indented portion 4 and the contact surface 11c of the tab portion 11 by the stepped portion 15, a large impact load acts on the contact surface between the indented portion 4 and the tab portion 11, and the indented portion 4 and the tab portion 11 The destruction of the oxide film formed on the contact surface is promoted.

  In such a contact connection structure, since the impact load adding portion 13 is the step portion 15, when the indent portion 4 is located at the terminal insertion completion position, the indent portion 4 falls from the step portion 15, and the tab Land on the contact surface 11 c of the part 11.

  When the indented portion 4 lands at the terminal insertion completion position, an impact load acts on the contact surface of the indented portion 4 and the tab portion 11, and the oxide film on the contact surface side of the indented portion 4 and the tab portion 11 by this impact load. Is promoted, and the tin oozes out from the broken portion of the oxide film to increase the contact point (ohmic point) between the tin plating.

  Therefore, in such a contact connection structure, the contact resistance can be reduced without increasing the size of the terminal or complicating it as much as possible.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to other embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the contact connection structure according to the present embodiment, the step portion 15 is positioned on the distal end side of the tab portion 11 as the second contact portion of the recess 19.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the step portion 15 constitutes a corner portion on the distal end side (right side shown in FIG. 7) of the tab portion 11 of the concave portion 19 provided on the contact surface of the tab portion 11 with the indent portion 4. It is a part to do.

  The recess 19 is provided at a terminal insertion completion position of the indent 4 on the contact surface of the tab 11 with the indent 4.

  For this reason, the step part 15 which comprises the corner | angular part of the recessed part 19 is located in the near side from the terminal insertion completion position of the indent part 4 in the contact surface with the indent part 4 of the tab part 11. FIG.

  In the step portion 15 constituting the corner portion of the recess portion 19, the indent portion 4 that slides while receiving the urging force of the elastic bending portion 3 on the contact surface 11 d of the tab portion 11 reaches the step portion 15 in the terminal insertion process. In some cases, the indent portion 4 is dropped so as to release the urging force of the elastic bending portion 3 toward the contact surface 11c in the concave portion 19 disposed at a position lower than the contact surface 11d.

  When the indented portion 4 dropped by the step portion 15 reaches the terminal insertion completion position, it collides with the contact surface 11c of the tab portion 11 in the concave portion 19 disposed at a position lower than the contact surface 11d slid so far. To do.

  A large impact load acts on the contact surface between the indent portion 4 and the tab portion 11 due to the collision between the indent portion 4 by the step portion 15 and the contact surface 11c of the tab portion 11 in the concave portion 19, and the indent portion 4 The destruction of the oxide film generated on the contact surface with the tab portion 11 is promoted.

  When the indent portion 4 reaches the terminal insertion completion position, the indent portion 4 is housed in the recess 19.

  Thus, by accommodating the indent portion 4 in the recess 19, the contact state between the indent portion 4 and the tab portion 11 can be maintained.

  In such a contact connection structure, since the step portion 15 is positioned on the distal end side of the tab portion 11 of the concave portion 19, when the indent portion 4 is located at the terminal insertion completion position, the indent portion 4 is the step portion 15. And land on the contact surface 11 c of the tab portion 11 in the recess 19.

  When the indented portion 4 lands at the terminal insertion completion position, an impact load acts on the contact surface of the indented portion 4 and the tab portion 11, and the oxide film on the contact surface side of the indented portion 4 and the tab portion 11 by this impact load. Is promoted, and the tin oozes out from the broken portion of the oxide film to increase the contact point (ohmic point) between the tin plating.

  Therefore, in such a contact connection structure, the contact resistance can be reduced without increasing the size of the terminal or complicating it as much as possible.

  Moreover, since the indent part 4 lands on the contact surface 11c of the tab part 11 in the recessed part 19, the indent part 4 can be accommodated in the recessed part 19, and the contact state of the indent part 4 and the tab part 11 is maintained. can do.

  In the contact connection structure according to the embodiment of the present invention, the tin plating layers 3b and 11b are formed on the outer surfaces of the elastic deflecting portion 3 and the tab portion 11. However, in the present invention, an oxide film other than tin is formed. The same effect can be obtained with any plated layer.

  In addition, the impact load adding portion is composed of only the protrusion and only the stepped portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the contact surface of the second contact portion is constituted by the protrusion and the stepped portion. In this case, the impact load adding portion may be composed of a plurality of combinations as long as the position is in front of the terminal insertion completion position of the indent portion.

1 Female terminal (1st terminal)
2 Box part (first contact part)
2a Bottom (fixed surface)
3 Elastic flexure (first contact)
3b Tin plating layer (plating layer)
4 Indentation 10 Male terminal (second terminal)
11 Tab part (second contact part)
11b Tin plating layer (plating layer)
12 Projection 12a Tapered surface 12b Vertical surface 13 Impact load adding portion 15 Stepped portion 19 Recessed portion

Claims (5)

A first contact portion having an indented portion projecting and having a plating layer formed on the outer surface; and a second contact portion having a plating layer formed on the outer surface;
In the terminal insertion process, the indent portion of the first contact portion slides on the contact surface of the second contact portion, and at the terminal insertion complete position, the indent portion contacts the second contact portion. There,
The contact surface of the second contact portion on which the indent portion slides has an impact load applying portion for landing the indent portion on the contact surface of the second contact portion at a position before the terminal insertion completion position of the indent portion. A contact connection structure characterized by being provided. The contact connection structure according to claim 1,
The contact connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the impact load adding portion has a protrusion. The contact connection structure according to claim 2,
The protrusion has a contact connection structure characterized in that a tip-side surface of the second contact portion is formed into a tapered surface and a base-end-side surface of the second contact portion is formed into a vertical surface. The contact connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The contact load structure, wherein the impact load adding portion has a step portion. The contact connection structure according to claim 4,
The contact connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the stepped portion is positioned on a distal end side of the second contact portion of the recess.

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