WO2019167599A1

WO2019167599A1 - Female terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2019167599A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/004781
Authority: WO
Inventors: 誠道西島
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: 2018-03-02
Filing date: 2019-02-12
Publication date: 2019-09-06

Abstract

Provided is a female terminal having: a female terminal fitting 16 including a connection section 14 which is to be connected to a male terminal 12 in an electrically conductive manner; a facing member 48 held by the female terminal fitting 16 and positioned facing the connection section 14 while a male terminal insertion gap 51 into which the male terminal 12 is inserted is provided therebetween; an urging means 50 held by the female terminal fitting 16 and urging the facing member 48 toward the connection section 14; and approach displacement restricting means 46, 52 which restrict the displacement of the facing member 48 and the connection section 14 in directions in which the facing member 48 and the connection section 14 move toward each other, thereby maintaining the male terminal insertion gap 51. Displacement in a direction away from the connection section 14 against the urging force of the urging means 50 is allowed, and as a result, the male terminal 12 is press-fitted into the male terminal insertion gap 51 and disposed between the connection section 14 and the facing member 48.

Description

Female terminal

The present invention relates to a female terminal, and more particularly to a female terminal capable of conducting connection with a male terminal with a large contact pressure.

Conventionally, as a female terminal used in an electrical system such as an automobile, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-238558 (Patent Document 1), a box-shaped case having an opening at a side edge, There has been known one having a pair of flexibly deformable connecting portions protruding toward the inside of the case. As shown in FIG. 8 of Patent Document 1, such a female terminal is provided with an urging force in a direction approaching a pair of connecting portions after the male terminal is inserted into the case from the opening. By attaching the spring member of the body, electrical connection between the connection portion of the male terminal and the female terminal can be achieved with a large contact pressure.

JP 2011-238558 A

By the way, in the female terminal of such a conventional structure, since it is necessary to attach a separate spring member after inserting a male terminal into an inside of a case from an opening part, an operation process increases and workability | operativity deteriorates. There was a fear. Therefore, for example, it is conceivable to apply a large biasing force in the direction of approaching the pair of connection parts in advance, but in this case, the insertion force when inserting the male terminal from the opening part between the pair of connection parts of the case is Since it becomes large, there is a possibility that the insertion becomes difficult or the case of the female terminal and the male terminal are damaged during the insertion.

The present invention has been made in the background of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem to be solved is to reduce the insertion force when inserting the male terminal and to assemble the male and female terminals while ensuring a large contact pressure between the male and female terminals. It is an object of the present invention to provide a female terminal having a novel structure capable of facilitating work.

The present invention includes a female terminal fitting including a connection portion that is conductively connected to a male terminal, and a male terminal insertion gap that is held by the female terminal fitting and through which the male terminal is inserted with respect to the connection portion. An opposing member, an urging means held by the female terminal fitting, for urging at least one of the opposing member and the connecting portion toward the other, and an approaching direction between the opposing member and the connecting portion. An approach displacement restricting means for restricting the displacement and maintaining the male terminal insertion gap, and the displacement in the separation direction between the connecting portion and the opposing member is allowed against the urging force of the urging means. Thus, the male terminal is press-fitted into the male terminal insertion gap, and is a female terminal arranged between the connecting portion and the opposing member.

According to the present invention, the male terminal can be pressed and held on the connecting portion of the female terminal with high contact pressure. In addition, high contact pressure between the male and female terminals can be realized with excellent workability, and the insertion force at the beginning of insertion of the male terminals can be advantageously reduced.

The whole perspective view showing the female terminal as a first embodiment of the present invention. The top view of the female terminal shown in FIG. The bottom view of the female terminal shown in FIG. IV-IV sectional drawing in FIG. VV sectional view in FIG. The whole perspective view which shows the female terminal as 2nd embodiment of this invention. The top view of the female terminal shown in FIG. VIII-VIII sectional drawing in FIG. The front view of the female terminal shown in FIG. XX sectional drawing in FIG. The whole perspective view which shows the female terminal as 3rd embodiment of this invention. The top view of the female terminal shown in FIG. The bottom view of the female terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12. XV-XV sectional drawing in FIG. The whole perspective view which shows the female terminal as 4th embodiment of this invention. The top view of the female terminal shown in FIG. The bottom view of the female terminal shown in FIG. XIX-XIX sectional view in FIG. XX-XX sectional drawing in FIG.

First, embodiments of the present invention will be listed and described.

The first aspect of the present invention includes a female terminal fitting including a connection portion that is electrically connected to a male terminal, and a male terminal insertion gap that is held by the female terminal fitting and through which the male terminal is inserted into the connection portion. An opposing member disposed opposite to each other, an urging means held by the female terminal metal fitting to urge at least one of the opposing member and the connecting portion toward the other, the opposing member and the connecting portion An approach displacement restricting means for restricting the displacement in the approach direction between the two and maintaining the male terminal insertion gap, and the separation direction between the connecting portion and the opposing member against the biasing force of the biasing means The male terminal is press-fitted into the male terminal insertion gap and allowed to be disposed between the connecting portion and the opposing member when the displacement of the male terminal is allowed.

According to this aspect, at least one of the facing member and the connecting portion arranged to face each other with the male terminal insertion gap through which the male terminal is inserted is biased toward the other by the biasing means. Thereby, the male terminal inserted and arranged in the male terminal insertion gap is pressed by the urging force of the urging means against the connecting portion of the female terminal fitting, and the male terminal is connected to the connecting portion of the female terminal with high contact pressure. Can be pressed and held. In addition, the facing member and the biasing means are held by a female terminal fitting provided with a connecting portion. There is no need to attach a separate spring member or the like so as to sandwich the conductive connecting portion after the male terminal is conductively connected to the female terminal as in the conventional structure. Therefore, the work process can be simplified, and high contact pressure between the male and female terminals can be realized with excellent workability.

In addition, the approaching displacement restricting means holds the opposing member and the connecting portion at a position (state) where the male terminal insertion gap is separated against the urging force of the urging means. Thus, when the male terminal is inserted toward the connecting portion of the female terminal, the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap formed in a state where the urging force of the urging means is distributed in advance to the approaching displacement restricting means. The insertion force at the beginning of insertion of the male terminal can be advantageously reduced. Further, the displacement in the separation direction between the connecting portion and the opposing member is allowed against the urging force of the urging means. Therefore, by inserting the male terminal into the male terminal insertion gap, displacement in the separation direction between the connecting portion and the opposing member is allowed against the biasing force, and the male terminal is inserted between the connecting portion and the opposing member. Thus, they can be arranged and held in a pressure contact state between them. In this case, the urging force of the urging means can be exerted on the male terminal and the other side via at least one of the opposing member and the connecting portion without being distributed to the approaching displacement restricting means. It becomes possible to press against the connecting portion of the female terminal.

As the biasing means, for example, any member that applies a known biasing force such as a spring member such as a coil spring, a leaf spring, or a disc spring, or an elastic body such as a rubber elastic body can be employed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the one described in the first aspect, the facing member includes a pressing member held by the female terminal fitting, and the pressing member is inserted into the male terminal. Opposed to the connection portion of the female terminal fitting with a gap, and is biased toward the connection portion by the biasing means, and the pressing member resists the biasing force and the connection portion. It is possible to displace in a direction away from.

According to this aspect, the opposing member disposed opposite to the connecting portion with the male terminal insertion gap through which the male terminal is inserted is constituted by the pressing member. Thereby, the urging | biasing force by an urging | biasing means can be exerted stably with respect to the male terminal press-fit in a male terminal insertion clearance via a press member. Furthermore, since the urging means and the pressing member can be handled as a series of parts, the pressing member and the urging means can be assembled as a single member and then assembled to the female terminal fitting provided with the connecting portion. Alternatively, the pressing member and the urging means can be configured as an integral part. Thereby, the assembly workability | operativity of a female terminal can be aimed at.

A third aspect of the present invention is the one described in the second aspect, further comprising a case having a housing space assembled to the female terminal fitting, wherein the pressing member and the biasing means are And being held in the female terminal fitting by being housed in the housing space of the case, the approach displacement restricting means is provided on the engagement protrusion provided on the pressing member and the wall portion of the case. An engagement window is provided including a predetermined length extending in a facing direction between the pressing member and the connection portion, and an end edge portion of the engagement window on the connection portion side extends from the connection portion. While the male terminal insertion gap is set at a position, the engaging protrusion of the pressing member is urged and engaged with the end edge portion.

According to this aspect, the case having the accommodation space assembled to the female terminal fitting is used, and the pressing member and the biasing means are accommodated in the housing space of the case. It is held by a metal fitting. As a result, the pressing member and the urging means for the female terminal fitting can be integrally held with a small number of parts. In addition, the approach displacement restricting means also engages an engagement projection provided in the pressing member with an engagement window penetrating the wall portion of the case and extending by a predetermined length in the opposing direction of the pressing member and the connecting portion. Therefore, various mechanisms can be efficiently realized with a smaller number of parts.

In particular, the contact pressure of the male terminal with respect to the connection portion of the female terminal is improved by using the case having the accommodation space assembled to the female terminal fitting, the pressing member accommodated and held in the case, and the biasing means. Therefore, the contact pressure can be increased without changing the shape of the connection part of the male and female terminals, and the female terminal of the present invention can be used with high versatility while using the existing male terminal and the existing female terminal fitting. It can be realized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above-described third aspect, the female terminal fitting has a rectangular flat plate shape, and a wire connecting portion is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting. The other side in the longitudinal direction of the wire connecting portion is the connecting portion, the case is assembled on the surface of the connecting portion of the female terminal fitting, and the case is connected to the connecting portion via the accommodation space. The flat plate-like pressing member accommodated and disposed in the accommodation space is positioned and held parallel to each other with the male terminal insertion gap on the connection portion, The biasing means is accommodated and arranged in a compressed state between the wall portion of the case and the pressing member, and the engaging protrusion of the pressing member is attached to the end edge portion on the connection portion side of the engaging window. Male terminal insertion port provided in the case The male terminal insertion gap through is one that communicates with the outside.

According to this aspect, the case is assembled on the surface of the connecting portion provided in the rectangular flat female terminal fitting. The flat pressing member is positioned and held in the case in a state of being opposed to each other in parallel with each other with a male terminal insertion gap with respect to the connection portion. The pressing member is biased toward the connecting portion by biasing means disposed in a compressed state between the pressing member and the wall portion facing the connecting portion of the case. Thereby, the male terminal can be reliably pressed by the biasing force of the biasing means in the male terminal insertion gap formed between the flat pressing member and the flat connecting portion. Therefore, especially when the male terminal has a flat plate shape, the male terminal can be stably pressed against the female terminal fitting with a wider contact area, and the contact pressure of the male and female terminals can be reliably improved. It becomes possible to conduct the connection with a lower resistance between them.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the one described in the fourth aspect, wherein the male terminal insertion port of the case opens in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting. .

According to this aspect, the male terminal insertion opening provided in the case opens in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting. As a result, the male terminal can be assembled from the side of the female terminal, and a sufficient contact area can be secured while shortening the insertion distance of the male terminal into the female terminal. In addition, when the male terminal is protruded in the vertical direction, it is possible to advantageously realize a reduction in the height of the connection region of the male and female terminals.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the one described in the fourth or fifth aspect, an edge of the pressing member protrudes outward from the male terminal insertion opening provided in the case. , Bent in a direction away from the connecting portion.

According to this aspect, the edge portion of the pressing member protrudes outward from the male terminal insertion port of the case and is bent toward the upper side separated from the connection portion. Thereby, the edge part of a press member exhibits a leading-in function, and it becomes possible to insert a male terminal more smoothly in a male terminal insertion slot and also a male terminal insertion clearance gap.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the above-described third aspect, an electric wire connecting portion is provided at one end edge in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting, and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting. The edge is provided with the concave connection portion that opens toward the other side in the longitudinal direction, and the case is disposed on the opposite side of the wire connection portion with respect to the connection portion in the longitudinal direction. The case is assembled to a terminal fitting, the case includes the wall portion facing the connection portion via the accommodation space, and the pressing member accommodated and disposed in the accommodation space is in contact with the connection portion. The male terminal insertion gap is positioned and held in the longitudinal direction, and the urging means is housed and arranged in a compressed state between the wall portion of the case and the pressing member, and the engagement of the pressing member. The mating protrusion is the connection portion of the engagement window. The male terminal insertion opening that is urged by the end edge portion of the first end portion of the first end portion and is provided between the pressing member and the connecting portion in the longitudinal direction and is provided in the case and opens in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The male terminal insertion gap is communicated with the outside via the.

According to this aspect, the female terminal fitting is provided with the wire connection portion at one end edge in the longitudinal direction and the concave connection portion opened toward the other end in the longitudinal direction at the other end edge in the longitudinal direction. The shape is provided. Furthermore, the case is assembled on the other end edge side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting, and the flat plate is positioned and held in the case in a state of being opposed to the connection portion in the longitudinal direction with a male terminal insertion gap. The urging member is urged by an urging means disposed in a compressed state between the urging member and the wall of the case. Accordingly, the female terminal fitting, the pressing member in the case, and the biasing means are sequentially stacked in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting, that is, the direction in which the electric wire extends from the female terminal fitting. Therefore, when the male terminal is a cylindrical pin shape, even when the male terminal has a large diameter dimension, it is possible to avoid a structure in which the pressing member and the urging means are stacked in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the electric wire, The structure which restrained the height dimension of the female terminal can be provided advantageously.

Moreover, since the male terminal insertion opening opens in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting, it is possible to assemble the male terminal from the side of the female terminal, while realizing a reduction in the height of the female terminal. A stable connection between the male and female terminals can be ensured with a high contact pressure. In particular, since the connecting portion has a concave shape, it is possible to realize stable holding of the pin-shaped male terminal while reliably ensuring a contact area with the cylindrical pin-shaped male terminal.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, the female terminal fitting is formed by bending a strip-like flat plate fitting, and the wire connection portion is a longitudinal edge of the flat plate fitting. The other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting is formed in a cylindrical shape in a side view, and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting is formed. The wall-shaped portion defining the end surface is recessed in a concave shape to constitute the concave connection portion.

According to this aspect, the female terminal fitting described in the seventh aspect can be easily formed by bending and forming the belt-like flat plate fitting. The connecting portion is provided on the distal end surface of the cylindrical end edge portion, and the current path passes through both side walls of the cylindrical end edge portion and is overlapped at the electric wire connecting portion. Therefore, it is possible to increase the cross-sectional area and flow a larger current while reducing the weight and securing the strength of the female terminal fitting.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the one described in the first aspect, the connection portion of the female terminal fitting is housed and disposed in a housing space of a case assembled to the female terminal fitting, The facing member includes a wall portion of the case, and the connection portion of the female terminal fitting is disposed to face the wall portion of the case with the male terminal insertion gap therebetween, and the wall is moved by the biasing means. The connecting portion of the female terminal fitting is displaceable in a direction away from the wall portion of the case against the biasing force.

According to this aspect, the connecting portion of the female terminal fitting and the wall portion of the case that constitutes the opposing member are arranged to face each other with the male terminal insertion gap therebetween. Of the connecting portion and the wall portion of the case, the connecting portion of the female terminal fitting is biased by the biasing means toward the wall portion of the case. Thereby, the connection part of a female terminal metal fitting is directly pressed by the urging | biasing force of a biasing means with respect to the male terminal press-fitted and arrange | positioned in the male terminal insertion clearance gap. Therefore, the male terminal can be pressed and held on the connection portion of the female terminal with a high contact pressure. In addition, since the connecting portion of the female terminal is directly pressed against the male terminal by the urging means, for example, the tracking of the connecting portion of the female terminal with respect to the male terminal when the male terminal is displaced due to vibration or the like during vehicle operation. Property can be improved. Accordingly, it is possible to advantageously avoid the occurrence of contact with the connection portion of the female terminal and to make the connection portion of the female terminal advantageously contact with the male terminal in a wide area, thereby improving the connection stability of the female terminal. be able to.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, the female terminal fitting has a rectangular flat plate shape, and an electric wire connecting portion is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting. The other side in the longitudinal direction of the wire connecting portion is the connecting portion, and one surface of the connecting portion of the female terminal fitting accommodated in the accommodating space of the case is spaced apart from the case. The other surface of the connection portion is opposed to the other wall portion of the case with a gap between the connection portion and the other wall portion of the case. The urging means is housed and arranged in a compressed state, the connecting portion and the wall portion of the case are arranged to face each other with the male terminal insertion gap interposed therebetween, and the connecting portion is placed on the case by the urging means. It is biased toward the wall.

According to this aspect, one surface of the connecting portion of the female terminal fitting housed in the housing space of the case faces the wall portion of the case with a gap therebetween, and the other surface of the connecting portion has a gap therebetween. It is opposed to the other wall of the case. And the connection part is urged | biased toward the wall part of a case by the urging means arrange | positioned in the compression state between the connection part and the other wall part of the case. As a result, the male terminal can be reliably pressed by the urging force of the urging means in the male terminal insertion gap formed between the connection portion and the wall portion of the case. Therefore, especially when the male terminal has a flat plate shape, the male terminal can be stably pressed against the female terminal fitting with a wider contact area, and the contact pressure of the male and female terminals can be reliably improved. It becomes possible to conduct the connection with a lower resistance between them.

In addition, the connecting portion of the female terminal fitting is accommodated in the accommodation space of the single case, and the biasing means is compressed and the opposing member is formed using the pair of wall portions of the case facing each other on both sides thereof. Therefore, the female terminal of the present invention can be formed compactly.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the one described in any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the urging means includes a coil spring.

According to this aspect, since the biasing means includes the coil spring, a large deflection amount of the biasing means when the male terminal is inserted and held in the male terminal insertion gap is secured. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the spring constant while providing a compact structure by arranging the biasing means in the limited housing space, and even if a dimensional error of parts or the like occurs, the contact between the male and female terminals can be reduced. The change in pressure can be kept small.

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

First, FIGS. 1 to 5 show a female terminal 10 as a first embodiment of the present invention. The female terminal 10 has a female terminal fitting 16 including a connection portion 14 that is electrically connected to a male terminal 12 having a tab shape of a substantially rectangular flat plate shape. Furthermore, the female terminal 10 has a case 20 having an accommodation space 18 that is assembled to the female terminal fitting 16. In the following description, “upper” means the upper side in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, “lower” means the lower side in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, and “front” means the left side in FIGS. The rear direction means the right side in FIGS. 2 to 4, the longitudinal direction means the left-right direction in FIGS. 2 to 4, and the width direction means the up-down direction in FIGS.

1 and 4, the female terminal fitting 16 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction. The wire connection portion 22 is provided on a flat portion on one side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting 16 (right side in FIG. 4), but is slightly lower (lower in FIG. 4) than the wire connection portion 22. The flat part on the other side in the longitudinal direction (left side in FIG. 4) than the wire connection part 22 is the connection part 14. The female terminal fitting 16 is formed using various metal materials that have conductivity and can be pressed or punched, such as brass, copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and the like. In the electric wire connecting portion 22, the core wire 26 of the electric wire 24 is conductively connected to the female terminal fitting 16. More specifically, in the electric wire 24, a core wire 26 obtained by bundling a plurality of metal wires such as copper, aluminum, or the like, which is a conductor, is covered with an insulating coating 28 having an electrical insulation property such as ethylene resin or styrene resin. It is structured. Then, the core wire 26 exposed by peeling off the insulation coating 28 at the end of the electric wire 24 is fixed to the electric wire connecting portion 22 of the female terminal fitting 16 by using a known technique such as resistance welding, for example. Is electrically connected to the female terminal fitting 16.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the central portion of the connecting portion 14 in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction in FIGS. 3 to 4) is located at two locations separated in the longitudinal direction in the width direction (in FIG. 3). The emboss 30 is formed extending in the vertical direction and protruding upward in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4). In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, notches 32 are provided at both side edges in the width direction of the connection portion 14 at two locations separated in the longitudinal direction of the connection portion 14. Each notch 32 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and opens toward the plate thickness direction and the width direction outward (vertical direction in FIGS. 2 to 3) of the connection portion 14.

The case 20 is assembled on the surface 34 of the connecting portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16 having such a configuration (see, for example, FIG. 4). The case 20 is formed using various metal materials that can be pressed or punched, such as brass, copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and stainless steel. More specifically, the case 20 includes a substantially rectangular flat plate-shaped wall portion 36 that faces the connection portion 14 via the accommodation space 18 in a state assembled to the connection portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16. The case 20 has a pair of substantially rectangular flat plate-

like wall portions

38, 38 extending downward from both side edges in the longitudinal direction of the wall portion 36, and the wall portion 36 and the pair of wall portions 38. , 38 constitute a housing space 18. Further, the case 20 protrudes from both side edges in the width direction of each wall 38 (vertical direction in FIG. 2) outward in the width direction, and then the longitudinal direction of the wall 36 (left and right direction in FIG. 2). It has a pair of substantially flat leg portions 40 projecting outward. A caulking protrusion 42 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape protruding downward is provided at the lower end of each leg 40. In addition, a coil spring having a substantially concave shape that extends downward at the center of both side edges in the width direction of the wall portion 36 and opens toward the inner side in the width direction of the wall portion 36 at the extended tip portion. A holding frame 44 is provided. In addition, an engagement window 46 is provided through the pair of

wall portions

38, 38 arranged to face each other in the longitudinal direction of the wall portion 36 at the same position facing below the coil spring holding frame 44. Each engagement window 46 has a substantially horizontally long rectangular cross-sectional shape and constitutes an approach displacement restricting means described later.

In the housing space 18 of the case 20 having such a configuration, a pressing member 48 that constitutes an opposing member and a coil spring 50 that constitutes an urging means are accommodated and disposed. A case 20 in which the pressing member 48 and the coil spring 50 are accommodated in the accommodation space 18 is held by the connection portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16 (see, for example, FIG. 4). More specifically, the pressing member 48 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, and is made of various metal materials that can be pressed or stamped, such as brass, copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and stainless steel. It is formed using. Engagement protrusions 52 constituting an approach displacement restricting means, which will be described later, are formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape that protrudes outward in the longitudinal direction at both side edges in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 4) of the pressing member 48. Is provided. Both end edges 53, 53 in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 5) of the pressing member 48 are bent obliquely upward. Then, in a state where the coil spring 50 is accommodated and held in the coil spring holding frame 44 of the case 20, the extending end portions of the pair of

wall portions

38, 38 of the case 20 are expanded and the pressing member 48 is accommodated in the accommodating space 18. insert. That is, by engaging the engaging protrusion 52 of the pressing member 48 with the engaging window 46 of the case 20, the coil spring 50 is accommodated and disposed between the wall portion 36 of the case 20 and the pressing member 48 in a compressed state. . As a result, the pressing member 48 is urged toward the connecting portion 14, and the engaging protrusion 52 of the pressing member 48 is urged toward the end edge portion 47 a of the engaging window 46 on the connecting portion 14 side. Next, the case 20 in which the pressing member 48 and the coil spring 50 are accommodated in this way is assembled on the surface 34 of the connection portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16. That is, after the caulking protrusion 42 of the case 20 is inserted into the notch 32 of the connection portion 14, the case 20 is bent inward in the width direction and the leg portion 40 of the case 20 is connected to the surface 34 of the connection portion 14. The pressing member 48 and the coil spring 50 which are fixed in a state of being placed on the top and housed in the case 20 are indirectly held by the female terminal fitting 16. As described above, in this embodiment, the coil spring 50 and the pressing member 48 constituting the urging means can be assembled in advance as a series of parts and then assembled to the female terminal fitting 16 provided with the connecting portion 14. It is possible to improve the performance.

As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the flat pressing members 48 accommodated in the accommodating space 18 are positioned parallel to each other across the male terminal insertion gap 51 on the connection portion 14. It is held and disposed opposite to the connecting portion 14. In this embodiment, since the

embosses

30 and 30 are projected from the connection portion 14, the gap dimension g of the male terminal insertion gap 51 (see FIG. 5) is the protrusion end surface of the emboss 30 and the pressing member 48. It is defined by the dimension between the opposing surfaces on the lower surface. The pressing member 48 is indirectly held by the female terminal fitting 16, and the male terminal insertion gap 51 is communicated to the outside via the male terminal insertion port 54 provided in the case 20. That is, the male terminal insertion port 54 of the case 20 opens in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting 16 (in the diagonally lower right direction and in the diagonally upper left direction in FIG. 1). Therefore, the male terminal 12 can be assembled from the side of the female terminal 10 (vertical direction in FIG. 2), and a sufficient contact area is ensured while the insertion distance of the male terminal 12 into the female terminal 10 is shortened. It becomes possible. In addition, when the male terminal 12 protrudes in the vertical direction, a reduction in the height of the connection region between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 can be advantageously realized. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, both end edges 53, 53 in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 5) of the pressing member 48 are outward from the male terminal insertion openings 54 provided in the case 20. And is bent in a direction away from the connection portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16 (in the present embodiment, obliquely upward). Since the bent portion exhibits the function of guiding the male terminal 12, the male terminal 12 can be more smoothly inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 51 through the male terminal insertion opening 54.

In addition, the approach displacement restricting means includes an engaging projection 52 provided on the pressing member 48 and an engaging window 46 penetrating the wall portion 38 of the case 20. The approach displacement restricting means is also indirectly held by the female terminal fitting 16. Here, the engagement window 46 extends by a predetermined length in the facing direction of the pressing member 48 and the connecting portion 14 (vertical direction in FIGS. 4 to 5). When the male terminal 12 having a gap dimension of the male terminal insertion gap 51: plate thickness: g (t> g) larger than g is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 51 from the male terminal insertion port 54 in a press-fitted state, The pressing member 48 can be displaced in a direction away from the connection portion 14 against the urging force of the coil spring 50. That is, the male terminal 12 is press-fitted into the male terminal insertion gap 51 and disposed between the connection portion 14 and the pressing member 48. In addition, the end edge portion 47a on the connection portion 14 side of the engagement window 46 holds the pressing member 48 at a position separated from the protruding end surface of the connection portion 14 by the gap dimension of the male terminal insertion gap 51: g. Is set to The engagement protrusion 52 provided on the pressing member 48 is engaged with the end edge portion 47 a while being biased toward the connection portion 14 by the coil spring 50. In other words, the engagement protrusion 52 and the engagement window 46 constituting the approach displacement restricting means restrict the displacement in the approach direction between the pressing member 48 and the connecting portion 14 to maintain the male terminal insertion gap 51. Yes. Further, the engagement protrusion 52 of the pressing member 48 comes into contact with the end edge portion 47b on the side away from the connection portion 14 of the engagement window 46, so that excessive excess between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 due to vibration or the like. The displacement is suppressed and the male terminal 12 is prevented from coming off. In this embodiment, since the biasing means is configured using the coil spring 50, a large amount of deflection can be secured. Therefore, the coil spring 50 having a small spring constant can be compactly disposed in the limited housing space of the case 20, and the gap size of the male terminal insertion gap 51: g, the thickness of the male terminal: t, etc. Even if it varies, the change in the contact pressure between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 can be kept small.

According to the female terminal 10 of the present embodiment having such a structure, the pressing member 48 is positioned and held on the connecting portion 14 in parallel with the male terminal insertion gap 51 therebetween. The pressing member 48 is biased toward the connecting portion 14 by the coil spring 50. Thereby, the male terminal 12 inserted and arranged in the male terminal insertion gap 51 is pressed against the connection portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16 by the biasing force of the coil spring 50. As a result, the male terminal 12 can be pressed and held on the connection portion 14 of the female terminal 10 with a high contact pressure. Moreover, the pressing member 48 and the coil spring 50 are assembled to the female terminal 10 in advance. Since it is not necessary to attach a separate spring member or the like after the conductive connection of the male terminal 12 as in the prior art, the work process can be simplified and the high contact pressure between the male terminal 12 and the female terminal 10 is excellent. It can be realized by the workability.

Further, the pressing member 48 is held at a position separated by the male terminal insertion gap 51 by the engaging protrusion 52 and the engaging window 46 constituting the approach displacement restricting means. The coil spring 50 can be displaced in a direction away from the connection portion 14 against the urging force of the coil spring 50. Thereby, the male terminal 12 and the female terminal 10 can be conductively connected with high contact pressure simply by inserting the male terminal 12 into the male terminal insertion gap 51 of the female terminal 10. Moreover, the gap dimension g of the male terminal insertion gap 51 is slightly narrower than the plate thickness t t of the male terminal 12. Therefore, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 51, the amount of displacement of the pressing member 48 in the direction away from the connection portion 14 is small and the amount of work is small, and the male terminal 12 enters the male terminal insertion gap 51. The insertion force during insertion of can be advantageously reduced.

In addition, a coil spring 50 constituting a pressing member 48 and an urging means is accommodated in the accommodation space 18 of the case 20. By assembling the case 20 to the female terminal fitting 16, the pressing member 48 and the coil spring 50 can be easily held on the female terminal fitting 16. Therefore, by using the case 20, it is possible to easily realize the integral holding of the pressing member 48 and the coil spring 50 with respect to the female terminal fitting 16. The approach displacement restricting means is also constituted by an engagement window 46 penetrating the wall portion 38 of the case 20 and an engagement protrusion 52 provided on the pressing member 48. By using the case 20, the approach displacement regulating means can be configured efficiently. In addition, by assembling the case 20 to the female terminal fitting 16, a pressing member 48, a coil spring 50, and an approach displacement restricting means (engagement window 46 and engagement protrusion 52) accommodated and held in the case 20 are formed. By using the pressing member 48, the coil spring 50, and the approach displacement restricting means, the insertion force of the female terminal 10 of the male terminal 12 with respect to the male terminal insertion gap 51 is reduced and the contact pressure is improved. Therefore, the insertion force can be reduced and the contact pressure can be improved without changing the shape of the connection portion 14 of the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12. The female terminal 10 of the present invention can be realized with high versatility while utilizing the existing male terminal 12 and the existing female terminal fitting.

Next, the female terminal 56 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. About the member and site | part made into the same structure as the said embodiment, the code | symbol same as the said embodiment is attached | subjected in a figure, and those detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. In the present embodiment, in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 56, the case 60 is disposed on the opposite side of the connection portion 58 from the wire connection portion 22 and is assembled to the female terminal fitting 62. An embodiment different from the embodiment is shown. More specifically, the female terminal fitting 62 is formed by bending a strip-shaped flat fitting (not shown). On one side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting 62 (on the right side in FIG. 8), the electric wire connecting portion 22 is provided in a flat portion formed by overlapping the longitudinal end edges of the plate fitting. On the other hand, the central part of the flat metal fitting is formed in a cylindrical shape in a side view on the other longitudinal side of the female terminal fitting 62 (left side in FIG. 8). A connecting portion 58 having a shape in which a wall portion 57 defining an end surface is recessed is formed at an end edge portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting 62. The concave connection portion 58 opens toward the other side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting 62.

The

wall portions

72, 72 extending from the connection portion 58 toward the wire connection portion 22 are formed with notches 32 to which a caulking protrusion 42 described later is caulked and fixed. In the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 56, a case 60 is disposed on the opposite side of the connection portion 58 from the wire connection portion 22 and is assembled to the connection portion 58 of the female terminal fitting 62. The case 60 includes a wall portion 36 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape. The wall portion 36 faces the connection portion 58 through the accommodation space 66 in a state where the case 60 is assembled to the connection portion 58 of the female terminal fitting 62. The case 60 is a pair of substantially rectangular flat plates that protrude from both edge portions in the width direction of the wall portion 36 (vertical direction in FIG. 8) toward one side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 56 (right side in FIG. 8). A wall 38 is included. A caulking protrusion 42 that protrudes outward is provided at both edges in the width direction of the protruding tip of each wall 38. Further, in the accommodation space 66 of the case 60, a pressing member 68 in which the central portion of the flat plate member is bent convexly toward the connection portion 58 is accommodated and arranged. A coil spring 50 is accommodated therebetween. Then, with the engagement protrusion 52 provided on the pressing member 68 engaged with the engagement window 46 of the case 60, the crimping protrusion 42 of the case 60 is crimped to the notch 32 of the connection portion 58. Yes. Thereby, the case 60 is fixed to the connection portion 58, and the convex center portion 68 a of the pressing member 68 is separated from the connection portion 58 by the male terminal insertion gap 51 in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 56. Positioning is held. The coil spring 50 between the wall portion 36 of the case 60 and the pressing member 68 is accommodated in a compressed state. Therefore, the engagement protrusion 52 provided on the pressing member 68 is urged by the end edge portion 47 a on the connection portion 58 side of the engagement window 46 provided on the case 60. In the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 56, the side surface of the case 60 located between the pressing member 68 and the connecting portion 58 is wide open in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 56 (vertical direction in FIGS. 7 and 10). A male terminal insertion port 54 is provided. The male terminal insertion gap 51 communicates with the outside through the male terminal insertion port 54. The pin-shaped male terminal 70 is inserted and held in the male terminal insertion gap 51 so as to be conductively connected to the connection portion 58 of the female terminal fitting 62. In the present embodiment, the radius of curvature of the concave connection portion 58 is slightly larger than the radius of curvature of the male terminal 70. Therefore, the pin-shaped male terminal 70 can be accommodated and held in the concave connection portion 58 with a wide contact area, and the connection between the female terminal 56 and the male terminal 70 can be realized with lower resistance. Note that the pressing member 68 has a convex shape in the length direction (vertical direction in FIG. 8) of the gap for accommodating the rib for preventing contact with the person provided on the high-pressure male terminal 70 side. It is for making. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the maximum gap dimension g between the central portion 68 a of the pressing member 68 and the connection portion 58 constituting the male terminal insertion gap 51 is the maximum outer diameter dimension d of the male terminal 70. Slightly smaller than (g <d).

According to the present embodiment, the wire connection portion 22 is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting 62. A concave connection portion 58 that opens toward the other side in the longitudinal direction is formed on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting 62. Moreover, in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 56, the case 60 is disposed on the opposite side of the connection portion 58 from the wire connection portion 22 and is assembled to the female terminal fitting 62. The convex center portion 68 a of the pressing member 68 and the concave connection portion 58 are positioned and held with the male terminal insertion gap 51 in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 56. The pressing member 68 is urged toward the connecting portion 58 by the coil spring 50 housed and arranged in a compressed state between the wall portion 36 of the case 60 and the pressing member 68. Thereby, even when the maximum outer diameter dimension d of the pin-shaped male terminal 70 is large, the pressing member 68 and the coil spring 50 are arranged in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the electric wire 24 as in the first embodiment. The structure that piles up can be avoided. Therefore, a structure in which the height dimension of the female terminal 56 is suppressed can be advantageously realized.

Furthermore, since the male terminal insertion port 54 opens in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 56, the male terminal 70 can be assembled from the side of the female terminal 56. Thereby, the stable connection between the female terminal 56 and the male terminal 70 can be ensured with a high contact pressure while realizing a reduction in the height of the female terminal 56. Moreover, since the connection part 58 is made into concave shape, stable holding | maintenance is realizable, ensuring the contact area with the pin-shaped male terminal 70 reliably. In addition, the female terminal fitting 62 can be easily formed by bending a strip-shaped flat fitting (not shown). A concave connection portion 58 is provided at the center of the wall portion of the edge portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting 62, and the current path is in the length direction of the wall portion (vertical direction in FIG. 8). It is overlapped by the electric wire connection part 22 through both sides. As a result, it is possible to increase the cross-sectional area of the current path while allowing the female terminal fitting 62 to be light and strong, thereby allowing a larger current to flow.

Subsequently, the female terminal 74 as the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. About the member and site | part made into the same structure as the said embodiment, the code | symbol same as the said embodiment is attached | subjected in a figure, and those detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. In the present embodiment, the first and second embodiments described above with respect to the point that the male terminal insertion port 78 of the case 76 opens toward the front in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 74 (downwardly diagonally downward in FIG. 11). Different embodiment is shown. As a result, the male terminal 12 can be assembled from the front of the female terminal 74 (left side in FIG. 12). In addition to assembling the

male terminals

12 and 70 from the side to the

female terminals

10 and 56 shown in the first and second embodiments, the male terminal 12 can be assembled from the front of the female terminal 74. The present invention can correspond to various assembly structures. More specifically, in the case 76 in the present embodiment, a pair of

wall portions

38, 38 are formed downward from both side edge portions in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 12) of the wall portion 36 facing the connection portion 14. It extends. The wall portion 36 and the pair of

wall portions

38, 38 constitute a housing space 18 that opens on both sides of the female terminal 74 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 12). Then, in a state where the coil spring 50 is housed and disposed in the coil spring holding frame 44 provided on the wall portion 36 of the case 76, the extending end portions of the pair of

wall portions

38, 38 of the case 76 are expanded and pressed. 48 is inserted into the receiving space 18. As a result, the engaging protrusion 52 of the pressing member 48 is engaged with the engaging window 46 of the case 76, and the case 76 in which the pressing member 48 and the coil spring 50 are accommodated is completed. Finally, the case 76 is assembled on the surface 34 of the connection portion 14 of the female terminal 74. That is, by inserting the caulking protrusions 42 provided on the extending end portions of the pair of

wall portions

38, 38 of the case 76 into the cutout portion 32 of the connecting portion 14, and then bending and caulking inward in the width direction, The case 76 is fixed in a state where the leg portion 40 of the case 76 is placed on the surface 34 of the connecting portion 14. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the male terminal insertion opening 78 of the case 76 is formed to open toward the front in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 74 (downwardly diagonally downward in FIG. 11).

Also in the female terminal 74 of the present embodiment having such a structure, the pressing member 48 is urged toward the connecting portion 14 by the coil spring 50 as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the male terminal 12 inserted and arranged in the male terminal insertion gap 51 can be pressed and held on the connection portion 14 with a high contact pressure. Moreover, the pressing member 48 and the coil spring 50 are assembled to the female terminal 74 in advance. Therefore, it is not necessary to attach a separate spring member or the like after the conductive connection of the male terminal 12 as in the prior art, and a high contact pressure between the male terminal 12 and the female terminal 74 can be realized with excellent workability. In addition, the pressing member 48 and the connecting portion 14 are held at a position (state) where the male terminal insertion gap 51 is separated against the biasing force of the coil spring 50. The gap dimension g of the male terminal insertion gap 51 is slightly narrower than the plate thickness t of the male terminal 12 t. Thereby, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 51 in a press-fitted state, the amount of displacement of the pressing member 48 in the direction away from the connection portion 14 is small and the work amount is small. The insertion force at the time of insertion into the insertion gap 51 can be advantageously reduced.

Further, the female terminal 80 as the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. About the member and site | part made into the same structure as the said embodiment, the code | symbol same as the said embodiment is attached | subjected in a figure, and those detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. In this embodiment, the connection portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16 is accommodated in the accommodation space 18 of the case 82 assembled to the female terminal fitting 16, and the opposing member includes the wall portion 84 of the case 82. An embodiment different from the third embodiment in terms of the configuration is shown. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 19 to 20, the back surface 86 which is one surface of the connecting portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16 accommodated in the accommodating space 18 of the case 82 is a male terminal insertion gap. It faces the wall portion 84 of the case 82 with a space 51 therebetween. The surface 34 which is the other surface of the connecting portion 14 faces the other wall portion 36 of the case 82 with a gap. And the coil spring 50 which is an urging | biasing means is accommodated by the compression state between the connection part 14 and the other wall part 36 of case 82. The connecting portion 14 is biased toward the wall portion 84 of the case 82 by the coil spring 50. Further, the connection portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16 can be displaced in a direction away from the wall portion 84 of the case 82 against the urging force of the coil spring 50. A pair of wall portions of the case 82 is formed by engaging projections 88 having a substantially rectangular flat plate projecting from both side edges in the width direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 17 to 18) of the connection portion 14 outward in the width direction. It is engaged with the engagement window 92 provided in 90a, 90b, and the approach displacement control means is comprised.

In the present embodiment, when the case 82 is assembled to the connection portion 14, first, the coil spring 50 is accommodated and held in the coil spring holding frame 44 of the case 82. Next, the extending end portions of the pair of

wall portions

90 a and 90 b of the case 82 are pushed and widened, and the distal end side of the connection portion 14 is inserted into the accommodation space 18. That is, the engagement protrusion 88 of the connection portion 14 is engaged with the edge portion 93 a on the wall portion 84 side of the engagement window 92 of the case 82. Thereby, the accommodation space 18 in which the coil spring 50 is accommodated and arranged in a compressed state is formed between the wall portion 36 of the case 82 and the connection portion 14. In addition, the engagement protrusion 88 of the connection portion 14 abuts against the end edge portion 93b of the engagement window 92 on the side separated from the wall portion 84, thereby causing excessive vibration between the female terminal 80 and the male terminal 12 due to vibration or the like. The displacement is suppressed and the male terminal 12 is prevented from coming off. Subsequently, after bending the wall portion 90a on one side in the width direction of the case 82 (left side in FIG. 20) toward the wall portion 90b on the other side (right side in FIG. 20), The substantially flat engagement protrusion 94 provided is inserted into the through hole 96 provided in the wall portion 90b, and is bent upward so as to contact the outer surface of the wall portion 90b. As a result, the wall portion 84 that is the facing member is configured by the portion of the wall portion 90 a that faces the connection portion 14 in the biasing direction of the connection portion 14 by the coil spring 50. A pair of

embosses

98, 98 extending in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal 80 (left-right direction in FIG. 19) are provided on the wall 84, which is a facing member, in the width direction of the female terminal 80 (up-down direction in FIG. 18). Are provided apart from each other. Each emboss 98 has a substantially rectangular shape in a bottom view shown in FIG. Finally, the end of the other wall 90b is bent toward the one wall 90a side (left side in FIG. 20) so as to come into contact with the outer surface of the wall 90a in the through hole 96. The assembly to the connection unit 14 is completed.

According to the present embodiment, the back surface 86 which is one surface of the connection portion 14 of the female terminal fitting 16 accommodated in the accommodation space 18 of the case 82 is separated from the male terminal insertion gap 51 by the wall portion 84 of the case 82. And the surface 34 which is the other surface of the connecting portion 14 faces the other wall portion 36 of the case 82 with a gap. And the coil spring 50 which is an urging | biasing means is accommodated and arrange | positioned in the compression state between the connection part 14 and the other wall part 36 of the case 82. FIG. As a result, the connecting portion 14 is biased toward the wall portion 84 of the case 82 by the coil spring 50. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the male terminal 12 can be reliably pressed against the connecting portion 14 by the biasing force of the coil spring 50 in the male terminal insertion gap 51 as in the other embodiments. Thereby, especially when the male terminal 12 has a flat plate shape as in the present embodiment, the male terminal 12 can be stably pressed against the female terminal fitting 16 with a wider contact area. The contact pressure between the female terminal 80 and the male terminal 12 can be reliably improved, and the female terminal 80 and the male terminal 12 can be conductively connected with lower resistance.

Further, the connecting portion 14 is accommodated in the accommodating space 18 of the single case 82. The coil spring 50 can be compressed using a pair of

wall portions

90a and 90b of the case 82, and a wall portion 84 which is a facing member is formed. Therefore, the female terminal 80 can be formed compactly. Further, the connection portion 14 of the female terminal 80 is directly pressed against the male terminal 12 by the coil spring 50. Thereby, the followability with respect to the male terminal 12 of the connection part 14 when the male terminal 12 displaces by the vibration etc. at the time of vehicle driving, for example can be improved. Therefore, it is possible to advantageously avoid contact of the male terminal 12 with the connection portion 14 of the female terminal 80 and to make the connection portion 14 of the female terminal 80 advantageously contact the male terminal 12 in a wide area. it can. Therefore, the connection stability between the female terminal 80 and the male terminal 12 can be improved.

As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited by these specific description. For example, in the above embodiment, the coil spring 50 is exemplified as the biasing means, but the biasing means is not limited to this, and for example, a spring member such as a leaf spring or a disc spring, a rubber elastic body, or the like. Any member that applies a known urging force, such as an elastic body, can be used. In the above embodiment, the

pressing members

48 and 68 and the coil spring 50 are indirectly held by the female

terminal fittings

16 and 62 via the

cases

20, 60 and 76, but they may be held directly. Good. Further, in the above embodiment, the

cases

20, 60 and the

pressing members

48, 68 have been described as being made of metal, but any member having sufficient rigidity may be used, and synthetic resin or the like can be employed. In addition, in the above embodiment, one of the

pressing members

48 and 68 and the connecting portion 14 is urged by the coil spring 50, but both may be urged by the coil spring 50. As a result, the coil spring 50 can be reduced in size and can be manufactured easily, so that the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, the direction in which the

male terminals

12 and 70 are inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 51 can be arbitrarily set according to the requirements of the location of the

female terminals

10, 56, 74 and 80. , 56, 74, 80 may be in the same direction as the extending direction of the electric wires 24, or in a direction orthogonal thereto.

10, 56, 74, 80: female terminal, 12, 70: male terminal, 14, 58: connection portion, 16, 62: female terminal fitting, 18, 66: accommodation space, 20, 60, 76, 82: case , 22: electric wire connection part, 34: surface, 36, 90a, 90b: wall part, 46, 92: engagement window (approaching displacement restricting means), 47a, b, 93a, b: edge part, 48, 68: Press member (opposing member), 50: coil spring (biasing means), 51: male terminal insertion gap, 52, 88: engagement protrusion (approaching displacement restricting means), 53: edge portion, 54, 78: male terminal Insertion port, 57: wall portion, 84: wall portion (opposing member), 86: back surface (one surface)

Claims

A female terminal fitting including a connection portion that is electrically connected to the male terminal;
A facing member that is held by the female terminal fitting and is opposed to the connecting portion with a male terminal insertion gap through which the male terminal is inserted, and
A biasing means that is held by the female terminal fitting and biases at least one of the facing member and the connecting portion toward the other;
An approach displacement restricting means for restricting displacement in the approaching direction between the facing member and the connecting portion and maintaining the male terminal insertion gap,
The male terminal is press-fitted into the male terminal insertion gap by allowing the displacement in the separation direction between the connection portion and the facing member to be allowed against the urging force of the urging means. A female terminal arranged between the members.
The opposing member includes a pressing member held by the female terminal fitting;
The pressing member is disposed opposite to the connection portion of the female terminal fitting with the male terminal insertion gap interposed therebetween, and is biased toward the connection portion by the biasing means,
The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is displaceable in a direction away from the connection portion against the biasing force.
It further has a case having an accommodation space assembled to the female terminal fitting,
The pressing member and the biasing means are held in the female terminal fitting by being housed in the housing space of the case,
The approach displacement restricting means includes an engaging projection provided on the pressing member, and an engaging window that extends through the wall portion of the case and extends in a facing direction of the pressing member and the connecting portion by a predetermined length. The edge portion on the connection portion side of the engagement window is set at a position separating the male terminal insertion gap from the connection portion, while the press against the edge portion The female terminal according to claim 2, wherein the engaging protrusion of the member is urged and engaged.
The female terminal fitting has a rectangular flat plate shape, a wire connecting portion is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting, and the other side in the longitudinal direction from the wire connecting portion is the connecting portion,
The case is assembled on the surface of the connection portion of the female terminal fitting, and the case includes the wall portion facing the connection portion via the accommodation space, and is accommodated and disposed in the accommodation space. The flat plate-like pressing member is positioned and held parallel to each other across the male terminal insertion gap on the connection part,
The biasing means is accommodated and arranged in a compressed state between the wall portion of the case and the pressing member, and the engaging protrusion of the pressing member is attached to the end edge portion on the connection portion side of the engaging window. And
The female terminal according to claim 3, wherein the male terminal insertion gap is communicated to the outside through a male terminal insertion opening provided in the case.
The female terminal according to claim 4, wherein the male terminal insertion opening of the case is opened in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting.
6. The female terminal according to claim 4, wherein an edge portion of the pressing member protrudes outward from the male terminal insertion port provided in the case and is bent in a direction away from the connection portion. .
A wire connecting portion is provided at one end edge in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting, and a concave connecting portion that opens toward the other end in the longitudinal direction is provided at the other longitudinal end portion of the female terminal fitting. And
In the longitudinal direction, the case is disposed on the side opposite to the wire connection portion with respect to the connection portion, and the case is assembled to the female terminal fitting, and the case is connected to the connection portion via the accommodation space. The pressing member disposed and accommodated in the accommodating space is positioned and held with respect to the connecting portion across the male terminal insertion gap in the longitudinal direction;
The biasing means is accommodated and arranged in a compressed state between the wall portion of the case and the pressing member, and the engaging protrusion of the pressing member is attached to the end edge portion on the connection portion side of the engaging window. And
The male terminal insertion gap is communicated to the outside through a male terminal insertion port that is provided in the case and is located between the pressing member and the connection portion in the longitudinal direction and opens in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The female terminal according to claim 3.
The female terminal fitting is formed by bending a strip-shaped flat metal fitting, and the wire connection portion is configured by overlapping the longitudinal end edges of the flat metal fitting,
The other edge portion in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting is formed in a cylindrical shape in a side view, and a wall portion defining the other end surface in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting is recessed in a concave shape. The female terminal according to claim 7, wherein the concave connection portion is configured.
The connecting portion of the female terminal fitting is housed in a housing space of a case assembled to the female terminal fitting, and the opposing member includes a wall portion of the case;
The connection portion of the female terminal fitting is disposed opposite to the wall portion of the case with the male terminal insertion gap therebetween, and is biased toward the wall portion by the biasing means,
The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion of the female terminal metal fitting is displaceable in a direction away from the wall portion of the case against the biasing force.
The female terminal fitting has a rectangular flat plate shape, a wire connecting portion is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction of the female terminal fitting, and the other side in the longitudinal direction from the wire connecting portion is the connecting portion,
One surface of the connection portion of the female terminal fitting accommodated in the accommodation space of the case is opposed to the wall portion of the case with a gap, and the other surface of the connection portion is a gap. Facing the other wall of the case across
The biasing means is accommodated and disposed in a compressed state between the connection portion and the other wall portion of the case, and the connection portion and the wall portion of the case are disposed to face each other with the male terminal insertion gap therebetween. And
The female terminal according to claim 9, wherein the connecting portion is biased toward the wall portion of the case by the biasing means.
The female terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the biasing means includes a coil spring.