Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of improving positional accuracy of a terminal tip part by suppressing inclination and rattling of a terminal housed in a terminal housing part.SOLUTION: The connector comprises a snap ring 50 mounted on an annular groove 14 of a terminal 10, an inner housing 30 for holding a housing holding part 13 of the terminal 10, a rear case 40 assembled to a back surface side of the inner housing 30, a snap ring receiving surface 40 b formed on an inner wall of the rear case 40 for locking a rear end surface 50b of the snap ring 50 when the terminal 10 is inserted from the back surface side into a terminal receiving part 41 of the rear case 40, and a terminal fixing surface 35 formed on the inner housing 30 for regulating a projecting position of a terminal connecting part 11 of the terminal 10 with respect to a connector fitting chamber 31 by abutting on a terminal abutting surface 16 of the housing holding part 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, connectors (charging inlets) installed in vehicles such as electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles have been used to supply (charge) power from outside the vehicle to batteries mounted on the vehicles (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The connector 501 of Patent Document 1 above includes a connector housing 530 fixed to a housing to be attached to a vehicle body, and a rear case 540 attached to the rear side of the connector housing 530.

[0004] A terminal protection wall 535 that protrudes into the connector fitting chamber 531 is provided on the bottom wall 533 of the connector housing 530. A terminal retention wall 541 that is arranged coaxially with the terminal protection wall 535 is provided on the rear case 540. The terminal protection wall 535 and the terminal retention wall 541 form a terminal accommodating portion 545 that accommodates the terminal 510.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 14, a terminal 510 connected to an electric wire (not shown) is formed with an annular C-ring insertion groove 514 in which a C-ring (retaining ring) 550 is fitted, and an annular O-ring insertion groove 515 in which an O-ring 560 is fitted.

[0006] When the terminal 510 is inserted through the opening 541a of the terminal holding wall 541 of the rear case 540, the C-ring 550 attached to the terminal 510 contracts in diameter as it passes through the tapered chamber 541b, allowing the insertion. Then, when the terminal 510 is inserted to the insertion completion position of the terminal accommodating portion 545, the C-ring 550 expands in diameter and enters the recess 542 of the terminal holding wall 541. This positions and fixes the terminal 510 in the terminal accommodating portion 545. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6923500 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, in the above-described connector 501, clearance 570 is necessary between the groove width of C-ring insertion groove 514 formed on the outer peripheral surface of terminal 510 and the ring width of C-ring 550 due to component tolerances, assembly, etc., and it is not possible to completely fix C-ring 550 to terminal 510. As a result, the tip of terminal 510 accommodated in terminal accommodating portion 545 is not stable, and there is a possibility that the positional accuracy of the terminal tip will decrease. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a connector that can improve the positional accuracy of the terminal tip by suppressing the tilt and rattle of the terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector according to the present invention has the following features. a terminal having a terminal connection portion electrically connected to a mating terminal and a housing holding portion; a retaining ring fitted in an annular groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of the housing holding portion; a first housing having a connector fitting chamber into which a mating connector is fitted, the first housing holding the housing holding portion in a state in which the terminal connecting portion projects into the connector fitting chamber; a second housing attached to a rear surface side of the first housing opposite to the side where the mating connector is mated; a retaining ring receiving surface formed on an inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion for engaging a rear end surface of the retaining ring to prevent it from coming out when the terminal is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion of the second housing from the rear side; a terminal fixing surface formed on the first housing for contacting a terminal contact surface of the housing holding portion to regulate a protruding position of the terminal connecting portion relative to the connector fitting chamber; a spring portion integrally formed with a main body portion of the retaining ring and stored in a state of tension along a groove width direction of the annular groove; A connector with [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the connector of the present invention, tilting and rattle of the terminals accommodated in the terminal accommodating portions can be suppressed, thereby improving the positional accuracy of the terminal tips.

[0011] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first housing shown in FIG. 2 as seen from the rear. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the retaining ring according to the first embodiment as viewed from the front. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the retaining ring according to the first embodiment as viewed from behind. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the retaining ring shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a terminal. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the retaining ring according to the second embodiment as viewed from behind. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the retaining ring shown in FIG. 10 is attached to a terminal. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a conventional connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The connector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a charging inlet that is installed in a vehicle such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle and is connected to an electric wire extending from a battery mounted on the vehicle. By mating the connector 1 with a mating connector (a so-called charging gun), power is supplied to the battery from outside the vehicle, and the battery is charged.

[0014] For the sake of convenience, the following definitions are given for the "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" as shown in Figure 1. These "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are mutually perpendicular. The front-rear direction coincides with the mating direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector (not shown), and the front side of the mating direction (the side approaching the mating connector) as seen from the connector 1 is called the "front side," and the releasing side of the mating direction (the side moving away from the mating connector) as seen from the connector 1 is called the "rear side."

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the connector 1 of this first embodiment comprises a pair of terminals 10, an inner housing (first housing) 30 and a rear case (second housing) 40 that constitute a connector housing 60 that accommodates the pair of terminals 10, and a metal retaining ring 50 that is attached to annular grooves 14 formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of each terminal 10.

[0016] The pair of terminals 10 are respectively connected to one end of a pair of electric wires 20. The other end of the pair of electric wires 20 is connected to a battery (not shown). The electric wires 20 are composed of a conductor core wire 21 and an insulating resin coating 23 that covers the conductor core wire 21. Each of the components that make up the connector 1 will be described below in order.

[0017] First, the connector housing 60 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector housing 60 includes an inner housing 30 made of resin and a rear case 40 made of resin.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the inner housing 30 of this embodiment has a bottom wall portion 33, a fitting tube portion 32 protruding rearward from the bottom wall portion 33, a hood portion 37 erected forward from the bottom wall portion 33, and a rectangular flange portion 39 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion 37.

[0019] A pair of connector fitting chambers 31 are formed surrounded by the bottom wall portion 33 and the hood portion 37. The connector fitting chambers 31 are open to the front side of the inner housing 30. A mating connector is fitted into the connector fitting chambers 31.

[0020] The bottom wall portion 33 is provided with a terminal holding hole 34 through which the terminal 10 is inserted. The terminal holding hole 34 holds the housing holding portion 13 of the terminal 10 in a state in which the terminal connection portion 11 of the terminal 10, which will be described later, protrudes into the connector fitting chamber 31.

[0021] The terminal holding hole 34 is a stepped hole having a through hole 34a through which the terminal connecting portion 11 of the terminal 10 passes, and a terminal support hole 34b having a larger diameter than the through hole 34a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, a thermistor accommodating portion 34c for accommodating a thermistor 80 (described later) is formed adjacent to the terminal support hole 34b on the inner surface of the fitting cylindrical portion 32, which is fitted into the fitting recess 44 of the rear case 40.

[0022] A terminal fixing surface 35 is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the terminal support hole 34b and the inner peripheral surface of the thermistor accommodating portion 34c. The terminal fixing surface 35 is an annular surface perpendicular to the fitting direction and faces the terminal abutment surface 16 of the housing holding portion 13 of the terminal 10. The terminal fixing surface 35 abuts against the terminal 10 and can regulate the protruding position of the terminal connecting portion 11 relative to the connector fitting chamber 31.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the rear case 40 of this embodiment is attached to the rear side of the inner housing 30, which is opposite to the side where the mating connector is mated. The rear case 40 has a rectangular flange portion 41 that is assembled and fixed to the flange portion 39 of the inner housing 30, a tubular portion 43 that stands upright behind the flange portion 41 to define a pair of terminal accommodating portions 47, and a mating recess 44 that is externally fitted onto the mating tubular portion 32 of the inner housing 30.

[0024] The flange portion 39 is fastened to the rear surface of the flange portion 39 by assembly screws 90 inserted through the screw insertion holes 45 . When the rear case 40 is assembled to the inner housing 30, the pair of terminal accommodating portions 47 are respectively arranged coaxially with the pair of connector fitting chambers 31 and communicate with each other.

[0025] Each terminal accommodating portion 47 has an opening 40a on the rear side of the rear case 40. Each terminal accommodating portion 47 extends from the front side to the rear side of the rear case 40, and has an accommodating chamber 47a sized to accommodate the terminal 10 with almost no gap, a tapered chamber 47b whose diameter gradually increases from the accommodating chamber 47a, and a large-diameter chamber 47c sized to allow the terminal 10 to be inserted with a gap. The rear side of the large-diameter chamber 47c forms the opening 40a.

[0026] 3, a recess 48 is formed in the inner wall at the front end of the accommodation chamber 47a. The recess 48 has an inner circumferential surface 48a with an inner diameter larger than that of the accommodation chamber 47a, and a retaining ring receiving surface 48b is formed between the recess 48 and the inner circumferential surface c of the accommodation chamber 47a. The retaining ring receiving surface 48b is an annular surface that faces the bottom wall portion 33 of the inner housing 30 and is perpendicular to the fitting direction, and can engage a retaining ring 50 attached to the outer circumferential surface of the terminal 10 to prevent the terminal 10 from slipping out from the rear of the rear case 40.

[0027] Next, the pair of terminals 10 according to this embodiment will be described. In this example, the pair of terminals 10 are identical in shape. Each terminal 10 is made of metal, and has a terminal connection portion 11 at one end that is electrically connected to a mating terminal, and an electric wire connection portion 15 at the other end that is electrically connected to an electric wire 20. A housing holding portion 13 that is held by the connector housing 60 is provided between the terminal connection portion 11 and the electric wire connection portion 15.

[0028] The terminal connection portion 11 is a male terminal portion formed in a circular rod shape, and is inserted into a mating terminal (female terminal). Note that the terminal connection portion 11 of this embodiment is not limited to being a male terminal portion, and can also be configured as a female terminal portion.

[0029] 2, the electric wire connection part 15 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a connection hole 19 provided in a rear end face 15a, and the conductor core wire 21 exposed at one end of the electric wire 20 is inserted into the connection hole 19 and fixed by crimping. Note that the electric wire connection part 15 may be formed in a short solid column shape, and the conductor core wire 21 of the electric wire 20 may be joined to the rear end face 15a by thermocompression welding.

[0030] The housing holding portion 13 has a stepped cylindrical portion consisting of a small diameter portion 17 located in front of the wire connection portion 15 and having a smaller outer diameter than the wire connection portion 15, and an intermediate step portion 12 formed between the small diameter portion 17 and the terminal connection portion 11.

[0031] An annular groove 14, into which a retaining ring 50 for fixing a terminal is fitted, is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 17 near the electric wire connection portion 15. The annular groove 14 has a front wall surface 14b and a rear wall surface 14c that face each other in the front-rear direction across an annular bottom wall surface 14a.

[0032] In addition, a thermistor 80 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 17 forward of the annular groove 14. The thermistor 80 makes it possible to measure the temperature of the terminal 10, and to monitor the temperature change of the terminal 10 while the connector 1 is in use (when the battery is in use).

[0033] The intermediate step portion 12 is held in a terminal support hole 34 b of a terminal holding hole 34 provided in the bottom wall portion 33 of the inner housing 30 . A terminal abutment surface 16 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate step portion 12 and the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 17. The terminal abutment surface 16 is an annular surface perpendicular to the fitting direction and faces the terminal fixing surface 35 of the terminal holding hole 34, and the protruding position of the terminal connecting portion 11 relative to the connector fitting chamber 31 is restricted by the abutment against the terminal fixing surface 35.

[0034] Next, the retaining ring 50 according to the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the retaining ring 50 according to the first embodiment has a main body portion 51 that is C-shaped when viewed from the front, and a spring portion 53 that is integrally formed with the main body portion 51. The spring portion 53 is a plurality of double-supported springs consisting of a plurality of (four in this first embodiment) pressure protrusions 54 protruding from the front end surface 51a of the main body portion 51 at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction, and openings 55 formed behind the pressure protrusions 54.

[0035] Therefore, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the retaining ring 50 attached to the annular groove 14 of the terminal 10 is in a charged state within the annular groove 14 along the groove width direction of the annular groove 14, with the rear end surface 51b of the main body 51 abutting against the rear wall surface 14c and the pressing protrusion 54 of the spring portion 53 abutting against the front wall surface 14b (see Figure 3).

[0036] Next, assembly of the connector 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. The connector 1 is constructed by assembling the terminals 10 to the rear case 40 and then assembling the rear case 40 to the inner housing 30, thereby forming a connector in which the terminals 10 are accommodated in the connector housing 60.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the terminal 10 is connected to one end of the electric wire 20, and a retaining ring 50 is fitted in the annular groove 14 of the housing holding portion 13. Then, the terminal 10 is inserted through the opening 40a of the terminal accommodating portion 47 in the rear case 40. Then, the diameter of the main body 51 of the retaining ring 50 attached to the terminal 10 is reduced as it passes through the tapered chamber 47b, allowing the insertion.

[0038] When the terminal 10 is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 47 to the insertion completion position, the main body 51 of the retaining ring 50 expands in diameter and enters the recess 48 of the accommodating chamber 47a, as shown in Fig. 3. This prevents the terminal 10, whose retaining ring 50 is locked by the retaining ring receiving surface 48b of the recess 48, from slipping out rearward from the terminal accommodating portion 47.

[0039] Next, rear case 40 with terminal 10 assembled thereto is assembled to the back side of inner housing 30, which accommodates the thermistor 80 in the thermistor accommodating portion 34c. Then, terminal 10 has terminal connecting portion 11 passing through through hole 34a of terminal holding hole 34, and intermediate stepped portion 12 of housing holding portion 13 held in terminal support hole 34b of terminal holding hole 34.

[0040] At this time, the thermistor 80 is attached to the small diameter portion 17 of the terminal 10, and the terminal abutment surface 16 of the terminal 10 abuts against the terminal fixing surface 35 of the terminal holding hole 34. The terminal 10, whose terminal abutment surface 16 abuts against the terminal fixing surface 35, is retracted to the rear of the terminal accommodating portion 47, and the main body 51 of the retaining ring 50 attached to the annular groove 14 is pressed against the retaining ring receiving surface 48b of the recess 48.

[0041] Here, the retaining ring 50, which is mounted in the annular groove 14 in a loaded state along the groove width direction, is structured to generate a repulsive force greater than the connector mating force between the front wall surface 14b with which the pressing protrusion 54 of the spring portion 53 abuts, and the retaining ring receiving surface 48b with which the rear end surface 51b of the main body portion 51 abuts. Therefore, the terminal abutting surface 16 of the terminal 10 is constantly elastically pressed against the terminal fixing surface 35 of the inner housing 30.

[0042] That is, the repulsive force of the spring portion 53 of the retaining ring 50 constantly presses the terminal abutting surface 16 perpendicular to the fitting direction against the terminal fixing surface 35 perpendicular to the fitting direction of the terminal 10, thereby suppressing tilt and rattle with respect to the terminal accommodating portion 47. Therefore, the positional accuracy of the terminal tip of the terminal connecting portion 11 of the terminal 10 is improved.

[0043] Therefore, according to the connector 1 of this first embodiment, by integrating the spring portion 53 with the retaining ring 50 for preventing the terminal 10 from coming out of the rear case 40, the positional accuracy of the tip of the terminal 10 can be improved without providing any additional parts.

[0044] In addition, connector 1 has improved positional accuracy of the tip of terminal 10, which reduces the amount of wear on terminal connection portion 11 that fits with the mating terminal when the mating connector is inserted or removed, making it possible to reduce costs by making the plating on the terminal surface thinner. Furthermore, the connector 1 has improved positional accuracy of the tip of the terminal 10, which allows a reduction in the insertion / removal force required when inserting or removing the mating connector.

[0045] Furthermore, in the connector 1 of this first embodiment, the spring portion 53 of the retaining ring 50 is a multiple double-supported spring consisting of three or more pressing protrusions 54 protruding from the front end face 51a of the main body portion 51 at a predetermined interval along the circumferential direction, and openings 55 formed behind the pressing protrusions 54. Therefore, the spring portion 53 of the retaining ring 50 can press the rear end surface 51b of the main body portion 51 parallel to the retaining ring receiving surface 48b of the terminal accommodating portion 47, thereby further improving the positional accuracy of the tip end of the terminal 10.

[0046] Next, a connector 1A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The connector 1A of the second embodiment of the present invention uses a retaining ring 70 instead of the retaining ring 50 of the first embodiment, and components similar to those of the connector 1 of the first embodiment are given the same symbols and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0047] As shown in Figure 9, the connector 1A of this second embodiment comprises a pair of terminals 10, an inner housing (first housing) 30 and a rear case (second housing) 40 that constitute a connector housing 60 that accommodates the pair of terminals 10, and a metal retaining ring 70 that is attached to annular grooves 14A formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of each terminal 10.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 10, a retaining ring 70 according to the second embodiment has a main body portion 71 that is C-shaped when viewed from the front, and a spring portion 73 that is integrally formed with the main body portion 71. The spring portion 73 is a plurality (ten in this second embodiment) of cantilever springs composed of a plurality (five pairs in this second embodiment) of flexible pieces 75 arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction and extending in the outer diameter direction of the main body portion 71, and pressing protrusions 74 protruding from the tip side surfaces of the flexible pieces 75 that are respectively continuous with the front end face 71a and rear end face 71b of the main body portion 71.

[0049] That is, the ten flexible pieces 75 have tip side surfaces that are continuous with the front end face 71a and the rear end face 71b of the main body 71, respectively, and are configured to form pairs in the fitting direction, with five pairs of flexible pieces 75 arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction. Therefore, the front and rear faces of the retaining ring 70 are formed symmetrically, so there is no need to specify a direction when fitting it into the annular groove 14, and assembly workability is good.

[0050] In addition, the spring portion 73 can also be a plurality of cantilever springs composed of a plurality of flexible pieces 75 arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction and extending in the outer diameter direction of the main body portion 71, and a pressing protrusion 74 protruding from the tip side of the flexible piece 75 that is continuous with at least the rear end face 71b of the main body portion 71.

[0051] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the retaining ring 70 is attached to the annular groove 14A of the terminal 10 so that the front end surface 71a of the main body 71 slides against the front wall surface 14b and the rear end surface 71b of the main body 71 slides against the rear wall surface 14c. The annular groove 14A is a stepped groove having an enlarged portion formed therein to prevent the pressing protrusion 74 from interfering with the opening edge when the main body 71 of the retaining ring 70 is reduced in diameter.

[0052] Next, assembly of the connector 1A according to the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the terminal 10 in the connector 1A is connected to one end of the electric wire 20, and a retaining ring 70 is fitted in the annular groove 14A of the housing holding portion 13. Then, the terminal 10 is inserted through the opening 40a of the terminal accommodating portion 47 in the rear case 40. Then, the diameter of the main body 71 of the retaining ring 70 attached to the terminal 10 is reduced as it passes through the tapered chamber 47b, allowing the insertion.

[0053] When the terminal 10 is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 47 to the insertion completion position, the main body 71 of the retaining ring 70 expands in diameter and enters the recess 48 of the accommodating chamber 47a, as shown in Fig. 13. This prevents the terminal 10, whose retaining ring 70 is locked by the retaining ring receiving surface 48b of the recess 48, from slipping out rearward from the terminal accommodating portion 47.

[0054] Next, rear case 40 with terminal 10 assembled thereto is assembled to the back side of inner housing 30, which accommodates the thermistor 80 in the thermistor accommodating portion 34c. Then, terminal 10 has terminal connecting portion 11 passing through through hole 34a of terminal holding hole 34, and intermediate stepped portion 12 of housing holding portion 13 held in terminal support hole 34b of terminal holding hole 34.

[0055] At this time, the thermistor 80 is attached to the small diameter portion 17 of the terminal 10, and the terminal abutment surface 16 of the terminal 10 abuts against the terminal fixing surface 35 of the terminal holding hole 34. The terminal 10, whose terminal abutment surface 16 abuts against the terminal fixing surface 35, is retracted to the rear of the terminal accommodating portion 47, and the pressing protrusion 74 of the retaining ring 70 attached to the annular groove 14A is pressed against the retaining ring receiving surface 48b of the recess 48.

[0056] Here, the retaining ring 70 fitted in the annular groove 14A generates a repulsive force greater than the connector mating force between the front wall surface 14b with which the front end surface 71a of the main body 71 abuts and the retaining ring receiving surface 48b with which the pressing protrusion 74 of the spring portion 73 abuts, so that the retaining ring 70 is kept in a charged state along the groove width direction of the annular groove 14A. Therefore, the terminal contact surface 16 of the terminal 10 is constantly elastically pressed against the terminal fixing surface 35 of the inner housing 30.

[0057] That is, the repulsive force of the spring portion 73 of the retaining ring 70 constantly presses the terminal abutting surface 16 perpendicular to the fitting direction against the terminal fixing surface 35 perpendicular to the fitting direction of the terminal 10, thereby suppressing tilt and rattle with respect to the terminal accommodating portion 47. As a result, the positional accuracy of the terminal tip of the terminal connecting portion 11 of the terminal 10 is improved.

[0058] Therefore, according to the connector 1A of this second embodiment, by integrating the spring portion 53 with the retaining ring 70 for preventing the terminal 10 from coming out of the rear case 40, the positional accuracy of the tip of the terminal 10 can be improved without providing any additional parts.

[0059] In addition, connector 1A has improved positional accuracy of the tip of terminal 10, which reduces the amount of wear on terminal connection portion 11 that engages with the mating terminal when the mating connector is inserted or removed, making it possible to reduce costs by making the plating on the terminal surface thinner. Furthermore, connector 1A has improved positional accuracy of the tip of terminal 10, which allows for a reduction in insertion and removal force required when inserting and removing a mating connector.

[0060] Furthermore, in the connector 1A of this second embodiment, the spring portion 73 of the retaining ring 70 is a ten-piece cantilever spring consisting of five pairs of flexible pieces 75 arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction and extending in the outer diameter direction of the main body portion 71, and pressing protrusions 74 protruding from the tip side surfaces of the flexible pieces 75 that are respectively connected to the front end face 71a and the rear end face 71b of the main body portion 71.

[0061] Therefore, the spring portion 73 of the retaining ring 70 can press the front end surface 71a of the main body portion 71 parallel to the front wall surface 14b of the annular groove 14A, thereby further improving the positional accuracy of the tip end of the terminal 10. Furthermore, the retaining ring 70, which has five pairs of flexible pieces 75 extending in the outer diameter direction of the main body 71, has a symmetrical front and rear surface, so there is no need for directionality when fitting it into the annular groove 14A, making assembly easy.

[0062] Therefore, according to the connectors 1, 1A of the above-described embodiments, tilting and rattle of the terminals 10 accommodated in the terminal accommodating portions 47 of the rear case 40 can be suppressed, thereby improving the positional accuracy of the terminal tips.

[0063] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0064] Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3]. [1] A terminal (10) having a terminal connection portion (11) electrically connected to a mating terminal and a housing holding portion (13); a retaining ring (50, 70) fitted in an annular groove (14) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the housing holding portion (13); a first housing (inner housing 30) having a connector fitting chamber (31) into which a mating connector is fitted, and holding the housing holding portion (13) in a state in which the terminal connecting portion (11) protrudes into the connector fitting chamber (31); a second housing (rear case 40) attached to the rear side of the first housing (30), which is opposite to the side where the mating connector is fitted; a retaining ring receiving surface (48b) formed on an inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion (47) for engaging and preventing the rear end surface (50b) of the retaining ring (50) from coming out when the terminal (10) is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion (47) of the second housing (rear case 40) from the rear side; a terminal fixing surface (35) formed on the first housing (inner housing 30) for contacting the terminal contact surface (16) of the housing holding portion (13) to regulate the protruding position of the terminal connecting portion (11) relative to the connector fitting chamber (31); a spring portion (53, 73) that is integrally formed with a main body portion (51, 71) of the retaining ring (50, 70) and that is in a charged state along the groove width direction of the annular groove (14); Connector (1,1A) with.

[0065] According to the connector (1, 1A) having the configuration [1] above, the repulsive force of the spring portion (53, 73) of the retaining ring (50, 70) constantly presses the terminal abutment surface (16) against the terminal fixing surface (35), thereby preventing the terminal (10) from tilting or rattling relative to the terminal accommodating portion (47). As a result, the positional accuracy of the terminal tip of the terminal connecting portion (11) of the terminal (10) is improved.

[0066] [2] The spring portion (53) is a plurality of double-support springs each including a plurality of pressing protrusions (54) protruding from the front end surface (51a) of the main body portion (51) at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction, and openings (55) formed behind the pressing protrusions (54). The connector (1) described in [1] above.

[0067] According to the connector (1) having the configuration [2] above, the spring portion (53) of the retaining ring (50) can press the rear end surface (51b) of the main body portion (51) parallel to the retaining ring receiving surface (48b) of the connector fitting chamber (47), thereby further improving the positional accuracy of the tip end of the terminal 10.

[0068] [3] The spring portion (73) is a plurality of cantilever springs each including a plurality of flexible pieces (75) arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction and extending in the outer diameter direction of the main body portion (71), and a pressing protrusion (74) protruding from the tip side of the flexible piece (75) that is continuous with at least the rear end surface (71b) of the main body portion (71). The connector (1A) described in [1] above.

[0069] According to the connector (1A) having the configuration [3] above, the spring portion (73) of the retaining ring (70) can press the front end face (71a) of the main body (71) parallel to the front wall surface (14b) of the annular groove (14A), thereby further improving the positional accuracy of the tip end of the terminal (10). [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1...Connector 10...Terminal 11...Terminal connection part 13...Housing holder 14...Annular groove 16...Terminal contact surface 30...Inner housing (first housing) 31...Connector mating chamber 35…Terminal fixing surface 40...Rear case (second housing) 47...Terminal housing 48b...Retaining ring receiving surface 50...Retaining ring 51...Main body 53...Spring part

Claims

1. a terminal having a terminal connection portion electrically connected to a mating terminal and a housing holding portion; a retaining ring fitted in an annular groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of the housing holding portion; a first housing having a connector fitting chamber into which a mating connector is fitted, the first housing holding the housing holding portion in a state in which the terminal connecting portion projects into the connector fitting chamber; a second housing attached to a rear surface side of the first housing opposite to the side where the mating connector is mated; a retaining ring receiving surface formed on an inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion for engaging a rear end surface of the retaining ring to prevent it from coming out when the terminal is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion of the second housing from the rear side; a terminal fixing surface formed on the first housing for contacting a terminal contact surface of the housing holding portion to regulate a protruding position of the terminal connecting portion relative to the connector fitting chamber; a spring portion integrally formed with a main body portion of the retaining ring and stored in a state of tension along a groove width direction of the annular groove; A connector with

2. The spring portion is a plurality of double-support springs each including a plurality of pressing protrusions provided on the front end surface of the main body portion at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction and openings formed behind the pressing protrusions. The connector according to claim 1 .

3. The spring portion is a plurality of cantilever springs including a plurality of flexible pieces arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction and extending in the outer radial direction of the main body portion, and a pressing protrusion protruding from the tip side surface of the flexible piece, which is continuous with at least the rear end surface of the main body portion. The connector according to claim 1 .

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