JP7427705B2 - Wire storage unit with terminal - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electric wire storage unit with a terminal.

Conventionally, electric wires with terminals are known in which a terminal fitting is physically and electrically connected to the end of the electric wire. Regarding this electric wire with a terminal, the terminal fitting is sometimes housed in a housing in order to protect the terminal fitting and prevent an operator or the like from coming into contact with the terminal fitting. Patent Document 1 below discloses a terminal-equipped wire storage unit that includes such a terminal-equipped wire and a housing.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-269104

By the way, in a wire housing unit with a terminal, the terminal fitting and the housing may be fixed to different connection objects. The respective connection objects may reciprocate relative to each other in a certain fixed direction. In this case, in the electric wire housing unit with terminal, the terminal fitting and the housing are also relatively reciprocated in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the respective connection objects. In this electric wire storage unit with a terminal, the ends of the electric wires also move together with the terminal fittings as the terminal fittings and the housing reciprocate. However, electric wires have more flexibility than terminal fittings. Therefore, at the end of the wire, the part of the terminal fitting that is connected to the wire connection part moves together with the terminal fitting, while the part pulled out from the wire connection part is displaced relative to the terminal fitting. Sometimes I do. Therefore, if the sheathing at the end of the electric wire comes into contact with the edges, corners, etc. of the terminal fitting due to its relative displacement, there is a risk that the durability of the electric wire itself will be reduced.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire storage unit with a terminal that can protect electric wires.

The present invention is an electrical connection part for electrical connection to an electrical connection target that can be reciprocated relative to an assembly member in a reciprocating direction, and in which a wire connection part of a terminal fitting is provided at the end of an electric wire. A physically and electrically connected electric wire with a terminal, a fixing part for fixing the electric wire without relative displacement to the assembly member, a storage chamber in which the end of the electric wire and the terminal fitting are accommodated, and the The opening is an opening through which the electric wire is drawn out from the storage chamber to the outside, and the electric wire is pulled out in a wire drawing direction that intersects with the reciprocating direction with the fixing part fixed to the assembly member. a housing having an electric wire outlet, the terminal fitting protrudes in a direction crossing the electric wire extraction direction and is physically and electrically connected to the electrical connection object without relative displacement. an electrical connection part; and a facing arrangement part that protrudes from the wire connection part in the wire drawing direction and is arranged opposite to the wire, and the peripheral edge of the wire draw-out port in the housing is connected to the assembly member. Regardless of the relative movement position of the terminal fitting within the accommodation chamber due to the reciprocating movement of the electrical connection target, the end of the opposite arrangement portion on the wire drawing-out direction side when viewed from the opposite direction to the wire drawing-out direction. It is characterized by having a shape that covers the entire part.

In the electric wire storage unit with a terminal according to the present invention, since such a peripheral edge is provided in the housing, even when the electric wire approaches the end of the opposing arrangement part, the electric wire will come into contact with the peripheral edge. It is possible to prevent the electric wire from coming into contact with the end portion. Therefore, even if the electric wire with a terminal moves relative to the inside of the storage chamber due to the reciprocating movement of the electrically connected object with respect to the assembly member, this electric wire storage unit with a terminal does not allow the electric wire to reach the end of the terminal fitting. Contact can be prevented. Therefore, this electric wire storage unit with a terminal can protect the electric wire, and can suppress a decrease in the durability of the electric wire.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wire storage unit according to an embodiment together with a battery pack. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the wire storage unit of the embodiment as viewed from the wire outlet side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electric wire storage unit of the embodiment viewed from the terminal outlet side. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the electric wire accommodation unit viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3. FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the electric wire accommodation unit of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the electric wire storage unit of the embodiment viewed from a different angle. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the terminal fitting. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the terminal fitting has moved relative to one end side with respect to the housing. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a state in which the terminal fitting has moved relative to the other end side with respect to the housing.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, embodiment of the electric wire accommodation unit with a terminal based on this invention is described in detail based on drawing. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[Embodiment]
One embodiment of the electric wire storage unit with terminal according to the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 9.

Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a terminal-equipped wire housing unit of this embodiment. This electric wire housing unit 1 with a terminal includes an electric wire 10 with a terminal and a housing 20 (FIGS. 1 to 6), and the electric wire 10 with a terminal and the housing 20 are respectively assembled to separate objects to be connected. Here, the electric wire 10 with a terminal is assembled in a state in which it is physically and electrically connected to the electrical connection target 510E, and the housing 20 is assembled to the assembly member 520E (FIG. 1).

In the example of this embodiment, this electric wire housing unit 1 with a terminal is assembled into a battery pack 500 mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle (FIG. 1).

The battery pack 500 includes a plurality of battery cells 510 arranged in a row (FIG. 1). The battery cell 510 shown here includes a rectangular cell body 510a, and positive and negative electrode terminals (so-called pole columns formed in a cylindrical shape) 510b provided on one wall surface of the cell body 510a. Figure 1).

Further, this battery pack 500 includes a flat plate 520 that sandwiches each battery cell 510 in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells 510 (hereinafter referred to as "cell arrangement direction") (FIG. 1). In this battery pack 500, a flat plate 520 (not shown) interposed between each battery cell 510 serves as a partition plate, and a flat plate 520 sandwiching both ends of a plurality of battery cells 510 in the cell arrangement direction serves as a terminal end. It becomes a board. In addition, in the drawing, for convenience of explanation, the plate thickness and the like are not taken into consideration.

In this battery pack 500, the battery cells 510 undergo thermal expansion and thermal contraction as the vehicle travels, etc., and the distance between the electrode terminals 510b of adjacent battery cells 510 (hereinafter referred to as "interelectrode pitch"). P (FIG. 2) changes in the cell arrangement direction. Correspondingly, in this battery pack 500, the distance between the electrode terminal 510b and the flat plate 520 also changes in the cell arrangement direction. That is, in this battery pack 500, the electrode terminal 510b is capable of reciprocating relative to the flat plate 520 in the cell arrangement direction, and the cell arrangement direction is between the electrode terminal 510b and the flat plate 520. direction of reciprocating movement. In the following, unless otherwise specified, the direction of reciprocating movement between the electrode terminal 510b and the flat plate 520 will be simply referred to as the "reciprocating direction."

In this example, an electrode terminal 510b (one of two electrode terminals 510b) of a plurality of battery cells 510 arranged at one end in the cell arrangement direction is an electrically connected object 510E, and a battery at one end A flat plate 520 serving as an end plate arranged in line with the cells 510 is referred to as an assembly member 520E (FIGS. 1 and 2). Therefore, the illustrated electrical connection target 510E is capable of reciprocating relative to the assembly member 520E in the reciprocating direction (cell arrangement direction).

The electric wire 10 with a terminal is an electrical connection component for electrical connection to the electrical connection object 510E. The electric wires 10 with terminals are arranged side by side in the reciprocating direction (cell arrangement direction) with respect to the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as an end plate) adjacent to the battery cell 510 at one end. Therefore, this electric wire 10 with a terminal is connected to the electrode terminal 510b (electrical connection object 510E) of the battery cell 510 at one end by straddling the assembly member 520E.

This electric wire 10 with a terminal includes an electric wire 30 and a terminal fitting 40 (FIGS. 1 to 6). In this electric wire 10 with a terminal, a terminal fitting 40 is physically and electrically connected to the end of the electric wire 30.

The electric wire 30 includes a core wire 31 and a coating 32 that covers the core wire 31 (FIGS. 1 and 2). In this electric wire 30, the sheathing 32 is stripped off at the end to expose the core wire 31.

The terminal fitting 40 is press-molded using a metal plate as a base material. This terminal fitting 40 includes an electric wire connection part 41 that physically and electrically connects to the electric wire 30, and an electric connection part 42 that physically and electrically connects to the electrical connection object 510E (electrode terminal 510b). (FIG. 4 to FIG. 7).

The wire connecting portion 41 physically and electrically connects the end of the wire 30 without any relative displacement. The wire connection portion 41 shown here is made by crimp-bonding a pair of barrel pieces to the core wire 31 exposed at the end of the wire 30. The terminal end of the electric wire 30 is drawn out from the electric wire connection portion 41 in the direction of its own axis (hereinafter referred to as the "wire drawing direction").

The electrical connection part 42 is made to protrude in a direction crossing the direction in which the electric wire is pulled out, and is physically and electrically connected to the electrical connection object 510E without relative displacement. The electrical connection part 42 shown here is a single body provided with a through hole 42a through which a male screw part of an electrical connection target 510E (electrode terminal 510b) is inserted (FIGS. 1 and 4 to 7), and the male A female screw member (not shown) is screwed into the screw portion and fixed to the electrical connection object 510E (electrode terminal 510b) by screwing.

The terminal fitting 40 has an opposing arrangement part 43 that protrudes from the wire connecting part 41 in the wire drawing direction and is arranged opposite to the electrical wire 30, and an opposing arrangement part 43 that stands up from the opposing arrangement part 43 in order to overcome the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as a terminal plate). It has a connecting part 44 that makes the electrical connection part 42 project in a direction crossing the electric wire drawing direction at the raised end (FIGS. 4 to 7).

The opposing arrangement portion 43 has a piece portion 43a having a one-piece shape (FIGS. 4 and 7). This opposing arrangement portion 43 has an end portion 43b on the side in the wire drawing-out direction on the piece portion 43a (FIGS. 4 and 7). The piece 43a shown here is formed as a trapezoidal piece having an upper base and a lower base along the wire drawing direction. Therefore, the end portion 43b is made to intersect with the direction in which the wire is drawn out. A wall surface 43c of the piece 43a facing the electric wire 30 is a plane parallel to the electric wire drawing direction and an intersecting plane that intersects with the reciprocating direction (FIGS. 4 and 7).

The connecting portion 44 has a rectangular piece shape rising from the bottom side of the piece portion 43a. The electrical connection portion 42 is made to protrude from one side of the end of the connection portion 44 in the rising direction toward the electrical connection target 510E (electrode terminal 510b).

The storage device 20 is an electric wire storage device with a terminal for accommodating the end of the electric wire 30 and the terminal fitting 40 in the electric wire 10 with a terminal. This container 20 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

The storage device 20 has a fixing portion 21 that is fixed to the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as an end plate) without relative displacement (FIGS. 1 to 6). The fixing part 21 shown here is provided with a through hole 21a through which a male screw member (not shown) is inserted (FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6), and a female screw member (not shown) is inserted into the male screw member. They are screwed together and fixed to the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as the end plate). A metal collar member 21b is fitted into the through hole 21a (FIGS. 1, 5, and 6).

Further, the housing 20 includes a housing chamber 22 in which the end of the electric wire 30 and the terminal fitting 40 are housed, and an opening for pulling out the electric wire 30 from the housing chamber 22 to the outside, and the fixing part 21 is fixed to the assembly member 520E. It has a wire outlet 23 that allows the wire 30 to be pulled out in a wire pullout direction intersecting the reciprocating direction in the reciprocating direction (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5).

This storage device 20 includes a first storage member 50 and a second storage member 60 that are assembled to each other (FIGS. 1 to 6).

The first housing member 50 has a bottom wall 51 and a peripheral wall 52 that stands up from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 51 (FIGS. 1 to 6). In the first housing member 50, the space surrounded by the bottom wall 51 and the peripheral wall 52 is used as a first housing space 22a in which the ends of the electric wires 30 and the terminal fittings 40 are housed (FIGS. 5 and 6). The first housing member 50 also has an opening 53 that opens in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction and is disposed opposite to the bottom wall 51 in the orthogonal direction (FIG. 6). This opening 53 is an opening formed inside the peripheral edge 52a of the end of the peripheral wall 52 in the rising direction. In this first housing member 50, the end of the electric wire 30 and the terminal fitting 40 are inserted into the first housing space 22a through the opening 53. Here, the direction in which the bottom wall 51 and the opening 53 are arranged opposite to each other is the direction in which the end of the electric wire 30 and the terminal fitting 40 are inserted from the opening 53.

The second housing member 60 has a bottom wall 61 and a peripheral wall 62 that stands up from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 61 (FIGS. 3 to 6). In the second housing member 60, the space surrounded by the bottom wall 61 and the peripheral wall 62 is used as a second housing space 22b in which the ends of the electric wires 30 and the terminal fittings 40 are housed (FIGS. 5 and 6). Further, the second housing member 60 has an opening 63 that opens in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction and is disposed opposite to the bottom wall 61 in the perpendicular direction (FIG. 5). This opening 63 is an opening formed inside the peripheral edge 62a of the end of the peripheral wall 62 in the rising direction. In this second housing member 60, the end of the electric wire 30 and the terminal fitting 40 are inserted into the second housing space 22b through the opening 63. Here, the direction in which the bottom wall 61 and the opening 63 are arranged opposite to each other is the direction in which the end of the electric wire 30 and the terminal fitting 40 are inserted from the opening 63.

The first housing member 50 and the second housing member 60 are assembled by fitting the peripheral edges 52a and 62a of the respective openings 53 and 63 into each other. In this storage device 20, the storage chamber 22 is formed by the first storage space 22a of the first storage member 50 in the assembled state and the second storage space 22b of the second storage member 60.

The wire outlet 23 shown here is formed by the first notch 23a of the first housing member 50 in the assembled state and the second notch 23b of the second housing member 60 (FIGS. 2, 4, and 5). ). A first notch 23a is cut out in the peripheral wall 52 of the first housing member 50 from the opening 53 side (peripheral edge 52a side) toward the bottom wall 51. Further, a second notch 23b is cut out in the peripheral wall 62 of the second housing member 60 from the opening 63 side (peripheral edge 62a side) toward the bottom wall 61.

Here, the first housing member 50 has a space that communicates with the first housing space 22a and projects from the bottom wall 51 on the opposite side of the opening 53, and the terminal fitting 40 is accommodated in this space. It is used as the third accommodation space 22c (FIG. 6). The third housing space 22c accommodates the electrical connection section 42 side of the connection section 44 and the connection section 44 side of the electrical connection section 42. Therefore, the accommodation chamber 22 shown here is formed by the first accommodation space 22a and the third accommodation space 22c of the first accommodation member 50 in the assembled state, and the second accommodation space 22b of the second accommodation member 60. .

The second housing member 60 has a cover wall portion 64 that is disposed opposite to the connecting portion 44 in the third housing space 22c and covers an opening that is disposed opposite to the wall surface of the connecting portion 44 in the third housing space 22c. (Figures 3, 5 and 6). A terminal outlet 24 is formed between the opening and the cover wall 64 to allow the electrical connection 42 to be drawn out of the storage chamber 22 (FIG. 3). This terminal outlet 24 opens toward the electrically connected object 510E (electrode terminal 510b) in the reciprocating direction.

The first accommodating member 50 and the second accommodating member 60 are maintained in an assembled state by locking mechanisms 25 at a plurality of locations (here, three locations) (FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 6). The lock mechanism 25 has a first engaging part 25a provided on the first housing member 50 and a second engaging part 25a provided on the first housing member 50 so that the assembled state is maintained when the first housing member 50 and the second housing member 60 are assembled. The second engaging portion 25b provided on the housing member 60 is engaged (FIGS. 3, 5, and 6). Here, the first engaging portion 25a is formed into a claw shape. The second engaging portion 25b is formed as a flexible piece that allows the second engaging portion 25b to ride over the first engaging portion 25a while bending itself. This locking mechanism 25 hooks the first engaging part 25a to the second engaging part 25b in a state where the first accommodating member 50 and the second accommodating member 60 are assembled, and maintains the assembled state.

In this storage device 20, the storage chamber 22 is a room in which the terminal fitting 40 can be moved relative to the reciprocating movement of the electrical connection target 510E (electrode terminal 510b) with respect to the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as an end plate). Shape. The first accommodation space 22a and the second accommodation space 22b have an indoor shape that is large enough to allow relative movement of the wire connection part 41, the opposing arrangement part 43, and the opposing arrangement part 43 side of the connecting part 44 within the range of reciprocating movement. It is formed. The third housing space 22c is formed into an indoor shape large enough to allow relative movement of the connecting portion 44 side of the electrical connecting portion 42 and the electrical connecting portion 42 side of the connecting portion 44 within the range of the reciprocating movement. In the terminal fitting 40, when the electrical connection target 510E (electrode terminal 510b) reciprocates with respect to the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as a terminal plate), a part of the electrical connection part 42 connects to the terminal outlet 24. It is taken in and taken out from.

In the electric wire 10 with a terminal, as the terminal fitting 40 reciprocates within the housing chamber 22, the terminal of the electric wire 30 also moves relatively within the chamber. However, the electric wire 30 is more flexible than the terminal fitting 40, and the closer the end of the electric wire 30 is to the electric wire outlet 23, the smaller the amount of relative movement within the accommodation chamber 22 is than the terminal fitting 40. Therefore, in the electric wire 10 with a terminal, when the electrical connection object 510E (electrode terminal 510b) moves relative to the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as an end plate) within the storage chamber 22 due to the reciprocating motion, There is a possibility that the sheath 32 of the electric wire 30 comes into contact with the end portion 43b of the opposing arrangement portion 43. In the electric wire 30, if the opposite wall surface 43c side of the end portion 43b has a sharp edge or corner, the durability may be reduced due to contact with the end portion 43b. In particular, the terminal fitting 40 shown here is a press-molded product using a metal plate as a base material, as described above, and sharp edges and corners are formed on the opposite wall surface 43c side of the end portion 43b. there is a possibility.

Therefore, when the electrical connection object 510E (electrode terminal 510b) reciprocates with respect to the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as a terminal plate), this electric wire storage unit 1 with a terminal connects the electric wire 30 to at least the terminal fitting 40. It is configured so as not to come into contact with the end portion 43b of the facing portion 43. In this electric wire storage unit 1 with a terminal, the peripheral edge part 26 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5) of the electric wire outlet 23 in the storage device 20 is formed in the following shape, so that the electric wire 30 This prevents the end portion 43b from coming into contact with the end portion 43b.

The peripheral edge 26 of the wire outlet 23 in the storage device 20 is a terminal fitting inside the storage chamber 22 due to the reciprocating movement of the electrical connection target 510E (electrode terminal 510b) with respect to the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as an end plate). Regardless of the relative movement position of the electric wire 40, the shape is such that the end portion 43b of the opposing arrangement portion 43 is covered when viewed in the opposite direction to the wire drawing direction (FIGS. 4, 8, and 9). In other words, in the housing 20, regardless of the relative movement position of the terminal fitting 40 within the housing chamber 22 due to its reciprocating movement, the terminal end 43b of the opposing arrangement portion 43 is The peripheral edge part 26 is formed in a shape that is not exposed from the outlet 23. In this accommodating device 20, an electric wire outlet 23 peripheral edges 26 are formed (FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9). Here, the peripheral edge portion 26b of the second notch 23b in the peripheral wall 62 of the second housing member 60 covers the distal end portion 43b of the opposing arrangement portion 43. Note that FIG. 8 shows a state in which the terminal fitting 40 has been relatively moved to the farthest right side in the drawing in the accommodation chamber 22. On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows a state in which the terminal fitting 40 has moved farthest to the left side in the drawing in the accommodation chamber 22.

In this electric wire storage unit 1 with a terminal, such a peripheral edge part 26 is provided in the housing tool 20, so even if the electric wire 30 comes closest to the end part 43b of the opposing arrangement part 43, the electric wire will not be attached to the peripheral edge part 26. 30 comes into contact with the electric wire 30, and the electric wire 30 can be prevented from coming into contact with the end portion 43b. Therefore, this electric wire storage unit 1 with a terminal is attached with a terminal inside the storage chamber 22 as the electrical connection target 510E (electrode terminal 510b) reciprocates with respect to the assembly member 520E (flat plate 520 as a terminal plate). Even if the electric wire 10 moves relatively, the electric wire 30 can be prevented from coming into contact with the end portion 43b of the terminal fitting 40. Therefore, this electric wire storage unit 1 with a terminal can protect the electric wire 30, and can suppress a decrease in the durability of the electric wire 30.

1 Electric wire storage unit with terminal 10 Electric wire with terminal 20 Storage tool 21 Fixing part 22 Storage chamber 23 Wire outlet 26 Peripheral part 26a Peripheral part 26b Peripheral part 30 Electric wire 40 Terminal fitting 41 Electric wire connection part 42 Electrical connection part 43 Opposing arrangement part 43a Piece part 43b End part 43c Opposing wall surface 510 Battery cell 510b Electrode terminal 510E Electrical connection object 520 Flat plate 520E Assembly member

Claims (5)

It is an electrical connection part for making an electrical connection to an electrical connection target that can move back and forth relative to the assembly member in the reciprocating direction, and the wire connection part of the terminal fitting at the end of the wire is physically and electrically connected. A wire with a terminal connected to the
A fixing part that is fixed without relative displacement with respect to the assembly member, a storage chamber in which the end of the electric wire and the terminal fitting are accommodated, and an opening that allows the electric wire to be drawn out from the storage chamber to the outside, a storage device having a wire outlet for drawing out the wire in a wire drawing direction intersecting the reciprocating direction with the fixing part fixed to the assembly member;
Equipped with
The terminal fitting includes an electrical connection portion that protrudes in a direction crossing the wire drawing direction and is physically and electrically connected to the object to be electrically connected without relative displacement; an opposing arrangement part that protrudes in the drawing direction and is arranged opposite to the electric wire,
The peripheral edge of the wire outlet in the accommodating device is set in the direction in which the wire is drawn out, regardless of the relative movement position of the terminal fitting within the accommodating chamber as the electrical connection object reciprocates with respect to the assembly member. An electric wire storage unit with a terminal, characterized in that the electric wire storage unit with a terminal has a shape that covers an end portion on the electric wire drawing-out direction side of the opposing arrangement portion when viewed in the opposite direction. The electric wire storage unit with a terminal according to claim 1, wherein the storage chamber has an indoor shape that allows the terminal fitting to move relative to the object within a range of reciprocating movement of the electrical connection target with respect to the assembly member. . The facing arrangement part has a piece-shaped piece part provided with the end part,
3. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein a wall surface of the piece facing the electric wire is a plane parallel to the electric wire drawing direction and an intersecting plane intersecting the reciprocating direction. Wire storage unit. The electrically connected object is an electrode terminal of one of the plurality of battery cells arranged in one row and arranged at one end in the arrangement direction,
The electric wire storage unit with a terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reciprocating direction is the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells. The electrically connected object is an electrode terminal of one of the plurality of battery cells arranged in one row and arranged at one end in the arrangement direction,
The electric wire storage unit with terminal according to claim 3, wherein the reciprocating direction is the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells.

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