JP4147523B2

JP4147523B2 - Terminal equipment

Info

Publication number: JP4147523B2
Application number: JP2003056048A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 英史原田; 秀樹本柳; 慶也内海
Original assignee: Azbil Corp
Current assignee: Azbil Corp
Priority date: 2003-03-03
Filing date: 2003-03-03
Publication date: 2008-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-03
Also published as: JP2004265782A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、機械的強度に優れた簡易な構造のターミナル装置に関する。
【０００２】
【関連する背景技術】
各種の計装機器には、一般的には該計装機器を、例えばマイクロコンピュータからなる制御装置等の外部装置に電気的に接続するためのターミナル装置が設けられる。この種のターミナル装置は、基本的には計装機器等の筐体に外部に向けて取り付けられる端子金具と、前記筐体の外部から前記端子金具に螺合されて該端子金具との間に外部接続用の導体部材を固定する為の端子ねじを備え、更に前記端子金具の一端部から前記筐体の内側に向けて延設されて前記筐体の内部に組み込まれる回路基板に接触して該回路基板ＰＢに電気的に接続される端子バネ部材（接触電極片）を一体に備えた構造を有する。
【０００３】
尚、上記端子バネ部材は、専ら、端子金具と一体に設けられた弾性片として形成され、筐体の内側から該端子バネ部材（弾性片）に沿って装脱される回路基板の電極配線パターン部に所定の弾性力をもって接触して、該ターミナル装置と回路基板とを電気的に接続する役割を担う。このような端子バネ部材を備えたターミナル装置については、従来より種々提唱されている（例えば特許文献１,２,３を参照）。
【０００４】
ちなみに各特許文献１,２,３にそれぞれ示される従来のターミナル装置は、図７(ａ)(ｂ)(ｃ)にその概略構成を示すように、ばね性を有する燐青銅等の薄板をコの字状に折り曲げ、更にその一端部に回路基板ＰＢとの接触電極部をなす端子バネ部材（弾性片）１を形成した導体部材２を備える。そしてこの導体部材２を絶縁性を有する合成樹脂製の筐体３の外側から嵌め込み、上記導体部材２の両端部の一部をそれぞれ切り起こして形成した係合片４,５の先端を上記筐体３の内側に係合させることによって、該導体部材２を筐体３に装着する構造を有している。
【０００５】
具体的には図７(ａ)に示すターミナル装置は、上記導体部材２にて端子ねじ６に螺合するナット（端子金具）７を筐体３との間に挟み込んで保持する構造となっている。また図７(ｂ)に示すターミナル装置は、コの字状に折曲した肉厚の端子金具８を予め筐体３に装着し、この端子金具８の上から前述した導体部材２を装着した構造を有する。この端子金具８もまた、その両端部の一部をそれぞれ切り起こして形成した係合片の先端を上記筐体３の内側に係合させることによって該筐体３に装着される。
【０００６】
更に図７(ｃ)に示すターミナル装置は、導体部材２の前記端子バネ部材（弾性片）１を除く部位を肉厚なものとして剛性を付与し、この導体部材２自体を前記端子ねじ６と螺合する端子金具としたものである。尚、図７(ａ)〜(ｃ)における符号９は、前記端子ねじ６の頭部と前記導体部材２との間に外部接続用の導体部材（被覆電線の導体やその導体の端部に装着された端子片）を挟み込むための座金を示している。
【０００７】
【特許文献１】
特開平７−２０９３３１号公報
【特許文献２】
特開平８−２５０１６８号公報
【特許文献３】
特開平１１−１６０３５３号公報
【０００８】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところで上述した構造の従来のターミナル装置にあっては、筐体３が合成樹脂によって形成されることが多い。その場合、係合片４,５を筐体３に押し込んで取り付ける際に、係合片４,５が筐体３と摺動して筐体３から規制を受けることで係合片４,５が弾性変形する。そしてこれらの係合片４,５が筐体３に十分に押し込まれたとき、各係合片４,５は筐体３との摺動状態から開放され弾性変形状態から元の形状に復帰して、係合片４,５と筐体３との係合固定状態に至る。
【０００９】
このような取付工程においては、金属製の係合片４,５と合成樹脂製の筐体３とが摺動することで、筐体３の摺動部分が幾分なりとも塑性変形したり、或いは削れたりする可能性が高い。即ち、筐体３の、各係合片４,５との摺動部分（２箇所）僅かながらの永久変形が生じることが否めない。するとこのような筐体３の変形によって端子金具２のガタツキが発生するので、従来においては、専ら、端子バネ部材１が幾分か変位したとしても端子バネ部材１と回路基板ＰＢとの接触状態が良好に保てるように、端子バネ部材１の長さを長く設定して十分なバネ性を発揮できるようにしている。
【００１０】
また上述した構造の従来のターミナル装置にあっては、端子バネ部材（弾性片）１への回路基板ＰＢの装脱に伴って、導体部材２における上記端子バネ部材１を設けた側の筐体３による支持部にストレスが掛かることが否めない。特にこの支持部は、前述したように導体部材２の一部を切り起こした係合片４の先端部を筐体３の内側に係止させているだけなので導体部材２の引き抜き等に対する強度が弱く、いわゆるガタツキが発生し易い。
【００１１】
本発明はこのような事情を考慮してなされたもので、その目的は、ガタツキの原因となる取付工程における筐体の変形箇所の数を少なくすることにある。そして筐体の変形箇所を少なくすることで、前述した筐体の変形箇所が複数箇所（上述した例では２箇所）ある従来の構成に比較して端子金具のガタツキの発生を少なくすることを目的とする。ちなみに端子金具のガタツキの発生が軽度になれば端子バネ部材の変位も小さくなるので、その分、端子バネ部材の長さを短く設定でき、またターミナル装置全体の小型化も期待できる。
【００１２】
本発明の別の目的は、回路基板の装脱時に端子バネ部材を介して加わるストレスを確実に受け止めてガタツキの発生を防ぐことができ、上記端子バネ部材と回路基板との電気的接続を常に安定に保つことのできる簡易で強固な構造のターミナル装置を提供することにある。
【００１３】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上述した目的を達成するべく本発明に係るターミナル装置は、例えば計装機器に組み込まれて該計装機器の内部に設けられる回路基板と制御装置等の外部機器との接続をなすに好適なものであって、
それぞれ外部に電気的に接続される第１および第２の電気的接続部と、所定の対象物（筐体）に係合する第１および第２の係合部とを有する端子金具を、前記第１の係合部は実質的に変形させることなく前記対象物に係合させ、また前記第２の係合部については一旦弾性変形させた後に復帰させて前記対象物に係合させることで、前記対象物に固定する構造としたことを特徴としている。
【００１４】
具体的には本発明に係るターミナル装置は、
絶縁性を有する筐体の台座上に外部に向けて取り付けられる端子金具と、この端子金具の一端部から前記筐体の内側に向けて延設された脚部に設けられて前記筐体の内部に組み込まれる回路基板に接続される端子バネ部材とを備え、
前記端子金具は、剛体板からなる厚板端子金具と、この厚板端子金具の上に重ねて設けられて該厚板端子金具の両端から前記筐体の内側に向けてそれぞれ略直角に折り曲げられた脚部を有する薄板端子金具とからなり、
前記端子バネ部材を設けた側の前記厚板端子金具の端部を、前記筐体に設けられた庇状の係止部に該筐体の内側から係合して該端子金具の一端部を前記筐体に支持させる支持部とし、
前記端子バネ部材を設けた側とは反対側の脚部に、前記筐体の内側に設けられた係合凹部に嵌め込まれて該端子金具の他端部を前記筐体に取り付ける係合片を設けたことを特徴としている。
【００１５】
即ち、本発明に係るターミナル装置は、前記端子金具の前記端子バネ部材を設けた側の一端部を剛体構造化し、この剛体構造化した支持部を筐体に係合させることで前記端子バネ部材を設けた側の筐体による支持を強固なものとし、これによって前記端子バネ部材に沿って回路基板を装脱した際に加わる力（ストレス）を確実に受け止めて、上記支持部におけるガタツキの発生を防ぐようにしたことを特徴としている。
【００１６】
好ましくは前記支持部は、ばね性を有した薄板からなる端子金具に剛性の高い板材、例えば厚板部材を重ね合わせて、或いは上記ばね性を有した薄板からなる端子金具の側縁部を折り曲げることで該端子金具の前記端子バネ部材を設けた側の一端部を剛体構造化したものであって、
前記筐体の表面に形成された端子金具取付用開口部の内側に向けて突出する係止部の下側に嵌め込まれて該係止部に係合して、前記端子金具の一端部を前記回路基板の装脱方向に位置規制して前記筐体に取り付けられるものとして構成される。
【００１７】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、図面を参照して本発明の実施形態に係るターミナル装置について説明する。
図１は第１の実施形態に係るターミナル装置の概略構成を、その一部を切欠して示す斜視図であり、図２はその断面構造を示す図である。ここでは２系統のターミナルＡ,Ｂを並べて設けたターミナル装置について、その一方を組み付け状態として、他方を分解した状態として例示している。尚、ターミナル装置を構成するターミナル数は、その仕様に応じて設定すれば良いものである。
【００１８】
このターミナル装置は、計装機器等に取り付けられる合成樹脂製の絶縁性を有する筐体１０と、この筐体１０に外部に向けて取り付けられる後述する薄板端子金具１１と、この薄板端子金具１１に重ねて設けられる剛体板からなる厚板端子金具１２と、この厚板端子金具（剛体板）１２の略中央部に形成されたねじ孔１３に螺合する端子ねじ１４とを備える。上記薄板端子金具１１は、厚板端子金具１２の上に重ね合わせられることで１つの端子金具として機能するもので、特に厚板端子金具１２は薄板端子金具１１が重ね合わせられた中央部分を剛体構造化する役割を担っている。ここで言う剛体とは、厳密な意味での剛体でなくて良く、意図的な弾性変形を伴う使用がなされることのない構造体を指す。
【００１９】
ちなみに上記薄板端子金具１１は厚さ０.２ｍｍの燐青銅板からなり、また厚板端子金具１２は厚さ０.８ｍｍのステンレス鋼板からなる。また前記ねじ孔１３は、例えば厚板端子金具１２の略中央部を下側に向けてバーリング成形して円筒状の伸びフランジ１３ａを形成し、この伸びフランジ１３ａの内周面にねじ溝をタッピングしたものとして実現される。そしてこのねじ孔１３に螺合して設けられる端子ねじ１４は、その頭部１４ａと前記厚板端子金具１２の上面に重ね合わせられた薄板端子金具１１との間に、外部接続用の導体部材（図示せず）を挟み込んで固定する役割を担う。
【００２０】
尚、端子ねじ１４には、四角形状の座金１５が遊嵌されている。端子ねじ１４は、この座金１５を介してねじ孔１３に螺合して設けられ、その頭部１４ａにて座金１５を押し付けることで該座金１５と薄板端子金具１１（端子金具）との間に前述した導体部材を緩みなく挟み込んで固定するものなっている。このような端子ねじ１４を用いた導体部材の固定により、該ターミナル装置（ターミナル）に上記導体部材が電気的に接続される。
【００２１】
ところでこのターミナル装置における上記薄板端子金具１１は、前記厚板端子金具１２に重ね合わせられた部位を、前記端子ねじ１４との間に前述した導体部材を挟み込む為の主体部１１ａとしている。そしてこの薄板端子金具１１の上記主体部１１ａの両端を前記筐体１１の内側に向けてそれぞれ略直角に折り曲げて延設し、該薄板端子金具１１を筐体１０に取り付けるための第１および第２の脚部１１ｂ,１１ｃとして形成している。
【００２２】
特に前記薄板端子金具１１の一端部側の上記第１の脚部１１ｂの中央部は、所定幅に亘ってその先端側を支点として該薄板端子金具１１の内側に向けて略Ｖ字状に切り起こされており、薄板端子金具１１に一体に設けられた所定の弾性力を有する所定長さの弾性片からなる端子バネ部材１６として形成されている。この端子バネ部材（弾性片）１６は、前記筐体１１の内部に組み込まれて該端子バネ部材１６の長手方向に沿って挿入される回路基板ＰＢの電極配線パターン部に所定の弾性力をもって接触し、上記電極配線パターン部と電気的な接続をなす役割を担う。
【００２３】
また前記薄板端子金具１１の前述した第１の脚部１１ｂの先端部は、該薄板端子金具１１の外側に向けて略直角に折り曲げられ、筐体１０に対する第１の掛止め部１１ｄとして形成されている。また薄板端子金具１１の前記第１の脚部１１ｂを折り曲げ形成した一端側の肩部には、その主体部１１ａに連なる片部が前記筐体１０に対する第２の掛止め部１１ｅとして切り起こされている。そしてこの第２の掛止め部１１ｅを切り起こすことによって前記薄板端子金具１１の一端側の肩部に形成された穴部には、前述した如く薄板端子金具１１に重ね合わせられる厚板端子金具１２の一端部中央に突設された係合突起１２ａが挿入されるようなっている。この係合突起１２ａは、後述するように筐体１０の表面に開口された端子金具取付部１０ａの縁部の下側に嵌め込まれて、前記薄板端子金具１１および厚板端子金具１２からなる端子金具の一端部を筐体１０に固定化する役割を担う。
【００２４】
一方、前記薄板端子金具１１の上述した端子バネ部材１６を設けた側とは反対側の他端部側の前記第２の脚部１１ｃの中央部は、所定幅に亘ってその先端側を支点として該薄板端子金具１１の外に向けて略Ｖ字状に切り起こされており、所定の弾性力を有する係合片１１ｆとして形成されている。この係合片１１ｆは、その先端部を筐体１０に設けられた嵌合凹部１０ｂに係合させることで第２の脚部１１ｃの筐体１０からの引き抜きを阻止して、第２の脚部１１ｃを筐体１０に固定する役割を担う。
【００２５】
尚、合成樹脂製の筐体１０は、上述した薄板端子金具１１および厚板端子金具１２からなる端子金具を位置決めして、該端子金具をその外側に向けて取り付ける為の端子金具取付部１０ａをその表面に開口したもので、厚板端子金具１２が載置される台座１０ｃと、この台座１０ｃの両脇にそれぞれ設けられた２つの溝部１０ｄ,１０ｅとを備える。
【００２６】
ちなみに第１の溝部１０ｄは、前述した薄板端子金具１１の第１の脚部１１ｂと回路基板ＰＢとが挿入される幅広の空間をなして形成されている。そしてこの第１の溝部１０ｄの上記第１の脚部１１ｂが位置付けられる部位の上方は、前述した端子金具取付部１０ａを形成する開口部の縁部が、その内側に若干張り出した庇形状の係止部１０ｆとして形成されている。前述した厚板端子金具１２の係合突起１２ａは、上記係止部（端子金具取付部１０ａの開口縁部）１０ｆの下面側に嵌め込まれて該係止部１０ｆに係止される。
【００２７】
また第２の溝部１０ｅは前述した第２の脚部１１ｃだけが嵌め込まれる幅狭の空間をなして形成されている。そしてこの第２の溝部１０ｅの壁面に前述した嵌合凹部１０ｂが、筐体１０の内側に向けて所定の段差をなす部位として形成されている。前述した薄板端子金具１１の第２の脚部１１ｂは、端子金具取付部１０ａの上方（外側）から上記第２の溝部１０ｅに差し込まれ、前記係合片１１ｆの先端が上記嵌合凹部１０ｂに嵌り込んで係合することによって、前述したように筐体１０からの引き抜きが阻止された状態で該筐体１０に支持される。
【００２８】
次にこのような形状・構造を有する筐体１０と、薄板端子金具１１および厚板端子金具１２からなる端子金具とを備えたターミナル装置の組み付けについて図３を参照して説明する。
薄板端子金具１１および厚板端子金具１２からなる端子金具は、予め前記薄板端子金具１１の一端側の肩部に形成した穴部に前記厚板端子金具１２の係合突起１２ａを嵌め込んだ状態で重ね合わせ、厚板端子金具１２に設けたねじ孔１３に螺合する端子ねじ１４を用いて上記薄板端子金具１１を挟み込んで締結することで、端子ねじ１４に遊嵌された座金１５と共に一体化される。そしてこの状態で筐体１０の端子金具取付部１０ａに、その外側から組み付けられる。
【００２９】
具体的には図３(ａ１)(ｂ１)にそれぞれ示すように、先ず端子金具取付部１０ａに設けられた幅広の第１の溝部１０ｄに、前記薄板端子金具１１の端子バネ部材１６を設けた側の第１の脚部１１ｄをその先端側から嵌め込む。この第１の脚部１１ｄの嵌め込みは、図３(ａ２)(ｂ２)にそれぞれ示すように、薄板端子金具１１の一端側肩部に設けた第２の掛止め部１１ｅが、前記筐体１０の端子金具取付部１０ａを形成する開口部の縁部に形成された庇形状の係止部１０ｆの上面に係止する位置まで、端子金具を斜め方向から差し込むことによって行われる。この第２の掛止め部１１ｅの係止部１０ｆへの係止により、薄板端子金具１１の筐体１０の内部への落ち込みが防止される。
【００３０】
次いで上記係止部１０ｆと第２の掛止め部１１ｅとの係止部を支点として端子金具の他端側を押し下げ、図３(ａ３)(ｂ３)にそれぞれ示すように前記薄板端子金具１１の他端側の第２の脚部１１ｅを筐体１０の幅狭の第２の溝部１０ｅにその先端部から差し込む。すると第２の脚部１１ｅに設けた係合片１１ｆは、第２の溝部１０ｅの壁面に当接して弾性変形して第２の脚部１１ｅの面内に押し込まれる。この状態のまま上述した係止部１０ｆと第２の掛止め部１１ｅとの係止部を支点として端子金具の他端側を更に押し下げると、図３(ａ４)(ｂ４)にそれぞれ示すように第２の脚部１１ｅは、端子金具の主体部１１ａが筐体１０の台座１０ｃ上に載置される位置まで押し込まれる。すると第２の脚部１１ｅに設けた係合片１１ｆは、第２の溝部１０ｅの壁面による押圧偏倚から開放されて、該第２の溝部１０ｅの壁面に設けられた嵌合凹部１０ｂ内に弾性復帰して嵌り込む。そして係合片１１ｆの先端は、嵌合凹部１０ｂに係止して第２の脚部１１ｅを引き抜きを阻止した状態で、第２の溝部１０ｅ内に第２の脚部１１ｅを支持する。
【００３１】
一方、上述した如く第２の溝部１０ｅに第２の脚部１１ｅを差し込む際、端子金具は前述した係止部１０ｆと第２の掛止め部１１ｅとの係止部を支点として回動し、図３(ａ４)(ｂ４)にそれぞれ示すように前記厚板端子金具１２の一端部に形成された係合突起１２ａが前記端子金具取付部１０ａの開口部縁部に形成された庇形状の係止部１０ｆの下側に潜り込んで該係止部１０ｆに係止する。同時に前記第１の脚部１１ｂの先端に設けられた第１の掛止め部１１ｄが、前記第１の溝部１０ｄの下面部に掛け止めされる。そして上記第１の掛止め部１１ｄの第１の溝部１０ｄの下面部に掛け止めによって第１の脚部１０ｄの引き抜きが阻止され、第１の第１の脚部１０ｄは前記係合突起１２ａと庇形状の係止部１０ｆとの係合と相俟って第１の溝１０ｄ内に強固に支持される。
【００３２】
かくしてこのような組み付け構造を有する本ターミナル装置によれば、端子金具の端子バネ部材１６を設けた一端部側の筐体１０による支持が、薄板端子金具１１と厚板端子金具１２との重ね合わせによって剛体構造化された部位、具体的には厚板端子金具１２の端部に設けられた剛性の高い係合突起１２ａと、端子金具取付部１０ａの開口部縁部に設けられた庇形状の係止部１０ｆとを係合させた構造として実現されている。
【００３３】
従って本構造によれば、筐体１０の内側から端子バネ部材１６に沿って回路基板ＰＢが装脱しても、その装脱時に端子バネ部材１６を介して加わるストレスを前記係合突起１２ａと係止部１０ｆとの係合部において強固に、しかも確実に受け止めることができる。更には第１の脚部１１ｂの引き抜き強度を十分に高めることが可能となる。この結果、筐体１０に支持された端子金具の、特に薄板端子金具１１の一端部に一体に設けられた第１の脚部１１ｂ、ひいては端子バネ部材１６のガタツキを抑え、端子バネ部材１６と回路基板ＰＢとの安定した確実な電気接続を保証することが可能となる。更には第１の脚部１１ｂのガタツキを抑えることができるので、そのガタツキに起因する筐体１０の傷付きを防止することが可能となる。これ故、端子金具のガタツキ防止と相俟って筐体１０による端子金具の支持強度を十分に高めることが可能となる等の効果も奏せられる。
【００３４】
ところで上述した構造のターミナル装置においては、上述したように剛体構造をなす係合突起１２ａと係止部１０ｆとの係合により第１の脚部１１ｂの機械的支持強度を高くすると共に、第１の脚部１１ｂ自体を第１の溝部１０ｂの壁面に沿わせて設け、ばね性を有した薄板からなる第１の脚部１１ｂの上記第１の溝部１０ｂの壁面側への撓みを阻止する構造となっている。そして第１の脚部１１ｂに、前記第１の溝部１０ｂがなす空間側に突出された設けた端子バネ部材１６だけを、前記回路基板ＰＢの嵌め込みに伴って撓ませるものとなっている。そして筐体１０の内側から前記第１の溝部１０ｂに回路基板ＰＢを挿入したとき、該回路基板ＰＢによって端子バネ部材１６をその弾性域を超えて撓ませることで、端子バネ部材１６を所定量だけ塑性変形させるように設定されている。
【００３５】
ちなみに従来一般的には、端子バネ部材の弾性域での動作を保証するべく、専ら、図７(ａ)〜(ｃ)にそれぞれ示すように、端子金具２の端子バネ部材１を設けた側の第１の脚部も同時に弾性変形させるように、該第１の脚部を溝部の壁面から浮かして取り付けている。更に端子バネ部材１の長さを長く設定している。これ故、ターミナル装置としての奥行き（筐体の内側に延びる寸法）が長くなり、その全体形状が大型化することが否めなかった。
【００３６】
この点、本ターミナル装置においては、組立工程において発生した筐体３の永久変形によるガタツキの増加量が少ないので、その分だけ端子バネ部材１のガタツキによる変位も小さくなる。それ故、端子バネ部材１６の長さを短く設定しても回路基板ＰＢに対する電気的接触の信頼性を十分なものとすることができる。また本ターミナル装置において、上述したように第１の脚部１１ｂの撓みを阻止し、端子バネ部材１６だけをその弾性域を越えて塑性変形させるようにしても良い。そして図４に弾性片（板バネ）の変位と応力との関係を示すように、端子バネ部材１６が本来的に持つ弾性特性Ａを、塑性変形させた分だけ高くして弾性特性Ｂを有するようにシフトし、端子バネ部材１６の弾性領域を拡大している。このような板バネの塑性変形は、一般的には避けるべきものである。しかしながらターミナル装置においては回路基板ＰＢを一旦筐体１０に装着すると、専ら、その装着状態が保たれること、また回路基板ＰＢを装脱する場合でも同じ仕様の回路基板ＰＢが用いられるので必ずしも端子バネ部材１６をその初期状態に復元する必要がないことに着目して、前記回路基板ＰＢの厚みを見込んで上述した如く端子バネ部材１６の塑性変形を許容することで、更に端子バネ部材１６の長さを短くすることができる。
【００３７】
従ってこのような構造を採用したターミナル装置によれば、従来のように端子バネ部材１の弾性力を大きくするべく、端子バネ部材１６の長さ、更には第１の脚部１１ｂの長さを長く設定する必要がないので、ターミナル装置としての奥行き（筐体の内側に延びる寸法）を短くして全体形状の小型化を図ることができる等の効果が奏せられる。
【００３８】
ところで上述した実施形態においては、薄板端子金具１１に厚板端子金具１２を重ね合わせることで、これらの薄板端子金具１１と厚板端子金具１２とにより構成される端子金具を剛体構造化したが、上記薄板端子金具１１自体を折り曲げ加工する等して剛体構造化するようにしても良い。具体的には図５に示すように薄板端子金具１１の両側辺をその辺部に沿って折り曲げてフランジ１１ｘを形成し、その長手方向の撓みを阻止することで該薄板端子金具１１の主体部１１ａを剛体構造化する。即ち、薄板端子金具１１の両端をそれぞれ折曲して形成される脚部１１ｂ,１１ｃを除き、ねじ孔１３が設けられる主体部１１ａだけを上記フランジ１１ｘの形成により剛体構造化する。
【００３９】
そして図６にその組み付け構造を示すように、上記フランジ１１ｘを形成した薄板端子金具１１の一端部（肩部）を、筐体１０の端子金具取付部１０ａに設けられた庇形状の係止部１０ｆの内側に嵌め込み、上記薄板端子金具１１の一端部（肩部）を前記係止部１０ｆに係止させて第１の脚部１１ｄから加わるストレスを頑丈に受け止める構造とする。
【００４０】
このような構造としても、先の実施形態と同様に筐体１０の内側から端子バネ部材１６に沿って回路基板ＰＢが装脱しても、その装脱時に端子バネ部材１６を介して加わるストレスが、上記薄板端子金具１１の剛体構造化された肩部と係止部１０ｆとの係合によって強固に、しかも確実に受け止めるられる。同時に第１の脚部１１ｂの引き抜き強度が十分に高められる。この結果、筐体１０に支持された端子金具の、特に薄板端子金具１１の一端部に一体に設けられた第１の脚部１１ｂ、ひいては端子バネ部材１６のガタツキを抑え、端子バネ部材１６と回路基板ＰＢとの安定した確実な電気接続を保証することが可能となる。
【００４１】
尚、本発明は上述した各実施形態に限定されるものではない。ここでは１つの筐体１０に２組のターミナル（端子金具）を組み込んだ、いわゆる２連タイプのものについて例示したが、筐体１０に設けるターミナルの数は特に限定されないことは言うまでもない。また複数の端子バネ部材１６が１枚の回路基板ＰＢに対して横並びに設けられるように、複数の端子金具を並べて配置したターミナル構造とすることも可能である。その他、本発明はその要旨を逸脱しない範囲で種々変形して実施することができる。
【００４２】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように本発明によれば、筐体に組み込まれる端子金具の端子バネ部材が設けられる側を、上記端子金具を剛体構造化した部位と筐体との係合によって強固に支持する構造なので、端子バネ部材に沿って回路基板を装脱した際に該端子バネ部材を介して加わるストレスを確実に受け止めて、そのガタツキを防止することが可能となる。またガタツキの原因となる取付工程における筐体の変形箇所の数を少なくすることができ、それにより、筐体の変形箇所が複数箇所ある従来の構成に較べて端子のガタツキを少なくでき、外観的な商品価値が向上する。
【００４３】
更には端子のガタツキの発生が軽度になれば端子バネ部材の変位も小さくなるので、端子バネ部材の長さを短く設定して、ターミナル装置を小型化することもできる。この結果、簡易な構造でありながら端子金具をガタツキなく確実に保持して上記端子バネ部と回路基板との安定した確実な電気的接続を確保することができる等の実用上多大なる効果が奏せられる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施形態に係るターミナル装置の概略構成を一部切欠して示す斜視図。
【図２】図１に示すターミナル装置の断面構造とその要素を分解した状態を示す図。
【図３】図１に示すターミナル装置の筐体に対する端子金具の組み付け手順を段階的に示す図。
【図４】端子バネ部材の弾性特性を示す図。
【図５】本発明の別の実施形態に係るターミナル装置に用いられる端子金具の構成を示す斜視図。
【図６】図５に示す端子金具を用いて構成されるターミナル装置の概略構成を示す断面図。
【図７】従来のターミナル装置の構造を示す図。
【符号の説明】
１０筐体
１０ａ端子金具取付部
１０ｂ嵌合凹部
１０ｃ台座
１０ｄ第１の溝部
１０ｅ第２の溝部
１０ｆ係止部
１１薄板端子金具
１１ａ主体部
１１ｂ第１の脚部
１１ｃ第２の脚部
１１ｄ第１の掛止め部
１１ｅ第２の掛止め部
１１ｆ係合片（弾性片）
１１ｘフランジ（剛体構造化の手段）
１２厚板端子金具
１２ａ係合突起（剛体構造化された部位）
１３ねじ孔
１４端子ねじ
１５座金
１６端子バネ部材[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a terminal device having a simple structure excellent in mechanical strength.
[0002]
[Related background]
Various instrumentation devices are generally provided with a terminal device for electrically connecting the instrumentation device to an external device such as a control device including a microcomputer. This type of terminal device basically includes a terminal fitting attached to a housing of an instrumentation device or the like and a terminal fitting screwed to the terminal fitting from the outside of the housing. A terminal screw for fixing a conductor member for external connection is provided. Further, the terminal screw extends from one end of the terminal fitting toward the inside of the casing and contacts a circuit board incorporated in the casing. It has a structure integrally provided with a terminal spring member (contact electrode piece) electrically connected to the circuit board PB.
[0003]
The terminal spring member is exclusively formed as an elastic piece integrally provided with the terminal fitting, and is mounted on and removed from the inside of the casing along the terminal spring member (elastic piece). It plays a role of electrically connecting the terminal device and the circuit board by contacting the portion with a predetermined elastic force. Various terminal devices including such a terminal spring member have been proposed in the past (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).
[0004]
Incidentally, the conventional terminal devices shown in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 are made of a thin plate such as phosphor bronze having spring properties as shown in FIGS. 7 (a), (b), and (c). And a conductor member 2 formed with a terminal spring member (elastic piece) 1 forming a contact electrode portion with the circuit board PB at one end thereof. The conductor member 2 is fitted from the outside of the insulating synthetic resin casing 3, and the ends of the engaging pieces 4, 5 formed by cutting and raising part of both ends of the conductor member 2 are connected to the casing. The conductor member 2 is attached to the housing 3 by being engaged with the inside of the body 3.
[0005]
Specifically, the terminal device shown in FIG. 7A has a structure in which a nut (terminal fitting) 7 screwed to the terminal screw 6 by the conductor member 2 is sandwiched and held between the housing 3. Yes. Further, in the terminal device shown in FIG. 7B, a thick terminal fitting 8 bent in a U-shape is mounted on the casing 3 in advance, and the above-described conductor member 2 is mounted on the terminal fitting 8. It has a structure. The terminal fitting 8 is also mounted on the casing 3 by engaging the tip of an engagement piece formed by cutting and raising a part of each end of the terminal fitting 8 inside the casing 3.
[0006]
Further, in the terminal device shown in FIG. 7C, the conductor member 2 is provided with rigidity by thickening the portion excluding the terminal spring member (elastic piece) 1, and the conductor member 2 itself is connected to the terminal screw 6. It is a terminal fitting to be screwed. 7A to 7C, reference numeral 9 denotes a conductor member for external connection between the head of the terminal screw 6 and the conductor member 2 (the conductor of the covered electric wire or the end of the conductor). A washer for sandwiching the attached terminal piece) is shown.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-209331
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-8-250168
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-11-160353
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional terminal device of the structure mentioned above, the housing | casing 3 is often formed with a synthetic resin. In that case, when the engagement pieces 4 and 5 are pushed into the housing 3 and attached, the engagement pieces 4 and 5 slide on the housing 3 and are regulated by the housing 3, thereby being engaged. Is elastically deformed. When these engagement pieces 4 and 5 are sufficiently pushed into the housing 3, each engagement piece 4 and 5 is released from the sliding state with the housing 3 and returns to its original shape from the elastically deformed state. Thus, the engagement fixed state between the engagement pieces 4 and 5 and the housing 3 is reached.
[0009]
In such an attachment process, the metal engagement pieces 4 and 5 and the synthetic resin casing 3 slide, so that the sliding portion of the casing 3 is somewhat plastically deformed, Or the possibility of scraping is high. That is, it cannot be denied that a slight permanent deformation of the sliding portion (two places) of the housing 3 with the engaging pieces 4 and 5 occurs. Then, such a deformation of the casing 3 causes a backlash of the terminal fitting 2, and in the prior art, even if the terminal spring member 1 is somewhat displaced, the contact state between the terminal spring member 1 and the circuit board PB is exclusively used. The terminal spring member 1 is set to have a long length so that sufficient spring properties can be exhibited.
[0010]
Further, in the conventional terminal device having the above-described structure, the housing on the side where the terminal spring member 1 is provided in the conductor member 2 as the circuit board PB is attached to and detached from the terminal spring member (elastic piece) 1. It cannot be denied that stress is applied to the support portion by 3. In particular, since the support portion only locks the distal end portion of the engagement piece 4 which is a part of the conductor member 2 cut and raised as described above, the strength of the conductor member 2 against pulling out is increased. It is weak and so-called rattling is likely to occur.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of deformed portions of the housing in the mounting process that causes backlash. The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the occurrence of rattling of terminal fittings by reducing the number of deformed portions of the housing as compared with the conventional configuration in which there are a plurality of deformed portions of the housing described above (two in the above example). And Incidentally, since the displacement of the terminal spring member is reduced if the occurrence of rattling of the terminal fitting becomes lighter, the length of the terminal spring member can be set correspondingly, and the overall size of the terminal device can be expected.
[0012]
Another object of the present invention is to reliably receive the stress applied via the terminal spring member when the circuit board is attached / detached to prevent the occurrence of rattling, and the electrical connection between the terminal spring member and the circuit board is always maintained. An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device having a simple and strong structure that can be kept stable.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the terminal device according to the present invention is suitable for connecting a circuit board incorporated in an instrumentation device and provided in the instrumentation device to an external device such as a control device, for example. Because
A terminal fitting having first and second electrical connection portions that are electrically connected to the outside and first and second engagement portions that engage with a predetermined object (housing); The first engaging portion is engaged with the object without being substantially deformed, and the second engaging portion is once elastically deformed and then returned to be engaged with the object. The structure is fixed to the object.
[0014]
  Specifically, in the present inventionAffectTerminal equipment
  A terminal fitting that is attached to the outside on the base of the insulating casing, and a leg portion that extends from one end of the terminal fitting toward the inside of the casing, and the inside of the casing. A terminal spring member connected to a circuit board incorporated in
  The terminal fittings are thick plate terminal fittings made of rigid plates, and are stacked on the thick plate terminal fittings, and are bent at substantially right angles from both ends of the thick plate terminal fittings toward the inside of the casing. Consisting of thin plate terminal fittings with leg portions,
  The end of the thick plate terminal fitting on the side where the terminal spring member is provided is engaged from the inside of the casing with the hook-shaped locking section provided on the casing, and one end of the terminal fitting is As a support part to be supported by the housing,
  An engaging piece for fitting the other end of the terminal fitting to the casing is fitted into an engaging recess provided on the inner side of the casing on the leg opposite to the side on which the terminal spring member is provided. ProvidedIt is characterized by that.
[0015]
That is, in the terminal device according to the present invention, one end of the terminal metal fitting on the side where the terminal spring member is provided is rigidly structured, and the terminal spring member is engaged by engaging the rigidly structured support portion with a casing. The support provided by the housing on the side provided with a strong support, thereby reliably receiving the force (stress) applied when the circuit board is mounted / removed along the terminal spring member, and the occurrence of backlash in the support section It is characterized by preventing it.
[0016]
Preferably, the support portion is formed by superimposing a rigid plate member, for example, a thick plate member, on a terminal fitting made of a thin plate having spring properties, or bending a side edge portion of the terminal fitting made of a thin plate having spring properties. That is, the one end of the terminal fitting on the side where the terminal spring member is provided has a rigid structure,
The one end of the terminal fitting is engaged with and engaged with the engaging portion below the engaging portion protruding toward the inside of the terminal fitting attaching opening formed on the surface of the housing. The circuit board is configured to be attached to the housing with its position regulated in the loading / unloading direction of the circuit board.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal device according to the first embodiment, with a part thereof cut away, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a sectional structure thereof. Here, a terminal device provided with two terminals A and B arranged side by side is illustrated as one in an assembled state and the other in a disassembled state. Note that the number of terminals constituting the terminal device may be set according to the specifications.
[0018]
  This terminal device includes an insulating casing 10 made of synthetic resin that is attached to an instrumentation device, a thin plate terminal fitting 11 that is attached to the casing 10 toward the outside, and a thin plate terminal fitting 11 that is described later. A thick plate terminal fitting 12 made of a rigid plate provided in an overlapping manner and a terminal screw 14 screwed into a screw hole 13 formed in a substantially central portion of the thick plate terminal fitting (rigid plate) 12 are provided. The thin terminal fitting 11 is stacked on the thick terminal fitting 12.AdaptedThus, it functions as a single terminal fitting, and in particular, the thick plate terminal fitting 12 plays a role of forming a rigid structure at the central portion where the thin plate terminal fittings 11 are superposed. The rigid body here does not need to be a rigid body in a strict sense, and refers to a structure that is not used with intentional elastic deformation.
[0019]
Incidentally, the thin plate terminal fitting 11 is made of a phosphor bronze plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, and the thick plate terminal fitting 12 is made of a stainless steel plate having a thickness of 0.8 mm. The screw hole 13 is formed, for example, by burring with a substantially central portion of the thick plate terminal fitting 12 facing downward to form a cylindrical extension flange 13a, and a tapped groove is tapped on the inner peripheral surface of the extension flange 13a. Is realized. A terminal screw 14 that is screwed into the screw hole 13 is a conductor member for external connection between the head portion 14a and the thin plate terminal fitting 11 superimposed on the upper surface of the thick plate fitting 12. It plays a role of sandwiching and fixing (not shown).
[0020]
A square washer 15 is loosely fitted to the terminal screw 14. The terminal screw 14 is screwed into the screw hole 13 via the washer 15 and is pressed between the washer 15 and the thin plate terminal fitting 11 (terminal fitting) by pressing the washer 15 with the head 14a. The above-mentioned conductor member is sandwiched and fixed without looseness. By fixing the conductor member using the terminal screw 14 as described above, the conductor member is electrically connected to the terminal device (terminal).
[0021]
By the way, in the thin terminal metal fitting 11 in this terminal device, a portion overlapped with the thick plate metal fitting 12 serves as a main portion 11 a for sandwiching the above-described conductor member between the terminal screw 14. Then, both ends of the main body portion 11 a of the thin plate terminal metal 11 are bent and extended at substantially right angles toward the inside of the housing 11, and first and second for attaching the thin plate terminal metal 11 to the housing 10. Two leg portions 11b and 11c are formed.
[0022]
In particular, the central portion of the first leg portion 11b on one end side of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 is cut into a substantially V-shape toward the inside of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 with its tip side as a fulcrum over a predetermined width. The terminal spring member 16 is formed of an elastic piece of a predetermined length having a predetermined elastic force, which is raised and is provided integrally with the thin plate metal fitting 11. The terminal spring member (elastic piece) 16 is brought into contact with the electrode wiring pattern portion of the circuit board PB incorporated in the housing 11 and inserted along the longitudinal direction of the terminal spring member 16 with a predetermined elastic force. In addition, it plays a role of making an electrical connection with the electrode wiring pattern portion.
[0023]
Further, the distal end portion of the first leg portion 11b of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 is bent at a substantially right angle toward the outside of the thin plate terminal fitting 11, and is formed as a first latching portion 11d for the housing 10. ing. In addition, on the shoulder portion on one end side where the first leg portion 11b of the thin plate metal fitting 11 is bent, a piece portion connected to the main body portion 11a is cut and raised as a second latching portion 11e for the housing 10. ing. Then, by cutting and raising the second latching portion 11e, the thick plate terminal fitting 12 which is overlapped with the thin plate terminal fitting 11 as described above is inserted into the hole formed in the shoulder portion on the one end side of the thin plate terminal fitting 11. An engaging protrusion 12a that protrudes from the center of one end of the head is inserted. As will be described later, the engaging protrusion 12a is fitted below the edge of the terminal fitting mounting portion 10a opened on the surface of the housing 10, and is composed of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 and the thick terminal fitting 12. It plays a role of fixing one end of the metal fitting to the housing 10.
[0024]
On the other hand, the center portion of the second leg portion 11c on the other end side opposite to the side on which the terminal spring member 16 is provided on the thin plate terminal fitting 11 has a fulcrum on the tip side over a predetermined width. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer plate 11 is cut and raised in a substantially V shape toward the outside of the thin terminal fitting 11 and is formed as an engagement piece 11f having a predetermined elastic force. The engaging piece 11f is engaged with a fitting recess 10b provided in the housing 10 to prevent the second leg portion 11c from being pulled out of the housing 10 and the second leg 11f. It plays the role which fixes the part 11c to the housing | casing 10. FIG.
[0025]
The casing 10 made of synthetic resin has a terminal fitting mounting portion 10a for positioning the terminal fitting composed of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 and the thick plate fitting 12 and attaching the terminal fitting to the outside thereof. It is opened on the surface, and includes a pedestal 10c on which the thick plate terminal fitting 12 is placed, and two groove portions 10d and 10e provided on both sides of the pedestal 10c.
[0026]
Incidentally, the first groove portion 10d is formed to form a wide space into which the first leg portion 11b of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 and the circuit board PB are inserted. Above the portion where the first leg portion 11b of the first groove portion 10d is positioned, the edge portion of the opening forming the terminal fitting attaching portion 10a described above has a hook-shaped engagement slightly projecting inward. It is formed as a stop 10f. The above-described engaging protrusion 12a of the thick terminal fitting 12 is fitted on the lower surface side of the engaging portion (opening edge portion of the terminal fitting attaching portion 10a) 10f and is engaged with the engaging portion 10f.
[0027]
The second groove portion 10e is formed so as to form a narrow space into which only the second leg portion 11c described above is fitted. The above-described fitting recess 10b is formed in the wall surface of the second groove 10e as a portion that forms a predetermined step toward the inside of the housing 10. The second leg portion 11b of the thin plate metal fitting 11 described above is inserted into the second groove portion 10e from above (outside) the terminal metal fitting mounting portion 10a, and the tip of the engagement piece 11f is inserted into the fitting recess 10b. By fitting and engaging, as described above, it is supported by the housing 10 in a state in which it is prevented from being pulled out from the housing 10.
[0028]
Next, the assembly of the terminal device provided with the casing 10 having such a shape and structure and the terminal fitting made of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 and the thick plate fitting 12 will be described with reference to FIG.
The terminal fitting made up of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 and the thick plate fitting 12 is a state in which the engagement protrusion 12a of the thick plate fitting 12 is fitted in the hole formed in the shoulder on the one end side of the thin plate fitting 11 in advance. The thin plate terminal metal fitting 11 is sandwiched and fastened by using terminal screws 14 screwed into screw holes 13 provided in the thick plate metal fittings 12 so as to be integrated with the washer 15 loosely fitted to the terminal screws 14. It becomes. And in this state, it is assembled | attached to the terminal metal fitting attaching part 10a of the housing | casing 10 from the outer side.
[0029]
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3A1 and 3B1, first, the terminal spring member 16 of the thin plate metal fitting 11 is provided in the wide first groove portion 10d provided in the terminal metal fitting mounting portion 10a. The first leg portion 11d on the side is fitted from the tip side. As shown in FIGS. 3 (a2) and 3 (b2), the fitting of the first leg portion 11d is performed by the second latching portion 11e provided on the shoulder on one end side of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 by the housing 10. This is performed by inserting the terminal fitting from an oblique direction to a position where it is locked to the upper surface of the hook-shaped locking portion 10f formed at the edge of the opening forming the terminal fitting mounting portion 10a. Due to the locking of the second latching portion 11e to the locking portion 10f, the thin terminal fitting 11 is prevented from falling into the housing 10.
[0030]
Next, the other end side of the terminal fitting is pushed down with the locking portion between the locking portion 10f and the second latching portion 11e as a fulcrum, and as shown in FIGS. 3 (a3) and 3 (b3), The second leg portion 11e on the other end side is inserted into the narrow second groove portion 10e of the housing 10 from the tip end portion. Then, the engaging piece 11f provided on the second leg portion 11e is brought into contact with the wall surface of the second groove portion 10e to be elastically deformed and pushed into the surface of the second leg portion 11e. If the other end side of the terminal fitting is further pushed down with the locking portion between the locking portion 10f and the second latching portion 11e as described above in this state, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a4) and (b4), respectively. The second leg portion 11e is pushed to a position where the main portion 11a of the terminal fitting is placed on the base 10c of the housing 10. Then, the engagement piece 11f provided on the second leg portion 11e is released from the pressure bias due to the wall surface of the second groove portion 10e, and elastically enters the fitting recess 10b provided on the wall surface of the second groove portion 10e. Return and fit. And the front-end | tip of the engagement piece 11f supports the 2nd leg part 11e in the 2nd groove part 10e in the state which latched to the fitting recessed part 10b, and prevented pulling out the 2nd leg part 11e.
[0031]
On the other hand, as described above, when the second leg portion 11e is inserted into the second groove portion 10e, the terminal fitting rotates with the locking portion between the locking portion 10f and the second latching portion 11e described above as a fulcrum, As shown in FIGS. 3 (a4) and 3 (b4), the engagement protrusions 12a formed at one end of the thick plate terminal fitting 12 are hook-like engagements formed at the edge of the opening of the terminal fitting attaching portion 10a. It sinks into the lower side of the stop portion 10f and is locked to the lock portion 10f. At the same time, the first latching part 11d provided at the tip of the first leg part 11b is latched on the lower surface part of the first groove part 10d. The first leg 10d is prevented from being pulled out by being latched to the lower surface of the first groove 10d of the first latching part 11d, and the first first leg 10d is connected to the engagement protrusion 12a. Coupled with the engagement with the hook-shaped locking portion 10f, the first groove 10d is firmly supported.
[0032]
Thus, according to the present terminal device having such an assembly structure, the thin plate terminal fitting 11 and the thick plate fitting 12 are supported by the casing 10 on the one end side provided with the terminal spring member 16 of the terminal fitting. A rigidly structured part, specifically, a highly rigid engaging protrusion 12a provided at the end of the thick terminal fitting 12, and a hook-like shape provided at the edge of the opening of the terminal fitting mounting portion 10a. This is realized as a structure in which the locking portion 10f is engaged.
[0033]
Therefore, according to this structure, even when the circuit board PB is attached / detached along the terminal spring member 16 from the inside of the housing 10, the stress applied via the terminal spring member 16 at the time of attaching / detaching is engaged with the engaging protrusion 12a. It can be firmly and reliably received at the engaging portion with the stopping portion 10f. Furthermore, the pullout strength of the first leg portion 11b can be sufficiently increased. As a result, the terminal metal supported by the housing 10, particularly the first leg 11 b integrally provided at one end of the thin terminal metal 11, and thus the rattling of the terminal spring member 16, is suppressed, and the terminal spring member 16 It is possible to ensure stable and reliable electrical connection with the circuit board PB. Furthermore, since the backlash of the 1st leg part 11b can be suppressed, it becomes possible to prevent the housing | casing 10 from being damaged by the backlash. Therefore, combined with prevention of rattling of the terminal metal fitting, it is possible to obtain an effect that the terminal metal support strength of the housing 10 can be sufficiently increased.
[0034]
By the way, in the terminal device having the above-described structure, the mechanical support strength of the first leg portion 11b is increased by the engagement between the engaging protrusion 12a having the rigid body structure and the engaging portion 10f as described above, and the first The leg part 11b itself is provided along the wall surface of the first groove part 10b, and the structure of the first leg part 11b made of a thin plate having a spring property to prevent the first groove part 10b from bending toward the wall surface side. It has become. Then, only the terminal spring member 16 provided on the first leg portion 11b and protruding toward the space formed by the first groove portion 10b is bent along with the fitting of the circuit board PB. When the circuit board PB is inserted into the first groove 10b from the inside of the housing 10, the terminal spring member 16 is bent by a predetermined amount by the circuit board PB to bend beyond the elastic region. Only plastic deformation is set.
[0035]
Incidentally, in general, in order to guarantee the operation of the terminal spring member in the elastic region, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the side of the terminal fitting 2 on which the terminal spring member 1 is provided. The first leg is attached so as to float from the wall surface of the groove so that the first leg is also elastically deformed at the same time. Furthermore, the length of the terminal spring member 1 is set longer. For this reason, the depth (dimension extending inside the housing) as the terminal device becomes long, and it cannot be denied that the overall shape of the terminal device increases.
[0036]
In this respect, in this terminal device, since the amount of increase in rattling due to permanent deformation of the housing 3 generated in the assembly process is small, the displacement due to rattling of the terminal spring member 1 is also reduced accordingly. Therefore, even if the length of the terminal spring member 16 is set short, the reliability of electrical contact with the circuit board PB can be made sufficient. In the present terminal device, as described above, the bending of the first leg portion 11b may be prevented, and only the terminal spring member 16 may be plastically deformed beyond its elastic range. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the elastic characteristic A inherent to the terminal spring member 16 is increased by the amount of plastic deformation to have the elastic characteristic B, as shown in the relationship between the displacement of the elastic piece (leaf spring) and the stress. Thus, the elastic region of the terminal spring member 16 is expanded. Such plastic deformation of the leaf spring should generally be avoided. However, in the terminal device, once the circuit board PB is mounted on the housing 10, the mounting state is exclusively maintained, and the circuit board PB having the same specifications is used even when the circuit board PB is mounted / removed. Focusing on the fact that it is not necessary to restore the spring member 16 to its initial state, allowing the plastic deformation of the terminal spring member 16 as described above in view of the thickness of the circuit board PB, the terminal spring member 16 is further improved. The length can be shortened.
[0037]
Therefore, according to the terminal device adopting such a structure, the length of the terminal spring member 16 and further the length of the first leg portion 11b are increased in order to increase the elastic force of the terminal spring member 1 as in the prior art. Since it is not necessary to set the length long, there is an effect that the depth (dimension extending inward of the casing) as the terminal device can be shortened to reduce the overall shape.
[0038]
By the way, in embodiment mentioned above, the terminal metal fixture comprised by these thin plate terminal metal fittings 11 and the thick plate terminal metal fittings 12 was made rigid structure by superimposing the thick plate terminal metal fittings 12 on the thin plate terminal metal fittings 11, The thin terminal fitting 11 itself may be bent to form a rigid structure. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the both sides of the thin metal terminal fitting 11 are bent along the side to form a flange 11x, and the main portion of the thin metal terminal fitting 11 is prevented from bending in the longitudinal direction. 11a is rigidly structured. That is, except for the leg portions 11b and 11c formed by bending both ends of the thin plate terminal metal fitting 11, only the main body portion 11a provided with the screw holes 13 is formed into a rigid structure by forming the flange 11x.
[0039]
Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the one end portion (shoulder portion) of the thin plate terminal fitting 11 having the flange 11 x formed thereon is a hook-shaped locking portion provided on the terminal fitting mounting portion 10 a of the housing 10. 10f, the one end part (shoulder part) of the said thin-plate terminal metal fitting 11 is latched by the said latching | locking part 10f, and it is set as the structure which receives firmly the stress added from the 1st leg part 11d.
[0040]
Even in such a structure, even when the circuit board PB is attached / detached along the terminal spring member 16 from the inside of the housing 10 as in the previous embodiment, the stress applied through the terminal spring member 16 at the time of attachment / detachment. The thin plate terminal fitting 11 is firmly and reliably received by the engagement of the shoulder portion of the rigid body structure and the engaging portion 10f. At the same time, the pullout strength of the first leg portion 11b is sufficiently increased. As a result, the terminal metal supported by the housing 10, particularly the first leg 11 b integrally provided at one end of the thin terminal metal 11, and thus the rattling of the terminal spring member 16, is suppressed, and the terminal spring member 16 It is possible to ensure stable and reliable electrical connection with the circuit board PB.
[0041]
In addition, this invention is not limited to each embodiment mentioned above. Here, an example of a so-called double-unit type in which two sets of terminals (terminal fittings) are incorporated in one casing 10 is described, but it goes without saying that the number of terminals provided in the casing 10 is not particularly limited. It is also possible to have a terminal structure in which a plurality of terminal fittings are arranged side by side so that the plurality of terminal spring members 16 are provided side by side with respect to one circuit board PB. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the side where the terminal spring member of the terminal fitting incorporated in the casing is provided is firmly supported by the engagement of the portion where the terminal fitting is rigidly structured and the casing. Therefore, when the circuit board is attached / detached along the terminal spring member, it is possible to reliably receive the stress applied via the terminal spring member and prevent the rattling. In addition, it is possible to reduce the number of deformed parts of the housing in the mounting process that causes backlash, thereby reducing the backlash of the terminal as compared to the conventional configuration having a plurality of deformed parts of the housing. Product value is improved.
[0043]
Furthermore, since the displacement of the terminal spring member is reduced when the occurrence of looseness of the terminal becomes light, the terminal device can be downsized by setting the length of the terminal spring member short. As a result, the terminal metal fitting can be securely held without rattling with a simple structure, and a stable and reliable electrical connection between the terminal spring portion and the circuit board can be secured. It is made.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention with a part cut away.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the terminal device shown in FIG.
3 is a diagram showing step by step a procedure for assembling terminal fittings to the casing of the terminal device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a view showing an elastic characteristic of a terminal spring member.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a terminal fitting used in a terminal device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal device configured using the terminal fitting shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a structure of a conventional terminal device.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 housing
10a Terminal bracket mounting part
10b Fitting recess
10c pedestal
10d first groove
10e Second groove
10f Locking part
11 Thin terminal fittings
11a Main part
11b first leg
11c second leg
11d 1st latching part
11e 2nd latching part
11f engagement piece (elastic piece)
11x Flange (Rigid body structuring means)
12 Thick plate terminal bracket
12a Engagement protrusion (rigidly structured part)
13 Screw holes
14 Terminal screw
15 Washer
16 Terminal spring member

Claims

絶縁性を有する筐体の台座上に外部に向けて取り付けられる端子金具と、この端子金具の一端部から前記筐体の内側に向けて延設された脚部に設けられて前記筐体の内部に組み込まれる回路基板に接続される端子バネ部材とを備えたターミナル装置であって、
前記端子金具は、剛体板からなる厚板端子金具と、この厚板端子金具の上に重ねて設けられて該厚板端子金具の両端から前記筐体の内側に向けてそれぞれ略直角に折り曲げられた脚部を有する薄板端子金具とからなり、
前記端子バネ部材を設けた側の前記厚板端子金具の端部を、前記筐体に設けられた庇状の係止部に該筐体の内側から係合して該端子金具の一端部を前記筐体に支持させる掛け止め部とし、
前記端子バネ部材を設けた側とは反対側の脚部に、前記筐体の内側に設けられた係合凹部に嵌め込まれて該端子金具の他端部を前記筐体に取り付ける係合片を設けたことを特徴とするターミナル装置。 A terminal fitting that is attached to the outside on the base of the insulating casing, and a leg portion that extends from one end of the terminal fitting toward the inside of the casing, and the inside of the casing. A terminal device comprising a terminal spring member connected to a circuit board incorporated in
The terminal fittings are thick plate terminal fittings made of rigid plates, and are stacked on the thick plate terminal fittings, and are bent at substantially right angles from both ends of the thick plate terminal fittings toward the inside of the casing. Consisting of thin plate terminal fittings with leg portions,
The end of the thick plate terminal fitting on the side where the terminal spring member is provided is engaged from the inside of the casing with the hook-shaped locking section provided on the casing, and one end of the terminal fitting is A latching part to be supported by the housing,
An engaging piece for fitting the other end of the terminal fitting to the casing is fitted into an engaging recess provided on the inner side of the casing on the leg opposite to the side on which the terminal spring member is provided. A terminal device characterized by being provided .

前記端子バネ部材を設けた側の脚部は、前記台座の側部に位置して前記庇状の係止部の下方に設けられ、前記筐体の内側から回路基板が嵌め込まれる溝部を通して前記筐体の内側に向けて挿通されるものである請求項１に記載のターミナル装置。 The leg portion on the side where the terminal spring member is provided is provided on the side portion of the pedestal and below the hook-shaped locking portion, and passes through the groove portion into which the circuit board is fitted from the inside of the housing. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device is inserted toward the inside of the body .