JP6200165B2 - Wire harness terminal with tube structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a component responsible for electrical continuity, and more particularly to a crimp terminal used for an in-vehicle wire harness.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electric wire connecting portion in an automobile electric wire, a form in which the electric wire is crimped by a crimp terminal is common. Usually, copper and copper alloy wires are used for automobile wires, and copper alloy terminals are used for crimp terminals. In recent years, the use of aluminum and aluminum alloy wires has been increasing for the purpose of reducing fuel consumption by reducing weight.

  In the crimping portion of the crimping terminal, the conductor of the electric wire is exposed. Therefore, when an aluminum or aluminum alloy electric wire is used, the conductor of the electric wire is exposed at the crimping portion made of copper alloy. At this time, since a potential difference occurs between the metal constituting the crimp terminal and the metal constituting the electric wire, when moisture or the like adheres to the wire connection part, corrosion between different metals occurs, and the corrosion of any metal proceeds. There was a risk of poor contact.

  In order to prevent metal corrosion, it is desirable to shield exposed aluminum and aluminum alloy conductors from the outside world. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which the entire crimping portion is molded with resin. However, in this method, the mold portion is enlarged, and the terminal connection portion of the wire harness cannot be formed in a high-density and small size. Furthermore, since it is necessary to perform molding of each crimping part after the crimping process of the electric wire, there are problems such as an increase in manufacturing process and cost, and complicated work.

  Therefore, a method is employed in which the conductor of the electric wire is cut off from the outside without adopting a structure in which the electric wire is inserted into and crimped to a crimp terminal having a cylindrical crimp portion. However, since it is difficult to visually recognize the inside of the cylindrical crimp portion, there is a problem in positioning the electric wire in the crimp portion area. When a wire harness is manufactured by connecting a wire whose conductor is covered with an insulation coating to a crimp terminal, if the end of the wire is displaced from a predetermined position in the crimping region, the wire whose tip is exposed from the insulation coating is crimped. Sometimes, the insulation coating bites, and the electrical resistance value between the crimp terminal and the electric wire increases. In some cases, there is a risk of non-conduction.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 2, when the electric wire is placed on the crimping portion, a slit is provided at the bottom of the crimping terminal so that the end face of the insulating coating that covers the conductor comes into contact with the conductor. It has been proposed to properly crimp the crimp terminal. However, in Patent Document 2, there is a possibility that moisture may enter from the slit, that is, it is difficult to sufficiently shield the conductor from the outside. Therefore, particularly when aluminum and aluminum alloy conductors are used, metal corrosion is caused. There was a problem in that there was a risk of poor contact and progress. Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, since the positioning depends on the thickness of the insulating coating, for example, when a thin insulating coating is used, there is a problem that the positioning of the electric wire varies.

  In addition, when connecting a wire with a plurality of conductors covered with an insulation coating to a crimp terminal, during the crimping process to the crimp terminal, the conductor closer to the bottom surface of the crimping part is pushed out in the longitudinal direction of the wire and a large deviation occurs. Again, there was a problem that variations in positioning occurred.

JP 2011-222243 A JP 2012-248458 A

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention prevents the occurrence of insulation coating biting by preventing the conductor and crimp terminal from corroding and suppressing the positioning of the electric wire with respect to the crimp part of the crimp terminal. And by extension, it aims at providing the crimp terminal which can prevent the electrical resistance value between electric wires rising.

An aspect of the present invention is electrically connected to a crimping portion having a cylindrical conductor crimping portion for crimping a conductor exposed from an electric wire and a cylindrical covering crimping portion for crimping an insulating coating portion of the electric wire, and a terminal. A crimping terminal provided with a connector part and a transition part connecting the crimping part and the connector part , wherein the conductor crimping part is opposed to an end face of a tip of the conductor inserted into the conductor crimping part. has an inner wall, the inner wall is provided in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the conductor to be inserted into the conductor crimping portion, the insulation crimp portion and the conductor crimping portion have a welded portion, the Between the inner wall surface and the inner peripheral surface of the conductor crimping portion facing the side end portion of the inner wall surface, there is provided a gap that gradually narrows from the inner wall portion toward the transition portion. This is a feature of a crimp terminal.

  In this aspect, since the conductor crimping part and the covering crimping part are both cylindrical, the conductor crimping part and the covering crimping part are a closed barrel type.

Aspect of the present invention, against the cross sectional area of the conductor crimping portion of the inner wall surface parallel direction, the area ratio of the inner wall surface, a crimp terminal according to claim der Rukoto 70%.

Aspect of the present invention, against the cross sectional area of the conductor crimping portion of the inner wall surface parallel direction, the area ratio of the inner wall surface, a crimp terminal according to claim der Rukoto less than 100%. Moreover, the aspect of this invention is a crimp terminal for fixing to the edge part of the said electric wire, Comprising: The reduced diameter part is provided between the said conductor crimping part and the said coating crimping part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Crimp terminal. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a crimp terminal characterized in that a gap is provided between the inner wall surface and the inner peripheral surface of the conductor crimping portion facing the side end of the inner wall surface. is there.

  According to the aspect of the present invention, the conductor crimping portion has an inner wall surface facing the end surface of the tip of the conductor inserted into the conductor crimping portion, and the inner wall surface is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the conductor. Is provided. Therefore, when the electric wire is inserted into the crimping portion having the conductor crimping portion and the covering crimping portion, the end surface of the tip of the conductor exposed from the insulating coating is provided in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the conductor. The conductor cannot be inserted deeper into the conductor crimping portion after contacting the wall surface. In addition, since the inner wall surface of the conductor crimping portion facing the end face of the tip of the conductor is provided as a surface in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the conductor inserted into the conductor crimping portion, among the inner wall surfaces, Regardless of which region the end face of the leading end of the conductor comes into contact with, the insertion of the electric wire is restricted at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. Therefore, the inner wall surface can accurately position the electric wire regardless of the thickness of the insulation coating, and can prevent the electric wire from being dispersed.

  As described above, since the positioning of the electric wires can be prevented from being varied, it is possible to prevent the insulation coating from being bitten when the conductor exposed from the insulation coating is crimped, and thus the electric resistance value between the crimp terminal and the conductor is reduced. It can be prevented from rising. In addition, since the end face of the tip of the conductor exposed from the insulating coating is in contact with the inner wall surface provided in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the conductor inserted into the conductor crimping portion, the conductor close to the bottom of the conductor crimping portion It can prevent that it shifts | deviates so much in the longitudinal direction of an electric wire.

  According to the present invention, when the operator inserts the electric wire into the crimping portion, when the tip of the electric wire reaches a position where the electric wire should be, the operator clearly obtains a feeling that the tip of the conductor hits the inner wall portion of the conductor crimping portion. Therefore, the electric wire positioning work is simple. Further, since the positioning operation of the electric wire is simple, variations in positioning by the operator can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, since the inner wall surface has an area of 70% or more, the end face of the end of the conductor exposed from the insulating coating is securely on the inner wall face of the conductor crimping portion facing the end face of the end of the conductor. Abut.

  According to the present invention, since the inner wall surface has an area of less than 100%, there is a gap between the inner wall surface and the inner peripheral surface of the conductor crimping portion, and the tip of the conductor is pushed toward the inner wall surface during crimping. Even if it is done, the front-end | tip of a conductor can escape to the said space | gap, and it can prevent that the front-end | tip of a conductor hold | maintains a big pressure.

It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the outline of the crimp terminal before the electric wire insertion which is the embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the state which inserted the electric wire in the crimp terminal which is the embodiment of this invention.

  Next, a crimp terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the crimp terminal 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which an electric wire 20 covered with a plurality of conductors 21 with an insulating coating 22 is inserted from one end.

  The end portion of the electric wire 20 is stripped of the insulating coating 22, and the conductor 21 is exposed. As a material of the conductor 21, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy mainly composed of aluminum is used.

In addition, as the conductor 21 of the electric wire 20, about 0.2 mass% of iron (Fe), about 0.2 mass% of copper (Cu), about 0.1 mass% of magnesium (Mg), silicon ( It is possible to use an aluminum conductor (aluminum core wire) comprising approximately 0.04 mass% of Si), the balance being aluminum (Al) and inevitable impurities. Other alloy compositions of the aluminum conductor (aluminum core wire) include, for example, about 1.05 mass% Fe, about 0.15 mass% Mg, about 0.04 mass% Si, the balance being Al and inevitable impurities Fe of about 1.0% by mass, Si of about 0.04% by mass, the balance of Al and inevitable impurities, or Fe of about 0.2% by mass, Mg of about 0.7% by mass, Si About 0.7% by mass, the balance being Al and inevitable impurities can be used. These may further contain alloy elements such as Ti, Zr, Sn, and Mn. For example, the aluminum core wire can be used as a core wire of 0.5 to 2.5 sq (mm ² ) and 7 to 19 strands. As the covering material for the insulating coating 22 of the aluminum core wire, for example, a material mainly composed of polyolefin such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), or a material mainly composed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used. be able to.

  The crimp terminal 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is fixed to the end of the electric wire 20. The crimp terminal 1 includes a cylindrical crimp part 11 to which an end of the electric wire 20 is fixed, a female connector part 12 that can be electrically connected to the male terminal, and the crimp part 11 and the female connector part 12. And a transition portion 13 that integrally connects the two. As a material of the crimp terminal 1, for example, copper or a copper alloy containing copper as a main component is used. Moreover, you may provide the plating layer which has tin (Sn) plating in the outermost surface as needed on the crimp terminal surface.

The connector portion 12 forms a female connection portion, and is integrated with a male terminal fitting portion 16 into which a male terminal (not shown) is fitted, and a bottom surface of the male terminal fitting portion 16. And an elastic biasing piece 19 formed. The elastic biasing piece 19 is used to electrically connect the two terminals by bringing the outer peripheral surface of the male terminal inserted into the male terminal fitting portion 16 into contact with the inner surface of the male terminal fitting portion 16. Is provided.

  The cylindrical crimp part 11 has a conductor crimp part 14 formed on the female connector part 12 side, which is the other end of the crimp terminal 1, and a covering crimp part 15 that forms one end of the crimp terminal 1. ing. That is, both the conductor crimping portion 14 and the covering crimping portion 15 have a cylindrical structure, and the inside of the conductor crimping portion 14 and the inside of the covering crimping portion 15 are in communication with each other.

  After inserting the end portion of the electric wire 20 where the conductor 21 is exposed into the crimping portion 11, the exposed portion of the conductor 21 is crimped along the outer periphery by caulking the conductor crimping portion 14. By caulking, a portion of the end portion of the electric wire 20 where the insulating coating 22 is not peeled is crimped along the outer periphery thereof. Corresponding to the fact that the diameter of the exposed portion of the conductor 21 in the electric wire 20 is smaller than the diameter of the portion covered with the insulating coating 22, the diameter is reduced between the conductor crimping portion 14 and the coating crimping portion 15. A portion 30 is formed. In the crimp terminal 1 according to the embodiment, the coated crimping part 15 has a cylindrical shape with the same diameter, and the conductor crimped part 14 has a smaller diameter than the coated crimping part 15 and has the same diameter.

  The conductor crimping portion 14 of the crimp terminal 1 has an inner wall surface 17 facing the end surface 23 at the tip of the conductor 21 inserted into the conductor crimping portion 14. Furthermore, the wall surface on the back side of the inner wall surface 17 is also a part of the outer wall surface of the conductor crimping portion 14 and separates the inside of the conductor crimping portion 14 from the outside. The surface of the inner wall surface 17 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the conductor 21 inserted into the conductor crimping portion 14. That is, the inner wall surface 17 is formed in a direction perpendicular to the radial center axis of the conductor crimping portion 14 having the same diameter cylindrical shape (a direction parallel to the radial direction of the conductor crimping portion 14). In the crimp terminal 1, the inner wall surface 17 has an area of about 80% in the cross-sectional area of the conductor crimping portion 14 in the direction parallel to the inner wall surface 17 at the position of the inner wall surface 17. Accounted for. Therefore, the end surface 23 at the tip of the conductor 21 can reliably contact the inner wall surface 17.

  Further, there is a gap 18 between the inner wall surface 17 and the inner peripheral surface of the conductor crimping portion 14 facing the side end portion of the inner wall surface 17, and the conductor crimping portion 14 and the covering crimping portion 15 are crimped to be crimped. Sometimes, the conductor 21 is pushed in the direction of the inner wall surface 17 with which the tip of the conductor 21 abuts, so that the tip of the conductor 21 can escape into the gap 18 even when the tip of the conductor 21 receives a large pressure. The pressure applied to the tip of the can be relieved.

  The area ratio of the inner wall surface 17 with respect to the cross-sectional area is not particularly limited, but the lower limit is preferably 60% or more, more preferably 70% or more of the cross-sectional area. On the other hand, the upper limit is preferably less than 100% of the cross-sectional area, more preferably 90% or less.

  Further, in the region between the inner wall portion 17 and the transition portion 13 boundary of the conductor crimping portion 14, the gap 18 gradually narrows as it approaches the transition portion 13 from the inner wall portion 17, and there is a gap at the boundary portion with the transition portion 13. 18 is formed so as to disappear.

  The transition portion 13 includes a connector portion 12 and a conductor crimping portion in which a region extending from the inner wall surface 17 of the conductor crimping portion 14 toward the connector portion 12 and a region continuing from the inner peripheral surface of the conductor crimping portion 14 toward the connector portion 12 are in contact with each other. 14 is an area provided between the first and second conductors 14, and has a structure having no internal space unlike the conductor crimping part 14.

  When the end of the electric wire 20 is inserted into the crimping part 11 having the conductor crimping part 14 and the coated crimping part 15 from the insertion opening on the coated crimping part 15 side along the inner peripheral surface, the exposed part of the conductor 21 is reduced. The end face 23 of the end of the conductor 21 that is guided to the conductor crimping portion 14 by the diameter portion 30 and is finally exposed from the insulating coating 22 is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the conductor 21 inserted into the conductor crimping portion 14. The end of the electric wire 20 cannot be inserted into the crimping part 11 any more because it hits the inner wall surface 17 provided in the direction. In this way, the end surface 23 at the tip of the conductor 21 abuts on the inner wall surface 17 provided in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the conductor 21 to be inserted, so that the end surface 23 at the tip of the conductor 21 becomes the inner wall surface 17. The position of the electric wire 20 in the crimp terminal 1 can be determined at the same position with respect to the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 20 regardless of the contact area. Therefore, the crimp terminal 1 can prevent variations in positioning of the electric wires 20. In addition, since the crimping terminal 1 can prevent variation in positioning, it is possible to prevent the insulation coating 22 from being bitten when the conductor crimping portion 14 is crimped and the exposed portion of the conductor 21 is crimped.

  In the inner wall surface 17, only the exposed portion of the conductor 21 is crimped by caulking the conductor crimping portion 14, and the insulation coating 22 is stripped of the end portion of the electric wire 20 by caulking the covering crimping portion 15. Position it so that only the parts that are not are crimped. The positioning of the inner wall surface 17 can prevent the insulation coating 22 from being bitten.

  Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the crimp terminal 1 will be described. The crimp terminal 1 is formed by punching a strip made of a metal base material (for example, copper, copper alloy, etc.) into a flattened terminal shape, and bending the punched strip so that the connector portion 12, the transition portion 13, The crimping part 11 is formed. At this time, the crimping portion 11 has a C-shaped cross-sectional shape when viewed from the front when bent from a plane. Therefore, the C-shaped open portion is joined by a known joining means, for example, a joining means such as laser welding using a fiber laser, so that a cylindrical crimping portion 11 of a closed barrel type is obtained.

  Further, the method for producing the inner wall surface 17 is not particularly limited, but here, the end surface portion formed on the connector portion 12 side of the crimping portion 11 as a result of bending is deformed by press working, thereby the conductor crimping portion. The inner wall surface 17 having a surface perpendicular to the 14 radial central axes is produced.

  Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the crimp terminal 1 according to the above embodiment, both the conductor crimping portion 14 and the covering crimping portion 15 have a cylindrical shape with the same diameter, but instead, for example, at a position in the insertion direction of the electric wire 20. It is good also as a cylindrical structure from which a diameter changes according to it. In the crimp terminal 1 according to the above embodiment, the female connector 12 is provided at the other end. However, the connector 12 is not limited to the female connector 12 and may be, for example, an insertion tab of a male terminal. The end part of the crimp terminal according to another embodiment may be used. Furthermore, in the crimp terminal 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the gap 18 is formed between the inner wall surface 17 and the inner peripheral surface of the conductor crimping portion 14, but instead, the side end portion of the inner wall surface 17. However, in the aspect where there is no gap 18 in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the opposing conductor crimping portion 14, that is, in the cross-sectional area of the conductor crimping portion 14 in the direction parallel to the inner wall surface 17 at the position of the inner wall surface 17, the inner wall surface 17 is It is good also as an aspect which occupies 100% of area.

  Next, examples of the present invention will be described. The present invention is not limited to these examples as long as it does not exceed the gist thereof.

As an electric wire whose outer periphery is covered with an insulation coating, an aluminum conductor having a diameter of 0.75 mm ² (conductor outer diameter 1.00 mm, finished outer diameter 1.40 mm) obtained by circular compression twisting 11 aluminum conductors having a diameter of 0.30 mm is used. did. The insulation coating at the end of the electric wire was peeled off, and the conductor was exposed to a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. A closed barrel type whose surface was plated with tin (Sn) was used as a crimp terminal for the electric wire. The plate thickness of the crimp terminal was 0.25 mm, and the inner diameter of the coated crimp portion and the inner diameter of the conductor crimp portion were 1.60 mm. In addition, it was set as the structure where the covering crimping | compression-bonding part and the conductor crimping | compression-bonding part were united. In addition, the inner wall surface which has a surface orthogonal to the center axis | shaft of the radial direction of a conductor crimping part was produced by carrying out the plastic deformation of the end surface part of a conductor crimping part.

  A copper alloy FAS-680 (thickness 0.25 mm, H material) manufactured by Furukawa Electric was used as the base material of the crimp terminal. The alloy composition of FAS-680 is nickel (Ni) 2.0-2.8 mass%, silicon (Si) 0.45-0.6 mass%, zinc (Zn) 0.4-0.55. It contains 0.1% to 0.25% by mass of tin (Sn) and 0.05 to 0.2% by mass of magnesium (Mg), with the balance being copper (Cu) and inevitable impurities.

The base material of the crimp terminal was subjected to tin (Sn) plating. The plating thickness was about 1 μm. A sample within ± 0.2 μm was selected from the target plating thickness to produce a crimp terminal.
(Sn plating conditions)
Treatment solution sulfuric acid Sn: 80 g / liter,
Sulfuric acid: 50 ml / liter,
UTB513Y: 5 ml / liter Processing temperature: 25 ° C
Current density: 3 A / dm ²
Processing time: about 40 seconds

  The alloy composition of the aluminum conductor is about 0.2% iron (Fe), about 0.2% copper (Cu), about 0.1% magnesium (Mg), and about 0.0% silicon (Si). 04%, the balance being aluminum (Al) and inevitable impurities.

  When the electric wire was inserted from the insertion port, which is the end of the crimp terminal on the side of the coated crimping portion, it was possible to obtain a clear touch feeling. Therefore, it was possible to easily confirm that the end surface of the tip of the electric wire contacted the inner wall portion in the insertion operation. Then, using a caulking jig, crimp the coated crimping part and crimp the part of the end of the wire where the insulation coating is not stripped (that is, near the tip of the insulating coating), and crimp the conductor crimping part. The crimp terminal was fixed to the electric wire by crimping the exposed part of the conductor. Under the above conditions, 100 electric wires were crimped, but no insulation coating was generated at the conductor crimping portion.

  The present invention can prevent the occurrence of contact failure due to the progress of metal corrosion between dissimilar metals such as aluminum and copper, and can prevent the occurrence of biting of the insulation coating during crimping. Since it is possible to prevent an increase in the electrical resistance value with respect to the electric wire, the utility value is high, for example, in the field of in-vehicle wire harnesses that require weight reduction and conduction stability under harsh conditions.

1 Crimp Terminal 14 Conductor Crimp Part 15 Cover Crimp Part 17 Inner Wall Surface 20 Electric Wire 21 Conductor

Claims (4)

A crimping portion having a cylindrical conductor crimping portion for crimping a conductor exposed from the electric wire, and a cylindrical covering crimping portion for crimping an insulating coating portion of the electric wire, a connector portion electrically connected to a terminal, and A crimping terminal comprising a crimping part and a transition part connecting the connector part ,
The conductor crimping portion has an inner wall surface facing an end face of the tip of the conductor inserted into the conductor crimping portion, and the inner wall surface is in a longitudinal direction of the conductor inserted into the conductor crimping portion. provided in the orthogonal direction, the insulation crimp portion have a welded portion between the conductor crimping portion,
Between the inner wall surface and the inner peripheral surface of the conductor crimping portion facing the side end portion of the inner wall surface, there is provided a gap that gradually narrows from the inner wall portion toward the transition portion. Crimp terminal characterized by.   The crimp terminal according to claim 1, wherein an area ratio of the inner wall surface with respect to a cross-sectional area of the conductor crimping portion in a direction parallel to the inner wall surface is 70% or more.   The crimp terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an area ratio of the inner wall surface to a cross-sectional area of the conductor crimping portion in a direction parallel to the inner wall surface is less than 100%.   4. The crimp terminal for fixing to an end of the electric wire, wherein a reduced diameter portion is provided between the conductor crimp portion and the covering crimp portion. 5. The crimp terminal according to item 1.

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