Ground connection fitting and ground connection device using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9300093-B2
Application number	US-201214346128-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2012
Priority date	Sep 20, 2011
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

It is aimed to provide a ground connection fitting capable of enhancing the reliability of connection of a ground wire to ground sections and a ground connection device using the same. A first ground connection fitting ( 1 ) connects a ground wire (E 1 ) to a first bolt (B 1 ) and a second bolt (B 2 ), which a plurality of ground sections provided on a wall surface of a vehicle. The first ground connection fitting ( 1 ) includes a wire connecting portion formed by a wire-side terminal portion ( 4 ) to be mounted on an end of the ground wire (E 1 ), and a ground-side terminal portion ( 5 ) formed with a first bolt connection hole ( 6 ) connectable to the first bolt (B 1 ) and a second bolt connection hole ( 7 ) connectable to the second bolt (B 2 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A ground connection device for collectively connecting ground wires to first and second ground sections provided on a wall surface in a vehicle and spaced from one another along an arrangement direction, comprising:
a first ground connection fitting with a first wire connecting portion projecting transverse to the arrangement direction and shaped to be connectable to an end of at least one first ground wire and a first ground-side terminal portion defining a plate extending in the arrangement direction and having opposite upper and lower surfaces, the first ground-side terminal portion including a first ground section connection part connectable to the first ground section and a second ground section connection part connectable to the second ground section and having a step between the first and second ground section connection parts, the first and second ground section connection parts being formed respectively with first and second press-contact portions and first and second coupling portions;
a second ground connection fitting with a second wire connecting portion shaped to be connectable to an end of at least one second ground wire different from the first ground wire and a second ground-side terminal portion including a first ground section connection part that is pressed by the first press-contact portion into contact with the first coupling portion at the lower surface of the first ground-side terminal portion for simultaneous connection of the first ground section connection parts of the first and second ground connection fittings to the first ground section; and
a third ground connection fitting with a third wire connecting portion shaped to be connectable to an end of at least one third ground wire different from the first and second ground wires and a third ground-side terminal portion including a second ground section connection part that is pressed by the second press-contact portion into contact with the second coupling portion at the upper surface of the first ground-side terminal portion for simultaneous connection of the second ground section connection parts of the first and third ground connection fittings to the second ground section, wherein
the lower surface of a part of the first ground-side terminal portion located below the third ground-side terminal portion is at the same height as a lower surface of the second ground-side terminal portion.

2. The ground connection device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first wire connecting portion includes:
a plurality of first wire terminals to be respectively mounted on ends of a plurality of the ground wires,
a plurality of first wire-side terminal portions shaped to fit to the respective first wire terminals in a common specific terminal fitting direction, and
a first connector housing including a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers into which the respective first wire terminals are insertable through openings formed to be open in one direction parallel to the terminal fitting direction and terminal locking portions for locking the first wire terminals inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers;
the first wire-side terminal portions are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the terminal fitting direction and substantially parallel to the wall surface;
the first ground-side terminal portion is connected to each first wire-side terminal portion;
the first wire-side terminal portion is so accommodated in each terminal accommodating chamber in the first connector housing that the first wire terminal is locked by the terminal locking portion in a state where the first wire terminal inserted in each terminal accommodating chamber is fit to the corresponding first wire-side terminal portion; and
the first connector housing holds the first ground-side terminal portion in such a manner that the first ground-side terminal portion projects out from the first connector housing at a side opposite to the openings of the respective terminal accommodating chambers.

3. The ground connection device of claim 2 , wherein:
the second wire connecting portion includes:
a plurality of second wire terminals to be respectively mounted on ends of a plurality of the ground wires,
a plurality of second wire-side terminal portions shaped to fit to the respective second wire terminals in a common specific terminal fitting direction, and
a second connector housing including a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers into which the respective second wire terminals are insertable through openings formed to be open in one direction parallel to the terminal fitting direction and terminal locking portions for locking the second wire terminals inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers;
the second wire-side terminal portions are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the terminal fitting direction and substantially parallel to the wall surface;
the second ground-side terminal portion is connected to each second wire-side terminal portion;
the second wire-side terminal portion is so accommodated in each terminal accommodating chamber in the second connector housing that the second wire terminal is locked by the terminal locking portion in a state where the second wire terminal inserted in each terminal accommodating chamber is fit to the corresponding second wire-side terminal portion; and
the second connector housing holds the second ground-side terminal portion in such a manner that the second ground-side terminal portion projects out from the second connector housing at a side opposite to the openings of the respective terminal accommodating chambers.

4. The ground connection device of claim 3 , wherein:
the third wire connecting portion includes:
a plurality of third wire terminals to be respectively mounted on ends of a plurality of the ground wires,
a plurality of third wire-side terminal portions shaped to fit to the respective third wire terminals in a common specific terminal fitting direction, and a third connector housing including a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers into which the respective third wire terminals are insertable through openings formed to be open in one direction parallel to the terminal fitting direction and terminal locking portions for locking the third wire terminals inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chamber;
the third wire-side terminal portions are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the terminal fitting direction and substantially parallel to the wall surface;
the third ground-side terminal portion is connected to each third wire-side terminal portion;
the third wire-side terminal portion is so accommodated in each terminal accommodating chamber in the third connector housing that the third wire terminal is locked by the terminal locking portion in a state where the third wire terminal inserted in each terminal accommodating chamber is fit to the corresponding third wire-side terminal portion; and
the third connector housing holds the third ground-side terminal portion in such a manner that the third ground-side terminal portion projects out from the third connector housing at a side opposite to the openings of the respective terminal accommodating chambers.

5. The ground connection device of claim 2 , wherein:
the second wire connecting portion is a wire crimping portion configured for crimped connection to the second ground wire and disposed substantially adjacent a side of the first connector housing.

6. The ground connection device of claim 5 , the third wire connecting portion is a wire crimping portion configured for crimped connection to the third ground wire and disposed substantially adjacent a side of the first connector housing opposite the second wir

Assignees

• Autonetworks Technologies Ltd
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems
• Sumitomo Electric Industries

Inventors

• Omori Yasuo
• Hirai Hiroki
• Tabata Masaaki
• Amano Takamaru
• Tsuchiya Takashi

Classifications

• H01R2201/26

  for vehicles · CPC title

• H01R4/185

  combined with a U-shaped insulation-receiving portion · CPC title

• H01R4/34

  Conductive members located under head of screw · CPC title

• H01R13/648 Primary

  Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices {, e.g. anti-static shielding}   (coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38) · CPC title

• H01R4/64 Primary

  Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail · CPC title