Structure for waterproofing terminal-wire connecting portion and method of waterproofing the same

Abstract

A conductor portion ( 3 ) and an insulating sheath ( 4 ) of a wire ( 2 ) are inserted in a generally-cylindrical wire connection portion ( 32 ) of a terminal, and in this condition the wire connection portion ( 32 ) is compressively pressed radially uniformly over an entire periphery thereof, so that the conductor portion and the insulating sheath are held in intimate contact with an inner peripheral surface of the wire connection portion. The wire connection portion ( 32 ) has a smaller-diameter insertion hole for the conductor portion ( 3 ), and a larger-diameter insertion hole for the insulating sheath ( 4 ), the insertion holes being disposed in coaxial relation to each other.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A structure for waterproofing a terminal-wire connecting portion comprising: 
 a wire including a conductor portion and an insulating sheath; and    a terminal including a substantially cylindrical wire connection portion,    wherein the conductor portion and the insulating sheath are inserted in the wire connection portion, and the wire connection portion is pressed radially uniformly over an entire periphery thereof so that the conductor portion and the insulating sheath are held in intimate contact with an inner peripheral surface of the wire connection portion.    
     
     
         2 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the wire connection portion includes a smaller-diameter insertion hole for the conductor portion and a larger-diameter insertion hole for the insulating sheath, the smaller-diameter and larger-diameter insertion holes being disposed in coaxial relation to each other.    
     
     
         3 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 one of a waterproof seal material and a waterproof seal member is arranged in an annular shape within the wire connection portion, and    an outer peripheral surface of the insulating sheath is held in intimate contact with the one of the waterproof seal material and the waterproof seal member.    
     
     
         4 . The structure according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the wire connection portion includes a peripheral groove for receiving the elastic waterproof seal member, and    the waterproof seal member is compressed in the peripheral groove.    
     
     
         5 . Method of waterproofing a terminal-wire connecting portion comprising the steps of: 
 simultaneously inserting a conductor portion and an insulating sheath of a wire into a substantially cylindrical wire connection portion of a terminal; and    pressing radially uniformly the wire connection portion over an entire periphery thereof to be compressively plastically deformed.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 the conductor portion is inserted into a smaller-diameter insertion hole formed in the wire connection portion,    the insulating sheath is inserted into a larger-diameter insertion hole formed in the wire connection portion in coaxial relation to the smaller-diameter insertion hole, and    the smaller-diameter and larger-diameter insertion holes are pressed radially.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 the pressing step is performed under a state in which one of a waterproof seal material and a waterproof seal member is arranged in an annular shape with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the insulating sheath within the wire connection portion.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the pressing step is performed under a state in which a peripheral groove for receiving the elastic waterproof seal member is formed in an inner surface of the wire connection portion, and the waterproof seal member is mounted in the peripheral groove.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the pressing is effected by a rotary swaging machine.