Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that can prevent wear caused by repeated insertion and withdrawal of components, and can provide an effect of preventing the generation of noise due to vibration over a long period.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: a male housing 2 having a male terminal storage chamber 13 storing a male terminal 12; and a female housing 3 having a female terminal storage chamber 23 storing a female terminal 22, and a cylindrical shroud 21 into which the male housing 2 is inserted. The connector 1 includes a cylindrical semi-fitting detection member 4 into which the female housing 3 is inserted. The female housing 3 is formed with an arm part 41 elastically deformable in an intersecting direction intersecting a direction of insertion of the female housing 3 into the semi-fitting detection member 4. The semi-fitting detection member 4 is formed, on its inner wall part, with a pressing part 56 brought into contact with the arm part 41 when the female housing 3 is inserted into the semi-fitting detection member 4 and pressing the arm part 41 against an outer wall part of the male housing 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 23

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a connector includes a male housing and a female housing that can be mated with the male housing. Also, a connector is known that includes a partial mating detection member (housing cover) that is movably attached to the female housing and detects the mated state of the male housing and the female housing by moving between a temporary locking position and a full locking position (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this connector, when the male housing and female housing are mated, the semi-fit detection member can be moved from the partial locking position to the full locking position, making it possible to detect that the male housing and female housing are mated.

[0004] On the other hand, when the male housing and the female housing are not engaged, e.g., in a semi-engaged state, the semi-engagement detection member cannot be moved from the temporary engagement position to the full engagement position, and it can be detected that the male housing and the female housing are not engaged. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4616152 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In general, in the connectors described above, gaps between components are filled using clearance-reducing portions such as ribs or protrusions to suppress the generation of abnormal noise due to vibration. However, there is a problem in that the clearance-reducing portions are worn down by repeated insertion and removal of the components, and the effect of suppressing the generation of abnormal noise is reduced.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems inherent in the conventional technology, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can suppress wear caused by repeated insertion and removal of each part, and can suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by vibration over time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A connector according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first housing having a first terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a first terminal, a second housing having a second terminal accommodating chamber and a cylindrical shroud into which the first housing is inserted, and a cylindrical housing cover into which the second housing is inserted, wherein the second housing has an arm portion formed therein that is elastically deformable in a transverse direction that intersects with the insertion direction of the second housing into the housing cover, and an inner wall portion of the housing cover has a pressing portion formed thereon that abuts against the arm portion and presses the arm portion against an outer wall portion of the first housing when the second housing is inserted into the housing cover. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can suppress wear caused by repeated insertion and removal of each component, and can suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by vibration over time. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a female connector and a half-fitting detection member according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the male connector according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a female housing. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the female housing. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a half-fitting detection member; [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a half-fit detection member; [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part D in FIG. [Figure 11] 13 is a schematic perspective view of a female housing with a half-fitting detection member attached thereto (when the half-fitting detection member is in a provisionally locked position). FIG. [Figure 12] 13 is a schematic front view of the female housing when the half-fitting detection member is attached to the female housing (when the half-fitting detection member is in the temporary locking position). FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 12. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 12. [Figure 15] 11 is a schematic perspective view of the female housing and the male housing when they are completely mated (when the half-fitting detection member is in a temporary locking position). FIG. [Figure 16] 13 is a schematic front view of the female housing and the male housing when they are completely mated (when the half-fitting detection member is in the temporary locking position). FIG. [Figure 17] 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG in FIG. 16. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of part I in FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line HH in FIG. 16. [Figure 20] 1 is a schematic perspective view of the female housing and the male housing when they are completely mated (when the partial mating detection member is in a full locking position). FIG. [Figure 21] 13 is a schematic front view of the female housing and the male housing when they are completely mated (when the partial mating detection member is in the full locking position). FIG. [Figure 22] 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. 21. [Diagram 23] FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of part L in FIG. 22. [Figure 24] 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line KK in FIG. 21. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a connector 1 includes a first housing (male housing 2), a second housing (female housing 3), and a housing cover (half-fit detection member 4).

[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, the male housing 2 includes a male housing main body 10 having a cylindrical hood 11. This male housing main body 10 is formed with first terminal accommodating chambers (male terminal accommodating chambers 13) that accommodate a plurality of first terminals (male terminals 12) (see Fig. 15). An electric wire 14 is connected to each of the male terminals 12. These multiple male terminals 12 are locked to the male housing 2 by a male spacer 15.

[0014] A locking protrusion 16 serving as a locking portion is formed along the longitudinal direction on the outer wall of the hood 11 of the male housing 2. This locking protrusion 16 is composed of a linear protrusion 17 extending along the longitudinal direction and a claw-shaped protrusion 18 formed in the longitudinal middle portion of this linear protrusion 17 and having a tapered surface 18a whose protrusion height decreases toward the tip side.

[0015] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the female housing 3 includes a female housing main body 20 formed in a box shape. The female housing main body 20 is formed with second terminal accommodating chambers (female terminal accommodating chambers 23) that accommodate a plurality of second terminals (female terminals 22). An electric wire 24 is connected to each of the female terminals 22. The plurality of female terminals 22 are locked to the female housing 3 by a female spacer 25 (see Figure 1).

[0016] The female housing 3 is also provided with a cylindrical shroud 21 into which the hood 11 of the male housing 2 is inserted. The front end side of the shroud 21 is open, and the rear end side is closed by a rear end wall portion.

[0017] The female housing body 20 and the shroud 21 are integrally formed such that the interior of the shroud 21 accommodates the female housing body 20 and connects the rear end of the female housing 3 to the rear end wall of the shroud 21. A terminal insertion protrusion 26 is formed on the rear end wall of the shroud 21, and an insertion opening for the female terminal 22 that is inserted into the female terminal accommodating chamber 23 is formed in this terminal insertion protrusion 26.

[0018] The shroud 21 is disposed such that its tip is located further forward than the tip of the female housing body 20. In other words, the entire female housing body 20 is accommodated inside the shroud 21. Furthermore, the shroud 21 is formed with a notched groove 27 extending from its tip to its rear end, exposing the locking protrusion 16, which is a locking portion formed on the outer wall of the hood 11 of the male housing 2.

[0019] The connector 1 according to this embodiment is a so-called waterproof connector in which a seal member 5 (see FIG. 1) is attached to the outer periphery of the female housing body 20. However, the connector 1 may be a so-called non-waterproof connector that does not have the seal member 5.

[0020] A flexible lock arm 28 for locking the locking protrusion 16 exposed from the cutout groove 27 is integrally formed with the female housing 3. This flexible lock arm 28 has a pair of lower arm portions 30 extending toward the tip side from a pair of support portions 29 erected at the rear end portion of the shroud 21. The pair of lower arm portions 30 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the female housing 3.

[0021] The flexible lock arm 28 also has a tip connecting portion 31 that connects the tips of the pair of lower arm portions 30, and a pair of upper arm portions 32 that extend from the tips of the pair of lower arm portions 30 toward the rear end side beyond the support portion 29. The flexible lock arm 28 also has a rear end connecting portion 33 that connects the rear ends of the pair of upper arm portions 32, and a locking hole portion 34 that is formed by being surrounded by the pair of lower arm portions 30, the pair of upper arm portions 32, the tip connecting portion 31, and the rear end connecting portion 33. The flexible lock arm 28 is configured so that the tip connecting portion 31 and the rear end connecting portion 33 are displaceable with the support portion 29 as a fulcrum.

[0022] A claw-shaped protrusion 35 is formed on the tip side of the tip connecting portion 31 at a position corresponding to the linear protrusion 17 of the male housing 2. An insertion groove 36 into which the linear protrusion 17 is inserted is formed along the longitudinal direction on the surface of the claw-shaped protrusion 35 on the side of the notch groove 27. A tapered surface 35a is formed on the side of the notch groove 27 of the claw-shaped protrusion 35, which moves away from the notch groove 27 as it approaches the tip. Furthermore, the claw-shaped protrusion 35 is formed so that its thickness becomes thinner as it approaches the tip side.

[0023] Further, a step portion is formed on the surfaces that form both sides of the notched groove portion 27 of the shroud 21. By forming this step portion, a pair of abutment surfaces 37 is formed on both sides of the notched groove portion 27 of the shroud 21 at positions facing each other, from the tip end of the shroud 21 to the middle portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0024] Further, on both side surfaces of the cutout groove portion 27 of the shroud 21, there are formed a pair of fitting groove portions 38 extending from the front end to the rear end of the shroud 21, and a lower groove portion 39 formed from the front end to the rear end of the shroud 21. A groove locking protrusion 40 is formed inside each of the pair of lower groove portions 39, and the rear end side of this groove locking protrusion 40 is formed with a tapered surface 40a whose protrusion height decreases toward the rear end.

[0025] Furthermore, the female housing 3 is formed with an arm portion 41 that is elastically deformable in a direction intersecting the insertion direction S of the female housing 3 into the semi-fitting detection member 4 (in the present embodiment, the width direction of the female housing 3). The arm portion 41 has an arm body 42 extending in the insertion direction S, and a pressing portion (first contact portion 43) formed on the outer side of the arm body 42 and abutting against a pressing portion 56 of the semi-fitting detection member 4 described later. The arm portion 41 is also formed on the inner side of the arm body 42 and is configured to have a fixing portion (second contact portion 44) that abuts against an outer wall portion of the hood 11 of the male housing 2. In the present embodiment, a pair of arm portions 41 are provided on both sides of the female housing 3.

[0026] A slit 45 is formed at the rear end of the female housing 3, penetrating the female housing 3 in the width direction, and an arm body 42 is disposed inside this slit 45. The arm body 42 extends from the rear end of the female housing 3 toward the tip side, and a second abutment portion 44 is formed at the tip of the arm body 42, and a first abutment portion 43 is formed at a portion of the arm body 42 on the base end side of the second abutment portion 44. An arm portion side tapered portion 46 that tapers toward the insertion direction S of the female housing 3 is formed at this first abutment portion 43.

[0027] The arm portion 41 formed on the female housing 3 extends in the direction shown in Fig. 5 and has a cantilever shape having a fixed end at the rear end of the female housing 3 and a free end at the tip end side of the female housing 3. However, this is not limited to this, and the arm portion 41 formed on the female housing 3 may extend in the opposite direction to the direction shown in Fig. 5. In other words, the arm portion 41 may have a cantilever shape having a fixed end at the tip end side of the female housing 3 and a free end at the rear end side of the female housing 3.

[0028] Furthermore, the arm portion 41 formed on the female housing 3 is formed in the direction shown in Fig. 6, but it may be formed in the opposite direction to the direction shown in Fig. 6. In other words, a pressing portion (first contact portion 43) may be formed at the tip of the arm main body 42, and a fixing portion (second contact portion 44) may be formed at a portion of the arm main body 42 closer to the base end than the first contact portion 43.

[0029] The partial mating detection member 4 shown in Figures 7 to 10 is movably attached to the female housing 3 and detects the mated state of the male housing 2 and the female housing 3 by moving between a temporary locking position and a full locking position. This partial mating detection member 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape. A flexible locking arm 51 that is flexible in the same direction as the flexible locking arm 28 is formed on the surface of the partial mating detection member 4 that faces the flexible locking arm 28. A locking claw portion 52 that protrudes toward the notched groove portion 27 is formed on this flexible locking arm 51 (see Figure 14).

[0030] Further, a pair of correction ribs 53, which are L-shaped when viewed from the front, are formed on the inner wall of the half-fitting detection member 4 and which abut against the pair of abutment surfaces 37 to suppress deformation of the shroud 21 in a direction that reduces the groove width of the notched groove 27. Further, a pair of fitting protrusions 54 are formed on the inner wall of the half-fitting detection member 4 and are fitted slidably in the longitudinal direction with the fitting groove 38 formed on the outer wall of the shroud 21, and a pair of locking protrusions 55 are formed to lock with the groove locking protrusions 40. A tapered surface 55a is formed on the tip side of the locking protrusions 55, the protrusion height of which decreases toward the tip.

[0031] Furthermore, a pressing portion 56 is formed on the inner wall of the semi-fitting detection member 4. When the female housing 3 is inserted into the semi-fitting detection member 4, the pressing portion 56 comes into contact with the arm portion 41 and presses the arm portion 41 against the outer wall of the hood 11 of the male housing 2. A pressing portion-side tapered portion 57 is formed on the pressing portion 56, which tapers in the direction opposite to the insertion direction S of the female housing 3. In this embodiment, a pair of pressing portions 56 are provided on both sides of the semi-fitting detection member 4.

[0032] The operation of the arm portion 41 formed on the half-fit detection member 4 will now be described.

[0033] 11 to 14 show a state when the half-fitting detection member 4 is attached to the female housing 3 (when the half-fitting detection member 4 is in the temporary locking position).

[0034] First, the rear end of the female housing 3 is inserted through the front opening of the partial fitting detection member 4 to attach the partial fitting detection member 4 to the female housing 3. At this time, the female housing 3 is inserted until it reaches the initial position where the front end of the shroud 21 protrudes from the front opening of the partial fitting detection member 4. When the female housing 3 is in the initial position, the locking claw portion 52 of the flexible locking arm 51 and the front end connecting portion 31 of the female housing 3 are aligned in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, even if the female housing 3 is pushed toward the rear end, the front end connecting portion 31 interferes with the locking claw portion 52, and the female housing 3 does not move from the initial position.

[0035] 15 to 19 show a state in which the female housing 3 and the male housing 2 are completely mated (the partial mating detection member 4 is in the temporary locking position).

[0036] When the female housing 3 and the male housing 2 are in a completely mated state and the partial mating detection member 4 is in a partially locked state (when the partial mating detection member 4 is in the partially locked position), the tip connecting portion 31 of the female housing 3 is locked with the claw-shaped protrusions 18 of the male housing 2. In this state, the pressing portion 56 of the partial mating detection member 4 is not in contact with the first contact portion 43 of the arm portion 41 formed on the female housing 3, so there is a gap between the second contact portion 44 of the arm portion 41 and the outer wall portion of the hood 11 of the male housing 2 (see FIG. 18).

[0037] 20 to 24 show the state when the female housing 3 and the male housing 2 are completely mated (when the partial mating detection member 4 is in the full locking position).

[0038] When the female housing 3 and the male housing 2 are in a completely mated state and the partial mating detection member 4 is in a fully locked state (when the partial mating detection member 4 is in the fully locked position), the pressing portion 56 of the partial mating detection member 4 is in contact with the first contact portion 43 of the arm portion 41 formed on the female housing 3. As a result, the second contact portion 44 of the arm portion 41 is pressed against the outer wall portion of the hood 11 of the male housing 2, and the partial mating detection member 4 is fixed to the female housing 3 and the male housing 2 (see FIG. 23).

[0039] In this embodiment, the partial fit detection member 4 is used as the housing cover to detect the fitted state of the male housing 2 and the female housing 3. However, the housing cover does not have to be capable of detecting the fitted state as long as it can accommodate the female housing 3.

[0040] Thus, the connector 1 according to this embodiment has a first housing (male housing 2) having a first terminal accommodating chamber (male terminal accommodating chamber 13) that accommodates a first terminal (male terminal 12). The connector 1 has a second housing (female housing 3) having a second terminal accommodating chamber (female terminal accommodating chamber 23) that accommodates a second terminal (female terminal 22), and a cylindrical shroud 21 into which the first housing (male housing 2) is inserted. The connector 1 has a cylindrical housing cover (half-fitting detection member 4) into which the second housing (female housing 3) is inserted. The second housing (female housing 3) has an arm portion 41 formed therein that is elastically deformable in a cross direction that crosses an insertion direction S of the second housing (female housing 3) into the housing cover (half-fitting detection member 4). A pressing portion 56 is formed on the inner wall portion of the housing cover (half-fit detection member 4) which abuts against the arm portion 41 and presses the arm portion 41 against the outer wall portion of the first housing (male housing 2) when the second housing (female housing 3) is inserted into the housing cover.

[0041] In this embodiment, the pressing of the arm portion 41 fills the gap with the female housing 3, which can suppress wear of the female housing 3 and the partial fitting detection member 4 due to repeated insertion and removal. In addition, the pressing of the arm portion 41 also fills the gap with the male housing 2, and the partial fitting detection member 4 is fixed to the male housing 2, improving the vibration resistance of the connector 1.

[0042] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a connector 1 that can suppress wear caused by repeated insertion and removal of each component, and can obtain the effect of suppressing the generation of abnormal noise caused by vibration over time.

[0043] In the connector 1, the arm portion 41 may have an arm body 42 extending in the insertion direction, and a first contact portion 43 formed on the outer side of the arm body 42 and contacting a pressing portion 56 of the housing cover (half-fit detection member 4). The arm portion 41 may have a second contact portion 44 formed on the inner side of the arm body 42 and contacting an outer wall portion of the first housing (male housing 2).

[0044] By configuring the arm portion 41 in this manner, the incomplete fitting detection member 4 can be firmly fixed to the female housing 3 and the male housing 2 by pressing the arm portion 41.

[0045] In the connector 1, the arm portion 41 is formed with an arm portion side tapered portion 46 that tapers toward the insertion direction S, and the pressing portion 56 may be formed with a pressing portion side tapered portion 57 that tapers toward the direction opposite to the insertion direction S.

[0046] By configuring the arm portion 41 and the pressing portion 56 in this manner, the partial fitting detection member 4 can be fixed more firmly to the female housing 3 and the male housing 2 by the pressing of the arm portion 41.

[0047] In the connector 1, the arm portion 41 and the pressing portion 56 may each be provided in a pair in the intersecting direction.

[0048] By configuring the arm portion 41 and the pressing portion 56 in this manner, the partial fitting detection member 4 can be fixed more firmly to the female housing 3 and the male housing 2 by the pressing of the arm portion 41.

[0049] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Connector 2 Male Housing 3 Female Housing 4. Semi-fit detection member 12 male terminal 13 Male terminal receiving chamber 21 Shroud 22 Female terminal 23 Female terminal housing 41 Arm section 42 Arm body 43 1st contact part 44 Second contact part 46 Arm side tapered section 51 Flexible locking arm 56 Pressing part 57 Pressing side tapered part S Insertion direction

Claims

1. a first housing having a first terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a first terminal; a second housing having a second terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a second terminal and a cylindrical shroud into which the first housing is inserted; a cylindrical housing cover into which the second housing is inserted, The second housing is formed with an arm portion that is elastically deformable in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the second housing is inserted into the housing cover, A pressing portion is formed on an inner wall portion of the housing cover, the pressing portion being brought into contact with the arm portion and pressing the arm portion against an outer wall portion of the first housing when the second housing is inserted into the housing cover. connector.

2. The arm portion is an arm body extending in the insertion direction; a first contact portion formed on an outer side of the arm body and contacting the pressing portion of the housing cover; a second abutment portion formed on an inner side of the arm body and abutting against an outer wall portion of the first housing, The connector of claim 1 .

3. The arm portion is formed with an arm portion-side tapered portion that tapers toward the insertion direction, The pressing portion is formed with a pressing portion side tapered portion that tapers in a direction opposite to the insertion direction.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the arm portions and the pressing portions are provided in pairs in the intersecting direction.

Images