Shielded connector

Abstract

To provide a shielded connector that can properly suppress interference between the shell and the wire. [Solution] The shield connector 1 includes a second shell 4 that is mounted opposite the first shell 3, with a portion of the housing 2 in between. The second shell 4 has a wire holding portion 21 that holds four wires W that are led out in the lead-out direction Z, sandwiched between it and the first shell 3. The wire holding portion 21 is formed toward a position A where the four wires W are bundled together, and has four housing grooves that accommodate the four wires W at intervals along the first direction X. Two of the four housing grooves constitute a regulating groove that, when viewed from the second direction Y, includes a first portion formed along the lead-out direction Z and a second portion that is inclined with respect to the lead-out direction Z, and is inclined in the first direction X from the end side of the wire holding portion 21 toward the center side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shield connector.

Background Art

[0002] Some conventional shield connectors regulate the position of an electric wire by assembling a lower shell and an upper shell to a housing in which the electric wire is assembled. In such a shield connector, there is one that bundles electric wires while securing a distance in consideration of interference between the electric wire and the lower shell (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a conventional shield connector, for example, the positions of a plurality of electric wires are regulated by assembling a lower shell and an upper shell. However, there is room for improvement because the regulation makes the electric wires likely to interfere with the lower shell.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a shield connector capable of appropriately suppressing interference between a shell and an electric wire.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the shielded connector according to the present invention comprises a housing that holds a plurality of terminals provided at the end of an electric wire, a first shell attached to the housing, and a second shell attached to the first shell at a position opposite to the housing with a part of the housing in between, wherein one of the first shell and the second shell has a wire holding portion that holds a plurality of electric wires that are led out from the housing in the direction of lead-out of the electric wires between the first shell and the second shell, the wire holding portion is formed toward a position where the plurality of electric wires led out from the housing are bundled, and has a plurality of accommodating grooves that accommodate the plurality of electric wires at intervals along a first direction perpendicular to the lead-out direction, and at least one of the plurality of accommodating grooves constitutes a regulating groove that, when viewed from the lead-out direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, includes a first portion formed along the lead-out direction and a second portion that is inclined with respect to the lead-out direction and is inclined in the first direction from the end side of the wire holding portion toward the center side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The shielded connector according to the present invention has the effect of properly suppressing interference between the shell and the electric wire. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a shielded connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the shield connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the housing, upper shell, and lower shell that make up the shield connector in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view showing the schematic configuration of the lower shell in Figure 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. That is, the components in the embodiments described below include those that are easily conceivable by those skilled in the art, or that are substantially the same, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0010] In the following explanation, the X direction in the diagram will be referred to as the "first direction X," the Y direction as the "second direction Y," and the Z direction as the "derivation direction Z." Here, the "first direction X," the "second direction Y," and the "derivation direction Z" are mutually orthogonal. The "first direction X" corresponds to, for example, the width direction of the shield connector 1, the arrangement direction of the multiple wires W, etc. The "second direction Y" corresponds to, for example, the insertion / removal direction (mating direction) between the shield connector 1 and the mating connector, the front-to-back direction (thickness direction) of the shield connector 1, etc. Of the second direction Y, one is referred to as the "insertion direction Y1" and the other as the "removal direction Y2." The "derivation direction Z" corresponds to, for example, the height direction (up and down direction) of the shield connector 1, the extension direction of the wires W, the insertion direction of the wires W into the shield connector 1, etc. Of the derivation direction Z, one is referred to as the "upward direction Z1" and the other as the "downward direction Z2" of the wires W. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following explanation refer to the directions when the parts are assembled together.

[0011] [Embodiment] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the schematic configuration of a shielded connector according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the shielded connector of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the housing, upper shell, and lower shell constituting the shielded connector of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a plan view showing the schematic configuration of the lower shell of Figure 3.

[0012] The shielded connector 1 shown in Figure 1 is incorporated into a wire harness WH routed in a vehicle such as an automobile. Here, the wire harness WH is a bundle of multiple electric wires W used for power supply and signal communication to connect various devices mounted on the vehicle, and the shielded connector 1 or the like connects these multiple electric wires W to each device.

[0013] The wire harness WH comprises electric wires W, terminals T provided at the end of each electric wire W, and a shielded connector 1 that houses and holds multiple terminals T. The wire harness WH may also include various other components such as grommets, electrical connection boxes, and fasteners.

[0014] The electric wire W is routed through the vehicle and electrically connects each device. The electric wire W is, for example, a shielded electric wire and, as shown in Figure 2, comprises a core wire W1, an inner sheath W2, a braided shield layer Wb, and an outer sheath W3.

[0015] The core wire W1 is made of a conductive material and is the part that realizes the function that the electric wire W should perform (e.g., transmitting and receiving signals and supplying power). The inner sheath W2 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and covers the core wire W1, insulating the core wire W1 from the braided body Wb. The braided body Wb is a conductive metal (e.g., copper or aluminum) component that covers the inner sheath W2. The braided body Wb prevents the intrusion and leakage of electromagnetic waves, electric fields, and magnetic fields, thereby improving the reliability of communication of the core wire W1. The outer sheath W3 is the outermost sheath of the electric wire W and prevents damage to the inner components and water ingress into the interior. The outer sheath W3 is also called the outer insulator and is made of an insulating material.

[0016] The terminal T is electrically connected to the electric wire W and is connected to a mating terminal (not shown) having conductivity. Here, the mating terminal is, for example, a terminal formed of a conductive metal material to which the terminal T can be connected. The mating terminal is housed and held in a mating connector (not shown). The mating connector is a fitting target of the shield connector 1 and is provided in a device mounted on a vehicle. The terminal T is housed and held along the second direction Y with respect to the shield connector 1. In the present embodiment, the case where the shield connector 1 is configured as a male connector and the mating connector is configured as a female connector is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this example.

[0017] The shield connector 1 includes a housing 2, a first shell 3, a second shell 4, and a shield terminal ST.

[0018] The housing 2 houses and holds the terminal T provided at the end of the electric wire W. The housing 2 is formed so as to be able to hold four terminals T at intervals along the first direction X. The housing 2 has a housing body 2a, a cylindrical portion 2b, and an electric wire insertion portion 2c. The housing body 2a, the cylindrical portion 2b, and the electric wire insertion portion 2c are integrally formed of an insulating synthetic resin material.

[0019] The housing body 2a is formed with openings on both sides in the second direction Y, for example. In a state where the terminal T is housed in the cylindrical portion 2b, the terminal T is exposed to the outside from the opening on the insertion direction Y1 side, while the opening on the removal direction Y2 side is closed by the first shell 3. The housing body 2a is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the second direction Y, for example. Further, a plurality of electric wire insertion portions 2c are provided at the end portion on the lower direction Z2 side of the housing body 2a.

[0020] The cylindrical portion 2b is provided on the housing body 2a and protrudes cylindrically from the housing body 2a toward one side (mating connector side) in the second direction Y. The cylindrical portion 2b is a portion that fits with the mating connector.

[0021] The wire insertion part 2c is the part through which the wire W is inserted. The wire insertion part 2c is formed so as to project downward in the Z2 direction from the lower end of the housing main body 2a on the Z2 side. The wire insertion part 2c is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the wire W is routed along the lead-out direction Z inside it. That is, the housing main body 2a holds the terminal T along the second direction Y and the wire W is drawn out along the lead-out direction Z orthogonal to the second direction Y. Here, four wire insertion parts 2c are provided side by side in the first direction X on the housing main body 2a, and the wire W is inserted into each of the four wire insertion parts 2c.

[0022] The first shell 3 is a so-called upper shell and is attached to the housing 2. The first shell 3 is a part that suppresses the leakage of noise generated from the wire W to the outside of the shield connector 1 by covering the periphery of the terminal T and the wire W in the housing 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the first shell 3 constitutes a so-called shield shell in combination with the second shell 4. The first shell 3 is formed of, for example, a metal material having conductivity. The first shell 3 includes a first shell main body 10 and a cover part 11.

[0023] The first shell main body 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to cover the removal direction Y2 side of the housing 2. That is, the first shell main body 10 is provided with a housing space part that is open toward one side in the second direction Y and houses a part of the housing main body 2a. Further, the first shell main body 10 is provided with a through hole 10a through which a bolt (not shown) is inserted along the second direction Y. The shield connector 1 is fixed to a device (not shown) provided with a mating connector by a bolt inserted through the through hole 10a.

[0024] The cover portion 11, while the first shell 3 is attached to the housing 2, simultaneously sandwiches and covers the four electric wires W and four shield terminals ST held by the electric wire holding portion 21 (described later) between itself and the second shell 4. The cover portion 11 has a flat surface 11a, a shield terminal holding portion 11b, and a through hole 11c. The flat surface 11a is formed extending along the first direction X. The shield terminal holding portion 11b holds the four shield terminals ST together. The through hole 11c is formed in a portion of the flat surface 11a that protrudes from one end in the first direction X when viewed from the insertion direction Y1 of the cover portion 11, and is a through hole that penetrates that portion in the second direction Y.

[0025] The second shell 4 is a so-called lower shell and is mounted opposite the first shell 3, with a portion of the housing 2 in between. The second shell 4 is the part of the housing 2 that covers the area around the terminal T and the wire W, thereby suppressing noise generated from the wire W from leaking to the outside of the shielded connector 1. The second shell 4 is formed of, for example, a conductive metal material. The second shell 4 is composed of a second shell body 20 and a wire holding portion 21.

[0026] The second shell body 20 holds the shield terminal ST connected to each of the four wires W and is formed in a groove shape to cover the four wire insertion portions 2c on the housing 2 side. A wire holding portion 21 is connected to the lower Z2 end of the second shell body 20.

[0027] The wire holding section 21 is the part that holds the four wires W that are led out from the housing 2 in the wire lead direction Z between the first shell 3 and the second shell 4. As shown in Figure 4, the wire holding section 21 has four housing grooves 22. The housing grooves 22 individually house and hold the wires W inside. The housing grooves 22 are formed toward position A where the multiple wires W led out from the housing 2 are bundled. Position A in this embodiment is a position spaced downward Z2 from the downward Z2 end of the wire holding section 21, and is the position where the four wires W are bundled (see Figure 1). Below position A in the Z2 direction, the four wires W are bundled with an outer material such as a tape member or corrugated tube. As shown in Figure 4, the wire holding section 21 houses the four wires W with spacing along the first direction X using the four housing grooves 22. Of the four accommodating grooves 22, the two at both ends in the first direction X each constitute a regulating groove 23.

[0028] The restricting groove 23 restricts the direction of the electric wire W led out from the shield connector 1 to the outside. The restricting groove 23 is composed of a first portion 23a and a second portion 23b. The first portion 23a is formed on the second shell body 20 side of the restricting groove 23 and is connected to the second shell body 20. When viewed from the second direction Y, the first portion 23a is formed in a straight line along the lead-out direction Z. The second portion 23b is formed on the downward Z2 side relative to the first portion 23a in the restricting groove 23 and is connected to the first portion 23a. The second portion 23b is formed at an inclination with respect to the lead-out direction Z, and is formed at an inclination from the end side of the electric wire holding portion 21 in the first direction X toward the center side. The accommodation grooves 22 other than the accommodation groove 22 that constitute the restricting groove 23, i.e., the two accommodation grooves 22 on the central side, do not have a second portion 23b that is formed at an inclination with respect to the lead-out direction Z, and are formed in a straight line along the lead-out direction Z as a whole.

[0029] The shield terminal ST is made of a conductive material such as metal and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The shield terminal ST is electrically connected to the braided body Wb and is electrically connected to the first shell 3 and the second shell 4 when the first shell 3 and the second shell 4 are assembled to the housing 2.

[0030] Next, the assembly of the first shell 3 and the second shell 4 to the housing 2 will be described. In this embodiment, four terminals T are housed and held in the housing 2.

[0031] First, the assembly worker attaches the second shell 4 to the housing 2. At this time, the worker places the shield terminal ST connected to each wire W into the second shell body 20, and places the wires W into the housing groove 22 and the regulating groove 23. Next, the worker attaches and fixes the first shell 3 to the housing 2 with the second shell 4 attached.

[0032] In conventional shielded connectors, for example, four housing grooves are formed linearly along the exit direction Z. In this case, if the position A where the four wires W are bundled is moved closer to the shielded connector 1, when assembling the first and second shells into the housing 2, there is a risk that the two wires W located at both ends in the first direction X will interfere with the second shell. In other words, the more poles there are and the more wires W there are, the more likely it is that the wires W located at both ends in the first direction will interfere with the second shell when bundling the multiple wires W.

[0033] Therefore, in this embodiment, the shielded connector 1 has two of the four housing grooves 22 in the wire holding portion 21 designated as restricting grooves 23, and the restricting groove 23 has a first portion 23a formed along the exit direction Z and a second portion 23b formed inclined from the end side in the first direction X toward the center of the wire holding portion 21. Compared to a configuration where the entire restricting groove 23 is the second portion 23b, forming the first portion 23a eliminates the influence of the inclination of the wire W inside the connector, and also makes it possible to suppress interference between the wire W and the second shell even if the position A where the wire W is bundled is brought closer to the shielded connector 1 side.

[0034] As described above, the shield connector 1 according to this embodiment comprises a housing 2, a first shell 3 attached to the housing 2, and a second shell 4 attached to the first shell 3 at a position opposite to the housing 2, with a portion of the housing 2 in between. The second shell 4 has a wire holding portion 21 that holds four wires W that are led out from the housing 2 in the lead-out direction Z, sandwiched between it and the first shell 3. The wire holding portion 21 is formed toward a position A where the four wires W led out from the housing 2 are bundled, and has four accommodating grooves 22 that accommodate the four wires W at intervals along the first direction X. Two of the four accommodating grooves 22 constitute a regulating groove 23, which includes a first portion 23a formed along the lead-out direction Z, and a second portion 23b formed at an inclination with respect to the lead-out direction Z, and inclined from the end side of the wire holding portion 21 in the first direction X toward the center.

[0035] With the above configuration, the shield connector 1 can properly suppress interference between the first shell 3, the second shell 4 and the wires W when assembling the first shell 3 and the second shell 4 to regulate the position of the four wires W, compared to conventional shield connectors. Furthermore, compared to a shield connector 1 in which the entire regulating groove 23 is the first part 23a, the shield connector 1 has a second part 23b formed in a part of it, making it possible to follow the inclination of the wires W, for example, when bundling the four wires W. As a result, the shield connector 1 can bring the position A where the wires W are bundled, which was previously far from the shield connector 1, closer to the shield connector 1, making it possible to miniaturize the wire harness WH.

[0036] Furthermore, the shield connector 1 has regulating grooves 23 positioned at both ends of the first direction X among the four receiving grooves 22. This allows the shield connector 1 to tilt the electric wires W leading out from each end of the first direction X from the end side of the first direction X towards the center. As a result, the shield connector 1 can bring the position A where the electric wires W are bundled closer to the shield connector 1.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the shield connector 1 has a wire holding portion 21 in the second shell 4, but is not limited to this. For example, the first shell 3 may also have a wire holding portion 21.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the shield connector 1 is described as having two accommodating grooves 22 other than the accommodating groove 22 that constitute the restricting groove 23, i.e., the two accommodating grooves 22 on the central side, neither of which have a second portion 23b, and the entire structure is formed in a straight line along the lead-out direction Z. However, the shield connector 1 is not limited to this. For example, the two accommodating grooves 22 on the central side may also have portions corresponding to the second portion 23b. Also, in the above embodiment, the restricting grooves 23 are arranged at both ends of the first direction X, but the shield connector 1 is not limited to this, and may be arranged at either one of the ends of the first direction X.

[0039] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the shield connector 1 is configured to accommodate four wires W, but it is not limited to this number.

[0040] Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes the case in which the present invention is applied to a shielded connector 1, it may also be applied to connectors other than shielded connectors. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 1 Shielded connector 2 Housing 3. First Shell 4. Second Shell 21 Wire holding part 22 Storage grooves 23 Regulating groove 23a First part 23b Second part W electric wire T terminal WH Wire Harness

Claims

1. A housing that holds multiple terminals provided at the end of an electric wire, A first shell attached to the housing, The present invention comprises a second shell mounted to the first shell at a position opposite to the housing, with a portion of the housing in between, One of the first shell and the second shell is The housing has a wire holding section that holds a plurality of wires, which are led out from the housing in the direction of wire exit, sandwiched between the first shell and the second shell. The wire holding portion is, It is formed toward a position where the multiple electric wires led out from the housing are bundled, and has multiple accommodating grooves that accommodate the multiple electric wires at intervals along a first direction perpendicular to the lead-out direction, At least one of the plurality of aforementioned receiving grooves is When viewed from the aforementioned derivation direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first portion is formed along the derivation direction, A regulating groove is formed that includes a portion inclined with respect to the aforementioned derivation direction, and a second portion inclined in the first direction toward the center of the wire holding portion in the first direction, A shielded connector characterized by the following features.

2. The aforementioned regulating groove is Of the multiple receiving grooves, at least one is located at each end in the first direction. The shielded connector according to claim 1.

Images