BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

This specification relates to a connector.

Related Art

Japanese Patent No. 6222039 discloses a female terminal to be connected to a male terminal. This female terminal includes a rectangular tubular fitting formed by peripheral walls and a resilient piece disposed in the fitting resiliently contact the male terminal. The male terminal is connected conductively to the female terminal by being sandwiched between the resilient piece and the peripheral wall facing the resilient piece. The female terminal is formed into a rectangular tube shape by stamping and bending a plate-like metal material by press-working.

However, if a plate thickness of a metal material is increased due to a larger current, it may become impossible to manufacture a female terminal in the form of a rectangular tube by press-working.

SUMMARY

A connector disclosed by this specification has a housing with a plate-like connection terminal and a spring held in the housing. The housing includes an insertion opening into which a plate-like mating terminal is inserted so that the spring sandwiches the mating terminal and the connection terminal.

According to this configuration, the terminal need not be processed into a tubular shape so that the plate-like terminal can be used. Therefore, the terminal can be manufactured easily even if a plate thickness of the terminal increases.

The connection terminal may include a contact projecting on a surface facing the mating terminal. The contact may have a spherical contact surface. Thus, a contact area of the mating terminal and the contact surface of the connection terminal will not suddenly decrease even if the mating terminal is twisted. Therefore, a sudden increase of contact resistance between the mating terminal and the connection terminal can be suppressed.

The spring may include a first pressing portion for pressing the mating terminal toward the connection terminal and a second pressing portion for pressing the connection terminal toward the mating terminal. The mating terminal inserted into the insertion opening and the connection terminal may be sandwiched by the first and second pressing portions. Therefore, the connection terminal and the mating terminal are in contact at a high contact pressure and are connected electrically.

The spring may be a leaf spring made metal a plate-like base, a first resilient piece cantilevered from a first end of the base and a second resilient piece extending from a second end the base. The first pressing portion may be disposed on the first resilient piece and the second pressing portion may disposed on the second resilient piece. The leaf spring can sandwich the connection terminal and the mating terminal at a sufficient contact pressure. Further, the separation of the connection terminal and the mating terminal due to electromagnetic repulsion at the time of energization can be suppressed. Thus, arc discharge is not generated between the connection terminal and the mating terminal.

The spring may include an accommodating portion surrounded by the base, the first resilient piece and the second resilient piece. An opening may be provided at a position facing the base, and the mating terminal may be inserted into the accommodating portion through the opening. Accordingly, an insertion depth of the mating terminal can be limited by bringing an end of the mating terminal into contact with the base. Thus, the insertion depth of the mating terminal can be managed easily so that assembly of the connector can be improved.

The first pressing portion may project toward the second pressing portion from a surface of the first resilient piece facing the second resilient piece. Accordingly, the mating terminal can be inserted smoothly by sliding on the first pressing portion.

The second pressing portion may project toward the first pressing portion from a surface of the second resilient piece facing the first resilient piece. Accordingly, the connection terminal can be inserted smoothly by sliding on the second pressing portion.

The housing may include an inner housing holding the spring inside, an outer housing holding the inner housing inside and a holding cap for holding the inner housing in the outer housing. The insertion opening may be composed of an inner insertion opening provided in the inner housing and an outer insertion opening provided in the holding cap. Accordingly, the connection terminal can be mounted into the spring with the spring held in the inner housing, thereby facilitating a mounting operation of the connection terminal.

According to the connector disclosed by this specification, the terminal need not be processed into a tubular shape and the plate-like terminal can be used. Thus, the terminal can be manufactured easily even if the plate thickness of the terminal increases as a current becomes larger.

