JP7461225B2 - Terminal connection structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a terminal connection structure.

Conventionally, a terminal connection structure includes a male terminal as a first terminal having a first electrical connection part, and a second electrical connection part having a second electrical connection part electrically connected to the first electrical connection part. A device equipped with a female terminal as a terminal is known (see Patent Document 1).

In this terminal connection structure, the first electrical connection portion of the male terminal is formed in a rod shape, such as a tab type or a square pin type. The electrical connection portion of the female terminal is formed in a rectangular tube shape. Inside this electrical connection portion, there are arranged a spring side contact portion provided on an elastically deformable spring piece, and a tube side front contact portion and a tube side rear contact portion provided opposite the spring side contact portion with the first electrical connection portion in between.

In such a terminal connection structure, the first electrical connection part of the male terminal is inserted into the electrical connection part of the female terminal. At this time, the first electrical connection part is brought into contact with the spring-side contact part, the cylinder-side front contact part, and the cylinder-side rear contact part by the urging force of the spring piece. This contact electrically connects the male terminal and female terminal.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-118102

In a terminal connection structure such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, the first terminal and the second terminal are housed in a first connector and a second connector that can be fitted together, respectively. When the first connector and the second connector are fitted together, the first electrical connection portion of the first terminal and the second electrical connection portion of the second terminal are electrically connected.

Such a first connector and second connector are mounted, for example, in a vehicle while engaged. When vibrations are applied to the first connector and second connector, such as when the vehicle is running, the first terminal and second terminal housed therein are also subjected to vibrations.

When vibrations are applied to the first terminal and the second terminal, micro-sliding wear can occur at the contact area between the first electrical connection part and the second electrical connection part, generating wear powder. If this wear powder gets into the contact area between the first electrical connection part and the second electrical connection part, there is a concern that the reliability of the electrical connection may decrease.

In particular, in the case of a structure in which the first electrical connection part is formed into a rod shape and is inserted into the cylindrical second electrical connection part, the first electrical connection part has a large rattling due to vibration, and slight sliding wear occurs. Therefore, electrical connection reliability tends to deteriorate.

In addition, when the first electrical connection part is formed in a bar shape, the contact surface with the second electrical connection part is exposed before being electrically connected to the second electrical connection part. It has become. For this reason, there is a risk that the first electrical connection portion may be damaged due to interference with surrounding members, etc., and electrical connection reliability may be reduced.

The present invention was made in consideration of the problems inherent in the conventional technology. The object of the present invention is to provide a terminal connection structure that can maintain electrical connection reliability.

The terminal connection structure according to this embodiment includes a first terminal having a first electrical connection portion and a second terminal having a second electrical connection portion electrically connected to the first electrical connection portion, the first electrical connection portion having an elastic contact portion that is elastically deformable, a first cylindrical portion disposed on the outer periphery of the elastic contact portion, and an opening portion that is provided at a portion of the circumferential direction of the first cylindrical portion and opens the elastic contact portion to the outside, and the second electrical connection portion has a second cylindrical portion into which the first cylindrical portion can be inserted, and a contacted portion that protrudes toward the inside of the second cylindrical portion and is inserted into the opening portion to come into contact with the elastic contact portion.

The first cylindrical part is provided with a closing part that closes the opening on the rear side in the insertion direction with respect to the second cylindrical part, and the first cylindrical part is provided in the closing part with respect to the second cylindrical part. It is preferable that a regulating part is provided, which is arranged to face the second cylindrical part in the insertion direction when inserted into the cylindrical part.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a terminal connection structure that can maintain electrical connection reliability.

It is a perspective view when the 1st terminal and the 2nd terminal of the terminal connection structure concerning this embodiment fit. It is a perspective view before the 1st terminal and the 2nd terminal of the terminal connection structure concerning this embodiment fit. It is a sectional view when the first terminal and the second terminal of the terminal connection structure according to the present embodiment are fitted. It is a perspective view of the 1st terminal of the terminal connection structure concerning this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. 4 in cross section. 4 is a perspective view of a second terminal of the terminal connection structure according to the embodiment. FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. 6 in cross section.

The terminal connection structure according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings have been exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

The terminal connection structure 1 according to this embodiment includes a first terminal 5 having a first electrical connection portion 3, and a second terminal 9 having a second electrical connection portion 7 electrically connected to the first electrical connection portion 3.

Further, the first electrical connection part 3 includes an elastic contact part 11 provided to be elastically deformable, a first cylindrical part 13 disposed on the outer periphery of the elastic contact part 11, and a circumferential direction of the first cylindrical part 13. It has an opening 15 provided in a part of the elastic contact portion 11 to open the elastic contact portion 11 to the outside.

Furthermore, the second electrical connection part 7 includes a second cylindrical part 17 into which the first cylindrical part 13 can be inserted, and a second cylindrical part 17 that protrudes toward the inside of the second cylindrical part 17 and is inserted into the opening 15. The elastic contact portion 11 has a contacted portion 19 that is brought into contact with the elastic contact portion 11 .

The first cylindrical portion 13 is provided with a blocking portion 21 that blocks the opening 15 on the rear side in the insertion direction relative to the second cylindrical portion 17. The blocking portion 21 is provided with a restricting portion 23 that is disposed opposite the second cylindrical portion 17 in the insertion direction when the first cylindrical portion 13 is inserted into the second cylindrical portion 17.

Although not shown, the terminal connection structure 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a connector connection structure between a first connector and a second connector in which a first terminal 5 and a second terminal 9 are accommodated, respectively. The first connector and the second connector are fitted together to electrically connect the first terminal 5 and the second terminal 9. The first connector and the second connector thus fitted together are mounted on, for example, a vehicle. In the following description, it is assumed that the first terminal 5 is accommodated in the first connector, and the second terminal 9 is accommodated in the second connector.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the first terminal 5 is formed by punching or bending a single plate made of a conductive material. The first terminal 5 includes a first wire connection portion 25 and a first electrical connection portion 3.

The first wire connection portion 25 has a coating crimping portion 27 and a core wire crimping portion 29.

The insulation crimping portion 27 is made up of a pair of crimping pieces, and crimps the insulation portion 33 of the electric wire 31 at the end of the electric wire 31 connected to a power source, device, etc. By crimping the insulation crimping portion 27 to the insulation portion 33 of the electric wire 31, the first terminal 5 is fixed to the electric wire 31.

The core wire crimping section 29 consists of a pair of crimping pieces provided between the first electrical connection section 3 and the sheathing crimping section 27, and the core wire exposed from the sheathing section 33 of the electric wire 31 at the end of the electric wire 31. The portion 35 is crimped and crimped. By crimping the core wire crimping portion 29 to the core wire portion 35 of the electric wire 31, the first terminal 5 is electrically connected to the electric wire 31.

The first electrical connection portion 3 is formed of a single member whose bottom wall 37 and side walls 39, 39 are continuous with the first electric wire connection portion 25, and includes an elastic contact portion 11, a first cylindrical portion 13, and an opening 15.

The elastic contact portion 11 is formed by folding back a portion of a member that is continuous with the bottom wall 37 and extends in the longitudinal direction toward the bottom wall 37. The elastic contact portion 11 is arranged so that it can be elastically deformed in the height direction, with the bent portion folded back from the bottom wall 37 as the base end and the folded back tip portion as the free end. The free end side of the elastic contact portion 11 is folded back toward the base end, and the surface opposite the bottom wall 37 forms a contact portion 41 that comes into contact with the contacted portion 19 of the second terminal 9.

The first cylindrical portion 13 is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape and is made up of a bottom wall 37, side walls 39, 39 erected on both sides of the bottom wall 37 in the width direction, and an upper wall 43 connecting the side walls 39, 39 in the width direction and arranged opposite the bottom wall 37. The bottom wall 37 and the side walls 39, 39 of the first cylindrical portion 13 are arranged to cover the outer periphery of the elastic contact portion 11, protecting the elastic contact portion 11. By protecting the outer periphery of the elastic contact portion 11 with the first cylindrical portion 13 in this way, interference between the elastic contact portion 11 and surrounding members during transportation or handling of the first terminal 5 can be suppressed, and deformation or damage to the elastic contact portion 11 can be suppressed.

A stabilizer 45 protrudes from the top wall 43 of one side wall 39 of the first cylindrical portion 13. When the first terminal 5 is accommodated in the first connector (not shown), this stabilizer 45 engages with a groove provided in the terminal accommodating chamber of the first connector to guide the insertion of the first terminal 5 into the terminal accommodating chamber. The end face of the top wall 43 of the first cylindrical portion 13 on the side of the first wire connection portion 25 forms a locking portion 47 that engages with a locking lance provided in the terminal accommodating chamber to prevent the first terminal 5 from coming out.

The opening 15 is formed by cutting out a portion of the upper wall 43 of the first cylindrical portion 13 where the elastic contact portion 11 is located. This opening 15 opens the elastic contact portion 11 to the outside in the first cylindrical portion 13.

The first terminal 5 having such a first electrical connection portion 3 is electrically connected to the second terminal 9 by fitting the first connector and the second connector.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, 6 and 7, the second terminal 9 is formed by performing processes such as punching and bending on a sheet of plate material made of a conductive material. This second terminal 9 includes a second wire connection portion 49 and a second electrical connection portion 7.

The second electric wire connection section 49 includes a covering crimping section 51 and a core wire crimping section 53.

The insulation crimping portion 51 is made of a pair of crimping pieces, and crimps the insulation portion 57 of the electric wire 55 at the end of the electric wire 55 connected to a power source, device, etc. By crimping the insulation crimping portion 51 to the insulation portion 57 of the electric wire 55, the second terminal 9 is fixed to the electric wire 55.

The core wire crimping section 53 consists of a pair of crimping pieces provided between the second electrical connection section 7 and the covering crimping section 51, and the core wire exposed from the covering section 57 of the electric wire 55 at the end of the electric wire 55. The portion 59 is crimped and crimped. By crimping this core wire crimping portion 53 to the core wire portion 59 of the electric wire 55, the second terminal 9 is electrically connected to the electric wire 55.

The second electrical connection part 7 is formed of a single member in which the bottom wall 61 and the side walls 63, 63 are continuous with the second electric wire connection part 49, and includes a second cylindrical part 17 and a contacted part 19.

The second cylindrical portion 17 is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape and is made up of a bottom wall 61, side walls 63, 63 erected on both sides of the bottom wall 61 in the width direction, and an upper wall 65 connecting the side walls 63, 63 in the width direction and positioned opposite the bottom wall 61. The second cylindrical portion 17 is formed so that it can accommodate the U-shaped portion formed by the bottom wall 37 and side walls 39, 39 of the first cylindrical portion 13 and the opening 15.

Note that the end surface of the upper wall 65 of the second cylindrical portion 17 on the second wire connection portion 49 side is connected to the second terminal 9 provided in the terminal housing chamber that accommodates the second terminal 9 of the second connector (not shown). This is a locking portion 67 that engages with a locking lance that prevents the lock from coming off.

The contacted portion 19 is provided to protrude toward the inside of the second cylindrical portion 17 by providing a recess 69 in the upper wall 65 of the second cylindrical portion 17. This contacted portion 19 is inserted into the first cylindrical portion 13 from the opening 15 when the first cylindrical portion 13 is inserted into the second cylindrical portion 17. Then, with the first cylindrical portion 13 housed in the second cylindrical portion 17, the contacted portion 19 is brought into contact with the contact portion 41 by the biasing force of the elastic contact portion 11. The contact between the contacted portion 19 and the contact portion 41 electrically connects the first terminal 5 and the second terminal 9.

The contact surface of the contacted part 19 with the contact part 41 of the elastic contact part 11 is the inner surface of the second cylindrical part 17 and is protected by the second cylindrical part 17. By protecting the contact surface of the contacted part 19 with the second cylindrical part 17 in this way, interference between the contact surface of the contacted part 19 and surrounding members during transportation or handling of the second terminal 9 can be suppressed, and deformation or damage to the contact surface of the contacted part 19 can be suppressed.

Note that by providing the recess 69 in the second cylindrical portion 17, guide grooves 71, 71 are formed on the inner surfaces of the side walls 63, 63 and the upper wall 65. When the first cylindrical part 13 is inserted into the second cylindrical part 17, the side walls 39, 39 of the first cylindrical part 13 are inserted into the guide grooves 71, 71, and the first cylindrical part 13 is inserted into the guide grooves 71, 71. Insertion of the section 13 into the second cylindrical section 17 can be guided. Further, a taper 73 is provided on the first cylindrical portion 13 side of the contacted portion 19, so that elastic deformation of the elastic contact portion 11 can be smoothly performed.

The first cylindrical portion 13 inserted into the second cylindrical portion 17 is provided with a restricting portion 23 that restricts the movement of the first cylindrical portion 13 in the insertion direction while the first cylindrical portion 13 is housed in the second cylindrical portion 17. The restricting portion 23 is an end surface that faces the second cylindrical portion 17 of the closure portion 21 that remains by providing an opening 15 in the upper wall 43 of the first cylindrical portion 13 in the insertion direction.

Such a regulating portion 23 is configured to prevent the first cylindrical portion 13 from coming into contact with the end surface of the second cylindrical portion 17 in a state where the first cylindrical portion 13 is accommodated in the second cylindrical portion 17 . Further movement in the insertion direction is restricted. By regulating the movement of the first cylindrical part 13 in the insertion direction by the regulating part 23 in this manner, the maximum insertion distance of the first cylindrical part 13 with respect to the second cylindrical part 17 can be defined.

The first terminal 5 and second terminal 9 are housed in the first connector and the second connector, respectively, and the first tubular portion 13 is inserted into the second tubular portion 17 when the first connector and the second connector are fitted together. At this time, the contacted portion 19 is inserted into the opening 15, elastically deforming the elastic contact portion 11, and is brought into contact with the contact portion 41 by the biasing force of the elastic contact portion 11 as it tries to return to its original state. The contact between the contacted portion 19 and the contact portion 41 electrically connects the first terminal 5 and the second terminal 9.

When the first and second connectors are fitted together and mounted on a vehicle, for example, vibrations are applied to the first terminal 5 and the second terminal 9 when the vehicle is traveling. A small gap is generated between the first cylindrical portion 13 and the second cylindrical portion 17, and this gap causes relative misalignment in the width and height directions between the first cylindrical portion 13 and the second cylindrical portion 17 due to vibrations.

However, the maximum insertion distance of the first cylindrical part 13 with respect to the second cylindrical part 17 is defined by the regulating part 23, and within this insertion distance, the first cylindrical part 13 is inserted into the second cylindrical part 17. It is housed in the section 17. Therefore, against vibration in the width direction, the contact between the side walls 39, 39 of the first cylindrical part 13 and the side walls 63, 63 of the second cylindrical part 17, the contact between the guide grooves 71, 71 and the side walls 39, By contacting with 39, relative rocking etc. can be suppressed. On the other hand, vibrations in the height direction can be prevented by the contact between the bottom wall 37 of the first cylindrical part 13 and the bottom wall 61 of the second cylindrical part 17, the bottom surface of the guide grooves 71, 71, and the side walls 39, 39. Relative rocking can be suppressed by the contact with the upper surface of.

By accommodating the first cylindrical part 13 in the second cylindrical part 17 in this way, the relative relationship between the first electrical connection part 3 and the second electrical connection part 7 in the width direction and height direction due to vibration etc. It is possible to suppress vibrations and the like. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a change (deviation) in the sliding distance at the contact portion between the contact portion 41 of the elastic contact portion 11 and the contacted portion 19, and it is possible to suppress slight sliding wear. Therefore, the generation of wear powder due to slight sliding wear can be suppressed, and the reliability of the electrical connection between the first terminal 5 and the second terminal 9 can be maintained.

In this terminal connection structure 1, the first electrical connection part 3 has an elastic contact part 11 that is elastically deformable, a first cylindrical part 13 that is arranged on the outer periphery of the elastic contact part 11, and an opening part 15 that is arranged in a part of the circumferential direction of the first cylindrical part 13 and opens the elastic contact part 11 to the outside. The second electrical connection part 7 has a second cylindrical part 17 into which the first cylindrical part 13 can be inserted, and a contacted part 19 that protrudes toward the inside of the second cylindrical part 17 and is inserted into the opening part 15 to come into contact with the elastic contact part 11.

Therefore, when the first electrical connection part 3 and the second electrical connection part 7 are electrically connected, the first cylindrical part 13 is housed in the second cylindrical part 17, and the contacted part 19 is It is inserted into the opening 15 and comes into contact with the elastic contact portion 11 .

When the first cylindrical portion 13 is housed within the second cylindrical portion 17, when an external force such as vibration is applied, the outer surface of the first cylindrical portion 13 and the inner surface of the second cylindrical portion 17 come into contact, restricting the relative movement between the first electrical connection portion 3 and the second electrical connection portion 7. This makes it possible to suppress changes in the sliding distance at the contact portion between the elastic contact portion 11 and the contacted portion 19, suppressing micro-sliding wear and the generation of wear powder.

The first cylindrical portion 13 is disposed on the outer periphery of the elastic contact portion 11. Furthermore, the contacted portion 19 protrudes toward the inside of the second cylindrical portion 17. Therefore, when the first terminal 5 or the second terminal 9 is handled individually, interference between the elastic contact portion 11 or the contacted portion 19 and surrounding members can be suppressed, and deformation or damage to the elastic contact portion 11 or the contacted portion 19 can be suppressed.

Therefore, in such a terminal connection structure 1, since the slight sliding wear at the electrical connection part between the first terminal 5 and the second terminal 9 is suppressed and the electrical connection part is protected, the electrical Connection reliability can be maintained.

Further, the closing portion 21 is provided with a regulating portion 23 that is arranged to face the second cylindrical portion 17 in the insertion direction when the first cylindrical portion 13 is inserted into the second cylindrical portion 17. There is. Therefore, relative movement of the first electrical connection section 3 and the second electrical connection section 7 in the insertion direction can be restricted. Therefore, changes in the sliding distance at the contact portion between the elastic contact portion 11 and the contacted portion 19 can be further suppressed, and slight sliding wear can be further suppressed.

Although this embodiment has been described above, this embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of this embodiment.

For example, in this embodiment, the first and second cylindrical portions are formed in a square shape, but they may be polygonal, such as a pentagon, or round. If the first and second cylindrical portions are formed in a round shape, the abutment between the outer surface of the first cylindrical portion and the inner surface of the second cylindrical portion can restrict relative movement in the width direction and height direction, but there is a concern about relative movement in the rotational direction. However, even if the first and second cylindrical portions are formed in a round shape, the contacted portion is inserted into the opening, so the relative movement in the rotational direction can be suppressed.

Further, the first terminal and the second terminal are housed in the first connector and the second connector, respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the first terminal and the second terminal can be directly housed without being housed in the connector. It is also possible to fit them together.

1 Terminal connection structure 3 First electrical connection part 5 First terminal 7 Second electrical connection part 9 Second terminal 11 Elastic contact part 13 First cylindrical part 15 Opening part 17 Second cylindrical part 19 Contacted part 21 Closed part 23 Regulatory Department

Claims (1)

a first terminal having a first electrical connection;
a second terminal having a second electrical connection that is electrically connected to the first electrical connection;
Equipped with
The first electrical connection part includes an elastic contact part provided to be elastically deformable, a first cylindrical part disposed on the outer periphery of the elastic contact part, and a part of the first cylindrical part in the circumferential direction. an opening for opening the elastic contact portion to the outside;
The second electrical connection part includes a second cylindrical part into which the first cylindrical part can be inserted; It has a contact part and a contacted part to be contacted,
The first cylindrical part is provided with a closing part that closes the opening on the rear side in the insertion direction with respect to the second cylindrical part,
The terminal connection is provided with a regulating part arranged in the closing part to face the second cylindrical part in the insertion direction when the first cylindrical part is inserted into the second cylindrical part. structure.

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