Patent Publication Number: US-9905977-B2

Title: Motor terminal, motor terminal assembly having the same, and method of assembling motor using the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Divisional Application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/567,087 filed Dec. 11, 2014, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Application Nos. 10-2013-0154011 and 10-2013-0154012, both filed on Dec. 11, 2013, whose entire disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present application relates to a motor terminal, a motor terminal assembly having the same, and a method of assembling a motor using the same, and more particularly, to a motor terminal for connecting a power source to a motor, a motor terminal assembly having the same, and a method of assembling a motor using the same. 
     2. Background 
     A motor is a device which converts electrical energy into rotational energy using force received by a conductor in a magnetic field. The motor typically includes a rotatable shaft, a rotor coupled to the shaft, and a stator fixed in a housing. The stator is installed around the rotor with a gap therebetween. A coil is wound around the stator so as to form a rotating magnetic field. 
     In a split core type stator, an annular busbar is arranged on the stator. A coil on the stator is connected to the busbar through a coil terminal so as to apply current to the busbar. The busbar has a busbar terminal connected to power sources having different polarities. 
     The busbar terminal is connected to a terminal for connection to a power source and the terminal is provided in a bracket covering a housing of a motor. The bracket is formed with a terminal hole for mounting of the terminal. Typically, the terminal is installed into the terminal hole in a fixed state. 
     Meanwhile, the terminal may be configured so as to be movable in the terminal hole while having a predetermined displacement, in order to secure an installation pace in a vehicle and achieve reduction of an assembly tolerance and improvement in accuracy of a terminal position. 
     However, such a terminal assembly may cause damage to the terminal since the terminal is inclined or biased to one side in the process in which the terminal is inserted into the terminal hole. In addition, productivity may be lowered due to delay in installation processes of the terminal. 
     In this case, since the terminal is fixed into the terminal hole, position accuracy between the terminal and another terminal has to be managed in order for the terminal to connect with other components. For this reason, the terminal has a problem in that costs are increased and management processes are added. Furthermore, there is a problem in that a significant installation space is required due to addition of fusing, a harness, or the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating terminal holes and connection terminals connected to a busbar terminal; 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a motor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a motor terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a motor shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating the terminal inserted into the terminal hole; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating hook portions having restricted movement due to fixed ribs; 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the terminal moved to one side from the state in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the hook portions having restricted movement due to fixed end portions; 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating the terminal moved to one side from the state in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a method of assembling the motor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 11  shows are views illustrating a process of assembling the motor according to the assembly method of the motor shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a view illustrating a motor terminal assembly according to another embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the motor terminal assembly shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  shows views illustrating a state in which a terminal moves; 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating a method of assembling a motor using the motor terminal assembly shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 16  shows views illustrating a process of assembling a motor according to the assembly method of the motor shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a view illustrating a state in which a terminal of another component is coupled to a motor terminal; 
         FIG. 18  is a view illustrating a motor terminal assembly according to a further embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the motor terminal assembly shown in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a flowchart illustrating a method of assembling a motor using the motor terminal assembly shown in  FIG. 18 ; and 
         FIG. 21  shows views illustrating a process of assembling a motor according to the assembly method of the motor shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. While the present application is shown and described in connection with exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The terms and words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as their ordinary or dictionary sense. On the basis of the principle that the inventor can define the appropriate concept of a term in order to describe his/her own invention in the best way, it should be construed as a meaning and concepts for complying with the technical idea of the present application. In addition, detailed descriptions of constructions well known in the art may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the gist of the present application. 
       FIG. 1  is a view illustrating terminal holes and connection terminals connected to a busbar terminal. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a stator  2  may be accommodated in a housing  1  and a busbars  3  may be provided on the stator. A rotor  5  may be coupled to a shaft  4 . The busbar  3  may be connected with cables  6  for power supply and an end portion of each cable  6  may be provided with a connection terminal  11 . 
     A bracket  200  may be assembled on an opened upper surface of the housing  1 . The bracket  200  may be formed with terminal holes  210 . 
       FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a motor terminal assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.  FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a motor terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.  FIGS. 2 and 3  clearly show only main features for conceptually and obviously understanding the disclosure. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are conceived and the present application need not be limited to specific features shown in the drawings. 
     Referring  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a motor terminal  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application may include a body  110  and a pair of hook portions  120 . 
     The body  110  may include a connection terminal  111  therein and be formed in a female form. One side of the connection terminal  111  may be electrically connected to a cable  6  connected to a busbar  3 , and the other side thereof may be electrically connected to a connector inserted into the body  110 . 
     The body  110  may include a rear end portion  112  through which one side of the connection terminal  111  is connected to the cable  6  and a front end portion  113  through which the other side of the connection terminal  111  is connected to a terminal of another component. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a motor shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The body  110  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     In a motor terminal assembly  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a terminal hole  210  may be formed in a bracket  200  and the terminal  100  may be installed so as to pass through the terminal hole  210  toward the inside of the bracket  200  from the outside thereof. The rear end portion  112  of the body  110  passes through the terminal hole  210  and is located inside the bracket  200 . 
     Centering ribs  114  may be formed on both sides of the body  110  so as to be symmetrical on the basis of a criteria line CL passing a center of the body  110  in a width direction (an X-axis direction in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and protrude in the width direction. Specifically, a pair of centering ribs  114  may be respectively formed at both side edges of the body  110  with the hook portions  120  interposed therebetween. The centering ribs  114  may serve to prevent the terminal  100  from being inclined or biased in an initial state in which the terminal  100  is inserted into the terminal hole  210 . 
     Meanwhile, each of the centering ribs  114  may include a first cutting portion  115 . The first cutting portion  115  may be formed by cutting a corner formed by a tip surface  114   a  and a side surface  114   b  of the centering rib  114 . The first cutting portion  115  of each of the pair of centering ribs  114  formed on both sides of the body  110  may be formed in a wedge form and may allow the terminal  100  to be aligned and inserted into the terminal hole  210  in the initial state in which the terminal  100  is inserted into the terminal hole  210 . 
     The rear end portion  112  of the body  110  may be provided with a second cutting portion  116 . The second cutting portion  116  may be formed by cutting a corner formed by an end surface  112   a  and both side surfaces  112   b . The second cutting portion  116  formed at the rear end portion  112  of the body  110  may be formed in a wedge form and may allow the terminal  100  to be aligned and inserted into the terminal hole  210  in the initial state in which the terminal  100  is inserted into the terminal hole  210 . 
     Meanwhile, the front end portion  113  of the body  110  may have a larger horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole  210  so as to be caught by the terminal hole  210  and located outside the bracket  200 . On the other hand, the rear end portion  112  of the body  110  may have a smaller horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole  210  such that the terminal  100  freely moves in the terminal hole  210 . 
     As a result, the terminal may freely move within a range of the terminal hole  210  in a state in which a terminal of another component such as an ECU is directly connected to the terminal  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the body  110  may be configured of a first part  110 A and a second part  110 B which are coupled to each other. The hook portions  120  may be formed at the first and second parts  110 A and  110 B, respectively. Coupling protrusions  110 Aa may be formed on front and back surfaces of the first part  110 A. Coupling holes  110 Bb into which the coupling protrusions are fitted may be formed on front and back surfaces of the second part  110 B. Here, the front and back surfaces of the first part  110 A mean front and back surfaces of the body  110  on the basis of a longitudinal direction of the body  110  (a Y-axis direction in  FIG. 3 ). 
     The hook portions  120  may serve to support the terminal  100  such that the terminal  100  is guided to be aligned with respect to the terminal hole  210  and is not decoupled outward from the bracket  200  when the terminal  100  is inserted into the terminal hole  210 . The hook portions  120  may be symmetrical on both sides of the body  110  on the basis of a criteria line C, and may be open to be further away from each other as directed toward the front end portion  113  from the rear end portion  112  and be elastically deformable. 
       FIG. 5  is a view illustrating the terminal inserted into the terminal hole. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the terminal  100  is inserted into the terminal hole  210 , the hook portions  120  are deformed so as to be close to each other in a state of having restoring force. In this case, when the terminal hole  210  has a larger thickness than a design specification, end portions of the hook portions  120  are caught by an inner wall of the terminal hole  210  in the latter half of the insertion of the terminal  100  and thus the hook portions  120  may become close to each other. To resolve this problem, the end portions of the hook portions  120  may be formed with third cutting portions  117 . 
     The pair of third cutting portions  117  may be formed by cutting corners formed by end surfaces  121  (see  FIG. 4 ) and outside surfaces  122  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the hook portions  120 . The third cutting portions  117  may prevent the end portions of the hook portions  120  from being caught by the inner wall of the terminal hole  210  in the latter half of the insertion of the terminal  100  even though a thickness tolerance with the terminal hole  210  is generated. 
       FIG. 6  is a view illustrating the hook portions having restricted movement due to fixed ribs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the terminal  100  inserted into the terminal hole  210  may be configured so as not to be decoupled from the terminal hole  210  by the hook portions  120  caught by an inside surface of the bracket  200 . In this case, a pair of fixed ribs  220  for restricting movement of the pair of hook portions  120  may protrude from the inside surface of the bracket  200  around the terminal hole  210 . A distance between the fixed ribs  220  for respectively supporting the pair of hook portions  120  may be smaller than a maximum open distance of the pair of hook portions  120  in a state in which no external force is applied thereto. 
       FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the terminal moved to one side from the state in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the terminal  100  may move to one side in the terminal hole  210 . When the terminal hole  100  moves to one side, movement of one of the pair of hook portions  120  is restricted by the associated fixed rib  220  and thus the hook portion  120  provides repulsive force in a direction opposite to movement of the terminal  100 . As a result, the terminal  100  may more smoothly move in the terminal hole  210 . In addition, the fixed rib  220  may allow the terminal  100  to be aligned on the basis of the center of the terminal hole  210  in a state in which the terminal  100  is mounted into the terminal hole  210 . 
       FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the hook portions having restricted movement due to fixed end portions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , each hook portion  120  may include a first fixed end portion  123  and a second fixed end portion  124  which restrict movement of the hook portion  120 , in place of the fixed ribs  220  formed at the bracket  200 . 
     The first fixed end portion  123  may protrude from an end portion of the hook portion  120  in a vertical direction to a longitudinal direction of the hook portion  120  so as to support an inside surface  230  of the bracket  200 . The second fixed end portion  124  may extend from the end portion of the hook portion  120  in the longitudinal direction of the hook portion  120  so as to support the inner wall of the terminal hole  210 . 
       FIG. 9  is a view illustrating the terminal moved to one side from the state in  FIG. 8 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , when the terminal hole  100  moves to one side, movement of one of the pair of hook portions  120  is restricted by the associated first and second fixed end portions  123  and  124  and thus the hook portion  120  provides repulsive force in the direction opposite to movement of the terminal  100 . As a result, the terminal  100  may more smoothly move in the terminal hole  210 . In addition, the first and second fixed end portions  123  and  124  may allow the terminal  100  to be aligned on the basis of the center of the terminal hole  210  in a state in which the terminal  100  is mounted into the terminal hole  210 . 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a method of assembling the motor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.  FIGS. 11A to 11C  are views illustrating a process of assembling the motor according to the assembly method of the motor shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Hereinafter, a method of assembling the motor using the above-mentioned motor terminal assembly will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11A to 11C . 
     First, as shown in  FIGS. 10, 11A, and 11B , the connection terminal  111  connected to each cable  6  may pass through the terminal hole  210  and the bracket  200  may be assembled to the motor housing  1  (S 100 ). 
     Next, the first and second parts  110 A and  110 B may be mutually assembled to the associated connection terminal  111  so as to be coupled to each other (S 200 ). Since the body  110  is divided into the first and second parts  110 A and  110 B, the body  110  may be more easily coupled to the connection terminal  111 . 
     Next, the assembled terminal  100  may be pushed and inserted into the terminal hole  210  (S 300 ). Since the hook portions  120  are pushed and enter along the terminal hole  210 , the terminal  100  may be easily installed in the terminal hole  210 . 
     In a general vehicle motor, a male terminal for receiving a power source may be directly provided in the motor and the male terminal of the motor may be connected to a male terminal of another component such as an ECU by fusing. However, in such a type of terminal assembly structure, since a significant space is required due to fusing and a position between the male terminals has to be accurately managed, there is a problem in that costs are increased and management processes are added. Meanwhile, in another type of terminal assembly structure, when a female terminal is provided in the motor, a harness for connection to a male terminal of another component is required. For this reason, there is a problem in that an installation space is required and costs are increased. To basically resolve such problems, a motor terminal assembly and a method of assembling a motor according to another embodiment of the present application allow a motor terminal to be directly connected to another component such as an ECU. 
       FIG. 12  is a view illustrating a motor terminal assembly according to another embodiment of the present application.  FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the motor terminal assembly shown in  FIG. 12 .  FIGS. 12 and 13  clearly show only main features for conceptually and obviously understanding the disclosure. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are conceived and the present application need not be limited to specific features shown in the drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a motor terminal assembly  1000  may include a terminal case  1100  and a flexible cable  1200 . 
     The terminal case  1100  may include a connection terminal  1110  therein and be formed in a female form. One side of the connection terminal  111  may be electrically connected to the flexible cable  1200 , and the other side thereof may be electrically connected to a terminal of another component inserted into the terminal case  1100 . 
     The terminal case  1100  may include a front end portion  1120 , a body portion  1130 , and a rear end portion  1140 . The front end portion  1120 , the body portion  1130 , and the rear end portion  1140  of the terminal case  1100  are only classified according to shapes and functional characteristics thereof for description thereof, and may one means connected to each other. 
     A terminal hole  310  may be formed on a bracket  300  and the terminal case  1100  may be installed so as to pass through the terminal hole  310  toward the inside of the bracket  300  from the outside thereof. When the terminal case  1100  is inserted into the terminal hole  310 , the front end portion  1120  may be formed on the bracket  300  and the rear end portion  1140  may pass through the terminal hole  310  and be located in the bracket  300 . The body portion  1130  may be located in the terminal hole  310 . 
     First, the front end portion  1120  may have a larger horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole  310  so as to be caught by the terminal hole  310  and located outside the bracket  300 . 
     On the other hand, the body portion  1130  may have a smaller horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole  310  such that the terminal case  1100  freely moves in the terminal hole  310 . As a result, the terminal case  1100  may freely move within a range of the terminal hole  310  in a state in which a terminal of another component such as an ECU is directly connected to the terminal case  1100 . 
     The rear end portion  1140  may have a larger horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole  310  so as to be formed beneath the body portion  1130  and caught by the terminal hole  310  within the bracket  300 . The rear end portion  1140  may be formed in an elastically deformable wedge block and may allow the terminal case  1100  to be aligned and inserted into the terminal hole  310  in an initial state in which the terminal case  1100  is inserted into the terminal hole  310 . 
     The flexible cable  1200  is connected to a busbar terminal  410  connected to a busbar  400 . The busbar terminal  410  may be formed upward from the busbar  400 . When a height of a lower end of the connection terminal  1110  is set as H of  FIG. 2 , the busbar terminal  410  may extend to a higher point than H of  FIG. 2  in the vertical direction. As a result, the flexible cable  1200  which connects the connection terminal  1110  to the busbar terminal  410  may be arranged in a substantially “U” shape. In this case, the flexible cable  1200  may be arranged such that an end  1210  of the flexible cable  1200  connected to the busbar terminal  410  is located at a higher point than the height H of the lower end of the connection terminal  1110 . This enables damage to a junction portion between the flexible cable  1200  and the busbar terminal  410  caused due to movement of the terminal case  1100  to be minimized. 
     Since the shape of the flexible cable  1200  is easily deformed according to movement of the terminal case  1100 , the flexible cable  1200  may allow the terminal case  1100  to move in a state in which the terminal case  1100  is connected to the busbar terminal  410 . 
       FIGS. 14A to 14C  are views illustrating a state in which the terminal case moves. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14A and 14B , the terminal case  1100  may move in the vertical and horizontal directions within a range of the rectangular-shaped terminal hole  310  having a predetermined width W and length L. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 14C , the terminal case  1100  may rotate within the range of the terminal hole  310 . 
       FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating a method of assembling a motor using the motor terminal assembly shown in  FIG. 12 .  FIGS. 16A to 16E  are views illustrating a process of assembling a motor according to the assembly method of the motor shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the method of assembling a motor using the motor terminal assembly  1000  may first connect the flexible cable  1200  to the busbar terminal  410  protruding upward from the busbar  400  (S 110 , see  FIGS. 16A and 16B ). 
     Next, the flexible cable  1200  connected to the busbar terminal  410  may pass through the terminal hole  310  and be extracted therefrom, and the bracket  300  may be assembled to a motor housing  500  (S 120 , see  FIG. 16C ). 
     Next, the flexible cable  1200  may be connected to the terminal case  1100  (S 130 , see  FIG. 16D ). 
     Next, the terminal case  1100  connected to the flexible cable  1200  may be inserted into the terminal hole  310  (S 140 , see  FIG. 16E ). 
       FIG. 17  is a view illustrating a state in which a terminal of another component is coupled to the motor terminal. Since the terminal case  1100  may move in the terminal hole  310 , the terminal of another component  2  such as an ECU may be directly connected to the terminal case  1100 . As a result, it may be possible to minimize an installation space without a need for accurately managing a position between the terminals 
       FIG. 18  is a view illustrating a motor terminal assembly according to a further embodiment of the present application.  FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the motor terminal assembly shown in  FIG. 18 .  FIGS. 18 and 19  clearly show only main features for conceptually and obviously understanding the disclosure. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are conceived and the present application need not be limited to specific features shown in the drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , a motor terminal assembly  2000  of the present application may include a terminal case  2100  and a busbar terminal  2200 . 
     The terminal case  2100  may include a front end portion  2110 , a body portion  2120 , and hook portions  2130 . The front end portion  2110 , the body portion  2120 , and the hook portions  2130  of the terminal case  2100  are only classified according to shapes and functional characteristics thereof for description thereof, and may one means connected to each other. 
     The front end portion  2110  may include a terminal accommodation portion  2110   a  which accommodates a terminal of another component therein. The front end portion  2110  may have a larger horizontal cross-section than a terminal hole  310  so as to be caught by the terminal hole  310  and located outside a bracket  300 . On the other hand, the body portion  2120  may have a smaller horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole  3100  such that the terminal case  2100  freely moves in the terminal hole  310 . 
     The hook portions  2130  may be symmetrically formed on both sides of the body portion  2120 , and may be open to be further away from each other as directed toward the front end portion  2110  and be elastically deformable. 
     The busbar terminal  2200  serves to directly and electrically connect the terminal of another component to a busbar  400 . The busbar terminal  2200  may include a base portion  2210  and an extension portion  2220 . The base portion  2210  is connected to the busbar  400 . The extension portion  2220  may extend from the base portion  2210  and be coupled to the terminal case  2100  so as to be connected to the terminal accommodation portion  2110   a . In this case, the extension portion  2220  may have a plurality of bent regions  2200   a  and  2200   b  in consideration of a relative positional deviation between the terminal case  2100  and the busbar  400 . 
       FIG. 20  is a flowchart illustrating a method of assembling a motor using the motor terminal assembly shown in  FIG. 18 .  FIGS. 21A to 21C  are views illustrating a process of assembling a motor according to the assembly method of the motor shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 20 and 21 , method of assembling a motor using the motor terminal assembly  2000  may first assemble the bracket  300  to a motor housing  500  such that the busbar terminal  2200  is aligned to the terminal hole  310  (S 210 , see  FIGS. 21A and 21B ). 
     Next, the terminal case  2100  may be coupled to the terminal hole  310  such that the busbar terminal  2200  is connected to the terminal accommodation portion  2110   a  (S 220 , see  FIG. 21C ). 
     The motor terminal, the motor terminal assembly having the same, and the method of assembling a motor using the same according to the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present application, a terminal includes a pair of hook portions which are symmetrically formed and is configured to be inserted into a terminal hole in an aligned state, thereby preventing damage to the terminal. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present application, the terminal has a pair of centering ribs which are symmetrically formed and a corner of a front end portion of each centering rib is cut and configured in a wedge form, thereby more effectively preventing the terminal from being inclined or biased in an initial state in which the terminal is inserted into the terminal hole. 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the present application, a corner of a rear end portion of a body of the terminal is cut and configured in a wedge form, thereby allowing the terminal to be aligned in the initial state in which the terminal is inserted into the terminal hole. 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the present application, corners of end surfaces of the hook portions are cut outward, thereby preventing the hook portions from not being spread by the end surfaces of the hook portions being caught due to a thickness tolerance with the terminal hole in the latter half of insertion of the terminal into the terminal hole. 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the present application, fixed ribs for restricting movement of the hook portions are formed on an inside surface of a bracket around the terminal hole, thereby allowing the terminal to freely move in the terminal hole and smoothly move in a state in which a predetermined repulsive force is added thereto. 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the present application, a body of the terminal is divided into first and second parts which are mutually coupled and the body is configured to be assembled to a connection terminal in a state in which the connection terminal connected to a busbar terminal is extracted from the terminal hole, thereby enabling an assembly process of a motor to be more easily and rapidly performed. 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the present application, a terminal of a vehicle component such as an ECU is directly connected to the motor terminal and the directly connected terminal is configured to move in the terminal hole, thereby minimizing an installation space without a need for accurately managing a position between the terminals. 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the present application, a freely deformable flexible cable is used to connect the busbar terminal to the connection terminal of the terminal, thereby allowing the terminal to stably move. 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the present application, the busbar terminal is directly connected to a terminal accommodation portion of a terminal case and is configured to serve as the connection terminal, thereby simplifying the configuration and minimizing the installation space. 
     The present application is directed to a motor terminal capable of being inserted into a terminal hole in an aligned state so as not to be inclined or biased to one side when the terminal is inserted into the terminal hole in a state in which the terminal hole is larger than the terminal, a motor terminal assembly having the same, and a method of assembling a motor using the same. 
     In addition, the present application is directed to a motor terminal capable of being easily inserted into a terminal hole regardless of a thickness tolerance with the terminal hole, a motor terminal assembly having the same, and a method of assembling a motor using the same. 
     In addition, the present application is directed to a motor terminal capable of freely moving in a terminal hole and smoothly moving in a state in which a predetermined repulsive force is added thereto, a motor terminal assembly having the same, and a method of assembling a motor using the same. 
     In addition, the present application is directed to a motor terminal assembly in which a position between terminals need not be accurately managed and an installation space may be minimized. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. 
     According to an aspect of the present application, a motor terminal includes a body including a connection terminal, a rear end portion allowing the connection terminal to be connected to a busbar terminal, and a front end portion allowing the connection terminal to be connected to a terminal of another component, and a pair of hook portions formed on both sides of the body, respectively, and configured so as to be open to be further away from each other as directed toward the front end portion from the rear end portion and to be elastically deformable. 
     The body may include a pair of centering ribs formed on both sides of the body so as to be symmetrical on the basis of a criteria line and protrude in a width direction. 
     Each of the centering ribs may include a first cutting portion formed by cutting a corner formed by a tip surface and a side surface. 
     The body may include a pair of second cutting portions formed so as to be symmetrical on the basis of a criteria line and by cutting corners formed by an end surface and both side surfaces of the rear end portion. 
     The motor terminal may further include a pair of third cutting portions formed by cutting corners formed by end surfaces and outside surfaces of the pair of hook portions. 
     The body may include a first part in which one of the pair of hook portions is formed and a second part in which the other of the hook portions is formed, the second part being coupled to the first part. 
     The first part may include coupling protrusions formed on front and back surfaces thereof, and the second part may include coupling holes formed on front and back surfaces thereof, the coupling protrusions being fitted into the coupling holes. 
     Each of the hook portions may include a first fixed end portion which extends in a first direction from an end portion thereof to support an inside surface of a bracket around a terminal hole, and a second fixed end portion which extends in a different direction from the first direction from the end portion to support an inner wall of the terminal hole. 
     The pair of hook portions may be symmetrical on the basis of a criteria line passing a center of the body in a width direction. 
     According to another aspect of the present application, a motor terminal assembly includes a bracket formed with a terminal hole, and a terminal including a body which includes a connection terminal, a rear end portion allowing the connection terminal to be connected to a busbar terminal, and a front end portion allowing the connection terminal to be connected to a terminal of another component, and a pair of hook portions formed on both sides of the body, respectively, and configured so as to be open to be further away from each other as directed toward the front end portion from the rear end portion and to be elastically deformable, wherein the front end portion has a larger horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole so as to be caught by the terminal hole, and the rear end portion has a smaller horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole so as to move in the terminal hole. 
     The bracket may include fixed ribs which protrude from an inside surface around the terminal hole to restrict movement of the pair of hook portions. 
     Each of the hook portions may include a first fixed end portion which extends in a first direction from an end portion thereof to support an inside surface of the bracket around the terminal hole, and a second fixed end portion which extends in a different direction from the first direction from the end portion to support an inner wall of the terminal hole. 
     The pair of hook portions may be symmetrical on the basis of a criteria line passing a center of the body in a width direction. 
     According to still another aspect of the present application, a method of assembling a motor using the motor terminal assembly of the above another aspect includes a) assembling the bracket to a motor housing in such a manner that the connection terminal connected to a cable passes through the terminal hole, b) assembling the terminal by coupling the body to the connection terminal, and c) inserting the assembled terminal into the terminal hole. 
     The body may include a first part in which one of the pair of hook portions is formed and a second part in which the other of the hook portions is formed, the second part being coupled to the first part, and in the b) assembling the terminal, the first and second parts may be coupled to each other such that the body is coupled to the connection terminal. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present application, a motor terminal assembly includes a terminal including a connection terminal, a front end portion allowing the connection terminal to be connected to a terminal of another component and having a larger horizontal cross-section than a terminal hole so as to be caught by the terminal hole outside a bracket, and a body portion formed beneath the front end portion and having a smaller horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole so as to move in the terminal hole, and a flexible cable connecting a busbar terminal to the connection terminal. 
     The terminal may include a rear end portion which is formed beneath the body portion and has a larger horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole so as to be caught by the terminal hole inside the bracket. 
     The rear end portion may be formed in an elastically deformable wedge block. 
     The flexible cable may be arranged in a U-shape from the connection terminal to the busbar terminal. 
     The busbar terminal may extend to a higher point than a lower end of the connection terminal in a vertical direction. 
     According to a further aspect of the present application, a motor terminal assembly includes a terminal case including a front end portion including a terminal accommodation portion accommodating a terminal of another component and having a larger horizontal cross-section than a terminal hole so as to be caught by the terminal hole outside a bracket, and a body portion formed beneath the front end portion and having a smaller horizontal cross-section than the terminal hole so as to move in the terminal hole, and a busbar terminal including a base portion connected to a busbar, and an extension portion extending from the base portion and being coupled to the terminal case so as to be connected to the terminal accommodation portion. 
     The motor terminal assembly may further include a pair of hook portions formed on both sides of the body, respectively, and configured so as to be open to be further away from each other as directed toward the front end portion and to be elastically deformable. 
     The extension portion may include at least one bent region. 
     According to a still further aspect of the present application, a method of assembling a motor using the motor terminal assembly of the above yet another aspect includes connecting the flexible cable to the busbar terminal, assembling the bracket to a motor housing in such a manner that the flexible cable connected to the busbar terminal passes through the terminal hole, connecting the flexible cable to the connection terminal of the terminal, and inserting the terminal connected to the flexible cable into the terminal hole. 
     According to a yet further aspect of the present application, a method of assembling a motor using the motor terminal assembly of the above further aspect includes assembling the bracket to a motor housing such that the busbar terminal is aligned to the terminal hole, and coupling the terminal case to the terminal hole such that the busbar terminal is connected to the terminal accommodation portion. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.