JP2007157486A - Joint connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a joint connector with high reliability, making branch connection of wires easy. <P>SOLUTION: A holding plate 2b of a connection terminal 3 surrounds a flat plate-shaped terminal 1a, and a plate spring 2a elastically contacts the flat plate-shaped terminal 1a from inside. The flat plate-shaped terminal 1a is pinched between the plate spring 2a and the holding plate 2b, and a protruded part 2d formed on the holding plate 2b contacts outside of the flat plate-shaped terminal 1a. respective connection terminals 2 are electrically connected to each other through a busbar 1, at the same time, wires 3 are connected to each other. Since the connection terminal 2 tightly pinches the flat plate-shaped terminal 1a between the plate spring 2a and the holding plate 2b, and at the same time, the holding plate 2b surrounds the flat plate-shaped terminal 1a, There is no apprehension of slip-out or shift of the connection terminal 2 from the busbar 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a joint connector used in a harness circuit of an automobile, for example.

  In a harness circuit, it is often necessary to branch a plurality of branch lines from a trunk line. Therefore, conventionally, a part of the trunk line is stripped, a splice joint method that branches the branch line by crimping the exposed conductor, and a circuit branch connector is arranged at the terminal part of the trunk line. Two methods, a general connector and a joint connector method in which branching is performed using a crimp terminal, are frequently used.

  Since the latter joint connector method enables joint processing on the harness production line, the production efficiency is improved as compared with the former splice joint method. The splice joint method cannot change the circuit after completion of the harness, but the joint connector method has an advantage that correction after completion of the harness can be handled. In the joint connector system, since the crimp terminal is used, the electrical connection reliability equivalent to that of the general-purpose connector can be ensured.

  In the conventional splice joint method, it is necessary to move to a dedicated process in the middle of the harness production line and perform joint processing, or once processing is performed, it is not possible to cope with circuit changes, so that production efficiency is improved. In addition, there remains a problem in the reliability of electrical connection, such as the standard method of handling the insulation treatment by taping.

  However, even in the joint connector system, there is a problem that the amount of electric wire used increases due to an increase in the number of parts and an increase in circuit length. In addition, since the terminal crimping process is performed on the branch wire terminal in the early stage of harness manufacturing, it is not necessary to move to another process in the middle of the harness manufacturing line, and the production efficiency is good, but the connector and the mating general-purpose connector to be fitted, Since the number of parts such as bus bars and terminals increases, there is a problem in terms of cost.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and provide a joint connector that enables simple and reliable wire branching.

  The technical feature of the joint connector according to the present invention for achieving the above-described object is that a bus bar having a plurality of pairs of opposed flat plate terminals made of a metal plate and a pair of leaf springs are connected to the pair of flat plates. A plurality of connection terminals are attached to one bus bar, the connection terminals sandwiching the flat terminals by holding plates disposed on both sides of the leaf springs. is there.

  According to the joint connector of the present invention, the structure is simplified, the reliability of electrical connection is improved, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the conventional example, and the cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, it has the same reliability and workability as the conventional joint connector system, and the same wire length as the splice joint system can be used.

  The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  The joint connector of the present embodiment basically includes a bus bar 1 shown in FIG. 1 and a connection terminal 2 shown in FIG.

  For example, the bus bar 1 is formed by punching and bending one brass plate having a thickness of 0.4 mm, and has, for example, six pairs of flat terminals 1 a having a substantially U-shaped cross section, for example, an overall length of 20 mm, The height is 4.6 mm and the width is 2.8 mm.

  On the other hand, the connection terminal 2 is formed by punching and bending a brass plate having a thickness of 0.4 mm, for example. The connection terminal 2 is a pair of plate springs 2a that are fitted into the flat plate terminals 1a that form a pair of bus bars 1, a plate-shaped holding plate 2b that surrounds the plate springs 2a in a "U" shape, and an electric wire for connection. It has a U-shaped crimping part 2c. Further, the holding plates 2b on both sides of the leaf spring 2a are formed with protrusions 2d that bulge toward the leaf spring 2a. For example, the height of the holding plate 2b is 4.9 mm, and the width between the holding plates 2b on both sides is 3.8 mm.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which the electric wire 3 is connected to the crimping portion 2c of the connection terminal 2. The core wire 3a of the electric wire 3 is caulked and stopped by the crimping portion 2c.

  In this way, the plurality of connection terminals 2 to which the electric wires 3 are connected are fitted into the bus bar 1 as shown in FIG. 4, thereby functioning as a joint connector. In practice, the electric wires 3 are connected to all of the connection terminals 2 as shown in FIG. 3, but some of the electric wires 3 are not shown in FIG.

  The holding plate 2b of the connection terminal 2 surrounds the flat plate terminal 1a of the bus bar 1, the plate spring 2a elastically contacts the flat plate terminal 1a from the inside, and the flat plate terminal 1a is held by the plate spring 2a and the holding plate 2b. The projecting portion 2d formed on the holding plate 2b is in contact with the outside of the flat terminal 1a.

  In this way, each connection terminal 2 is electrically connected via the bus bar 1, and at the same time, the electric wires 3 are electrically connected. The connection terminal 2 is strongly sandwiched between the flat plate terminal 1a by the leaf spring 2a and the holding plate 2b, and at the same time the holding plate 2b surrounds the flat plate terminal 1a, so that the connection terminal 2 moves out and moves relative to the bus bar 1. There is little fear.

  In an automobile harness circuit, it is desirable to further use this joint connector in a case. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the synthetic resin case 4 for the second embodiment, and the case 4 has two semi-cylindrical portions 4a and 4b connected by a hinge 4c. One semi-cylindrical portion 4a is provided with a joint accommodating portion 4d that bulges downward, and a plurality of locking claws 4e are provided within the accommodating portion 4d, and a combined body of the bus bar 1 and the connection terminal 2 Are to be locked. On both end sides of the semi-cylindrical portions 4a and 4b, groove portions 4f and 4g into which an annular electric wire holding member is fitted are provided, and the semi-cylindrical portions 4a and 4b are combined with each other via a hinge 4c to form a cylindrical shape. In this case, two pairs of locking portions 4h for locking the semi-cylindrical portions 4a and 4b are provided.

  When the bus bar 1 and the connection terminal 2 are accommodated in the case 4, the bus bar 1 is mounted in the case 4, and then the connection terminal 2 with the electric wire 3 is fitted to the bus bar 1 as shown in FIG. 3 consists of soft synthetic resin arrange | positioned at the both sides of case 4, and penetrates the electric wire holding member 5 which has a slit. For convenience of illustration, the wire 3 to the connection terminal 2 in the case 4 is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bus bar 1 and the connection terminal 2 in the case 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the semi-cylindrical parts 4a and 4b are put together and locked by the locking part 4h.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a state in which the bus bar 1 and the connection terminal 2 are housed in the case 11 when the joint connector of the third embodiment has a waterproof structure. The semi-cylindrical portions 11 a and 11 b of the case 11 are openable and closable by a hinge 11 c, the tip is sealed, and a plurality of electric wires 3 are drawn from one end of the case 11. As with the case 4, the semi-cylindrical portion 11a is provided with a joint storage portion 11d, and the joint storage portion 11d is provided with a locking claw 11e. Further, a groove portion 11f into which the electric wire holding member 5 is inserted is formed at one end portion of the semi-cylindrical portions 11a and 11b, and a locking portion 11h is provided.

  Further, the semi-cylindrical portions 11a and 11b are combined to form a cylindrical body, and a cylindrical waterproof cover 12 made of synthetic resin is attached onto the cylindrical case 11 as shown in FIG. At the opening end of the waterproof cover 12, an annular waterproof cap 13 made of a half-shaped rubber or soft synthetic resin is attached. The waterproof cap 13 is filled with an adhesive waterproof material such as butyl rubber at the wire adhering portion, the halved portion, and the periphery thereof so that water does not enter the waterproof cover 12.

  FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a state in which the connection terminal 2 provided with the electric wire 3 is fitted to the bus bar 21 having, for example, three rows of flat-plate terminals 21a according to the fourth embodiment.

  Since the flat terminals 21a are provided in, for example, three rows, the connection terminals 2 can be arranged in two rows, and a high-density arrangement can be realized. Also in this case, the assembly can be mounted in the case or a waterproof cover can be further attached.

3 is a perspective view of a bus bar according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a perspective view of a connection terminal. It is a perspective view of a connection terminal in the state where an electric wire was connected. It is a perspective view of the state which connected the connecting terminal to the bus bar. It is a perspective view of the case of Example 2. It is a perspective view of the state where a bus bar and a connection terminal were stored in a case. It is sectional drawing in a case. It is a perspective view of the state where a case was closed. It is a perspective view of the state which accommodated the bus-bar and the connection terminal in the case of Example 3. FIG. It is a perspective view of a state where a waterproof cover is attached to the case. It is a perspective view of the state where the connection terminal was fitted in the bus bar of Example 4.

Explanation of symbols

1, 21 Busbar 1a, 21a Flat terminal 2 Connection terminal 2a Leaf spring 2b Holding plate 2c Crimp part 2d Projection part 3 Electric wire 4, 11 Case 4a, 4b, 11a, 11b Semi-cylindrical part 4e, 11e Locking claw 5 Electric wire holding Member 12 Waterproof cover 13 Waterproof cap

Claims (6)

  A bus bar having a plurality of pairs of opposed flat plate terminals made of a metal plate, and a pair of leaf springs fitted between the pair of plate shaped terminals and holding plates disposed on both sides of the leaf springs. A joint connector comprising a connection terminal sandwiching flat plate terminals, wherein a plurality of the connection terminals are attached to one bus bar.   The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein an electric wire is crimped and connected to the connection terminal.   The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the holding plate has a U-shaped cross section and surrounds the leaf spring.   The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein an assembly of the bus bar and the connection terminal is housed in an insulating case.   The joint connector according to claim 4, wherein a locking portion that locks the assembly of the bus bar and the connection terminal is provided in the case.   The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein a waterproof cover is attached around the case to form a waterproof structure.

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