Method of and structure for connecting electric wire and connecting terminal

• US 6,334,798 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Saito, Yasuyuki, Ushijima, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SON V
• Application Number:
  US09/544,629
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 439/876-879, 439/882, 439/886, 439/887, 439/874, 439/387, 439/203
• US Class Current: 439/879
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/024 comprising preapplied solder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/187 combined with soldering or welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/048 Crimping apparatus or processes H01R43/042 takes precedence

Abstract

In a structure 21 for connecting an electric wire and a connecting terminal in the invention, a ductile metal film 29 is formed in advance on an inner surface of a conductor caulking portion 24 of a crimp terminal 22 by such as plating, vacuum deposition, or adhesion. Then, the conductor caulking portion 24 in the rear portion of the crimp terminal 22 is caulked onto core wire portions M in a state of being stripped and extended in the axial direction from an end of a sheathed wire W to thereby establish connection. Subsequently, the metal film 29 is fused on heating. Accordingly, the ductile metal film 29 enters gaps between the inner surface of the conductor caulking portion 24 and the core wire portions M and between adjacent ones of the core wire portions M by the caulking stress. Hence, the area of contact between the conductor caulking portion 24 and the core wire portions M via the metal film 29 increases, and conductivity improves, thereby making it possible to suppress heat generation.

Claims

1. A structure for connecting an electric wire and a connecting terminal comprising:

said electric wire having a core wire portion and a sheath, said core wire portion exposed from an end of said sheath, said core wire portion extending in an axial direction from said end of said sheath;

said connecting terminal having a conductor caulking portion to caulk said core wire portion;

a metal film formed at an inner surface of said conductor caulking portion, a ductility of said metal film being higher than that of said core wire portion;

wherein said core wire portion is caulked by said conductor caulking portion to contact said metal film with said core wire portion.

2. The structure for connecting an electric wire and a connecting terminal according to claim 13, wherein said metal film is formed by any one of plating, vapor deposition and adhesion.

3. A structure for connecting an electric wire and a connecting terminal comprising:

said electric wire having a core wire portion and a sheathed wire, said core wire portion exposed from an end of said sheath, said connecting terminal having a conductor caulking portion to caulk said core wire portion, said core wire portion extending in an axial direction from said an end portion of said sheath; and

a metal member provided between said core wire portion and an inner surface of said conductive caulking portion, a ductility of said metal member being higher than that of said core wire portion.

4. The structure for connecting an electric wire and a connecting terminal according to claim 3, wherein said metal member is filled in gaps formed between said core wire portion and said conductive caulking portion when said conductive caulking portion caulks said core wire portion.