JP2016025045A - Connection structure for connector and terminal fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connection structure for a connector and a terminal fitting in which sufficient terminal holding power of a lock protrusion can be secured and feelings of smooth insertion of the terminal fitting into a terminal accommodation hole can be obtained.SOLUTION: At a predetermined position of a terminal fitting 2 in a length direction of an outer bottom wall 9a, a lance hole 12 is formed into which a lance part 4 formed within a terminal accommodation hole 3 is elastically locked, and at a hole edge 12a at a front end side of the lance hole, a lock protrusion 14 is integrally formed which is abutted and locked axially to a rising surface 4e of a lock groove 4b of the lance part inserted into the lance hole. The lock protrusion is formed by folding and deforming an extension part that extends from the hole edge at the front end side to a rear end of the lance hole, downwards in a folded-over and curved shape, and includes a base portion 14a closer to the hole edge at the front end side, a folded portion 14b that is folded and deformed in the curved shape, and a distal end portion 14c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection structure of a connector and a terminal fitting used for connecting, for example, a wire harness disposed in an automobile.

  As a connection structure of a conventional connector and a terminal fitting electrically connected in the connector, one described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

  In brief, the connector has a plurality of terminal receiving holes formed through a box-shaped connector housing, and the inside and the outside of each terminal receiving hole at a predetermined position in the axial direction. An elastically deformable lance portion (a retaining portion) is provided.

  The terminal fitting is integrally formed by press molding, a main body formed in a substantially box shape, and a barrel portion that is integrally coupled to one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body and can be crimped and connected to the end of the electric wire. And. The main body includes a bottom wall extending in the front-rear direction, a pair of side walls, a ceiling wall, and an outer wall superimposed on the outside of the ceiling wall.

  A locking projection that can be locked to the lance portion is formed so as to bulge outward at a substantially central portion of the rear edge portion along the width direction in the front portion of the bottom wall.

  The locking projection is formed in a substantially pyramid shape with the front end as the apex, and is formed in a tapered shape in which the width dimension and the height dimension decrease toward the front end side. And a square tube portion having three widths and a fixed width dimension and a height dimension. In addition, the locking projection has a shape that protrudes outward from a virtual triangular pyramid formed by connecting the apex of the front end, the pair of protruding base ends at the rear end edge, and the protruding tip to the outside. Is formed.

  As a result, the internal volume of the locking projection is larger than that of the virtual triangular pyramid. Therefore, the rear end edge of the rectangular tube portion is related to the step portion formed on the front end side of the lance portion. When stopping, the thickness of the step portion of the lance portion that is allowed to enter the inside of the locking projection increases. For this reason, since the terminal fitting is pulled backward while the stepped portion is biting into the locking projection, the retaining force of the terminal fitting is increased.

JP 2004-14304 A

  However, in the conventional technique, the locking projection is formed in a pyramid shape, and the rear end edge of the rectangular tube portion that is locked to the step portion of the lance portion is formed in a substantially acute angle section. Therefore, when the acute rear end edge is locked to the step portion of the lance portion from the axial direction, the terminal holding force cannot be sufficiently ensured because it is locked by thin linear contact. .

  That is, when the terminal fitting is strongly pulled out of the terminal receiving hole, the lance portion is sheared and broken from the locking groove by the acute rear end edge of the locking projection, and easily comes out of the terminal receiving hole. There is a fear. Therefore, the terminal holding force by the said locking protrusion will fall.

  Further, since the locking projection is formed in a pyramid shape, when the terminal fitting is inserted from one end opening of the terminal receiving hole of the connector into the inside, the corner portion of the pyramid side of the locking projection Contacts the inner surface of the terminal receiving hole. For this reason, there is a possibility that a feeling of catching of the locking projections may occur during insertion.

  The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described conventional technical problems, and can sufficiently secure the terminal holding force by the locking projection and can provide a smooth feeling of insertion into the terminal receiving hole of the terminal fitting. It aims at providing the connection structure of a connector and a terminal metal fitting.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal housing hole formed in the connector housing is inserted from one end opening in the longitudinal direction and is connected to the retaining portion formed on the inner wall of the terminal housing hole. In the connection structure of the connector and terminal fitting,
A lance hole in which the retaining portion is elastically engaged is formed at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the outer wall of the terminal fitting, and the lance hole is engaged with a hole edge on the front end side of the lance hole. A locking projection is provided integrally so that the distal end of the inserted retaining portion abuts against the shaft in the axial direction, and the locking projection has a substantially curved cross-sectional shape at the distal end in the lance hole direction. It is characterized by being formed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the locking projection is formed in a curved shape, thereby locking the stepped portion of the lance portion in a surface contact state having a predetermined width instead of a thin line contact. Therefore, a sufficient terminal holding force can be ensured.

  Moreover, even when the terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal accommodating hole, there is no feeling of being caught and a smooth insertion feeling can be obtained.

It is a perspective view which shows the connector housing with which 1st Embodiment of the connection structure of the connector of this invention and a terminal metal fitting is provided. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is the B section enlarged view of the same. It is the perspective view which looked at the terminal metal fitting provided to this embodiment from the lower part. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the terminal metal fitting. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the state in the middle of inserting a terminal metal fitting in the terminal accommodation hole of a connector. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which the terminal metal fitting was completely inserted in the terminal accommodation hole, and latched. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the terminal metal fitting provided to 2nd Embodiment. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the terminal metal fitting. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the state in the middle of inserting a terminal metal fitting in the terminal accommodation hole of a connector. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the state which the terminal metal fitting was completely inserted in the terminal accommodation hole, and latched.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a connector and terminal fitting connection structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is applied to a connector and a terminal fitting for connecting a wire harness connected to an electric device of an automobile.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the connector includes a box-shaped connector housing 1 having a plurality of terminal accommodating holes (cavities) 3 therein. On the other hand, the terminal fitting is constituted by a plurality of female terminal fittings 2 inserted and fixed from one side in the axial direction into a plurality of terminal receiving holes 3 to be described later of the connector housing 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector housing 1 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and has a flat bottom wall 1a and both side walls 1b, 1b rising integrally from both side edges of the bottom wall 1a. A relatively thick upper wall 1c integrally provided at the upper edges of the side walls 1b and 1b, an intermediate wall 1d formed between the bottom wall 1a and the upper wall 1c, and the bottom wall 1a, and the upper wall 1c and the intermediate wall 1d have five partition walls 1e that join the upper and lower directions. In the connector housing 1, a total of 22 terminal receiving holes 3 are formed penetratingly along the axial direction in two upper and lower stages separated by the walls 1a to 1e.

  Further, the connector housing 1 has a rectangular space 1f formed in the lateral width direction at the lower center position in the front-rear direction.

  Each terminal receiving hole 3 is formed in a substantially square cross section, and as shown in FIG. 2, the other end on the front end side from the one end opening 3a on the rear end side of the connector housing 1 via the space 1f. It is formed to penetrate to the opening 3b and is divided into a first accommodation hole 3c on the one end opening 3a side and a second accommodation hole 3d on the other end opening 3b side by the space 1f. Each terminal accommodating hole 3 has a substantially square inner surface formed in substantially the same size in the front-rear direction.

  The other end opening 3b is formed in a trumpet shape whose diameter is increased outward by the partition wall 3e, and a small-diameter insertion hole 3f communicating with the front end portion 3d is formed at the center of the partition wall 3e.

  In addition, a lance portion 4 that is a retaining portion is integrally formed with the bottom wall 1a and the intermediate wall 1d that are located in the respective second accommodation hole portions 3d.

  Each lance portion 4 is formed integrally when the connector housing 1 is resin-molded. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lance portions 4 are formed at the lower end of the bottom wall 1a and the intermediate wall 1d. Each of the space portions 5 is formed so as to be inclined and raised upward, and is formed so as to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction via the space portions 5. That is, each lance part 4 has a base end part 4a positioned in the vicinity of the rear end part of the front end part 3d, and a tip end part 4b rising from the base end part 4a toward the insertion hole 3f. The distal end portion 4b is elastically deformed in the vertical direction through the notch space portion 5 with the base end portion 4a as a fulcrum.

  The tip portion 4b is formed in a stepped shape having a tip edge cut out in a substantially inverted L shape in the figure, and a locking protrusion 14 described later is locked in the stepped locking groove 4c. It has become.

  The locking groove 4c includes a horizontal bottom surface 4d and a rising surface 4e that rises up and down from the inner edge of the bottom surface 4d. The rising surface 4e is concave from the upper end side along the bottom surface 4d direction. It is formed on the inclined surface.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the female terminal fitting 2 is integrally formed by bending a metal plate such as copper or copper alloy, which is a conductive material, by press molding or the like. A terminal body 6 on the front end side formed in the mold, and a barrel portion 8 that is integrally coupled to the rear end side of the terminal body 6 via a connection portion 7 and is crimped and connected to the end of the electric wire. ing.

  The terminal body 6 is formed in a rectangular tube shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and an outer (lower) bottom wall portion 9a and an inner (upper) bottom wall portion 9b in which the tip end side is doubled, A pair of side wall portions 10, 10 raised substantially vertically from both side edges of the bottom wall portion 9, and an upper wall portion 11 provided at the upper edge of the both side wall portions 10, 10, Each wall part 9-11 whole comprises the outer wall.

  In addition, the terminal body 6 has an opening 6a through which a male terminal 16 of a male terminal fitting, which will be described later, is inserted at a distal end portion separated by the wall portions 9 to 11.

  The outer bottom wall portion 9a is formed with a rectangular lance hole 12 into which the distal end portion 4b of the lance portion 4 of the connector housing 1 is engaged on the rear end portion side in the longitudinal direction. In the portion 9b, a pair of left and right contact beads 13a, 13b with which the male terminal 16 of the male terminal fitting inserted into the opening 6a comes into contact are formed elongated and parallel along the longitudinal direction. The contact beads 13a and 13b are formed by pressing inward from the outside of the inner bottom wall portion 9b in advance by a press, and have a substantially arcuate cross section.

  Further, on the hole edge 12a side of the outer bottom wall portion 9a on the front end side of the lance hole 12, a locking projection 14 that is locked in the locking groove 4c of the lance portion 4 from the front-rear direction is integrally provided. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking projection 14 is formed at a substantially central position in the width direction of the front end hole edge 12 a of the lance hole 12 of the outer bottom wall 9 a, and the outer bottom wall When the lance hole 12 of 9a is formed by press molding, a portion (extended portion) that is elongated and left from the center in the width direction of the front end hole edge 12a toward the rear end hole edge 12b is extended by a press. It is bent from the inner side to the outer side, and the center side is formed in a curved shape.

  That is, the locking protrusion 14 is provided by using a part of the outer bottom wall portion 9a, and includes a base end portion 14a integrally coupled to the front end hole edge portion 12a, and the base end portion 14a. A bent portion 14b of a central portion folded in a downward direction from the tip, and a tip portion 14c extending from the bent portion 14b in an inclined upward direction and having a tip edge in contact with the lower surface of the outer bottom wall portion 9a. It is configured.

  The bent portion 14 b is formed in a curved shape with a predetermined radius of curvature, and is disposed slightly below the position where the lance hole 12 is formed, and is axially formed in the locking groove 4 c of the lance portion 4. It comes to be locked from.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the upper wall portion 11 is formed in parallel with the bottom wall portions 9a and 9b, and the lower surface (ceiling surface) cooperates with the contact beads 13a and 13b. A contact spring 15 that elastically clamps the male terminal 16 of the male terminal fitting is integrally provided.

  The contact spring 15 is formed by bending a small extending portion extending from the distal end portion of the upper wall portion 11 inwardly of the terminal body 6 to form an elongated leaf spring shape. The base portion 15a is integrally coupled to the tip edge of the upper wall portion 11, and the tip portion 15b located inside the terminal body 6 ensures good insertability of the male terminal 16 of the male terminal fitting. It is formed in a curved shape bulging downward.

  Further, a curved concave portion 11a is formed on the distal end side of the upper wall portion 11 by press molding, and the concave portion 11a is elastically upward with the distal end portion 15b of the contact spring 15 as a fulcrum. When it is deformed, this deformation is absorbed to allow the maximum deformation on the tip 15b side.

  The barrel portion 8 has a pair of U-shaped caulking pieces 8a and 8b on the front and rear, and the caulking piece 8a on the rear side caulks and fixes the covering portion of the electric wire not shown, whereas the caulking piece on the front side. 8b is configured to crimp and fix the core portion of the electric wire.

  The front caulking piece 8b is integrally provided with a plurality of groove portions 8c for increasing the frictional force with the core portion of the electric wire on the inner surface.

[Operation of this embodiment]
In order to insert and connect each female terminal fitting 2 to each terminal receiving hole 3 of the connector housing 1, the female terminal fitting 2 is held and the tip of the terminal main body 6 is connected to one end opening 3 a of the terminal receiving hole 3. Is inserted into the first accommodation hole 3c and pushed in as it is. Then, the terminal body 6 is inserted while sliding in the second accommodation hole 3d from the first accommodation hole 3c through the space 1f. In the second housing hole 3d, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, below the inclined lower surface 14e and the bent portion 14b of the tip 14c of the locking projection 14 of the outer bottom wall 9a of the terminal body 6. When the end surface slides while pressing along the inclined upper surface 4f of the lance portion 4 against the elastic force of the lance portion 4, the lance portion 4 is elastically deformed downward and enters the space portion 5. Absorbed.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the locking projection 14 reaches the locking groove 4c of the lance portion 4, the lance portion 4 is moved into the lance hole 12 by its elastic return force. Simultaneously with the engagement, the distal end portion 14d of the bent portion 14b of the locking projection 14 abuts on the tapered rising surface 4e of the locking groove 4c to be locked. At this time, the lower end portion 14e of the bent portion 14b faces the bottom surface 4d of the locking groove 4c with a slight gap.

  As a result, the terminal fitting 2 is firmly connected and fixed in the terminal receiving hole 3, so that it does not come out carelessly even if a force in the direction of pulling out from the terminal receiving hole 3 acts.

  That is, since the locking protrusion 14 has a bent portion 14b formed in a curved shape, the distal end portion 14d of the bent portion 14b is not a thin straight line on the rising surface of the locking groove 4c. Abutting from the axial direction in a band-like surface contact state having a width area. That is, since the tip portion 14d of the bent portion 14b comes into contact with the rising surface 4e of the locking groove 4c in a surface contact state, for example, when the terminal fitting 2 is pulled strongly in the direction of coming out of the terminal accommodating hole 3. Although the force in the shearing direction acts on the rising surface of the locking groove 4c, the surface pressure is dispersed without concentration of the shearing force. Therefore, the locking force of the locking projection 14 with respect to the locking groove 4c is increased and the terminal holding force can be secured stably and sufficiently without the lance portion 14 being sheared and destroyed.

  In particular, when a force in the withdrawal direction is applied to the terminal fitting 2, the bent portion 14b is slightly deformed downward along the tapered surface of the rising surface 4e, and the contact area between the tip portion 14d and the rising surface 4e is further increased. growing. For this reason, the terminal holding force is further stabilized and a high holding force can be obtained.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, when the locking projection 14 is slightly deformed by pulling in the direction in which the terminal fitting 2 is pulled out, the lower end portion 14e of the bent portion 14b comes into contact with the bottom surface 4e of the radial groove 4c. Also, the locking force in the vertical direction of the lance part 4 also acts. Therefore, the locking force of the locking groove 4c by the locking protrusion 14 is further stabilized, and the terminal holding force is also increased.

  In FIGS. 7 and 8, the caulking pieces 8 a and 8 b of the barrel portion 8 are not connected to the core member or the covering portion of the electric wire by caulking. The terminal fitting 2 is inserted into and fixed to the terminal accommodating hole 3 in the crimped state.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the locking projection 14 is formed in a curved shape instead of a pyramid as in the prior art, as described above, when each terminal fitting 2 is inserted into each terminal receiving hole 3, In the second housing hole 3d, as shown in FIG. 6, the inclined lower surface 14e of the distal end portion 14c of the locking projection 14 of the outer bottom wall 9a of the terminal body 6 and the lower end surface of the bent portion 14b are lances. Since it slides smoothly on the inclined upper surface 4f of the part 4, there is no feeling of being caught and a smooth insertion feeling can be obtained.

  After each terminal fitting 2 is inserted and fixed in each terminal receiving hole 3, the male terminal 16 of the male terminal fitting is moved from the tip opening 3 f of the terminal receiving hole 3 through the tip opening 6 a of the female terminal fitting 2. When inserted into the terminal body 6 and pushed into the inside against the elastic reaction force of the distal end portion 15b of the contact spring 15, the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 16 are connected to the lower surface of the distal end portion 15b and the inner bottom wall portion 9b. The two contact beads 13a and 13b are held in a sandwiched state by elastic force.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the locking projection 14 is formed by simply folding back an elongated extending portion integrally extending from the front end hole edge portion 12a of the lance hole 12 of the outer bottom wall portion 9a by a press machine. Therefore, this molding operation is easy, and the efficiency of the molding operation can be improved and the cost can be reduced.

Further, since the bottom wall portion of the terminal fitting 2 is formed by superposing the outer bottom wall portion 9a and the inner bottom wall portion 9b, the locking protrusion 14 and the contact beads 13a and 13b are provided separately, respectively. The axial length of the contact beads 13a and 13b can be formed sufficiently long without being affected by the position where the locking protrusion 14 is formed.
As a result, the contact area between the upper surface of the contact beads 13a and 13b and the lower surface of the male terminal 16 is increased, so that the male terminal can be further held by this frictional resistance, and the female terminal fitting 2 and the male terminal can be held. Conductivity with metal fittings is improved.
[Second Embodiment]
9 and 10 show a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the locking protrusion 14 is once bent downward from the base end portion 14a on the front end hole edge 12a side of the lance hole 12. Further, the bent portion 14b is formed by bending the distal end portion 14c side inwardly (in the direction of the lance hole 12) in a folded manner. That is, it is formed by folding back to the opposite side to the locking projection 14 of the first embodiment.

  Other configurations such as the terminal accommodating hole 3 and the lance portion 4 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, also in this embodiment, since the locking protrusion 14 has a bent portion 14b formed in a curved shape, as shown in FIG. Abuts against the rising surface 4e from the axial direction in a surface contact state. For this reason, as in the first embodiment, the locking force of the locking protrusion 14 with respect to the locking groove 4c is increased, and the terminal holding force can be secured stably and sufficiently.

  Further, when each terminal fitting 2 is inserted into each terminal receiving hole 3, the second receiving hole 3d has a distal end portion of the locking projection 14 of the outer bottom wall 9a of the terminal body 6 as shown in FIG. Since the inclined lower surface 14e of 14c and the lower end surface of the bent portion 14b slide smoothly on the inclined upper surface 4f of the lance portion 4, there is no feeling of being caught and a smooth insertion feeling can be obtained. In particular, in this embodiment, since the position of the tip portion 14c is on the upper side opposite to that of the first embodiment, the bent upper portion 4f of the lance portion 4 does not involve the tip portion 14c. Since only the lower end surface of 14b is in sliding contact, the feeling of catching is further eliminated and a smoother insertion feeling is obtained.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. For example, depending on the specifications of the connector, the female terminal fitting 2 can be a male terminal fitting.

  In addition, the locking projection 14 is not only one that bends and deforms the extending portion that extends from the front end hole edge portion 12a of the lance hole 12 into a curved shape, but, for example, a solid projection having a curved tip portion. It is also possible to attach and fix the part to the front end hole edge 12a.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector housing 2 ... Female terminal metal fitting 3 ... Terminal accommodation hole 3a ... One end opening 3b ... Other end opening 3c ... First accommodation hole 3d ... Second accommodation hole 4 ... Lance part 4c ... Locking groove 4d ... Bottom surface 4e ... Rising surface 4f ... Inclined top surface 5 ... Space 6 ... Terminal body 8 ... Barrel 9a ... Outer bottom wall 9b ... Inside bottom wall 10 ... Both side walls 11 ... Upper wall 12 ... Lance hole 12a ... Front edge side hole edge 14 ... locking projection 14a ... base end 14b ... bent part 14c ... tip 14d ... notch 14e ... cut surface

Claims (5)

In the connection structure of the connector and the terminal fitting, which is inserted into the terminal accommodation hole formed in the connector housing from the one end opening in the longitudinal direction and is connected to the retaining portion formed on the inner wall of the terminal accommodation hole.
A lance hole in which the retaining portion is elastically engaged is formed at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the outer wall of the terminal fitting, and the lance hole is engaged with a hole edge on the front end side of the lance hole. A locking projection is provided integrally with the end portion of the retaining portion that has been inserted so as to abut against and lock from the axial direction.
The connector and terminal fitting connection structure, wherein the locking projection has a substantially curved cross-sectional shape at the tip in the lance hole direction.   The locking protrusion is formed by extending from the front end side hole edge of the lance hole toward the rear end of the lance hole and bending the extended portion into a bent shape. The connector and terminal fitting connection structure according to claim 1.   The locking projection is formed by bending and deforming an elongated extension formed by cutting and raising the bottom wall of the terminal fitting from the edge of the front end hole of the lance hole. The connector and terminal fitting connection structure according to claim 1.   4. The locking projection according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the extended portion is bent outwardly through the lance hole so that a bent portion is formed on the distal end side. Connection structure of the connector and terminal fitting described.   4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the locking protrusion is formed by bending the extension portion inward through the lance hole to form a bent portion on a distal end side. 5. And terminal bracket connection structure.

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