JP3910457B2 - Low arc connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector useful for an automobile wire harness and the like and a terminal for use in the connector.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A connector used in an automobile or the like may be removed at a frequency of about once every several months to several years for maintenance and inspection of the automobile or the like. However, an arc discharge may occur between the terminals at the moment when the terminals of the connector are separated. Particularly in recent years, there is a possibility that a considerably large arc may be jumped due to an increase in the battery voltage, and it is considered that the terminal is damaged due to this. For example, a male terminal usually has a rod-like or plate-like shape, and its tip has a slightly pointed shape to facilitate insertion into the female terminal. By repeating the occurrence of arc discharge, the pointed tip part melts, moves slightly in the direction of the root, cools and hardens, and the tip part becomes round and bulges. That is, the terminal may be remarkably deformed, resulting in poor contact, and in the worst case, the terminal may not be inserted into the female terminal.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to effectively suppress the occurrence of arc discharge when the terminal is detached, and to prevent deformation and breakage of the counterpart terminal caused by the arc discharge. It is to provide a connector that can be used.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As means for solving the above problems, the present invention is a terminal for fitting with a counterpart terminal to conduct electricity, a housing for accommodating the terminal, and the terminal being electrically connected, And when the said terminal and the other party terminal detach | leave, it is equipped with the arc suppression body provided in the position which contacts the other party terminal and electrically connects the said other party terminal and the said terminal, The electrical conductivity having a thickness of 10 μm or more and 200 μm or less , wherein the amount of arc discharge generated when the arc deterrent body and the counterpart terminal are separated is smaller than the amount of arc discharge generated when the terminal and the counterpart terminal are separated . It is a low arc connector characterized by being a metal foil .
[0005]
According to this configuration, even if the terminal and the counterpart terminal are separated from each other, the electrical connection between the terminals is maintained through the arc suppressor, so that there is no possibility that an arc is generated between the terminals. Thereafter, when the counterpart terminal is separated from the arc depressing body, an arc may be generated between them. The arc depressing body is a conductive metal foil having a thickness of 10 μm or more and 200 μm or less. Since the amount of arc discharge between the conductive metal foil and the counterpart terminal is smaller than the amount of arc discharge generated when the terminals are separated from each other, the terminal is effectively prevented from being deformed or damaged by the arc discharge. .
[0008]
In the present invention, it is more preferable that the terminal is a female terminal, and the conductive metal foil is provided so as to be in contact with a mating male terminal. According to this configuration, it is possible to effectively protect the mating male terminal that is particularly prone to deformation due to arc discharge. In this case, the arc suppressor may be configured so as to come into contact with the mating male terminal in front of the female terminal.
[0009]
More specifically, if the arc depressing body is held by the housing in contact with the front end of the female terminal, the electric power between the arc depressing body and the female terminal is not particularly required without using a connecting conductor. Can be reliably connected, and the arc depressing body can be reliably brought into contact with the other male terminal that is detached from the female terminal.
[0010]
When a conductive metal foil is used as the arc suppressor, the counterpart terminal is a male terminal, and an opening through which the male terminal can be inserted is provided in the conductive metal foil. If the shape of the opening is set so that the mold terminal comes into contact with the inner peripheral edge of the opening of the conductive metal foil, the conductive metal foil and the opposite male are utilized using the inner peripheral edge of the opening. The mold terminal can be contacted more reliably.
[0011]
It is preferable that the conductive metal foil is provided with a plurality of contact portions that come into contact with the counterpart terminal at different positions. According to this configuration, even if a part of the contact portion is lost due to the arc discharge, a good arc discharge preventing effect can be maintained by the remaining contact portion.
[0012]
As the specific structure, when the terminal is a female terminal, for example, the conductive metal foil is provided with an opening having a basic shape larger than the cross section of the mating male terminal, and the inside of the opening is What is necessary is just to set it as the structure comprised so that several contact protrusions may protrude inward from the periphery and these contact protrusions may contact the said other party male terminal.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
1 and 2 show a female connector 2 which is a low arc connector according to the present invention and a male connector 1 coupled thereto.
[0015]
The male connector 1 includes a plurality of male terminals (mating terminals) 3 and a housing 7 a that accommodates these male terminals 3. Each male terminal 3 has a substantially plate-shaped male electrical contact portion (male tab) 5 at its front portion, while its rear portion is electrically connected to the end of the electric wire 8a, and the male tab 5 is connected to the housing 7a. Projects from the front to the front.
[0016]
On the other hand, the female connector 2 includes a plurality of female terminals 4 and a housing 7b that accommodates the female terminals 4. Each female terminal 4 has a female electrical contact portion 6 into which the male electrical contact portion 5 can be fitted, and a rear portion thereof is electrically connected to the end of the electric wire 8b. The housing 7b is formed with an opening 10 that opens to the front, through which the male tab 5 can come into contact with the female electrical contact 6 in the housing 7b.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the female electrical contact portion 6 is composed of a tongue piece 6a folded back and elastically deformed like a spring, and a plate-like piece 6b facing the tongue piece 6a, and a housing 7b. The male tab 5 inserted into the male tab 5 is held in contact with the male tab 5 (hereinafter, the female electrical contact portion 6 may be simply referred to as a holding portion). When such a male connector 1 and a female connector 2 are fitted, the male terminal 3 and the female terminal 4 are electrically connected, and electricity is conducted between the connectors.
[0018]
By the way, when the male terminal 3 and the female terminal 4 are detached from the fitted state, an arc discharge is generated between the male tab 5 and the sandwiching portion 6 to damage the male tab 5 and the sandwiching portion 6. There is a fear. Therefore, in the present invention, the conductive metal foil 9 is interposed between the male terminal 3 and the female terminal 4, and the male tab 5 and the conductive metal foil 9 are immediately after the male tab 5 and the sandwiching portion 6 are detached. By maintaining the energization between the connectors by contact with the connector, arc discharge is prevented from occurring between the male tab 5 and the clamping portion 6. More specifically, in the female connector 2, the conductive metal foil 9 is affixed to the back side of the front wall (front end wall) 11 of the housing 7 b and the front end of the female terminal 4 is pressed against the back surface of the metal foil 9. I guess. This prevents the metal foil 9 from being peeled off, and electrically connects the metal foil 9 and the female terminal 4.
[0019]
In the conductive metal foil 9, an opening 12 that is slightly smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the male tab 5 is formed at a portion corresponding to the opening 10 of the front wall 11. The shape of the opening 12 is slightly smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the male tab 5. When the male tab 5 is inserted into the opening 12, the male tab 5 and the inner edge portion of the opening 12 of the conductive metal foil 9 are formed. It comes in electrical contact.
[0020]
According to the female connector 2 as described above, even after the male tab 5 and the sandwiching portion 6 are separated from each other, the conductive metal disposed forward of the male tab 5 and the sandwiching portion 6 as shown in FIG. Since electricity continues to be conducted between the terminals 3 and 4 through the metal foil 9 due to contact with the foil 9, there is no possibility of arc discharge between the male tab 5 and the sandwiching portion 6. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, at the moment when the male tab 5 is separated from the metal foil 9, an arc 16 may be generated between the male tab 5 and the metal foil 9. Since the thickness is much thinner than 6, the arc 16 is immediately extinguished by immediately stopping the supply of metal vapor even if the arc 16 is generated. That is, compared with the case where the arc 16 is generated between the terminals, the degree of occurrence is very slight, and the male tab 5 is prevented from being damaged.
[0021]
In the present invention, the metal foil 9 is in contact with both terminals when the male tab 5 and the sandwiching portion 6 are separated regardless of the specific shape (particularly the front shape) and the arrangement location of the metal foil 9. That's fine.
[0022]
For example, the shape of the opening 12 of the metal foil 9 may be substantially the same (or slightly smaller) as the entire outer periphery of the male tab 5 as shown in FIG. In this example, the male tab 5 and the metal foil 9 can be brought into line contact over the entire outer periphery of the male tab 5. When the opening 12 is considerably smaller than the cross section of the male tab 5, the insertion of the male tab 5 causes the opening 12 to be greatly bent in the traveling direction of the male tab 5, and the male tab 5 and the metal foil 9 are in surface contact. It will be.
[0023]
Further, the basic shape of the opening 12 is a shape slightly larger than the outer periphery of the male tab 5 as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C (substantially rectangular shape in the illustrated example), and this basic shape. One or more projecting contact portions (in the example shown, four contact projections 13a or four contact projections 13b) project from the inside to the inside, and these contact projections 13a and 13b are male. The tab 5 may be in point contact or line contact. Further, since the protrusions of the contact protrusions 13a and 13b are sufficiently large and the contact protrusions 13a and 13b are greatly bent in the traveling direction of the male tab 5 as the male tab 5 is inserted, the male tab 5 and the metal foil 9 are The contact protrusions 13a and 13b may be in surface contact with each other.
[0024]
Further, instead of the opening 12, a recess 14 with which the lower half of the male tab 5 is in sliding contact may be formed in the metal foil 9 as shown in FIG. 5 (d), or as shown in FIG. 5 (e). A slit 15 may be provided. The width of the slit 15 may be set so that the male tab 5 can be inserted and the metal foil 9 and the male tab 5 come into contact (surface contact) during the insertion.
[0025]
Among them, for example, as shown as the contact protrusions 13a and 13b in FIGS. 5B and 5C, a plurality of contact portions that contact the metal terminal 9 at different positions with respect to the counterpart terminal are provided. The configuration is preferable. According to this configuration, even if an arc discharge occurs between the male tab 5 and one of the contact portions of the metal foil 9 and the contact portion evaporates (misses), the other portions are in contact with the male tab 5. Since it remains in a possible state, it is possible to enjoy the arc suppression effect multiple times.
[0026]
The outer peripheral shape of the metal foil 9 is not particularly limited, and various settings can be made.
[0027]
The location of the metal foil 9 can also be set as long as the metal foil 9 can be electrically connected to the female terminal 4 and can maintain contact with the male terminal 3 when both terminals 3 and 4 are detached. Yes, it is not always necessary to affix to the back side of the front wall 11 of the housing 7b of the female connector 2. For example, the metal foil 9 may be attached to the front side of the front wall 11.
[0028]
Further, the metal foil 9 may be disposed on the male connector 1 instead of the female connector 2 or may be disposed on both the connectors 1 and 2. When the metal foil 9 is disposed in both the connectors 1 and 2, the metal foils 9 may be in contact with the terminals of the mating connector, or the metal foils may be in contact with each other. That is, when the male terminal 3 and the female terminal 4 are separated, if the metal foils are in contact with each other, electricity can be conducted between both terminals via the metal foil. And the generation | occurrence | production of the arc between the female terminals 4 can be prevented.
[0029]
The thinner the metal foil, the lower the amount of arc generated. Therefore, the thickness of the metal foil is, for example, 200 μm or less, preferably 100 μm or less, and more preferably 50 μm or less. On the other hand, when the thickness of the metal foil is too thin, the strength of the metal foil is lowered. Therefore, the thickness of the metal foil is, for example, 10 μm or more, preferably 20 μm or more, and more preferably 30 μm or more.
[0030]
The type of metal foil is not particularly limited as long as it has a conductivity that does not generate an arc between the terminals even if the terminal is detached, but a metal foil having the same conductivity as that of the terminal can be usually used. Preferred metal foils include copper foil.
[0031]
As the shape of the male tab 5, various shapes such as a rod shape can be adopted in addition to a plate shape. Further, various shapes that can be electrically contacted with the male tab 5 can be adopted as the shape of the sandwiching portion 6.
[0032]
According to this connector, the occurrence of an arc between the terminals is prevented by using a metal foil. Therefore, even if the connector is removed while a high voltage (for example, a high voltage of about 42 V) is applied, the terminals are not There is no risk of deformation. Therefore, it can be advantageously used for a wire harness for automobiles and the like, and even if the connector is removed for maintenance and maintenance, deformation of the terminal can be prevented.
[0033]
An embodiment different from the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
[0034]
The illustrated female connector 2 corresponds to the low arc connector according to the present invention, and includes a female terminal 20, a housing body 30 that holds the female terminal 20, a retainer 40, and an arc deterrent that is a feature of the present invention. 50.
[0035]
The female terminal 20 is formed of a single metal plate in the illustrated example, and integrally includes an electrical contact portion 22 that fits into the mating male terminal 3 and a barrel portion 24 that is crimped to the electric wire D. The electrical contact portion 22 has a box shape for receiving the male tab 5 of the male terminal 3, and a locked hole 26 is provided through the bottom wall in the thickness direction.
[0036]
A plate-like piece 27 that bulges downward from the top wall is formed on the top wall of the electrical contact portion 22, and a tongue piece 28 that is folded back from the front end of the bottom wall is formed on the bottom wall. . Then, the male tab 5 is inserted between the tongue piece 28 and the plate-like piece 27 while the tongue piece 28 is deformed downward, so that the male tab 5 is connected to the tongue piece 28 and the plate piece. In this state, the male terminal 3 and the female terminal 4 are electrically connected, and electricity is conducted between the connectors. It has become so.
[0037]
The housing body 30 is integrally formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and includes a cylindrical terminal accommodating portion 32 and a hood 34 that covers this from the outside. A lance 35 extends obliquely upward from the bottom wall of the terminal accommodating portion 32, and a locking projection 36 is provided at the tip thereof. The locking projection 36 engages with the locked hole 26 of the female terminal 20 with the bending deformation of the lance 35, and locks the female terminal 20 in the terminal accommodating portion 32.
[0038]
The retainer 40 is made of an insulating material like the housing body 30 and constitutes a connector housing together with the housing body 30. The retainer 40 has a cylindrical shape and is fitted to the outside of the terminal accommodating portion 32 from the front thereof, whereby the lance 35 of the terminal accommodating portion 32 is bent to the inside (see FIG. 7A). ) (Position shown in (b)) and plays a role of strengthening the retaining action of the female terminal 20 by the lance 35.
[0039]
In this embodiment, the arc arresting body 50 is formed in a block shape, and integrally includes a base portion 52 set at the front end portion of the bottom wall of the terminal accommodating chamber 32 and a contact portion 54 rising from the base portion 52. Yes. The retainer 40 is brought into contact with the terminal accommodating portion 32 in a state where the arc restraining body 50 is in contact with the front end of the female terminal 20 in the terminal accommodating portion 32 (specifically, the front end surface of the tongue piece 28) from the front. , So that the arc depressing body 50 is in a position where the contact portion 54 of the arc deterring body 50 contacts the lower surface of the male tab 5 of the mating male terminal 3 at a position in front of the female terminal 20. It is supposed to be retained.
[0040]
As a specific structure of the arc arresting body 50, the surface (at least the surface of the part finally separated from the male terminal 3) is a highly conductive metal (for example, Ni, Sn, Ag, Au, Cu, Fe). It is preferable that it has a large number of minute irregularities on its surface. Specifically, the metal is foamed with a relatively high porosity (conductive foam metal), or a large number of fibers made of highly conductive metal are assembled into a predetermined shape (conductive Preferred metal wool). In any case, since the minute convex portion formed on the surface is finally separated from the mating male terminal 3, arc discharge is effectively suppressed.
[0041]
The specific action will be described in more detail. When the male terminal 3 is pulled out from the main fitting position as shown in FIG. 7A, the male terminal 3 and the female terminal 20 are first separated from each other. However, at this time, the male terminal 3 is in contact with the arc deterrent body 50 and the contact portion 54 of the arc deterrent body 50 is in contact with the lower surface of the male tab 5. The electrical continuity between both terminals 3 and 20 is maintained as a medium. Therefore, no arc discharge occurs between the terminals 3 and 20 at this time.
[0042]
Next, the male tab 5 is separated from the contact portion 54 of the arc deterrent body 50, but there are a large number of minute irregularities on the surface of the arc deterrent body 50, and the minute convex portions are the male tab 5. Therefore, even if an arc discharge occurs between them, the supply of the metal vapor necessary for the continuation of the arc is instantaneously cut off. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress deformation and damage of the male tab 5 due to the continuation of the arc discharge.
[0043]
In addition, what is necessary is just to design suitably according to the specification of a connector regardless of the specific shape of this arc suppression body 50. Depending on the material, if the opening can be formed in the same manner as the conductive metal foil 9 shown in FIG. 1, the opening is formed and the mating terminal is inserted inside the opening. Also good.
[0044]
Further, as another form of the arc suppressor 50, for example, a base body having a shape as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (a shape having a base 52 and a contact portion 54) is formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, The surface (at least the surface of the part where the contact portion 54 is finally separated from the male terminal 3) is applied with a conductive film by metal plating or the like. Also in this case, since the conductive film is thin, even if arc discharge occurs between the conductive film and the counterpart terminal, the supply of the metal vapor necessary for the continuation is instantaneously cut off, resulting in the arc. Deformation and damage of the counterpart terminal can be effectively suppressed.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by providing a conductive metal foil having a thickness of 10 μm or more and 200 μm or less as an arc suppressor, an arc is generated between the arc suppressor and the counterpart terminal. Also, the supply of the metal vapor can be stopped immediately to extinguish the arc immediately. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the arc generated when the terminals are separated from each other and effectively suppress the deformation and damage of the terminals.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which a low arc connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is fitted with a mating connector.
2 is a cross-sectional front view showing a fitting state between terminals of the connector shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a cross-sectional front view showing a state in which the terminals shown in FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional front view showing a state in which the terminals shown in FIG. 2 are completely separated from each other. FIG.
FIGS. 5A to 5E are front views showing a shape example of a conductive metal foil provided in the low arc connector. FIG.
And the embodiment of Figure 6 the present invention is an exploded perspective view of a low arc resistance connector according to another embodiment.
7A is a cross-sectional front view showing a state in which the mating terminal is fully fitted in the connector of FIG. 6, and FIG. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Female connector (low arc connector)
3 Male terminal (mating terminal)
4,20 Female terminal (Terminal of low arc connector)
7b Housing 9 Conductive metal foil 12 Opening 13a, 13b Contact protrusion (contact part)
30 Housing Body 40 Retainer 50 Arc Suppressor 54 Contact Part

Claims (6)

When a terminal for fitting with a counterpart terminal to conduct electricity, a housing for accommodating the terminal, and the terminal are electrically connected, and the terminal and the counterpart terminal are separated. An arc suppressor provided in a position to contact the counterpart terminal and electrically connect the counterpart terminal and the terminal, and the arc suppressor is generated when the arc suppressor and the counterpart terminal are separated from each other. A low-arc connector having a thickness of 10 μm or more and 200 μm or less , which is smaller than the amount of arc discharge generated when the terminal and the counterpart terminal are separated from each other.   2. The low arc connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is a female terminal, and the arc restraining body is provided in contact with a mating male terminal in front of the female terminal. Low arcing connector.   3. The low arc property connector according to claim 2, wherein the arc arresting body is held by the housing in contact with the front end of the female terminal. 4. The low arc connector according to claim 2 , wherein the counterpart terminal is a male terminal, and an opening through which the male terminal can be inserted is provided in the conductive metal foil. A low arc connector , wherein the shape of the opening is set so that the mold terminal contacts the inner peripheral edge of the opening of the conductive metal foil . 2. The low arc property connector according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive metal foil is provided with a plurality of contact portions that come into contact with the counterpart terminal at different positions . 6. The low arc connector according to claim 5 , wherein the terminal is a female terminal, and the conductive metal foil is provided with an opening having a basic shape larger than a cross section of the mating male terminal. A low arc connector characterized in that a plurality of contact protrusions project inward from the inner peripheral edge of the connector, and the contact protrusions are in contact with the mating male terminal .

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