JP4898295B2 - Connecting member - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection member used, for example, in a harness circuit of an automobile.

  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 the branch line by crimping the exposed conductor, and a circuit branch connector is arranged at the terminal part of the trunk line. For example, two methods of branching using a general-purpose connector and a crimp terminal, such as a joint connector system described in Patent Document 1, are often used.

JP-A-2005-71614

  In the former splice joint method, one to three electric wires must be crimped, and in the state after those machining, there is a problem that workability is further worse, and crimping is performed on the production line. Because it is difficult to do, it is not suitable for line production.

  Therefore, the latter joint connector system has been developed as a solution to the problems of the splice joint system. With this connection member method, joint processing on the harness production line is possible, so that the production efficiency is improved compared to the splice joint method, and it is possible to cope with the modification of the harness circuit. However, since the number of components such as the connector and the mating general-purpose connector, bus bar, and terminals to be fitted 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, the wire cannot be branched at a location where it is desired to branch, and the wire is extended to a location where there is a space that can accommodate the joint connector. This is contrary to 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 in workability, and reduction in the number of parts.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide a connection member that is simple and highly reliable, and that is excellent in assembling of a wire harness.

The technical feature of the connection member according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is that the insertion terminal insertion hole is provided in the axial direction of the columnar body, and communicated with the insertion terminal insertion hole on the surface of the columnar body. A holding body having a wire terminal insertion hole, a wire terminal having a receiving connection end inserted into the wire terminal insertion hole at one end, and an electric wire connected to the other end, and the wire terminal inserted into the insertion terminal insertion hole An insertion terminal for electrically connecting the wire terminals to each other, and a first locking portion is provided in the wire terminal insertion hole of the holding body, and the wire terminal is connected to the reception connection end. Rutotomoni providing the second engagement portion, the first and second engaging portions is a substantially semicircular section protrusions and recesses which fit with each other, and inserting the receiving connecting terminal to the wire terminal insertion hole When the first and second locking portions are locked to each other, the receiving connection end with respect to the wire terminal insertion hole It lies in positioning the insertion direction.

  According to the connecting member according to the present invention, the positioning of the electric wire terminal in the holding body is accurately performed, and the contact structure that reliably brings the insertion terminal into contact with the electric wire terminal is employed. The connection reliability is improved, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the conventional example, and the cost can be reduced. Moreover, it has the same reliability and workability as a conventional connecting member, and there is an advantage that the length of electric wire used is the same as that of a splice joint method.

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

  In the connecting member of the first embodiment, it is mainly inserted into the columnar holding body 1 having the pin terminal insertion hole 1a, the long groove 1b, and the wire terminal insertion hole 1c shown in FIG. 1 and the wire terminal insertion hole 1c of the holding body 1. It comprises a plurality of wire terminals 2 having a receiving connection end 2a, a crimping portion 2b to which an electric wire 3 is connected, and a through pin 4 having a pin terminal 4a and a gripping portion 4b.

  The holding body 1 is provided with a pin terminal insertion hole 1a for penetrating the central axis and for inserting the pin terminal 4a, and provided with, for example, four long grooves 1b having a substantially semicircular cross section along the longitudinal direction on the outside. It has been. A suitable number of block-shaped fitting protrusions 1d are provided around the surface of the holding body 1. The pin terminal insertion hole 1a is not necessarily a through hole, but may be a dead end hole.

  Further, at the bottom of each long groove 1b, one or a plurality of wire terminal insertion holes 1c that are inserted to the opposing long grooves 1b are formed so as to communicate with the central pin terminal insertion hole 1a. As shown in FIG. 2, each wire terminal insertion hole 1 c is formed so that the receiving connection end 2 a of the wire terminal 2 can be inserted, and a semicircular shape is formed on both sides of the substantially center of the wire terminal insertion hole 1 c. A locking projection 1e is provided.

  A thermoplastic resin such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polypropylene (PP) is applied as the material used for the holder 1, but it has a high thermal deformation temperature, high rigidity, electrical insulation characteristics, mechanical characteristics, etc. Polybutylene terephthalate is preferred because of its superiority. Moreover, although the magnitude | size of the holding body 1 is based also on the number of the electric wires 3 to be used, a diameter, etc., a diameter is 5 mm-30 mm, and length is about 20 mm-150 mm.

  The holding body 1 is generally manufactured by injection molding a thermoplastic resin (PBT or PP) into a predetermined mold, but after preparing the columnar body in advance, the pin terminal insertion hole 1a, You may cut and produce the long groove 1b, the electric wire terminal insertion hole 1c, etc. Alternatively, it can be divided into a plurality of parts and connected at the time of use.

  The electric wire terminal 2 is formed by punching one conductive metal plate, and as shown in FIG. 3, a receiving connection end 2a bent in an L-shape is provided at the front end, and a crimping portion 2b is provided at the rear end. Although shown, the electric wire 3 is not connected to the crimping part 2b. The receiving connection end 2a is provided with a cylindrical contact 2c drawn into a cylindrical shape to be connected to an insertion terminal to be described later, and the receiving connection end 2a is inserted into the pin terminal insertion hole via the wire terminal insertion hole 1c of the holding body 1. When inserted into 1a, the central axis of the cylindrical contact 2c is made to coincide with the central axis of the pin terminal insertion hole 1a.

  The front end edge 2d of the receiving connection end 2a has a semicircular shape, and is engaged with locking protrusions 1e provided in the wire terminal insertion hole 1c on both sides, which are the starting points of the semicircle, and the insertion direction of the receiving connection end 2a A locking recess 2e for positioning is formed. Moreover, it is preferable to provide tapered guide portions 2f at both front and rear ends so that the pin terminal 4a can be easily inserted into the cylindrical contact 2c from either front or rear side.

  Further, the contact point is not a cylindrical shape, but a rectangular tube shape, or a simple circular hole 2g as shown in FIG. 4 or a hole portion such as a triangular hole, a square hole, or a pentagon hole is formed in the plate portion of the receiving connection end 2a. You can just do it. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, various shapes of cuts 2h may be formed as contact points on the receiving connection end 2a.

  The wire terminal 2 may be formed by punching a copper plate or a copper alloy plate into a predetermined shape, using a Sn plating, or by punching and forming 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 4a is easily obtained.

  As the electric wire 3, an insulated electric wire in which an outer periphery of a conductor is covered with an insulating layer is applied, and a known electric wire diameter can be applied as the electric wire diameter. The conductor is a base of a soft copper wire or a hard copper wire conventionally used in an automobile harness circuit, or a base wire or a single wire of a copper alloy wire such as a Cu-Sn alloy wire having a reduced wire diameter while maintaining a tensile strength. Applies. 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.

  In addition, the connection between the conductor of the electric wire 3 and the electric wire terminal 2 is performed by known caulking, welding, soldering, crimping, etc., but in terms of the time required for connection and the connection strength obtained, The connection by the crimping | compression-bonding part 2b is suitable.

  As a cross-sectional shape of the metal pin terminal 4a used for the through pin 4, a circular shape, a triangular shape, a quadrangular shape, a polygonal shape, and the like are conceivable. 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 electric wire terminal 2 is A cylindrical shape or a circular hole is preferred.

  That is, since the pin terminal 4a is inserted through and contacted by plastically deforming the contact formed on the receiving connection end 2a, if the cross section of the pin terminal 4a is square, the contact is circular, If the terminal 4a is circular, the contact is preferably square.

  The contact point of the receiving end 2a is circular or cylindrical, the inner diameter is d1, the cross-sectional shape of the pin terminal 4a is substantially square, and the length of the diagonal line is x, d1 <x. Is preferred. Alternatively, the pin terminal 4a may have a circular cross section, and the contact of the receiving connection end 2a may be a hole having a square side of d1 in length. In this case, when the circular outer diameter of the pin terminal 4a is d2, it is preferable that d1 <d2.

  Further, it is preferable to insert the pin terminal 4a while deforming the receiving / connecting end 2a side of the wire terminal 2 by making the pin terminal 4a harder than the receiving / connecting end 2a. The hardness of the pin terminal 4a and the hardness of the receiving connection end 2a can be appropriately adjusted by processing, heat treatment, and selection of materials. In addition, it is preferable to use a cone-shaped trapezoidal shape such as a conical shape, a pyramid shape, a truncated cone shape, or a truncated pyramid shape in order to securely insert the cylindrical contact 2c.

  The pin terminal 4a can be obtained by bending a single conductive metal plate, for example, to obtain a substantially square cross section as shown in FIG. 6, and thereafter the tip portion can be formed into a cone shape by pressing or cutting. it can. By producing by such a method, even the pin terminal 4a having a small cross-sectional area is less likely to be bent or broken.

  Since a certain amount of force is required to fit the pin terminal 4a of the through pin 4 into the cylindrical contact 2c of the electric wire terminal 2, the pin terminal 4a has a cylindrical holding portion 4b made of synthetic resin. It is attached. By making the outer diameter of the grip portion 4b larger than the inner diameter of the pin terminal insertion hole 1a of the holding body 1, the insertion depth of the pin terminal 4a into the pin terminal insertion hole 1a can be regulated. Thereby, it can be confirmed whether or not the pin terminal 4a having a predetermined length can be inserted to a predetermined position.

  The material of the gripping portion 4b is not particularly limited as long as it is a material having electrical insulation, but as described above, a material that does not break even when a certain amount of force is applied is preferable. Examples thereof include synthetic resin materials such as polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polyethylene.

  When assembling the connecting member, the receiving connection end 2a of the wire terminal 2 to which the wire 3 is connected is inserted into the wire terminal insertion hole 1c of the holding body 1 as shown in FIG. The electric wire 3 is attached along 1b. In the process of inserting the receiving connection end 2a, as shown in FIG. 8, the locking recess 2e is locked to the locking protrusion 1e provided in the wire terminal insertion hole 1c, so that the receiving connection end 2a is connected to the pin terminal insertion hole 1a. It is positioned and held stably in the insertion direction inside, and the center of the cylindrical contact 2c coincides with the center of the pin terminal insertion hole 1a.

  If the size of the locking projection 1e is made smaller than that of the locking recess 2e, the receiving connection end 2a is inserted while correcting these even if there is a slight misalignment or setting error. Positioning can be accurately performed in the pin terminal insertion hole 1a.

  In this state, when the pin terminal 4a is inserted into the pin terminal insertion hole 1a while holding the grip portion 4b of the through pin 4, the pin terminal 4a penetrates through the cylindrical contact 2c of the receiving connection end 2a of each wire terminal 2. All the electric wire terminals 2 are short-circuited by the pin terminals 4a, and the conductors of all the electric wires 3 are electrically connected to each other.

  The pin terminal 4a of the through pin 4 may be inserted into the pin terminal insertion hole 1a from any side of the holding body 1. At this time, if the cross section of the pin terminal 4a is substantially square as in the embodiment, the substantially square corner of the pin terminal 4a is in contact with the hole of the receiving connection end 2a. can get.

  Thus, since this connection member performs terminal connection using the through pin 4, it is possible to make the electric wire terminal 2 small, and the external shape after assembly becomes a columnar shape, which can be easily incorporated into the harness body. Become. Moreover, since the electric wire terminals 2 are arranged around the through pins 4, the interference of the electric wires 3 can be eliminated as compared with the spring contact structure product.

  In order to stably support the electric wire terminal 2 as shown in FIG. 9, a protrusion 1 f adapted to the shape of the crimping portion 2 b of the electric wire terminal 2 can be formed in the long groove 1 b of the holding body 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the wire terminal insertion hole 1c 'in the long groove 1b can also be shaped so that the receiving connection end 2a can be inserted in any direction. Furthermore, you may attach | subject the arrow and mark which show the insertion direction of the through pin 4, and the arrangement direction of the electric wire 3 in the surface of the holding body 1 of the electric wire terminal 2, or the long groove 1b.

  Also, the two through pins 4 can be inserted from both sides of the pin terminal insertion hole 1a. In this case, if the length is such that the two pin terminals 4a do not contact at the center, one through pin 4 can be inserted. The conduction of the electric wire terminal 2 due to and the conduction of the electric wire terminal 2 due to the other through pin 4 can be made into separate circuits.

  In addition, in the Example, although the holding body 1 demonstrated as a column shape, even if it is a polygonal column shape, an elliptical shape may be sufficient. Further, although the four long grooves 1b are provided in the holding body 1, the number of the long grooves 1b is not limited to four, or the long grooves 1b themselves can be omitted as shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the wire terminal 2 to be inserted can be bent in an L shape in the direction opposite to the wire terminal 2 in FIG. It is preferable in terms of stability with respect to the body 1.

In addition, the latching convex part 1e does not necessarily need to be in the center of the holding body 1. FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, with respect to the holding body 1 shown in FIG. 10, the front end edge 2d of the receiving connection end 2a of the wire terminal 2 extends long, and a locking recess 2e is provided near the front end. You may provide the latching convex part 1e in the position corresponding to the insertion hole 1c. Also in this case, the locking recess 2e of the receiving connection end 2a is engaged with the locking projection 1e, and positioning is performed.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the protective cover 5 attached around the holding body 1 shown in FIG. The protective cover 5 serving as a cylindrical body is made of a synthetic resin material. Two half-circular halves 5a and 5b are connected by a hinge 5c, and locking members 5d and 5e are provided at the joint when the cylinder is formed. It has been. The half portions 5a and 5b are formed with hole portions 5f into which the fitting protrusions 1d provided on the holding body 1 are fitted.

  The assembly composed of the holding body 1, the wire terminal 2, and the through pin 4 is aligned by fitting the fitting protrusion 1d of the holding body 1 into the hole 5f of the protective cover 5, as shown in FIG. By attaching the protective cover 5 to the holding body 1 and locking it with the locking members 5d and 5e, the connecting member is ensured to be electrically insulated from the outside. In addition, you may protect by winding an insulating tape around the holding body 1 instead of the protective cover 5.

  FIG. 15 shows an explanatory diagram when the wire terminal 2 is inserted into the holding body 1 without the long groove 1b. Locking step portions 2i having a narrow tip are provided on both sides of the base portion of the receiving connection end 2a. Locking step portions corresponding to the locking step portions 2i are provided on both sides of the wire terminal insertion hole 1c of the holding body 1. 1g is provided, and the insertion position of the electric wire terminal 2 is restricted as shown in FIG. 16, and predetermined positioning is performed.

  In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 17, the receiving connection end 2a is further provided with a locking recess 2e, and the locking protrusion 1e corresponding to the wire terminal insertion hole 1c is also provided. This further ensures the positioning of the receiving connection end 2a.

  FIG. 18 shows an explanatory view when the receiving connection end 2 a of the electric wire terminal 2 of the second embodiment is inserted into the holding body 1. The receiving connection end 2a is not provided with the locking concave portion 2e as in the first embodiment, and the holding body 1 also has no locking convex portion 1e. However, for each wire terminal insertion hole 1c of the holding body 1, a front locking portion 1h with respect to the distal end edge portion 2d of the receiving connection end 2a is formed.

  Accordingly, when the receiving connection end 2a is inserted, the receiving connection end 2a is positioned on the holding body 1 by the front edge 2d of the receiving connection end 2a coming into contact with the front locking portion 1h as shown in FIG. .

  FIG. 20 shows a sectional view in the case where the holding body 1 is further provided with a locking convex portion 1e and the receiving connection end 2a is provided with a locking concave portion 2e.

  In addition, in the case of the locking not based on the locking projection 1e and the locking recess 2e of Examples 2 and 3, in order to maintain the positioning, an insulating tape is wound around the holding body 1 to The terminal 2 may be fixed.

1 is an exploded perspective view of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the combination of a holding body and an electric wire terminal. It is a perspective view of an electric wire terminal. It is a perspective view of the modification of an electric wire terminal. It is a principal part perspective view of the other modification of an electric wire terminal. It is sectional drawing of a pin terminal. It is a perspective view of an assembly. It is sectional drawing of the state which inserted the electric wire terminal in the holding body. It is a perspective view in the state where a projection was formed in a long groove of a holding body. It is a perspective view of an assembly. It is a perspective view of the electric wire terminal of a modification. It is sectional drawing of the state which inserted the connecting terminal of the modification into the holding body. It is a perspective view of a protective cover. It is a perspective view in the state where a protective cover was attached to the assembly. It is explanatory drawing of the combination of the holding body of Example 2, and an electric wire terminal. It is sectional drawing of the state which inserted the electric wire terminal of the holding body. It is sectional drawing of the state which inserted the electric wire terminal of the modification into the holding body. It is explanatory drawing of the combination of the holding body of Example 3, and an electric wire terminal. It is sectional drawing of the state which inserted the electric wire terminal in the holding body. It is sectional drawing of the state which inserted the electric wire terminal of the modification into the holding body.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Holding body 1a Pin terminal insertion hole 1b Long groove 1c Electric wire terminal insertion hole 1d Fitting protrusion 1e Locking convex part 1f Projection 1g Locking receiving step part 1h Front locking part 2 Electric wire terminal 2a Reception connection end 2b Crimping part 2c Cylindrical shape Contact 2d Tip edge 2e Locking recess 2g Circular hole 2h Cut 2i Locking step 3 Electric wire 4 Through pin 4a Pin terminal 4b Holding part 5 Protective cover 5a, 5b Half part 5c Hinge 5d, 5e Locking member 5f Hole

Claims (10)

A holder having an insertion terminal insertion hole in the axial direction of the columnar body, and having a wire terminal insertion hole communicating with the insertion terminal insertion hole on the surface of the columnar body, and being inserted into the wire terminal insertion hole at one end An electric wire terminal having a receiving connection end and an electric wire connected to the other end, and an insertion terminal that is inserted into the insertion terminal insertion hole and inserted into the receiving connection end of the electric wire terminal to electrically connect the electric wire terminals to each other. comprises a first locking portion provided in the wire terminal insertion hole of the holding member, Rutotomoni provided with the second engaging portion to receive the connection end of the wire terminals, wherein the first and second locking The portion is a substantially semicircular convex portion and a concave portion that fit into each other, and the first and second locking portions are locked to each other when the receiving connection end is inserted into the wire terminal insertion hole. A connection member that positions the receiving connection end with respect to a terminal insertion hole in an insertion direction. The first locking portion is the convex portion provided on both inner edges of the wire terminal insertion hole, and the second locking portion is the concave portion provided on both sides of the receiving connection end. The connecting member according to claim 1 . The connecting member according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a size of the convex portion having a semicircular cross section is smaller than that of the concave portion having a semicircular cross section. Said first connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and the second engagement portion, characterized in that a stepped portion for engaging with each other. The first locking portion is provided with a wide entrance at both inner edges of the wire terminal insertion hole, and the second locking portion is provided with a narrow tip at the base of the receiving connection end. The connecting member according to claim 4 . The said 1st latching | locking part is a front latching | locking part with respect to the said receiving connection end, The said 2nd latching | locking part was made into the front-end | tip part of the said receiving / connecting end, The any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The connection member according to one claim. The connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the insertion terminal has a substantially square cross section. The long groove for the longitudinal direction placed along one or more of the wires on the surface of the columnar body is provided, according to claim 1-7, characterized in that a said electrical wire terminal insertion hole in the bottom of said long groove The connection member according to any one of claims. Connecting member according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that fitted the grip portion having electrical insulation on the insertion terminal. The connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein a protective case is attached to an assembly of the columnar body, the electric wire terminal, and the insertion terminal.

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