Crimp terminal with mechanical locking to secure a wire
A crimp terminal includes a crimping segment having a base, a first side wall extending from the base, and a second side wall extending from the base opposite the first side wall. The crimping segment has a first surface adapted for arranging a wire thereon along a longitudinal axis and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first side wall has a first serration on the second surface. The second side wall has a pair of second serrations on the second surface. The first serration is displaced from the second serrations along the longitudinal axis and, in a crimped state, a portion of the first serration is positioned between a pair of portions of the second serrations along the longitudinal axis.
1 . A crimp terminal, comprising:
a crimping segment having a base, a first side wall extending from the base, and a second side wall extending from the base opposite the first side wall, the crimping segment has a first surface adapted for arranging a wire thereon along a longitudinal axis and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first side wall has a first serration protruding from the second surface, the second side wall has a pair of second serrations protruding from the second surface, the first serration is displaced from the second serrations along the longitudinal axis and, in a crimped state, a portion of the first serration is positioned between a pair of portions of the second serrations along the longitudinal axis, the first serration and the second serrations mechanically interlock to realize a form-fit connection.
2 . The crimp terminal of claim 1 , wherein a width of the first serration corresponds to a distance between the second serrations.
3 . The crimp terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first serration and the second serrations are arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.
4 . The crimp terminal of claim 1 , wherein each of the first serration and the second serrations has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
5 . The crimp terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first serration and at least one of the second serrations are connected by a third serration.
6 . The crimp terminal of claim 5 , wherein the third serration extends at an angle greater than 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis.
7 . The crimp terminal of claim 1 , wherein, on each of the first side wall and the second side walls, the first serration and the second serrations are spaced apart from a plurality of free-edges of the first side wall and the second side walls.
8 . The crimp terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first side wall has a first recess extending into the first surface opposite the first serration.
9 . The crimp terminal of claim 8 , wherein the second side wall has a pair of second recesses extending into the first surface, each of the second recess is opposite one of the second serrations.
10 . The crimp terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first serration is displaced from the second serrations along the longitudinal axis by an offset that is greater than or equal to a width of the first serration.
11 . The crimp terminal of claim 1 , wherein the second serrations are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis by an offset that is greater than or equal to a width of each of the second serrations.
12 . An electrical connector, comprising:
a crimp terminal including a crimping segment having a base, a first side wall extending from the base, and a second side wall extending from the base opposite the first side wall, the crimping segment has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first side wall has a first serration protruding from the second surface, the second side wall has a pair of second serrations protruding from the second surface, the first serration is displaced from the second serrations along a longitudinal axis and, in a crimped state, a portion of the first serration is positioned between a pair of portions of the second serrations along the longitudinal axis, the first serration and the second serrations mechanically interlock to realize a form-fit connection.
13 . The electrical connector of claim 12 , further comprising a wire enclosed in the crimp terminal in the crimped state.
14 . A method for preparing an electrical connector, comprising:
providing a crimp terminal including a crimping segment having a base, a first side wall extending from the base, and a second side wall extending from the base opposite the first side wall, the crimping segment has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first side wall has a first serration protruding from the second surface, the second side wall has a pair of second serrations protruding from the second surface;
arranging a wire on the first surface along a longitudinal axis of the crimping segment;
folding the first side wall and the second side wall toward the longitudinal axis of the crimping segment; and
positioning a portion of the first serration between a pair of portions of the second serrations along the longitudinal axis, the first serration and the second serrations mechanically interlock and realize a form-fit connection between the first serration and the second serrations along the longitudinal axis.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first serration is displaced from the second serrations along the longitudinal axis.