Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a connection structure of a wiring conductor that
electrically interconnects a plurality of wiring terminals of an electronic device.
Background Art
[0002] In a case where one wiring terminal and the other wiring terminal of an electronic
device are connected, a structure typically used in the related art is to firmly fix
the terminals by sandwiching the both terminals using a male screw (for example, a
bolt) and a female screw (for example, a nut) so that the terminals are electrically
and mechanically connected in a reliable manner. In such a structure, however, it
is crucial to hold the female screw in a reliable manner when the male screw is fastened
and the terminals cannot be connected satisfactorily unless the female screw is stopped
from rotating and further the female screw is positioned accurately. Workability is
therefore poor.
[0003] To overcome this problem, PTL 1 describes a power-supply supply terminal, an electronic
component with a conductor member, and a structure body including the power-supply
supply terminal. The power-supply supply terminal 2 is formed of a first terminal
block 4 and a second terminal block 20. The first terminal block 4 is provided with
a plurality of slits 6 to insert press-fit terminals 12 bent in the shape of a capital
U and an insert-molded female screw 8. Also, a back wiring board (BWB) 44 has a conductor
pattern for a supply of the power supply and a plurality of through-holes connected
to the conductor pattern. The power-supply supply terminal 2 is installed to the BWB
44 by inserting press-fit pins 14 of the press-fit terminals 12 into the through-holes
of the BWB 44. An outside wiring can be firmly fixed to the first terminal block 4
by screwing a male screw 16 into the female screw 8 with a press-fit terminal 18 attached
to the tip end of the outside wiring sandwiched in between.
Citation List
Patent Literature
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0005] With the structure body in the related art including the power-supply supply terminal,
positioning accuracy is required for the insert-molded female screw. Hence, there
is a problem that component dimensional accuracy and attachment accuracy need to be
enhanced. Further, although the female screw itself is fixed in a reliable manner,
workability has a problem. The structure body in the related art therefore has another
problem that operational costs are increased as working hours become longer.
[0006] The invention was devised to solve the problems discussed above, and has an object
to provide a connection structure of a wiring conductor with which working hours can
be shorter by making a positioning work easier when a plurality of wiring terminals
are electrically interconnected.
Solution to Problem
[0007] In order to solve the problems, a connection structure of a wiring conductor of the
invention is a connection structure of a wiring conductor that electrically interconnects
bonding surfaces of wiring terminals of a plurality of wiring conductors using a fastening
member, which is characterized in that at least one wiring terminal is provided with
a hook-like protrusion in an edge of the bonding surface, and that the other wiring
terminal or the fastening member is pressed and locked by the hook-like protrusion.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0008] According to the connection structure of the wiring conductor of the invention, by
providing the hook-like protrusion to the edge of the bonding surface of at least
one wiring terminal, a positioning mechanism can be simpler when the wiring terminals
are interconnected. Hence, not only can assembling workability be enhanced, but also
dimensional accuracy is not required for the wiring terminals. It thus becomes possible
to provide the connection structure at lower costs.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0009]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a major portion of a connection
structure of a wiring conductor according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connection structure of the
wiring conductor of Fig. 1.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a top view with a cross section taken on the line A-A of the connection
structure of the wiring conductor of Fig. 1.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a partial view of a bonding surface portion of a wiring terminal
of Fig. 1.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a major portion of another
example of the connection structure of the wiring conductor according to the first
embodiment of the invention.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a major portion of a connection
structure of a wiring conductor according to a second embodiment of the invention.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a top view with a cross section taken on the line B-B of the connection
structure of the wiring conductor of Fig. 6.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a major portion of another
example of the connection structure of the wiring conductor according to the second
embodiment of the invention.
Description of Embodiments
[0010] Hereinafter, a connection structure of a wiring conductor according to embodiments
of the invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 through Fig. 8.
First Embodiment
[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a major portion of a connection structure
of a wiring conductor of a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view
of the connection structure of the wiring conductor. Fig. 3 is a top view with a cross
section taken on the line A-A of the connection structure of the wiring conductor.
Also, Fig. 4 is a partial view of a bonding surface portion of a wiring terminal.
[0012] As are shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a connection structure 1 of a wiring conductor
of the first embodiment is formed of a case 2 of an electronic device, a plate-like
wiring conductor 3 (hereinafter, referred to as the wiring conductor) insert-molded
in the case 2 using resins 2a and 2b, a bonding surface 3a of a wiring terminal (hereinafter,
referred to as the wiring terminal surface) formed by bending a tip end of the wiring
conductor 3, a concave portion 2c provided to the case 2 so as to hold and store the
wiring terminal surface 3a, a hook-like protrusion 3b provided to an edge of the wiring
terminal surface 3a by bending, a wiring terminal surface 4a of an outside wiring
terminal 4 oppositely fixed to the wiring terminal surface 3a, a press-fit portion
4f that bonds a flexible wiring 5 to the outside wiring terminal 4, and a bolt (male
screw) 6 and a nut (female screw) 7 pressed and locked by the hook-like protrusion
3b, which are a fastening member that bonds the wiring terminal surface 3a and the
wiring terminal surface 4a. Also, the case 2 is provided with a concave portion 2d
to store the nut 7. In the exploded view of the connection structure 1 of the wiring
conductor of Fig. 2, a major portion of the case 2 relevant to the invention alone
is shown for ease of description, and other wiring conductors and structure bodies
are omitted. Also, the case 2 in which is embedded the wiring conductor 3 is shown
by dividing the case 2 to the resin 2a in an upper part and the resin 2b in a lower
part for ease of description. However, the case 2 is actually formed in such a manner
that the resins 2a and 2b wrap the wiring conductor 3 by insert-molding and the resins
2a and 2b are indistinguishable.
[0013] A function and an effect of the connection structure of the wiring conductor of the
first embodiment will now be described. As is shown in the schematic perspective view
of Fig. 1 and the exploded perspective view of Fig. 2, the wiring terminal surface
4a of the outside wiring terminal 4 to which is bonded the flexible wiring 5 by the
press-fit portion 4f is abutted against the wiring terminal surface 3a exposed from
the case 2. The bolt 6 is inserted through a bonding hole 4h of the wiring terminal
surface 4a and a bonding hole 3h of the wiring terminal surface 3a and screwed into
the nut 7 installed in the concave portion 2d in advance. The wiring terminal surface
4a and the wiring terminal surface 3a are thus bonded to each other. In this instance,
the nut 7 is locked by being softly pressed by the hook-like protrusion 3b of the
wiring terminal surface 3a. Accordingly, the nut 7 is substantially positioned and
at the same time the nut 7 is prevented from rotating while the bolt 6 is screwed
therein. The need to keep pressing the nut 7 during a work of bonding the wiring terminals
to each other is therefore eliminated. Also, the wiring conductor 3 and the flexible
wiring 5 can be electrically connected with good work efficiency. Fig. 3 shows the
top view (A) and the cross section (B) taken on the line A-A when the connection is
completed.
[0014] In Fig. 1 through Fig. 3, the wiring terminal surface 3a of the wiring conductor
3 is stored in the concave portion 2c of the case 2 with a clearance in between. However,
the wiring terminal surface 3a may be of a structure by which the wiring terminal
surface 3a is fixed by insert-molding using resin except for a portion bonded to the
wiring terminal surface 4a of the outside wiring terminal 4. Also, the concave portion
2d provided to the case 2 so as to store the nut 7 therein has a clearance large enough
to insert and move the nut 7. Also, as has been described above, it is sufficient
that the hook-like protrusion 3b can press the nut 7 softly so that the nut 7 does
not come out of the concave portion 2d and strength is not required. Hence, the hook-like
protrusion 3b can be narrow and therefore can be processed easily. Further, it is
necessary to position the bolt 6 with respect to the screw hole of the nut 7 when
the bolt 6 is fastened by inserting the bolt 6 through the bonding hole 4h and the
bonding hole 3h and screwing the bolt 6 into the screw hole of the nut 7. Herein,
because the nut 7 is not fixed in the concave portion 2d and in a loose-fit state,
the nut 7 can be fine-tuned so that the center thereof falls on a predetermined position
when the bolt 6 is inserted. Hence, it becomes easy to insert the bolt 6 into the
screw hole of the nut 7 and positional accuracy as to where the nut 7 is installed
is not required.
[0015] Also, as is shown in Fig. 4, notch portions 3k are provided to the edge of the wiring
terminal surface 3a at the bottom where the hook-like protrusion 3b is formed. Owing
to this configuration, there can be achieved an advantage that not only is the hook-like
protrusion 3b bent easily, but also the occurrence of strain in the wiring terminal
surface 3a and the hook-like protrusion 3b is prevented during the processing.
[0016] The first embodiment above has described a case where the wiring conductor is embedded
in the case. However, a connection structure 10 of the wiring conductor is also applicable
to a case where a wiring conductor 13 is provided on a wiring board 12 as in another
example of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 5. Herein, a wiring terminal surface
13a of the wiring conductor 13 processed so as to have an air gap between the self
and the wiring board 12 and the outside wiring terminal 4 are connected. As in the
first embodiment above, hook-like protrusions 13b are provided to front and rear edges
of the wiring terminal surface 13a (the hook-like protrusion 13b in the rear edge
is hidden behind the outside wiring terminal 4), and the nut 7 is pressed softly by
these hook-like protrusions 13b. Then, by fastening the bolt 6 with the nut 7 by screwing
the former into the latter, the wiring conductor 13 on the wiring board 12 and the
outside wiring terminal 4 are electrically connected. It is sufficient for the wiring
conductor to be thick enough to self-stand and bend. Hence, this embodiment is particularly
effective when applied to a wiring conductor in a power-supply system, which is thick
because of a need to flow a large current.
[0017] As has been described, according to the connection structure of the wiring conductor
of the first embodiment, for the connection between the wiring terminal of the wiring
conductor and the outside wiring terminal to which the flexible wiring is press-fit,
by providing the hook-like protrusion to the edge of the wiring terminal surface of
the wiring conductor and by pressing and locking the nut, which is the fastening member,
with the hook-like protrusion, the need for positioning accuracy of the nut can be
eliminated when the bolt is inserted and screwed into the nut. A fastening and bonding
work therefore becomes easier. Hence, there can be achieved a significant advantage
that work efficiency is enhanced and component costs and operational costs can be
reduced.
Second Embodiment
[0018] Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a major portion of a connection structure
of a wiring conductor of a second embodiment. Fig. 7 is a top view with a cross section
taken along the line B-B of the connection structure of the wiring conductor. A difference
from the connection structure of the wiring conductor of the first embodiment above
is that in contrast to the first embodiment above in which one wiring terminal is
a wiring terminal provided to the case or the wiring conductor on the wiring board
and the other wiring terminal is a wiring terminal of the outside wiring terminal
to which the flexible wiring is connected and these wiring terminals are interconnected,
wiring terminals provided to wiring conductors on two wiring boards are interconnected
in the second embodiment.
[0019] As is shown in Fig. 6, in a connection structure 20 of the wiring conductor of the
second embodiment, wiring conductors 23 and 33 are provided on two wiring boards 22
and 32, respectively, and wiring terminal surfaces 23a and 33a are provided by bending
tip ends of the wiring conductors 23 and 33, respectively, upright. Hook-like protrusions
23b and 33b are provided to edges of the wiring terminal surfaces 23a and 33a, respectively.
By engaging the hook-like protrusions 23b and 33b with each other when the wiring
terminal surface 23a and the wiring terminal surface 33a are abutted against and bonded
to each other, the wiring terminal surface 23a and the wiring terminal surface 33a
are pressed and locked and therefore substantially positioned. Normally, when the
wiring terminal surface 23a and the wiring terminal surface 33a are bonded, it is
difficult to position the one with respect to the other unless a specific tool is
used. However, by providing the hook-like protrusions 23b to a plurality of points
in the edges of the wiring terminal surfaces 23a and suppressing movements of the
other wiring terminal surface using the hook-like protrusions 23b, positioning can
be performed easily. Then, the bolt 6 is inserted into the bonding hole (hidden in
the drawing) of the wiring terminal surface 23a and screwed into the female screw
8 provided to the wiring terminal surface 33a by burring. The wiring terminal surface
23a and the wiring terminal surface 33a are thus bonded. Accordingly, as in the first
embodiment above, it becomes possible to interconnect the wiring conductors provided
on the wiring boards. The above described a case where the hook-like protrusions 23b
and 33b are extended by bending from the edges of the wiring terminal surfaces 23a
and 33a, respectively. It should be appreciated, however, that the hook-like protrusions
may be extended from one wiring terminal surface alone.
[0020] As has been described, it becomes possible to suppress all movements of the both
wiring terminal surfaces to be connected by a plurality of the hook-like protrusions.
Hence, because there is no need to use tools and to perform positioning with a high
degree of accuracy, the assembling workability can be enhanced.
[0021] The second embodiment has described a case where the wiring conductors are provided
on the wiring boards. However, according to another example of the second embodiment
shown in Fig. 8, a connection structure 40 of a wiring conductor has wiring terminal
surfaces 43a and 53a formed in a convex shape by bending to be parallel to wiring
conductors 43 and 53, respectively. Herein, the wiring terminal surface 43a of the
wiring conductor 43 on the wiring board 42 and the wiring terminal surface 53a of
the wiring conductor 53 on the wiring board 52 are connected. Two hook-like protrusions
43b are provided to an edge of the wiring terminal surface 43a and the nut 7 is pressed
softly by one hook-like protrusion 43b. Also, the wiring terminal surface 53a is pressed
and locked as the other hook-like protrusion 43b and the edge of the wiring terminal
surface 53a come into contact with each other. The wiring terminal surface 53a is
thus substantially positioned and fixed. Then, by fastening the bolt 6 with nut 7
by screwing the former into the latter, the wiring conductor 43 on the wiring board
42 and the wiring conductor 53 on the wiring board 52 are electrically connected.
[0022] The above has described a case with reference to Fig. 8 where the wiring terminal
surfaces 43a and 53a are formed in a convex shape by bending so as to be parallel
to the wiring conductors 43 and 53, respectively. However, the wiring conductors can
be electrically interconnected in a case where one wiring terminal surface is bent
upright with respect to the wiring conductor and the wiring boards are installed perpendicularly
to each other. Also, even in a case where one wiring conductor is provided to the
case of the electronic device and the other wiring conductor is provided on the wiring
board, it is also possible to interconnect these wiring conducts.
[0023] The female screw used in the second embodiment can be a nut as in the first embodiment
above or, a method of directly applying screw-cutting to the wiring terminal surface
by burring as has been described above and a method of embedding a helical-insert
screw can be used as well.
[0024] As has been described, the connection structure of the wiring conductor of the second
embodiment is for a case where wiring conductors provided to the case of the electronic
device or on the wiring boards are interconnected, and by providing the hook-like
protrusions to the edge of the wiring terminal surface of the wiring conductor, and
by pressing and locking the other wiring terminal surface by the hook-like protrusions,
the bolt is screwed into the nut, both of which are a fastening member. Hence, positional
accuracy of the wiring terminal surfaces with respect to each other is not required,
and a fastening and bonding work becomes easier. Accordingly, there can be achieved
a significant advantage that work efficiency is enhanced and component costs and operational
costs can be reduced.
[0025] The embodiments above have described cases where the wiring terminal surfaces are
bonded and electrically connected to each other by screwing the bolt into the nut.
However, the invention is not limited to the case of fastening the wiring terminal
surfaces by screwing. For example, in a case where the wiring terminal surfaces are
bonded by welding, the invention can be also used to temporarily fix the wiring terminal
surfaces until welding is applied. Further, even in a case where the wiring terminal
surfaces are connected using another component, such as a clip, the invention can
be used to temporarily fix the wiring terminal surfaces as well. Furthermore, by forming
the tip end of the hook-like protrusion into a fork shape divided to a plurality of
branches, the hook-like protrusions can abut against the edge of the other wiring
terminal surface at more points and can thereby fix the wiring terminal surface firmly.
[0026] The respective embodiments above can be combined without any restriction or the respective
embodiments can be modified or omitted as the need arises within the scope of the
invention.
[0027] In the respective drawings, the same reference numerals denote same or equivalent
portions.
Reference Signs List
[0028]
- 1, 10, 20, and 40:
- connection structure of wiring conductor
- 2:
- case
- 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, and 53:
- wiring conductor
- 3a, 13a, 23a, 33a, 43a, and 53a:
- wiring terminal surface
- 3b, 13b, 23b, 33b, 43b:
- hook-like protrusion
- 3k:
- notch portion
- 4:
- outside wiring terminal
- 4a:
- wiring terminal surface
- 5:
- flexible wiring
- 6:
- bolt
- 7:
- nut
- 8:
- female screw provided by burring
- 12, 22, 32, 42, and 52:
- wiring board