JP6677508B2 - Female terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a female terminal in which an indent portion protrudes from a spring contact portion.

  As a conventional example of this kind, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the female terminal 100 has a cylindrical portion 101 in which a terminal fitting space 102 is formed. A spring contact portion 103 is disposed in a terminal fitting space 102 of the cylindrical portion 101. The spring contact portion 103 has an indent portion 104 projecting therefrom. A concave portion 105 is formed on the peripheral surface of the indent portion 104 and at a position where the male tab portion 111 of the inserted male terminal 110 comes into contact first. A lubricant (not shown) is stored in the concave portion 105 when the male terminal 110 is fitted.

  When the male terminal 110 and the female terminal 100 are in a detached state, and the male tab portion 111 of the male terminal 110 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 101 of the female terminal 100, the male tab portion 111 comes into contact with the spring contact portion 103 and the spring contact portion 103 Is pressed and elastically deformed. Thereby, the insertion of the male tab portion 111 into the cylindrical portion 101 is permitted, and the terminal fitting state shown in FIG. 8 is obtained. The male tab part 111 fitted in the cylinder part 101 is electrically connected to the spring contact part 103 and the upper surface of the cylinder part 101 using the elastic return force of the spring contact part 103 as a contact load. The spring contact portion 103 and the male stub portion 111 come into contact with each other via the indent portion 104 having a small area, and thus come into contact with a strong contact load.

  In the terminal fitting process, the distal end of the male tab portion 111 first passes through the upper surface of the concave portion 105 of the indent portion 104 as shown in FIG. Enter 102. In the process of passing over the concave portion 105 of the indent portion 104, the lubricant (not shown) in the concave portion 105 adheres to the male tub portion 111, and the lubricant (not shown) flows between the indent portion 104 and the male tub portion 111. Intervened.

JP 2008-210755 A

  However, in the conventional female terminal 100, the lubricant (not shown) flowing out from the concave portion 105 of the indent portion 103 is unlikely to be interposed (held) between the indent portion 104 and the male tab portion 111. In other words, the indent portion 104 slides on the surface of the male stub portion 111 so as to push the lubricant (not shown) interposed between the male tab portion 111 and the lubricant (not shown). Flows along the circumferential surface of the indent portion 104 in the direction of gradually separating. Unless a lubricant (not shown) is interposed between the indent portion 104 and the male tab portion 111, there is a problem that generation of wear powder due to fine sliding cannot be effectively suppressed.

  Then, this invention is made in order to solve the said subject, and an object of this invention is to provide the female terminal which can suppress generation | occurrence | production of abrasion powder by fine sliding between a male tab part and an indent part effectively.

According to the present invention, a terminal fitting space in which a male tab portion of a male terminal is fitted is formed, a spring contact portion is arranged in the terminal fitting space, and an indent portion is protrudingly provided in the spring contact portion. At the fitting position, in the female terminal in which the indent portion contacts the male stub portion by a contact load due to the spring force of the spring contact portion, the spring contact portion has a male tub portion side of the male terminal at the fitting position. towards setting at least either side of the auxiliary protrusion protruding said indent vignetted, the auxiliary protrusion and the indentation portion is substantially protrude respectively toward the male tab portion of the male terminal of the mating position an arc-shaped, wherein a female terminal, wherein a groove is formed approximately between the peripheral surface of the auxiliary protrusion of said substantially circular arc shape as the peripheral surface of the indent portion of the arc-shaped.

According to the present invention, for example, when the terminal is fitted in a state where the lubricant is applied to the male tab portion or the spring contact portion, the indent portion is slid between the male tab portion and the male tab portion when sliding with the male tab portion. lubricating while push aside the lubricant interposed, accumulated in a groove formed between the circumferential surface of the auxiliary protrusion of substantially circular arc shape as the peripheral surface of the indent portion of the substantially arc-shaped lubricant is pushed aside, that the accumulated Since the agent fills the peripheral surface of the indent portion, the lubricant is interposed (held) between the indent portion and the male stub portion. As described above, generation of abrasion powder due to fine sliding between the male tab portion and the indent portion can be effectively suppressed.

FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a female terminal in which a male terminal is not fitted. FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a female terminal fitted with a male terminal. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a female terminal in which a male terminal is fitted, showing a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a reference example of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a female terminal fitted with a male terminal. FIGS. 4A and 4B show a reference example of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a schematic view showing a state in which a lubricant is interposed between the surface irregularities of a male stub part and an indent part, and FIG. FIG. FIGS. 4A and 4B show a comparative example with respect to the reference example of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a lubricant is interposed between the surface irregularities of the male stub and the indentation, and FIG. It is a schematic diagram of a state in which was interposed. It is sectional drawing of the female terminal which shows a prior art example, and a male terminal is in the middle of fitting. It is sectional drawing of the female terminal which showed the prior art example and the male terminal was fitted.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(1st Embodiment)
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The female terminal 1 is formed by bending a single conductive metal plate having a predetermined shape. The female terminal 1 has a tubular portion 2 whose front is open. The tubular portion 2 is formed in a rectangular frame shape by a bottom wall 2a, a pair of side walls 2b, and a top wall 2c. The inside of the cylindrical portion 2 is formed in the terminal fitting space 3 of the male tab portion 11 of the male terminal 10. Two receiving protrusions 4 are provided on the upper surface wall 2 c so as to project toward the terminal fitting space 3. The two receiving projections 4 are arranged at positions sandwiching the indentation 6 described below.

In the terminal fitting space 3 inside the cylindrical portion 2, a spring contact portion 5 extending from the tip of the bottom wall 2a is arranged. The spring contact portion 5 is disposed in the terminal fitting space 3 by being folded back more than the tip of the bottom wall 2a. The spring contact portion 5 is provided with an indent 6 at a position between the two receiving protrusions 4. The indent portion 6 protrudes from the side into which the male tab portion 11 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 2 , the indent portion 6 has a substantially arc shape that protrudes toward the male tab portion 11 of the male terminal 10 at the fitting position .

The spring contact portion 5 is provided with auxiliary protrusions 7 on both sides of the indent portion 6 in the fitting / removing direction f of the male terminal 10. As shown in FIG. 2, each auxiliary protrusion 7 has a substantially arc shape that protrudes toward the male tab 11 of the male terminal 10 at the fitting position. Between each of these auxiliary protrusions 7 and indentation portion 6, a groove 8, between the groove inner surface of the peripheral surface of each auxiliary protrusion 7 of substantially arcuate about the peripheral surface of the indent portion 6 of the arc-shaped and is formed Have been.

  When the male tab portion 11 of the male terminal 10 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 2 of the female terminal 1 in the terminal detached state shown in FIG. 1, the male tab portion 11 comes into contact with the spring contact portion 5 and the spring contact portion 5 is pressed. Elastically deform. Thereby, the insertion of the male tab portion 11 into the cylindrical portion 2 is allowed, and the terminal fitting state shown in FIG. 2 is obtained. The male tab portion 11 fitted in the cylindrical portion 2 is electrically contacted with the indent portion 6 of the spring contact portion 5 and the two receiving protrusions 4 using the elastic return force of the spring contact portion 5 as a contact load. Since the spring contact portion 5 and the male stub portion 11 are in contact with each other via the indent portion 6 having a small area, they are contacted with a strong contact load.

  In the above-described fitting process, for example, when the terminal is fitted in a state where the lubricant 20 (oil, wax, grease, or the like) is applied to the male tub 11 or the spring contact portion 5, the male tub 11 and the indent 6 Although the lubricant 20 is interposed therebetween, the indent portion 6 pushes the lubricant 20 interposed between the male tab portion 11 and the indent portion 6. The separated lubricant 20 accumulates in the groove 8 having the peripheral surface of the indent portion 6 as an inner surface of the groove. Since the accumulated lubricant 20 fills the peripheral surface of the indent portion 6, the lubricant 20 is lubricated as shown in FIG. The agent 20 is interposed (held) between the indent portion 6 and the male tab portion 11. Therefore, generation of wear powder due to fine sliding between the indent portion 6 and the male tab portion 11 can be effectively suppressed.

  Also, in the terminal fitting process, the lubricant 20 is reliably interposed (held) between the indent portion 6 and the male stub portion 11 for the above-described reason. The combined resistance can be reduced.

  The grooves 8 are provided on both sides of the indent portion 6 with respect to the fitting / removing direction f of the male terminal 10. That is, since it is provided on both sides of the indent portion 6 in a direction in which fine sliding easily occurs, it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of wear and wear powder due to fine sliding. The groove 8 may be provided only on one side with respect to the fitting / removing direction f of the male terminal 10.

(Modification of First Embodiment)
FIG. 3 shows a modification of the first embodiment. In this modification, a silver plating layer (not shown) is formed on the surfaces of the female terminal 1 and the male terminal 10. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will not be repeated.

  For example, when a terminal is fitted to the male stub 11 or the spring contact portion 5 without applying a lubricant, as shown in FIG. 3, abrasion powder 21 generated by fine sliding between the indent portion 6 and the male stub 11 is formed. The indents 6 accumulate in the grooves 8 without being diffused outside the peripheral surface. The wear powder 21 is not oxidized because it is silver-plated. Therefore, it re-adheres (re-condenses) to the indent part 6 and the male stub part 11 which are the electrical connection parts, and the progress of wear is suppressed.

  As described above, since the progress of the wear of the indent portion 6 and the male stub portion 11, which are the electrical connection portions, can be suppressed, the thickness of the silver plating can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  When the terminal is fitted with the lubricant applied to the male tub 11 or the spring contact 5, the lubricant is formed along with the wear powder generated by the fine sliding between the indent 6 and the male tub 11. 8 will be stored.

(Reference example)
FIG. 4 shows a reference example. The female terminal 1A is formed by bending a single flat conductive metal plate having a predetermined shape. The female terminal 1A has a tubular portion 2 whose front is open. The tubular portion 2 is formed in a rectangular frame shape by a bottom wall 2a, a pair of side walls 2b, and a top wall 2c. The inside of the cylindrical portion 2 is formed in the terminal fitting space 3 of the male tab portion 11 of the male terminal 10. Two receiving protrusions 4 are provided on the upper surface wall 2 c so as to project toward the terminal fitting space 3. The two receiving projections 4 are arranged at positions sandwiching the indentation 6 described below.

In the terminal fitting space 3 inside the cylindrical portion 2, a spring contact portion 5 extending from the tip of the bottom wall 2a is arranged. The spring contact portion 5 is disposed in the terminal fitting space 3 by being folded back more than the tip of the bottom wall. The spring contact portion 5 is provided with an indent 6 at a position between the two receiving protrusions 4. The indent portion 6 has a substantially arc shape that protrudes toward the male tab portion 11 of the male terminal 10 at the fitting position .

A plating layer (not shown) is formed on the surfaces of the female terminal 1A and the male terminal 10.
A lubricant 30 is applied to at least one of the indent portion 6 and the male stub portion 11. The lubricant 30 is oil, wax, grease or the like. The lubricant 30 contains metal powder 31 of a conductive material. The metal powder 31 has such a size that it can enter the uneven gap 32 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) due to the surface roughness of the terminal. The metal powder 31 has a hardness lower than the hardness of the plating material.

  At the time of the fitting operation of the female terminal 1A and the male terminal 10 or at the time of fine sliding in the terminal fitted state, the lubricant 30 can suppress the generation of wear and abrasion powder.

  As the contact state between the indent portion 6 and the male stub portion 11, it is assumed that the lubricant does not intervene over the entire boundary surface between the indent portion 6 and the male stub portion 11, and that the lubricant exists.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the lubricant does not intervene over the entire boundary surface between the indent portion 6 and the male stub portion 11, the unevenness 32 due to the surface roughness between the indent portion 6 and the male stub portion 11 The lubricant 30 into which the metal powder 31 is mixed enters only in the case. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the lubricant is present in the entire area of the boundary between the indent portion 6 and the male stub 11, the lubricant 30 containing the metal powder 31 is mixed in the entire area of the boundary. As the film is formed, the lubricant 30 mixed with the metal powder 31 enters the gap 32 of the unevenness due to the surface roughness of the indent portion 6 and the male tab portion 11.

  In any case, in the reference example, compared to the case of the lubricant 33 containing no metal powder 31 (shown as a comparative example in FIGS. 6A and 6B), the lubricant 30 having a higher electric resistance is used. The reduction in volume and the introduction of the metal powder 31 having a low electrical resistance corresponding to the reduction in the volume of the lubricant 30 reduce the electrical resistivity and reduce the contact resistance.

  As described above, it is possible to provide an inter-terminal structure capable of suppressing the generation of wear and abrasion powder and reducing the contact resistance.

  In particular, the contact area between the terminals is reduced with the miniaturization of the terminals in the future. However, since the electrical resistivity between the terminals can be reduced by the metal powder 31 contained in the lubricant 30, even if the contact area is reduced, the contact area between the terminals is reduced. An inter-terminal structure that can reduce resistance can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Female terminal 3 Terminal fitting space 5 Spring contact part 6 Indent part 7 Auxiliary projection part 8 Groove 10 Male terminal 11 Male tab part

Claims (1)

A terminal fitting space in which the male tab portion of the male terminal is fitted is formed, a spring contact portion is arranged in the terminal fitting space, an indent portion is protruded from the spring contact portion, and a fitting position of the male terminal is provided. In the female terminal in which the indent portion contacts the male stub portion by a contact load due to a spring force of the spring contact portion,
Wherein the spring contact portion, set on at least either side of the auxiliary protrusion which protrudes toward the male tab portion of the male terminal of the mating position is the indent vignetting,
The indent portion and the auxiliary protrusion have a substantially arc shape that protrudes toward the male tab portion side of the male terminal at the fitting position ,
A female terminal , wherein a groove is formed between a peripheral surface of the substantially arc-shaped indent portion and a peripheral surface of the substantially arc-shaped auxiliary projection.

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