ARRANGEMENT HAVING A HOUSING AND COUNTERHOUSING

Abstract

arrangement that a housing (13) and has a counter housing (15), wherein the housing (13) is attachable to the counter housing (15), wherein a fastening projection (53) of the counter housing can be introduced into a cylindrical hood (21) of the housing (13), wherein the counter housing (15) has an annular sealing element (98), wherein, when the fastening projection (53) is inserted into the cylindrical hood (21), a space between the cylindrical hood (21) and the fastening projection (53) is sealed with the annular sealing element (98) arranged on the fastening projection (53), wherein the cylindrical hood (21) at a distal end of the cylindrical hood (21), from which the housing (13) can be inserted into the counter-housing (15), a cylindrical sealing portion (25) which, when the fastening projection (53) is inserted into the cylindrical hood (21), continuously contacts and covers an edge of the counter housing (15) over an entire circumference of the edge, wherein the housing (13) has a cover extension (28) extending from the cylindrical sealing portion (25) in a direction in which the housing (13) can be attached to the counter-housing (15), wherein the counter-housing (15) has a locking arm (55) with a support column (73), wherein the locking arm (55) serves to lock the cylindrical hood (21) when the housing (13) is attached to the counter-housing (15), and wherein the cover extension (28) has a recess (29) into which the support column (73) of the locking arm (55) is inserted when the housing (13) is attached to the counter-housing (15).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to an assembly comprising a housing and a mating housing.BACKGROUNDA related-art connector in which housings are fitted and connected to each other has an annular sealing member that is a seal or the like that seals a portion where the housings are fitted and prevents water from entering a space inside the housings in which terminals are connected to each other (see, e.g., JP 2016-105 353 A and JP 2016-115 411 A).However, when a vehicle is washed with a high-pressure cleaner or the like, water ejected at high pressure from the high-pressure cleaner may hit the housings and enter a gap between the housings of the vehicle-mounted connector. As a result, an inner seal member may be damaged, and the sealing performance may be reduced by the water ejected at such a high pressure.The publication DE 11 2015 001 551 T5 shows a connector with a first connector housing, comprising: a cover portion having a substantially cylindrical shape to be fitted to an outer periphery of a cylindrical portion of a mating connector housing, a terminal storage portion storing a metal terminal, and a locking arm formed integrally with the terminal storage portion such that a free end side of the locking arm is deflected and deformed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the cylindrical portion. Further, the connector has a second connector housing comprising: the cylindrical portion; and a locking protrusion provided to protrude from an outer surface of the cylindrical portion and which engages with the locking arm when a fitting length between the cylindrical portion and the terminal storage portion reaches a predetermined value, wherein the first connector housing is formed of a hydrolysis resistant material.DE 10 2010 038 119 A1 describes a watertight relay connector for coaxially electrically connecting a plug to a socket.Furthermore, from CN 1 08 879 231 A a connector assembly is known, which comprises a butt connector, an electrical connector inserted from the front into the butt connector and a sliding block, wherein the butt connector is provided with a fastening part.US 2013 / 0 109 243 A1 shows a connector comprising a plug and a socket. The bushing consists of a cylindrical part and a flange. The plug includes a cylindrical shaft in which the internal terminals are located and a union nut. At one end of the sleeve, an engagement piece and a pair of locking pieces facing each other project in an axial direction of the sleeve. At the tips of the locking pieces, locking hooks are formed. The union nut is threaded onto the cylindrical portion to connect the plug to the socket. Prior to connection, the engagement piece and the locking pieces are inserted into, engaged with and positioned in the cylindrical part. At the same time, the locking pieces are clamped into the socket to temporarily secure the plug in the socket.OBJECT OF THE INVENTIONThe object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement with a housing and a counter housing.This object is achieved by an arrangement having the features according to claim 1.Further aspects and advantages of the invention are evident from the following description, the figures and the claim.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESFIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector (not part of the invention); FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector taken along a direction in which a connector housing is mounted on a female housing; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector housing (not part of the invention); FIGS. 4A and 4B show the connector housing, wherein FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a side view; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the female housing; FIGS. 6A and 6B show the female housing, wherein FIG. 6A is a front view and FIG. 6B is a side view; FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a part A in FIG. 2 ; FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a connector housing according to a reference example corresponding to the part A in FIG. 2 ; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a connector housing according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the connector as viewed from a side of the female housing of the connector; and FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the connector housing according to the embodiment of the invention, corresponding to the part A in FIG. 2.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONExemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the figures, in which FIGS. 9-11 show an embodiment of the invention and FIGS. 1-8 are used for explanation purposes. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector taken along a direction in which a connector housing is mounted on a female housing.As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a connector housing (a housing) 13 according to an embodiment is configured to be mountable on a female housing (a mating housing) 15, thereby forming the connector 11 together with the female housing 15. The connector 11 has a cylindrical CPA (a fitting prevention member) 17 which is slidable and can be attached from the back side of the female housing 15. The connector housing 13, the female housing 15, and the CPA 17 are each molded from a synthetic resin.FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector housing according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 4A and 4B show the connector housing according to the present embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a side view.As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, the connector housing 13 according to the present embodiment has, on a distal end side, a hood 21, from which the connector housing 13 is fitted onto the female housing 15. On the upper and lower sides of the hood 21, locking projections 23 are provided.The hood 21 has a cylindrical shape. A front end side of the hood 21 in the direction in which the connector housing 13 is mounted on the female housing 15 is open. A distal end at the front end side of the hood 21 is a cylindrical seal portion 25, and a sealing surface 27 is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical seal portion 25.The connector housing 13 has two terminal housing chambers 30 at a rear side of the connector housing 13 in the direction in which the connector housing 13 is mounted to the female housing 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the male terminals 33 to be connected to the end portions of the electric cables 31 are accommodated in the terminal housing chambers 30, and the electric cables 31 are to be pulled out from a rear end of the male housing 13. Rubber plugs 34 to be attached to the electric cables 31 are to be inserted into the terminal housing chambers 30 from a rear end side of the connector housing 13. Accordingly, the terminal housing chambers 30 of the connector housing 13 for accommodating the male terminals 33 are waterproofed.The male terminals 33 are made of, for example, a conductive metal material such as copper, a copper alloy, or the like, and are to be crimped and connected to the electric wires 31. The male terminals 33 have tabs 35 each formed in a pin shape, and the tabs 35 are accommodated in the hood 21.A front holder 41 and a short terminal 43 are to be mounted on the connector housing 13 from the front in the direction in which the connector housing 13 is mounted on the female housing 15. The front holder 41 is made of a synthetic resin and is to be fixed to the connector housing 13 so that the male terminals 33 to be inserted into and accommodated in the terminal housing chamber 30 are held in a state of being accommodated in the terminal housing chamber 30. The short terminal 43 is formed of, for example, a conductive metal material such as copper, a copper alloy, or the like. The short terminal 43 is to be attached to the connector housing 13 so as to be in contact with the tabs 35 of the connector terminals 33 when the female housing 15 is not attached to the connector housing 13. Accordingly, the male terminals 33 are to be electrically connected to each other through the short terminal 43. For example, an interlock circuit ("interlock circuit") is to be formed.FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the female housing. FIGS. 6A and 6B show the female housing, wherein FIG. 6A is a front view and FIG. 6B is a side view.As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, the female housing 15 includes a housing body 51, a fitting protrusion 53, and a locking mechanism 54. The fixing protrusion 53 protrudes forward from the housing body 51 in the direction in which the female housing 15 is fixed to the male housing 13. The fastening projection 53 is to be fitted or plugged into the hood 21 of the plug housing 13. The fixing protrusion 53 includes a seal fixing portion 61 on one side of the fixing protrusion 53, the one side being connected to the case body 51, and a terminal holding portion 63 on the other side of the fixing protrusion 53 opposite to the one side of the fixing protrusion 53. The terminal holding portion 63 protrudes forward from the seal fixing portion 61 in the direction in which the female housing 15 is fitted to the male housing 13. In the female housing 15, an edge of the housing body 51 connected to the fixing protrusion 53 is a fitting edge (fitting edge) 65 having an outer shape larger than the seal fixing portion 61 of the fixing protrusion 53, i.e., the fitting edge 65 has a larger outer circumference than the seal fixing portion 61.The lock mechanism 54 is provided on the housing body 51 in the female housing 15. The locking mechanism 54 includes a locking arm 55 and an unlocking arm 81. The lock arm 55 has a pair of elastic arm portions (English: elastic arm portions) 71. The elastic arm portion 71 includes a support post (English supporting post) 73 provided on an upper surface of the case body 51, a bent portion 75 bent forward from the support post 73, i.e., bent toward the connector housing 13, and an extended portion 77 extending continuously forward from the bent portion 75. The distal ends of the extended portions 77 of the elastic arm portions 71 are connected to each other, and a connecting portion at which the extended portions 77 are connected to each other is a locking portion 79. the locking arm 55 swings when the elastic arm portion 71 is elastically deformed.The release arm 81 has a pair of support arm portions 83 connected to the distal ends of the elastic arm portions 71, the support arm portions 83 extending rearward, and an operating portion 85 connecting the rear ends of the support arm portions 83. The support arm portion 83 extends from the support pillar 73 of the elastic arm portion 71 to the rear side of the female housing 15, and accordingly, the operation portion 85 is provided further (rearward) at the rear side of the female housing 15 than the support pillars 73 of the elastic arm portion 71.When the male housing 13 and the female housing 15 are fitted together, the locking portion 79 of the locking arm 55 in the locking mechanism 54 serves to lock the upper side locking protrusion 23 of the hood 21 of the male housing 13. Accordingly, the connector housing 13 and the female housing 15 are locked in a state of being fitted together.The female housing 15 is formed with two terminal housing chambers 91. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the female terminals (female terminals) 95 connected to the end portions of the electric wires 93 are accommodated in the terminal housing chambers 91, and the electric wires 93 are to be pulled out from a rear end of the female housing 15. Rubber plugs 96 fixed to the electric cables 93 are to be inserted into the terminal housing chambers 91 from a rear end side of the female housing 15. Accordingly, the terminal housing chambers 91 of the female housing 15 in which the female terminals 95 are accommodated are to be waterproofed.A seal member 98 and a holder 99 are to be attached to the socket housing 15 from a front side of the socket housing 15. The seal member 98 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or the like and is formed in an annular shape. The seal member 98 is to be fixed to the seal fixing portion 61 of the fixing protrusion 53. The holder 99 is made of a synthetic resin and is to be fixed to the terminal holding portion 63 of the fixing protrusion 53. The holder 99 is to be fixed to the terminal holding portion 63 so that the female terminal 95 to be inserted and accommodated in the terminal housing chamber 91 is held in a state of being accommodated in the terminal housing chamber 91.As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the CPA 17 has a body portion 101 to be shaped into a rectangular cylindrical shape and to be fixed to the female housing 15 so as to cover the female housing 15 from behind and slidable in the direction in which the female housing 15 is mounted to the male housing 13. The CPA 17 is intended to have snap-in arms ("engagement arms") 103 on the top and bottom sides of the body incision 101. The engaging arms 103 are cantilevered from the body portion 101, and inwardly projecting engaging claws 105 are provided at the distal end portions of the engaging arms 103. When the CPA 17 is attached to the female housing 15, the locking claw 105 of the upper side engagement arm (upper side engagement arm) 103 abuts a rear portion of the locking portion 79 of the locking arm 55.Next, how the male housing 13 and the female housing 15 are mounted to each other will be described. When the connector housing 13 and the female housing 15 to which the CPA 17 is to be attached are mounted, the locking portion 79 needs to be pushed forward by the upper side lock arm 103 of the CPA 17 in the direction in which the female housing 15 is attached to the connector housing 13.Then, when the locking portion 79 of the locking arm 55 passes over the upper side locking protrusion 23 of the hood 21 of the connector housing 13, the connector housing 13 and the female housing 15 are locked together in the fitted state. The locking claw 105 of the upper side locking arm 103 of the CPA 17, which is pushed forward in the direction in which the female housing 15 is attached to the male housing 13, locks to the locking portion 79 of the locking arm 55 to lock the upper side locking protrusion 23 of the hood 21. Then, the engaging claw 105 of the lower side engaging arm 103 is to lock the lower side locking protrusion 23 of the hood 21. Accordingly, the CPA 17 is locked to the connector housing 13 by the upper and lower side lock arms 103, and the locking state of the locking protrusion 23 by the locking portion 79 of the locking arm 55 needs to be maintained by the upper side lock arm 103 of the CPA 17 to ensure a fitting assistance state (English).When the connector housing 13 and the connector housing 15 are fitted together, the fixing protrusion 53 of the connector housing 15 to which the holder 99 is fixed is inserted into the hood 21 of the connector housing 13. Accordingly, the short terminal 43 is pressed downward by the holder 99 to be separated from the tab 35 of the male terminal 33, and a short-circuit state of the male terminal 33 is released. The tab 35 of the male terminal 33 is inserted into the female terminal 95 so that the male terminal 33 and the female terminal 95 are electrically connected to each other.Next, a sealing structure when the connector housing 13 and the female housing 15 are assembled to each other will be described. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a part A in FIG. 2.When the connector housing 13 and the connector housing 15 are assembled, the sealing member 98 fixed to the seal fixing portion 61 of the connector housing 15 contacts an inner circumferential surface of the hood 21 of the connector housing 13 in a pressed manner. Accordingly, a fitting portion (fitting portion) at which the connector housing 13 and the female housing 15 are fitted is sealed (see FIG. 2 ).The fitting edge 65 of the female housing 15 is attached to the distal end of the hood 21 of the male housing 13. Accordingly, the fitting edge 65 of the female housing 15 is covered over the entire circumference of the fitting edge 65 by the cylindrical sealing portion 25 located on the distal end side of the hood 21 of the male housing 13. As shown in FIG. 7, the sealing surface 27 of the cylindrical sealing portion 25 abuts against an outer circumferential surface of the mounting edge 65.Here, a reference example will be described. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a connector housing according to the reference example corresponding to the part A in FIG. 2.As shown in FIG. 8, in the reference example, a gap G is formed between the hood 21 and the fitting edge 65 of the female housing 15 in the joined state. Thus, for example, when washing a vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner or the like at high pressure, when water discharged from the high-pressure cleaner impinges on the connector housing 13 and the female housing 15 and enters the gap G between the hood 21 and the mounting edge 65 of the female housing 15, the inner seal member 98 is damaged by the water pressure. As a result, the sealing performance can be reduced.On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the cylindrical seal portion 25 located on the distal end side of the hood 21 and having a cylindrical shape, when mounted to the female housing 15, contacts the mounting edge 65 of the female housing 15 over the entire circumference of the mounting edge 65, thereby covering the mounting edge 65 without any gap between the hood 21 and the mounting edge 65, for example, even if water discharged from the high-pressure cleaner impinges on the male housing 13 and the female housing 15, it is possible to prevent the water from entering a space in which the sealing member 98 is mounted through a gap between the male housing 13 and the female housing 15. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the seal member 98 and maintain good sealing performance. Moreover, since the seal member 98 can be used to prevent water from entering further inside the housings, it is possible to simplify the seal member 98 and reduce the cost.Next, a modification will be described. The same parts as in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a connector housing according to the modification. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the connector as viewed from a side of the female housing of the connector. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing the connector housing according to the modification corresponding to the part A in FIG. 2.As illustrated in FIG. 9, a connector housing 13A according to the modification is provided with a lid extension 28. The cover extension 28 is located at an upper part of the hood 21 of the connector housing 13A and extends forward in the direction in which the connector housing 13 is mounted to the female housing 15. The cover extension 28 is provided with indentations 29. Each of the indentations 29 is provided at a position corresponding to each of the support pillars 73 of the elastic arm portions 71 provided on the lock arm 55 of the female housing 15.As illustrated in FIG. 10, when the connector housing 13A is mounted to the female housing 15, the support pillars 73 of the lock arm 55 are inserted into the recesses 29 and the lid extension 28 of the hood 21 is inserted toward a base of the lock arm 55 of the female housing 15.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 11, the base of the lock arm 55 of the female housing 15 is covered by the lid extension 28 of the male housing 13A. Therefore, the male housing 13A and the female housing 15 are sealed by the cylindrical sealing portion 25 which is in contact over the entire circumference with the mounting edge 65, respectively, with the lid extension 28 covering the base of the lock arm 55.As described above, according to the modification of the connector housing 13A, the cover extension 28 of the connector housing 13A covers the base of the lock arm 55 of the female housing 15. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively seal the fitting portion sealed by the cylindrical sealing portion 25 that is in contact with the mounting edge 65 over the entire circumference.That is, the cover extension 28 protects the portion where the connector housing 13A and the female housing 15 are connected to each other from water discharged from a high-pressure cleaner, and thus prevents water from entering between the connector housing 13A and the female housing 15, so that it is possible to more effectively seal the connection portion between the connector housing 13A and the female housing 15.The lid extension 28 is inserted toward the base of the lock arm 55, and the support pillars 73 of the lock arm 55 enter the indentations 29. Accordingly, by the lid extension 28, it is possible to improve the sealing performance in the vicinity of the base of the lock arm 55, which is difficult to seal due to the provision of the lock arm 55. Also, since the lid extension 28 is inserted toward the base of the lock arm 55, it is possible to protect the base of the lock arm 55 and prevent rattle between the male housing 13A and the female housing 15 which are assembled to each other.While the present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

An assembly comprising a housing (13) and a counter housing (15), the housing (13) being attachable to the counter housing (15), a fixing protrusion (53) of the counter housing being insertable into a cylindrical hood (21) of the housing (13), the counter housing (15) comprising an annular sealing member (98), wherein when the fixing protrusion (53) is inserted into the cylindrical hood (21), a space between the cylindrical hood (21) and the fixing protrusion (53) is sealed with the annular sealing member (98) disposed on the fixing protrusion (53), the cylindrical hood (21) comprising, at a distal end of the cylindrical hood (21) from which the housing (13) is insertable into the counter housing (15), a cylindrical sealing portion (25) which seals, when the fixing protrusion (53) is inserted into the cylindrical hood (21), contacts and covers an edge of the mating housing (15) continuously over an entire circumference of the edge, wherein the housing (13) has a lid extension (28) extending from the cylindrical sealing portion (25) in a direction in which the housing (13) is attachable to the mating housing (15), wherein the mating housing (15) has a locking arm (55) having a support column (73), wherein the locking arm (55) serves to lock the cylindrical hood (21) when the housing (13) is attached to the mating housing (15), and wherein the lid extension (28) has an indentation (29) into which the support column (73) of the locking arm (55) is inserted when the housing (13) is attached to the mating housing (15).

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