JP3061253B2 - Branch connection case member and branch connection method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a branch connection case for branching an electric wire from a main line and a branch connection method for branching an electric wire, and more particularly to a branch connection case for branching a wiring made of a twisted electric wire. And a branch connection method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various devices have been used as devices for branching wiring. In particular, twisted electric wires formed by twisting a plurality of coated electric wires are often used as internal wiring wires with the progress of computerization of automobiles, but the branching process is particularly complicated. For this reason, various improvements have been made to branch joint terminals for twisted electric wires. As such, for example,
A branch housing described in 4-55560 is known.

A branching method using the branching housing will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the wire 2 is slightly loosened at the end of the twisted wire 2 serving as a branch wire, the insulator 2b of each wire is removed by several millimeters, and then the crimp terminal 5 having the U-shaped groove 5b is crimped (see FIG. 5A). ). Next, twist the loosened wire 2 as before,
The respective terminal portions 5 are inserted into the terminal chambers of the branch housing 6 (see FIG. 5B), and the terminal portions are locked by a mechanism in the housing 6.

Further, the vicinity of the branch portion of the twisted wire of the main line 1 is loosened and pressed into the U-shaped groove 5 b of the crimp terminal stored in the terminal chamber of the housing 6. At this time, the crimp terminal bites into the insulation coating of the main wire and is electrically connected to the internal electric wire portion. Finally, the lid 6a is closed to prevent the main line from falling off. As described above, the conventional branch housing is composed of a plurality of parts, such as several metal crimp terminals and a housing body that is an insulating material, so that the cost is high and the branching operation is complicated. Met.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to simultaneously connect a branch connection case member which is inexpensive and easy to perform a branching operation and a plurality of main lines to branch lines. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible intermediate branch connection method.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection case for an intermediate branch, comprising a main case and a sub case for electrically connecting two covered electric wires.
A main case and a sub-case, each of which has a locking mechanism for temporarily locking the main case and the sub-case at a distance from each other, and the main case and the sub-case oppose each other. A welding boss is provided on at least one of the surfaces, and a sub-case side of the main case is provided with a guide groove and a guide groove convex portion for storing one of these wires by partially protruding toward the sub-case side. On the side,
On the other hand, there is a guide hole for storing the electric wire orthogonal to the electric wire stored in the front main case, and the guide hole corresponding to the position of the guide groove convex portion of the main case is provided on the main case side of the sub case. And a connection groove for exposing the other electric wire inside to the main case surface.

The intermediate branching method according to the present invention is characterized in that
As described, a connection method for electrically connecting a covered wire of a main line and a covered wire of a branch line by using a case member for branch connection, wherein a plurality of sets of the main line and the branch line are electrically connected. Only in such a manner that the covering portions of these electric wires are brought into contact with each other, and at places where electrical connection is not necessary, the spaces are appropriately maintained, and the wires are temporarily locked to the branch connection case in a three-dimensional crossing state. By applying ultrasonic waves to the case from the outside, the coating of the contacted intersections is simultaneously melted to electrically connect the conductors inside the electric wires.

[0008]

When the branch connection is performed by using the branch connection case member of the present invention, the main case and the sub case are temporarily locked at a distance from each other by a lock mechanism.
Since the coated electric wires of the main line and the branch line are temporarily locked, the handleability until the next welding process is performed is improved.
Further, since the branch connection portion is finally stored and protected in the case bonded and bonded, the strength of the connection portion is very strong. In addition, since the coating of the conductor is melted and the inner conductor is connected, the removal of the insulator, the crimp terminal processing, and the like are not required, and the metal parts such as terminals are not required.

In addition, a plurality of sets of the covered wires of the main wire and the branch wire are provided such that the covering portions of these wires come into contact with each other only at locations where electrical connection is required, and are appropriately spaced at locations where electrical connection is not required. Each of them is temporarily locked to the intermediate branch connection case in a three-dimensional crossing state, and then the coating of the intersecting portion contacted by the application of ultrasonic waves to the intermediate branch connection case from the outside is melted. There is no danger of electrical contact occurring at any part.

Further, as described in claim 2,
The main case has a plurality of guide grooves and a plurality of guide groove projections corresponding to the plurality of wires, and the sub case has a plurality of guide holes and a plurality of connection grooves corresponding to the plurality of wires,
By changing the design of the case member, a plurality of branch connections can be made at the same time. At this time, the contact points of the plurality of main lines and branch lines formed inside the case at the time of temporary locking are ultrasonically welded once from the outside of the case. Can be connected by processing. In addition, when the covered electric wire of the main line and the branch line is a twisted electric wire, it is not necessary to return the twist at the time of the branch connection, so that the difficulty of the branch connection is remarkably solved. Here, both the main case and the sub case have relatively high heat distortion temperatures and heat decomposition temperatures, and a resin with high rigidity, for example, polystyrene,
Desirably, it is made of polycarbonate, nylon, or the like.

[0011]

FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of a branch connection case member according to the present invention. 3 is a sub case and 4 is a main case. FIG. 1B shows this subcase 3 as 1
It is the perspective view which rotated 80 degrees and made the inside visible. 3
a is a branch line guide hole, 3b is a connection groove, and 3c is a temporary locking piece. On the other hand, 4a is a guide groove for the main line, 4b is a convex part of the guide groove, 4c is a temporary locking piece, and constitutes a locking mechanism together with the temporary locking piece 3c. Reference numeral 4d denotes a welding boss.

Next, an intermediate branching method of a twisted wire using the branch connection case member will be described with reference to FIGS. Among these figures, (a) is a perspective view, and (b) is a cross-sectional view at a place where one of the branch lines can be seen.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the branch line 2 is inserted into the branch line guide hole of the sub case 3. At this time, the coating of the branch line 2 is partially exposed by the connection groove 3b. On the other hand, the main line 1 is set in the main line guide groove 4a of the main case. At this time, a part of the main line 1 is protruded toward the sub case 3 by the guide groove convex portion 4b.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the sub case 3 and the main case 4 are temporarily locked at intervals by a lock mechanism including the respective temporary locking pieces 3c and 4c. At this time,
The required connecting portions of the main line 1 and the branch line 2 are three-dimensionally crossed with each other because their insulating coatings are in contact with each other, but the branch line 2 is stored and protected in the branch line guiding hole of the sub-case 3 at the other unnecessary connection portions. Because there is no contact. At this time, the welding boss 4d is in contact with the inside of the sub case 3.

Next, an ultrasonic horn 7 is pressed against the outside 3 of the subcase to apply ultrasonic vibration to the subcase (FIG. 4).
reference). The vibration of the ultrasonic wave is generated by the main line 1 and the branch line 2.
At the contact point of the insulating coating at the three-dimensional intersection, and frictional heat is generated and melted. As a result, these main line 1 and branch line 2
The conductors in the coating of the contact make electrical contact. At the same time, the welding boss 4d in contact with the inside of the sub case 3 also melts and loses its height and spreads. As a result, the main case 4 and the sub case 3 adhere to each other,
Configure the branch connection case.

After the completion of the ultrasonic treatment, the resin forming the welding boss 4d between the main case 4 and the sub case 3 is cooled from a molten state, and these cases are firmly adhered. Here, an example of the case member for branch connection having two main lines and two branch lines is shown, but the number of main lines and branch lines may be one, or three or more. Further, two or more branches may be generated from one main line, and may be combined with these.

[0017]

When the insulated wire is connected by using the branch connection case member according to the present invention, it is not necessary to remove the insulation coating or crimp the terminal, and the branching operation can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. is there. In addition, the main line and the branch line can be temporarily locked, and at this time, the handleability is improved. For example, productivity can be improved by performing the temporary locking work and the ultrasonic welding process at the same time.

Further, since the branch connection portion is housed and protected in the case bonded and bonded, the strength of the connection portion becomes very strong, and at the same time, the insulator is removed, the crimp terminal is processed, and the like. Since no metal parts such as terminals are required, the cost is low. In addition, since a plurality of main wires and branch wires can be connected by one ultrasonic welding process from the outside of the case, work efficiency is significantly improved. These effects are particularly remarkable in the case of twisted wires, which conventionally required particularly complicated processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A shows an intermediate branch connection case 1 according to the present invention.
It is a perspective view of an Example. (B) It is a perspective view from the back of a subcase.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a method of using the connection case, showing a state before provisional locking. (A) is a perspective view and (b) is a sectional view .

FIG. 3 is a view showing a method of using the connection case, showing a state after temporary locking. (A) is a perspective view and (b) is a sectional view .

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method of using the connection case, showing an ultrasonic welding process. (A) is a perspective view and (b) is a cross-sectional view .

5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a branching method using a conventional branching housing, wherein FIG.
(B) shows the state of insertion of the housing into the terminal room, and (c) shows the state of connection with the main line.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main line (Coated wire) 2 Branch line (Coated wire) 3 Subcase 3a Branch line guide hole 3b Connection groove 3c Temporary locking piece 4 Main case 4a Main line guide groove 4b Guide groove convex part 4c Temporary locking piece 4d Welding boss

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 43/00-43/28 H01R 4/00 H01R 4/70 H01R 9/03

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of branch connection case members comprising two cases, a main case and a sub case, for electrically connecting two covered electric wires, wherein the main case and the sub case are connected to each other. It has a lock mechanism for temporary locking while maintaining a distance, has a welding boss on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the main case and the sub case, and has one of these wires on the sub case side of the main case. Has a guide groove and a guide groove convex portion that partially protrudes and accommodates the sub-case side, and a guide hole that accommodates the other electric wire at right angles to the electric wire accommodated in the main case on a side surface of the sub-case. And, on the main case side of the sub case, there is provided a connection groove for exposing the other electric wire in the guide hole corresponding to the position of the guide groove projection of the main case to the main case surface. Branch connection case member. 2. The main case has a plurality of guide grooves and a plurality of guide groove protrusions corresponding to a plurality of electric wires, and the sub case has a plurality of guide holes and a plurality of connection grooves corresponding to the plurality of electric wires. 2. The case member for branch connection according to claim 1, wherein the case member has: 3. A connection method for electrically connecting a covered wire of a main line and a covered wire of a branch line using a case member for branch connection, wherein a plurality of sets of the main line and the branch line need to be electrically connected. Only the parts of these wires come into contact with each other,
And, at places where electrical connection is not required, at appropriate intervals, each is temporarily locked to the branch connection case in a state of three-dimensional intersection, and then these are applied by externally applying ultrasonic waves to the branch connection case. A connection method characterized by simultaneously melting the coatings of the contacted intersections and electrically connecting the conductors inside the electric wires. 4. The connection method according to claim 3 , wherein both the covered wires of the main line and the branch line are twisted wires.