JP2606127Y2 - Metal terminal - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal formed by processing a metal plate, and more particularly to a terminal in which a pin terminal is inserted and mechanically gripped and electrically connected to the pin terminal. The present invention relates to improvement of a structure of a terminal to be connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a positive temperature coefficient thermistor device has been used for starting a motor of a compressor. This PTC thermistor device is mounted on a cluster pin of a compressor by a plug-in method. That is, the PTC thermistor device is provided with terminals into which the cluster pins are inserted, mechanically grip the cluster pins, and secure electrical connection with the cluster pins.

As described above, a metal terminal 1 shown in FIG. 2 is conventionally known as a terminal into which a pin terminal is inserted. The metal terminal 1 is formed by machining a metal plate, and has a connection portion 2. The connection part 2 is a part not shown in the figure, which is mechanically fixed to another part of a component such as a positive temperature coefficient thermistor device or a circuit board, and also performs an electrical connection with another part or circuit of the part. It is.

In the metal terminal 1, a main surface portion 3 wider than the connection portion 2 is connected to the distal end side of the connection portion 2, and both ends of the main surface portion 3 are formed by bending a metal plate. The first and second bent portions 4 and 5 are formed. First and second tip portions 6 and 7 are respectively arranged on the tip side of the bent portions 4 and 5 such that the tips 6a and 7a are close to each other.

[0005] In the metal terminal 1, the above-described main surface 3, first and second bent portions 4 and 5, and first and second tip portions 6 and 7 are provided.
The space surrounded by the symbols constitutes the pin terminal insertion portion 8. The size of the pin terminal insertion portion 8 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pin terminal 9 shown in the lower part of FIG.

At the time of mounting, the metal terminal 1 is brought close to the pin terminal 9 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the pin terminal 9 is inserted into the pin terminal insertion portion 8, and as shown in FIG.
The pin terminals 9 are gripped by the metal terminals 1 and the pin terminals 9 and the metal terminals 1 are electrically connected. In this case, since the size of the pin terminal insertion portion 8 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pin terminal 9, the pin terminal 9 is inserted while pushing the tip portions 6 and 7 of the metal terminal 1 when inserting. become. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 3, the distal ends 6, 7 try to return to the main surface 8 side due to the spring property of the bent portions 4, 5, so that the pin terminal 9 is connected to the main surface 3 and the distal end 6,
7 is securely held.

However, like the other electrical connection parts, the metal terminals 1 are required to more firmly hold the pin terminals 9 in order to increase the reliability of the electrical connection.

In order to increase the gripping force of the pin terminal 9 in the metal terminal 1, the metal terminal 1 is made of a hard material, and the force at which the tips 6, 7 return to the main surface 8 is increased. By increasing the thickness of the metal plate 1, the force of the tip portions 6, 7 to return to the main surface portion 8 side is increased, and the portion of the terminal 1 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin terminal 9 has a corrugated shape. To prevent the pin terminal 9 from slipping in the insertion direction in the terminal insertion portion 8,
It is considered that the bending diameter of the bent portions 4 and 5 is reduced to increase the force for returning the distal end portions 6 and 7 to the main surface 8 side.

[0009]

However, in the methods (1) and (2), the material of the metal plate constituting the metal terminal 1 is changed or the thickness thereof is increased, so that the cost of the metal terminal 1 is high. There was a problem.

In addition, in the above method, the contact area between the metal terminal 1 and the pin terminal 9 is reduced, so that there is a problem that the reliability of the electrical connection is impaired. Further, in the method (1), when the bending diameters of the bent portions 4 and 5 are reduced, there is a problem that cracks easily occur in the bent portions 4 and 5.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention that the pin terminal can be firmly gripped without increasing the cost, the electrical connection is excellent in reliability, and cracks are hardly generated in the bent portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a metal terminal having a structure.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a metal terminal for inserting a pin terminal, mechanically holding the pin terminal, and making an electrical connection with the pin terminal. The metal terminal of the present invention is formed by machining a metal plate, and includes a main surface portion, first and second bent portions formed by bending both ends of the main surface portion, and the first terminal portion. , And second and third bent portions, and the first and second bent portions are arranged such that their leading ends are close to each other, and the main surface portion, the first and second bent portions are provided. A space surrounded by the curved portion and the first and second tip portions is a pin terminal insertion portion.

The feature of the present invention is that the bent terminal and the pin terminal
At least one reinforcing portion is formed by processing the metal plate so as to partially extrude the metal plate inward at a position where the metal plate does not contact the metal plate.

[0014]

In the terminal of the present invention, the bent portion has at least one reinforcing portion as described above, so that the mechanical strength of the bent portion is increased. In addition, since the reinforcing portion is formed by partially extruding the metal plate inward at the bent portion, the bent diameter of the bent portion is partially reduced. I have. Therefore, the force for returning to the main surface side after the distal end portion is moved away from the main surface portion by inserting the pin terminal is increased by the presence of the reinforcing portion. Therefore, when the pin terminal is inserted into the terminal insertion portion, the pin terminal is firmly gripped.

Further, in the terminal of the present invention, when the pin terminal is inserted, a special shape such as a waveform is not required at a portion which comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin terminal, so that the contact area with the pin terminal is sufficient. Is secured. Therefore, the reliability of the electrical connection is also ensured.

In addition, since the reinforcing portion is merely configured to process a part of the metal plate forming the terminal so as to be pushed inward, the cost of the terminal may be increased. Absent.

In the above-mentioned reinforcing portion, the bending diameter of the bent portion is reduced, but the bending diameter is reduced only in the portion where the reinforcing portion is formed. Since the bending diameter can be set large in the portion, cracks are unlikely to occur in other portions of the bent portion. Further, since the reinforcing portion is formed so as to be extruded inward, the mechanical strength of the portion is enhanced. Therefore,
Despite the small bending diameter, cracks are unlikely to occur even in the reinforcing portion.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the pin terminal can be securely held without using an expensive high-strength metal material or increasing the thickness of the metal plate, and the electrical connection can be established. It is possible to provide a metal terminal excellent in reliability.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a plan view illustrating a metal terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The metal terminal 11 is formed by machining a metal plate. The metal plate 11 has a long and thin plate-like connection portion 1.
The connecting portion 12 is provided for fixing the metal terminal 11 to an electronic device to which the metal terminal 11 is attached, and for electrically connecting the metal terminal 11 to a circuit in the electronic device.

At the tip of the connecting portion 12, a main surface portion 13 wider than the connecting portion 12 is connected. First and second bent portions 14 and 15 are formed at both ends of the main surface portion 13, and the first and second tip portions 16 and 17 extend so as to be continuous with the bent portions 14 and 15. Have been banished. Tips 16, 17
Are arranged such that their tips 16a, 17a are close to each other. Main surface 13 and first and second bent portions 14 and 15
And a portion surrounded by the first and second end portions 16 and 17 constitute a pin terminal insertion portion 18.

The feature of the metal terminal 11 of this embodiment is that, at the bent portions 14 and 15, a reinforcing portion 14a is formed at a middle height position so as to protrude inward by pressing a metal plate. , 14b, 15a, and 15b. The reinforcing portions 14a, 14b, 1
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the portion where 5a and 15b are formed, taking the reinforcing portions 15a and 15b as a representative.

The reinforcing portions 14a to 15b are formed so as to extend laterally in the bent portions 14 and 15 in the state shown in FIG. However, when the pin terminals are inserted into the pin terminal insertion portions 18, the reinforcing portions 14a to 15b
5b must be formed at a position where it does not contact. Otherwise, the contact portion between the pin terminal and the metal terminal 11 becomes small, and the pin terminal cannot be firmly gripped.

In the metal terminal 11, the pin terminal insertion portion 1
A pin terminal slightly larger than the inner diameter of the pin 8 is inserted. FIG. 5 shows a state where the pin terminals are inserted. As is clear from FIG. 5, the pin terminal 20 is inserted into the pin terminal insertion portion 18, but at this time, the outer diameter of the pin terminal 20 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the pin terminal insertion portion 18. As a result, the pin terminals 20 are inserted so as to push and expand the tips 16 and 17. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 5, the first and second distal end portions 16 and 17 are connected to the main surface portion 1.
The pin terminal 20 is firmly gripped by the metal terminal 11 by the force of returning to the third side.

Moreover, the reinforcing portions 14a to 15b are
4 and 15, the bent portions 14 and 15 have small bending diameters at the portions where the reinforcing portions 14a to 15b are formed.
The force by which the member 17 attempts to return to the main surface portion 13 is applied to the reinforcing portion 14a.
15b are made larger than in the case where they are not formed.

Therefore, as compared with the conventional metal terminal 1 shown in FIG. 2, the pin terminals can be more firmly gripped by forming the reinforcing portions 14a to 15b. Further, the reinforcing portions 14a to 15b are located at positions not in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin terminal, that is, the first and second bent portions 1
4 and 15, only the pin terminals 2
In a state where 0 is inserted, a sufficient contact area between the metal terminal 11 and the pin terminal 20 is ensured. Therefore, the pin terminals 20 are hardly removed, and the reliability of the electrical connection is also sufficient.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, as the reinforcing portion,
In each of the bent portions 14 and 15, two reinforcing portions are formed at different height positions, respectively. However, as shown in FIG. Only the reinforcing portions 14c and 15c may be formed.

Further, the reinforcing portion includes the first and second bent portions 1.
It is not always necessary to be located in the metal plate at 4, 4 and 15, and as shown in FIG.
Reinforcing parts 14d, 14e, 15
d and 15e may be formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a plan view of a metal terminal of an embodiment, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a step of inserting a pin terminal into a conventional metal terminal.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a state where a pin terminal is inserted into a conventional metal terminal.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining the shape of a reinforcing portion in the metal terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a state where a pin terminal is inserted into the metal terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a modification in which one bending portion is provided with one reinforcing portion.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a modification in which reinforcing portions are provided at both ends in the width direction of the metal plate of the bent portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Metal terminal 12 ... Connection part 13 ... Main surface part 14, 15 ... 1st, 2nd bent part 14a-15b ... Reinforcement part 16, 17 ... 1st, 2nd front-end | tip part

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A metal terminal into which a pin terminal is inserted, which is used to hold the pin terminal and make an electrical connection with the pin terminal, wherein the metal terminal is formed by bending a metal plate. A surface portion, first and second bent portions formed by bending at both ends of the main surface portion, and connected to the distal ends of the first and second bent portions so that the distal ends are close to each other. And a space surrounded by the main surface, the first and second bent portions, and the first and second tip portions is a pin terminal insertion portion. Contact with the pin terminal of the bent part
A metal terminal characterized in that at least one reinforcing portion is formed by processing a metal plate so as to partially extrude inward at a position where it does not touch .