JP5739827B2 - Contact spring for connector terminal, female terminal, male terminal, and female connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a connector corresponding to a large current applied to a charger or a wire harness of an electric vehicle, a connector terminal, and a connector terminal contact spring provided in the connector.

  For example, connectors for large currents used in electrical connection parts such as chargers for electric vehicles and wire harnesses need to ensure a good electrical connection state that minimizes power loss so that they can be adapted to large current capacities. . Therefore, in order to realize a low contact resistance between the connector terminals connected to each other, for example, a conductive and cylindrical contact spring made of a separate member is fitted to the female terminal, and the male terminal is fitted to the contact spring to insert the female terminal. The terminal and male terminal are connected.

The “terminal” disclosed in Patent Document 1 is also one of terminals having such a contact spring member (contact spring).
The contact spring member disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an annular portion disposed on both sides of a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of spring pieces integrally connected to the annular portion, and each of the plurality of spring pieces. Is formed in an arcuate shape in a side view so that an intermediate portion in the length direction protrudes inward in the radial direction.

  Further, the contact spring member is fitted in the insertion chamber in a state where the spring piece is elastically deformed by attaching a cap to the end portion of the insertion port into which the male terminal is inserted so as not to drop out of the insertion chamber. .

  Since the contact spring member having the above-described configuration is formed in a side-view arch shape in which an intermediate portion in the length direction of the spring piece protrudes in the radially inward direction, a plurality of contact spring members are provided in a state where the male terminal is fitted in the insertion chamber. Each of the spring pieces is in a state in which one portion corresponding to an intermediate portion in the length direction of the spring piece is in contact with the male terminal.

Furthermore, by compressing the contact spring member with the cap, the contact pressure of the spring piece that is in contact with the male terminal at one location is increased, thereby ensuring a firm contact state.
Thereby, the terminal for large current of patent document 1 reduced the contact resistance between a male terminal and a female terminal, and aimed at suppression of electric power loss.

  However, in the case of the structure of the contact spring member of Patent Document 1 in which one of the lengthwise intermediate portions of the plurality of spring pieces is in contact with the male terminal, the contact resistance between the contact spring and the male terminal is sufficiently high. It cannot be reduced, and there has been a problem that power loss cannot be sufficiently suppressed in the high current connector.

JP-A-8-31488

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a contact spring for a connector terminal that can reduce the contact resistance in a connector for a large current and can suppress the power loss even in a connector for a large current that is greatly affected by the power loss. Objective.

The present invention provides either one of an outer peripheral surface of a protruding pin that is provided in a male terminal and is inserted into a female terminal, and an inner peripheral surface of an insertion hole that is provided in the female terminal and allows insertion of the pin. A contact spring for a connector terminal, which is provided with a cylindrical main body portion that is fitted to the peripheral surface of the first contact member and is in contact with the other peripheral surface, and has electrical conductivity. A plurality of spring pieces arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the main body part, and an annular support part that supports the spring pieces from both ends in the insertion / removal direction for inserting and removing the pin with respect to the insertion hole. A plurality of projecting portions projecting in the radial direction so that the spring pieces can come into contact with the one and the other peripheral surfaces are arranged in the insertion / removal direction of the spring pieces; and forming in the direction entire length flexibly deformable to a radially waveform-shaped, the insertion and removal direction of the spring piece Towards the both side portions in the middle portion of the insertion de direction, characterized in that the amplitude is formed gradually increases wavy.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the contact resistance in the high-current compatible connector, and it is possible to suppress the power loss even in the case of the high-current compatible connector that easily generates power loss because a large current flows.

  Specifically, for example, since a large current flows in a connector for a large current used in an electrical connection portion such as a charger for an electric vehicle or a wire harness for an electric vehicle, the influence of power loss is particularly large. For this reason, in order to suppress power loss, it is important to reduce the contact resistance in the connection part of a female terminal and a male terminal.

  As a means for reducing the contact resistance, it is effective to secure the contact area by increasing the contact pressure directly between the female terminal and the male terminal or indirectly through the connector terminal contact spring.

  However, when the direct or indirect contact pressure at the contact portion between the female terminal and the male terminal is increased, the contact area should be increased even if a stronger contact state can be obtained at the contact portion. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the contact resistance only by increasing the contact pressure.

On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present invention described above, the connector terminal contact spring includes the outer peripheral surface of the pin in the male terminal and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole that allows insertion of the pin in the female terminal. The plurality of protrusions arranged in the insertion / removal direction of the spring piece supported at both ends by the annular support portion in the state where the pin is inserted into the insertion hole while the pin is inserted into the insertion hole. Therefore, the spring piece can be bent and deformed toward one peripheral surface by a reaction force received from the other peripheral surface. Using the elastic force (restoring force) of the spring pieces accumulated along with the bending deformation, a plurality of protrusions formed on the spring pieces are individually point-contacted in the insertion / removal direction with respect to one and the other circumferential surface. Can be made.
In addition, since a plurality of wave-shaped spring pieces having a plurality of protrusions arranged in the insertion / removal direction are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical main body part, a plurality of protrusions formed on the spring pieces Can also be brought into point contact in the circumferential direction on one and the other circumferential surfaces.
Therefore, each of the plurality of protrusions can be reliably brought into contact with one and the other peripheral surfaces with excellent contact pressure.

  Accordingly, the connector terminal contact spring fitted to one of the outer peripheral surface of the pin and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole and the other peripheral surface are arranged in the insertion / removal direction. Since contact is possible in a multipoint contact state, the female terminal and the male terminal can be electrically connected in parallel via the connector terminal contact spring.

Therefore, the contact resistance between the connector terminal contact spring and the other peripheral surface, more specifically, the plurality of contact points where the connector terminal contact spring and the other peripheral surface are contacted in a multipoint contact state. The contact resistance can be reduced.
Therefore, it is possible to suppress power loss between the connector terminal contact spring and the other peripheral surface.

  Furthermore, the contact spring for connector terminals fitted to any one of the outer peripheral surface of the pin and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole and the other peripheral surface are contacted in a multipoint contact state. Therefore, a contact area can be reliably ensured by an appropriate contact pressure at each contact point that makes multipoint contact, and a large contact area can be ensured as a whole of such a large number of contact points.

  Therefore, the power loss between the connector terminal contact spring fitted on one of the outer peripheral surface of the pin and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole and the other peripheral surface is suppressed. be able to.

  Furthermore, as described above, the connector terminal contact spring fitted on one of the outer peripheral surface of the pin and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole is connected to the other peripheral surface. Therefore, the contact pressure against the other peripheral surface of the connector terminal contact spring can be distributed to each of the plurality of protrusions.

Thereby, for example, compared with the case of the structure of the conventional contact spring for connector terminals that contacts the other peripheral surface by a strong contact pressure by one-point contact in the insertion / removal direction, the protrusion per one The contact pressure with respect to the said other surrounding surface by a part can be suppressed.
Accordingly, the pin can be smoothly inserted without forcibly pushing it into the insertion hole, and when inserting the pin into the insertion hole, the pin and the connector terminal contact spring, It is possible to prevent the plating applied to at least one surface from peeling off.

Further, by forming the spring piece into a wave shape having an amplitude that gradually increases from both sides of the spring piece in the insertion / removal direction toward an intermediate part of the insertion / removal direction , the pin is inserted into the spring piece. In the state of being fitted into the hole, each of the plurality of protrusions formed on the spring piece is elastically deformed by coming into contact with the other peripheral surface, but the protrusions protruding in the intermediate part in the insertion / removal direction are Since the protrusion protrudes in the radially inward direction from the protrusion, the protrusion at the intermediate portion is more elastically deformed (flexible deformation) toward the radially outward direction than the protrusions at both ends.
Thereby, each of the some protrusion part formed in the spring piece can be reliably contacted with sufficient balance with the substantially uniform elastic force with respect to the other surrounding surface .

  Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the spring piece is formed with a thickness that can be bent and deformed, and the protruding portion and the other portion are formed with substantially the same thickness in the insertion / removal direction of the spring piece. be able to.

  With the above configuration, the spring piece can be bent and deformed in the insertion / removal direction of the spring piece, including the portion corresponding to the protruding portion. Thus, in a state where the pin is inserted into the insertion hole, the protruding portion of the connector terminal contact spring comes into contact with the other peripheral surface, and thereby the spring piece is received by the reaction force received from the other peripheral surface. Further, it can be elastically deformed (flexible deformation).

  Therefore, the above-described effect that the plurality of protrusions can be reliably brought into contact with the other peripheral surfaces with excellent contact pressure by utilizing the elastic force (restoring force) of the spring piece is further exhibited. be able to.

  Further, when the protruding portion of the connector terminal contact spring comes into contact with the other peripheral surface, the spring piece can be flexed and deformed flexibly, so that the pin can be smoothly inserted into the insertion hole. it can.

In addition, the said spring piece can be formed in a wave shape in the state seen from the side, for example.
The wave shape includes, for example, a sine wave, a triangular wave, a sawtooth wave, a rectangular wave, a trapezoidal wave, or a composite wave thereof, and further, an inner surface and an outer surface in the radial direction of the connector terminal contact spring. Each may be formed with a different waveform.

Further, the number of peak portions and trough portions (wave period), amplitude, and wavelength length of the spring pieces formed in a wave shape are not particularly limited.
In detail, the period, amplitude, and wavelength may be different in the insertion / removal direction of the spring pieces, and each of the plurality of spring pieces arranged in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical main body portion may have the same wave. Even if it is a shape, you may form with a different wave shape.

  Further, according to the present invention, the connector terminal contact spring described above is a female terminal contact spring that is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, and the protruding portion is directed radially inward on the inner surface of the cylindrical main body portion. It can be formed with a radially inward protruding portion.

  According to the configuration described above, in the state where the pin is inserted into the insertion hole, each of the plurality of radially inward protruding portions can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin. The connector terminal contact spring fitted to the inner peripheral surface can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin in a multipoint contact state.

Accordingly, the female terminal and the male terminal can be electrically connected in parallel via the connector terminal contact spring, and the contact resistance between the connector terminal contact spring and the outer peripheral surface of the pin can be reduced. .
Therefore, power loss in the connector terminal can be suppressed.

Further, as described above, the connector terminal contact spring fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin in a multipoint contact state. The contact pressure per protrusion can be suppressed as compared with the case where the contact spring is in contact with the other peripheral surface by a strong contact pressure due to one-point contact in the insertion / removal direction.
Thereby, it is possible to smoothly insert the pin without forcibly pushing it into the insertion hole.

Moreover, this invention can be comprised by the female terminal which fitted the contact spring for female terminals mentioned above to the internal peripheral surface of the insertion hole which accept | permits insertion of the protruding pin with which the male terminal was equipped.
Furthermore, this invention is characterized by comprising the female terminal and a housing for holding the female terminal.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a contact spring for a connector terminal capable of reducing contact resistance in a connector for large currents and capable of suppressing power loss even with a connector for large currents having a large influence of power loss. can do.

Structure explanatory drawing of the connector of 1st Embodiment. The external view of the contact spring of 1st Embodiment. Action | operation explanatory drawing of the contact spring of 1st Embodiment. Action | operation explanatory drawing of the contact spring of 1st Embodiment. Action | operation explanatory drawing of the contact spring of 2nd Embodiment. Structure explanatory drawing of the connector of 3rd Embodiment. Structure explanatory drawing of the contact spring of 4th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the subject of the conventional contact spring.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
The connector 21 according to the first embodiment is a high-current compatible connector, and includes a female terminal 31 and a male terminal 41 as shown in FIG. 1, and the female terminal 31 is a terminal body 32 formed of a conductive material. And the connector terminal contact spring 10 (hereinafter referred to as “contact spring 10”).
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the connector 21 in which a part of the female terminal 31 is shown in cross section. In the following description, the direction in which the pin 42 is inserted into and removed from the insertion hole 33 will be described as the insertion / removal direction D.

  The terminal body 32 in the female terminal 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is fitted and held in a fitting hole formed in a housing (not shown). The terminal main body 32 constitutes a hollow insertion hole 33 into which the protruding pin 42 of the male terminal 41 can be inserted.

  The insertion hole 33 forms an insertion port 33A at an end portion on the side where the pin 42 is inserted in the insertion / removal direction D, and communicates with the outside through the insertion port 33A.

  A guide surface 36 having a diameter smaller than the inner peripheral diameter of the insertion hole 33 is formed at the edge of the insertion port 33A so that the pin 42 can be guided when inserted.

  Compared with the other part of the insertion / removal direction D, the diameter of the side end portion having the insertion port 33A in the insertion / removal direction D on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 33 is large. Thus, a holding step portion 34 having a concave step shape in cross section is formed. Both end portions of the holding step portion 34 in the insertion / removal direction D form contact spring locking portions 35 that engage the end portions of the contact spring 10 when the contact spring 10 is fitted to the holding step portion 34. .

  The other end side of the terminal main body 32 with respect to the side having the insertion port 33A in the insertion / removal direction D is a crimping portion 38 for crimping and connecting a conductor exposed portion where the insulation coating is exposed at one end side in the length direction of the electric wire 39. Are connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the contact spring 10 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that can be fitted to the holding step portion 34 and can contact the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42 of the male terminal 41.
FIG. 2 is an external view of the contact spring 10.

  The contact spring 10 is formed by a plurality of beam-like spring pieces 13 arranged at equal intervals with a gap 15 in the circumferential direction, and an annular support portion 12 that supports the spring pieces 13 from both ends in the insertion / removal direction D. doing. The support part 12 and the spring piece 13 are integrally connected.

  At least the support portion 12 in the contact spring 10 is in a state of being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the holding step portion 34 in a state in which the contact spring 10 is fitted to the holding step portion 34. It is configured to be electrically connectable.

  The spring piece 13 is formed in a wave shape having the same thickness so that the entire length of the spring piece 13 in the insertion / removal direction D can be flexibly deformed, and each of the plurality of spring pieces 13 arranged in the circumferential direction has a period, It has a wave shape with substantially the same amplitude.

  The outer peripheral surface of the pin 42 of the male terminal 41 into which the portion having a smaller diameter than the other portions in the insertion / removal direction D of the contact spring 10, that is, the portion corresponding to the wave-shaped valley portion of the spring piece 13 is inserted. It is formed as the radially inward protruding portion 14 that protrudes in the radially inward direction so as to be able to come into contact.

  In other words, the above-described contact spring 10 includes the cylindrical main body portion 11 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that is fitted to the holding step portion 34, and the radially inward protruding portion 14.

  In the connector 21 configured as described above, when the pin 42 of the male terminal 41 is inserted into the insertion hole 33 of the female terminal 31, the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42 is projected in the radially inward direction of the contact spring 10 as shown in FIG. 14 is contacted. In this contact state, the radially inward protruding portion 14 is elastically deformed in the radially outward direction by a reaction force received from the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42, as shown in the enlarged view of the portion X in FIG. Thus, in a state where the pin 42 of the male terminal 41 is inserted into the insertion hole 33 of the female terminal 31, each of the plurality of radially inward protruding portions 14 disposed in the insertion / removal direction D is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42. On the other hand, it can contact firmly with an elastic force (restoring force).

Therefore, the connector 21 described above can contact the contact spring 10 and the pin 42 in a multipoint contact state, and can electrically connect the female terminal 31 and the male terminal 41 in parallel.
Therefore, the connector 21 can reduce the contact resistance between the female terminal 31 and the male terminal 41, and can suppress power loss as a large current compatible connector.

  3 is an explanatory view of the action of the contact spring 10 in a state where the male terminal 41 is inserted into the female terminal 31. In FIG. 3, the radially inward protruding portion of the contact spring 10 fitted into the female terminal 31 is shown. 14 and an enlarged view of an X portion showing a contact portion between the male terminal 41 and the outer peripheral surface of the male terminal 41.

The effect of the connector 21 described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) and FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b).
4A is an explanatory view for explaining an electrical contact state between the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42 and the spring piece 13 in the connector 21 of the first embodiment, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the electrical contact state of the connection parts X1 to X7 of 42 and the spring piece 13. FIG. Further, FIG. 4 (b), the and, _R A in Equation 1] _(R A1 ~R _A7) is the resistance of the pin 42 side of the contact portion _{(X1~X7), RB (R B1} ~R _B7 ) indicates the resistance value on the spring piece side.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory view for explaining a contact state between the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42 and the spring piece 101 in the conventional connector 103, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating the pin 42 and the spring piece 101. It is explanatory drawing explaining the electrical contact state of this contact part Y1. Further, R _A1 in FIG. 8B and [Equation 1] is a resistance value on the pin 42 side in the contact portion Y1, and R _B1 indicates a resistance value on the spring piece 101 side.

As shown in FIG. 8A, in the case of the configuration of the conventional contact spring 100 in which each of the plurality of spring pieces 101 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42 of the male terminal 41 at one place in the insertion / removal direction D. As shown in FIG. 8B, the connecting portion Y1 between the pin 42 and the spring piece 101 is electrically connected in series. In this case, the contact resistance value R _Y of the contact portion Y1 between the pin 42 and the spring piece 101 is equal to the resistance value R _A1 on the pin 42 side in the contact portion Y1 and the spring piece 101 side as shown in [Equation 1]. Since it becomes the sum of the resistance value R _B1 of the current value, it becomes larger.

これに対して、第１実施形態のコネクタ２１は、図４（ａ）に示すように、複数のばね片１３のそれぞれにおいて、接触ばね１０とピン４２とを、例えば、Ｘ１点からＸ７点までの合計７点による多点接触状態で接触させることができため、図４（ｂ）に示すように、この間を電気的に並列接続することができる。

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4A, the connector 21 of the first embodiment is configured so that the contact spring 10 and the pin 42 are connected to each of the plurality of spring pieces 13, for example, from the X1 point to the X7 point. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), this can be electrically connected in parallel.

Therefore, the contact resistance _{R X} between the contact spring 10 and the pin 42, because it is calculated by the formula shown in [Formula 2] (n = 7), the contact spring 10 of the first embodiment, with respect to the pin 42 Compared with the contact resistance R _Y between the contact spring 100 and the pin 42 in the configuration of the conventional contact spring electrically connected in series, the contact resistance R _X between the contact spring 10 and the pin 42 is markedly reduced. Can be reduced.

従って、コネクタ２１は、雌端子３１と雄端子４１との間の接触抵抗の低減を図ることができ、大電流対応コネクタとして電力損失を抑制することができる。

Therefore, the connector 21 can reduce the contact resistance between the female terminal 31 and the male terminal 41, and can suppress power loss as a large current compatible connector.

  The connector 21 is not limited to a configuration in which the contact spring 10 and the pin 42 are brought into contact in a multipoint contact state with a total of 7 points in each of the plurality of spring pieces 13, but a multipoint contact state with a plurality of points other than 7. The structure made to contact may be sufficient.

  Further, as described above, the contact spring 10 fitted to the holding step 34 of the insertion hole 33 can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42 in a multipoint contact state. A reliable contact state by contact pressure can be obtained.

  Further, as described above, the contact spring 10 fitted to the holding step 34 of the insertion hole 33 can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42 in a multipoint contact state. The contact pressure with respect to the outer peripheral surface of each of the plurality of radially projecting portions 14 can be dispersed. Accordingly, when the pin 42 of the male terminal 41 is inserted into the insertion hole 33, the radially inward protruding portion 14 can be smoothly inserted without being obstructed, and the pin 42 is inserted into the insertion hole 33. In addition, it is possible to prevent the plating applied to at least one surface of the pin 42 and the contact spring 10 from peeling off.

Below, connectors 21A and 21B, contact spring 10C, and male terminal 41D in other embodiments are explained.
However, among the configurations of the connectors 21A and 21B and the contact spring 10C and the male terminal 41D described below, the same configurations as those of the connector 21 in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and Description is omitted.

(Second Embodiment)
The configuration of the contact spring 10A provided in the connector 21A in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5A is a configuration explanatory view of the contact spring 10A in the second embodiment in which the female terminal 31 fitted with the contact spring 10A is shown in cross section, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the contact spring 10A. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of 10 A of contact springs in 2nd Embodiment which showed the connector 21A of the state which inserted the male terminal 41 in the female terminal 31 fitted. Further, only a part of the plurality of spring pieces 13A arranged in the circumferential direction of the contact spring 10A (the spring piece 13A positioned at the upper end of the contact spring 10A in FIG. 5) is shown.

  In the contact spring 10A in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the spring piece 13 is formed in a wave shape in which a plurality of radially inward protruding portions 14A are arranged in the insertion / removal direction D. In the direction D, the waveforms are different in amplitude.

  Specifically, in the contact spring 10A in the second embodiment, the amplitude of the intermediate portion of the spring piece 13A in the insertion / removal direction D (length direction) is larger than that of the both side portions in the insertion / removal direction D. It is formed with a waveform. That is, in the state in which the contact spring 10A is fitted to the holding step portion 34, as described above, the radially inwardly large protruding portion 14Aa disposed at the intermediate portion in the insertion / removal direction D of the spring piece 13A is formed by the spring piece 13A. It is set as the shape which protrudes in the diameter direction rather than the diameter direction small protrusion part 14Ab arrange | positioned on both sides of the said insertion / removal direction D.

  Furthermore, in the insertion / removal direction D of the spring piece 13A, the radially inward protruding portion 14A disposed between the radially inward large protruding portion 14Aa and the radially inward small protruding portion 14Ab is a large radially inward protruding. Since it protrudes by the protrusion length between part 14Aa and radial direction small protrusion part 14Ab, it forms as radial direction inside protrusion part 14Ac.

  Further, a side portion of the crimping portion 38 in the insertion / removal direction D of the holding step portion 34 in the terminal main body 32 of the female terminal 31 and corresponding to the circumferential gap 15 of the contact spring 10 </ b> A has a pin 42. A guide protrusion 37 that protrudes in the radially inward direction so as to be able to guide the support portion 12 that slides in the insertion / removal direction D along with the insertion / removal is provided.

As described above, in the state where the pin 42 is inserted into the insertion hole 33, each of the plurality of radially inward protruding portions 14A is elastically deformed by contacting the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42. However, as described above, the spring piece 13A In the insertion / removal direction D, the large radially inward protruding portion 14Aa protrudes in the radially inner direction than the small radially inward protruding portion 14Ab, and thus the large radially inward protruding portion 14Aa is small in the radially inward protruding portion 14Ab. Compared to the above, it is more elastically deformed (flexed deformation) in the radially outward direction.
By the way, both end portions of the spring piece 13A in the insertion / removal direction D (length direction) are located in the vicinity of the support portion 12 and are firmly supported by the support portion 12 as compared with the intermediate portion in the insertion / removal direction D. It becomes a state. For this reason, the both ends of the spring piece 13A in the insertion / removal direction D have a higher restoring force (elastic force) to restore the shape before deformation than the intermediate portion.

  When the ease of elastic deformation of the spring piece 13A itself in the radially outward direction is seen in the whole insertion / removal direction D of the spring piece 13A, both end portions of the spring piece 13A in the insertion / removal direction D are intermediate portions. It is also clear from the fact that it is difficult to bend compared to.

  In consideration of this point, the contact spring 10A in the second embodiment has an inner diameter so as to have a wave shape with a small amplitude at both ends where the restoring force is high in the insertion / removal direction D of the spring piece 13A as described above. 14 A of direction protrusion parts are arrange | positioned, and 14 A of radial direction protrusion parts are arrange | positioned so that it may become a waveform with a big amplitude in the intermediate part where a restoring force tends to become weak in the said insertion / removal direction D of the spring piece 13A.

Thereby, each of the plurality of radially inward protruding portions 14A arranged in the insertion / removal direction D of the spring piece 13A is brought into contact with the pin 42 inserted into the insertion hole 33 in a balanced and reliable manner with a substantially uniform elastic force. (See arrow f in FIG. 5B).
Therefore, the contact spring 10A in the second embodiment can reduce the contact resistance due to reliable multipoint contact, and as a result, can reduce power loss.

  Further, in this way, for example, the elastic force of a predetermined portion in the insertion / removal direction D of the spring piece 13A does not become extremely large compared to other portions, and the contact pressure per point is increased by multipoint contact. Therefore, when the pin 42 is inserted into the insertion hole 33, the pin 42 can be inserted into the insertion hole 33 more smoothly without being caught by a predetermined portion in the insertion / removal direction D of the spring piece 13A. At the same time, when the pin 42 is inserted into the insertion hole 33, it is possible to prevent the plating applied to at least one surface of the pin 42 and the contact spring 10A from peeling off.

(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 6, the male terminal 41B provided in the connector 21B of the third embodiment has a radially outward protruding portion 14B protruding outward in the radial direction on the outer periphery of the pin 42B. In the direction).
FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory view of the connector 21B of the third embodiment in which a part of the female terminal 31 is shown in cross section.

  The radially outward protruding portion 14B is formed in a protruding shape that protrudes in the radially outward direction in the entire circumferential direction as compared with other portions of the pin 42B in the insertion / removal direction D.

  In the connector 21 </ b> B according to the third embodiment, a contact spring 100 having a conventional configuration in which a plurality of radially projecting portions are not formed on the spring piece 13 is fitted to the holding step 34 of the female connector 21.

According to the configuration described above, each of the plurality of radially outward projecting portions 14B can be brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the contact spring 100 in a state where the pin 42B is inserted into the insertion hole 33.
Therefore, also in the connector 21B of the third embodiment, the contact resistance between the male terminal 41B and the female terminal 31 can be reduced by multipoint contact, and power loss can be suppressed as a large current compatible connector.

  In addition, since each of the plurality of radially outward projecting portions 14B is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the contact spring 100, contact pressure at each contact location can be suppressed, and thus the pin 42B is inserted into the insertion hole 33. In this case, the pin 42B can be inserted into the insertion hole 33 more smoothly, and the plating applied to at least one surface of the pin 42 and the contact spring 100 when the pin 42B is inserted into the insertion hole 33. Can be prevented from peeling off.

  In the connector 21B of the third embodiment, a plurality of radially inward protruding portions 14 in the insertion / removal direction D of the spring piece 13 is also provided, like the connector 21 of the first embodiment or the connector 21A of the second embodiment. 14A may be fitted into the holding step 34, and the male terminal 41B of the third embodiment may be inserted into the insertion hole 33 of the female terminal 31. Moreover, the structure which is not provided with the contact spring 100 may be sufficient as the female terminal 31 in the connector 21B of 3rd Embodiment.

(Fourth embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 7A, the contact spring 10 </ b> C of the fourth embodiment is formed of a cylindrical main body 11 that is entirely cylindrical and does not have a spring piece 13. A plurality of radially inward protruding portions 14C (dimples) are arranged in the insertion / removal direction D on the peripheral surface.
In the contact spring 10C of the fourth embodiment, a plurality of dimples 19 are arranged in the insertion / removal direction D on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body 11 as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7A is an external view of a contact spring 10C according to the fourth embodiment.

  With the configuration described above, the contact spring 10 </ b> C can contact each of the plurality of radially inward protruding portions 14 </ b> C with the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42 in the insertion / removal direction D when the pin 42 is inserted into the insertion hole 33. (Not shown), the contact resistance can be reduced by multipoint contact, and as a result, the power loss can be reduced.

  Further, since each of the plurality of dimples 19 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42, the contact pressure at each contact location can be suppressed. Therefore, when the pin 42 is inserted into the insertion hole 33, the pin 42 is While being able to insert into the insertion hole 33 more smoothly, when the pin 42 is inserted into the insertion hole 33, plating applied to at least one surface of the pin 42 and the contact spring 10C is prevented from peeling off. be able to.

The configuration described above is one mode for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and other modes can be adopted.
For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the plurality of radially inward protruding portions 14 </ b> C are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body portion 11 like the contact spring 10 </ b> C of the fourth embodiment. A plurality of out-diameter protrusions 14D may be disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the pin 42D of the male terminal 41D.
FIG. 7B is an external view of the pin 42 of another embodiment.

  Further, the male terminal is not limited to forming a plurality of radially outward projecting portions 14B projecting outward in the radial direction on the outer periphery of the pin 42B in the insertion / removal direction D, like the male terminal 41B in the third embodiment. The contact spring may be fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical or columnar pin 42. In this case, the contact spring may have a configuration in which a plurality of radially outward projecting portions 14 are arranged in the insertion / removal direction D on the outer surface of the cylindrical main body portion 11 like the contact springs 10 and 10A described above.

  Furthermore, since the shape of the contact spring 10 is determined by the connection partner, the contact spring 10 can be formed in a triangular cylinder shape or a square cylinder shape in addition to the cylindrical shape as described above.

  Furthermore, the contact spring 10 is not limited to a cylindrical shape formed in advance, but may be configured such that a plate shape is rolled into a cylindrical shape so as to be held by the holding step portion 34.

Furthermore, in the above example, the support portions 12 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction, but the support portion 12 is provided only at one end in the longitudinal direction, and the other end of the spring piece 13 is a free end. It may be.
As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be configured in various embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10A, 10C ... Contact spring for connector terminals 11 ... Cylindrical main body part 12 ... Supporting part 13 ... Spring piece 14, 14A, 14C ... Radially inward projecting part 14D ... Radially outward projecting part 21, 21, A, 21B ... Connector DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Female terminal 32 ... Terminal main body 33 ... Insertion hole 34 ... Holding step part 41, 41B, 41D ... Male terminal 42, 42B, 42D ... Pin D ... Insertion / removal direction

Claims (5)

Provided on either one of the outer peripheral surface of the protruding pin that is provided in the male terminal and fitted into the female terminal, and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole that is provided in the female terminal and allows insertion of the pin A contact spring for a connector terminal that is fitted and has a cylindrical main body portion that is in contact with the other peripheral surface, and has electrical conductivity,
The cylindrical main body is
A plurality of spring pieces arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical main body,
An annular support portion that supports the spring piece from both ends in the insertion / removal direction for inserting / removing the pin with respect to the insertion hole,
The spring piece,
A plurality of projecting portions projecting in the radial direction so as to come into contact with the one and the other peripheral surfaces are arranged in the insertion / removal direction of the spring piece, and the total length of the spring piece in the insertion / removal direction is set in the radial direction. In addition to forming a wave shape that can be flexibly deformed ,
A contact spring for connector terminals, wherein the spring piece is formed in a wave shape whose amplitude gradually increases from both side portions in the insertion / removal direction in the spring piece toward an intermediate portion in the insertion / removal direction . The connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring piece is formed with a thickness that can be bent and deformed, and the protrusion and the other part are formed with substantially the same thickness in the insertion / removal direction of the spring piece. Contact spring for terminals. The contact spring for connector terminals according to claim 1 or 2 is a contact spring for female terminals that is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole,
A contact spring for a female terminal, wherein the protruding portion is formed by a radially inward protruding portion that protrudes radially inward on the inner surface of the cylindrical main body. The female terminal which attached the contact spring for female terminals of Claim 3 to the internal peripheral surface of the insertion hole which accept | permits insertion of the protruding pin with which the male terminal was equipped. A female connector comprising the female terminal according to claim 4 and a housing for holding the female terminal.

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