JP2020077531A - Terminal fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a terminal fitting capable of maintaining reliability of electrical connection between the terminal fitting and a mating terminal even when external force such as vibration is applied.SOLUTION: A terminal fitting 1 includes a cylindrical part 10 for a mating terminal 40 to be inserted, and a plate-like part 30 provided in the inside of the cylindrical part 10. The plate-like part 30 has a fulcrum spot 31 connected to the cylindrical part 10, and a contact spot Q structured so as to press and make contact with the mating terminal 40 in a tilted state on a cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction of the mating terminal 40 when it is pressed by the mating terminal 40 inserted in the cylindrical part 10 and deforms so as to warp with the fulcrum spot 31 as a center. The plate-like part 30 has a long plate-like shape having the contact spot Q on a plate surface extending along the insertion direction, and is connected to the cylindrical part 10 at the fulcrum spot 31 provided at the side fringe part of the plate-like part 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal fitting including a tubular portion into which a mating terminal is inserted, and a plate-shaped portion provided inside the tubular portion.

  Conventionally, a terminal metal fitting (for example, a terminal metal fitting (for example, a terminal spring)) provided with a tubular portion into which a mating terminal (for example, a male terminal) is inserted and a plate-shaped portion (for example, a terminal spring) provided inside the tubular portion , Female terminals) have been proposed. Specifically, one of the conventional terminal fittings has a plate-shaped portion on a cantilever housed in the hollow portion of the tubular portion, and the mating terminal inserted in the tubular portion is inserted into the tubular portion. The plate-like portion is pressed and contacted so as to be sandwiched between the peripheral wall of the plate-like portion and the inner surface of the cylinder. As a result, this conventional terminal fitting is designed to achieve good electrical connection between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2014-120484, A

  By the way, when an external force such as vibration is exerted on the terminal fitting and the mating terminal connected as described above, a portion where the plate-like portion of the terminal fitting and the mating terminal are in contact (that is, an electrical contact) At, one or both of the plate-shaped portion and the mating terminal may be worn. The abrasion powder generated at this time is generally composed mainly of the plating material applied to the plate-shaped portion and the mating terminal. When the plating material is a material whose conductivity decreases due to oxidation (for example, tin), if oxidized wear powder accumulates between the plate-shaped portion and the mating terminal, the plating-like material and the mating terminal will be separated from each other. The conductivity between them may be reduced. Such a decrease in conductivity at the electrical contact may cause a decrease in the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal, and is therefore preferably suppressed as much as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to maintain reliability of electrical connection between a terminal fitting and a mating terminal even when an external force such as vibration is exerted. To provide a simple terminal fitting.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the terminal fitting according to the present invention is characterized by the following [1] to [4].
[1]
A terminal fitting comprising: a tubular portion into which a mating terminal is inserted; and a plate-shaped portion provided inside the tubular portion,
The plate-shaped portion,
A fulcrum point connected to the tubular portion,
When pressed by the mating side terminal inserted into the tubular portion and deformed so as to bend around the fulcrum portion, in a cross section orthogonal to the inserting direction of the mating side terminal, it is inclined with respect to the mating side terminal. A contact point configured to make pressure contact in a state,
Be a terminal fitting.
[2]
In the terminal fitting according to [1] above,
The plate-shaped portion,
Having the contact point on a plate surface extending along the insertion direction, and having the fulcrum point at a side edge portion extending along the insertion direction,
Be a terminal fitting.
[3]
In the terminal fitting according to [1] or [2] above,
The plate-shaped portion,
When pressed against the mating terminal, it is configured to contact the tubular portion at a location different from the fulcrum location,
Be a terminal fitting.
[4]
In the terminal fitting according to any one of the above [1] to [3],
The contact point is
Plated with precious metals,
Be a terminal fitting.

  According to the terminal fitting having the above configuration [1], the plate-shaped portion of the terminal fitting presses and contacts the mating terminal in an inclined state in a cross section orthogonal to the inserting direction of the mating terminal. Therefore, even if the electrical contact between the plate-shaped portion and the mating terminal is worn, the plate-shaped portion is pressed toward the mating terminal to cause the plate-shaped portion (specifically, the contact point). The plate-shaped portion itself moves along the inclination of. As a result, the position of the electrical contacts will move away from the wear debris. Therefore, as compared with the above-described conventional terminal fitting, accumulation of wear powder on the electrical contact is suppressed. In other words, even if the electrical contact is worn, the electrical contact is sequentially moved to a location where no abrasion powder is present. Therefore, the terminal fitting of this configuration can maintain the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal even when an external force such as vibration is exerted.

  According to the terminal metal fitting of the above [2], the contact point is provided on the plate surface of the plate-like portion, and the fulcrum point is provided at the side edge portion of the plate-like portion. As a result, the plate-shaped portion can elastically bend around the fulcrum point. As a result, a state is achieved in which the plate-shaped portion is in pressure contact with the mating terminal in an inclined state.

  According to the terminal metal fitting of the above [3], the plate-shaped portion contacts the tubular portion at a position different from the fulcrum position when contacting with the mating terminal. As a result, the plate-shaped portion is supported by this portion and the fulcrum portion in proportion to the pressing force exerted by the mating terminal. As a result, a larger pressing force can be endured as compared with the case where the plate-shaped portion is supported only by the fulcrum points. Conversely speaking, it is possible to increase the pressing force exerted as a reaction force from the plate portion to the mating terminal. Therefore, the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal can be improved.

  According to the terminal metal fitting of the above [4], even if the electrical contact between the plate-shaped portion and the mating terminal is worn, the wear powder is mainly composed of the noble metal, and therefore the wear powder is not oxidized. Hard to happen. Therefore, the conductivity is less likely to decrease due to the abrasion powder. As a result, it is possible to more reliably maintain the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal. Note that gold (Au), silver (Ag), or the like can be used as the noble metal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a terminal fitting that can maintain the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal fitting and the counterpart terminal even when an external force such as vibration is exerted.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through a mode for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter, referred to as “embodiment”) with reference to the accompanying drawings. ..

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting (female terminal) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the terminal fitting including a partial cross section of the tubular portion. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 of the tubular portion of the terminal fitting, FIG. 3 (a) shows a non-inserted state of a mating terminal (male terminal), and FIG. 3 (b) is a mating side. Indicates that the terminal has been inserted. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3 (b), FIG. 4 (a) shows a state in which the amount of wear of the electrical contacts is small, and FIG. 4 (b) is large in the amount of wear of the electrical contacts. Indicates the state.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a terminal fitting 1 (hereinafter, also referred to as “female terminal”) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the female terminal 1 includes a tubular portion 10 into which a flat plate-shaped mating terminal 40 (hereinafter, also referred to as “male terminal”; see FIG. 3B) is inserted, and a tubular portion 10. A barrel portion 20 which is continuously formed on the rear side of the tubular portion 10 and to which an electric wire is crimped; a plate portion 30 which is formed inside the tubular portion 10 and presses the inserted male terminal 40; Equipped with. In the present example, the female terminal 1 is formed by applying a pressing process, a bending process, and the like to one metal plate. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1, “front-back direction”, “width direction”, “up-down direction”, “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom”, “one side” and “one side” Define the other side. The "front-back direction", "width direction" and "up-down direction" are orthogonal to each other.

  In this example, the tubular portion 10 has a rectangular tubular shape extending in the front-rear direction. The tubular portion 10 includes a bottom wall portion 11, a pair of side wall portions 12, and an upper wall portion 13. An uneven portion 14 (a concave portion on the outer wall surface and a convex portion on the inner wall surface) extending in the front-rear direction is formed on the upper wall portion 13 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The lower end surface of the inner wall surface of the uneven portion 14 functions as the male terminal contact surface 15 with which the upper surface 41 of the male terminal 40 contacts (see FIG. 3B).

  The barrel portion 20 includes a pair of core crimping pieces 21 arranged adjacent to the rear side of the rear end of the tubular portion 10 and a pair of covered crimp pieces arranged adjacent to the rear side of the pair of core wire crimping pieces 21. 22 and. The pair of core wire crimping pieces 21 is a portion for crimping and fixing the exposed core wire by removing the coating at the tip of the electric wire connected to the female terminal 1. The pair of covering caulking pieces 22 is a portion for caulking and fixing the covering at the tip portion of the electric wire connected to the female terminal 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plate-shaped portion 30 integrally includes a fulcrum portion 31, a spring plate portion 32, and a protruding portion 33. As shown in FIG. 3B, the plate-shaped portion 30 is elastic so that the upper surface 41 (flat surface) of the male terminal 40 inserted in the tubular portion 10 is pressed upward toward the male-terminal contact surface 15. It is transformable.

  The fulcrum portion 31 continuously extends from the central portion in the up-down direction near the rear end portion of the inner wall surface (width-side inner surface) of the side wall portion 12 on one side in the width direction of the tubular portion 10 to the other side in the width direction, and the spring The plate portion 32 is integrally connected to a side edge portion on one side in the width direction of the rear end portion of the plate portion 32. The spring plate portion 32 has a long plate shape extending in the front-rear direction. The spring plate portion 32 has a rear end portion (a side edge portion on one side in the width direction thereof) connected to the tubular portion 10 (side wall portion 12 on one side in the width direction thereof) via a fulcrum portion 31 and a front end is a free end. It constitutes a cantilever. The protruding portion 33 is continuously bent and protrudes downward from the end portion on the other side in the width direction of the front end portion of the spring plate portion 32.

  The spring plate portion 32 includes a flat plate-shaped flat plate portion 34 extending from the rear end of the spring plate portion 32 to the front side (and slightly above) and a flat plate-shaped flat plate portion extending from the front end of the spring plate portion 32 to the rear side (and slightly above). It includes a portion 35, and a flat portion 34 and a convex portion 36 that connects the flat portion 35 in the front-rear direction and that projects upward (convex upward). The top portion of the convex portion 36 extends in the width direction over the entire width direction of the spring plate portion 32.

  In the plate-shaped portion 30, the top of the convex portion 36 is located on the uppermost side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, in the insertion completed state of the male terminal 40, in the plate-shaped portion 30, only the convex portion 36 (the top portion) presses the lower surface 42 (flat surface) of the male terminal 40 upward. Thus, the upper surface 41 of the male terminal 40 is pressed upward toward the male terminal contact surface 15.

  Hereinafter, changes in the posture of the plate-shaped portion 30 before and after the insertion of the male terminal 40 will be described. When the male terminal 40 is not inserted, as shown in FIG. 3A, the protrusion 33 located at the front end of the plate-shaped portion 30 does not contact the bottom wall portion 11 of the tubular portion 10. When the male terminal 40 is inserted from this state, as shown in FIG. 3B, the convex portion 36 is pressed downward by the lower surface 42 of the male terminal 40, so that the plate-shaped portion 30 becomes the fulcrum portion 31. Elastically deforms downward so as to bend around. As a result, the protruding portion 33 contacts the predetermined portion P on the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 11 of the tubular portion 10 and presses the predetermined portion P downward.

  When the insertion of the male terminal 40 is completed, the protrusion 33 comes into contact with the predetermined portion P of the bottom wall portion 11 of the tubular portion 10 and presses the predetermined portion P downward, so that not only the fulcrum portion 31 but also the spring plate portion 32. Is also elastically deformed. Therefore, not only the elastic restoring force of the fulcrum portion 31 but also the elastic restoring force of the spring plate portion 32 causes the convex portion 36 of the plate-shaped portion 30 to press the lower surface 42 of the male terminal 40 upward. As a result, the male terminal 40 is firmly sandwiched between the convex portion 36 and the male terminal contact surface 15.

  Further, when the male terminal 40 is completely inserted (that is, the fulcrum portion 31 and the spring plate portion 32 are elastically deformed), as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the protrusion of the spring plate portion 32 is formed. The portion 36 is inclined such that one side in the width direction is positioned above the side in the width direction. As a result, the convex portion 36 is inclined with respect to the lower surface 42 of the male terminal 40.

  In this way, since the convex portion 36 is in pressure contact with the lower surface 42 of the male terminal 40 while being inclined, as shown in FIG. 4A, the contact portion between the convex portion 36 and the male terminal 40 ( The center Q of the electrical contact) is located in the vicinity of the end portion on one side in the width direction of the convex portion 36 extending in the width direction when the amount of wear of the electrical contact is small.

  In this state, when an external force such as vibration is applied to the female terminal 1 and the male terminal 40, one or both of the convex portion 36 of the plate-shaped portion 30 and the lower surface 42 of the male terminal 40 are worn at the electrical contact. There are cases. The abrasion powder generated at this time is generally composed of the plating material applied to the lower surface 42 of the plate-shaped portion 30 and the male terminal 40. When the plating material is a material whose conductivity is reduced by oxidation (for example, tin (Sn)), when the oxidized wear powder accumulates between the plate-shaped portion 30 and the lower surface 42 of the male terminal 40, the plate-shaped material is formed. The conductivity between the portion 30 and the male terminal 40 (and thus the reliability of the electrical connection between the female terminal 1 and the male terminal 40) may be reduced.

  In this regard, in the female terminal 1 according to the present embodiment, when such wear occurs in the electrical contact, as shown in FIG. 4B, due to the existence of the inclination of the convex portion 36 described above, The center Q of the electrical contact moves to the other side in the width direction along the inclination of the protrusion 36 as the wear progresses. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the abrasion powder from accumulating on the electrical contacts. In other words, the electrical contact moves toward a location where no abrasion powder is present. Therefore, the reliability of the electrical connection between the female terminal 1 and the male terminal 40 can be maintained even when an external force such as vibration is exerted.

  In this example, the portions (for example, the convex portions 36) that form the electrical contacts in the female terminal 1 and the male terminal 40 are noble metals (for example, gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), etc.). Is preferably plated with. As a result, the abrasion powder is mainly made of a noble metal, so that the abrasion powder is less likely to be oxidized. Therefore, the conductivity is less likely to decrease due to the abrasion powder, so that the reliability of the electrical connection between the female terminal 1 and the male terminal 40 can be more reliably maintained. However, the entire plate-shaped portion 30 or the entire terminal fitting 1 may be plated with a noble metal material, not limited to the portion forming the electrical contact.

  As described above, according to the terminal fitting 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the plate-shaped portion 30 of the terminal fitting 1 is pressed into contact with the male terminal 40 in an inclined state in a cross section orthogonal to the insertion direction of the male terminal 40. It is supposed to do. Therefore, when the electrical contact between the plate-shaped portion 30 and the male terminal 40 is worn, the electrical contact moves along the above-described inclination. Therefore, as compared with the above-described conventional terminal fitting, accumulation of wear powder on the electrical contact is suppressed. In other words, the electrical contact moves toward a location where no abrasion powder is present. Therefore, the terminal fitting 1 according to the present embodiment can maintain the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal fitting 1 and the male terminal 40 even when an external force such as vibration is exerted.

  Further, when the plate-shaped portion 30 contacts the male terminal 40, the plate-shaped portion 30 contacts the tubular portion 10 at the protruding portion 33, which is a portion different from the fulcrum portion 31 of the plate-shaped portion 30. As a result, the pressing force on the male terminal 40 is increased as compared with the case where the male terminal 40 is pressed and contacted only by the elastic force at the fulcrum portion 31. Therefore, the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal fitting 1 and the male terminal 40 can be improved.

<Other aspects>
The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified, improved, and the like as appropriate. In addition, the materials, shapes, dimensions, numbers, locations, etc. of the constituent elements in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the protruding portion 33 (a portion different from the fulcrum portion 31) of the plate-shaped portion 30 is in contact with the tubular portion 10 when the male terminal 40 is completely inserted. On the other hand, in the insertion completed state of the male terminal 40, a portion of the plate-shaped portion 30 different from the fulcrum portion 31 may be configured not to contact the tubular portion 10.

Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the terminal fitting 1 according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in "1" to "4", respectively.
[1]
A terminal fitting (1) comprising: a tubular part (10) into which a mating terminal (40) is inserted; and a plate-like part (30) provided inside the tubular part (10). ,
The plate-shaped part (30) is
A fulcrum portion (31) connected to the tubular portion (10),
When pressed by the mating side terminal (40) inserted into the tubular portion (10) and deformed so as to bend around the fulcrum point (31), the direction is orthogonal to the inserting direction of the mating side terminal (40). A cross-section, a contact point (Q) configured to be in pressure contact with the mating terminal (40) in an inclined state,
Terminal fittings (1).
[2]
In the terminal fitting (1) according to [1] above,
The plate-shaped part (30) is
The contact point portion (Q) is provided on a plate surface extending along the insertion direction, and the fulcrum portion (31) is provided at a side edge portion extending along the insertion direction.
Terminal fittings (1).
[3]
In the terminal fitting (1) according to [1] or [2] above,
The plate-shaped part (30) is
When it is pressed by the mating terminal (40), it contacts the tubular portion (10) at a location (33) different from the fulcrum location (31).
Terminal fittings (1).
[4]
In the terminal fitting (1) according to any one of the above [1] to [3],
The contact point (Q) is
Plated with precious metals,
Terminal fittings (1).

1 Female terminal (terminal bracket)
10 Cylindrical part 30 Plate part 31 Support point (support point)
33 Projection (location different from fulcrum location)
40 Male terminal (mate terminal)
Q Center of electrical contact (contact point)

Claims (4)

A terminal fitting comprising: a tubular portion into which a mating terminal is inserted; and a plate-shaped portion provided inside the tubular portion,
The plate-shaped portion,
A fulcrum point connected to the tubular portion,
When pressed by the mating side terminal inserted into the tubular portion and deformed so as to bend around the fulcrum portion, in a cross section orthogonal to the inserting direction of the mating side terminal, it is inclined with respect to the mating side terminal. A contact point configured to make pressure contact in a state,
Terminal fittings. The terminal fitting according to claim 1,
The plate-shaped portion,
Having the contact point on a plate surface extending along the insertion direction, and having the fulcrum point at a side edge portion extending along the insertion direction,
Terminal fittings. In the terminal fitting according to claim 1 or 2,
The plate-shaped portion,
When pressed against the mating terminal, it is configured to contact the tubular portion at a location different from the fulcrum location,
Terminal fittings. The terminal fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The contact point is
Plated with precious metals,
Terminal fittings.

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