Housing unit, terminal module, and connector

Abstract

To provide a housing unit capable of improving reliability of an electrical connection.SOLUTION: A housing unit 3 includes: a housing 20; and an outer terminal 40. The housing 20 has a main body part 21, a lid part 28, and a coupling part 27, and a part 34 of the main body part 21 and a part 35 of the lid part 28 overlap each other at an engagement margin Y when the lid part 28 is in a closed state. The outer terminal 40 includes a first engaging part 43 and a second engaging part 42. The main body part 21 includes: a first engaged part 25 that engages with the first engaging part 43; and a first restricting part 26 that restricts a relative displacement between the main body part 21 and the lid part 28 to a displacement width X smaller than the engagement margin Y when the coupling part 27 is disconnected. The lid part 28 includes a second engaged part 32 that engages with the second engaging part 42, and a second restricting part 33 that restricts relative displacement between the lid part 28 and the inner terminal 10 in the closed state of the lid part 28. A width P of the first engaging part 43 is larger than the sum of a width Q of the first engaged part 25 and the displacement width X.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing unit in which outer terminals are attached to a housing having an internal storage chamber, a terminal module in which inner terminals connected to electric wires are housed in the housing unit, and a connector in which the terminal module is housed in the outer housing. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, terminal modules have been known that include an inner terminal that is conductively connected to the conductor core of an electric wire, an inner housing that accommodates and holds the inner terminal, and an outer terminal that is attached to the outside of the inner housing and is conductively connected to a shield body such as a braided conductor that the electric wire has, as well as connectors that accommodate the terminal module in the outer housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-051863 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional connectors described above, a portion of the inner terminal (e.g., a portion of a crimping member for crimping the inner terminal to an electric wire) is fitted into a hole in the inner housing to hold the inner terminal in the correct position within the inner housing. The hole in the inner housing is formed by assembling two resin parts that make up the inner housing. However, if these resin parts are unintentionally separated or for other reasons, a portion of the inner terminal may slip out of the hole in the inner housing, causing the inner terminal to no longer be held in the correct position. In this case, when the connector is mated with the mating connector, the inner terminal and the mating terminal do not make proper contact, which may compromise the reliability of the electrical connection between the connectors.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a housing unit, a terminal module, and a connector that can improve the reliability of electrical connection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the housing unit, terminal module, and connector according to the present invention are characterized as follows.

[0007] A housing unit including a housing having an accommodating chamber therein and an outer terminal attached to the exterior of the housing, The housing includes: the container has a main body and a lid that define the storage chamber so as to extend in a predetermined storage direction, and a connecting portion that connects the lid to the main body so as to be able to open and close like a hinge, and when the lid is closed, a portion of the main body and a portion of the lid overlap with each other with a predetermined engagement margin in a direction intersecting the storage direction, The outer terminal is a first engaging portion attached to the housing so as to cover the lid portion in the intersecting direction, the first engaging portion engaging with the main body portion, and a second engaging portion engaging with the lid portion; The main body portion is a first engaged portion that engages with the first engaging portion to hold the outer terminal so that the outer terminal does not separate from the main body portion in the cross direction, and a first restricting portion that engages with the lid portion when the connecting portion is broken to restrict relative displacement between the main body portion and the lid portion in the housing direction to a displacement width smaller than the engagement allowance, The lid portion is a second engaged portion that engages with the second engaging portion to hold the outer terminal so that the outer terminal does not displace relative to the lid portion in the accommodating direction, and a second restricting portion that engages with another terminal that will be accommodated in the accommodating chamber when the lid portion is closed to restrict relative displacement between the lid portion and the other terminal in the accommodating direction, a width of the first engaging portion in the housing direction is greater than a sum of a width of the first engaged portion in the housing direction and the displacement width; It is a housing unit.

[0008] the housing unit as described above; an inner terminal accommodated in the accommodation chamber of the housing of the housing unit; an electric wire electrically connected to the inner terminal and to which the inner terminal is crimped and fixed, It is a terminal module.

[0009] the terminal module as described above; an outer housing in which the terminal module is housed and in which the outer terminals are held in the housing direction; It is a connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the housing unit, terminal module, and connector of the present invention, when a separate terminal (i.e., an inner terminal) is accommodated in the accommodation chamber of the housing before the outer terminal is attached, the restricting portion (second restricting portion) of the hinged lid engages with the separate terminal, restricting displacement of the separate terminal in the accommodation direction. That is, the separate terminal (inner terminal) is positioned in a so-called normal position. Even if the connecting portion connecting the lid and the main body is broken due to repeated opening and closing of the lid of the housing, the restricting portion (first restricting portion) of the main body acts to limit the displacement of the lid in the accommodation direction to a displacement width (width X) that is smaller than the engagement allowance between the main body and the lid. Therefore, since the engagement allowance is maintained as a positive value, the lid will not separate from the main body.

[0011] Furthermore, even if the connecting portion breaks, when the outer terminal is attached to the housing, the engaging portion (second engaging portion) of the outer terminal engages with the engaged portion (second engaged portion) of the lid portion, thereby fixing the lid portion to the outer terminal, and the outer terminal is crimped to the electric wire, etc., thereby fixing the outer terminal to the electric wire. Therefore, even if the connecting portion breaks, the outer terminal fixed to the electric wire fixes the lid portion, so that the restricting portion (second restricting portion) of the terminal can continue to properly restrict the displacement of the separate terminal (inner terminal). From another perspective, since the terminal module is accommodated in the outer housing and the outer terminal is held in the outer housing, even if the connecting portion breaks, the outer terminal fixed to the outer housing fixes the lid portion, so that the restricting portion (second restricting portion) of the terminal can continue to properly restrict the displacement of the separate terminal (inner terminal). Therefore, if the connecting portion breaks, the position of the separate terminal (inner terminal) may vary within the displacement width (width X) during the process of attaching the outer terminal to the housing and fastening it to the electric wire, etc., but since the displacement width (width X) is usually sufficiently small, the separate terminal (inner terminal) is essentially positioned in the correct position.

[0012] Therefore, the housing unit, terminal module, and connector of this configuration can improve the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0013] Furthermore, another effect will be described. In the housing unit, terminal module, and connector of the present invention, the width (e.g., width P) of the engaging portion (first engaging portion) of the outer terminal in the housing direction is greater than the sum of the width (e.g., width Q) of the engaged portion (first engaged portion) of the main body portion in the housing direction and the displacement width (width X) (i.e., P > Q + X). Therefore, even if the cover portion becomes misaligned when the connecting portion breaks, by attaching the outer terminal to the housing so that the engaging portion (second engaging portion) of the outer terminal engages with the engaged portion (second engaged portion) of the cover portion, the engaging portion (first engaging portion) of the outer terminal and the engaged portion (first engaged portion) of the main body portion engage without interfering with each other in the width direction. In other words, even if the connecting portion breaks, the operation of attaching the outer terminal to the housing is not hindered. Therefore, the workability of attaching the outer terminal to the housing can be improved.

[0014] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention set forth below, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a connector according to this embodiment and a mating connector are separated from each other. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a terminal module and an outer housing that constitute the connector shown in FIG. 1 are separated from each other. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal module shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the terminal module shown in FIG. 2 with the outer terminal removed. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 8]8 is a side view of the terminal module shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of part D in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] <Embodiment> A connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The connector 1 and a mating connector 4 shown in Fig. 1 are configured to be able to fit together, and when the connector 1 and the mating connector 4 are fitted together, an electric wire 60 belonging to the connector 1 and an electric wire 70 belonging to the mating connector 4 are electrically connected.

[0017] For the sake of convenience, the following definitions are used for "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" as shown in Figure 1 and elsewhere. The front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction are perpendicular to one another. The front-rear direction coincides with the mating direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector 4, and the forward and backward mating sides of the mating with the mating connector 4 as seen from the connector 1 side coincide with the front side and rear side, respectively. Note that the "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are defined merely for the sake of convenience, and do not necessarily correspond to the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of a vehicle, etc., when the connector 1 is mounted on the vehicle, etc.

[0018] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the connector 1 includes inner terminals 10, an inner housing 20 that accommodates the inner terminals 10, outer terminals 40 that are attached to the outside of the inner housing 20, an outer housing 50 that accommodates the inner housing 20, and electric wires 60 that are connected to the inner terminals 10. As shown in Figure 2, the inner housing 20 and the outer terminals 40 form a housing unit 3, the housing unit 3, the inner terminals 10, and the electric wires 60 form a terminal module 2, and the terminal module 2 and the outer housing 50 form the connector 1 (see Figure 2). The configuration of each component that constitutes the connector 1 will be described below in order. The inner terminals 10 correspond to the "separate terminals" in the present invention, and the inner housing 20 corresponds to the "housing" in the present invention.

[0019] First, the electric wire 60 will be described. As shown in Figures 3 and 11, the electric wire 60 is composed of two electric wires 63, each of which is composed of a linear conductor core wire 61 and a cylindrical resin insulator 62 covering the outer periphery of the conductor core wire 61, a cylindrical resin outer jacket 64 covering the two electric wires 63 collectively, and a cylindrical shield body (braided conductor) 65 provided on the inner circumferential surface of the outer jacket 64. When connecting the electric wire 60 to the connector 1, a predetermined terminal treatment is performed to expose the tip end of the conductor core wire 61 to the outside in advance, and the tip end of the shield body 65 is folded back toward the base end so as to cover the outer periphery of the outer jacket 64 (see Figure 3).

[0020] Next, the inner terminal 10 will be described. The inner terminal (female terminal) 10 is connected to a mating inner terminal (male terminal, not shown) of the mating connector 4 (see FIG. 1) and has a function of being electrically connected to a conductor core wire 61 of an electric wire 60. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, the metal inner terminal 10 integrally includes a rectangular cylindrical connecting portion 11 located at its tip (front end) and extending in the front-rear direction to be connected to the mating inner terminal, and a crimping portion 12 located at its base (rear end) and consisting of a pair of crimping pieces for crimping the conductor core wire 61 of the electric wire 60. A mating inner terminal (male terminal) is inserted into the hollow portion (through hole) of the connecting portion 11. A protrusion 13 protruding upward is formed at the rear end of the upper wall of the connecting portion 11. When the inner terminal 10 is housed in the inner housing 20, the protrusion 13 engages with an engaging recess 33 (see FIG. 11) of the inner housing 20, which will be described later.

[0021] Next, we will explain the inner housing 20. The inner housing 20 houses the inner terminal 10 and has the function of maintaining an insulating state between the outer terminal 40 attached to the outside and the inner terminal 10. The inner housing 20 is made of insulating synthetic resin with a predetermined dielectric constant, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4, has a generally rectangular cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction as a whole.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the inner housing 20 includes a main body 21. The main body 21 integrally includes a rectangular cylindrical portion 22 extending in the front-rear direction and an upper opening 23 having a bottom wall (lower wall) and a pair of left and right side walls extending rearward from the bottom wall (lower wall) and a pair of left and right side walls that respectively constitute the cylindrical portion 22. An opening 24 is formed in each of the pair of left and right side walls of the upper opening 23, at a location rearward of the center in the front-rear direction. A pair of front and rear protrusions 25 are formed on the outer surfaces of the pair of left and right side walls of the upper opening 23, aligned in the front-rear direction, at locations forward and rearward of the opening 24. Each protrusion 25 engages with a locking hole 43 (see FIGS. 3 , 10 , etc.) of the outer terminal 40, which will be described later. A protrusion 26 protruding upward is formed on the upper end surface of the rear end of each of the pair of left and right side walls of the upper opening 23. The effect of providing the protrusions 26 will be described later.

[0023] A flat lid portion 28 is hingedly connected to the rear edge of the upper wall of the cylindrical portion 22 via a hinge portion 27 extending in the left-right direction so as to be able to open and close (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The lid portion 28 is composed of a generally rectangular flat upper wall extending in the front-rear direction so as to close the upper opening of the upper opening 23 in the closed state (see FIG. 3), and a pair of left and right side walls extending downward from both left and right edges of the upper wall so as to close the pair of left and right openings 24 of the upper opening 23. Each of the pair of left and right side walls of the lid portion 28 has a protrusion 31 on its extending edge (the lower edge when the lid portion 28 is in the closed state) that engages with the lower edge 24a of the opening 24 when the lid portion 28 is in the closed state (see FIG. 7). When the lid portion 28 is in the closed state, the engagement between the lower edge 24a of the opening 24 and the protrusion 31 maintains the lid portion 28 in the closed state.

[0024] A partition wall 29 is formed in the left-right center of the bottom wall of the main body 21 (cylindrical portion 22 + upper opening 23), protruding upward and extending across the entire front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3 , when the lid 28 is closed (the top wall and the pair of left and right side walls of the lid 28 close the upper end opening of the upper opening 23 and the pair of left and right openings 24, respectively), a pair of left and right terminal accommodating chambers 36 separated by the partition wall 29 and aligned side by side in the left-right direction and penetrating in the front-rear direction are defined inside the inner housing 20. A pair of left and right inner terminals 10 are accommodated in the pair of left and right terminal accommodating chambers 36. The terminal accommodating chambers 36 correspond to the "accommodating chamber" in this invention.

[0025] A rectangular protrusion 32 is formed on each of the outer surfaces of a pair of left and right side walls of the cover 28. Each protrusion 32 is adapted to engage with a notch 42 (described later) (see FIG. 3, etc.) of the outer terminal 40. A pair of left and right engaging recesses 33 (see FIG. 11) is formed on the surface of the upper wall of the cover 28 that faces downward when the cover 28 is closed (the inner surface that defines the terminal accommodating chamber 36), which is adapted to engage with the protrusions 13 (see FIG. 3) of the pair of left and right inner terminals 10 accommodated in the correct positions in the pair of left and right terminal accommodating chambers 36, respectively.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 , a recess 34 is formed on the rear end surface of the upper end of each of the pair of left and right side walls of the cylindrical portion 22, recessed forward and opening rearward. A pair of left and right protrusions 35 is formed on the front end surface of both left and right edge portions of the upper wall of the lid portion 28 when the lid portion 28 is in the closed state, protruding forward so as to enter the pair of left and right recesses 34 when the lid portion 28 is in the closed state. When the lid portion 28 is in the closed state, the depth of the protrusions 35 entering the recesses 34 in the front-to-rear direction is referred to as the “engagement allowance Y” (see FIG. 6 ), and the gap in the front-to-rear direction between the rear end surfaces of both left and right edge portions of the upper wall of the lid portion 28 and the protrusion 26 of the upper opening 23 is referred to as the “displacement width X” (see FIG. 5 ). The displacement width X represents the distance the lid portion 28 can move rearward relative to the main body portion 21 (upper opening 23) when the hinge portion 27 breaks due to repeated opening and closing of the lid portion 28, for example. In this example, the engagement allowance Y is greater than the displacement width X (Y>X). As a result, if the hinge portion 27 breaks when the lid portion 28 is in the closed state, even if the lid portion 28 is displaced rearward relative to the main body portion 21 (upper opening 23) by the displacement width X, the engagement allowance Y remains a positive value. Therefore, the front edge of the lid portion 28 will not separate from the main body portion 21 (upper opening 23). In addition, when the lid portion 28 is in the closed state, the lower edge 24a of the opening 24 and the protrusion 31 are engaged (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the rear edge of the lid portion 28 will not separate from the main body portion 21 (upper opening 23). In other words, when the lid portion 28 is in the closed state, even if the hinge portion 27 breaks, the entire lid portion 28 will not separate from the main body portion 21 (upper opening 23).

[0027] Next, the outer terminal 40 will be described. The outer terminal 40 is attached to the inner housing 20 and has a function of being electrically connected to the shield body 65 of the electric wire 60. As shown in Fig. 3, the metal outer terminal 40 has a box-shaped portion 41 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and openings in the front-rear direction and downward, the box-shaped portion 41 including a substantially rectangular flat top wall extending in the front-rear direction and a pair of left and right side walls extending downward from both left and right edges of the top wall. The box-shaped portion 41 is configured to be attachable to the inner housing 20 from above so as to cover the lid portion 28 and the upper opening 23 of the inner housing 20 when the inner housing 20 is closed.

[0028] Each of the pair of left and right side walls of the box-shaped portion 41 has a rectangular notch 42 recessed upward from the lower edge of the side wall and opening downward, corresponding to the protrusion 32 of the lid portion 28 of the inner housing 20. Furthermore, a pair of front and rear locking holes 43 are formed aligned in the front-rear direction, corresponding to the pair of front and rear protrusions 25 of the main body 21 of the inner housing 20 (see FIG. 8). An engaging portion 44 is formed in the top wall of the box-shaped portion 41 to engage with an engaged portion (not shown) of the outer housing 50. A crimping portion 46, consisting of a pair of crimping pieces extending downward, is connected to the rear edge of the top wall of the box-shaped portion 41 via a connecting portion 45. The crimping portion 46 is to be crimped to a shield 65 (see FIG. 3), which is folded back toward the base end to cover the outer periphery of the outer sheath 64 of the electric wire 60.

[0029] The width of the notch 42 in the front-rear direction is approximately equal to the width of the protrusion 32 of the lid portion 28 of the inner housing 20 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the outer terminal 40 is attached to the inner housing 20, the engagement between the notch 42 of the outer terminal 40 and the protrusion 32 of the lid portion 28 of the inner housing 20 restricts (prohibits) relative displacement in the front-rear direction between the outer terminal 40 and the lid portion 28. The width P of the locking hole 43 in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 9) is greater than the sum of the width Q of the protrusion 25 in the front-rear direction and the displacement width X (P>Q+X). As a result, if the hinge portion 27 breaks while the lid portion 28 is in the closed state, even if the lid portion 28 is displaced rearward relative to the main body portion 21 (upper opening 23) by the displacement width X (i.e., the relative displacement of the lid portion 28 reaches the maximum value), the locking hole 43 of the outer terminal 40 and the protrusion 25 of the main body portion 21 can engage without interfering with each other in the width direction (front-rear direction). Therefore, even if the hinge portion 27 breaks, the operation of attaching the outer terminal 40 to the inner housing 20 is not hindered.

[0030] Next, the outer housing 50 will be described. The resin outer housing 50 serves to house the inner housing 20 (terminal module 2) to which the outer terminals 40 are attached. The outer housing 50 has a generally rectangular cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction, and the hollow portion of the outer housing 50 has a shape that can house the inner housing 20 to which the outer terminals 40 are attached. When the inner housing 20 to which the outer terminals 40 are attached is housed in the outer housing 50, engagement between engaged portions (not shown) provided in the hollow portion of the outer housing 50 and engaging portions 44 of the outer terminals 40 restricts (prohibits) relative displacement between the outer terminals 40 and the outer housing 50 in the front-rear direction. The configuration of each component that makes up the connector 1 has been described above.

[0031] Next, we will explain the procedure for assembling the connector 1. First, as shown in Fig. 3, the tip ends of a pair of left and right conductor core wires 61 of the electric wire 60 that has been subjected to terminal processing are crimped by a pair of crimping pieces of the crimping portion 12 of the corresponding inner terminal 10, respectively.

[0032] Next, the pair of left and right inner terminals 10 connected to the electric wires 60 are inserted from the rear into the pair of left and right terminal accommodating chambers 36 of the inner housing 20 with the lid portion 28 in the open state (as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 4) and accommodated in the correct positions, and then the lid portion 28 is closed. When the lid portion 28 is in the closed state, the lower edge 24a of the opening 24 of the inner housing 20 engages with the protrusion 31 of the lid portion 28, thereby maintaining the lid portion 28 in the closed state (see FIG. 7). Furthermore, the pair of left and right engaging recesses 33 of the lid portion 28 engage with the protrusions 13 of the pair of left and right inner terminals 10 (see FIG. 11), thereby restricting (prohibiting) relative displacement in the front-to-rear direction between the pair of left and right inner terminals 10 in the correct positions and the lid portion 28.

[0033] Next, the box-shaped portion 41 of the outer terminal 40 is attached to the inner housing 20 from above so as to cover the lid portion 28 and the upper opening 23 of the inner housing 20 in the closed state. When the box-shaped portion 41 is completely attached to the inner housing 20, each notch 42 of the outer terminal 40 engages with the corresponding protrusion 32 of the lid portion 28 of the inner housing 20, and each locking hole 43 of the outer terminal 40 engages with the corresponding protrusion 25 of the body portion 21 of the inner housing 20. As a result, the engagement between the notch 42 of the outer terminal 40 and the protrusion 32 of the lid portion 28 restricts (prohibits) relative displacement between the outer terminal 40 and the lid portion 28 in the front-to-rear direction, and the engagement between the locking hole 43 of the outer terminal 40 and the protrusion 25 of the body portion 21 prevents the outer terminal 40 from separating (coming off) upward from the inner housing 20 (body portion 21). Next, the shield body 65, which is folded back toward the base end so as to cover the outer periphery of the outer sheath 64 of the electric wire 60, is crimped by a pair of crimping pieces of the crimping portion 46 of the outer terminal 40. This electrically connects the outer terminal 40 and the shield body 65 of the electric wire 60, and also restricts (prohibits) relative displacement in the front-to-rear direction between the outer terminal 40 and the electric wire 60. With the above steps, the terminal module 2 shown in FIG. 2 is completed.

[0034] Next, the terminal module 2 (more specifically, the inner housing 20 with the outer terminals 40 attached) is inserted from the rear side into the hollow portion of the outer housing 50 and accommodated therein. When the terminal module 2 is completely accommodated in the outer housing 50, engagement between the engaging portions 44 of the outer terminals 40 and the engaged portions (not shown) provided in the hollow portion of the outer housing 50 restricts (prohibits) relative displacement between the outer terminals 40 and the outer housing 50 in the front-to-rear direction. With the above steps, the connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is completed.

[0035] The completed connector 1 is used by mating with a mating connector 4 shown in Fig. 1. An electric wire 70 belonging to the mating connector 4 has the same configuration as an electric wire 60 belonging to the connector 1. When the connector 1 and the mating connector 4 are mated, the inner terminal 10 (female terminal) belonging to the connector 1 is electrically connected to the mating inner terminal (male terminal, not shown) belonging to the mating connector 4, and the outer terminal 40 belonging to the connector 1 is electrically connected to the mating outer terminal (not shown) belonging to the mating connector 4, so that the electric wire 60 belonging to the connector 1 is electrically connected to the electric wire 70 belonging to the mating connector 4.

[0036] In the completed connector 1, as described above, the engagement between the engagement recess 33 of the lid portion 28 of the inner housing 20 and the protrusion portion 13 of the inner terminal 10 (see Figure 11) restricts (prohibits) relative displacement in the forward / backward direction between the inner terminal 10 in the normal position and the lid portion 28, thereby fixing the inner terminal 10 in the normal position. Even if the hinge portion 27 connecting the lid portion 28 of the inner housing 20 to the main body 21 breaks due to repeated opening and closing of the lid portion 28, the lid portion 28 is fixed to the outer terminal 40 by the engagement between the notch portion 42 of the outer terminal 40 and the protrusion portion 32 of the lid portion 28, the outer terminal 40 is fixed to the wire 60 by the crimping portion 46 of the outer terminal 40 being crimped to the shield body 65 of the wire 60, and the outer terminal 40 is fixed to the outer housing 50 by the engagement between the engaging portion 44 of the outer terminal 40 and the engaged portion of the outer housing 50. As a result, the relative displacement of the lid portion 28 in the front-rear direction with respect to the outer housing 50 is restricted (prohibited), and therefore the relative displacement of the inner terminal 10 fixed to the lid portion 28 in the front-rear direction with respect to the outer housing 50 is also restricted (prohibited), and the inner terminal 10 remains fixed in the correct position. If the hinge portion 27 breaks, the main body 21 of the inner housing 20 can be displaced in the front-rear direction by a displacement width X relative to the outer housing 50. However, since the displacement width X is very small, poor contact between the inner terminal 10 and the mating inner terminal does not occur.

[0037] (Actions and Effects) As described above, in the housing unit 3, the terminal module 2, and the connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the inner terminal 10 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 36 of the inner housing 20, the engaging recess 33 (second restricting portion) of the hinged lid portion 28 engages with the inner terminal 10, restricting displacement of the inner terminal 10 in the accommodation direction (front-rear direction). That is, the inner terminal 10 is positioned in a so-called normal position. Even if the hinge portion 27 (connecting portion) connecting the lid portion 28 to the main body 21 of the inner housing 20 breaks due to repeated opening and closing of the lid portion 28 of the inner housing 20, the notch portion 42 (second engaging portion) of the outer terminal 40 engages with the protrusion 32 (second engaged portion) of the lid portion 28, thereby fixing the lid portion 28 to the outer terminal 40. Furthermore, the crimping portion 46 of the outer terminal 40 is crimped to the electric wire 60, thereby fixing the outer terminal 40 to the electric wire 60. Therefore, even if the hinge portion 27 breaks, the inner terminals 10 are positioned in the correct positions. From another perspective, the terminal module 2 is accommodated in the outer housing 50, and the outer terminals 40 are held in the outer housing 50, so that even if the hinge portion 27 breaks, the inner terminals 10 are positioned in the correct positions. Therefore, the housing unit 3, terminal module 2, and connector 1 according to this embodiment can improve the reliability of electrical connection.

[0038] Furthermore, even if the hinge portion 27 of the inner housing 20 breaks, the protrusion 26 (first restriction portion) of the main body 21 functions to limit the positional displacement of the lid portion 28 in the accommodation direction (front-rear direction) to a displacement width X that is smaller than the engagement amount Y between the main body 21 and the lid portion 28. Therefore, even if the hinge portion 27 breaks, the engagement amount Y is maintained as a positive value, and the lid portion 28 will not separate from the main body 21. Furthermore, when the outer terminal 40 is attached to the inner housing 20 so that the notch 42 (second engaging portion) of the outer terminal 40 engages with the protrusion 32 (second engaged portion) of the lid portion 28, the width P of the locking hole 43 (first engaging portion) of the outer terminal 40 in the accommodation direction is greater than the sum of the width Q of the protrusion 25 (first engaged portion) of the main body 21 in the accommodation direction (front-rear direction) and the displacement width X (P>Q+X). As a result, even if the lid portion 28 becomes misaligned due to the breakage of the hinge portion 27, the locking hole 43 (first engaging portion) of the outer terminal 40 and the protrusion 25 (first engaged portion) of the main body portion 21 can engage with each other without interfering with each other in the width direction (front-rear direction). Therefore, even if the hinge portion 27 breaks, the work of attaching the outer terminal 40 to the inner housing 20 is not hindered. This improves the workability of attaching the outer terminal 40 to the inner housing 20.

[0039] Furthermore, if the hinge portion 27 breaks, it is possible to suppress not only displacement of the lid portion 28 in the housing direction (front-rear direction) but also tilt of the lid portion 28 around the point where the recessed portion 34 of the main body 21 and the protruding portion 35 of the lid portion 28 overlap. This further improves the workability of attaching the outer terminal 40 to the inner housing 20.

[0040] <Other aspects> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0041] Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the housing unit 3, the terminal module 2, and the connector 1 according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [4].

[0042] [1] A housing unit (3) comprising a housing (20) having an accommodating chamber therein and an outer terminal (40) attached to the outside of the housing (20), The housing (20) is the container has a main body (21) and a lid (28) that define the storage chamber (36) so as to extend in a predetermined storage direction, and a connecting portion (27) that connects the lid (28) to the main body (21) so as to be able to open and close like a hinge, and is configured such that when the lid (28) is closed, a portion (34) of the main body (21) and a portion (35) of the lid (28) overlap with each other by an engagement margin (Y) of a predetermined size in a direction intersecting the storage direction; The outer terminal (40) is a first engaging portion (43) attached to the housing (20) so as to cover the lid portion (28) in the intersecting direction, the first engaging portion (43) engaging with the main body portion (21), and a second engaging portion (42) engaging with the lid portion (28); The main body portion (21) is a first engaged portion (25) that engages with the first engaging portion (43) to hold the outer terminal (40) so as not to separate from the main body portion (21) in the cross direction, and a first restricting portion (26) that engages with the lid portion (28) when the connecting portion (27) is broken to restrict relative displacement between the main body portion (21) and the lid portion (28) in the housing direction to a displacement width (X) that is smaller than the engagement allowance (Y), The lid portion (28) is a second engaged portion (32) that engages with the second engaging portion (42) to hold the outer terminal (40) so as not to displace the outer terminal (40) relative to the lid portion (28) in the housing direction, and a second restricting portion (33) that engages with another terminal (inner terminal 10) to be housed in the housing chamber (36) when the lid portion (28) is closed to restrict relative displacement between the lid portion (28) and the other terminal (inner terminal 10) in the housing direction, The width (P) of the first engaging portion (43) in the housing direction is greater than the sum of the width (Q) of the first engaged portion (25) in the housing direction and the displacement width (X). Housing unit (3).

[0043] According to the housing unit having the configuration [1] above, when a separate terminal (i.e., an inner terminal) is accommodated in the accommodation chamber of the housing before the outer terminal is attached, the restricting portion (second restricting portion) of the hinged lid engages with the separate terminal, restricting displacement of the separate terminal in the accommodation direction. That is, the separate terminal (inner terminal) is positioned in a so-called normal position. Even if the connecting portion connecting the lid and the main body is broken due to repeated opening and closing of the lid of the housing, the restricting portion (first restricting portion) of the main body acts to limit the displacement of the lid in the accommodation direction to a displacement width (width X) that is smaller than the engagement between the main body and the lid. Therefore, since the engagement width is maintained as a positive value, the lid will not separate from the main body.

[0044] Furthermore, even if the connecting portion breaks, when the outer terminal is attached to the housing, the engaging portion (second engaging portion) of the outer terminal engages with the engaged portion (second engaged portion) of the lid portion, thereby fixing the lid portion to the outer terminal, and the outer terminal is crimped to the electric wire, etc., thereby fixing the outer terminal to the electric wire. Therefore, even if the connecting portion breaks, the outer terminal fixed to the electric wire fixes the lid portion, so that the restricting portion (second restricting portion) of the terminal can continue to properly restrict the displacement of the separate terminal (inner terminal). From another perspective, since the terminal module is accommodated in the outer housing and the outer terminal is held in the outer housing, even if the connecting portion breaks, the outer terminal fixed to the outer housing fixes the lid portion, so that the restricting portion (second restricting portion) of the terminal can continue to properly restrict the displacement of the separate terminal (inner terminal). Therefore, if the connecting portion breaks, the position of the separate terminal (inner terminal) may vary within the displacement width (width X) during the process of attaching the outer terminal to the housing and fastening it to the electric wire, etc., but since the displacement width (width X) is usually sufficiently small, the separate terminal (inner terminal) is essentially positioned in the correct position.

[0045] Therefore, the housing unit having this configuration can improve the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0046] Furthermore, another effect will be described. In the housing unit of this configuration, the width (e.g., width P) of the engaging portion (first engaging portion) of the outer terminal in the housing direction is greater than the sum of the width (e.g., width Q) of the engaged portion (first engaged portion) of the main body in the housing direction and the displacement width (width X) (i.e., P > Q + X). Therefore, even if the cover becomes misaligned when the connecting portion breaks, by attaching the outer terminal to the housing so that the engaging portion (second engaging portion) of the outer terminal engages with the engaged portion (second engaged portion) of the cover, the engaging portion (first engaging portion) of the outer terminal and the engaged portion (first engaged portion) of the main body engage without interfering with each other in the width direction. In other words, even if the connecting portion breaks, the operation of attaching the outer terminal to the housing is not hindered. Therefore, the workability of attaching the outer terminal to the housing can be improved.

[0047] [2] In the housing unit (3) described in [1] above, A portion (34) of the main body (21) and a portion (35) of the lid (28) overlap with each other on one side in the housing direction, On the other side in the accommodation direction, the first restricting portion (26) restricts the relative displacement of the lid portion (28). Housing unit (3).

[0048] According to the housing unit of [2] above, if the connecting portion breaks, not only can the lid portion be prevented from displacing in the housing direction, but also from tilting around the point where a part of the main body and a part of the lid portion overlap, thereby further improving the workability of attaching the outer terminal to the housing.

[0049] [3] The housing unit (3) according to [1] or [2] above, an inner terminal (10) accommodated in the accommodation chamber (36) of the housing (20) of the housing unit (3); and an electric wire (60) electrically connected to the inner terminal (10) and to which the inner terminal (10) is crimped and fixed. Terminal module (2).

[0050] According to the terminal module [3] above, the reliability of the electrical connection can be improved based on the same principle as the housing unit having the configuration [1] above.

[0051] [4] The terminal module (2) described in [3] above, an outer housing (50) in which the terminal module (2) is housed and in which the outer terminals (40) are held in the housing direction; Connector(1).

[0052] According to the connector [4] above, the reliability of the electrical connection can be improved by the same principle as that of the housing unit having the configuration [1] above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 connector 2 Terminal Module 3 Housing Units 10 Inner terminal (separate terminal) 20 Inner housing (housing) 21 Main body 25 Projection (first engaged part) 26 Projection part (1st regulation part) 27 Hinge part (connection part) 28 Lid 32 Projection (second engaged part) 33 Engagement recess (second restriction portion) 34 Recess (part of main body) 35 Convex part (part of the lid) 36 Terminal housing (housing) 40 Outer terminal 42 Notch portion (second engagement portion) 43 Locking hole (first engagement portion) 50 Outer housing 60 Electric wire P width Q width X displacement range Y Employee Fee

Claims

1. A housing unit including a housing having an accommodating chamber therein and an outer terminal attached to the exterior of the housing, The housing includes: the container has a main body and a lid that define the storage chamber so as to extend in a predetermined storage direction, and a connecting portion that connects the lid to the main body so as to be able to open and close like a hinge, and when the lid is closed, a portion of the main body and a portion of the lid overlap with each other with a predetermined engagement margin in a direction intersecting the storage direction, The outer terminal is a first engaging portion attached to the housing so as to cover the lid portion in the intersecting direction, the first engaging portion engaging with the main body portion, and a second engaging portion engaging with the lid portion, The main body portion is a first engaged portion that engages with the first engaging portion to hold the outer terminal so that the outer terminal does not separate from the body portion in the cross direction, and a first restricting portion that engages with the lid portion when the connecting portion is broken to restrict relative displacement between the body portion and the lid portion in the housing direction to a displacement width smaller than the engagement allowance, The lid portion is a second engaged portion that engages with the second engaging portion to hold the outer terminal so as not to displace the outer terminal relative to the lid portion in the accommodating direction, and a second restricting portion that engages with another terminal that will be accommodated in the accommodating chamber when the lid portion is closed to restrict relative displacement between the lid portion and the other terminal in the accommodating direction, a width of the first engaging portion in the housing direction is greater than a sum of a width of the first engaged portion in the housing direction and the displacement width; Housing unit.

2. 2. The housing unit according to claim 1, A portion of the main body and a portion of the lid overlap each other on one side in the housing direction, The first restricting portion restricts the relative displacement of the lid portion on the other side in the accommodation direction. Housing unit.

3. a housing unit according to claim 1 or 2; an inner terminal accommodated in the accommodation chamber of the housing of the housing unit; an electric wire electrically connected to the inner terminal and to which the inner terminal is crimped and fixed, Terminal module.

4. The terminal module according to claim 3; an outer housing in which the terminal module is housed and in which the outer terminals are held in the housing direction; connector.

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