Patent Publication Number: US-2022224037-A1

Title: Terminal and wire with terminal

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a terminal and a wire with terminal. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, a terminal is known which includes a tube portion, into which a mating terminal is inserted, and a wire connecting portion to be connected to a wire (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, an aluminum wire crimping terminal described in Patent Document 1 includes an inter-terminal connecting portion formed into a tubular shape and a plurality of barrels (corresponding to a wire connecting portion) to be connected to a wire. 
     Generally, such a terminal is provided with a resilient contact piece inside the tube portion, and a mating terminal inserted into the tube portion is pressed toward an inner wall of the tube portion by the resilient contact piece. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: JP 2005-050736 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved 
     In the case of manufacturing terminals each provided with a resilient contact piece inside a tube portion, intervals between the resilient contact pieces and the inner walls of the tube portions may vary. If the interval between the resilient contact piece and the inner wall is large, the connection of the mating terminal and the terminal is loose. Conversely, if the interval is small, a large force is necessary when a worker inserts the mating terminal into the tube portion, thereby reducing workability. 
     Thus, the aforementioned intervals have been conventionally inspected. Specifically, light is, for example, irradiated to a front opening of the tube portion from outside the tube portion and the light coming out from a rear opening is received by a light receiver, and the interval is inspected from a light reception result. 
     In the case of the aluminum wire crimping terminal described in Patent Document 1, if light is irradiated toward a front opening (opening on a side opposite to an opening on a side where the barrels are provided) of the inter-terminal connecting portion, part of the irradiated light passes through the inside of the inter-terminal connecting portion and comes out from a rear opening (opening on the side where the barrels are provided) even if the wire is connected. Thus, easy inspection is possible. 
     However, depending on the shape of the wire connecting portion, the propagation of the light may be obstructed by the wire connecting portion and the light may not propagate straight inside the tube portion. Alternatively, even if part of the light propagates straight inside the tube portion, a cross-sectional area of an optical path becomes narrower due to the presence of the wire connecting portion and a sufficient amount of the light may not come out. In such a case, the interval cannot be accurately inspected. 
     A technique capable of accurately inspecting an interval between a resilient contact piece and an inner wall of a tube portion without depending on the shape of a wire connecting portion is disclosed in this specification. 
     Means to Solve the Problem 
     The present disclosure is directed to a terminal to be connected to a mating terminal, the terminal including a tube portion and a wire connecting portion, wherein the wire connecting portion is provided on a rear end part of the tube portion, a resilient contact piece is provided inside the tube portion, the resilient contact piece presses the mating terminal inserted from front of the tube portion toward an inner wall of the tube portion, a first opening and a second opening are formed in side walls of the tube portion, and the first opening is formed on one side in a direction intersecting a pressing direction of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece, the second opening is formed on the other side, and the resilient contact piece is partially exposed from the first and second openings with an optical path of light entering from either one of the first or second opening and coming out from the other secured. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to accurately inspect an interval between a resilient contact piece and an inner wall of a tube portion without depending on the shape of a wire connecting portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a section (section along A-A shown in  FIG. 7 ) of a wire with terminal according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a terminal. 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of the terminal. 
         FIG. 4  is a section along B-B shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front side view of the terminal. 
         FIG. 6  is a section along D-D shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the terminal. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the terminal. 
         FIG. 9  is a section along C-C shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a section of the wire with terminal before a slide portion is slid. 
         FIG. 11  is a section showing the arrangement of a light source and a light receiver in an interval inspection process. 
         FIG. 12  is a section of a tube portion according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a section of a tube portion according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION 
     Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) The terminal of the present disclosure is a terminal to be connected to a mating terminal and includes a tube portion and a wire connecting portion, wherein the wire connecting portion is provided on a rear end part of the tube portion, a resilient contact piece is provided inside the tube portion, the resilient contact piece presses the mating terminal inserted from front of the tube portion toward an inner wall of the tube portion, a first opening and a second opening are formed in side walls of the tube portion, and the first opening is formed on one side in a direction intersecting a pressing direction of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece, the second opening is formed on the other side, and the resilient contact piece is partially exposed from the first and second openings with an optical path of light entering from either one of the first or second opening and coming out from the other secured. 
     According to the above terminal, since the wire connecting portion is not present on a path from the first opening to the second opening, an interval between the resilient contact piece and the inner wall of the tube portion can be accurately inspected without depending on the shape of the wire connecting portion, for example, by irradiating light toward the first opening from outside the tube portion and inspecting the interval based on a light reception result of the light having passed through the first and second openings and received by a light receiver. 
     (2) Preferably, the tube portion is shaped by annularly bending a plate-like metal member and connecting one and the other end parts in a circumferential direction of the metal member and includes a locking piece, a third opening and a locked piece, the locking piece protrudes from an edge part of the one end part, the third opening is at least partially formed in the locking piece, the locked piece protrudes from an edge part of the other end part and is inserted into the third opening, and either one of the first or second opening is integrated with the third opening. 
     If the first and second openings are provided, there is a concern that the strength of the terminal is reduced. Since either one of the first or second opening is integrated with the third opening according to the above terminal, a reduction in the strength of the terminal can be suppressed as compared to the case where the one opening is formed separately from the third opening. 
     (3) Preferably, a protrusion projecting inward is formed on the inner wall of the tube portion, the mating terminal pressed by the resilient contact piece contacts the protrusion, the locked piece is formed on an edge part of the inner wall where the protrusion is formed, and a surface of the locked piece facing inwardly of the tube portion is formed to be located on the same plane as or outward of a tip of the protrusion. 
     If the surface of the locked piece is closer to the resilient contact piece than the protrusion, a part of the optical path from the first opening to the second opening is blocked by the locked piece and a cross-sectional area of the optical path becomes smaller. If the cross-sectional area of the optical path becomes smaller, a sufficient amount of light does not come out, whereby there is a possibility that the interval cannot be inspected. According to the above terminal, since the surface of the locked piece facing inwardly of the tube portion is formed to be located on the same plane as or outward of the tip of the protrusion, a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the optical path due to the locked piece can be suppressed. 
     (4) Preferably, the wire connecting portion includes a wire sandwiching piece, and the wire sandwiching piece sandwiches a core of a wire. 
     According to the above terminal, the wire can be connected to the terminal by the wire sandwiching piece sandwiching the core of the wire. However, with the wire sandwiched by the wire sandwiching piece, the cross-sectional area of the optical path becomes narrower due to the presence of the wire sandwiching piece and a sufficient amount of light does not possibly come out. Since the wire sandwiching piece is not present on the optical path from the first opening to the second opening (or optical path from the second opening to the first opening) according to the above terminal, a sufficient amount of light comes out without depending on the shape of the wire connecting portion by properly setting areas of the first and second openings. Therefore, the interval can be accurately inspected without depending on the shape of the wire connecting portion. 
     (5) A wire with terminal of the present disclosure includes the terminal of any one of claims  1  to  4 , and a wire connected to the wire connecting portion. 
     According to the above wire with terminal, the interval between the resilient contact piece and the inner wall of the tube portion can be accurately inspected without depending on the shape of the wire connecting portion. 
     Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     A specific example of a wire with terminal of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention 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. 
     Embodiment 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 11 . In the following description, a vertical direction, a front-rear direction and a lateral direction are based on a vertical direction, a front-rear direction and a lateral direction shown in  FIG. 2 . In each figure, UP, DW, FR, RR, L and R attached to arrows indicating directions respectively mean an upward direction, a downward direction, a forward direction, a rearward direction, a leftward direction and a rightward direction. For a plurality of identical members, only some may be denoted by a reference sign and the others may not be denoted by the reference sign. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a wire with terminal  1  according to this embodiment includes a wire  10  and a terminal  11  connected to the wire  10 . 
     [Wire  10 ] 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wire  10  is disposed to extend in the front-rear direction. The wire  10  is such that the outer periphery of a core  10 A is surrounded by an insulation coating  10 B made of insulating synthetic resin. The core  10 A according to this embodiment is made of one metal wire. The core  10 A may be a stranded wire formed by twisting a plurality of metal thin wires. A metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum or aluminum alloy can be appropriately selected, if necessary, as a metal constituting the core  10 A. The core  10 A according to this embodiment is made of copper or copper alloy. 
     [Terminal  11 ] 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the terminal  11  is in the form of a rectangular tube as a whole and includes a terminal body  12  made of metal and a slide portion  13  slidable in the front-rear direction with respect to the terminal body  12 . 
     [Terminal Body  12 ] 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the terminal body  12  includes a tube portion  14 , into which an unillustrated mating terminal is inserted from front, and a wire connecting portion  15  located behind the tube portion  14  and to be connected to the wire  10 . 
     The terminal body  12  is formed by press-working a plate-like metal member formed into a predetermined shape. A metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy or stainless steel can be appropriately selected, if necessary, as the metal constituting the terminal body  12 . The terminal body  12  according to this embodiment is made of copper or copper alloy. A plating layer may be formed on the surface of the terminal body  12 . A metal such as tin, nickel or silver can be appropriately selected, if necessary, as a metal constituting the plating layer. Tin plating is applied to the terminal body  12  according to this embodiment. 
     [Wire Connecting Portion  15 ] 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the wire connecting portion  15  is in the form of a rectangular tube extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wire connecting portion  15  includes a pair of wire sandwiching pieces  16  (upper sandwiching piece  16 A and lower sandwiching piece  16 B) for sandwiching the core  10 A of the wire  10 . The upper sandwiching piece  16 A extends rearward from the upper wall of the wire connecting portion  15 . The lower sandwiching piece  16 B extends rearward from the lower wall of the wire connecting portion  15 . The upper and lower sandwiching pieces  16 A,  16 B have a shape elongated in the front-rear direction. Lengths in the front-rear direction of the upper and lower sandwiching pieces  16 A,  16 B are substantially equal. 
     An upper holding protrusion  17 A is provided on the lower surface of the upper sandwiching piece  16 A. A lower holding protrusion  17 B is provided on the upper surface of the lower sandwiching piece  16 B. The lower holding protrusion  17 B is provided in a rear end part of the lower sandwiching piece  16 B. The rear end of the upper holding protrusion  17 A is located forward of the front end of the lower holding protrusion  17 B. 
     [Tube Portion  14 ] 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the tube portion  14  is in the form of a rectangular tube extending in the front-rear direction. The tube portion  14  is shaped by annularly bending the aforementioned plate-like metal member and connecting one circumferential end part (left end part of an upper wall  18 ) and the other circumferential end part (upper end part of a left side wall  19 ). A locking piece  24  is integrally formed on a left edge part of the upper wall  18 . The locking piece  24  is a rectangular piece protruding from the left edge part and bent downward. The locking piece  24  is formed with a substantially rectangular opening  24 A (an example of a third opening). In this embodiment, the opening  24 A is formed from the left edge part of the upper wall  18  to the locking piece  24 . 
     As show in  FIG. 4 , a region of the left side wall  19  corresponding to the locking piece  24  is formed as a step portion  19 A recessed rightward by as much as a thickness of the locking piece  24  from the other region of the left side wall  19 . A leftward facing surface of the locking piece  24  is substantially flush with and a leftward facing surface of the left side wall  19  in a region other than the step portion  19 A. If a force is applied in a direction to open the left side wall  19  leftward for some cause, the opening is prevented by the contact of the step portion  19 A with the locking piece  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the step portion  19 A is formed with a locked piece  26  in the form of a rectangular piece protruding upward. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the locked piece  26  is inserted into the opening  24 A. A width in the front-rear direction of the locked piece  26  is smaller than that in the front-rear direction of the opening  24 A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , two beads  27  (an example of a protrusion) projecting inward are formed side by side in the vertical direction on the left side wall  19  of the tube portion  14 . The mating terminal pressed by a later-described resilient contact piece  29  contacts the beads  27 . Each bead  27  extends in the front-rear direction. The bead  27  is formed by press-working the upper wall  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a section of the upper bead  27  corresponding to the step portion  19 A in the front-rear direction is integrated with the step portion  19 A. Thus, in this section, the tip of the bead  27  and a surface of the locked piece  26  facing inwardly of the tube portion  14  are formed on the same plane. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a right side wall  28  of the tube portion  14  is provided with the resiliently deformable resilient contact piece  29 . The resilient contact piece  29  is formed into a substantially rectangular shape extending forward with a rear side as a base end. The resilient contact piece  29  is formed into a shape convex leftward by being inclined rightward after being inclined leftward toward a front side. When the mating terminal is inserted into the tube portion  14  from front, the resilient contact piece  29  resiliently contacts the mating terminal, whereby the mating terminal is pressed toward the beads  27 . In this way, the mating terminal and the terminal  11  are electrically connected. 
     The resilient contact piece  29  may be formed separately from the tube portion  14  and fixed to the right side wall  28  by welding or the like, or may be formed by cutting the right side wall  28 , or may be formed by turning one circumferential end part of the metal member constituting the tube portion  14  around up to the inside of the right side wall  28  and extending the part turned around to the inside forward. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the upper wall  18  of the tube portion  14  is formed with a rectangular upper inspection opening  30  (an example of a first opening) for inspecting an interval between the resilient contact piece  29  and the inner wall (more specifically, beads  27 ) of the tube portion  14 . The upper inspection opening  30  is formed by expanding the opening  24 A of the locking piece  24 . That is, the upper inspection opening  30  is integrated with the opening  24 A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a bottom wall  31  of the tube portion  14  is formed with a rectangular lower inspection opening  32  (an example of a second opening). 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a pressing direction of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece  29  is a laterally leftward direction. The upper inspection opening  30  is provided on an upper side (an example of one side) in the vertical direction orthogonal to the lateral direction, and the lower inspection opening  32  is provided on a lower side (an example of the other side). The lower inspection opening  32  has the same shape and size as the upper inspection opening  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the resilient contact piece  29  is partially exposed from the upper inspection opening  30 . More specifically, in an example shown in  FIG. 7 , an inclined part somewhat behind a top part of the resilient contact piece  29  is exposed. The resilient contact piece  29  is similarly exposed from the lower inspection opening  32  shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the resilient contact piece  29  occupies only parts of ranges seen through the upper inspection opening  30  and the lower inspection opening  32 . Thus, light having entered either one of the upper and lower inspection openings  30 ,  32  can pass through another region of this range and come out from the other inspection opening. That is, an optical path of light entering from either one of the upper and lower inspection openings  30 ,  32  and coming out from the other is secured. 
     [Slide Portion  13 ] 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the slide portion  13  is in the form of a rectangular tube extending in the front-rear direction. The slide portion  13  is formed by a known method such as cutting, casting or press-working, if necessary. A metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy or stainless steel can be appropriately selected, if necessary, as a metal constituting the slide portion  13 . Although not particularly limited, the slide portion  13  according to this embodiment is made of stainless steel. A plating layer may be formed on the surface of the slide portion  13 . A metal such as tin, nickel or silver can be appropriately selected, if necessary, as a metal constituting the plating layer. 
     An inner cross-sectional shape of the slide portion  13  is the same as or somewhat larger than an outer cross-sectional shape of a region of the terminal body  12  where the upper and lower sandwiching pieces  16 A,  16 B are provided. In this way, the slide portion  13  is disposed outside the region of the terminal body  12  where the upper and lower sandwiching pieces  16 A,  16 B are provided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , an upper wall  33  of the slide portion  13  is provided with an upper pressurizing portion  34  projecting downward. A lower wall  35  of the slide portion  13  is provided with a lower pressurizing portion  36  projecting upward. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 10 , the connection of the wire  10  is described. For the connection of the wire  10 , the slide portion  13  is slid from a position shown in  FIG. 10  to a position shown in  FIG. 1 . When being moved to the position shown in  FIG. 1 , the slide portion  13  is locked by an unillustrated locking mechanism, thereby being restricted from moving in the front-rear direction. 
     In a state shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper sandwiching piece  16 A is resiliently deformed downward by being pressed from above by the upper pressurizing portion  34 , and the lower sandwiching piece  16 B is resiliently deformed upward by being pressed from below by the lower pressurizing portion  36 . In this way, the upper and lower holding protrusions  17 A,  17 B bite into an oxide film formed on the surface of the core  10 A. If these bite into the oxide film, the oxide film is peeled to expose the metal surface of the core  10 A. By the contact of this metal surface and the upper and lower holding protrusions  17 A,  17 B, the core  10 A and the wire connecting portion  15  are electrically connected. 
     [Interval Inspection Process] 
     The interval inspection process is a process for inspecting the interval between the resilient contact piece  29  and the inner wall (more precisely, beads  27 ) of the tube portion  14 . In this embodiment, the interval inspection process is carried out after the wire  10  is connected to the wire connecting portion  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the interval inspection process, a laser light source (an example of a light source) is arranged above the upper inspection opening  30  and a light receiving sensor (an example of a light receiver) is arranged below the lower inspection opening  32 . Laser light is irradiated toward the upper inspection opening  30  from above. The light receiving sensor  38  is an area sensor in which a plurality of light receiving elements are arrayed in a matrix. The laser light source  37  may be arranged below the lower inspection opening  32  and the light receiving sensor  38  may be arranged above the upper inspection opening  30 . 
     The laser light source  37  and the light receiving sensor  38  are connected to an unillustrated computer. If the computer controls the laser light source  37  to irradiate laser light to the upper inspection opening  30 , part of the laser light passes through the upper and lower inspection openings  30 ,  32  and is received by the light receiving sensor  38 . The light receiving sensor  38  outputs values representing a light receiving amount of each light receiving element to the computer. 
     If the interval between the resilient contact piece  29  and the inner wall of the tube portion  14  is small, a cross-sectional area of an optical path of the laser light from the upper inspection opening  30  to the lower inspection opening  32  becomes smaller. Thus, a smaller number of the light receiving elements receive the laser light in the light receiving sensor  38 . Conversely, if the interval is large, the cross-sectional area of the optical path becomes larger. Thus, a larger number of the light receiving elements receive the laser light. The computer judges the number of the light receiving elements having a light receiving amount equal to or more than a reference value and judges the interval from the number of the light receiving elements having the light receiving amount equal to or more than the reference value or a ratio of the number of the light receiving elements having the light receiving amount equal to or more than the reference value to a total number of the light receiving elements. 
     The computer may judge the interval from a total value or average value of the light receiving amounts of the respective light receiving elements. This is because the total value or average value increases as the number of the light receiving elements having received the laser light increases. How to judge the interval from a light reception result of the light receiving sensor  38  can be determined as appropriate. 
     If the interval is equal to or larger than a predetermined upper limit value (i.e. if the interval is too wide) or equal to or smaller than a predetermined lower limit value (i.e. if the interval is too narrow), the computer judges a defect. 
     Functions and Effects of Embodiment 
     The terminal  11  according to this embodiment is to be connected to the mating terminal and includes the tube portion  14  and the wire connecting portion  15 , the wire connecting portion  15  is provided on the rear end part of the tube portion  14 , the resilient contact piece  29  is provided inside the tube portion  14 , the resilient contact piece  29  presses the mating terminal inserted from front of the tube portion  14  toward the inner wall of the tube portion  14 , the upper and lower inspection openings  30 ,  32  are formed in the side walls (upper wall  18  and bottom wall  31 ) of the tube portion  14 , the upper inspection opening  30  is formed on the upper side (one side in the direction intersecting the pressing direction of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece  29 ), the lower inspection opening  32  is formed on the lower side (other side), and the resilient contact piece  29  is partially exposed from the upper and lower inspection openings  30 ,  32  with an optical path of light entering either one of the upper or lower inspection opening  30 ,  32  and coming out from the other secured. 
     According to the terminal  11 , since the wire connecting portion  15  is not present on a path from the upper inspection opening  30  to the lower inspection opening  32 , the interval between the resilient contact piece  29  and the inner wall of the tube portion  14  can be accurately inspected without depending on the shape of the wire connecting portion  15  by irradiating light toward the upper inspection opening  30  from above the tube portion  14  and inspecting the interval based on the light reception result of the light having passed through the upper and lower inspection openings  30 ,  32  and received by the light receiving sensor  38 . 
     According to the terminal  11 , since an interval between the upper and lower inspection openings  30 ,  32  is shorter than a length of the terminal body  12 , light is less likely to be diffused as compared to the case where light is irradiated toward the front opening of the tube portion  14  from outside the tube portion  14 . Thus, there is also an advantage of improving inspection accuracy as compared to the case where light is irradiated toward the front opening. 
     The tube portion  14  of the terminal  11  is shaped by annularly bending the plate-like metal member and connecting one and the other end parts in a circumferential direction of the metal member, the tube portion  14  includes the locking piece  24 , the opening  24 A (third opening) and the locked piece  26 , the locking piece  24  protrudes from the edge part of the one end part, the opening  24 A is at least partially formed in the locking piece  24 , the locked piece  26  protrudes from the edge part of the other end part and is inserted into the opening  24 A, and the upper inspection opening  30  is integrated with the opening  24 A. 
     According to the terminal  11 , since the upper inspection opening  30  is integrated with the opening  24 A, a reduction in the strength of the terminal  11  can be suppressed as compared to the case where the upper inspection opening  30  is formed separately from the opening  24 A. 
     The terminal  11  is formed with the beads  27  projecting inward on the inner wall of the tube portion  14 , the mating terminal pressed by the resilient contact piece  29  contacts the beads  27 , the locked piece  26  is formed on the edge part of the inner wall formed with the beads  27 , and the tips of the beads  27  and the surface of the locked piece  26  facing inwardly of the tube portion  14  are formed on the same plane. 
     According to the terminal  11 , a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the optical path due to the locked piece  26  can be suppressed. 
     The wire connecting portion  15  of the terminal  11  includes the wire sandwiching pieces  16  and the wire sandwiching pieces  16  sandwich the core  10 A of the wire  10 . 
     According to the terminal  11 , the wire sandwiching pieces  16  sandwich the core  10 A, whereby the wire can be connected to the terminal  11 . However, since the wire  10  is sandwiched by the wire sandwiching pieces  16  (upper and lower sandwiching pieces  16 A,  16 B) as shown in  FIG. 1 , the propagation of light is obstructed by the wire sandwiching pieces  16  and the light cannot propagate straight inside the tube portion  14  if the light is irradiated toward the front opening  44  of the tube portion  14  from outside the tube portion  14 . Alternatively, even if part of the light propagates straight inside the tube portion  14 , a cross-sectional area of an optical path becomes narrower due to the presence of the wire connecting portion  15  and a sufficient amount of the light does not come out. 
     According to the terminal  11 , since the wire sandwiching pieces  16  are not present on the optical path from the upper inspection opening  30  to the lower inspection opening  32  (or on the optical path from the lower inspection opening  32  to the upper inspection opening  30 ), a sufficient amount of light comes out without depending on the shape of the wire connecting portion  15  by properly setting areas of the upper and lower inspection openings  30 ,  32 . Thus, the interval can be accurately inspected without depending on the shape of the wire connecting portion  15 . 
     The wire with terminal  1  according to this embodiment includes the terminal  11  and the wire  10  connected to the wire connecting portion  15 . 
     According to the wire with terminal  1 , without depending on the shape of the wire connecting portion  15 , the interval between the resilient contact piece  29  and the inner wall of the tube portion  14  can be accurately inspected with the wire  10  connected to the terminal  11 . 
     Other Embodiments 
     (1) Although the wire connecting portion  15  includes the upper sandwiching piece  16 A, the lower sandwiching piece  16 B and the slide portion  13  in the above embodiment, the configuration of the wire connecting portion  15  is not limited to this and can adopt any configuration. 
     (2) In the above embodiment, the pressing direction of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece  29  is the lateral direction and the direction intersecting the pressing direction of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece  29  is the vertical direction. That is, the intersecting direction is orthogonal to the pressing direction of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece  29 . However, the intersecting direction is not limited to the direction orthogonal to the pressing direction of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece  29 . For example, as schematically shown in  FIG. 12 , an intersecting direction  41  may be inclined with respect to a pressing direction  40  of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece  29 . 
     (3) In the above embodiment, the direction intersecting the pressing direction of the mating terminal by the resilient contact piece  29  is orthogonal to an axial direction of the tube portion  14 . However, the intersecting direction is not limited to the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tube portion  14 . For example, as schematically shown in  FIG. 13 , an intersecting direction  43  may be inclined with respect to an axial direction  42  of the tube portion  14 . 
     (4) Although the shape and size of the upper inspection opening  30  are the same as the shape and size of the lower inspection opening  32  in the above embodiment, these may not necessarily be the same if the interval between the resilient contact piece  29  and the inner wall of the tube portion  14  can be inspected. For example, the lower inspection opening  32  may be larger or smaller than the upper inspection opening  30 . The shape of the lower inspection opening  32  may be different from that of the upper inspection opening  30 . 
     (5) Although the upper inspection opening  30  and the opening  24 A of the locking piece  24  are integrated in the above embodiment, the upper inspection opening  30  may be formed as an opening independent of the opening  24 A. 
     (6) Although the upper inspection opening  30  and the opening  24 A of the locking piece  24  are integrated in the above embodiment, the lower inspection opening  32  may be integrated with the opening  24 A. 
     (7) Although the beads  27  are formed on the inner wall of the tube portion  14  in the above embodiment, the beads  27  may not necessarily be formed. 
     (8) Although the tube portion  14  has a rectangular tube shape in the above embodiment, the shape of the tube portion  14  is not limited to the rectangular tube shape and may be, for example, a hollow cylindrical shape. 
     (9) Although the laser light source is used as a light source in the above embodiment, the light source is not limited to the laser light source. For example, the light source may be a light emitting diode (LED). 
     (10) Although the pair of wire sandwiching pieces  16  are provided in the above embodiment, one, three or more wire sandwiching pieces  16  may be provided. 
     (11) Although the interval inspection process is carried out after the wire  10  is connected to the wire connecting portio1n  15  in the above embodiment, the interval inspection process may be carried out before the wire  10  is connected to the wire connecting portion  15 . 
     (12) Although the tips of the beads  27  and the surface of the locked piece  26  facing inwardly of the tube portion  14  are formed on the same plane in the above embodiment, the surface of the locked piece  26  facing inwardly of the tube portion  14  may be formed to be located outward of the tips of the beads  27  (leftward of the left ends of the beads  27  in  FIG. 4 ). 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1  . . . wire with terminal 
               2  . . . right side wall 
               10  . . . wire 
               10 A . . . core 
               10 B . . . insulation coating 
               11  . . . terminal 
               12  . . . terminal body 
               13  . . . slide portion 
               14  . . . tube portion 
               15  . . . wire connecting portion 
               16  . . . wire sandwiching piece 
               16 A . . . upper sandwiching piece 
               16 B . . . lower sandwiching piece 
               17 A . . . upper holding protrusion 
               17 B . . . lower holding protrusion 
               18  . . . upper wall 
               19  . . . left side wall 
               19 A . . . step portion 
               20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  . . . projection 
               24  . . . locking piece 
               24 A . . . opening (example of third opening) 
               26  . . . locked piece 
               27  . . . bead (example of protrusion) 
               28  . . . right side wall 
               29  . . . resilient contact piece 
               30  . . . upper inspection opening (example of first opening) 
               31  . . . bottom wall 
               32  . . . lower inspection opening (example of second opening) 
               33  . . . upper wall 
               34  . . . upper pressurizing portion 
               35  . . . lower wall 
               36  . . . lower pressurizing portion 
               37  . . . laser light source (example of light source) 
               38  . . . light receiving sensor (example of light receiver) 
               40  . . . direction 
               41  . . . direction 
               42  . . . axial direction 
               43  . . . direction 
               44  . . . opening