# US 2014/0235116 A1 · Aluminum-based terminal fitting

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- Number: US 2014/0235116 A1
- Document ID: US20140235116A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/241,994
- Filed: 2012-08-22
- Published: 2014-08-21
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-31
- Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Inventors: Takuji Otsuka; Hiroki Hirai; Junichi Ono; Kingo Furukawa; Teruyoshi Munekata; Hajime Ota; Yoshihiro Nakai; Taichiro Nishikawa; Tetsuya Kuwabara; Yoshiyuki Takaki; Hiroyuki Kobayashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140235116A1

## CPC

- H01R 4/185: {combined with a U-shaped insulation-receiving portion}
- H01R 4/62: Connections between conductors of different materials; Connections between or with aluminium or steel-core aluminium conductors (H01R4/68 takes precedence)
- H01R 13/03: characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

Provided are an aluminum-based terminal fitting in which a Sn layer has high peel resistance, and a terminal connecting structure of an electric wire provided with the terminal fitting. The aluminum-based terminal fitting includes a wire barrel portion (110) for connection to a conductor (210) constituted by aluminum or an aluminum alloy and provided in an electric wire (200), and a fitting portion (female fitting portion (130) or male fitting portion (140)) provided to extend from the wire barrel portion (110) and electrically connected to a separate terminal fitting. A Sn layer formed directly on a base material constituting the terminal fitting is provided on the contact region in the fitting portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An aluminum-based terminal fitting comprising a conductor connecting portion for connection to a conductor of an electric wire, and an electric connecting portion that is provided to extend from the conductor connecting portion and is electrically connected to a separate connection object, wherein
the conductor is constituted by aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and
a Sn layer directly formed on a base material constituting the terminal fitting is provided on at least a contact region in the electric connecting portion on a surface of the terminal fitting.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The aluminum-based terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein
the electric connecting portion is a fitting portion that is fitted into and electrically connected to a separate terminal fitting, and
the Sn layer is provided on a contact region in the fitting portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The aluminum-based terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein
the Sn layer includes an immersion-plated layer and an electroplated layer in the order of description from the base material constituting the terminal fitting, and
the thickness of the immersion-plated layer is 0.05 μm to 0.3 μm, the thickness of the electroplated layer is 0.25 μm to 1.7 μm, and the total thickness of the two plated layers is 0.3 μm to 2 μm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The aluminum-based terminal fitting according to any one of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a surface area of the Sn layer to an exposed surface area of the base material is 0.02% to 0.6%.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The aluminum-based terminal fitting according to any one of claim 1, wherein the base material is constituted by an aluminum alloy of at least one type selected from 2000 series alloys, 6000 series alloys, and 7000 series alloys.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A terminal connecting structure of an electric wire, comprising an electric wire provided with a conductor, and a terminal fitting attached to an end portion of the conductor, wherein
the conductor is constituted by aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and
the terminal fitting is the aluminum-based terminal fitting according to claim 1.