Structure for assembling a housing and a connector

Abstract

In a structure for assembling a housing and a connector in which a connector is inserted into a housing, and a fitting surface of the connector adapted to be connected to a mating connector and oriented in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction projects outside the housing through an opening formed in the housing, an inclined wall which is inclined with respect to the inserting direction of the connector is provided on an inner surface of the housing, an annular inclined flange which opposes to the inclined wall is provided on an outer peripheral side of the fitting surface of the connector, a seal member is interposed between the inclined wall and the inclined flange, the seal member is pressed between the inclined wall and the inclined flange by fixing a substrate provided with the connector to the housing.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates to an assembling structure which ensures the waterproofness of a housing and a connector in such as an electronic control unit (ECU) for automobile use, for example.[0003] The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-78010, which is incorporated herein by reference.[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art[0005] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional structure for assembling a housing and a connector disclosed in unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. JP-A-10-172643.[0006] In this assembling structure, when a connector 2 is assembled to a housing 1, a projection 3 of the connector 2 is inserted in an opening 5 of the housing 1 in a state in which an annular seal member 4 is fitted around an outer periphery of the projection 3 on the connector 2 side. In this state, as the connector 2 is screwed to the housing 1, the gap between the housing 1 and the connector 2 i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] In this state, the fitting surface of the connector which is oriented in the direction perpendicular to the inserting direction projects outside the housing through the opening provided in the inclined wall of the housing, so that the mating connector can be fitted to the fitting surface. Moreover, since the seal member which continues along the periphery of the opening is present around the opening in the state of being clamped between the inclined wall and inclined flange, the gap between the connector and the housing is sealed by this seal member, so that the interior of the housing is maintained as a waterproof space.

[0012] In this case, since the inclined wall and the inclined flange approach each other and clamp the seal member by their opposing surfaces by moving the connector in the inserting direction, it is possible to prevent the seal member from being rubbed or caught by the end of the opening of the housing as experienced with the conventional assembling structure, so that it is possible to prevent the seal member from becoming damaged or dislocated. In addition, since pressure contact force is applied to the seal member by the face-to-face approach, the seal surface can be stably held by the fastening force of the screws at the time of fixing the connector to the housing. Accordingly, it is possible to demonstrate highly reliably sealing performance which is free of variations.

Problems solved by technology

Accordingly, there has been the risk that the seal member 4 becomes damaged or dislocated, and the reliability of the seal declines.

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