JP3875037B2 - Pressure contact terminal - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a press contact terminal for press-connecting an electric wire used in, for example, an automobile wire harness.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an entire configuration of a conventional press contact terminal, and FIG. 7 is a plan view around the press contact blade. Both figures are enlarged appropriately for convenience of explanation.
[0003]
For example, an extremely large number of electric wires are used for a wire harness that is an electric wiring body in an automobile, but there is a pressure connection as a method of connecting electric wires and terminals without a step of removing the covering of the electric wires. In this press contact connection, the mechanical strength against the drawing of the electric wire is maintained by the press contact blade and the insulation barrel.
[0004]
The press contact terminal 2 is an example of a female terminal that can be connected to a male terminal (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the press contact terminal 2 is formed by punching a conductive metal plate into a predetermined developed shape with a press or the like and then bending it into a substantially U-shape to form a bottom wall portion 2d and both side wall portions 2a. , 2b are formed, and two pairs of press contact blades 2e, 2e that are in pressure contact with the electric wire 3 are formed on the side walls 2a, 2b. Each pair of the press contact blades 2e, 2e constitutes a slot 2es, 2es between the left and right tips whose upper surfaces are formed so as to guide the electric wire 3. The ceiling part 2c constitutes a fitting part with the male terminal.
[0005]
In the press contact terminal 2, the electric wire 3 is inserted and held in the slots 2 es and 2 es of the press contact blades 2 e and 2 e from above in FIG. 6, but the electric wire 3 faces upward (in the direction orthogonal to the axis A as indicated by the arrow). When a tensile force was applied, the electric wire 3 was easily removed from the slots 2es and 2es.
[0006]
Therefore, conventionally, the strip-like portions 2ah and 2bh constituting the insulation barrels 2h and 2h together with the both-side walls 2a and 2b are formed at the rear ends of the both-side walls 2a and 2b of the press contact terminal 2, and the strip-like portions 2ah and 2bh are formed. The electric wire 3 has been crimped by deforming it so as to hold the electric wire 3 by bending the tip end inward until it approaches the upper ends of the side walls 2b, 2a opposite to the upper end.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in recent years, the wire harness has been required to be thinned by reducing the weight of automobile parts. For example, an extremely thin electric wire 3 such as 0.13 sq may be used with a pressure contact terminal 2 of 040 size. In that case, it is difficult to increase the mechanical strength (tensile strength) against excessive tension in the wire tension direction (B direction) in the press contact terminal 2 of the conventional wire 3.
[0008]
That is, in order to prevent breakage of the strands of the extremely thin electric wire 3, the amount of biting of the press contact blades 2e and 2e into the electric wire 3 cannot normally be increased so that the press contact force by the press contact blades 2e and 2e is insufficient. Tend to. Therefore, if the wire 3 is simply connected with the press contact blades 2e and 2e and the insulation barrels 2h and 2h, it cannot be absorbed when an excessive tensile force acts in the B direction. There is a possibility that the pressure contact terminal 2 may come off and come off.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a press contact terminal that can ensure the tensile strength of an electric wire even when used for a thin wire.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a press contact terminal that is formed between opposing side walls of the terminal body and has a press contact blade for press-contacting by inserting an electric wire in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof, and the tip of the press contact blade Provided with a groove in the insertion direction of the electric wire, and a plurality of tips of the press contact blade formed by the groove are bitten into the wire of the electric wire, and the electric connection with the electric wire and the holding of the electric wire are performed in the biting state. It is a feature.
[0011]
According to the above configuration , a plurality of tips are formed by providing grooves at the tips of the press contact blades, and when the wires are press-contacted, the plurality of tips bite into the wires at the same time, so that a pressing force against the wires is ensured. As a result, when a thinned wire is used, even if a large tensile force is applied to the wire in the axial direction, there is less possibility that the wire will easily come off and come off.
[0012]
If the depth of the groove is set to be shallower than the diameter of the wire of the wire to be press-contacted as in the invention described in claim 2, the amount of biting of the press-contacting blade with respect to the wire of the wire is Since it is regulated by the depth of the groove, there is no possibility that the wire of the electric wire is completely disconnected.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected to the location of the same structure and effect | action as a prior art, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0014]
1 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of a press contact terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view around the press contact blade, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing details of the press contact blade in FIG. Each figure is appropriately enlarged for convenience of explanation.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the press contact terminal 2 </ b> A constitutes a terminal body by, for example, punching a conductive metal plate into a predetermined developed shape with a press or the like and then bending it into a substantially U shape. On the side wall portions 2a and 2b forming the opposing side walls of the terminal body, two pairs of press contact blades 2f and 2g and two pairs of insulation barrels 2h and 2h are formed respectively along with the side wall portions 2a and 2b. Yes.
[0016]
The press contact blades 2f and 2g are arranged at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction (B direction in the drawing) of the terminal main body, which is the electric wire pulling direction. Hereinafter, the press contact blades 2f, 2g and the like that characterize the press contact terminal 2A will be described in detail.
[0017]
The protrusions 2af and 2ag formed on the side wall 2a are formed in a mountain shape having a predetermined height by making an appropriate notch in the side wall 2a and then pressing the notch from the back surface or the surface to project it to the opposite side. I am doing. The predetermined height is the same for the protrusions 2af and 2ag.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusions 2af and 2ag are provided with grooves p1 and p2 having a V-shaped cross section formed at the tip thereof in the vertical direction (wire insertion direction) in the figure. The grooves p1 and p2 are formed by, for example, cutting or punching. The depth C regulates the amount of biting of the tip with respect to the strand of the electric wire 3 at the time of pressure welding, and is set smaller than the diameter of the strand of the electric wire 3 to be pressed.
[0019]
As a result, the tips of the protrusions 2af and 2ag bite into the wire of the electric wire 3 at the time of pressure contact, but the bite stops at the bottoms of the grooves p1 and p2, so that the wire of the electric wire 3 is not completely cut. . However, it is more preferable to set the depth C of the grooves p1 and p2 to be smaller than the radius of the wire of the electric wire 3 in consideration of safety. Further, the number of the grooves p1 and p2 may be further increased depending on the width dimension of the tips of the protrusions 2af and 2ag.
[0020]
Near the rear end of the side wall 2a, a strip-shaped portion 2ah constituting the insulation barrel 2h extends long in parallel with the side wall 2a, and its length surrounds almost the upper half of the covering of the electric wire 3 to be held. It is set to such an extent that it can be bent inward.
[0021]
On the other hand, the protrusions 2bf and 2bg formed on the side wall 2b have a predetermined height by making an appropriate notch in the side wall 2b and then pressing the notch from the back surface or the front surface to protrude to the opposite side. It has a mountain shape. The predetermined height is set so that the front and rear slot widths are the same, but here the height is the same as the protrusions 2af and 2ag. The protrusions 2bf and 2bg are provided with grooves p3 and p4 formed at the tips thereof in the same manner as the grooves p1 and p2. However, the grooves p3 and p4 are symmetrical with respect to the grooves p1 and p2.
[0022]
The total height of the protrusion 2af and the protrusion 2bf is set to be smaller than the entire width of the terminal body, and the difference forms the slot 2fs of the press contact blade 2f. Similarly, the total height of the protrusion 2ag and the protrusion 2bg is set to be smaller than the entire width of the terminal body, and the difference forms the slot 2gs of the press contact blade 2g.
[0023]
In the vicinity of the rear end of the side wall 2b, a belt-like portion 2bh constituting the insulation barrel 2h extends long in parallel with the side wall 2a further behind the belt-like portion 2ah formed in the side wall 2a. The height is set to such an extent that it can be bent inward so as to surround substantially the upper half of the covering of the electric wire 3 to be held.
[0024]
Then, the side wall portions 2a and 2b are bent in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall portion 2d so that the projecting portions 2af and 2ag and 2bg and 2bf of the side wall portions 2a and 2b face each other. The portion 2ac in the vicinity of the front end is further bent in the horizontal direction, and this is brought into contact with the upper end portion corresponding to the portion 2ac of the side wall portion 2a to form the ceiling portion 2c, whereby the state shown in FIG. 1 is obtained. The ceiling portion 2c forms a terminal fitting portion with a male terminal (not shown), and the terminal fitting portion is formed with a connecting tongue piece as another portion of the terminal body.
[0025]
Here, a slot 2fs is formed between the opposing protrusions 2af and 2bf to form the press contact blade 2f, and a slot 2gs is formed between the opposing protrusions 2ag and 2bg to form the press contact blade 2g. And the above-mentioned groove | channels p1-p4 are provided in the front-end | tip of each press-contacting blade 2f, 2g. In addition, the upper surface of each protrusion part 2af, 2bf, 2ag, 2bg is a tip-down so that the electric wire 3 may be guided to each slot 2fs, 2gs.
[0026]
In this state, the electric wire 3 is press-inserted into the respective slots 2fs and 2gs of the press-contact blades 2f and 2g. At this time, as shown in FIG. Since there is no interference, the electric wire 3 can be smoothly pressed into the press contact terminal 2A. On the other hand, the wire 3 is cut at the tip of the press contact blades 2f and 2g, and then the tip bites into the element wire by the depth C of the grooves p1 to p4, and the element wire is pressed and deformed in the bite state. Receives pressure contact.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, the wire 3 after the press contact is held in a state in which the tip side surfaces of the press contact blades 2 f and 2 g bite into the grooves p <b> 1 to p <b> 4. In this state, the contact area between the press contact blades 2f, 2g and the electric wire 3 is increased, which is advantageous in electrical connection (contact resistance).
[0028]
After that, when the insulation barrels 2h and 2h of the side walls 2a and 2b are bent in opposite directions so as to surround substantially the upper half of the electric wire 3, the tips of the insulation barrels 2h and 2h correspond to the corresponding side walls. It comes close to the upper end part of the parts 2b and 2a, and comes to crimp the electric wire 3.
[0029]
Therefore, when a tensile force in the A direction is applied to the electric wire 3, the tensile force is prevented from being applied to the electric wire 3 by the insulation barrels 2 h and 2 h. However, when a large tensile force is applied in the direction B, the tensile force cannot be absorbed only by the insulation barrels 2h and 2h.
[0030]
In this case, in the present embodiment, the tensile force in the B direction is received by the side surfaces of the tips of the press contact blades 2f and 2g and the grooves p1 to p4, so the tensile strength in the B direction with respect to the electric wire 3 is ensured. As a result, when using a thinned wire as the electric wire 3, even if a large tensile force is applied to the electric wire 3, the possibility that the electric wire 3 can easily come off and come off from the press contact terminal 2A is reduced. The connection reliability of the press contact terminal 2A can be ensured.
[0031]
In the above-described embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the grooves p1 to p4 is V-shaped. However, the cross-sectional shape such as U-shape and concave shape may be employed, for example. .
[0032]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the press contact blades 2f and 2g of the press contact terminal 2A are formed by projecting the both side wall portions 2a and 2b of the terminal body, such press contact blades are as shown in FIGS. Variations can also be employed. In the press contact terminal 2B shown in both figures, the press contact blade is formed by press contact plates 2f 'and 2g' cut out from the terminal body. Also in this case, as in the above embodiment, by providing grooves p1 ′ to p4 ′ having V-shaped cross sections formed in the vertical direction in FIG. 5 at the tips of the pressure contact plates 2f ′ and 2g ′, Similar effects can be obtained. As the cross-sectional shapes of the grooves p1 ′ to p4 ′, for example, a U shape, a concave shape, or the like can be adopted.
[0033]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although two pairs of press contact blades are provided, you may provide three or more pairs. In that case, even greater tensile strength is ensured. Furthermore, it is not always necessary to provide two pairs of insulation barrels, and a pair may be provided, or three or more pairs may be provided.
[0034]
Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the female terminal, this invention can also be applied to a male terminal.
[0035]
Further, the present invention is particularly suitable for the press contact terminal used for the thinned electric wire as described in the above embodiment, but may be applied to the press contact terminal used for a normal size electric wire. In addition, the application range is not limited to automobiles, and, of course, it can be applied as a press contact terminal for home appliances, for example.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a thinned electric wire is used, even if a large tensile force is applied to the electric wire, the electric wire is easily disconnected. Since there is less risk of disconnection, the mechanical connection reliability of the press contact terminal can be improved. In addition, since the contact area between the press contact blade and the electric wire increases, it is advantageous in terms of electrical connection reliability.
[0037]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the wire of the electric wire is not completely cut, the connection reliability of the press contact terminal can be further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a press contact terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view around the press contact blade in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing details of a tip portion of a press contact blade.
FIG. 4 is a plan view around a press contact blade of a press contact terminal according to a modification.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing details of a tip portion of a press contact blade according to a modification.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a conventional press contact terminal.
FIG. 7 is a plan view around the press contact blade in FIG. 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
2A Press contact terminal 2a, 2b Side wall (side wall)
2c Ceiling part 2d Bottom wall part 2f, 2g Press contact blade 2fs, 2gs Slot 2af, 2ag, 2bf, 2bg Projection part 2h Insulation barrel 2ah, 2bh Band-shaped part 3 Electric wires p1-p4 Groove

Claims (2)

A pressure contact terminal formed between opposing side walls of a terminal body and having a pressure contact blade for inserting and pressing a wire in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof, and a groove in the insertion direction of the wire at the tip of the pressure contact blade A press contact terminal characterized in that a plurality of tips of the press contact blade formed by the groove are bitten into the wire of the electric wire, and electrical connection with the electric wire and holding of the electric wire are performed in the bite state . 2. The press contact terminal according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the groove is set to be shallower than the diameter of the wire of the electric wire to be press contacted.

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