Connector structure

Abstract

To provide a technique for giving a degree of freedom to a mounting position of a cable connector in a casing of an electric apparatus.SOLUTION: A connector structure for attachably and detachably mounting an electric cable to a casing of an electric apparatus comprises a cable connector, a connector mounting member and a grommet. The connector mounting member includes: a connector receiving part which is positioned outside of the casing and receives the cable connector attachably and detachably; a protruding part which protrudes from the connector receiving part toward the casing and a portion of which is positioned within an opening of the casing; and a flange part which is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the protruding part and abuts on the casing in a periphery of the opening. In the opening, over a full circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the protruding part, a clearance is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the protruding part and an inner peripheral surface of the opening. The grommet is elastically deformable and allows a relative displacement of the connector mounting member with respect to the casing until the outer peripheral surface of the protruding part abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a connector structure, and more particularly to a connector structure for detachably attaching a high-voltage cable to a casing of high-voltage equipment. [Background technology]

[0002] The connector structure described in Patent Document 1 employs a movable connector as a cable connector attached to the tip of an electric cable. The movable connector has a movable part biased by a coil spring, and can absorb dimensional tolerances in the mounting direction of the connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 7-43729 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the connector structure described in Patent Document 1, although a movable part is provided in the cable connector, the mounting position of the cable connector in the casing of the electrical device is fixed and there is no degree of freedom. Therefore, depending on the mounting position of the electrical device, there is a risk that the cable connector may not reach, and to avoid this, it is necessary to provide a large slack in the electrical cable.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, this specification provides a technique for providing flexibility in the mounting position of a cable connector in a casing of an electrical device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The technology disclosed in this specification is embodied in a connector structure for detachably attaching an electric cable to a casing of an electrical device. The connector structure includes a cable connector provided at the end of the electric cable, a connector mounting member provided in an opening of the casing to which the cable connector is detachably attached, and a grommet provided between the casing and the connector mounting member and sealing the gap between the opening of the casing and the connector mounting member. The connector mounting member has a connector receiving portion located outside the casing and detachably receiving the cable connector, a protruding portion protruding from the connector receiving portion toward the casing with a portion of the protruding portion located within the opening of the casing, and a flange portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion and abutting against the casing around the opening. Within the opening, a gap is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion and the inner peripheral surface of the opening around the entire circumference. The grommet is elastically deformable and allows relative displacement of the connector mounting member with respect to the casing until the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the opening.

[0007] In the above-described configuration, the cable connector provided on the electric cable is detachably attached to the connector mounting member provided on the casing. The connector mounting member is configured to be displaceable relative to the casing, allowing flexibility in the mounting position of the cable connector on the casing. When the connector mounting member displaces relative to the casing, the grommet elastically deforms accordingly, thereby maintaining a seal between the opening of the casing and the connector mounting member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a connector structure 10 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a connector structure 10 according to an embodiment. [Figure 3]3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams showing a state in which an electric cable 4 is attached to a casing 2 of an electric device using a connector structure 10. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A connector structure 10 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. This connector structure 10 is a structure for detachably attaching an electric cable 4 to a casing 2 of an electric device. The electric device can be electrically connected to another electric device via the electric cable 4. As an example, the electric device is a power conversion unit disposed in the front compartment of a vehicle, and the other electric device is a battery disposed below the floor panel of the vehicle.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connector structure 10 includes a cable connector 12. The cable connector 12 is provided at the tip of an electric cable 4. The cable connector 12 includes contacts 14 and a housing 16. The contacts 14 are electrically connected to the electric cable 4. The housing 16 has a cylindrical shape that generally extends in the vertical direction. The housing 16 is made of an insulating material such as resin.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector structure 10 further includes a connector mounting member 18. The connector mounting member 18 is provided in the opening 2 a of the casing 2. The cable connector 12 is detachably attached to the connector mounting member 18. The connector mounting member 18 has a connector receiving portion 20, a protrusion 26, and a flange portion 28. The connector receiving portion 20 is located outside the casing 2. The connector receiving portion 20 of this embodiment has a first peripheral wall 22 and a second peripheral wall 24 located inside the first peripheral wall 22. When the cable connector 12 is attached to the connector mounting member 18, the housing 16 of the cable connector 12 is inserted between the first peripheral wall 22 and the second peripheral wall 24. The protrusion 26 protrudes from the connector receiving portion 20 toward the casing 2 (here, downward). The protrusion 26 is located within the opening 2 a of the casing 2. The flange portion 28 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 26a of the protruding portion 26. The flange portion 28 abuts against the casing 2 around the opening 2a. In this embodiment, the protruding portion 26 has a generally cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and the flange portion 28 is provided around the entire outer peripheral surface 26a of the protruding portion 26. Therefore, the flange portion 28 abuts against the casing 2 around the entire circumference of the opening 2a. The connector mounting member 18 is made of an insulating material such as resin.

[0012] The connector receiving portion 20 further includes a contact 30 and a bolt fastening portion 32. One end of the contact 30 is electrically connected to an electrical device via a wire 2b. When a fastener 34 is fastened to the bolt fastening portion 32, the electrical device is electrically connected to another electrical device via the wire 2b, the contacts 14, 30, and the electrical cable 4. In this embodiment, an opening 16a is provided in the upper portion of the housing 16 of the cable connector 12, and the fastener 34 can be attached through this opening 16a.

[0013] 1 and 2, the connector structure 10 further includes a connector cover 36. The connector cover 36 closes the opening 16a provided in the upper part of the housing 16. The connector cover 36 is made of an insulating material such as resin.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector structure 10 further includes a grommet 38 and two bands 40a, 40b. The grommet 38 is an elastically deformable member. The grommet 38 is made of, for example, rubber. The grommet 38 has a generally tubular shape extending in the vertical direction. The grommet 38 is provided between the casing 2 and the connector mounting member 18 and provides a seal between the opening 2a of the casing 2 and the flange portion 28 of the connector mounting member 18. The two bands 40a, 40b include a first band 40a and a second band 40b. The first band 40a is provided at the upper end of the grommet 38 and fixes the upper end to the connector mounting member 18. The second band 40b is provided at the lower end of the grommet 38 and fixes the lower end to the casing 2. This improves the seal between the opening 2a of the casing 2 and the connector mounting member 18.

[0015] In the connector structure 10 of this embodiment, a gap CL is provided between the outer peripheral surface 26a of the protrusion 26 and the inner peripheral surface 2c of the opening 2a of the casing 2 around the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface 26a of the protrusion 26. As described above, the grommet 38 is elastically deformable, and allows relative displacement of the connector mounting member 18 with respect to the casing 2 until the outer peripheral surface 26a of the protrusion 26 abuts against the inner peripheral surface 2c of the opening 2a.

[0016] In the above-described configuration, the cable connector 12 provided on the electric cable 4 is detachably attached to the connector mounting member 18 provided on the casing 2. The connector mounting member 18 is configured to be displaceable relative to the casing 2, providing flexibility in the mounting position of the cable connector 12 on the casing 2. Furthermore, when the connector mounting member 18 is displaced relative to the casing 2, the grommet 38 elastically deforms accordingly, thereby maintaining a seal between the opening 2a of the casing 2 and the connector mounting member 18.

[0017] When the connector structure 10 of this embodiment is used, the direction and position at which the electric cable 4 is attached to the casing 2 of the electric device are not particularly limited. For example, as shown in Fig. 3(a), the electric cable 4 may be attached from above to the top surface of the casing 2 of the electric device. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 3(b), the electric cable 4 may be attached laterally to the side surface of the casing 2 of the electric device.

[0018] Although several specific examples have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and alterations of the specific examples exemplified above. The technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit technical utility either alone or in combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 2: Casing, 2a: Opening, 2b: Wire, 2c: Inner peripheral surface, 4: Electrical cable, 10: Connector structure, 12: Cable connector, 14: Contact point, 16: Housing, 16a: Opening, 18: Connector mounting member, 20: Connector receiving portion, 22: First peripheral wall, 24: Second peripheral wall, 26: Protrusion, 26a: Outer peripheral surface, 28: Flange portion, 30: Contact point, 32: Bolt fastening portion, 34: Fastener, 36: Connector cover, 38: Grommet

Claims

[Claim 1] A connector structure for detachably attaching an electric cable to a casing of an electric device, a cable connector provided at the tip of the electric cable; a connector attachment member provided in the opening of the casing and to which the cable connector is detachably attached; a grommet provided across the casing and the connector mounting member to seal between the opening of the casing and the connector mounting member; Equipped with The connector mounting member is a connector receiving portion located outside the casing and configured to detachably receive the cable connector; a protrusion protruding from the connector receiving portion toward the casing, a portion of which is located within the opening of the casing; a flange portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the protrusion and abutting against the casing around the opening; and Within the opening, the gap is provided between the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion and the inner circumferential surface of the opening over the entire periphery of the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion, the grommet is elastically deformable and allows relative displacement of the connector mounting member with respect to the casing until the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the opening. Connector structure.

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