JP4833826B2 - Connection member and harness connection body using the member - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection member used for, for example, a harness circuit of an automobile and a harness connection body using the member.

  In an automobile harness circuit, it is often necessary to branch a plurality of branch lines from a trunk line. Therefore, conventionally, a part of the trunk line is stripped, a splice joint method that branches by crimping the branch line to the exposed conductor, and a circuit branch connector is arranged at the terminal part of the trunk line. For example, two types of methods such as a joint connector method described in Patent Document 1 are often used for branching using a general-purpose connector and a crimp terminal.

JP-A-2005-71614

  In the former splice joint method, one to three electric wires must be crimped, and there is a problem that workability is very poor in the state after the machining, and crimping is performed on the production line. Is difficult for line production.

  Therefore, the latter joint connector system has been developed as a solution to the problems of the splice joint system. This joint connector method enables joint processing on the harness production line, so that the production efficiency is improved as compared with the splice joint method, and it is possible to cope with the modification of the harness circuit. However, since the number of parts such as the connector and the mating general-purpose connector, bus bar, connection terminal, and the like increases, it takes a long time to assemble the harness circuit.

  In particular, in the wire harness using the joint connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the joint connector is large, it cannot be branched at a position to be branched. Therefore, it is necessary to extend the electric wire to a place where there is a space that can accommodate the joint connector, which is against the miniaturization of the wire harness.

  That is, even with the joint connector system, there are many problems that need to be solved, such as space saving, further improvement of workability, simplification of the structure, and waterproofing of the circular portion.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a connecting member having a waterproof structure, easy to manufacture and excellent in assembling of a wire harness, and a harness connecting body using the member.

  The technical feature of the connection member according to the present invention for achieving the above-described object is that an external holder having a plurality of electric wire terminal insertion holes, and an insertion unit used in the external holder are used and communicated with the electric wire terminal insertion port. An internal holder having a pin terminal insertion hole that intersects with the electric wire terminal holding hole and the pin holder insertion hole of the internal holder to be inserted into the internal holder. It consists of a pin terminal which contacts the contact of the connection part of an electric wire terminal, and electrically connects the electric wire terminals, and a waterproof member which seals the entrance part of the internal holder provided in the external holder.

  Moreover, the technical feature of the harness connection body using the connection member according to the present invention is that an external holder having a plurality of electric wire terminal insertion holes, and an insertion into the external holder are used and communicated with the electric wire terminal insertion port. An internal holder having a wire terminal holding hole and a pin terminal insertion hole that intersects with the wire terminal holding hole inside, a connection portion at one end and an electric wire connected at the other end, and the connection portion as the wire terminal An electric wire terminal that is inserted into the electric wire terminal holding hole of the inner holder through the insertion port, a sealing member is inserted into the electric wire, and a waterproof structure is provided between the electric wire terminal insertion port and the electric wire, and a pin terminal of the inner holder The pin terminal that contacts the contact of the connecting portion of the wire terminal in the internal holder and is electrically connected to each other by being inserted into the insertion hole, and the inlet portion of the internal holder provided in the external holder are sealed. That lies in comprising a waterproof member.

  According to the connection member and the harness connection body using the member according to the present invention, the internal holder is inserted into the external holder, and the pin terminal is inserted into the internal holder through the electric wire terminal insertion port of the external holder. The electric wire terminals are electrically connected in the internal holder, and the reliability and waterproofness of the electrical connection can be obtained, and the space factor, workability, and cost can be reduced.

  Moreover, it becomes easy to manufacture by dividing and combining a complicated internal structure into an external holder and an internal holder.

  Further, the installation location in the wire harness is not limited due to the miniaturization, and it can be arranged at any location, and circuit wiring can be performed without extending the electric wire.

  In particular, when used in a harness circuit of an automobile, the connection structure becomes much more compact than the conventional joint structure, and the wire harness working time is shortened.

  The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, the harness connection body includes a rectangular parallelepiped external holder 1 having a plurality of wire terminal insertion openings 1a, an internal holder 2 having connection portion holding holes 2a and pin terminal insertion holes 2b, A cylindrical contact 3b is provided at the connection portion 3a at the front end, and a plurality of wire terminals 3 in which the electric wires 4 are connected at the rear end, a pin terminal 5, and a waterproof member 6 made of synthetic rubber.

  The outer holder 1 has, for example, two wire terminal insertion openings 1a each having a circular cross section from the left and right sides toward the center, and a space portion 1b into which the inner holder 2 is inserted. For example, an opening 1c for inserting the internal holder 2 is provided on the lower surface.

  As a material used as the external holder 1, for example, a thermoplastic synthetic resin is applied. Among them, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polypropylene (PP) are used in view of high thermal deformation temperature, high rigidity, electrical insulation characteristics, and mechanical characteristics. And the like are preferred. The vertical and horizontal sizes may be appropriately determined depending on the number and diameter of the electric wires 4 to be used, but the length is usually about 20 mm to 150 mm. The external holder 1 is generally manufactured by adopting a method in which a thermoplastic resin is injection-molded using a predetermined mold.

  The inner holder 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, when the inner holder 2 is housed in the space 1 b of the outer holder 1, it communicates with the wire terminal insertion port 1 a and connects the wire terminal 3. A connection holding hole 2a for inserting 3a is provided. In addition, 2a 'has shown the opening on the opposite side to the insertion side of the connection part holding hole 2a. An engagement protrusion 2c for positioning the wire terminal 3 is formed at the bottom of the connection portion holding hole 2a.

  Further, the pin terminal insertion hole 2b orthogonal to the connection part holding hole 2a is formed in the vertical direction. Further, a plurality of hook-shaped locking projections 2 d for locking the waterproof member 6 protrude downward from the lower portion of the inner holder 2.

  Furthermore, two ribs 2e and 2f are formed on one side of the outer surface of the inner holder 2, and one rib 2g is formed on the other side. In the space 1b into which the internal holder 2 of the external holder 1 is inserted, a groove for receiving these ribs 2e, 2f, 2g is formed.

  The material of the inner holder 2 may be the same as that of the outer holder 1 and is preferably manufactured by injection molding. Further, when the internal shape is complicated, it can be divided into a plurality of parts, and can be formed by bonding or fitting at the time of use.

  The wire terminal 3 is formed by punching one conductive metal plate, and the front end tongue-like connecting portion 3a has a cylindrical contact 3b drawn into a short cylindrical shape and an engagement protrusion of the inner holder 2. An engagement hole 3c for engaging with the portion 2c is provided, and a conductor crimping portion 3e and a covering crimping portion 3f are provided at the rear end via the inclined portion 3d. The conductor of the electric wire 4 is crimped and connected by the conductor crimping portion 3e, and a cylindrical seal member 7 made of synthetic rubber is inserted into the electric wire 4 for waterproofing, and a part of the seal member 7 is fixed together with the electric wire covering for fixing. It is crimped and fixed by the covering crimping part 3f.

  The wire terminal 3 may be formed by stamping and molding a copper plate or copper alloy plate into a predetermined shape, or by Sn plating, or by punching and molding a Sn plated copper plate or copper alloy plate into a predetermined shape. . The material is preferably brass in terms of strength and conductivity, and is further preferable in that the corrosion resistance is improved by Sn plating and the conductivity with the contact with the pin terminal 5 is easily obtained.

  The cylindrical contact 3b only needs to have a shape that allows electrical conduction when in contact with the pin terminal 5, and a tapered guide is provided at the base and tip of the cylindrical contact 3b so that the pin terminal 5 can be inserted from either side. It is desirable. Further, the contact 3b is not cylindrical as in the embodiment, but (a) a circular hole, (b) a polygonal hole (c) a semicircular shape, (d) a U-shape as shown in FIG. (E) V-shaped, (f) square cutout. However, in consideration of conductivity and connection durability, a cylindrical shape and a hole shape are preferable.

  As the electric wire 4, an insulated electric wire in which an outer periphery of a conductor is covered with an insulating layer is applied, and those having a known electric wire diameter can be applied. The conductor is a twisted wire or a single wire of a copper alloy wire such as a Cu-Sn alloy wire that maintains a tensile strength and has a small wire diameter, such as a conventional copper wire or a hard copper wire used in an automobile harness circuit. Applied. In addition, conventionally known insulating materials are applied to the insulating layer, and among them, it is preferable to apply a non-halogen insulating material to the insulating layer as an environmental measure.

  The conductor connection between the conductor of the electric wire 4 and the electric wire terminal 3 may be known caulking, welding, soldering, crimping, etc., but in terms of conductivity, connectivity, and connection strength obtained, A crimping connection by such a conductor crimping part 3e is suitable.

  The pin terminal 5 is a conductive metal rod-like member that is inserted into the pin terminal insertion hole 2b of the inner holder 2 and electrically connects the connection portions 3a of the plurality of electric wire terminals 3, and has a circular, triangular, or quadrangular cross-sectional shape. And polygons. However, it is easy to manufacture, does not require a large force when inserted, and is easy to obtain stable and reliable conduction, so that a square cross section is preferable. In this case, the contact shape of the wire terminal 3 is A cylindrical shape or a circular hole shape is preferred.

  For example, the pin terminal 5 is obtained by bending and folding a single conductive metal plate to obtain a substantially rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. it can. By producing by such a method, even the pin terminal 5 having a small cross-sectional area is less likely to be bent or broken.

  Moreover, it is preferable to insert the pin terminal 5 while deforming the side of the connection part 3a of the wire terminal 3 by making the hardness of the pin terminal 5 harder than that of the connection part 3a. The hardness of the pin terminal 5 and the hardness of the connecting portion 3a can be appropriately adjusted by processing, heat treatment, and material selection. Furthermore, it is preferable that the tip is a conical trapezoidal shape such as a conical shape, a pyramid shape, a truncated cone shape, a truncated pyramid shape, or the like, in order to be surely inserted into the cylindrical contact 3b.

  When the contact of the connecting portion 3a is cylindrical or circular, the inner diameter is d1, the cross-sectional shape of the pin terminal 5 is substantially square, and the length of the diagonal line is x, d1 <x. preferable. Alternatively, the pin terminal 5 may have a circular cross section, and the contact of the connecting portion 3a may be a hole having a square side of d1 in length. When the circular outer diameter of the pin terminal 5 in this case is d2, it is preferable that d1 <d2.

  The waterproof member 6 is a rectangular parallelepiped that fits into the opening 1c of the external holder 1, and a corrugated portion 6a is formed around it. Further, a locking hole 6 b into which the locking projection 2 d of the internal holder 2 is inserted is provided on the lower surface of the waterproof member 6.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled state, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view thereof. First, the internal holder 2 is inserted into the space 1 b of the external holder 1. At the time of this insertion, the ribs 2e, 2f, and 2g arranged asymmetrically on the front and rear surfaces are fitted into the grooves of the space 1, so that the insertion direction is not mistaken. Subsequently, the electric wire terminal 3 is inserted into the internal holder 2 through a total of four electric wire terminal insertion openings 1 a provided in the external holder 1, and the engaging protrusion of the internal holder 2 is inserted into the engaging hole 3 c of the electric wire terminal 3. By fitting 2c, the electric wire terminal 3 is positioned at a predetermined position. As a result, the center of the cylindrical contact 3b of the connecting portion 3a matches the central axis of the pin terminal insertion hole 2b.

  In the embodiment, the engaging protrusion 2c of the inner holder 2 is fixed. However, if the engaging protrusion 2c is attached to the movable piece in the inner holder 2 and is movable up and down, the wire terminal 3 is inserted. When this occurs, the movable piece descends, and the engagement protrusion 2 c can be easily fitted into the engagement hole 3 c of the wire terminal 3. Even when the electric wire terminal 3 is removed, the engagement protrusion 2c can be disengaged from the engagement hole 3c by removing the pin terminal 5 and then lifting the movable piece with a jig.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, since the cylindrical contacts 3b of the connecting portion 3a are stacked at the center of the inner holder 2, the wire terminal insertion port 1a is formed in a stepwise manner on the left and right. When the electric wire terminal 3 is inserted into the external holder 1 and the internal holder 2, the seal member 7 is brought into close contact with the inner wall of the electric wire terminal insertion port 1a of the external holder 1, and water from the outside is prevented.

  When the cylindrical contact 3b is provided in the connection part 3a, it is important which side the cylindrical contact 3b is facing when inserting it into the wire terminal insertion slot 1a. That is, if each connection portion 3a is inserted in an arbitrary direction, it cannot be neatly positioned at a predetermined position inside, so that it is necessary to display the direction of the cylindrical contact 3b at the entrance of the wire terminal insertion port 1a. It may be.

  When the pin terminal 5 is inserted into the pin terminal insertion hole 2b of the internal holder 2 using, for example, a jig, the pin terminal 5 is brought into contact with each other by being inserted into the cylindrical contact 3b of each wire terminal 3, and each wire terminal 3 is connected. They are connected to each other. And unless the pin terminal 5 is removed, the electric wire terminal 3 cannot be extracted from the external holder 1 and the internal holder 2.

  Further, when the waterproof member 6 is inserted into the opening 1c for waterproofing, the locking projection 2d of the internal holder 2 is fitted into the locking hole 6b of the waterproof member 6, and the waterproof member 6 is prevented from falling off, and the corrugated portion 6a. This prevents water from entering. In order to further ensure the closing by the waterproof member 6, a synthetic resin plate body can be fitted over the waterproof member 6 in the opening 1 c.

  In the first embodiment having such a configuration, water penetration is prevented inside the outer holder 1 by the waterproof member 6 and the seal member 7 provided on the electric wire 4, and the harness connection body has a waterproof structure. it can.

  FIG. 7 shows an exploded perspective view of the outer holder 1, the inner holder 2, the electric wire terminal 3, the pin terminal 5, and the waterproof member 8 of the harness connection body according to the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the inner holder 2, the electric wire terminal 3, and the pin terminal 5 are substantially the same as in the first embodiment, but a closing member 1e that closes the opening 1c via a hinge 1d at the lower portion of the outer holder 1. Is attached. Inside the closing member 1e, a waterproof member 8 having a corrugated portion 8a is fixed by means such as locking or adhesion. In addition, a locking mechanism (not shown) is provided between the closing member 1e and the opening 1c to prevent the closing member 1e from opening accidentally.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the waterproof member 8 attached to the closing member 1e by bending the hinge 1d is inserted into the opening 1c, and the opening 1c is closed by the closing member 1e, the corrugated portion 8a of the waterproof member 8 Water intrusion into the external holder 1 from the opening 1c is eliminated. In addition, it is the same as that of Example 1 that the water immersion from the electric wire terminal 3 is prevented by the sealing member 7.

  In the first and second embodiments, a total of four wire terminal insertion ports 1a are provided in the external holder 1, and the four wire terminals 3 are inserted, but a circuit is designed by providing a larger number or a small number of wire terminal insertion ports 1a. can do. Moreover, about the electric wire terminal insertion port 1a which does not insert the electric wire terminal 3, if it seals with the blind plug which consists of synthetic rubber etc., water will not permeate inside.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the harness connection body of Example 1. FIG. It is a perspective sectional view of an internal holder. It is a perspective view of the modification of an electric wire terminal. It is sectional drawing of a pin terminal. It is a perspective view of the assembly state of a harness connection body. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a harness connection body. It is a disassembled perspective view of the harness connection body of Example 2. FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a harness connection body.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 External holder 1a Electric wire terminal insertion port 1b Space part 1c Opening part 1d Hinge part 1e Closure member 2 Internal holder 2a Connection part holding hole 2b Pin terminal insertion hole 2c Engagement protrusion 2d Locking protrusion 2e, 2f, 2g Rib 3 Electric wire Terminal 3a Connection part 3b Cylindrical contact 3c Engagement hole 3e Conductor crimping part 3f Cover crimping part 4 Electric wire 5 Pin terminal 6, 8 Waterproof member 6a, 8a Waveform part 6b Locking hole 7 Seal member

Claims (7)

  An external holder having a plurality of wire terminal insertion holes, and an electric wire terminal holding hole that is inserted into the external holder and used to communicate with the wire terminal insertion port, and intersects with these wire terminal holding holes. An internal holder having a pin terminal insertion hole, and a pin terminal that contacts the contact of the connecting portion of the electric wire terminal inserted into the internal holder by being inserted into the pin terminal insertion hole of the internal holder and electrically connects the electric wire terminals to each other And a waterproof member that seals an inlet portion of the internal holder provided in the external holder.   2. The connection according to claim 1, wherein a locking projection provided on the inner holder is locked in a locking hole provided on the waterproof member, and an inlet portion of the outer holder is sealed by the waterproof member. Element. The waterproof member is attached to a closing member integrated with the external holder via a hinge, and the inlet portion is closed by the closing member, whereby the inlet portion of the external holder is sealed by the waterproof member. The connecting member according to claim 1 or 2 . The connection member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pin terminal is inserted into a pin terminal insertion hole of the internal holder from an inlet portion provided in the external holder.   The connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the waterproof member is made of synthetic rubber.   An external holder having a plurality of wire terminal insertion holes, and an electric wire terminal holding hole that is inserted into the external holder and used to communicate with the wire terminal insertion port, and intersects with these wire terminal holding holes. An internal holder having a pin terminal insertion hole, a connection portion at one end, an electric wire connected to the other end, the connection portion being inserted into the electric wire terminal holding hole of the internal holder through the electric wire terminal insertion port, Inserting a seal member into the waterproof terminal between the wire terminal insertion port and the wire and inserting the pin into the pin terminal insertion hole of the internal holder allows the connection of the wire terminal in the internal holder. Harness connection using a connecting member comprising a pin terminal that contacts a contact and electrically connects the wire terminals, and a waterproof member that seals an inlet portion of the internal holder provided in the external holder. Body.   A harness circuit for an automobile, wherein the harness connector according to claim 6 is used.

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