This application claims the priority of Japanese patent application JP2016-227611 filed on Nov. 24, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein.
The present specification relates to technology for crimping a crimp terminal to an electrical wire.
Conventionally, technology for crimping a crimp terminal to an electrical wire is known. A terminal fitting disclosed in JP5741409B includes a bottom plate and a pair of wire barrels, and an extension piece that extends from a side edge of the bottom plate has a second barrel portion that overlaps the bottom plate and the pair of wire barrels, and a connection portion that is folded back from the bottom plate and is connected to the second barrel portion. When an electrical wire is crimped, the portion of the core wire that is crimped on the second barrel portion and the connection portion is a high-compressed portion in which compression is high due to thickness of the second barrel portion and the connection portion, and therefore the oxide films on the surfaces of the element wires become ruptured and electrical resistance decreases. However, the portions of the core wire arranged on other regions of the bottom plate are low-compression portions in which compression is low, and therefore in these portions, the ability to hold the electrical wire is ensured while also preventing element wire breakage.
JP 5741409B is an example of related art.
In the configuration disclosed in JP 5741409B, the extension piece extends from a side edge of the bottom plate, and therefore laying the second barrel portion and the connection portion over the bottom plate requires the connection portion to be folded over in a direction oblique to the extending direction of the electrical wire, and there is a problem in that the shape of the terminal fitting tends to be complex.
The technology disclosed in the present specification was achieved in light of the foregoing circumstances, and an object is to simplify the configuration of a crimp terminal.
A crimp terminal disclosed in the present specification includes: a receiving portion that is to receive a conductor portion of an electrical wire, and has an end portion from which the electrical wire is to be lead out; a pair of first barrel portions that are connected to the receiving portion and are to crimp the conductor portion along with the receiving portion; a bend portion that extends from the end portion of the receiving portion and is to be bent so as to be folded over; and an overlap portion that is connected to the bend portion and is to be placed over the receiving portion.
A crimp terminal manufacturing method disclosed in the present specification is a manufacturing method for an electrical wire with a terminal that includes an electrical wire and a crimp terminal, the electrical wire having a conductor portion, and the crimp terminal having a receiving portion and a pair of first barrel portions, the receiving portion receiving the conductor portion and having an end portion from which the electrical wire is lead out, and the pair of first barrel portions crimping the conductor portion along with the receiving portion, wherein in the manufacturing method, an overlap portion that extends from an end portion of the receiving portion on a side on which the electrical wire is lead out is folded over to form a bend portion, and the conductor portion of the electrical wire is crimped in a state where the overlap portion overlaps the receiving portion.
According to the above configuration, the bend portion extends from the end portion of the receiving portion on the side from which the electrical wire is lead out, and therefore it is possible to shorten the path of the bend portion and the overlap portion compared to a configuration in which, for example, the bend portion is folded over in a bypass manner from the end portion of the receiving portion on the side on which the electrical wire is not lead out. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the crimp terminal.
The following aspects are preferable as embodiments of the technology disclosed in the present specification.
The overlap portion has an extension portion that is connected to and extends from the bend portion, and a second barrel portion that extends in a direction that intersects the extension portion, and a portion of the receiving portion that is connected to the bend portion bulges outward relative to a portion of the receiving portion that is overlapped by the second barrel portion.
In the case of crimping the electrical wire, it is preferable that the end portion of the crimp terminal from which the electrical wire is lead out does not highly compress the conductor portion, thus suppressing damage to the conductor portion and ensuring force for holding the electrical wire, and it is preferable that a portion of the crimp terminal other than the end portion from which the electrical wire is lead out highly compresses the conductor portion on the receiving portion, thus ensuring electrical connection between the conductor portion and the crimp terminal. However, with a configuration in which the bend portion extends from the end portion on the side where the electrical wire is lead out, it is not easy to sharply fold over the bend portion from the upper side, and a slightly bulging shape is formed on the upper side (conductor portion side). In this case, there is concern that due to the bulge (protruding portion) on the upper side of the bend portion, the conductor portion will become highly compressed in this portion, and the force for holding the electrical wire will decrease due to damage to the conductor portion. According to the above configuration, the portion of the receiving portion that is connected to the bend portion bulges downward relative to the portion of the receiving portion that is overlapped by the second barrel portion, and therefore the compression rate can be set higher in the portion of the conductor portion that is placed on the bend portion than in the portion that is placed on the second barrel portion. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress damage to the conductor portion and also suppress a reduction in the force for holding the electrical wire.
The overlap portion has an extension portion that is connected to and extends from the bend portion, and a second barrel portion that extends in a direction that intersects the extension portion, and a thickness of the bend portion is smaller than a thickness of a portion of the receiving portion that is overlapped by the second barrel portion.
According to this configuration, the portion of the conductor portion that is arranged on the bend portion can be compressed less, thus making it possible to suppress a reduction in the force for holding the electrical wire caused by damage to the portion of the conductor portion that is on the bend portion.
Conductor portions of a plurality of the electrical wires are crimped between the receiving portion and the pair of first barrel portions.
In the case where the crimp terminal has a splice structure for connecting a plurality of electrical wires to each other, the electrical wires are lead out from the two end portions of the receiving portion, and therefore the conductor portions of the electrical wires are easily placed on the bend portion. According to the above configuration, it is possible to simplify the configuration of this crimp terminal that has a splice structure.
An electrical wire with a terminal according to an aspect of the present specification includes: an electrical wire and the above crimp terminal, a conductor portion of the electrical wire being crimped between the receiving portion and the pair of first barrel portions.
The overlap portion has an extension portion that is connected to and extends from the bend portion, and a second barrel portion that extends in a direction that intersects the extension portion, the crimp terminal is placed on a lower die in a state where the conductor portion is placed on the receiving portion, and the crimp terminal is clamped between and crimped by the lower die and an upper die, and the lower die has a first press portion for mounting and pressing a portion of the receiving portion that is overlapped by the second barrel portion, and a second press portion that is at a lower position than the first press portion and is for mounting and pressing a portion of the receiving portion that is overlapped by the extension portion.
According to this configuration, the portion of the conductor portion that is arranged on the extension portion can be compressed less than the portion of the conductor portion that is arranged on the second barrel portion, thus making it possible to suppress damage to the portion of the conductor portion that is on the extension portion.
According to the technology disclosed in the present specification, it is possible to simplify the configuration of a crimp terminal.
A first embodiment will be described below with reference to
The electrical wires 11 and 12 both have a metal conductor portion 13 and an insulating coating 14 that is made of a synthetic resin and covers the conductor portion 13. The conductor portion 13 is constituted by a stranded wire in which many (a plurality of) metal element wires made of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or the like are twisted together. The insulating coating 14 is removed from a portion of the main line 11 that has a predetermined length and includes the portion to be crimped by the crimp terminal 20, thus exposing the conductor portion 13. The insulating coating 14 is also removed from a terminal portion of the branch line 12 to expose the conductor portion 13. The conductor portion 13 exposed from the main line 11 and the conductor portion 13 exposed in the terminal portion of the branch line 12 are arranged side-by-side with their outer circumferential surfaces in contact with each other, and the crimp terminal 20 is crimped thereto so as to be wrapped around, thus electrically connecting the main line 11 and the branch line 12.
The crimp terminal 20 is made of copper or a copper alloy, for example, and is plated with tin. As shown in
The receiving portion 21 has a curved shape of being concave such that the conductor portions 13 can be placed thereon. At the one end portion 21A of the receiving portion 21 in the front-rear direction (electrical wire extending direction), the main line 11 and the branch line 12 arranged on the receiving portion 21 are lead to the outside, and at the other end portion 21B, the conductor portion 13 of the main line 11 and the conductor portion 13 (tip portion) of the branch line 12 are lead to the outside.
The pair of first barrel portions 24 are connected to respective sides of the receiving portion 21, and extend in a flat plate shape diagonally upward before being crimped. After crimping, the pair of first barrel portions 24 curve so as to be wrapped inward, and crush and compress the conductor portions 13 of the main line 11 and the branch line 12. Note that the position where the first barrel portions 24 cut into the conductor portions 23 can be set such that the first barrel portions 24 cut into the conductor portions 13 of both the main line 11 and the branch line 12, but there is no limitation to this, and the first barrel portions 24 may cut into a boundary portion between the main line 11 and the branch line 12.
The fold-over piece 26 includes a bend portion 27 that extends forward from the end portion 21A of the receiving portion 21 and is bent so as to be folded over rearward, and an overlap portion 28 that is connected to the bend portion 27 and overlaps the receiving portion 21. The bend portion 27 is curved in a U shape and is connected to the overlap portion 28 that overlaps the receiving portion 21 and extends parallel with the receiving portion 21. The overlap portion 28 includes an extension portion 29 that extends in a strip shape rearward from the bend portion 27, and a second barrel portion 31 that is connected to the end portion of the extension portion 29 and extends in a direction that is orthogonal to (a direction that intersects) the extension portion 29. The extension portion 29 extends in a straight line with a predetermined width, and connects the bend portion 27 and the second barrel portion 31 to each other.
When the second barrel portion 31 protrudes toward the conductor portions 13 relative to the receiving portion 21 as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The first press portion 42 is at a height at which the high-compression portion 16 can be formed, and the second press portion 43 is at a height at which the low-compression portion 17 can be formed. The level difference portion 44 has an inclined surface that is inclined at an obtuse angle to the first press portion 42 and the second press portion 43.
Next, a manufacturing method for the electrical wire with a terminal 10 will be described.
For example, a presser is used to punch a metal plate so as to form a terminal chain in which a plurality of crimp terminals in an expansion state are connected by belt-shaped carriers 19 as shown in
As shown in
Next, as shown in
The following are actions and effects achieved by the present embodiment.
The crimp terminal 20 includes the receiving portion 21 that is for receiving the conductor portions 13 of the electrical wires 11 and 12 and has the end portions 21A and 21B from which the electrical wires 11 and 12 are to be lead out, the pair of first barrel portions 24 that are connected to the receiving portion 21 and are for crimping the conductor portions 13 along with the receiving portion 21, the bend portion 27 that extends from the end portion 21A of the receiving portion 21 and is to be bent so as to be folded over, and the overlap portion 28 that is connected to the bend portion 27 and is to overlap the receiving portion 21.
According to the present embodiment, the bend portion 27 extends from the end portion 21A of the receiving portion 21 on the side from which the electrical wires 11 and 12 are lead out, and therefore it is possible to shorten the path of the bend portion 27 and the overlap portion 28 compared to a configuration in which, for example, the bend portion 27 is folded over in a bypass manner from the end portion of the receiving portion 21 on the side on which the electrical wires 11 and 12 are not lead out. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the crimp terminal 20.
Also, the overlap portion 28 has the extension portion 29 that is connected to and extends from the bend portion 27, and the second barrel portion 31 that is connected to the end portion of the extension portion 29 and extends in a direction orthogonal to (a direction that intersects) the extension portion 29, and the portion of the receiving portion 21 that is connected to the bend portion 27 bulges outward relative to the portion overlapped by the second barrel portion 31.
In the case of crimping the electrical wires 11 and 12, it is preferable that the end portions 21A and 21B of the crimp terminal 20, from which the electrical wires 11 and 12 are lead out, do not highly compress the conductor portions 13, thus suppressing damage to the conductor portions 13 and ensuring force for holding the electrical wires 11 and 12, and it is preferable that a portion of the crimp terminal 20 other than the end portions 21A and 21B from which the electrical wires 11 and 12 are lead out highly compresses the conductor portions 13 on the receiving portion 21, thus ensuring electrical connection between the conductor portions 13 and the crimp terminal 20. However, with a configuration in which the bend portion 27 extends from the end portion 21A on the side where the electrical wires 11 and 12 are lead out, it is not easy to sharply fold over the bend portion 27 from the upper side, and a slightly bulging shape is formed on the upper side (conductor portion 13 side). In this case, there is concern that due to the bulge (protruding portion) on the upper side (conductor portion 13 side) of the bend portion 27, the conductor portions 13 of the electrical wire 11 and 12 will become highly compressed, and the force for holding the electrical wires 11 and 12 will decrease due to damage to the conductor portions 13. According to the present embodiment, the portion of the receiving portion 21 that is connected to the bend portion 27 has the bulging portion 22A that bulges downward (outward) relative to the portion that is overlapped by the second barrel portion 31, and therefore the compression rate can be set higher in the portions of the conductor portions 13 that are placed on the bend portion 27 than in the portions that are placed on the second barrel portion 31, thus making it possible to suppress damage to the portions of the conductor portions 13 that are placed on the bend portion 27 and also suppress a reduction in the force for holding the electrical wires 11 and 12.
Also, the crimp terminal is a splice terminal in which the conductor portions 13 of the electrical wires 11 and 12 are crimped between the receiving portion 21 and the pair of first barrel portions 24.
In the case where the crimp terminal 20 has a splice structure for connecting the electrical wires 11 and 12 to each other, the electrical wires 11 and 12 are lead out from the two end portions of the receiving portion 21, and therefore the conductor portions 13 of the electrical wires 11 and 12 are easily placed on the bend portion 27. According to the above embodiment, it is possible to simplify the configuration of this crimp terminal 20 that has a splice structure.
The crimp terminal 20 is placed on the lower die 41 in state where the conductor portions 13 are placed on the receiving portion 21, and the crimp terminal 20 is clamped between and crimped by the lower die 41 and the upper die 46. The lower die 41 includes the first press portion 42 for mounting and pressing the barrel overlap region 23 of the receiving portion 21 that is overlapped by the second barrel portion 31, and the second press portion 43 that is at a lower position than the first press portion 42 and is for mounting and pressing the region of the receiving portion 21 that is overlapped by the extension portion 29.
According to this configuration, the portions of the conductor portions 13 that are arranged on the extension portion 29 can be compressed less than the portions of the conductor portions 13 that are arranged on the second barrel portion 31, thus making it possible to suppress damage to the portions of the conductor portions 13 that are on the extension portion 29.
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to
The crimp terminal 50 includes a U-shaped receiving portion 53 for receiving the conductor portions 13 of the electrical wires 11 and 12, the pair of first barrel portions 24 that are connected to the receiving portion 53 and are for crimping the conductor portions 13 along with the receiving portion 53, and a fold-over piece 54 that is connected to one end portion 53A of the receiving portion 53 and is for being folded over, and these members are formed integrally. The receiving portion 53 has a curved shape of being concave such that the conductor portions 13 can be placed thereon. At the one end portion 53A of the receiving portion 53 in the front-rear direction (electrical wire extending direction), the main line 11 and the branch line 12 are lead to the outside, and at the other end portion 53B, the conductor portion 13 of the main line 11 and the conductor portion 13 (tip portion) of the branch line 12 are lead to the outside.
The fold-over piece 54 includes the bend portion 27 that extends forward from the end portion 53A of the receiving portion 53 and is bent so as to be folded over rearward, and an overlap portion 55 that is connected to the bend portion 27 and overlaps the receiving portion 53. The bend portion 27 is curved in a U shape, and is connected to the overlap portion 55 that extends parallel with the receiving portion 53. The overlap portion 55 includes an extension portion 56 that extends rearward from the bend portion 27, and the second barrel portion 31 that is connected to the end portion of the extension portion 56 and extends laterally in a direction that is orthogonal to (a direction that intersects) the extension portion 56. The extension portion 56 extends in a straight line with a predetermined width, and connects the bend portion 27 and the second barrel portion 31 to each other.
As shown in
The following are actions and effects achieved by the second embodiment.
The overlap portion 28 of the crimp terminal 50 has the extension portion 29 that is connected to and extends from the bend portion 27, and the second barrel portion 31 that extends in a direction orthogonal to (a direction that intersects) the extension portion 29, and the thickness of at least a portion of respective regions of the bend portion 27, the extension portion 56, and the receiving portion 53 that are overlapped by the extension portion 56 is smaller than the thickness of the barrel overlap region 23 of the receiving portion 21 that is overlapped by the second barrel portion 31.
According to this configuration, it is possible to raise the compression rate in the portions of the conductor portions 13 that are arranged on the bend portion 27 and the extension portion 56, thus making it possible to suppress a reduction in the force for holding the electrical wires 11 and 12 caused by damage to the portions of the conductor portions 13 that overlap the bend portion 27 and the extension portion 56.
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to
As shown in
The technology disclosed by the present specification is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described using the above descriptions and drawings, and also encompasses various aspects such as the following.
Although the main line 11 and the branch line 12 are aluminum electrical wires in the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this, and either one or both of the main line 11 and the branch line 12 may be an electrical wire made of another metal, such as a copper electrical wire.
The number of main lines 11 and the number of branch lines 12 are not limited to the numbers described in the above embodiments, and can be changed as appropriate.
Although the crimp terminal is a splice terminal in which the main line 11 and the branch line 12 are crimped in a side-by-side arrangement in the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the crimp terminal may be a male or female crimp terminal that is crimped to terminal portions of the electrical wires 11 and 12 and connected to a partner terminal.
It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.
As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “e.g.,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2016-227611 | Nov 2016 | JP | national |