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 inner housing (30) holds the housing holding portion (13) with the fitting projections (86) fit in the annular grooves (14) of the terminals (10), and the rear case (40) is assembled on a back surface side of the inner housing (30). A thermistor-holder receiving surface 81b is formed in the terminal-accommodating portion (47) for locking and retaining a rear-end-surface 48a of the thermistor holder (80) when the terminals (10) are inserted into the terminal-accommodating portion (47) of the rear case (40) from the back surface side. 48a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

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. 10, 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 thermistor holder attached to the housing holding portion with a fitting protrusion protruding from an inner peripheral surface thereof fitted into an annular groove recessed in 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 thermistor holder receiving surface formed on an inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion for engaging a rear end surface of the thermistor holder 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 the thermistor holder and pressingly biasing the thermistor holder receiving surface; 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 one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first housing shown in FIG. 2 as seen from the rear. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the thermistor holder according to this embodiment as viewed from behind. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the thermistor holder from which the thermistor has been removed, as viewed from the front. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state immediately before the thermistor holder is attached to the terminal. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the thermistor holder is attached to a terminal. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of 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. A connector 1 according to one 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 a mating connector (a so-called charging gun) with connector 1, 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 5, the connector 1 of this 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 thermistor holder 80 that is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the housing holding portion 13 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 4, 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 4, 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. 3, a thermistor accommodating portion 34c for accommodating a thermistor holder 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. 4, 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] 5, the front end surface of the peripheral wall 48 at the front end of the accommodation chamber 47a is configured as a thermistor holder receiving surface 48a. The thermistor holder receiving surface 48a is an annular surface perpendicular to the fitting direction and facing the bottom wall portion 33 of the inner housing 30, and can lock the thermistor holder 80, which is attached so that movement of the terminal 10 in the front-rear direction relative to the outer peripheral surface of the housing holding portion 13 is restricted, thereby preventing 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] 4, 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 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 17, and the thermistor holder 80 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 17 so that the fitting protrusion 86 of the thermistor holder 80 fits into the annular groove 14, restricting movement in the forward and backward directions. Therefore, the thermistor 100 held in the thermistor holder 80 can measure the temperature of the terminal 10, and the transition of the temperature of the terminal 10 when the connector 1 is in use (when the battery is in use) can be monitored.

[0032] The intermediate step portion 12 is held in a through hole 34 a of a terminal holding hole 34 provided in a 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.

[0033] Next, the thermistor holder 80 according to the first embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the thermistor holder 80 of this embodiment has a main body portion 81 that is C-shaped when viewed from the front, a spring portion 83 that is integrally formed with the main body portion 81, and a thermistor accommodating portion 82 that is provided on the outer surface side of the main body portion 81.

[0034] A circumferentially extending mating projection 86 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the main body 81. The mating projection 86 is fitted into an annular groove 14 recessed in the outer peripheral surface of the housing retaining portion 13, and the thermistor holder 80 is attached to the housing retaining portion 13 in a state where movement in the front-to-rear direction is restricted.

[0035] The thermistor accommodating portion 82 has an insertion opening 82 a into which the thermistor 100 is inserted, and a communication opening 82 b that communicates with the inner circumferential surface of the main body portion 81 . Therefore, when the thermistor holder 80 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the housing holding portion 13 of the terminal 10, the sensor portion 101 of the thermistor 100 inserted into the thermistor accommodating portion 82 can come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the housing holding portion 13 through the communicating opening 82b.

[0036] The spring portion 83 is a plurality of double-supported springs consisting of a plurality of (three in this first embodiment) pressing protrusions 84 protruding from the rear end surface 81b of the main body portion 81 at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction, and openings 85 formed behind the pressing protrusions 84.

[0037] Therefore, when the thermistor holder 80 is attached to the housing holding portion 13 of the terminal 10 with its movement in the forward and backward directions restricted, as shown in Figure 5, the pressing protrusion 84 of the spring portion 83 abuts against the thermistor holder receiving surface 48a, thereby storing energy in the mating direction.

[0038] Next, assembly of the connector 1 according to this 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.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal 10 has a wire connecting portion 15 connected to one end of the wire 20. Then, the terminal 10 is inserted through the opening 40 a of the terminal accommodating portion 47 in the rear case 40 .

[0040] 8, when the terminal 10 is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 47 to the insertion completion position, the housing holding portion 13 that penetrates the accommodating chamber 47a is positioned in the mating recess 44 of the rear case 40. Then, when the thermistor holder 80 is inserted onto the outer peripheral surface of the housing holding portion 13 from the front end side of the terminal 10, the main body portion 81, on whose inner peripheral surface the mating projection 86 protrudes, expands in diameter as it passes through the small diameter portion 17 forward of the annular groove 14, allowing the terminal 10 to be inserted further.

[0041] When the thermistor holder 80 is inserted into the housing holding portion 13 to the completed insertion position, the main body 81 contracts in diameter and the fitting projection 86 enters the annular groove 14. This prevents the terminal 10, whose thermistor holder 80 is locked onto the thermistor holder receiving surface 48a, from slipping out rearward from the terminal accommodating portion 47.

[0042] Next, the rear case 40 with the terminals 10 assembled thereto is assembled to the rear side of the inner housing 30 so that the thermistor holder 80 is accommodated in the thermistor accommodating portion 34c. Then, the terminal connecting portion 11 of the terminal 10 passes through the through hole 34a of the terminal holding hole 34, and the intermediate stepped portion 12 of the housing holding portion 13 is held in the terminal support hole 34b of the terminal holding hole 34.

[0043] At this time, 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 rearward of the terminal accommodating portion 47, and the pressing protrusion 84 of the spring portion 83 of the thermistor holder 80, which is attached and fixed to the housing holding portion 13, is pressed against the thermistor holder receiving surface 48a.

[0044] Here, the thermistor holder 80 attached and fixed to the housing holding portion 13 generates a repulsive force greater than the connector mating force between the thermistor holder receiving surface 48a, with which the pressing protrusion 84 of the spring portion 83 abuts, and the front side wall surface 14a of the annular groove 14, with which the mating protrusion 86 abuts, so that the thermistor holder 80 is structured to be in a state of being stored in a tensioned state along the groove width direction of the annular groove 14. 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.

[0045] That is, the terminal 10, whose terminal contact surface 16 perpendicular to the mating direction is constantly pressed against the terminal fixing surface 35 perpendicular to the mating direction by the repulsive force of the spring portion 83 of the thermistor holder 80, is prevented from tilting or wobbling 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.

[0046] Therefore, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, by integrally providing a spring portion 83 on the thermistor holder 80, which can prevent 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 a C-ring.

[0047] 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.

[0048] Furthermore, in the connector 1 of this embodiment, the spring portion 83 of the thermistor holder 80 is a multiple double-supported spring consisting of three pressing protrusions 84 protruding from the rear end surface 81b of the main body portion 81 at a predetermined interval along the circumferential direction, and an opening 85 formed behind the pressing protrusions 84. Therefore, the spring portion 83 of the thermistor holder 80 can press the mating protrusion 86 protruding from the inner surface of the main body portion 81 parallel to the front side wall surface 14a of the annular groove 14, thereby further improving the positional accuracy of the tip of the terminal 10.

[0049] Therefore, according to the connector 1 of the above-described embodiment, 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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] and [2]. [1] A terminal (10) having a terminal connection portion (11) electrically connected to a mating terminal and a housing holding portion (13); a thermistor holder (80) attached to the housing holding portion (13) in a state in which a fitting projection (86) protruding from the inner peripheral surface is fitted into an annular groove (14) recessed in the outer peripheral 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 (inner housing 30), which is opposite to the side where the mating connector is fitted; a thermistor holder receiving surface (48a) formed on an inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion (47) for engaging and preventing the rear end surface (81b) of the thermistor holder (80) from coming off 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 (83) formed integrally with a body portion (81) of the thermistor holder (80) and pressing and biasing the thermistor holder receiving surface (48a); Connector (1) with

[0052] According to the connector (1) having the configuration [1] above, the terminal (10) whose terminal contact surface (16) is constantly pressed against the terminal fixing surface (35) by the repulsive force of the spring portion (83) of the thermistor holder (80) is prevented 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.

[0053] [2] The spring portion (83) is a plurality of double-supported springs each including a plurality of pressing protrusions (84) protruding from the rear end surface (81b) of the main body portion (81) at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction and openings (85) formed behind the pressing protrusions (84). The connector (1) described in [1] above.

[0054] According to the connector (1) having the configuration [2] above, the spring portion (83) of the thermistor holder (80) can press the mating projection (86) protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion (81) parallel to the front side wall surface (14a) of the annular groove (14), thereby further improving the positional accuracy of the tip of the terminal (10). [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 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 48a...Thermistor holder receiving surface 80...Thermistor holder 81...Main body 83...Spring part

Claims

1. a terminal having a terminal connection portion electrically connected to a mating terminal and a housing holding portion; a thermistor holder attached to the housing holding portion with a fitting protrusion protruding from an inner peripheral surface thereof fitted into an annular groove recessed in 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 thermistor holder receiving surface formed on an inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion for engaging a rear end surface of the thermistor holder 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 thermistor holder and pressingly biasing the thermistor holder receiving surface; A connector with

2. The spring portion is a plurality of double-support springs each including a plurality of pressing protrusions provided on the rear 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 .

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