JP2023181880A - terminal structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a terminal structure in which an annular groove for accommodating an annular spring conductor is formed on the peripheral surface of a female terminal or a male terminal without cutting.SOLUTION: An annular spring conductor 30 that connects a female terminal 10 and a male terminal 20 to each other, and the male terminal 20 is provided with an insulator cap 40 on the distal end and a retaining ring 50 on the proximal end as two: first and second annular members that are attached later to restrict the movement of the annular spring conductor in the axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a terminal structure mainly used in high voltage connectors for hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, etc.

As an example of a terminal structure used in a high voltage connector, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. This terminal structure includes a cylindrical female terminal, a columnar male terminal that is fitted into a fitting hole of the female terminal, and an annular spring conductor that is interposed between the fitting surfaces of the female terminal and the male terminal. It is something. In this terminal structure, an annular spring conductor is accommodated in an annular groove formed on one of the mating surfaces of the female terminal and male terminal, and when both terminals are mated, the annular spring conductor accommodated in the annular groove The conductor presses into contact with both terminals using its own elastic repulsive force, thereby establishing electrical continuity between both terminals.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-204634

However, in the conventional terminal structure described above, there is a problem in that the annular groove for accommodating the annular spring conductor so as not to fall off needs to be precisely cut into the peripheral surface of the female terminal or the male terminal, which requires a lot of processing time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to cut an annular groove for accommodating an annular spring conductor into the peripheral surface of a female terminal or a male terminal, and to facilitate processing. The object of the present invention is to provide a terminal structure that can be used in various ways.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the terminal structure according to the present invention has the following features.

A cylindrical female terminal with a fitting hole formed along the axial direction,
a columnar male terminal that is fitted into the fitting hole of the female terminal;
an annular spring conductor that is interposed in a compressed state between the mating surfaces of the female terminal and the male terminal and connects the female terminal and the male terminal;
The male terminal includes a first annular member and a second annular member that are retrofitted to the male terminal to form an annular groove-shaped space for accommodating the annular spring conductor to restrict movement of the annular spring conductor in the axial direction. has an annular member;
The first annular member is a tip member that has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the male terminal and is attached to the tip of the male terminal,
In the terminal structure, the second annular member has a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the male terminal and is a retaining ring mounted on a proximal end side of the distal end member.

According to the present invention, an annular groove-shaped space is formed on the outer periphery of the male terminal using a tip member and a retaining ring that are attached later to the male terminal, and the annular spring conductor is accommodated in the annular groove-shaped space. Since the movement of the conductor in the axial direction is restricted, there is no need to cut the annular groove for accommodating the annular spring conductor into the peripheral surface of the male terminal, which facilitates the machining.

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before a female terminal and a male terminal are fitted together in a terminal structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a female terminal and a male terminal in the terminal structure are fitted together. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the relationship between the male terminal and the retaining ring. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a main part configuration of a male terminal in a terminal structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of section A in FIG. 4.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to each figure.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before a female terminal and a male terminal are fitted together in a terminal structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a state in which a female terminal and a male terminal in the terminal structure are fitted together. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the relationship between the male terminal and the retaining ring.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the terminal structure 1 of this embodiment is mainly used for high-voltage connectors, and has a cylindrical female terminal 10 in which a fitting hole 10a is formed along the axial direction , a columnar male terminal 20 that is fitted into the fitting hole 10a of the female terminal 10 by moving along the axial direction It has a spring conductor 30. The female terminal 10, the male terminal 20, and the annular spring conductor 30 are formed concentrically with respect to the central axis L.

The annular spring conductor 30 is interposed in a compressed state between the mating surfaces of the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 20, and presses into contact with the mating surface of the female terminal 10 and male terminal 20, thereby connecting the female terminal 10 and the male terminal. 20 are electrically connected to each other. Here, as the annular spring conductor 30, a coil spring formed by winding a conductive and elastic metal wire body in a helical shape and rolling it into an annular shape is used. The female terminal 10 and the male terminal 20 are made of, for example, a conductive metal material such as copper or a copper alloy.

Two annular members, a first annular member and a second annular member, which are separate parts from the male terminal 20 and are later attached to the male terminal 20, are attached to the male terminal 20. By attaching the first annular member and the second annular member to the male terminal 20, an annular groove-shaped space 60 is formed that accommodates the annular spring conductor 30 and restricts movement of the annular spring conductor 30 in the axial direction. .

In this embodiment, an insulator cap 40 having a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the male terminal 20 is attached to the tip of the male terminal 20 as the first annular member. The insulator cap 40 is for maintaining contact safety at the tip of the male terminal 20, and is made of an elastic insulator such as rubber or resin. The insulator cap 40 is fixed to the tip of the male terminal 20 by fitting the tip protrusion 21 on the male terminal side into the recess 41 on the cap side.

Further, as a second annular member, a retaining ring 50 having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the male terminal 20 is attached at a position closer to the proximal end than the insulator cap 40 on the outer periphery of the male terminal 20 . The retaining ring 50 is a C-shaped ring formed by cutting off a metal ring at one point in the circumferential direction, and is fixed by adhesion or crimping to the roughened surface 25 of the outer periphery of the male terminal 20. The roughened surface 25 is formed by etching, for example, and does not require processing such as cutting.

The annular spring conductor 30 is accommodated in an annular groove-shaped space 60 secured between the rear end large diameter portion 43 of the insulator cap 40 attached to the tip of the male terminal 20 and the retaining ring 50, and the annular spring conductor 30 is The conductor 30 is restricted from moving in the axial direction. In this state, the outermost periphery of the annular spring conductor 30 protrudes radially outward beyond the rear end large diameter portion 43 of the insulator cap 40 and the outer periphery of the retaining ring 50.

In this terminal structure 1, when the male terminal 20 is fitted into the fitting hole 10a of the female terminal 10, the annular spring conductor 30 presses into contact with the inner circumference of the fitting hole 10a of the female terminal 10, Thus, the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 20 are maintained in a conductive state with each other. In this state, the annular spring conductor 30 is restricted from moving in the axial direction, so that the electrical connection between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 20 is stably maintained.

As described above, according to the terminal structure 1 of the first embodiment, the annular groove-shaped space 60 is formed on the outer periphery of the male terminal 20 by the insulator cap 40 and the retaining ring 50 that are retrofitted to the male terminal 20. By accommodating the annular spring conductor 30 in the annular groove-shaped space 60, the movement of the annular spring conductor 30 in the axial direction is restricted. There is no need to perform cutting on the surface, making processing easier.

Further, according to the terminal structure 1, the annular spring conductor 30 made of a coil spring can be compressed so as to be crushed, so that the reliability and performance of the electrical connection can be further improved by increasing the contact area. Further, although the annular spring conductor 30 made of a coil spring is used, there is no need to form grooves on the female terminal 10 or the male terminal 20, so costs can be reduced.

Further, according to the terminal structure 1, the retaining ring 50 has a C-ring shape and is fixed to the roughened surface 25 formed in an annular shape on the outer circumferential surface of the male terminal 20, so that it cannot be easily bonded or crimped. By a simple method, the retaining ring 50 can be fixed in a predetermined position without being displaced.

Further, according to the terminal structure 1, since the insulator cap 40 for protecting the tip of the male terminal 20 is used as the tip member, there is no need to provide the tip member separately from the insulator cap 40, and the parts It is possible to suppress the increase in points.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the main part configuration of a male terminal in a terminal structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of section A in FIG. 4.

In the terminal structure of the second embodiment, a strip ring-shaped spring conductor 130 having a chevron-shaped cross section and having a convex top portion 131 radially outward at the center in the axial direction is used as the annular spring conductor. The top portion 131 of the spring conductor 130 is pressed into contact with the inner periphery of the female terminal 10 when the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 20 (see FIG. 2) are fitted together. Further, a cylindrical sleeve 150 that fits around the outer periphery of the male terminal 20 is used as a retaining ring. The cylindrical sleeve 150 is made of resin, for example.

An insulator cap 140 and a cylindrical sleeve 150, which are formed as separate parts from the male terminal 20, are attached to the male terminal 20 afterward. The insulator cap 140 and the cylindrical sleeve 150 secure an annular groove-shaped space 160 for accommodating the strip ring-shaped spring conductor 130 with a chevron-shaped cross section as an annular spring conductor. A strip ring-shaped spring conductor 130 having a chevron-shaped cross section is arranged in the space 160 . That is, the insulator cap 140 constitutes a first annular member, and the cylindrical sleeve 150 constitutes a second annular member.

Moreover, eave-like cylindrical walls 142 and 152 are provided at opposing ends of the insulator cap 140 and the cylindrical sleeve 150, which are attached to the tip of the male terminal 20, respectively. Both ends 132 of the strip ring-shaped spring conductor 130 in the axial direction are inserted into the annular gaps 142a, 152a secured between the eave-shaped cylindrical walls 142, 152 provided oppositely and the outer periphery of the male terminal 20. Insertion is fixed. Thereby, the strip ring-shaped spring conductor 130 is restricted from moving in the axial direction. In this case as well, the top portion 131 of the spring conductor 130 in the form of a belt ring with a chevron-shaped cross section protrudes radially outward beyond the outermost periphery of the insulator cap 140 and the cylindrical sleeve 150.

In this terminal structure, when the male terminal 20 is fitted into the fitting hole 10a of the female terminal 10, the strip ring-shaped spring conductor 130 with a chevron-shaped cross section is elastically deformed and its top 131 is inserted into the fitting hole 10a of the female terminal 10. It presses into contact with the inner periphery of 10a. As a result, the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 20 are electrically connected to each other via the strip ring-shaped spring conductor 130 having a chevron-shaped cross section. In this case as well, since the spring conductor 130 in the form of a strip ring with a chevron-shaped cross section is regulated so as not to move in the axial direction, the conduction state between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 20 is stably maintained.

Moreover, in this embodiment, since the annular spring conductor 130 is used in the form of a belt ring with a chevron-shaped cross section, it is possible to facilitate the processing of the annular spring conductor.

Here, the features of the terminal structure according to the embodiment of the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [4].
[1] A cylindrical female terminal (10) with a fitting hole (10a) formed along the axial direction (X),
a columnar male terminal (20) that is fitted into the fitting hole (10a) of the female terminal (10);
an annular spring conductor (30, 130) that is interposed in a compressed state between the mating surfaces of the female terminal (10) and the male terminal (20), and makes the female terminal (10) and the male terminal (20) electrically conductive; , has
By being retrofitted to the male terminal (20), the male terminal (20) forms an annular groove-shaped space (60, 160) that accommodates the annular spring conductor (30, 130), and It has a first annular member and a second annular member that restrict movement of the conductor (30, 130) in the axial direction (X),
The first annular member is a tip member (40, 140) that has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the male terminal (20) and is attached to the tip of the male terminal (20),
The second annular member is a retaining ring (50, 150) that has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the male terminal (20) and is attached to the proximal side of the distal end member (40, 140). ,
Terminal structure (1).

According to the terminal structure configured in [1] above, the tip member (40, 140) and the retaining ring (50, 150) attached later to the male terminal (20) form an annular groove on the outer periphery of the male terminal (20). By forming a space (60, 160) and accommodating the annular spring conductor (30, 130) in the annular groove-shaped space (60, 160), the axial direction (X) of the annular spring conductor (30, 130) Since the movement is restricted, there is no need to cut an annular groove for accommodating the annular spring conductor (30, 130) on the outer circumferential surface of the male terminal (20), which facilitates machining.

[2] The annular spring conductor (30) is
A coil spring made of a conductive and elastic metal wire wound spirally, rolled into an annular shape.
Terminal structure (1) according to [1] above.

According to the terminal structure having the configuration [2] above, the annular spring conductor (30) made of a coil spring can be compressed, so the reliability and performance of the electrical connection can be further improved by increasing the contact area. Further, although the annular spring conductor (30) made of a coil spring is used, there is no need to groove the female terminal (10) or the male terminal (20), so costs can be reduced.

[3] The retaining ring (50) includes:
It has a C-ring shape with a part cut away in the circumferential direction, and is fixed to a surface roughened surface (25) formed in an annular shape on the outer peripheral surface of the male terminal (20).
Terminal structure (1) according to [1] above.

According to the terminal structure configured in [3] above, the retaining ring (50) has a C-ring shape and is fixed to the roughened surface (25) formed in an annular shape on the outer peripheral surface of the male terminal 20. The retaining ring (50) can be fixed in place by a simple method such as gluing or crimping.

[4] The tip member is
an insulator cap (40, 140) for protecting the tip of the male terminal (20);
The terminal structure according to [1] above.

According to the terminal structure configured in [4] above, since the insulator cap (40) for protecting the tip of the male terminal (20) is used as the tip member, the annular spring conductor is exposed in the direction of the tip. There is no need to separately manufacture a dedicated tip member whose sole purpose is to restrict movement, and an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

[5] The annular spring conductor has a radially outwardly convex apex (131) at the center in the axial direction, and the apex (131) is formed when the female terminal (10) and the male terminal (20) are fitted together. A strip ring-shaped spring conductor (130) with a chevron-shaped cross section is used, which is pressed into contact with the inner periphery of the female terminal (10).
A cylindrical sleeve (150) that fits around the outer periphery of the male terminal (20) is used as the retaining ring,
Eaves-shaped cylindrical walls (142, 152) are provided at opposing ends of the insulator cap (140) attached to the tip of the male terminal (20) and the cylindrical sleeve (150), respectively, and are provided oppositely. The strip ring-shaped spring conductor (130) is inserted into the annular gap (142a, 152a) secured between the eave-shaped cylindrical wall (142, 152) and the outer periphery of the male terminal (20). Both ends (132) in the axial direction are inserted and fixed,
The terminal structure according to [1] above.

According to the terminal structure having the configuration [5] above, since the ring-shaped spring conductor (130) is used in the form of a strip ring with a chevron-shaped cross section, the ring-shaped spring conductor can be easily processed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc. as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

1 Terminal structure 10 Female terminal 10a Fitting hole 20 Male terminal 25 Surface roughening surface 30 Annular spring conductor 40 Insulator cap (tip member, first annular member)
50 Retaining ring (second annular member)
60 Annular groove-shaped space 130 Band plate ring-shaped spring conductor with chevron-shaped cross section (annular spring conductor)
131 Top part 132 Axial direction both ends 140 Insulator cap (tip member, first annular member)
142 Eave-shaped cylindrical wall 150 Cylindrical sleeve (retaining ring)
152 Eave-shaped cylindrical wall 152a Annular gap 160 Annular groove-shaped space X Axial direction

Claims (5)

A cylindrical female terminal with a fitting hole formed along the axial direction,
a columnar male terminal that is fitted into the fitting hole of the female terminal;
an annular spring conductor that is interposed in a compressed state between the mating surfaces of the female terminal and the male terminal and connects the female terminal and the male terminal;
The male terminal includes a first annular member and a second annular member that are retrofitted to the male terminal to form an annular groove-shaped space for accommodating the annular spring conductor to restrict movement of the annular spring conductor in the axial direction. has an annular member;
The first annular member is a tip member that has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the male terminal and is attached to the tip of the male terminal,
The second annular member is a retaining ring that has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the male terminal and is attached to the proximal side of the distal end member.
Terminal structure. The annular spring conductor is
A coil spring made by spirally winding a conductive and elastic metal wire body and rolling it into an annular shape.
Terminal structure according to claim 1. The retaining ring is
It has a C-ring shape with a part cut away in the circumferential direction, and is fixed to a surface roughened surface formed in an annular shape on the outer peripheral surface of the male terminal,
Terminal structure according to claim 1. The tip member is
an insulator cap for protecting the tip of the male terminal;
Terminal structure according to claim 1. The annular spring conductor is a band plate having a chevron-shaped cross section, which has a radially outwardly convex apex at the center in the axial direction, and the apex is pressed into contact with the inner periphery of the female terminal when the female terminal and the male terminal are mated. A ring-shaped spring conductor is used,
A cylindrical sleeve that fits around the outer periphery of the male terminal is used as the retaining ring,
An eave-shaped cylindrical wall is provided at the opposite end of the insulator cap attached to the tip of the male terminal and the cylindrical sleeve, and the eave-shaped cylindrical wall and the outer periphery of the male terminal are arranged opposite to each other. Both ends of the strip ring-shaped spring conductor in the axial direction are inserted and fixed into the annular gap secured between the
Terminal structure according to claim 1.

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