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(11) | EP 0 986 140 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Electrical female terminal |
| (57) An electrical female terminal (10), for mating with an electrical terminal pin, comprising
a socket member (12) and a sleeve (14) substantially surrounding the socket member;
wherein the socket member is substantially tubular with a longitudinal axis (A) and
comprises first and second pairs of spring arms (22,24) which extend in the longitudinal
direction to define walls of a bore (20) for receiving the terminal pin; an annular
member (26) at one end of the bore connected with the spring arms; a first arcuate
member (28) at the other end of the bore connected to the first pair of spring arms;
and a second arcuate member (30) at the other end of bore connected to the second
pair of spring arms; the first and second arcuate members defining an opening (32)
which is substantially circular through which the terminal pin can pass; first spring
arms (34,38) of the first and second pairs of spring arms being bent inwardly to define
opposed contact edges (36,40); second spring arms (42,46) of the first and second
pair of spring arms being bent inwardly to define opposed contact edges (44,48); the
contact edges of the first spring arms lying in a first plane (P1) substantially perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis; the contact edges of the second spring arms lying in a second
plane (P2) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and axially spaced
from the first plane; and wherein the sleeve engages the annular member at one end
(50) and has a predetermined minimum clearance (X) with the arcuate members at the
other end (52). Reduces the force required to insert the terminal pin. |