Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that can more reliably prevent a cut-off agent applied to a support plate part of a connection member from flowing into and adhering to tab parts.SOLUTION: A connector 2 comprises a connection member 8 that is formed from a conductive metal material having a plurality of tab parts 31, and a resin-made housing 7 that is an insert-molded part of the connection member 8. The connection member 8 has a stationary plate part 21 that is fixed to a vehicle, a support plate part 22 that is erected from the stationary plate part 21, and a base part 32 that is provided continuously from the support plate part 22 and has the plurality of tab parts 31 formed projecting therefrom. The support plate part 22 is formed with a cut-off agent application part 27 to which a cut-off agent 51 is applied, and the cut-off agent application part 27 is formed with a hydrophilic part 34.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] As an earth joint connector for connecting multiple electric wires together to an earth part of a vehicle, there is one in which a connecting member made of a conductive metal material having multiple tab portions is integrally provided in a resin housing (see Patent Document 1). This connecting member is configured with a fixing plate portion fixed to the vehicle, a support plate portion standing up from the fixing plate portion, and a base portion connected to the support plate portion and having multiple tab portions protruding therefrom. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-110713 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In earth joint connectors, after insert molding, minute gaps can occur between the connecting member (metal) and the housing (resin) due to the difference in volumetric shrinkage rate between the connecting member and the housing. For this reason, it is common to apply a waterproof material to the entire periphery of the support plate of the connecting member and let it harden before insert molding the connecting member. However, if the waterproof material applied to the support plate of the connecting member drips and flows into and adheres to the tab, the resistance value of the tab will increase.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can more reliably prevent the water-stopping material applied to the support plate of the connecting member from flowing onto and adhering to the tab portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A connector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a connecting member formed from a conductive metal material having a plurality of tab portions, and a resin housing into which a portion of the connecting member is insert-molded, wherein the connecting member has a fixed plate portion that is fixed to a vehicle, a support plate portion that rises from the fixed plate portion, and a base portion that is connected to the support plate portion and has a plurality of the tab portions protruding therefrom, and the support plate portion has a water-stop material application portion formed thereon to which a water-stop material is applied, and the water-stop material application portion has a hydrophilic portion formed therein. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can more reliably prevent the water-stopping material applied to the support plate portion of the connecting member from flowing onto and adhering to the tab portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an earth joint connector. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a male connector. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of a male connector. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ground terminal member. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view of the ground terminal member. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a blank material before the ground terminal member is formed. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a blank material before the ground terminal member is formed. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a waterproof material is applied to a waterproof material application portion where no hydrophilic portion is provided. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating that when the waterproof material is applied as shown in FIG. 10, the waterproof material flows out onto the tab portion. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a waterproof material is applied to a waterproof material application portion provided with a hydrophilic portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] 1, the earth joint connector 1 is configured by combining a connector (male connector 2) and a mating connector (female connector 3). The mating connector (female connector 3) is fitted into the connector (male connector 2) according to this embodiment.

[0011] The X direction shown in Fig. 1 is the direction along the length of the electric wire 6 connected to the earth joint connector 1, and corresponds to the joining direction (front-rear direction) of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 in the earth joint connector 1. The Y direction shown in Fig. 1 corresponds to the left-right direction (width direction) of the earth joint connector 1, and is perpendicular to the X direction. The Z direction shown in Fig. 1 corresponds to the height direction (up-down direction) of the earth joint connector 1, and is perpendicular to the X and Y directions.

[0012] First, the mating connector (female connector 3) will be described.

[0013] The female connector 3 is equipped with a mating housing (female housing 4) made of resin. The female housing 4 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 61, and the tip side of the female housing 4 forms a mating portion 62. These plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 61 are formed along the joining direction (X direction) with the male connector 2. Furthermore, these plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 61 are arranged in the Y direction of the female housing 4, and the arrangement is in two upper and lower rows.

[0014] The female terminal 5 is accommodated (inserted) into the terminal accommodating chamber 61 from the rear end side, which is the rear side in the joining direction with the male connector 2. The female terminal 5 is formed from a conductive metal material such as copper or a copper alloy. An electric wire 6, which has a conductor covered with an outer sheath, is crimped and electrically connected to the female terminal 5. When the female terminal 5 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 61 from the rear end side of the female housing 4, the electrical connection portion of the female terminal 5 is engaged with a lance portion (not shown) in the terminal accommodating chamber 61. As a result, the female terminal 5 is held accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 61.

[0015] Next, the connector (male connector 2) will be described.

[0016] The male connector 2 includes a resin housing (male housing 7). The male housing 7 is formed with a mating recess 11 that is open at the tip end, which is the front side in the joining direction with the female connector 3. The mating portion 62 of the female housing 4 is fitted into the mating recess 11 of the male housing 7, thereby joining the connector (male connector 2) to the mating connector (female connector 3).

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the male connector 2 has a housing (male housing 7) and a connecting member (ground terminal member 8).

[0018] The male housing 7 has a hood portion 10, the inside of which is a mating recess 11. The hood portion 10 has a rear wall portion (bottom wall portion 12) and a peripheral wall portion 13 extending from the periphery of the bottom wall portion 12 toward the tip side. A ring-shaped packing (not shown) is fitted inside the hood portion 10 of the male housing 7. When the mating portion 62 of the female housing 4 is fitted into the mating recess 11 of the male housing 7, this packing seals off water between the mating recess 11 and the mating portion 62.

[0019] 6 and 7, the ground terminal member 8 is configured to include a bus bar 20 and a terminal fitting 30. The bus bar 20 and the terminal fitting 30 are made of a conductive metal material such as copper or a copper alloy, and are integrally formed by press working.

[0020] The bus bar 20 has a flat fixing plate portion (body fixing portion 21) and a support plate portion (neck portion 22) that rises from the body fixing portion 21. A bolt insertion hole 23 is formed in the body fixing portion 21. The body fixing portion 21 is fastened to the vehicle body by fastening a bolt (not shown) inserted into the bolt insertion hole 23 to the body (car body), thereby grounding the bus bar 20. An earth terminal (not shown) of an earth wire is also fastened to the body fixing portion 21 by the bolt. A rotation prevention piece 24 is formed in a part of the body fixing portion 21. The rotation prevention piece 24 is a bent portion that engages with a stepped portion or hole portion around the contact surface to which the body fixing portion 21 is bolted. The rotation prevention piece 24 engages with the stepped portion or hole portion around the contact surface, thereby restricting rotation of the body fixing portion 21 with respect to the contact surface.

[0021] A protrusion 21a for increasing the rigidity of busbar 20 is formed from body fixing portion 21 to neck portion 22. In addition, a protrusion 24a for increasing the rigidity of anti-rotation piece 24 is formed on anti-rotation piece 24.

[0022] At the end of the body fixing portion 21 on the neck portion 22 side (a portion near the neck portion 22), ribs (reinforcing ribs 25) are formed on both sides in the Y direction, rising vertically from the body fixing portion 21. At least the upper portions of this pair of reinforcing ribs 25, 25 are covered with a resin portion (coating portion 16) protruding from the male housing 7 (see FIGS. 3 to 5 ). When vibrations are applied to the earth joint connector 1 while it is fixed to the vehicle body, the vibrations transmitted through the female connector 3 may repeatedly apply a large load to the base portion 22a of the neck portion 22 located between the earth terminal member 8 and the body fixing portion 21. By configuring the earth terminal member 8 as described above, the load applied to the earth terminal member 8 through the female connector 3 can be dispersed, preventing the load from being concentrated on the base portion 22a of the neck portion 22 of the earth terminal member 8.

[0023] Furthermore, in the earth joint connector 1, the current flowing from the female connector 3 passes through the multiple tab portions 31 of the earth terminal member 8, joins at the neck portion 22, and flows from the body fixing portion 21 to the vehicle body. At this time, the current may concentrate at the neck portion 22, which may increase the amount of heat generated at the neck portion 22. By providing the earth terminal member 8 with a structure having the rib portion (reinforcing rib 25) as described above, the heat dissipation effect of the rib portion (reinforcing rib 25) can be obtained, reducing the amount of heat generated at the neck portion 22 and suppressing temperature rise.

[0024] If the reinforcing ribs 25 were to be arranged on both sides of the neck portion 22 in the Y direction (at the locations indicated by reference numeral 41 in FIG. 9), the tab portions 31 are located on the outer sides in the Y direction of the blank material 40 (the sheet material before being bent into the ground terminal member 8), making it impossible to ensure the height of the reinforcing ribs 25. In contrast, in this embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 25 are arranged on both sides of the body fixing portion 21 in the Y direction, so that the tab portions 31 are not located on the outer sides in the Y direction of the blank material 40, and the height of the reinforcing ribs 25 can be ensured (see FIG. 9). Furthermore, the arrangement of the reinforcing ribs 25 is in an area that would conventionally be unused and discarded, thereby improving the yield of materials.

[0025] The terminal fitting 30 has a base portion 32 and a plurality of tab portions 31. The base portion 32 is formed in a flat plate shape, and the tab portions 31 protrude in the same direction from the edge of the base portion 32. In the ground terminal member 8, the plurality of tab portions 31 protruding in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the base portion 32 are arranged in two rows, one above the other.

[0026] 2 to 5, the ground terminal member 8 is insert-molded into the male housing 7. As a result, the neck portion 22 of the bus bar 20 and the base portion 32 of the terminal fitting 30 of the ground terminal member 8 are integrated in a state where they are embedded in the bottom wall portion 12 that forms the fitting recess 11 of the male housing 7. The tab portion 31 of the ground terminal member 8 protrudes from the bottom wall portion 12 into the fitting recess 11.

[0027] The ground terminal member 8 is formed by punching a metal plate to produce a blank 40 (see FIGS. 8 and 9 ), and then bending the blank 40. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the blank 40 has a portion that forms the busbar 20 and is formed on one end of the blank 40, and a portion that forms the terminal fitting 30 and is formed on the other end of the blank 40. The blank 40 also has a portion that forms the neck 22 and is formed between the busbar 20 and the terminal fitting 30.

[0028] The base portion 32 of the terminal fitting 30 has a first base portion 42 and a pair of second base portions 43, 43 connected to both sides of the first base portion 42 in the Y direction. A tab portion 31 is formed on each of the pair of second base portions 43, and the base portion of the second base portion 43 is folded back 180 degrees to overlap the first base portion 42, with the base portions of the multiple tab portions 31 folded back approximately 90 degrees. As a result, a folded portion 28 folded back 180 degrees is formed between the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43, and bent portions 29 folded back approximately 90 degrees are formed at the base portions of the multiple tab portions 31 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). A rivet fastening portion 33 is formed by fastening a portion of the overlapping portion of the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43 by riveting (see FIG. 6).

[0029] In this embodiment, the rivet fixing portion 33 and the center portion of the base portion 32 in the Y direction are not covered by resin (part of the male housing 7) but are exposed by exposed portions (lightening portions 14, 15) (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Because the rivet fixing portion 33 is exposed by the lightening portion 14 after insert molding, it is possible to discover any riveting that has been omitted by visual inspection after insert molding. Furthermore, compared to when the rivet fixing portion 33 is covered with resin, the amount of resin used is reduced, and the weight of the male connector 2 can also be reduced.

[0030] Incidentally, the overall volume of the male housing 7 decreases after insert molding due to the shrinkage of the resin. Furthermore, the ground terminal member 8, which is heated and thermally expanded during insert molding, also decreases in volume after insert molding. However, since the volume reduction rate of the male housing 7 is greater than that of the ground terminal member 8, the difference in these volume reduction rates can cause a small gap to form between the ground terminal member 8 and the male housing 7 in the male connector 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the entire periphery of the water-stopping material application portion 27 formed on the neck portion 22 of the ground terminal member 8 and solidified (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ), and then the water-stopping material is insert-molded into the ground terminal member 8.

[0031] Therefore, a water-stopping material 51 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) is applied to the ground terminal member 8 before the insert molding. The water-stopping material 51 is liquid when applied to the ground terminal member 8 and has the property of solidifying when dried.

[0032] An example of a process for applying the waterproofing material 51 to the entire periphery of the waterproofing material application portion 27 formed on the neck portion 22 of the ground terminal member 8 will be described below.

[0033] First, the earth terminal member 8 is placed with the tip of the tab portion 31 facing upward, and the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the neck portion 22 of the bus bar 20 using a nozzle such as a dispenser.

[0034] At this time, a bent portion 29 (the lower bent portion 29 in FIG. 7 ) is formed at the base of the tab portion 31 as a rear-side drip prevention portion. Therefore, this rear bent portion 29 can prevent the water-stopping material 51 from flowing into the tab portion 31. In other words, even if the water-stopping material 51 drips when it is applied to the neck portion 22 of the earth terminal member 8, the water-stopping material 51 stops in the portion between the rear bent portion 29 and the outer surface of the neck portion 22, and therefore, the water-stopping material 51 can be prevented from flowing into the tab portion 31.

[0035] Next, the earth terminal member 8 is placed with the tip of the tab portion 31 facing downward, and the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the opposite surface of the neck portion 22 of the bus bar 20 using a nozzle.

[0036] At this time, a bent portion 29 (the upper bent portion 29 in FIG. 7 ) is formed at the base of the tab portion 31 as a front-side drip prevention portion. Therefore, this front bent portion 29 can prevent the water-stopping material 51 from flowing into the tab portion 31. In other words, even if the water-stopping material 51 drips when the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the neck portion 22 of the earth terminal member 8, the water-stopping material 51 stops in the portion between the front bent portion 29 and the end face of the first base portion 42, and therefore, can be prevented from flowing into the tab portion 31.

[0037] As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the water-stopping material 51 from flowing into the base portion 32 on both sides of the support plate portion (neck portion 22) in the plate thickness direction (X direction). This makes it possible to prevent the water-stopping material 51 from flowing into the tab portion 31 even if the earth terminal member 8 is tilted or turned upside down while the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the water-stopping material application portion 27.

[0038] In this embodiment, rectangular cutouts 27a are formed on both sides of the width direction (Y direction) of the water-stopping material application section 27 so as to be recessed inward in the width direction (Y direction), thereby enabling the water-stopping material 51 to be more reliably attached to the corners of the water-stopping material application section 27. The shape of these cutouts 27a can also be arc-shaped or triangular.

[0039] However, simply forming the water-stopping material application portion 27 on the neck portion 22 of the earth terminal member 8 may result in uneven application of the water-stopping material 51, as shown in FIG. 10, when the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the water-stopping material application portion 27, resulting in the presence of portions with different thicknesses in the vertical direction. If the water-stopping material 51 applied to the water-stopping material application portion 27 has portions with different thicknesses in the vertical direction, the weight of the thicker portions may cause the water-stopping material 51 to drip downward when the earth terminal member 8 is placed with the tab portion 31 positioned downward (see FIG. 11). In this case, depending on the size of the uneven application 511 that occurs when the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the water-stopping material application portion 27, a large amount of the water-stopping material 51 may drip downward and not be able to be retained at the bent portion 29, flowing onto and adhering to the tab portion 31.

[0040] Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent uneven application of the water-stopping material 51 when it is applied to the water-stopping material application portion 27, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the water-stopping material 51 from flowing into and adhering to the tab portion 31.

[0041] Specifically, the hydrophilic portion 34 is formed in the water-stopping material application portion 27, so that a larger amount of the water-stopping material 51 can be retained in the water-stopping material application portion 27.

[0042] In this embodiment, the hydrophilic portion 34 is formed by forming a plurality of minute irregularities 35 on the water-stopping material application portion 27. The minute irregularities 35 can be formed, for example, by scraping the surface of the water-stopping material application portion 27 with a file or the like. Furthermore, the minute irregularities 35 can be formed, for example, on the blank 40 after the blank 40 is produced by punching out a metal plate.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the hydrophilic portion 34 is formed from one end 22b to the other end 22c in the width direction (Y direction) of the support plate (neck portion 22). Also, the hydrophilic portion 34 is formed on both sides of the support plate (neck portion 22) in the plate thickness direction (X direction).

[0044] This improves the hydrophilicity of the water-stopping material application portion 27, and makes it possible to prevent uneven application of the water-stopping material 51 when the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the water-stopping material application portion 27.

[0045] By improving the uneven application in this way, the thickness of the waterproofing material 51 applied to the waterproofing material application portion 27 can be made more uniform, as shown in Fig. 12, and dripping can be made less likely to occur. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the waterproofing material 51 from flowing into and adhering to the tab portion 31.

[0046] [Actions and Effects] The characteristic configuration of the connector shown in the above embodiment and the effects obtained thereby will be described below.

[0047] The connector (male connector 2) shown in the above embodiment comprises a connecting member (earth terminal member 8) formed from a conductive metal material having a plurality of tab portions 31, and a resin housing (male housing 7) into which a portion of the connecting member (earth terminal member 8) is insert-molded.

[0048] The connecting member (ground terminal member 8) also has a fixed plate portion (body fixing portion 21) that is fixed to the vehicle, and a support plate portion (neck portion 22) that stands up from the fixed plate portion (body fixing portion 21). The connecting member (ground terminal member 8) also has a base portion 32 that is connected to the support plate portion (neck portion 22) and has a plurality of tab portions 31 that protrude from it.

[0049] Furthermore, the support plate portion (neck portion 22) is formed with a waterproof material application portion 27 to which the waterproof material 51 is applied.

[0050] The water-stopping material application portion 27 has a hydrophilic portion 34 formed therein.

[0051] In this way, when the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the neck portion 22, a larger amount of the water-stopping material 51 can be retained in the water-stopping material application portion 27, which more reliably prevents uneven application of the water-stopping material 51 when the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the water-stopping material application portion 27. As a result, the water-stopping material 51 can be applied to the water-stopping material application portion 27 so as to have a more uniform thickness, which prevents the water-stopping material 51 from dripping onto the base portion 32 due to an uneven thickness of the water-stopping material 51 applied to the water-stopping material application portion 27. This more reliably prevents the water-stopping material 51 from flowing into and adhering to the tab portion 31.

[0052] In this way, according to this embodiment, a connector (male connector 2) can be provided that can more reliably prevent the water-stopping material 51 applied to the support plate portion (neck portion 22) of the connecting member (earth terminal member 8) from flowing into and adhering to the tab portion 31.

[0053] In addition, in the connector (male connector 2), a plurality of minute irregularities 35 may be formed in the waterproof material application portion 27 to form the hydrophilic portion 34.

[0054] For example, if the hydrophilic portion 34 is formed in the waterstop material application portion 27 by applying a hydrophilic coating to the waterstop material application portion 27, it becomes difficult to adjust the thickness of the hydrophilic coating material. However, if the hydrophilic portion 34 is formed in the waterstop material application portion 27 by forming a plurality of minute irregularities 35 in the waterstop material application portion 27, the thickness of the hydrophilic portion 34 formed in the waterstop material application portion 27 can be made uniform more easily and more accurately. Therefore, it becomes possible to more easily provide a connector (male connector 2) that can more reliably prevent the waterstop material 51 applied to the support plate portion (neck portion 22) of the connecting member (ground terminal member 8) from flowing into and adhering to the tab portion 31.

[0055] [others] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

[0056] For example, it is possible to avoid forming a bent portion 29 at the base of the tab portion 31, or to have a base portion 32 that does not have a first base portion 42 and a second base portion 43 folded back by a folding portion 28.

[0057] It is also possible to form a hydrophilic portion 34 in the water-stopping material application portion 27 by applying a hydrophilic coating to the water-stopping material application portion 27 .

[0058] In addition, the housing, connecting members, and other detailed specifications (shape, size, layout, etc.) can be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 2 male connectors (connectors) 7 Male housing (housing) 8 Earth terminal material (connection material) 21 Body fixing part (fixing plate part) 22 Neck (support plate) 27 Water-stopping material application area 31 Tab section 32 Base 34 Hydrophilic part 35 Unevenness 51 Water-stopping material

Claims

1. a connecting member made of a conductive metal material and having a plurality of tab portions; a resin housing into which a part of the connecting member is insert-molded; Equipped with The connecting member is a fixed plate portion fixed to the vehicle; a support plate portion standing upright from the fixed plate portion; a base portion connected to the support plate portion and having a plurality of the tab portions projecting therefrom; and The support plate portion is formed with a water-stopping material application portion to which a water-stopping material is applied, A hydrophilic portion is formed in the water-stopping material application portion. connector.

2. The hydrophilic portion is formed by forming a plurality of minute irregularities on the water-stopping material application portion. The connector according to claim 1 .

Images