-- A high-voltage connector of a novel structure is disclosed which achieves an improvement in electrical conductivity, a reduced amount of heat generation and the like while realizing stable connection to a mating terminal by a simple structure having a small number of components. A high-voltage connector 10 is provided with a terminal fitting 16 including a terminal body portion 34 in the form of a flat plate to be overlapped on a mating terminal 76 in the form of a flat plate in a plate thickness direction, and a resilient contact portion 38 integrally provided to the terminal body portion 34 and inclined to an overlapping side with the mating terminal 76.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a high-voltage connector.

BACKGROUND

A high-voltage connector including a tubular terminal to be externally fit to a mating terminal in the form of a flat plate constituted by a busbar or the like to enable stable connection to the mating terminal is widely used as a high-voltage connector used in hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and the like. For example, a high-voltage connector including a tubular female terminal to be connected to a device-side terminal in the form of a flat plate as a mating terminal is shown in Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: JP 2014-086152 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to Be Solved

Since a device or the like, to which a high-voltage connector is connected, is relatively large in size, the position of a mating terminal varies due to a tolerance or the like on the device side and it may become difficult to connect the high-voltage connector to the mating terminal. Thus, in the high-voltage connector described in Patent Document 1, the female terminal and a wire are connected by a stretchable conductor and a structure is adopted which holds the female terminal displaceably with respect to a connector housing. In this way, even if the position of the mating terminal varies, the mating terminal and the female terminal can be reliably brought into contact by displacing the position of the female terminal by the deformation of the stretchable conductor.

However, a high-voltage connector including a tubular female terminal as described in Patent Document 1 is desired to realize low cost by simplifying a shape. Further, it is also required to deal with a request for size reduction by reducing an accommodation space for the terminal. Further, it is also technically significant to reduce the number of components and facilitate manufacturing by simplifying a structure in which the tubular female terminal is connected to the stretchable conductor constituted by a braided body of an electrically conductive wire material by crimping or the like. Further, it has been also required, such as, to realize an improvement in electrical conductivity and suppress heat generation by suppressing an electrical resistance, which increases in a connected part of the female terminal and the stretchable conductor.

Accordingly, a high-voltage connector of a novel structure is disclosed which achieves an improvement in electrical conductivity, a reduced amount of heat generation and the like while realizing stable connection to a mating terminal by a simple structure having a small number of components.

Means to Solve the Problem

The present disclosure is directed to a high-voltage connector with a terminal fitting including a terminal body portion in the form of a flat plate to be overlapped on a mating terminal in the form of a flat plate in a plate thickness direction, and a resilient contact portion integrally provided to the terminal body portion, the resilient contact portion being at least partially inclined to an overlapping side with the mating terminal.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present disclosure, by a simple structure having a small number of components, an improvement in electrical conductivity, a reduced amount of heat generation and the like are achieved while stable connection to a mating terminal is realized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION

Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure

The high-voltage connector of the present disclosure is provided with a terminal fitting including a terminal body portion in the form of a flat plate to be overlapped on a mating terminal in the form of a flat plate in a plate thickness direction, and a resilient contact portion integrally provided to the terminal body portion, the resilient contact portion being at least partially inclined to an overlapping side with the mating terminal.

According to the high-voltage connector described in the present disclosure, since the terminal body portion constituting the terminal fitting is in the form of a flat plate, the shape of the terminal fitting is simpler as compared to a conventional tubular female terminal used for connection to a mating terminal in the form of a flat plate. Thus, a cost reduction is achieved. Further, an accommodation space for accommodating the terminal body portion can be reduced and the size reduction of the high-voltage connector can also be realized.

If the terminal body portion to be connected to the mating terminal in the form of a flat plate is in the form of a flat plate, a contact failure of the terminal body portion with the mating terminal easily occurs, but a stable contact with the mating terminal is maintained at the resilient contact portion provided in the terminal body portion in the high-voltage connector of the present disclosure. That is, the resilient contact portion has a part inclined in a direction projecting toward the mating terminal along the plate thickness direction of the terminal body portion, and this contact part is resiliently deformable to change an angle of inclination in the plate thickness direction. Therefore, a position variation of the mating terminal is absorbed by the resilient deformation of the resilient contact portion and a contact state of the mating terminal and the resilient contact portion is stably realized by pressing the resilient contact portion against the mating terminal.

Since the resilient contact portion is integrally provided to the terminal fitting, the contact failure as described above is avoided by a simple structure having a small number of components. Moreover, since the resilient contact portion has an integrated structure, a local increase in electrical resistance in a connected part as in the case of connecting two separate components is unlikely to occur, excellent electrical conductivity is realized and heat generation at the time of energization can also be suppressed.

(2) Preferably, the resilient contact portion is provided by cutting and raising in the terminal body portion. The resilient contact portion is provided by cutting and raising a part of the terminal body portion, whereby the resilient contact portion integrated with the terminal body portion can be easily provided. Further, the resilient contact portion is easily provided with an inclined part so that the resilient contact portion at least partially projects toward the mating terminal.

(3) Preferably, in (2) described above, the terminal body portion includes a frame-like portion constituting an outer peripheral end part and the resilient contact portion provided on an inner peripheral side of the frame-like portion via a slit, and the resilient contact portion is in the form of a leaf spring integrally coupled to the frame-like portion on a base end and resilient deformable in the plate thickness direction by being cut and raised to be cantilevered and inclined to the overlapping side with the mating terminal. In this way, the resilient contact portion provided by cutting and raising can be provided with a good yield and good durability.

(4) Preferably, in (2) or (3) described above, the resilient contact portion is provided with a first inclined portion inclined to the overlapping side with the mating terminal toward a tip of the terminal body portion, and a second inclined portion inclined to a side opposite to the overlapping side with the mating terminal toward the tip of the terminal body portion is provided on a side of the resilient contact portion closer to the tip than the first inclined portion.

According to this, the resilient contact portion is held in the contact state with the mating terminal based on the resilience of the first inclined portion. Further, by providing the second inclined portion on the side closer to the tip than the first inclined portion, the tip of the mating terminal abuts on the second inclined portion when the mating terminal is inserted from the tip side. In this way, the mating terminal is guided along the second inclined portion without being caught and can be inserted up to a proper position.

(5) Preferably, in (1) described above, the resilient contact portion is provided by folding on the tip of the terminal body portion. The resilient contact portion is provided by folding the terminal body portion on the tip, whereby the resilient contact portion integrated with the terminal body portion can be easily provided. Further, the resilient contact portion is easily provided with an inclined part so that the resilient contact portion at least partially projects toward the mating terminal. Further, the tip side of the terminal body portion is folded into a curved shape, whereby the mating terminal is unlikely to be caught on the tip of the terminal body portion when the mating terminal is inserted from the tip side and overlapped on the resilient contact portion.

(6) Preferably, in (5) described above, the terminal body portion includes a flat plate-like portion, a curved folded portion provided on a tip of the flat plate-like portion and the resilient contact portion extending from the folded portion toward a base end side, and the resilient contact portion is in the form of a leaf spring integrally coupled to the folded portion and resilient deformable in the plate thickness direction by being cantilevered and inclined to the overlapping side with the mating terminal. In this way, the resilient contact portion provided by folding can be provided with good manufacturability.

(7) Preferably, in (5) or (6) described above, the resilient contact portion is provided with a third inclined portion inclined to the overlapping side with the mating terminal toward a base end of the terminal body portion opposite to a folded side of the resilient contact portion, and a fourth inclined portion inclined to a side opposite to the overlapping side with the mating terminal toward the base end of the terminal body portion is provided on a side of the resilient contact portion closer to the base end of the terminal body portion than the third inclined portion.

According to this, a part of the resilient contact portion projecting to the overlapping side with the mating terminal is formed by the third inclined portion and the resilient contact portion is held in the contact state with the mating terminal. Further, by the presence of the third inclined portion, the tip of the mating terminal is guided in contact with the third inclined portion when the mating terminal is inserted from the tip side and overlapped on the resilient contact portion. Thus, the mating terminal is smoothly inserted up to a proper position without being caught. Further, since the fourth inclined portion is inclined to approach the terminal body portion toward the base end side of the terminal body portion, the fourth inclined portion comes into contact with the terminal body portion when the resilient contact portion is resiliently deformed, whereby a deformation amount of the folded portion, in other words, an angle change of the third inclined portion, is limited. Therefore, excessive deformation of the folded portion is prevented and the damage such as plastic deformation of the folded portion is avoided. In addition, in the contact state of the resilient contact portion and the mating terminal, an end part of the resilient contact portion on the base end side of the terminal body portion is arranged away from the mating terminal by the fourth inclined portion, and the damage and the like of the mating terminal caused by the contact of an edge of the resilient contact portion on the base end side of the terminal body portion are also prevented.

(8) Preferably, the terminal fitting includes a fixing portion to be fixed to a connector housing having a terminal insertion hole into which the terminal body portion is inserted. By fixing the terminal fitting to the connector housing, a swing and the like of the terminal body portion are reduced and a size reduction is achieved by a reduced accommodation space for accommodating the terminal body portion.

(9) Preferably, in (8) described above, an end part of a wire is connected to the terminal fitting at the fixing portion, and the high-voltage connector includes a fixing member for collectively fixing the fixing portion, the connector housing and the end part of the wire. Since the fixed position of the terminal fitting and the connector housing and the fixed position of the terminal fitting and the wire are substantially same, a moment acting on the terminal fitting by an input from the wire side is reduced, for example, when the input is transferred to the connector housing via the terminal fitting. Therefore, a swing, a positional deviation and the like of the terminal body portion in the terminal fitting are easily prevented.

(10) Preferably, in (8) or (9) described above, the terminal fitting is so accommodated into the connector housing that the plate thickness direction of the terminal body portion is a vertical direction of the terminal insertion hole. The terminal fitting can be so accommodated into the connector housing that the vertical direction of the terminal insertion hole of the connector housing is the plate thickness direction of the terminal body portion. Therefore, a height reduction of the connector housing itself can be advantageously achieved as compared to the case where the vertical direction of the terminal insertion hole of the connector housing is a plate width direction of the terminal body portion.

(11) Preferably, in (10) described above, the terminal insertion hole has a flat rectangular shape and includes a pair of partition plates located in a central part in the vertical direction and projecting inward from both side surfaces, and a space located above the pair of partition plates serves as a mating terminal insertion portion, a space located below the pair of partition plates serves as a terminal body portion accommodating portion, and a pair of the resilient contact portions are arranged to project and be capable of contacting the mating terminal between facing surfaces of the pair of partition plates. The terminal body portion can be accommodated and held in a state connectable to the mating terminal in a smaller space by a simple structure of providing the pair of partition plates projecting inward from the both side surfaces of the terminal insertion hole.

(12) Preferably, in (11) described above, the terminal body portion of the terminal fitting extends along an axial direction of the terminal body portion accommodating portion and the fixing portion of the terminal fitting extends downward in the vertical direction from a base end of the terminal body portion, and pressing ribs are provided on lower surfaces of the pair of partition plates, project toward a lower inner surface of the terminal body portion accommodating portion and press a tip part of the terminal body portion toward the lower inner surface. The terminal fitting is L-shaped by including the terminal body portion and the fixing portion extending downward from the base end of the terminal body portion. If the fixing portion is fixed to the connector housing, the tip part of the terminal body portion provided on a side opposite to the fixing portion of the L-shaped terminal fitting may be lifted up by a fixing force of the fixing portion and the connector housing. However, the tip part of the terminal body portion can be pressed toward the lower inner surface by the pressing ribs provided on the upper inner surface of the terminal insertion hole. In this way, the lift-up of the terminal body portion can be prevented, and the L-shaped terminal fitting can be stably positioned and held at a desired position with respect to the connector housing by the cooperation of the fixing portion and the pressing ribs.

(13) Preferably, in (8) or (9) described above, a squeezable rib is provided to project from one of facing inner surfaces of the terminal insertion hole toward the other, and the terminal body portion is sandwiched and positioned between the squeezable rib and the other facing inner surface.

According to this, the squeezable rib projecting toward the facing inner surface of the terminal insertion hole is appropriately squeezed by the terminal body portion, whereby a dimensional tolerance of the terminal insertion hole is allowed. Since the squeezable rib is provided to project only from either one of the facing inner surfaces of the terminal insertion hole toward the other, the terminal body portion is pressed against the other facing inner surface of the terminal insertion hole and stably positioned by the squeezable rib. By sandwiching and holding the terminal body portion between the squeezable rib and the other facing inner surface of the terminal insertion hole, a swing and the like of the terminal body portion are suppressed and, for example, the accommodation space for the terminal body portion can be reduced.

(14) Preferably, the terminal fitting is connected to an end of a wire without via a resilient deformable member. This is because, by providing the terminal body portion with the resilient contact portion, a stable contact state of the terminal body portion and the mating terminal can be realized by a simple structure having a small number of components even if a resiliently deformable member such as a braided body is not interposed between the terminal fitting and the end part of the wire as in a conventional structure.

(15) Preferably, the terminal body portion is surrounded by a shield member. This is because, in the high-voltage connector, the leakage of noise can be prevented while the size reduction and stable connection to a mating connector are realized.

DETAILS OF EMBODIMENTS OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE

Specific examples of a high-voltage connector of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents.

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference toFIGS.1to11. A high-voltage connector10is a high-voltage connector provided on the side of a device to be connected to a mating connector74(to be described later) provided on a power supply side in an unillustrated high-voltage wiring for supplying power from an unillustrated power supply such as a battery to the device such as an inverter or motor. Note that the orientation of the high-voltage connector10when installed in a vehicle is not limited. However, in the following description, an upward direction is a Z direction inFIG.1, a forward direction is an X direction inFIG.1, and a leftward direction is a Y direction inFIG.1. Further, for a plurality of identical members, only some members may be denoted by a reference sign and the other members may not be denoted by the reference sign.

As shown inFIGS.1to4, the high-voltage connector10is structured such that a pair of terminal fittings16,16are mounted in a connector housing14to be fixed to a case12of the device such as an inverter. Note that a rear part of the case12is not shown inFIGS.1and2and the case12is not shown inFIGS.3and4for visibility and easy understanding.

The connector housing14is, for example, composed of an inner member made of electrically insulating synthetic resin or the like and an outer member made of metal and inserted in the inner member. The connector housing14is in the form of a bottomed rectangular tube with rounded corners open forward as a whole. The connector housing14includes a flange-like mounting piece18expanding radially outward on a rear end. Bolt holes20are formed to penetrate through four corners of the mounting piece18. A tubular shield member22formed by a conductor such as a metal is inserted in the inner periphery of the connector housing14. As shown inFIG.5, a pair of terminal insertion holes26,26penetrating in a front-rear direction are provided in a bottom surface24of the connector housing14.

As shown inFIG.1, the connector housing14is fixed to the case12by bolts28inserted through the bolt holes20with the rear surface thereof overlapped on the case12. As shown inFIGS.3and4, a ring-shaped sealing rubber30is disposed between the rear surface of the connector housing14and the case12, and liquid-tight sealing is provided between overlapping surfaces of the connector housing14and the case12by the sealing rubber30.

As shown inFIGS.5and6, squeezable ribs32aprojecting from one of facing inner surfaces31,31facing each other in a lateral direction toward the other and a squeezable rib32bprojecting from one of facing inner surfaces33,33facing each other in a vertical direction toward the other are provided on the inner periphery of each terminal insertion hole26. The squeezable ribs32project in the lateral direction or vertical direction and have a tapered shape narrowed toward a projecting tip. The squeezable ribs32aof the terminal insertion hole26projecting in the lateral direction are respectively provided in both end parts in the vertical direction of the terminal insertion hole26.

The terminal fitting16is formed of an electrically conductive metal material. As shown inFIGS.7to10, the terminal fitting16includes a terminal body portion34in the form of a flat plate. The terminal body portion34includes a frame-like portion36constituting an outer peripheral end part and a resilient contact portion38provided on an inner peripheral side of the frame-like portion36via a slit37. The resilient contact portion38is formed by partially cutting and raising a metal plate constituting the terminal body portion34, and integrally connected to the frame-like portion36on a base end. The resilient contact portion38is in the form of a leaf spring resiliently deformable in a plate thickness direction by being cut and raised to be cantilevered and inclined to an overlapping side with a mating terminal76to be described later, and allowed to tilt in the plate thickness direction with respect to the frame-like portion36by resilient deformation. A slit37formed between the frame-like portion36and the resilient contact portion38extends while surrounding the resilient contact portion38on three sides including a front side and both upper and lower sides. In this way, the resilient contact portion38provided by cutting and raising can be provided with a good yield and good durability.

The resilient contact portion38is at least partially inclined outward in the lateral direction (lateral direction inFIG.9), which is the plate thickness direction, from a rear end (left end inFIG.10) as the base end connected to the frame-like portion36toward a front end (right end inFIG.10) as a tip formed as a free end by the slit37. In this way, the resilient contact portion38projects outward in the lateral direction to the overlapping side with the mating terminal76to be described later with respect to the frame-like portion36.

A top part40of the resilient contact portion38where a projecting amount in the plate thickness direction from the frame-like portion36is maximum is set at an intermediate position between the rear end and the front end. The resilient contact portion38includes a first inclined portion42inclined to the overlapping side with the mating terminal76in the plate thickness direction from the rear end toward the top part40, and a projecting mount of the resilient contact portion38from the frame-like portion36in the plate thickness direction gradually increases from the rear end toward the top part40. Further, the resilient contact portion38includes a second inclined portion44inclined to a side opposite to the overlapping side with the mating terminal76from the top part40toward the front end, and the projecting amount of the resilient contact portion38from the frame-like portion36in the plate thickness direction gradually decreases from the top part40toward the front end. The top part40of the resilient contact portion38is a convex spot and projects more with respect to the frame-like portion36.

The frame-like portion36includes a recessed groove46. The recessed groove46is provided open in the upper or lower surface of the frame-like portion36and penetrates through the frame-like portion36in the lateral direction. The inner surface of a front side wall in the recessed groove46has an overhanging structure to be inclined forward with distance from an opening on a vertical side. The inner surface of the front side wall in the recessed groove46may have, for example, a stepped shape to be narrower in a part near the opening than in a part distant from the opening.

A fixing portion48and a wire connecting portion50are provided behind the terminal body portion34. The fixing portion48is provided to be continuous with the rear end of the terminal body portion34, extends orthogonally to the terminal body portion34and includes a bolt hole52penetrating in the front-rear direction. The wire connecting portion50is provided to be continuous with the rear end of the fixing portion48, extends orthogonally to both the terminal body portion34and the fixing portion48and includes a bolt hole54penetrating in the vertical direction.

Note that, since the pair of terminal fittings16,16are shaped plane-symmetrically in the lateral direction, one terminal fitting16shown inFIGS.7to10is described, but the other terminal fitting16is not described. Further, the recessed groove46of the one terminal fitting16is provided open in the upper surface of the frame-like portion36, and the recessed groove46of the other terminal fitting16is provided open in the lower surface of the frame-like portion36. As also understood from this, the plane-symmetrical shapes of the pair of terminal fittings16,16are not strictly limited to mathematically symmetrical shapes, but can be regarded as plane-symmetrical shapes even if these shapes are slightly different.

As shown inFIG.2, the terminal fitting16is fixed to the connector housing14by fixing the fixing portion48overlapped on the rear surface of the connector housing14to the connector housing14by a bolt56inserted through the bolt hole52. By fixing a rear part of the terminal fitting16to the connector housing14in this way, the terminal body portion34is positioned with respect to the connector housing14and a displacement such as a swing of the terminal body portion34is suppressed. Therefore, a surrounding space taking into consideration the swing and the like of the terminal body portion34can be drastically made narrower than in a conventional female terminal supported by a braided body or the like, and the high-voltage connector10can be reduced in size. Note that a method for fixing the fixing portion48to the connector housing14is not particularly limited.

The terminal body portion34of the terminal fitting16is inserted into the terminal insertion hole26provided in the connector housing14and projects forward in the inner periphery of the connector housing14. As shown inFIGS.5and6, the squeezable ribs32provided to project in the lateral direction from one facing inner surface31of the terminal insertion hole26are pressed against a rear end part of the terminal body portion34inserted into the terminal insertion hole26. In this way, the rear end part of the terminal body portion34is sandwiched in the lateral direction between the squeezable ribs32and the other facing inner surface31. Further, the squeezable rib32provided to project in the vertical direction from one facing inner surface33of the terminal insertion hole26is pressed against the rear end part of the terminal body portion34inserted into the terminal insertion hole26. In this way, the rear end part of the terminal body portion34is sandwiched in the vertical direction between the squeezable rib32and the other facing inner surface33.

In inserting the terminal body portion34into the terminal insertion hole26, the squeezable ribs32are appropriately squeezed, whereby position variations of a fastened part of the terminal fitting16by the bolt56and the terminal insertion hole26are allowed and the terminal fitting16is easily mounted into the connector housing14. Further, the terminal body portion34is positioned in the lateral direction and vertical direction on a front side with respect to the connector housing14, a displacement and the like of the terminal body portion34are further suppressed, and the saving of an accommodation space, a stable connected state to the mating terminal76and the like are achieved.

The terminal body portion34projecting in the inner periphery of the connector housing14is surrounded by the shield member22covering the inner peripheral surface of the connector housing14. In this way, the leakage of noise is prevented and, for example, an influence on surrounding electric circuits and the like is prevented in the high-voltage connector10constituting the high-voltage wiring.

Electric Shock Prevention Cap58

An electric shock prevention cap58is mounted on the terminal body portion34projecting into the inner peripheral space of the connector housing14. The electric shock prevention cap58is made of electrically insulating synthetic resin or the like, and structured to cover the tip surface and both vertical side surfaces of the terminal body portions34by being mounted on a tip part of the terminal body portion34. The electric shock prevention cap58has such an integrated structure that parts to be mounted on a pair of the terminal body portions34,34are coupled to each other, and is mountable collectively on the terminal fittings16,16. The electric shock prevention cap58is disposed to cover a space between the terminal body portion34facing each other from front, whereby the insertion of a finger or jig into the space between the terminal body portions34facing each other can be prevented. Further, the electric shock prevention cap58also has parts for covering spaces between the terminal body portions34,34and the connector housing14facing each other from front, and the insertion of a finger or jig into the spaces between the terminal body portions34,34and the connector housing14facing each other is also prevented by the electric shock prevention cap58. Note that the electric shock prevention cap58is not shown inFIG.3for visibility.

As shown inFIG.2, a wire60is connected to the wire connecting portion50of the terminal fitting16. The wire60is such an insulated wire that a core wire made of electrically conductive metal is covered around by an electrically insulating synthetic resin or the like. A crimping terminal62is conductively fixed to an end part of the core wire exposed from an insulation coating in the wire60by a means such as crimping. The crimping terminal62includes a wire fixing portion64in the form of a flat tube and a plate-like connecting portion66projecting from the wire fixing portion64, and the plate-like connecting portion66is formed with a bolt hole68penetrating in a thickness direction. The crimping terminal62is fixed to the wire connecting portion50of the terminal fitting16by a bolt70inserted through the bolt holes54,68and a nut72. In this way, the wire60is conductively connected to the terminal fitting16. The terminal fitting16is connected to an end part of the wire60without via a resiliently deformable member such as a braided body, and fixedly positioned.

The mating connector74includes a pair of the mating terminals76,76(seeFIG.11). The mating terminals76,76are respectively in the form of flat plates and provided side by side in the lateral direction while being spaced apart to enable the insertion of the terminal body portions34.

As shown inFIG.11, the high-voltage connector10is connected to the mating connector74by fitting the mating connector74into the inner periphery of the connector housing14. The high-voltage connector10and the mating connector74are fixedly positioned each other in a connected state. With the high-voltage connector10and the mating connector74connected, the terminal body portions34,34of the high-voltage connector10and the mating terminals76,76are overlapped in the plate thickness direction while contacting each other. Note that the structures of the high-voltage connector10and the mating connector74are simplified and schematically shown for visibility inFIG.11.

That is, the resilient contact portion38of the terminal body portion34projects outward in the lateral direction, which is the plate thickness direction, with respect to the frame-like portion36, and the mating terminal76overlapped on the lateral outer surface of the terminal body portion34contacts the top part40of the resilient contact portion38. In this way, the resilient contact portion38of the terminal body portion34is pushed by the mating terminal76and resiliently deformed to decrease an angle of inclination with respect to the frame-like portion36. A tilting degree of the resilient contact portion38with respect to the frame-like portion36changes according to relative positions of the terminal body portion34and the mating terminal76in the lateral direction. Therefore, even if an error occurs in the relative positions of the terminal body portion34and the mating terminal76in the lateral direction, the resilient contact portion38of the terminal body portion34is resiliently pressed against the mating terminal76and the contact state of the terminal body portion34and the mating terminal76is stably realized. Note that the terminal body portion34in a single state where the resilient contact portion38is not in contact with the mating terminal76is shown by a two-dot chain line inFIG.11.

As just described, since the terminal body portion34is provided with the resilient contact portion38allowed to be resiliently deformed and deflected, the contact state of the terminal body portion34and the mating terminal76is stably realized by a simple structure having a small number of components. Further, the resilient contact portion38allowed to be resiliently deformed and deflected is formed as an integrated structure with the frame-like portion36by cutting and raising, and a resistance increase caused by connecting two components cannot occur between the resilient contact portion38and the frame-like portion36. Therefore, excellent conductive performance is realized and a reduction of heat generated and the like caused by energization are achieved.

Further, by providing the terminal body portion34with the resilient contact portion38, the terminal body portion34to be connected to the mating terminal76in the form of a flat plate does not have a tubular shape as in the conventional female terminal, but has a flat plate shape. Since the structure of the terminal body portion34is simplified in this way, low cost and easy manufacturing of the terminal fitting16, the size reduction of the high-voltage connector10by narrowing the accommodation space for the terminal fittings16, and the like can be achieved.

By providing the first inclined portion42, the top part40of the resilient contact portion38projects more toward the mating terminal76than the frame-like portion36in the plate thickness direction, the mating terminal76contacts the resilient contact portion38of the terminal body portion34and the connection of the mating terminal76and the terminal body portion34is stably realized. Further, by providing a second inclined portion44in a front part of the resilient contact portion38, the mating terminal76is guided along the surface of the second inclined portion44in inserting the mating terminal76from front to rear of the terminal body portion34. Therefore, the mating terminal76is unlikely to be caught on the resilient contact portion38, the high-voltage connector10and the mating connector74are smoothly connected and the mating terminal76is inserted up to a proper connection position with respect to the terminal body portion34.

Since the resilient contact portion38of the terminal body portion34is resiliently brought into contact and conduction with the mating terminal76, it is not necessary to allow a displacement of the terminal fitting16with respect to the wire60by interposing a resiliently deformable member such as a braided body between the terminal fitting16and the wire60. Therefore, tolerances of the relative positions of the terminal body portion34and the mating terminal76are allowed by a simple structure having a small number of components, and the stable connection of the terminal body portion34and the mating terminal76is realized by the simple structure.

Second Embodiment

FIGS.12and13show a second embodiment of the present disclosure. A high-voltage connector80includes a pair of terminal fittings82,82. In the following description, substantially the same members and parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs in figures and are not described.

Unlike the terminal fitting16of the first embodiment, the terminal fitting82has a structure not including the wire connecting portion50, and is composed of a terminal body portion34and a fixing portion48. The fixing portion48of the terminal fitting82is overlapped on the rear surface of a connector housing14, and a plate-like connecting portion66of a crimping terminal62provided on an end part of a wire60is overlapped on the rear surface of the fixing portion48. A bolt56as a fixing member is inserted through a bolt hole52of the terminal fitting82and a bolt hole68of the crimping terminal62, and threadably inserted into a nut portion84of the connector housing14. In this way, the terminal fitting82and the crimping terminal62fixed to the wire60are collectively fixed substantially at the same position with respect to the connector housing14. The fixing portion48of the terminal fitting82and the plate-like connecting portion66of the crimping terminal62fixed to the connector housing14by the bolt56contact and overlap each other, and the terminal fitting82and the wire60are brought into conduction with each other. Note that the crimping terminal62may be arranged to be located between the connector housing14and the fixing portion48of the terminal fitting82, in other words, to be overlapped on the front surface of the fixing portion48. The fixing member for collectively fixing the terminal fitting82and the crimping terminal62provided on the wire60to the connector housing14is not limited to the bolt56and may be, for example, a pin, an alloy for brazing or the like.

According to such a second embodiment, since the wire60and the terminal fitting82are collectively fixed to the connector housing14, an input from the side of the wire60to the side of the terminal fitting82is immediately transferred to and received by the connector housing14and is unlikely to be transferred to the terminal body portion34of the terminal fitting82. Further, since a moment based on an input from the wire60is unlikely to act on the terminal fitting82as compared to the case where the fixed position of the terminal fitting82to the connector housing14and the fixed position of the wire60to the terminal fitting82are different, a swing and a positional deviation of the terminal fitting82are prevented.

Third Embodiment

FIG.14shows a third embodiment of the present disclosure. A high-voltage connector90includes a pair of terminal fittings92,92. Note that since the pair of terminal fittings92,92are shaped plane-symmetrically with each other, only one terminal fitting92is described as in the first embodiment.

The terminal fitting92is made of an electrically conductive metal material. As shown inFIGS.15and16, the terminal fitting92includes a plate-like terminal body portion94. A fixing portion48and a wire connecting portion50are integrally provided on a base end side (rear side) of the terminal body portion94. The terminal body portion94includes a flat plate-like portion96extending forward from the fixing portion48and a resilient contact portion98extending on the tip of the flat plate-like portion96. A width of the flat plate-like portion96in a vertical direction (Z direction and direction opposite to the Z direction inFIG.15) changes in two steps, and a tip side is narrower than the base end side. Note that the terminal fitting92can be, for example, obtained by press-working a plate made of electrically conductive metal.

The resilient contact portion98is provided with a curved folded portion100on the tip of the flat plate-like portion96, which is the tip of the terminal body portion94, and formed by folding the terminal body portion94at the folded portion100to extend toward the base end side. Accordingly, the terminal body portion94has a double structure on a tip part in which the resilient contact portion98and the flat plate-like portion96are facing each other while being separated from each other in a plate thickness direction. The resilient contact portion98is facing a tip part of the flat plate-like portion96having a small vertical width, and does not reach a base end part having a large vertical width.

The base end of the resilient contact portion98is integrally coupled to the folded portion100, and a tip part of the resilient contact portion98serves as a third inclined portion102. The third inclined portion102is inclined outward in a lateral direction (opposite to a Y direction inFIG.15) to an overlapping side with a mating terminal76(seeFIG.16) toward the base end of the terminal body portion94. That is, the resilient contact portion98is in the form of a leaf spring resiliently deformable in a plate thickness direction to be cantilevered and inclined to the overlapping side with the mating terminal76. In this way, the resilient contact portion98provided by folding can be provided with good manufacturability. The tip part of the resilient contact portion98constituted by the third inclined portion102is separated more from the flat plate-like portion96from the folded portion100toward the base end side and largely projects outward in the lateral direction toward the base end side.

An end part of the resilient contact portion98on the base end side of the terminal body portion94serves as a fourth inclined portion104. The fourth inclined portion104is inclined to an inner side in the lateral direction (Y direction inFIG.15), which is a side opposite to the overlapping side with the mating terminal76, toward the base end side of the terminal body portion94. The end part of the resilient contact portion98on the base end side of the terminal body portion94constituted by the fourth inclined portion104comes closer to the flat plate-like portion96toward the base end side of the terminal body portion94and a facing distance between the fourth inclined portion104and the flat plate-like portion96is minimum at an end part of the fourth inclined portion104on the base end side of the terminal body portion94. Accordingly, the resilient contact portion98is constituted by the third and fourth inclined portions102,103continuous with each other, and an outward projecting amount in the lateral direction is maximum at a boundary part between the end part of the third inclined portion102on the base end side of the terminal body portion94and a tip part of the fourth inclined portion104on the tip side of the terminal body portion94. The fourth inclined portion104has a shorter length than the third inclined portion102and deflection by bending in the plate thickness direction is suppressed. Note that the mating terminal76is virtually shown by a two-dot chain line inFIG.16. The mating terminal76is inserted from the tip side of the terminal body portion94while pushing the resilient contact portion98inward in the lateral direction, and overlapped in contact with the resilient contact portion98.

A lateral distance between the fourth inclined portion104and the flat plate-like portion96is set according to an angle change allowed for the third inclined portion102in a contact state of the resilient contact portion98and the mating terminal76. That is, when the resilient contact portion98is pushed laterally inward by the mating terminal76, the base end of the fourth inclined portion104abuts on the flat plate-like portion96, thereby limiting a laterally inward displacement amount of the resilient contact portion98and limiting the angle change of the third inclined portion102. Note that, in a state where the resilient contact portion98is not in contact with the mating terminal76, the base end of the fourth inclined portion104may be separated from the flat plate-like portion96or may be in contact with the flat plate-like portion96.

However, the fourth inclined portion104is not essential and, for example, the entire resilient contact portion may be constituted by the third inclined portion102. A part of the third inclined portion102substantially parallel to the flat plate-like portion96may be provided on the base end side of the terminal body portion94to increase a contact area of the resilient contact portion with the mating terminal76.

According to the high-voltage connector90including the terminal fittings92,92structured according to this embodiment, the contact state with the mating terminal76can be stably obtained by the resilient contact portion98of a simple structure formed by folding.

Further, by providing the folded portion100folded into a curved shape on the tip part of the terminal body portion94, the mating terminal76is unlikely to be caught on the tip part of the terminal body portion94and smoothly guided to an overlapping side with the resilient contact portion98when the mating terminal76is inserted from the tip side with respect to the terminal body portion94. Moreover, the tip part of the resilient contact portion98continuous with the folded portion100serves as the third inclined portion102, and the terminal body portion94has a lateral width reduced toward the tip in a part where the resilient contact portion98is formed. In this way, the contact state with the mating terminal76can be stably realized while the mating terminal76inserted from the tip side is prevented from being caught on the terminal body portion94.

The resilient contact portion98is inclined to the overlapping side with the mating terminal76toward the base end of the terminal body portion94and projects toward the mating terminal76in the third inclined portion102. Therefore, when the mating terminal76is inserted from the tip side of the terminal body portion94and overlapped on the resilient contact portion98, the resilient contact portion98projecting toward the mating terminal76stably contacts the mating terminal76.

Further, an approaching displacement amount of the resilient contact portion98to the flat plate-like portion96, accompanied by a change of an angle of inclination of the third inclined portion102, is limited by the abutment of the end part of the fourth inclined portion104on the base end side of the terminal body portion94on the flat plate-like portion96. Therefore, excessive deformation of the folded portion100is prevented and plastic deformation of the folded portion100is prevented. As a result, such as when the high-voltage connector90and an unillustrated mating connector are repeatedly connected and disconnected, the contact state of the resilient contact portion98of the terminal body portion94and the mating terminal76is stable.

Further, an edge of the resilient contact portion98on the base end side of the terminal body portion94is separated from a contact position with the mating terminal76in an overlapping direction with the mating terminal76by the fourth inclined portion104. This avoids the damage such as galling of the mating terminal76and the like by the contact of the edge of the resilient contact portion98one the base end side of the terminal body portion94with the mating terminal76.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG.17shows a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. A high-voltage connector110includes a pair of terminal fittings112,112.

Unlike the terminal fitting92of the third embodiment, the terminal fitting112has a structure not including the wire connecting portion50, and is composed of a terminal body portion94and a fixing portion48. The fixing portion48of the terminal fitting112is overlapped on the rear surface of a connector housing14, and a plate-like connecting portion66of a crimping terminal62provided on an end part of a wire60is overlapped on the rear surface of the fixing portion48. A bolt56as a fixing member is inserted through a bolt hole52of the terminal fitting112and a bolt hole68of the crimping terminal62, and threadably inserted into a nut portion84of the connector housing14. In this way, the terminal fitting112and the crimping terminal62fixed to the wire60are collectively fixed substantially at the same position with respect to the connector housing14. The fixing portion48of the terminal fitting112and the plate-like connecting portion66of the crimping terminal62fixed to the connector housing14by the bolt56contact and overlap each other, and the terminal fitting112and the wire60are brought into conduction with each other. Note that the crimping terminal62may be arranged to be located between the connector housing14and the fixing portion48of the terminal fitting112, in other words, to be overlapped on the front surface of the fixing portion48.

According to such a fourth embodiment, an input from the side of the wire60to the side of the terminal fitting112is immediately transferred to and received by the connector housing14and is unlikely to be transferred to the terminal body portion94of the terminal fitting112. Further, a moment based on an input from the wire60is unlikely to act on the terminal fitting112, and a swing and a positional deviation of the terminal fitting112are prevented.

Fifth Embodiment

FIGS.18to23show a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. A high-voltage connector114is structured such that a pair of terminal fittings118,118are mounted in a connector housing116to be fixed to a case of an unillustrated device. In the following description, substantially the same members and parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs in figures and are not described.

Connector Housing 116

The connector housing116is, for example, made of electrically insulating synthetic resin or the like. The connector housing116is in the form of a rectangular tube bent into an L shape as a whole and open forward and downward. A front tube portion120of the connector housing116open forward is provided with a separation wall124in the form of a flat plate extending in a front-rear direction (X direction and direction opposite to the X direction), dividing the front tube portion120into two in a lateral direction (Y direction and direction opposite to the Y direction) and defining a pair of terminal insertion holes122,122having a flat rectangular shape. Each terminal insertion hole122includes a pair of partition plates126,126located in a vertically central part and projecting inward from both side surfaces. A space located above the pair of partition plates126,126serves as a mating terminal insertion portion128into which a mating terminal76is inserted, and a space located below the pair of partition plates126,126serves as a terminal body portion accommodating portion130into which a terminal body portion34is accommodated. For example, as shown inFIG.20, a pair of resilient contact portions38,38are arranged to project and be capable of contacting the mating terminal76between facing surfaces of the pair of partition plates126,126. Further, for example, as shown inFIG.21, each of the pair of partition plates126,126includes a tapered pressing rib132provided on a lower surface, projecting toward the lower inner surface of the terminal body portion accommodating portion130and extending rearward from a front end part.

A rear wall portion136of a rear tube portion134of the connector housing116open downward is formed with a cut portion138cut over an entire surface except a lower end part. A nut portion84which is open rearward in a central part and into which a bolt142is threadably inserted is provided in the rear surface of a front wall portion140of the rear tube portion134of the connector housing116(seeFIG.22). Note that the bolt142is shown by a virtual line to facilitate understanding.

Unlike the terminal fitting16of the first embodiment, the terminal fitting118has a structure not including the wire connecting portion50, and is composed of a terminal body portion34and a fixing portion48as shown inFIG.23. As shown inFIG.22, the fixing portion48of the terminal fitting118extends downward in the vertical direction from the base end of the terminal body portion34and is overlapped on the rear surface of the connector housing116. Further, a plate-like connecting portion66of a crimping terminal62provided on an end part of a wire60is overlapped on the rear surface of the fixing portion48. A bolt142as a fixing member is inserted through a bolt hole52of the terminal fitting118and a bolt hole68of the crimping terminal62, and threadably inserted into the nut portion84of the connector housing116. In this way, the terminal fitting118and the crimping terminal62fixed to the wire60are collectively fixed substantially at the same position with respect to the connector housing116. The fixing portion48of the terminal fitting118and the plate-like connecting portion66of the crimping terminal62bolt-fastened to the connector housing116contact and overlap each other, and the terminal fitting118and the wire60are brought into conduction with each other.

In this way, the terminal body portion34of the terminal fitting118extends along an axial direction (X direction) of the terminal body portion accommodating portion130, and the terminal fitting118is so accommodated into the connector housing116that a plate thickness direction of the terminal body portion34is a vertical direction of the terminal insertion hole122. Further, the pressing ribs132press a tip part of the terminal body portion34toward the lower inner surface of the terminal body portion accommodating portion130.

According to the fifth embodiment as just described, the terminal fitting118is so accommodated into the connector housing116that the plate thickness direction of the terminal body portion34is the vertical direction of the terminal insertion hole122. Thus, a height reduction of the connector housing116itself can be advantageously achieved as compared to the case where the vertical direction of the terminal insertion hole122of the connector housing116is a plate width direction of the terminal body portion34. Further, the terminal body portion34and the mating terminal76can be accommodated and held in a connectable state in a smaller space by a simple structure of providing the pair of partition plates126,126projecting inward from the both side surfaces of the terminal insertion hole122. Furthermore, since the high-voltage connector114includes the pair of terminal fittings118,118, the high-voltage connector114can be advantageously fit and connected to a mating terminal including terminals arranged in parallel while being spaced apart by a certain distance in the plate width direction.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the tip part of the terminal body portion34provided on a side opposite to the fixing portion48of the L-shaped terminal fitting118may be lifted up by fixing the fixing portion48and the connector housing116. However, the tip part of the terminal body portion34can be pressed toward the lower inner surface by the pressing ribs132provided on the lower surfaces of the partition plates126of the terminal insertion hole122of the connector housing116. Therefore, the lift-up of the tip part of the terminal body portion34can be prevented and the L-shaped terminal fitting118can be stably positioned and held at a desired position with respect to the connector housing116.

Other Embodiments

The technique described in this specification is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the technique described in this specification.

(1) Although the high-voltage connector10including the pair of terminal fittings16,16is illustrated in the first embodiment, the number of terminal fitting(s) in a high-voltage connector may be one, three or more. Further, in the case of providing a pair of terminal fittings or three or more terminal fittings, those terminal fittings may be different in shape and size from each other. For example, the terminal fittings16of the first embodiment and the terminal fittings92of the third embodiment may be adopted in combination.

(2) Although the resilient contact portion38is formed by cutting and raising with the rear end side of the terminal body portion34as the base end in the first embodiment, the resilient contact portion38can also be formed, for example, by cutting and raising with a front end side of the terminal body portion34as a base end. In short, a free end of the resilient contact portion38may be located on either of the tip side and base end side of the terminal body portion34and it is easily avoided that the mating terminal76butts against the terminal body portion34to be caught by the resilient contact portion38if the free end of the resilient contact portion38is located on the base end side of the terminal body portion34.

(3) The resilient contact portion38may not necessarily be provided in an intermediate part of the terminal body portion and can be, for example, provided on an end part in the width direction (vertical direction of the first to fourth embodiments and lateral direction of the fifth embodiment) of the terminal body portion.

(4) A plurality of the resilient contact portions38may be provided in one terminal body portion34. In that case, the shapes, sizes and the like of the plurality of resilient contact portions38may be different from each other.

(5) The resilient contact portion38needs not be entirely inclined with respect to the frame-like portion36and may have, for example, a part extending substantially in parallel to the frame-like portion36.

(6) In the first embodiment, the mating terminals76,76are overlapped on the laterally outer surfaces of the terminal body portions34,34by connecting the high-voltage connector10and the mating connector74. However, the mating terminals76,76may be inserted between the terminal body portions34,34laterally facing each other and overlapped on the inner surfaces of the terminal body portions34,34. In this case, the resilient contact portion38of the first embodiment is cut and raised to project inward, i.e. toward a side opposite to that of the first embodiment, in the plate thickness direction with respect to the frame-like portion36. In short, an inclined part of the resilient contact portion is inclined to project to the overlapping side with the mating terminal76.

(7) Although the high-voltage connector10and the mating connector74are connected by inserting the mating terminal74into the inner periphery of the high-voltage connector10in the first embodiment, the high-voltage connector10may be, for example, inserted into the inner periphery of the mating connector74for connection.

(8) Also in the fifth embodiment, the squeezable ribs32may be provided on the base end side of the terminal body portion accommodating portion130as in the first embodiment. In this way, the terminal body portion34is more stably accommodated and held in the terminal body portion accommodating portion130.

List of Reference Numerals