Connector assembly

Abstract

To provide a connector assembly capable of improving the reliability of contact between a first contact and a second contact while a first connector and a second connector are easily fitted together.SOLUTION: When a second insulator 22 is situated at a contact position to contact a first insulator 12 in a fitting direction, a second contact 23 opposes a first contact 13 in an orthogonal direction with a predetermined gap from the first contact 13. When a screw member 31 is rotated, a male screw portion 31C is screwed to a female screw portion 16E so that a slider 16 slides in the fitting direction. The first insulator 12 is pressed against the second insulator 22 by a slider body portion 16A so that a first connector 11 and a second connector 21 are fitted together, and the first contact 13 and the second contact 23 are pressed against each other in the orthogonal direction by a pressing portion 16B to be thereby electrically connected to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector assembly, and more particularly to a connector assembly in which a first connector and a second connector are mated with each other along a mating direction. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, so-called bolt-assisted type connector assemblies have been known in which a first connector is bolted to a second connector, and the first connector and the second connector are mated together using the fastening force of the bolt.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connector assembly including a first connector 1 and a second connector 2 connected to an end of an electric wire L and mated to the first connector 1 along a mating direction D, as shown in Figure 21. The first connector 1 has a first housing 3 and a first contact 4 held in the first housing 3, and the second connector 2 has a second housing 5 and a second contact (not shown) held in the second housing 5, and a fastening bolt 6 passing through the second housing 5 in the mating direction D.

[0004] When the second connector 2 is pressed against the first connector 1 in the mating direction D and the fastening bolt 6 of the second connector 2 is rotated, the fastening bolt 6 is screwed into a nut (not shown) embedded in the first housing 3 of the first connector 1, and as shown in Fig. 22, the second housing 5 is fastened to the first housing 3, and the first connector 1 and the second connector 2 enter a mated state. As a result, the columnar first contacts 4 of the first connector 1 and the cylindrical second contacts 7 of the second connector 2 come into contact with each other and are electrically connected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-8643 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when the second connector 2 is mated with the first connector 1 by rotating the fastening bolt 6 of the second connector 2 and screwing it into the nut of the first connector 1, the columnar first contacts 4 are press-fit into the cylindrical second contacts 7 along the mating direction D. This raises the risk of wear on the first contacts 4 and the second contacts 7 as the first connector 1 and the second connector 2 are mated. As wear on the first contacts 4 and the second contacts 7 progresses, the plating on the surfaces of the first contacts 4 and the second contacts 7 is scraped off, reducing the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0007] In particular, in a connector assembly in which a large current flows through the electric wire L, as the first contact 4 and the second contact 7 become larger and the diameter of the electric wire L becomes larger, the contact force between the first contact 4 and the second contact 7 also increases, and wear of these contacts cannot be ignored.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve these conventional problems, and aims to provide a connector assembly that can easily mate the first connector and the second connector while improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the first contact and the second contact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The connector assembly according to the present invention comprises: A connector assembly in which a second connector is mated with a first connector along a mating direction, the first connector includes a first insulator, a first contact held by the first insulator, and a slider held by the first insulator to be slidable along the mating direction and having a female thread portion; the second connector includes a second insulator, a second contact held by the second insulator, and a screw member rotatably held by the second insulator while passing through the second insulator in the mating direction and having a male screw portion that can be screwed into the female screw portion; The slider has a slider body portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction and having a female screw portion formed therein, and a push-in portion extending from the slider body portion along the mating direction, When the second insulator is positioned at a contact position where it comes into contact with the first insulator in the mating direction, the second contact faces the first contact in a direction perpendicular to the first contact with a predetermined gap therebetween, When the screw member is rotated with the second insulator positioned in a contact position relative to the first insulator, the male threaded portion screws into the female threaded portion, causing the slider to slide in the mating direction, the slider main body pressing the first insulator against the second insulator, causing the first connector and the second connector to mated with each other, and the pushing portion pressing the first contact and the second contact perpendicular to each other to become electrically connected.

[0010] the first insulator has a first opposing surface extending along the orthogonal direction and facing the second insulator; the second insulator has a second opposing surface extending along the orthogonal direction and opposing the first opposing surface; At the contact position, the first and second opposing surfaces preferably contact each other.

[0011] the first insulator has a recessed slider accommodating portion that accommodates the slider body portion slidably along the fitting direction, and a fastening force receiving surface that extends along the perpendicular direction and faces the slider accommodating portion and opposes the slider body portion; the slider body has a fastening force applying surface extending along the orthogonal direction and facing the fastening force receiving surface; It is preferable that the fastening force applying surface of the slider main body, which slides in the mating direction as the screw member rotates, contacts the fastening force receiving surface of the first insulator and presses the fastening force receiving surface in the mating direction, thereby pressing the first opposing surface against the second opposing surface and fastening the first insulator to the second insulator along the mating direction.

[0012] the second insulator has a screw member through-hole that penetrates the second insulator along the fitting direction; the first insulator has a communication hole that penetrates the first insulator along the fitting direction and communicates with the inside of the slider accommodating portion; It is preferable that the male threaded portion of the screw member is threaded into the female threaded portion of the slider in a state where the screw member is passed through the screw member through-hole and the communication hole.

[0013] The screw member includes a screw body portion extending along the fitting direction and having a male thread portion formed at least at the tip end thereof, and a screw head portion connected to the base end of the screw body portion and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the screw body portion; It is preferable that the screw head is exposed from the second insulator in a direction opposite to the first insulator, and that the screw body is passed through the screw member through-hole and the communication hole.

[0014] the second connector has a frame member held by the second insulator; The frame member has a pair of inner wall surfaces that extend in the fitting direction and face each other in a direction perpendicular to each other, a spring portion that is arranged on one of the pair of inner wall surfaces and is elastically deformable in the direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, and a protrusion that is arranged on the other of the pair of inner wall surfaces and protrudes in the direction perpendicular to the fitting direction; the second contact has a second contact portion disposed between the spring portion and the protrusion; the first contact has a first contact portion that is located between the spring portion and the protrusion when the second insulator is located at a contact position relative to the first insulator and that faces the second contact portion in a direction perpendicular to the first insulator; When the pushing portion of the slider, which slides in the mating direction as the screw member rotates, is positioned between the spring portion and the protrusion, the spring portion is elastically compressed, and the elastic force of the spring portion causes the first contact portion and the second contact portion to be pressed in a direction perpendicular to each other and come into contact with each other.

[0015] In this case, the first contact is located between the spring portion and the second contact when the second insulator is located at a contact position relative to the first insulator, As the screw member is rotated, the pushing portion can be inserted between the second contact and the protrusion.

[0016] Furthermore, when no force in the perpendicular direction acts on the spring portion, it is preferable that the sum of the spacing S1 between the second contact portion and the spring portion in the perpendicular direction and the spacing S2 between the second contact and the protrusion is smaller than the sum of the thickness D1 of the first contact in the perpendicular direction and the thickness D2 of the push-in portion.

[0017] the second insulator has a concave frame member accommodating portion, The frame member is accommodated in the frame member accommodating portion so as to be movable in the perpendicular direction; The slider may be configured so that when the pushing portion of the slider, which slides in the mating direction as the screw member rotates, is positioned between the spring portion and the protrusion, the frame member moves in an orthogonal direction within the frame member accommodating portion while elastically compressing the spring portion.

[0018] the second connector has a pair of second contacts arranged on both sides of the screw member in the orthogonal direction with the screw member interposed therebetween; the first connector has a pair of first contacts corresponding to the pair of second contacts; The slider may also have a pair of depressions corresponding to the pair of first contacts and the pair of second contacts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to this invention, when the second insulator is positioned at a contact position where it makes contact with the first insulator in the mating direction, the second contact faces the first contact in a direction perpendicular to the first contact with a predetermined gap therebetween, and when the screw member is rotated, the male threaded portion screws into the female threaded portion of the slider, causing the slider to slide in the mating direction, and the slider body portion of the slider presses the first insulator against the second insulator, thereby mating the first connector and the second connector with each other, and the pushing portion of the slider presses the first contact and the second contact with each other in a direction perpendicular to each other, thereby electrically connecting them, so that it is possible to easily mate the first connector and the second connector while improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the first contact and the second contact. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view of a first connector used in the embodiment, seen obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view of a first connector used in the embodiment, seen obliquely from below. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first connector used in the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slider used in the embodiment, seen obliquely from above. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slider used in the embodiment, seen obliquely from below. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing a slider used in the embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a perspective view of a second connector used in the embodiment, seen obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 11]3 is a perspective view of a second connector used in the embodiment, seen obliquely from below. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second connector used in the embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the second connector used in the embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing a frame member used in the embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 17] 10 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which a second insulator of the second connector is located at a contact position where it contacts a first insulator of the first connector. FIG. [Figure 18] 10 is a front cross-sectional view schematically showing the positional relationship between the first contact, the second contact, the frame member, and the pushing portion of the slider when the second insulator of the second connector is located at a contact position where it contacts the first insulator of the first connector. FIG. [Figure 19] 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing the mated state of the first connector and the second connector. FIG. [Figure 20] 10 is a front cross-sectional view schematically showing the positional relationship between the first contact, the second contact, the frame member, and the pushing portion of the slider when the first connector and the second connector are mated. FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector assembly before mating. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional connector assembly in a mated state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 show a connector assembly according to an embodiment. The connector assembly includes a first connector 11 and a second connector 21 that fits into the first connector 11 along a fitting direction. For example, the first connector 11 is mounted on an electrical device (not shown), and the second connector 21 is attached to ends of two parallel electric wires C, thereby enabling the connector assembly to detachably connect the two electric wires C to the electrical device. The first connector 11 and the second connector 21 are mated and separated by rotating a screw member 31 that the second connector 21 has.

[0022] Here, for convenience, the mating direction of the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 will be referred to as the Z direction, the direction in which the two parallel electric wires C are arranged will be referred to as the Y direction (orthogonal direction), and the direction orthogonal to both the Z direction and the Y direction will be referred to as the X direction. The second connector 21 moves from the +Z direction to the −Z direction and is mated with the first connector 11.

[0023] 3 and 4 show the first connector 11. The first connector 11 has a first insulator 12, a pair of first contacts 13 held by the first insulator 12, a pair of metal shells 14 corresponding to the pair of first contacts 13, and a waterproof packing 15 for mounting equipment.

[0024] The first insulator 12 is made of an insulating resin material and has a flat plate portion 12A extending along the XY plane and a frame-like outer wall portion 12B extending in the +Z direction from the flat plate portion 12A and having a U-shape that opens toward the −X direction when viewed from the Z direction. A pair of protrusions 12C are formed on the inside of the outer wall portion 12B and are arranged side by side in the Y direction. Each of the pair of protrusions 12C has a U-shape that opens toward the −X direction when viewed from the Z direction and extends in the Z direction, and each protrusion 12C has a concave second contact accommodating portion 12D that opens toward the +Z direction and extends in the Z direction.

[0025] The pair of first contacts 13 are formed from a conductive metal material and are each held in the first insulator 12 by press-fitting or the like. The +Z direction side portion of each first contact 13 extends in the +Z direction along the XZ plane and protrudes into the corresponding second contact accommodating portion 12D of the first insulator 12. The outer surfaces of the pair of protruding portions 12C are each covered with a corresponding metal shell 14. Furthermore, the -Z direction side portion of each first contact 13 is bent toward the Y direction and extends along the XY plane on the -Z direction side of the first insulator 12. The waterproof packing 15 for mounting equipment is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is disposed on the lower surface of the flat plate portion 12A facing the -Z direction.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the first insulator 12 has an insulator central portion 12E arranged between a pair of protrusions 12C, and a communication hole 12F that penetrates the first insulator 12 in the Z direction is formed in the insulator central portion 12E.

[0027] 6, the insulator central portion 12E has a thickness in the Z direction that is thicker than the flat plate portion 12A, and a concave slider accommodating portion 12G that is open toward the -Z direction is formed on the -Z direction side of the insulator central portion 12E. The communication hole 12F penetrates the insulator central portion 12E in the Z direction so as to communicate with the inside of the slider accommodating portion 12G. The surface of the insulator central portion 12E on the -Z direction side that faces the slider accommodating portion 12G forms a fastening force receiving surface F1 that extends along the XY plane. Furthermore, a first opposing surface G1 extending along the XY plane and facing the +Z direction is formed by the surface on the +Z direction side of the flat plate portion 12A located outside the outer wall portion 12B.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the first connector 11 has a slider 16 held by the first insulator 12 so as to be slidable along the Z direction, which is the direction in which the first connector 11 is mated with the second connector 21. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the slider 16 has a slider main body portion 16A extending in the Y direction along the XY plane, and a pair of push-in portions 16B extending along the +Z direction from the +Y end and -Y end of the slider main body portion 16A, respectively. The slider main body 16A has a structure in which a flat metal member 16C extending in the Y direction along the XY plane is insert-molded with a resin material, and a through-hole 16D penetrating the slider main body 16A in the Z direction is formed in the center of the slider main body 16A in the Y direction. In addition, a fastening force applying surface F2 extending along the XY plane is formed by the surface on the +Z direction side of the slider main body 16A.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 9, a female screw portion 16E extending in the Z direction coaxially with the through-hole 16D is formed in the metal member 16C of the slider body 16A. Each of the pair of push-in portions 16B is made of a metal material, has a flat plate shape extending in the +Z direction along the XZ plane from the slider body portion 16A, and has a thickness D2 in the Y direction.

[0030] As shown in Figure 6, the slider 16 is held in the first insulator 12 so as to be slidable along the Z direction, with the slider main body 16A accommodated in the concave slider accommodating portion 12G of the first insulator 12 and the pair of pushing portions 16B each protruding into the corresponding second contact accommodating portion 12D of the first insulator 12. In addition, the -Z direction end of the slider main body 16A contacts the bent portions of a pair of first contacts 13 extending along the XY plane on the -Z direction side of the first insulator 12, thereby defining the -Z direction end of the sliding range of the slider 16.

[0031] As shown in Figure 6, when the slider 16 is positioned at the -Z direction end of the sliding range, the +Z direction ends of the pair of pushing portions 16B are configured to be positioned a predetermined distance L1 toward the -Z direction side of the +Z direction ends of the pair of first contacts 13. Furthermore, the +Z direction side portions of the pair of first contacts 13 extending in the +Z direction along the XZ plane each form a first contact portion P1 and have a thickness D1 in the Y direction.

[0032] 10 to 13 show a second connector 21 attached to the ends of two parallel electric wires C. The second connector 21 has a second insulator 22, a pair of second contacts (described later) held by the second insulator 22 and connected to the ends of the two electric wires C, and a screw member 31 rotatably held by the second insulator 22 while passing through the second insulator 22 in the Z direction.

[0033] The second insulator 22 is formed from an insulating resin material and has a cylindrical fitting portion 22A extending in the Z direction, and a cylindrical wire connection portion 22B connected to the −X direction side of the fitting portion 22A and extending in the X direction. The fitting portion 22A is open in the −Z direction, and when the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 are mated, a portion of the first connector 11 is received in the fitting portion 22A. The screw member 31 penetrates the fitting portion 22A in the Z direction. The wire connection portion 22B is open in the −X direction, and ends of two electric wires C are received in the wire connection portion 22B.

[0034] 14, inside fitting portion 22A, a pair of second contacts 23 are arranged on both sides of screw member 31 in the Y direction, sandwiching screw member 31 therebetween. The pair of second contacts 23 are formed from a conductive metal material, are electrically connected to the ends of corresponding electric wires C, and have a flat plate shape extending in the +X direction along the XZ plane. A pair of concave frame member accommodating portions 22C are formed in the fitting portion 22A corresponding to the pair of second contacts 23, and each frame member accommodating portion 22C accommodates a frame member 41. The second contacts 23 are held in the fitting portion 22A of the second insulator 22 so as to be located inside the corresponding frame member 41.

[0035] The +Z direction side portions of the pair of second contacts 23 are covered by corresponding metal shells 24, respectively. The second insulator 22 has an outer wall portion 22D that surrounds the fitting portion 22A and extends in the -Z direction, and the -Z direction end portion of the outer wall portion 22D forms a second opposing surface G2 that extends along the XY plane and faces the -Z direction. Furthermore, a fitting waterproof packing 25 made of an elastic material such as rubber is disposed on the inside of the −Z direction end of the outer wall portion 22D.

[0036] The screw member 31 has a screw body 31A that extends in the Z direction and is passed through a screw member through-hole 22E formed in the fitting portion 22A, and a screw head 31B that is connected to the +Z direction end of the screw body 31A. The screw head 31B has a diameter larger than that of the screw body 31A and is exposed on the +Z direction side of the fitting portion 22A. In addition, a male thread portion 31C is formed on the -Z direction end of the screw body 31A over a predetermined length in the Z direction. The male thread portion 31C has a size and pitch that allows it to be screwed into a female thread portion 16E formed on the slider body 16A of the slider 16 arranged in the first connector 11. Further, a screw member waterproof packing 26 is arranged in the fitting portion 22A, surrounding the periphery of the screw body portion 31A and coming into contact with the screw head portion 31B.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 15, the frame member 41 is formed from a cylindrical metal plate having a roughly rectangular YZ cross section and extending in the X direction, and has a pair of inner wall surfaces 41A and 41B facing each other in the Y direction, with a spring portion 41C formed on one inner wall surface 41A and a protrusion 41D formed on the other inner wall surface 41B.

[0038] Spring portion 41C is formed to be elastically deformable in the Y direction by cutting and bending a metal plate that constitutes frame member 41. Protrusion 41D is also formed by bending a metal plate that constitutes frame member 41, and protrudes toward the inside of frame member 41 at a position in the Z direction that corresponds to spring portion 41C. In addition, an opening 41E is formed at the -Z direction end of the frame member 41, and is configured so that the first contact 13 and the pushing portion 16B of the slider 16 can be inserted into the inside of the frame member 41 from the -Z direction through the opening 41E.

[0039] As shown in Figure 16, the Y-direction width W2 of the frame member 41 is smaller than the Y-direction width W1 of the frame member accommodating portion 22C of the second insulator 22, and therefore the frame member 41 is configured to be able to move in the Y-direction within the frame member accommodating portion 22C within the range of (W1-W2).

[0040] Furthermore, the portion of second contact 23 that faces spring portion 41C protrudes in the Y direction toward spring portion 41C, and this protruding portion forms second contact portion P2. When no force acts on the spring portion 41C in the Y direction, i.e., when the spring portion 41C is in its natural state, the sum of the spacing S1 in the Y direction between the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C and the spacing S2 between the second contact 23 and the protrusion 41D is set to a value that is greater than the thickness D1 of the first contact 13 in the Y direction (Figure 6) and smaller than the sum of the thickness D1 of the first contact 13 and the thickness D2 of the push-in portion 16B of the slider 16 (Figure 9).

[0041] Furthermore, by moving the frame member 41 in the Y direction within the range of (W1-W2) within the frame member accommodating portion 22C, the distance S1 between the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C in the Y direction can be greater than the thickness D1 of the first contact 13. Therefore, the first contact 13 alone can be inserted between the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C in the frame member 41 through the opening 41E without rubbing against the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C.

[0042] However, when the spring portion 41C is in its natural state, the sum of the distance S1 in the Y direction between the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C and the distance S2 between the second contact 23 and the protrusion 41D is smaller than the sum of the thickness D1 of the first contact 13 in the Y direction and the thickness D2 of the push-in portion 16B of the slider 16. Therefore, when the first contact 13 is inserted between the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C and the push-in portion 16B of the slider 16 is inserted between the second contact 23 and the protrusion 41D simultaneously, the spring portion 41C cannot maintain its natural state and becomes elastically compressed in the Y direction.

[0043] Next, the operation of fitting first connector 11 and second connector 21 together will be described. First, the second connector 21 is moved relative to the first connector 11 in the -Z direction, and as shown in Figure 17, a part of the first connector 11 is accommodated in the mating portion 22A of the second connector 21, thereby positioning the second insulator 22 of the second connector 21 in a contact position with the first insulator 12 of the first connector 11.

[0044] As a result, the outer wall portion 12B of the first insulator 12 is inserted inside the outer wall portion 22D of the second insulator 22 and comes into contact with the mating portion waterproof gasket 25, and further, the second opposing surface G2 of the second insulator 22 comes into contact with the first opposing surface G1 of the first insulator 12. Furthermore, the screw member 31 is passed through the screw member through-hole 22E of the fitting portion 22A and the communication hole 12F of the insulator central portion 12E of the first insulator 12. At this time, the slider 16 arranged in the first connector 11 is positioned at the −Z direction end of its slidable range, and the tip of the male thread portion 31C of the screw member 31 is in contact with the +Z direction end of the female thread portion 16E formed on the slider main body portion 16A of the slider 16.

[0045] 18, the first contact portion P1 of the first contact 13 extending in the +Z direction along the XZ plane is inserted through the opening 41E between the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C in the corresponding frame member 41. As shown in FIG. 6, the slider 16 of the first connector 11 is located at the −Z direction end of its slidable range, and therefore the +Z direction end of the push-in portion 16B is located a predetermined distance L1 toward the −Z direction from the +Z direction end of the first contact 13.

[0046] Therefore, the pushing portion 16B of the slider 16 is located on the -Z direction side of the protrusion 41D of the frame member 41, and the first contact 13 can be located between the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C without rubbing against the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C. In other words, the first contact 13 and the second contact 23 face each other in the Y direction with a predetermined gap between them.

[0047] Next, when a tool such as a screwdriver or wrench is brought into contact with the screw head 31B of the screw member 31 and the screw member 31 is rotated, the male thread portion 31C of the screw member 31 is screwed into the female thread portion 16E formed in the slider main body portion 16A of the slider 16. As a result, as the screw member 31 rotates, the slider body portion 16A of the slider 16 moves in the +Z direction within the slider accommodating portion 12G.

[0048] Then, as shown in Figure 19, when the slider 16 moves to the +Z side end of the sliding range, the fastening force application surface F2 formed by the +Z side surface of the slider main body portion 16A comes into contact with the fastening force receiving surface F1 formed by the -Z side surface of the insulator central portion 12E of the first insulator 12, and the fastening force receiving surface F1 is pressed in the +Z direction by the fastening force application surface F2.

[0049] At this time, the screw head 31B of the screw member 31 is exposed on the +Z direction side of the fitting portion 22A, so that the insulator central portion 12E and the fitting portion 22A are sandwiched between the screw head 31B and the slider main body portion 16A. As a result, the first opposing surface G1 of the first insulator 12 is pressed against the second opposing surface G2 of the second insulator 22, and the first insulator 12 is fastened to the second insulator 22. This causes the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 to be fitted to each other.

[0050] 20, when the slider 16 moves to the end of the sliding range in the +Z direction, the pushing portion 16B of the slider 16 moves in the +Z direction and is inserted between the protrusion 41D in the frame member 41 and the second contact 23. When the spring portion 41C is in its natural state, the sum of the distance in the Y direction between the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C and the distance between the second contact 23 and the protrusion 41D is smaller than the sum of the thickness of the first contact 13 and the thickness of the pushing portion 16B of the slider 16 in the Y direction.

[0051] Therefore, as the push-in portion 16B is inserted between the protrusion 41D and the second contact 23, the frame member 41 moves in the Y direction within the frame member accommodating portion 22C, and the spring portion 41C is elastically compressed in the Y direction. As a result, the elastic force of spring portion 41C presses first contact portion P1 of first contact 13 and second contact portion P2 of second contact 23 against each other in the Y direction, bringing them into contact and electrically connected. Similarly, a pair of second contacts 23 arranged on both sides of the screw member 31 in the Y direction are electrically connected to the corresponding first contacts 13, respectively.

[0052] Note that both Figures 18 and 20 show the second contact 23 arranged on the +Y direction side of a pair of second contacts 23 arranged on both sides of the screw member 31 in the Y direction, and the frame member 41, first contact 13, and push-in portion 16B corresponding to this second contact 23. However, the second contact 23 arranged on the -Y direction side of the screw member 31 also has the same positional relationship with the corresponding frame member 41, first contact 13, and push-in portion 16B, except that it is symmetrical with respect to the Y direction.

[0053] As described above, when the second insulator 22 is positioned in a contact position relative to the first insulator 12, the first contact 13 can be positioned between the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C without rubbing against the second contact 23 and the spring portion 41C. In this state, by rotating the screw member 31, the first insulator 12 and the second insulator 22 can be fastened together and the first contact portion P1 of the first contact 13 and the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 can be electrically connected to each other. Therefore, it is possible to easily mate the first connector 11 and the second connector 21, while improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the first contacts 13 and the second contacts 23.

[0054] When disengaging the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 from a state in which the first contact 13 and the second contact 23 are electrically connected to each other after the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 are engaged, the screw member 31 is rotated in the opposite direction to that during the engagement operation, causing the slider 16 to move in the -Z direction, and the male screw portion 31C of the screw member 31 is released from the female screw portion 16E of the slider 16. After that, the second connector 21 is pulled up in the +Z direction relative to the first connector 11, and is removed from the first connector 11.

[0055] When the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 are mated, the mating portion waterproof gasket 25 and the screw member waterproof gasket 26 act to prevent water, dust, etc. from entering the inside of the first insulator 12 and the second insulator 22 from the outside.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the frame member 41 is arranged to be movable in the Y direction within the frame member accommodating portion 22C of the second insulator 22, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the frame member 41 is fixedly arranged within the second insulator 22, the first contact portion P1 of the first contact 13 and the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 are arranged within the frame member 41 to be elastically displaceable, and the pushing portion 16B of the slider 16 is inserted between the second contact 23 and the protrusion 41D of the frame member 41, so that the first contact portion P1 of the first contact 13 and the second contact portion P2 of the second contact 23 are pressed against each other by the spring portion 41C to establish an electrical connection.

[0057] In the above embodiment, a pair of first contacts 13 of the first connector 11 is electrically connected to a pair of second contacts 23 of the second connector 21, but this is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if the configuration has one or more first contacts 13 and one or more second contacts 23 electrically connected to each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 first connector, 2 second connector, 3 first housing, 4 first contact, 5 second housing, 6 fastening bolt, 7 second contact, 11 first connector, 12 first insulator, 12A flat plate portion, 12B outer wall portion, 12C protruding portion, 12D second contact accommodating portion, 12E insulator center portion, 12F connection hole, 12G slider accommodating portion, 13 first contact, 14 metal shell, 15 waterproof packing for mounting equipment, 16 slider, 16A slider main body portion, 16B push-in portion, 16C metal member, 16D through hole, 16E female thread portion, 21 second connector, 22 second insulator, 22A mating portion, 22B electric wire connection portion, 22C frame member accommodating portion, 22D outer wall portion, 22E screw member through hole, 23 second contact, 24 metal shell, 25 Waterproof packing for fitting portion, 26 Waterproof packing for screw member, 31 Screw member, 31A Screw body, 31B Screw head, 31C Male thread portion, 41 Frame member, 41A, 41B Inner wall surface, 41C Spring portion, 41D Protrusion, 41E Opening, C Electric wire, F1 Fastening force receiving surface, F2 Fastening force applying surface, G1 First opposing surface, G2 Second opposing surface, D1, D2 Thickness, L1 Distance, P1 First contact portion, P2 Second contact portion, W1, W2 Width, S1, S2 Spacing.

Claims

1. A connector assembly in which a second connector is mated with a first connector along a mating direction, the first connector includes a first insulator, a first contact held by the first insulator, and a slider held by the first insulator to be slidable along the mating direction and having a female thread portion; the second connector includes a second insulator, a second contact held by the second insulator, and a screw member rotatably held by the second insulator while passing through the second insulator in the fitting direction and having a male screw portion that can be screwed into the female screw portion, the slider has a slider body portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction and having the female screw portion formed therein, and a push-in portion extending from the slider body portion along the mating direction, When the second insulator is positioned at a contact position where it contacts the first insulator in the fitting direction, the second contact faces the first contact in the orthogonal direction with a predetermined gap therebetween, When the screw member is rotated with the second insulator positioned at the contact position relative to the first insulator, the male threaded portion screws into the female threaded portion, the slider slides in the mating direction, the slider main body presses the first insulator against the second insulator, the first connector and the second connector are mated with each other, and the pushing portion presses the first contact and the second contact against each other in the perpendicular direction, electrically connecting them.

2. the first insulator has a first opposing surface extending along the orthogonal direction and facing a direction of the second insulator; the second insulator has a second opposing surface extending along the orthogonal direction and opposing the first opposing surface, 2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein in said contact position, said first and second opposing surfaces contact each other.

3. the first insulator has a recessed slider accommodating portion that accommodates the slider body portion slidably along the fitting direction, and a fastening force receiving surface that extends along the perpendicular direction and faces the slider accommodating portion and opposes the slider body portion, the slider body has a fastening force applying surface extending along the orthogonal direction and facing the fastening force receiving surface, 3. A connector assembly as described in claim 2, wherein the fastening force applying surface of the slider main body portion, which slides in the mating direction as the screw member rotates, contacts the fastening force receiving surface of the first insulator and presses the fastening force receiving surface in the mating direction, thereby pressing the first opposing surface against the second opposing surface and fastening the first insulator to the second insulator along the mating direction.

4. the second insulator has a screw member through-hole that penetrates the second insulator along the fitting direction, the first insulator has a communication hole that penetrates the first insulator along the fitting direction and communicates with the inside of the slider accommodating portion, 4. The connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the male thread portion of the screw member is threaded into the female thread portion of the slider in a state where the screw member is passed through the screw member through-hole and the communication hole.

5. The screw member includes a screw body portion extending along the fitting direction and having the male screw portion formed at least at a tip end thereof, and a screw head portion connected to a base end of the screw body portion and having a diameter larger than a diameter of the screw body portion, 5. A connector assembly according to claim 4, wherein the screw head is exposed from the second insulator in a direction opposite to the first insulator, and the screw body is passed through the screw member through-hole and the communication hole.

6. the second connector has a frame member held by the second insulator, the frame member has a pair of inner wall surfaces that extend in the fitting direction and face each other in the perpendicular direction, a spring portion that is disposed on one of the pair of inner wall surfaces and is elastically deformable in the perpendicular direction, and a protrusion that is disposed on the other of the pair of inner wall surfaces and protrudes in the perpendicular direction, the second contact has a second contact portion disposed between the spring portion and the protrusion, the first contact has a first contact portion that is located between the spring portion and the protrusion and faces the second contact portion in the orthogonal direction when the second insulator is located at the contact position relative to the first insulator, A connector assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 5. When the pushing portion of the slider, which slides in the mating direction as the screw member rotates, is positioned between the spring portion and the protrusion, the spring portion is elastically compressed, and the elastic force of the spring portion presses the first contact portion and the second contact portion against each other in the perpendicular direction, causing them to come into contact.

7. the first contact is located between the spring portion and the second contact when the second insulator is located at the contact position relative to the first insulator; 7. The connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein the pushing portion is inserted between the second contact and the projection as the screw member is rotated.

8. A connector assembly as described in claim 7, wherein when no force in the perpendicular direction is acting on the spring portion, the sum of the spacing S1 between the second contact portion and the spring portion in the perpendicular direction and the spacing S2 between the second contact and the protrusion is smaller than the sum of the thickness D1 of the first contact in the perpendicular direction and the thickness D2 of the push-in portion.

9. the second insulator has a concave frame member accommodating portion, the frame member is accommodated in the frame member accommodating portion so as to be movable in the perpendicular direction, 7. The connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein when the pushing portion of the slider, which slides in the mating direction as the screw member is rotated, is positioned between the spring portion and the protrusion, the pushing portion causes the frame member to move in the perpendicular direction within the frame member accommodating portion while elastically compressing the spring portion.

10. the second connector has a pair of the second contacts arranged on both sides of the screw member in the orthogonal direction with the screw member interposed therebetween, the first connector has a pair of the first contacts corresponding to the pair of the second contacts, 6. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the slider has a pair of the pushing portions corresponding to the pair of first contacts and the pair of second contacts.

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