WO2013179919A1

WO2013179919A1 - Female terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2013179919A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/063831
Authority: WO
Inventors: 雅文宇野; 寛二堀内; 芳朋辻井; 勝彦逢澤; 憲作高田
Original assignee: 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所; 住友電装株式会社; 住友電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2012-05-30
Filing date: 2013-05-17
Publication date: 2013-12-05
Also published as: JP2013251052A

Abstract

This female terminal (20) comprises a cylindrical part (21) into which a male terminal (10) is inserted, and first elastic pieces (28) and second elastic pieces (31) provided in the interior of the cylindrical part (21), the first elastic pieces (28) and the second elastic pieces (31) being in elastic contact with the male terminal (10) inserted into the cylindrical part (21). Three of each of the first elastic pieces (28) and the second elastic pieces (31) are arranged in parallel along the width direction of the male terminal (10) in a state of being inserted in the cylindrical part (21). The first elastic pieces (28) and the second elastic pieces (31) comprise: a pair of end-side first elastic pieces (28A) and end-side second elastic pieces (31A) disposed on both ends in the direction of arrangement; and an intermediate-side first elastic piece (28B) and an intermediate-side second elastic piece (31B) disposed therebetween. The elastic pieces are designed so that the frictional force applied by the end-side first elastic pieces (28A) and end-side second elastic pieces (31A) against the male tab (11) is greater than the frictional force applied by the intermediate-side first elastic piece (28B) and intermediate-side second elastic piece (31B) against the male tab (11).

Description

Female terminal

The present invention relates to a female terminal.

Conventionally, a female terminal connected to a male terminal having a tab is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The female terminal includes a cylindrical portion into which a tab of the male terminal is inserted. An elastic piece that elastically contacts the tab of the male terminal is formed inside the cylindrical portion. The tab inserted into the tube portion is elastically sandwiched between the inner wall portion of the tube portion and the elastic contact piece, whereby the two terminals are electrically connected.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-147580

In the terminal structure as described above, when subjected to vibration, the two terminals slide relative to each other along the width direction of the male terminal, and the plating is peeled off at the contact portion of both terminals. May cause sliding wear. Thereby, we are anxious about the electrical connection reliability of a male terminal and a female terminal falling.

The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a female terminal that can ensure electrical connection reliability with a male terminal.

The female terminal of the present invention is provided in parallel with the cylindrical portion into which the male terminal can be inserted, and in the parallel direction along the width direction of the male terminal in the cylindrical portion inside the cylindrical portion, A plurality of elastic pieces elastically contacting the male terminal, wherein the plurality of elastic pieces are a pair of end-side elastic pieces disposed at both ends in the parallel direction, and the pair of end-side elastic pieces. An intermediate side elastic piece arranged between the two, and a frictional force of the end side elastic piece with respect to the male terminal is designed to be larger than a frictional force of the intermediate side elastic piece with respect to the male terminal. .

According to such a configuration, the male terminal can be held with a stronger holding force at both ends in the width direction. Thereby, it can suppress that both terminals slide relatively in the direction along the width direction of a male terminal, and a fine sliding wear arises, and can ensure the electrical connection reliability of both terminals.

In order to “design the frictional force of the end-side elastic piece to the male terminal larger than the frictional force of the intermediate-side elastic piece to the male terminal”, the width dimension of the end-side elastic piece is set to the middle You may design larger than the width dimension of a side elastic piece.

Alternatively, the end-side elastic piece has a surface roughness in a region in contact with the male terminal on a surface of the end-side elastic piece, and a surface roughness in a region in contact with the male terminal on the surface of the intermediate-side elastic piece. You may roughen so that it may become larger than this.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a female terminal that can ensure electrical connection reliability with the male terminal.

The perspective view of the female terminal of embodiment Top view of female terminal of embodiment Side view of female terminal of embodiment Front view of female terminal of embodiment AA line sectional view of FIG. BB sectional view of FIG. Partial cutaway side sectional view showing a state in which the female terminal of the embodiment is connected to the male terminal Sectional drawing which shows a mode that the female terminal of embodiment was connected with the male terminal Sectional drawing of the cylinder part in the female terminal of a modification

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The female terminal 20 according to the present embodiment is electrically connected to the male terminal 10. In the following description, the side where the male terminal 10 is inserted in the female terminal 20 (the lower left side in FIG. 1) will be described as the front side (front side).

First, the male terminal 10 connected to the female terminal 20 will be described. The male terminal 10 is formed by pressing a metal plate into a predetermined shape, and has a male tab 11 having an elongated plate shape (see FIG. 7). The male terminal 10 may be connected to a terminal of an electric wire (not shown) or may be connected to a device (not shown).

Next, the configuration of the female terminal 20 will be described (see FIGS. 1 to 6). The female terminal 20 includes a cylindrical portion 21 into which the male tab 11 of the male terminal 10 is inserted, and a barrel portion 33 provided behind the cylindrical portion 21.

The cylinder portion 21 has a substantially rectangular tube shape that opens in the front-rear direction. The cylindrical portion 21 includes a bottom wall 22, a pair of side walls 23 that rise upward from both side edges of the bottom wall 22, and a ceiling wall 24 that faces the bottom wall 22. The male tab 11 of the male terminal 10 can be inserted into the tube portion 21 from the front.

The ceiling wall 24 is formed by being bent at a substantially right angle from one upper end edge of the pair of side walls 23 toward the other side wall 23. A locking portion 25 projects from the side edge of the ceiling wall 24, and the locking portion 25 is inserted into a locking hole 26 formed in the other side wall 23. The side edge of the other side wall 23 is folded on the upper surface of the ceiling wall 24. Thereby, the cylinder part 21 is hold | maintained at the square cylinder shape.

A first base end portion 27 is formed to protrude from the front end edge of the bottom wall 22. The first base end portion 27 has a plate shape slightly narrower than the bottom wall 22, and is folded back inward of the cylindrical portion 21 at a position slightly protruding forward from the front end edge of the bottom wall 22. ing. A portion of the first base end portion 27 on the distal end side with respect to the folding position is inclined upward (in a direction away from the bottom wall 22) toward the distal end side (rear side).

A plurality of (three in this embodiment) first elastic pieces 28 (corresponding to elastic pieces) are formed on the rear end edge of the first base end portion 27 so as to protrude rearward. The three first elastic pieces 28 are formed in a plate shape elongated in the front-rear direction, and are arranged in parallel at intervals in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the male terminal 10. The three first elastic pieces 28 extend rearward along the inclination direction of the first base end portion 27, and are therefore slightly inclined toward the direction away from the bottom wall 22 toward the distal end side. ing.

Each first elastic piece 28 is bent downward at a position slightly forward from the rear end. Thereby, the 1st elastic piece 28 has comprised the mountain shape seeing from the side. The bending position (the peak portion of the mountain) of each first elastic piece 28 is a first contact portion 29 that elastically contacts the male terminal 10.

These first elastic pieces 28 can be bent and deformed in the vertical direction with the root portion (connection portion with the first base end portion 27) as a fulcrum.

Among the three first elastic pieces 28, the pair of first elastic pieces 28 arranged at both ends are end side first elastic pieces 28A (corresponding to the end side elastic pieces). The first elastic piece 28 disposed between the pair of end side first elastic pieces 28A is an intermediate first elastic piece 28B (corresponding to an intermediate elastic piece). The width dimension (the length dimension in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the male terminal 10) of the pair of end-side first elastic pieces 28A is designed to be equal. The width dimension of the intermediate first elastic piece 28B is designed to be smaller than the width dimension of the end side first elastic piece 28A. In addition, the length dimension of the front-back direction of the three 1st elastic pieces 28 is designed so that it may become equal.

On the other hand, a second base end portion 30 is formed to protrude from the front end edge of the ceiling wall 24. The second base end 30 has a plate shape slightly narrower than the ceiling wall 24, and is folded back inward of the cylindrical portion 21 at a position slightly protruding forward from the front end edge of the ceiling wall 24. ing. A portion of the second base end portion 30 on the distal end side with respect to the folding position is inclined downward (in a direction away from the ceiling wall 24) toward the distal end side (rear side).

A plurality of (three in this embodiment) second elastic pieces 31 (corresponding to elastic pieces) are formed to protrude rearward from the rear end edge of the folded second base end portion 30. The three second elastic pieces 31 are formed in a plate shape elongated in the front-rear direction, and are juxtaposed at intervals in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the male terminal 10. The three second elastic pieces 28 extend rearward along the inclination direction of the second base end portion 30, and are therefore slightly inclined toward the direction away from the ceiling wall 24 toward the distal end side. ing.

Each second elastic piece 31 is bent upward at a position slightly forward from the rear end. Thereby, the 2nd elastic piece 31 has comprised the valley shape seeing from the side. The bending position (bottom portion of the valley) of each second elastic piece 31 is a second contact portion 32 that elastically contacts the male terminal 10.

These second elastic pieces 31 can be bent and deformed in the vertical direction with the base portion (connection portion with the second base end portion 30) as a fulcrum.

Among the three second elastic pieces 31, the pair of second elastic pieces 31 arranged at both ends are end-side second elastic pieces 31 </ b> A (corresponding to end-side elastic pieces). The second elastic piece 31 disposed between the pair of end-side second elastic pieces 31A is an intermediate-side second elastic piece 31B (corresponding to an intermediate-side elastic piece).

The first base end portion 27 and the first elastic piece 28 and the second base end portion 30 and the second elastic piece 31 are formed vertically symmetrically. Accordingly, the end-side second elastic piece 31A and the intermediate-side second elastic piece 31B are arranged at positions corresponding to the end-side first elastic piece 28A and the intermediate-side first elastic piece 28A, respectively. It is designed to have the same width as the part-side first elastic piece 28A and the intermediate-side first elastic piece 28A. That is, the width dimension of the pair of end portion side second elastic pieces 31A (the length dimension in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the male terminal 10) is designed to be equal, and the width dimension of the intermediate side second elastic piece 31B. Is designed to be smaller than the width dimension of the end-side second elastic piece 31A.

Further, the first contact portion 29 of the first elastic piece 28 and the second contact portion 32 of the second elastic piece 31 are arranged to face each other. In a state where the male tab 11 is not inserted, the distance between the first contact portion 29 of each opposing first elastic piece 28 and the second contact portion 32 of the second elastic piece 31 is slightly larger than the thickness of the male tab 11. It is set small.

A barrel portion 33 is extended behind the cylindrical portion 21. The barrel portion 33 includes a bottom plate portion 34 that extends rearward from the rear end of the bottom wall 22 in the tubular portion 21, and a pair of wire barrels 35 that extend laterally from both side edges of the bottom plate portion 34. The pair of wire barrels 35 are crimped so as to be wound around the outer surface of the core wire while the core wire exposed from the insulation coating is placed on the bottom plate portion 34 at the end of the electric wire W.

When the female terminal 20 configured as described above is connected to the male terminal 10, the male tab 11 of the male terminal 10 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 21 from the front. The male terminal 10 enters between the first elastic piece 28 and the second elastic piece 31, and advances toward the back while expanding the gap between the first elastic piece 28 and the second elastic piece 31. When pressed by the male tab 11, the first elastic piece 28 is elastically deformed downward, and the second elastic piece 31 is elastically deformed upward. When the male tab 11 is pushed to the normal position, the male tab 11 is sandwiched from above and below by the first contact portion 29 of the first elastic piece 28 and the second contact portion 32 of the second elastic piece 31. Then, by the elastic restoring force of the first elastic piece 28 and the second elastic piece 31, the first contact portion 29 and the second contact portion 29 are pressed against the male tab 11 with an appropriate contact pressure. Thereby, the male terminal 10 and the female terminal 20 are electrically connected.

Here, in the female terminal 20 of this embodiment, the width dimensions of the end-side first elastic piece 28A and the end-side second elastic piece 31A are such that the intermediate-side first elastic piece 28B and the intermediate-side second elastic piece 31B. Designed to be larger than the width dimension. For this reason, the male tab 11 is held by the end-side first elastic piece 28A and the end-side second elastic piece 31A formed wide at both ends in the width direction, and at both ends in the width direction. It will be held with a strong holding force. Thereby, both the

terminals

10 and 20 are relatively slid in the direction along the width direction of the male terminal 10 and the occurrence of fine sliding wear is suppressed, and the electrical connection reliability of the both

terminals

10 and 20 is reduced. Reduction is suppressed.

As described above, the female terminal 20 of the present embodiment is elastically attached to the cylindrical portion 21 into which the male terminal 10 can be inserted and the male terminal 10 provided in the cylindrical portion 21 and inserted into the cylindrical portion 21. A first elastic piece 28 and a second elastic piece 31 are provided. Each of the first elastic piece 28 and the second elastic piece 31 is arranged in parallel in a parallel direction along the width direction of the male terminal 10 inserted into the cylindrical portion 21.

The three first elastic pieces 28 include a pair of end-side first elastic pieces 28A disposed at both ends in the parallel direction and an intermediate-side first elastic piece 28A disposed between the pair of end-side first elastic pieces 28A. 1 elastic piece 28B. The width dimension of the end-side first elastic piece 28A is designed to be larger than the width dimension of the intermediate-side first elastic piece 28B. Similarly, the three second elastic pieces 31 are arranged between a pair of end-side second elastic pieces 31A arranged at both ends in the parallel direction and the pair of end-side second elastic pieces 31A. It is comprised with the intermediate | middle side 2nd elastic piece 31B. The width of the end-side second elastic piece 31A is designed to be larger than the width of the intermediate-side second elastic piece 31B. As a result, the frictional force on the male tab 11 of the end-side first elastic piece 28A and the end-side second elastic piece 31B becomes the friction of the intermediate-side first elastic piece 28B and the intermediate-side second elastic piece 31B on the male tab 11. Designed to be greater than force.

According to such a configuration, the male terminal 10 can be held with a stronger holding force at both ends in the width direction. Thereby, it can suppress that both

terminals

10 and 20 slide relatively in the direction along the width direction of the male terminal 10, and a fine sliding wear arises, and the electrical connection reliability of both the

terminals

10 and 20 can be suppressed. It can be secured.

<Modification>
Next, a modified female terminal 40 will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, an example in which the surface of the end-side elastic piece is roughened is shown. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to the said embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

Similar to the above embodiment, the female terminal 40 of the present modification includes a cylindrical portion 21 into which the male tab 11 of the male terminal 10 is inserted. Inside the cylindrical portion 21, the first elastic piece 41 and the second elastic piece 41 are provided. A piece 43 is provided. The first elastic piece 41 and the second elastic piece 43 are formed in the same shape as in the above embodiment, and include a first contact portion 42 and a second contact portion 44 that contact the male tab 11.

Of the three first elastic pieces 41, the pair of first elastic pieces 41 arranged at both ends are the end-side first elastic pieces 41A, and between the pair of end-side first elastic pieces 41A. The arranged first elastic piece 41 is an intermediate first elastic piece 41B.

On the upper surface of the end-side first elastic piece 41A (the surface on the side facing the male tab 11), the peripheral region of the first contact portion 42 is roughened by a roughening process. On the other hand, the surface of the intermediate side first elastic piece 41B is a smooth surface that is not subjected to the roughening treatment. As a result, the end-side first elastic piece 41A has a surface roughness of the peripheral area (area in contact with the male terminal 10) of the first contact portion 42 on the surface thereof, on the surface of the intermediate-side first elastic piece 41B. It is larger than the surface roughness in the peripheral region of the one contact portion 42 (region in contact with the male terminal 10).

Similarly, of the three second elastic pieces 43, the pair of second elastic pieces 43 arranged at both ends are end side second elastic pieces 43A, and the pair of end side second elastic pieces 43A. The second elastic piece 43 disposed between the two is an intermediate second elastic piece 43B.

On the upper surface of the end-side second elastic piece 43A (the surface facing the male tab 11), the peripheral area of the second contact portion 44 is roughened by a roughening process. On the other hand, the surface of the intermediate second elastic piece 43B is a smooth surface that has not been subjected to roughening treatment. As described above, the end-side second elastic piece 43A has a surface roughness of the peripheral area of the second contact portion 44 (area in contact with the male terminal 10) on the surface of the intermediate-side second elastic piece 43B. The surface roughness in the peripheral area of the second contact portion 44 (area in contact with the male terminal 10) is made larger.

As a result, the frictional force of the end side first elastic piece 41A and the end side second elastic piece 43A on the male tab 11 becomes the friction of the intermediate side first elastic piece 41B and the intermediate side second elastic piece 43B on the male tab 11. Designed to be greater than force.

According to such a configuration, the male tab 11 is held by the end-side first elastic piece 41A and the end-side second elastic piece 43A in which the frictional force against the male tab 11 is increased at both ends in the width direction. As a result, both ends in the width direction are held with a strong holding force. Thereby, it can suppress that both

terminals

10 and 40 slide relatively in the direction along the width direction of the male terminal 10, and a fine sliding wear arises, and the electrical connection reliability of both

terminals

10 and 40 can be suppressed. It can be secured.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment and the modification, three elastic pieces (one intermediate elastic piece) are provided, but four or more elastic pieces (a plurality of intermediate elastic pieces) are provided. I do not care. In this case, the plurality of intermediate elastic pieces may have different widths.

(2) In the above embodiment and the modification, the male terminal is sandwiched and held between the first elastic piece and the second elastic piece, but one of the first elastic piece and the second elastic piece is not provided, and the other The male terminal may be sandwiched between the elastic piece and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion.

(3) In the above modification, the width dimension of the end-side first elastic piece 41A and the end-side second elastic piece 43A is larger than the width dimension of the intermediate-side first elastic piece 41B and the intermediate-side second elastic piece 43B. Although it was enlarged, the width dimension of the end side elastic piece and the width dimension of the intermediate side elastic piece may be made equal.

(4) In the above modification, the peripheral areas of the first contact portion 42 and the second contact portion 44 are not roughened on the surfaces of the intermediate first elastic piece 41B and the intermediate second elastic piece 43B. It may be roughened. In that case, the surface roughness is made smaller than the surface roughness of the peripheral area of the first contact portion 42 and the second contact portion 44 on the surface of the end-side first elastic piece 41A and the end-side second elastic piece 43A. It is necessary to be.

20, 40: Female terminal 21: Tube portion 28, 41: First elastic piece (elastic piece)
28A, 41A: end side first elastic piece (end side elastic piece)
28B, 41B: first intermediate elastic piece (intermediate elastic piece)
31, 43: second elastic piece (elastic piece)
31A, 43A: end side second elastic piece (end side elastic piece)
31B, 43B: Intermediate second elastic piece (intermediate elastic piece)

Claims

A cylinder part into which a male terminal can be inserted;
A plurality of elastic pieces provided in parallel in a parallel direction along the width direction of the male terminal in a state of being inserted into the cylindrical portion inside the cylindrical portion, and elastically contacting the male terminal,
The plurality of elastic pieces includes a pair of end-side elastic pieces arranged at both ends in the parallel direction, and an intermediate-side elastic piece arranged between the pair of end-side elastic pieces,
A female terminal in which a frictional force of the end side elastic piece with respect to the male terminal is designed to be larger than a frictional force of the intermediate side elastic piece with respect to the male terminal.
The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein a width dimension of the end side elastic piece is designed to be larger than a width dimension of the intermediate elastic piece.
In the end side elastic piece, the surface roughness of the region in contact with the male terminal on the surface of the end side elastic piece is larger than the surface roughness in the region of contact with the male terminal on the surface of the intermediate side elastic piece. The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein the female terminal is roughened to be large.