阅读说明：本技术 接头连接器 (Joint connector ) 是由 小林大树 川濑治 田端正明 原照雄 松井元 于 2020-03-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种接头连接器(10),连接多条电线(11),接头连接器(10)具备：下壳体(30)；上盖(60),组装于所述下壳体(30)；多个端子(12),分别与所述多条电线(11)的延伸方向的前方端部连接；以及汇流条(50),与所述多个端子(12)连接,配设于所述下壳体(30)的所述汇流条(50)具有多个突片(52),配设于所述下壳体(30)的所述多个端子(12)各自具有：所述多个突片(52)分别插入的筒部(17)；夹持部(18A、18B),沿着所述延伸方向延伸,并且夹持所述多条电线(11)的一条；以及滑动部(16),配置于所述夹持部(18A、18B)的外侧,并且能沿着所述延伸方向移动,所述滑动部(16)具有加压部(25A、25B),加压部(25A、25B)在所述多条电线(11)的一条被所述夹持部(18A、18B)夹着的状态下将所述夹持部(18A、18B)朝向所述电线(11)加压,从所述上盖(60)向下方突出的端子保持部(63)与所述端子(12)卡合。(A joint connector (10) for connecting a plurality of wires (11), the joint connector (10) comprising: a lower case (30); an upper cover (60) assembled to the lower case (30); a plurality of terminals (12) connected to the front ends of the plurality of wires (11) in the direction of extension, respectively; and a bus bar (50) connected to the plurality of terminals (12), the bus bar (50) disposed on the lower case (30) having a plurality of protruding pieces (52), the plurality of terminals (12) disposed on the lower case (30) each having: a cylinder (17) into which the plurality of protruding pieces (52) are inserted; a clamping portion (18A, 18B) extending along the extending direction and clamping one of the plurality of electric wires (11); and a slide portion (16) that is disposed outside the clamping portions (18A, 18B) and is movable in the extending direction, wherein the slide portion (16) has pressing portions (25A, 25B), the pressing portions (25A, 25B) press the clamping portions (18A, 18B) toward the electric wires (11) in a state where one of the electric wires (11) is clamped by the clamping portions (18A, 18B), and a terminal holding portion (63) that protrudes downward from the upper cover (60) engages with the terminal (12).)

1. A joint connector for connecting a plurality of electric wires,

the joint connector includes: a lower housing; an upper cover assembled to the lower case; a plurality of terminals connected to front ends of the plurality of wires in an extending direction, respectively; and bus bars connected to the plurality of terminals,

the bus bar provided to the lower case has a plurality of tabs,

the plurality of terminals provided to the lower case each have: a cylindrical portion into which the plurality of protruding pieces are inserted; a clamping portion extending along the extending direction and clamping one of the plurality of electric wires; and a sliding portion disposed outside the clamping portion and movable in the extending direction, the sliding portion having a pressing portion that presses the clamping portion toward the electric wire in a state where one of the plurality of electric wires is clamped by the clamping portion,

a terminal holding portion projecting downward from the upper cover is engaged with the terminal.

2. The joint connector of claim 1,

the slide portion is movable relative to the clamping portion between a temporary locking position in which the pressing portion is separated from the clamping portion and a final locking position in which the pressing portion presses the clamping portion against the plurality of wires,

the terminal holding portion is locked to the slide portion located at the main locking position with respect to the clamping portion.

3. The joint connector of claim 1,

the lower housing has a rear wall located rearward of the plurality of terminals in the extending direction,

the rear wall has a plurality of wire insertion holes that penetrate in the extending direction and through which the plurality of wires are inserted, respectively, and the clamping portion is disposed in front of the wire insertion holes in the extending direction.

4. The joint connector of claim 3,

the sectional area of the wire insertion hole orthogonal to the extending direction is smaller than the sectional area of the sliding portion orthogonal to the extending direction.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a joint connector.

Background

As a joint connector, a joint connector described in japanese patent laid-open No. 2012-99248 is known. The joint connector includes a housing and a bus bar. The housing is provided with a plurality of chambers and a bus bar housing portion that communicates with the plurality of chambers, and an opening portion is formed on the side opposite to the chambers. The bus bar is provided with: a main body part received in the bus bar receiving part; and a plurality of male terminal portions extending from the main body portion and electrically connected to the female terminals. The female terminals are crimped with the ends of the plurality of electric wires, respectively.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2012 and 99248

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

According to the above-described technique, relatively large-scale equipment such as a die and a jig for crimping the female terminal to the electric wire is required, and therefore, equipment investment is required, which causes a problem of increase in manufacturing cost.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a joint connector with reduced manufacturing costs.

Means for solving the problems

The present disclosure is a joint connector for connecting a plurality of wires, including: a lower housing; an upper cover assembled to the lower case; a plurality of terminals connected to front ends of the plurality of wires in an extending direction, respectively; and a bus bar connected to the plurality of terminals, the bus bar disposed in the lower case having a plurality of protruding pieces, the plurality of terminals disposed in the lower case each having: a cylindrical portion into which the plurality of protruding pieces are inserted; a clamping portion extending along the extending direction and clamping one of the plurality of electric wires; and a sliding portion which is disposed outside the clamping portion and is movable in the extending direction, wherein the sliding portion has a pressing portion which presses the clamping portion toward the electric wire in a state where one of the plurality of electric wires is clamped by the clamping portion, and a terminal holding portion protruding downward from the upper cover engages with the terminal.

Effects of the invention

According to the present disclosure, the manufacturing cost of the joint connector can be reduced.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a joint connector of embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the lower case.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the upper cover.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the bus bar.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the terminal in which the slide portion is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the terminal main body.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in fig. 8.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the slide portion is moved to the final locking position by the jig.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which a terminal is housed in the lower case.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a state where a bus bar is inserted into the lower case.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an electric wire is inserted into the lower case and the terminal.

Fig. 13 is a plan view showing a state where the slide portion is moved to the main locking position.

Detailed Description

[ description of embodiments of the present disclosure ]

First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

(1) The present disclosure is a joint connector for connecting a plurality of wires, including: a lower housing; an upper cover assembled to the lower case; a plurality of terminals connected to front ends of the plurality of wires in an extending direction, respectively; and a bus bar connected to the plurality of terminals, the bus bar disposed in the lower case having a plurality of protruding pieces, the plurality of terminals disposed in the lower case each having: a cylindrical portion into which the plurality of protruding pieces are inserted; a clamping portion extending along the extending direction and clamping one of the plurality of electric wires; and a sliding portion which is disposed outside the clamping portion and is movable in the extending direction, wherein the sliding portion has a pressing portion which presses the clamping portion toward the electric wire in a state where one of the plurality of electric wires is clamped by the clamping portion, and a terminal holding portion protruding downward from the upper cover engages with the terminal.

According to the present disclosure, the core wire of the electric wire and the terminal can be electrically connected without using a relatively large-scale jig by pressing the sliding portion forward with a relatively small jig. This can reduce the manufacturing cost of the joint connector.

In addition, by applying the terminal of the present disclosure to the joint connector, the manufacturing cost of the joint connector can be reduced.

According to the present disclosure, the bus bar is inserted into the cylindrical portion, so that the terminal can be held in the lower housing so as to be prevented from being separated upward. This eliminates the need for a structure for retaining the terminal in a slip-off manner, and therefore, the structure of the joint connector can be simplified. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the joint connector can be reduced.

(2) Preferably, the slide portion is movable between a temporary locking position in which the pressing portion is separated from the clamping portion and a final locking position in which the pressing portion presses the clamping portion against the plurality of electric wires, and the terminal holding portion is locked to the slide portion located at the final locking position with respect to the clamping portion.

By assembling the upper cover to the lower case, the terminal holding portion provided in the upper cover is locked to the slide portion, and therefore, it can be confirmed that the slide portion has moved to the final locking position.

(3) Preferably, the lower case has a rear wall located rearward of the plurality of terminals in the extending direction, the rear wall has a plurality of wire insertion holes penetrating in the extending direction and through which the plurality of wires are inserted, respectively, and the clamping portion is disposed forward of the wire insertion holes in the extending direction.

When the electric wire is inserted from the rear of the electric wire insertion hole, the electric wire advances toward the grip portion located in front of the electric wire insertion hole. Thus, the electric wire is guided to the clamping portion by the electric wire insertion hole, so that the manufacturing efficiency of the joint connector can be improved.

(4) Preferably, a sectional area of the wire insertion hole orthogonal to the extending direction is smaller than a sectional area of the sliding portion orthogonal to the extending direction.

Since the sectional area of the wire insertion hole is smaller than that of the sliding portion, the sliding portion can be suppressed from falling out of the lower case through the wire insertion hole. Thus, the terminal in the state where the slide portion is held at the temporary locking position can be held in the lower housing.

[ details of embodiments of the present disclosure ]

Embodiments of the present disclosure are explained below. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

< embodiment 1>

Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 13. The joint connector 10 of the present embodiment electrically connects a plurality of wires 11. In the following description, the direction indicated by the arrow Z is referred to as the upper direction, the direction indicated by the arrow Y is referred to as the front direction, and the direction indicated by the arrow X is referred to as the left direction. In addition, in some cases, only some of the same members are denoted by reference numerals, and reference numerals of other members are omitted.

As shown in fig. 1, the joint connector 10 of the present embodiment includes: a plurality of terminals 12 connected to front end portions of the plurality of wires 11 in an extending direction (a direction indicated by an arrow line Y); a bus bar 50 connected to the plurality of terminals 12; a lower case 30 that accommodates the plurality of terminals 12 and the bus bar 50 therein; and an upper cover 60 assembled to the upper and rear portion of the lower case 30.

[ electric wire 11]

As shown in fig. 1, the plurality of wires 11 are arranged to extend in the front-rear direction (an example of the extending direction). The electric wire 11 has an outer periphery of the core wire 13 surrounded by an insulating coating 14 made of an insulating synthetic resin. The core wire 13 of the present embodiment is constituted by one metal wire. The core wire 13 may be a stranded wire formed by twisting a plurality of thin metal wires. The metal constituting the core wire 13 can be appropriately selected from any metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, and the like as needed. The core wire 13 of the present embodiment is made of copper or a copper alloy.

[ lower case 30]

As shown in fig. 2, the lower case 30 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape which is flat in the upper and lower directions. Is formed by injection molding a material containing an insulating synthetic resin. The lower case 30 is formed with a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) cavities 29 extending forward and rearward in a lateral direction. The cavity 29 opens upward, and the terminal 12 is inserted into the cavity 29 from above.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the cavity 29 is opened forward at the front end portion of the lower case 30, and is formed as a bus bar insertion hole 51 into which the bus bar 50 is inserted from the front into the cavity 29.

As shown in fig. 1, a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) wire insertion holes 37 are provided in the rear wall 31 of the lower case 30 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction and be aligned in the left-right direction, and the wires 11 are inserted through the wire insertion holes 37. The wire insertion hole 37 is provided at a position corresponding to the cavity 29 of the lower case 30. The inner diameter of the wire insertion hole 37 is set to be the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the insulating coating 14 of the wire 11.

[ Upper cover 60]

As shown in fig. 1, the lower case 30 is covered at the upper part by an upper cover 60 assembled from above. Although not shown in detail, the lower case 30 and the upper cover 60 are integrally assembled by a known locking structure. The upper cover 60 is formed by injection molding an insulating synthetic resin.

As shown in fig. 3, the upper cover 60 includes an upper wall 61 and two side walls 62 extending downward from both right and left sides of the upper wall 61. A plurality of (four in the present embodiment) terminal holding portions 63 projecting downward from the lower surface of the upper wall 61 extend in the front-rear direction. The terminal holding portion 63 includes a front terminal holding portion 63F located on the front side and a rear terminal holding portion 63R located on the rear side of the front terminal holding portion 63F. The rear terminal holding portion 63R protrudes downward from the front terminal holding portion 63F. A groove 64 having an arc shape is formed in the lower surface of the rear terminal holding portion 63R. The inner shape of the groove 64 is formed to be the same as or slightly larger than the outer shape of the electric wire 11. By disposing the electric wire 11 in the groove 64, the electric wire 11 is held in the cavity 29 in a state of extending in the front-rear direction.

[ bus bar 50]

As shown in fig. 4, the bus bar 50 is formed by press-working a metal plate material into a predetermined shape. As the metal plate material, any metal such as copper or a copper alloy can be appropriately selected. The bus bar 50 includes a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) projecting pieces 52 extending rearward, and a coupling portion 54 coupling the front ends of the projecting pieces 52 via a relay portion 53. The protruding piece 52 has a flat plate shape in the left-right direction. The coupling portion 54 is formed in a plate shape that is flat in the vertical direction. The relay portion 53 is formed to extend rearward from the connection portion 54. The right edge of the coupling portion 54 is bent downward and connected to the protruding piece 52.

As shown in fig. 4, a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) locking holes 56 arranged at intervals in the left-right direction in the coupling portion 54 penetrate the coupling portion 54. The locking hole 56 has a square shape when viewed from above. As shown in fig. 10, in a state where the bus bar 50 is inserted into the cavity 29, the locking claws 35 protruding from the lower case 30 toward the coupling portion 54 are received in the locking holes 56. The forward movement of the bus bar 50 can be restricted by the front edge of the locking hole 56 coming into contact with the locking claw 35 from the front.

[ terminal 12]

As shown in fig. 5, the terminal 12 includes a metal terminal body 15 and a sliding portion 16 that is slidable relative to the terminal body 15.

[ terminal body 15]

The terminal body 15 is formed into a predetermined shape by a known method such as press working, cutting, and casting. The metal constituting the terminal body 15 can be appropriately selected from any metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and the like as needed. The terminal body 15 of the present embodiment is made of copper or a copper alloy. A plating layer may be formed on the surface of the terminal body 15. The metal constituting the plating layer can be appropriately selected from any of metals such as tin, nickel, silver, and the like as needed. The terminal body 15 of the present embodiment is plated with tin.

As shown in fig. 5, the terminal main body 15 includes: a cylindrical portion 17 into which the protruding piece 52 can be inserted; and a wire connecting portion 20 located behind the cylindrical portion 17 and connected to the wire 11. The wire connecting portion 20 includes an upper clamping portion 18A and a lower clamping portion 18B extending rearward.

As shown in fig. 5, the tube portion 17 has a square tube shape extending in the front-rear direction. The front end of the cylindrical portion 17 is opened so that the protruding piece 52 can be inserted.

As shown in fig. 6, an elastically deformable elastic contact piece 19 is disposed inside the cylindrical portion 17. The elastic contact piece 19 extends inward from the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 17. The projecting piece 52 inserted into the cylindrical portion 17 presses the elastic contact piece 19 to be elastically deformed. The protruding piece 52 is sandwiched between the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 17 and the elastic contact piece 19 by the repulsive force of the elastic contact piece 19 that is elastically deformed. Thereby, the protruding piece 52 and the terminal 12 are electrically connected.

As shown in fig. 6, a wire connection portion 20 having a square cylindrical shape is provided behind the cylindrical portion 17. An upper clamping portion 18A (an example of a clamping portion) extends rearward from a rear end portion of the upper wall of the wire connecting portion 20, and a lower clamping portion 18B (an example of a clamping portion) extends rearward from a rear end portion of the lower wall of the wire connecting portion 20. The upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B have elongated shapes extending in the front-rear direction. The upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B are formed to have substantially the same longitudinal dimension in the front-rear direction.

An upper holding projection 23A projecting downward is provided on the lower surface of the upper clamping portion 18A and forward of the rear end portion. A lower holding projection 23B projecting upward is provided at a rear end portion of the upper surface of the lower clamping portion 18B. The lower holding projection 23B and the upper holding projection 23A are provided at positions shifted in the front-rear direction.

The metal surface of the core wire 13 is exposed by the lower surface of the upper clamping portion 18A and the upper surface of the lower clamping portion 18B being sunk into the oxide film formed on the surface of the core wire 13 to peel off the oxide film. The metal surface comes into contact with the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B, whereby the core wire 13 and the terminal body 15 are electrically connected.

[ sliding part 16]

As shown in fig. 5, the sliding portion 16 has a square tubular shape extending in the front-rear direction. The sliding portion 16 is formed by a known method such as cutting, casting, and pressing, as necessary. The metal constituting the sliding portion 16 can be appropriately selected from any metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and the like as needed. The sliding portion 16 of the present embodiment is not particularly limited, and is made of stainless steel. A plating layer may be formed on the surface of the sliding portion 16. The metal constituting the plating layer can be appropriately selected from any of metals such as tin, nickel, silver, and the like as needed.

The cross-sectional shape of the sliding portion 16 is formed to be the same as or slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape of the region of the terminal body 15 where the upper side holding portion 18A and the lower side holding portion 18B are provided. Thus, the sliding portion 16 is disposed outside the region of the terminal body 15 where the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B are provided.

The sectional area of the wire insertion hole 37 orthogonal to the front-rear direction is smaller than the sectional area of the slide portion 16 orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Thereby, the slide portion 16 cannot pass through the wire insertion hole 37 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 6, an upper pressing portion 25A (an example of a pressing portion) protruding downward is provided on the lower surface of the upper wall of the sliding portion 16. A lower pressing portion 25B (an example of a pressing portion) protruding upward is provided on the upper surface of the lower wall of the slide portion 16.

As shown in fig. 5, a temporary locking receiving portion 26 is opened in a position near the front end portion in the front-rear direction of the side wall of the slide portion 16. Further, a main locking receiving portion 27 is opened in a side wall of the slide portion 16 at a position rearward of the temporary locking receiving portion 26. The temporary locking receiving portion 26 and the final locking receiving portion 27 are elastically lockable with locking projections 28 provided on the side walls of the terminal body 15.

The state in which the locking projection 28 of the terminal main body 15 is locked to the temporary locking receiving portion 26 of the slide portion 16 is a state in which the slide portion 16 is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the terminal main body 15 (see fig. 8). In this state, the upper pressing portion 25A and the lower pressing portion 25B of the sliding portion 16 are spaced rearward from the rear end edges of the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B of the terminal body 15. In this state, the distance between the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B is set to be larger than the diameter of the core wire 13.

The state in which the locking projection 28 of the terminal main body 15 is locked to the primary locking receiving portion 27 of the slide portion 16 is a state in which the slide portion 16 is locked to the primary locking position with respect to the terminal main body 15. As shown in fig. 1, in this state, the upper pressing portion 25A of the sliding portion 16 contacts the upper clamping portion 18A from above the upper clamping portion 18A. The lower pressing portion 25B of the slide portion 16 contacts the lower clamping portion 18B from below the lower clamping portion 18B.

As described above, the slide portion 16 is slidably movable between the temporary locking position and the final locking position in a state of being externally fitted to the region of the terminal body 15 where the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B are provided.

As shown in fig. 1, in a state where the slide portion 16 is held at the final locking position with respect to the terminal body 15, the upper pressing portion 25A presses the upper clamping portion 18A from above, and the upper clamping portion 18A deforms downward. Further, the lower clamping portion 18B is deformed upward by the lower pressing portion 25B pressing the lower clamping portion 18B from below. Thus, in the space between the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B, the core wire 13 is disposed in a state of extending in the front-rear direction (extending direction), and the core wire 13 is clamped from the vertical direction by the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B that are elastically deformed in a state where the slide portion 16 is held at the final locking position with respect to the terminal body 15. That is, the upper clamping portion 18A is pressed downward by the upper pressing portion 25A to be in contact with the core wire 13 from above, and the lower clamping portion 18B is pressed upward by the lower pressing portion 25B to be in contact with the core wire 13 from below.

As shown in fig. 1, in a state where the slide portion 16 is held at the main locking position with respect to the terminal body 15, the upper holding projection 23A of the upper clamping portion 18A presses the core wire 13 from above, and the lower holding projection 23B of the lower clamping portion 18B presses the core wire 13 from below. In this way, the core wire 13 is held in a state of being bent in the vertical direction (an example of a direction intersecting the extending direction) by being pressed from above by the upper holding projection 23A and also being pressed from below by the lower holding projection 23B arranged at a position shifted from the upper holding projection 23A in the front-rear direction. The core wire 13 and the terminal 12 are also electrically connected by the upper holding projection 23A and the lower holding projection 23B.

As shown in fig. 7, a jig contact portion 46 protruding upward from the upper wall is provided at the front end portion of the slide portion 16. The jig 45 contacts the jig contact portion 46 from the rear, and the slide portion 16 is pushed forward by the jig 45, whereby the slide portion 16 can move forward. The jig 45 is configured to be relatively small in scale compared to a mold or a device for operating the mold. Therefore, the increase in cost due to the jig 45 can be suppressed.

As shown in fig. 6, a pair of insertion portions 47 protruding inward of the slide portion 16 are provided on both left and right side walls of the slide portion 16 at positions close to the rear end portion. The width of the insertion portion 47 is narrowed from the rear to the front. The core wire 13 is guided to the inside of the sliding portion 16 by sliding the core wire 13 against the inner surface of the insertion portion 47.

[ Assembly Process of the Joint connector 10 ]

Next, an example of an assembling process of the joint connector 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. The assembling process of the joint connector 10 is not limited to the following description.

The terminal body 15 and the sliding portion 16 are formed by a known method. The slide portion 16 is assembled from the rear with respect to the terminal main body 15. The front end edge of the slide portion 16 abuts against the locking projection 28 of the terminal main body 15 from the rear, and the side wall of the slide portion 16 is expanded and deformed. When the slide portion 16 is further pushed forward, the side wall of the slide portion 16 is restored and deformed, and the temporary locking receiving portion 26 of the slide portion 16 is locked to the locking protrusion 28 of the terminal main body 15. Thereby, the slide portion 16 is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the terminal main body 15 (see fig. 5). Thereby, the terminal 12 is obtained.

The lower case 30 and the upper cover 60 are formed by injection molding synthetic resin.

As shown in fig. 8, the terminal 12, which is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the terminal body 15 by the slide portion 16, is inserted from above into the cavity 29 of the lower housing 30. The rear end of the slide portion 16 is located forward of the rear wall 31 of the lower housing 30, and the front end of the cylindrical portion 17 of the terminal body 15 is located rearward of the front wall of the lower housing 30. Thereby, the terminal 12 is held in the cavity 29 in a state of being positioned in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 9, the bus bar 50 is inserted into the bus bar insertion hole 51 of the lower case 30 from the front. The bus bar 50 is held in the lower case 30 in a state where it is not detached by inserting the locking claws 35 of the lower case 30 into the locking holes 56 of the bus bar 50 (see fig. 10). The protruding piece 52 of the bus bar 50 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 17 of the terminal 12. The tab 52 and the terminal 12 are electrically connected by the contact of the tab 52 and the elastic piece. Thereby, the plurality of terminals 12 are electrically connected by the bus bar 50.

As shown in fig. 11, the projecting piece 52 inserted into the cylindrical portion 17 contacts the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 17, and the terminal 12 is held in the cavity 29 in a state of being prevented from being separated upward.

The core wire 13 of the electric wire 11 is exposed by peeling the insulating coating 14 by a known method. As shown in fig. 12, the front end portion of the core wire 13 is inserted into the wire insertion hole 37 provided in the rear wall 31 from behind.

When the electric wire 11 is further pushed forward, the front end portion of the core wire 13 is introduced from the rear end portion of the slide portion 16 into the slide portion 16. The core wire 13 is guided to the slide portion 16 by coming into contact with the insertion portion 47 of the slide portion 16. When the electric wire 11 is further pushed forward, the distal end portion of the core wire 13 enters the terminal body 15 and reaches the space between the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B.

As shown in fig. 12, in a state where the slide portion 16 is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the terminal body 15, the interval between the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B is set larger than the outer diameter of the core wire 13.

Next, as shown in fig. 7, the jig 45 is brought into contact with the jig contact portion 46 from the rear, and the slide portion 16 is slid forward. The slide portion 16 moves forward relative to the terminal body 15. At this time, the locking projections 28 of the terminal body 15 and the temporary locking receiving portions 26 of the slide portion 16 are locked and released, and the side wall of the slide portion 16 is expanded and deformed over the locking projections 28.

When the slide portion 16 moves forward, the side wall of the slide portion 16 is restored and deformed, and the locking projection 28 of the terminal main body 15 and the main locking receiving portion 27 of the slide portion 16 are elastically locked. Thereby, the slide portion 16 is held at the final locking position with respect to the terminal main body 15.

In a state where the slide portion 16 is held at the final locking position with respect to the terminal body 15, the upper pressing portion 25A of the slide portion 16 abuts on the upper clamping portion 18A of the terminal body 15 from above and is pressed downward. The lower pressing portion 25B of the slide portion 16 abuts against the lower clamping portion 18B of the terminal body 15 from below and presses upward. Thereby, the core wire 13 is sandwiched by the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B from the top and bottom (see fig. 11).

As shown in fig. 7, the core wire 13 is sandwiched between the lower surface of the upper clamping portion 18A and the upper surface of the lower clamping portion 18B, so that the oxide film formed on the surface of the core wire 13 is peeled off, and the metal surface constituting the core wire 13 is exposed. The metal surface is in contact with the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B, whereby the electric wire 11 and the terminal 12 are electrically connected. Thereby, the plurality of wires 11 are electrically connected through the terminals 12 and the bus bars 50 (see fig. 13).

In a state where the core wire 13 is sandwiched from above and below by the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B, the core wire 13 is sandwiched by the upper holding projection 23A of the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower holding projection 23B of the lower clamping portion 18B, and is held in a state extending in the front-rear direction and in a state bent in the up-down direction. As a result, the core wire 13 can be firmly held, and therefore, when a pulling force acts on the electric wire 11, the holding force between the electric wire 11 and the terminal 12 can be increased.

As shown in fig. 1, the upper cover 60 is assembled to the lower case 30 from above the lower case 30. In the assembled state of the lower housing 30 and the upper cover 60, the front end portion of the front terminal holding portion 63F of the upper cover 60 is positioned behind the jig contact portion 46 of the slide portion 16. The front end of the front terminal holding portion 63F contacts the sliding portion 16 from behind, whereby the sliding portion 16 can be prevented from moving backward.

In the state where lower housing 30 and upper cover 60 are assembled, front terminal holding portion 63F is locked so as to cover the upper side of slide portion 16. Thereby, the terminal 12 is held in the cavity 29 in a state of being prevented from being separated upward.

In the state where the lower housing 30 and the upper cover 60 are assembled, the rear terminal holding portion 63R is located behind the slide portion 16. The rear terminal holding portion 63R is locked to the slide portion 16 from behind, and the terminal 12 is held in the cavity 29 in a state where it is prevented from being separated rearward. Thereby, the joint connector 10 is completed.

[ Effect of the present embodiment ]

Next, the operation and effects of the present embodiment will be described. The joint connector 10 of the present embodiment connects a plurality of wires 11, and the joint connector 10 includes: a lower case 30; an upper cover 60 assembled to the lower case 30; a plurality of terminals 12 connected to the front ends of the plurality of wires 11 in the extending direction; and a bus bar 50 connected to the plurality of terminals 12, the bus bar 50 disposed in the lower case 30 having a plurality of protruding pieces 52, the plurality of terminals 12 disposed in the lower case 30 each having: a cylindrical portion 17 into which the plurality of projecting pieces 52 are inserted; an upper clamping part 18A and a lower clamping part 18B extending along the extending direction and clamping one of the plurality of electric wires 11; and a slide portion 16 which is disposed outside the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B and is movable in the extending direction, wherein the slide portion 16 has an upper pressing portion 25A and a lower pressing portion 25B, the upper pressing portion 25A and the lower pressing portion 25B press the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B toward the electric wire 11 in a state where one of the electric wires 11 is sandwiched between the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B, and the terminal holding portion 63 protruding downward from the upper cover 60 engages with the terminal 12.

According to the present embodiment, the slide portion 16 is pressed forward by the relatively small jig 45, so that the core wire 13 of the electric wire 11 and the terminal 12 can be electrically connected without using a relatively large-scale jig. This can reduce the manufacturing cost of the joint connector 10.

Further, by applying the terminal 12 of the present embodiment to the joint connector 10, the manufacturing cost of the joint connector 10 can be reduced.

According to the present embodiment, the bus bar 50 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 17, whereby the terminal 12 can be held in the lower housing 30 so as to be prevented from being separated upward. This eliminates the need for a structure for retaining the terminal 12 in a slip-off manner, and therefore, the structure of the joint connector 10 can be simplified. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the joint connector 10 can be reduced.

The slide portion 16 is movable relative to the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B between a temporary locking position where the upper pressing portion 25A and the lower pressing portion 25B are separated from the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B, and a final locking position where the upper pressing portion 25A and the lower pressing portion 25B press the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B against the plurality of electric wires 11, and the terminal holding portion 63 is locked to the slide portion 16 located at the final locking position relative to the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B.

In the state where lower housing 30 and upper cover 60 are assembled, front terminal holding portion 63F is locked so as to cover the upper side of slide portion 16. Thereby, the terminal 12 is held in the cavity 29 in a state of being prevented from being separated upward.

In the state where the lower housing 30 and the upper cover 60 are assembled, the rear terminal holding portion 63R is located behind the slide portion 16. The rear terminal holding portion 63R is locked to the slide portion 16 from behind, and the terminal 12 is held in the cavity 29 in a state where it is prevented from being separated rearward.

By assembling the upper cover 60 to the lower case 30, the terminal holding portion 63 (the front terminal holding portion 63F and the rear terminal holding portion 63R) provided in the upper cover 60 is locked to the slide portion 16 as described above, and it can be confirmed that the slide portion 16 has moved to the final locking position.

According to the present embodiment, the lower housing 30 has the rear wall 31 positioned rearward of the plurality of terminals 12 in the extending direction, the rear wall 31 has the plurality of wire insertion holes 37 penetrating in the extending direction and through which the plurality of wires 11 are inserted, and the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B are arranged forward of the wire insertion holes 37.

When the electric wire 11 is inserted from the rear of the electric wire insertion hole 37, the electric wire 11 enters between the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B located in front of the electric wire insertion hole 37. In this way, the wires 11 are guided between the upper clamping portion 18A and the lower clamping portion 18B by the wire insertion holes 37, so that the manufacturing efficiency of the joint connector 10 can be improved.

According to the present embodiment, the sectional area of the wire insertion hole 37 orthogonal to the front-rear direction is smaller than the sectional area of the sliding portion 16 orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

Since the sectional area of the wire insertion hole 37 is smaller than that of the slide portion 16, the slide portion 16 can be suppressed from falling out of the lower case 30 through the wire insertion hole 37. This allows the terminal 12 with the slide portion 16 held at the temporary locking position to be held in the lower housing 30.

< other embodiments >

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described by the above-described techniques and the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the techniques disclosed in the present specification.

(1) The number of terminals 12 arranged in the lower case 30 may be two, three, or five or more.

(2) The upper cover 60 and the lower case 30 may be integrated by a hinge or the like.

(3) The terminal 12 may have one or three or more clamping portions.

Description of the reference numerals

10: joint connector

11: electric wire

12: terminal with a terminal body

13: core wire

14: insulating coating

15: terminal body

16: sliding part

17: barrel part

18A: upper side clamping part

18B: lower clamping part

19: elastic contact piece

20: electric wire connecting part

23A: upper side holding projection

23B: lower side holding projection

25A: upper pressurizing part

25B: lower pressurizing part

26: temporary stop receiving part

27: formal locking receiving part

28: locking projection

29: chamber

30: lower casing

31: rear wall

35: clamping claw

36: rear wall

37: wire insertion hole

39: plug-in hole

45: jig tool

46: contact part of jig

47: inducing part

50: bus bar

51: bus bar insertion hole

52: tab

53: relay part

54: connecting part

56: locking hole

60: upper cover

61: upper wall

62: side wall

63: terminal holding part

63F: front terminal holding part

63R: rear terminal holding part

64: trough