connector

Abstract

This connector provides increased flexibility in the orientation of the terminal rows. [Solution] The connector 100A according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a female housing 11 into which a mating connector 200A is inserted, and a plurality of terminal forming portions 12 held in the housing 11. One end of the plurality of terminal forming portions 12 is located on the side into which the mating connector 200A is inserted, and a plurality of connector terminals 16a constitute a first terminal row 16 arranged in a first direction Z. The other end of the plurality of terminal forming portions 12 is located on a side of the housing 11 different from the side on which the first terminal row 16 is provided, and a plurality of connection terminals 17a constitute a second terminal row 17 arranged in a second direction Y. The first direction Z and the second direction Y are in a positional relationship where they intersect each other when viewed in plan with respect to a plane (YZ plane) parallel to the first direction Z and the second direction Y.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of the present invention relate to connectors.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a lever lock type connector structure in which fitting between a device side connector and a wire harness (W / H) side connector is performed by rotating a lever (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

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 the case of a lever lock type connector structure, when the device side connector and the W / H side connector are fitted, the arrangement direction of the terminal row provided on the device side connector and the arrangement direction of the terminal row provided on the W / H side connector are in a positional relationship where they are aligned in the same direction.

[0005] Therefore, in the lever lock type connector structure, it is limited to straight type or L type connectors. Also, the arrangement direction of the electric wire cords drawn out from the W / H side connector is limited to the same positional relationship as the arrangement direction of the terminal row.

[0006] Aspects of the present invention provide a connector that enables an increase in the degree of freedom of the arrangement direction of the terminal row.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A connector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a female housing into which a mating connector is inserted, and a plurality of terminal forming portions held in the housing. One end of the plurality of terminal forming portions is located on the side of the housing into which the mating connector is inserted, and constitutes a first terminal row in which the plurality of connector terminals are arranged in a first direction. The other end of the plurality of terminal forming portions is located on a side of the housing different from the side on which the first terminal row is provided, and constitutes a second terminal row in which the plurality of connection terminals are arranged in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are in a positional relationship that intersects each other when viewed in plan with respect to a plane parallel to the first direction and the second direction.

[0008] A connector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a male housing that is inserted into a mating connector, and a plurality of terminal forming portions held in the housing. One end of the plurality of terminal forming portions is located on the side of the housing that is inserted into the mating connector, and the plurality of connector terminals constitute a third terminal row arranged in a second direction. The other end of the plurality of terminal forming portions is located on a side of the housing different from the side on which the third terminal row is provided, and the plurality of connection terminals constitute a fourth terminal row arranged in a first direction. The first direction and the second direction are in a positional relationship that intersects each other when viewed in plan with respect to a plane parallel to the first direction and the second direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In the connector according to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the direction of arrangement of the terminal rows. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the state in which the device-side connector and the mating W / H-side connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention are mated together. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the state before the equipment-side connector and the W / H-side connector are mated together. [Figure 3]Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the device-side connector. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the device-side connector. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the W / H side connector. [Figure 6] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the W / H side connector. [Figure 7] Figure 1 is a rear view of the connector on the device side. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the arrangement direction of the first and second terminal rows of the equipment-side connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view from the rear of the W / H side connector and the mating device side connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in a mated state. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is a perspective view from the front showing the device-side connector and the W / H-side connector in a mated state. [Figure 11] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the state before the equipment-side connector and the W / H-side connector are mated together. [Figure 12] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the device-side connector. [Figure 13] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the device-side connector. [Figure 14] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the W / H side connector. [Figure 15] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the W / H side connector. [Figure 16] Figure 9 is a front view of the W / H side connector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] <First Embodiment> (Connector structure) As a first embodiment of the present invention, the connector structure of the equipment-side connector 100A and the mating W / H-side connector 200A, as shown in Figures 1 to 8, will be described.

[0012] Note that FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where the device-side connector 100A and the W / H-side connector 200A are fitted together. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state before the device-side connector 100A and the W / H-side connector 200A are fitted together. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the device-side connector 100A. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the device-side connector 100A. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the W / H-side connector 200A. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the W / H-side connector 200A. FIG. 7 is a rear view of the device-side connector 100A. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the arrangement direction of the first terminal row and the second terminal row of the device-side connector 100A.

[0013] Also, in the drawings shown below, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set, and the X-axis direction is the front-rear direction (length direction) of the connectors 100A and 200A, the Y-axis direction is the left-right direction (width direction) of the connectors 100A and 200A, and the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction (height direction) of the connectors 100A and 200A, and they are shown as such respectively.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector structure of the present embodiment electrically connects between the device-side connector 100A of the present embodiment and the counterpart W / H-side connector 200A by fitting them together, enabling energization between the connectors 100A and 200A.

[0015] The device-side connector 100A of the present embodiment constitutes a female (receptacle) side connector. On the other hand, the counterpart W / H-side connector 200A constitutes a male (plug) side connector. Therefore, the connector structure of the present embodiment has a structure in which the W / H-side connector 200A is inserted into the device-side connector 100A, and the device-side connector 100A and the W / H-side connector 200A are fitted together.

[0016] In this embodiment, the direction in which the W / H side connector 200A is inserted into the equipment side connector 100A is defined as the front (+X direction) of each connector 100A, 200A, and the opposite direction is defined as the rear (-X direction). The side facing the first direction is defined as the front side of each connector 100A, 200A, and the opposite side is defined as the rear side of each connector 100A, 200A.

[0017] (Device-side connector) As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the equipment-side connector 100A of this embodiment comprises a female-type housing 11 into which the W / H-side connector 200A is inserted, and a plurality (two in this embodiment) of terminal forming portions 12 held in the housing 11.

[0018] The housing 11 is made of a molded synthetic resin. The housing 11 has a front wall 11a that forms its front side and a fitting cylindrical portion 11b that forms its rear side. The housing 11 has a structure in which multiple terminal forming portions 12 are sandwiched between the front wall 11a and the fitting cylindrical portion 11b, and these portions are integrated together.

[0019] The front wall 11a is the part that abuts against the equipment-side unit 300. The front wall 11a has a shape in which a roughly rectangular flat lower plate portion 111 with rounded corners and a roughly triangular flat upper plate portion 112 with a rounded top are integrated in the vertical direction. In addition, the longitudinal direction of the lower plate portion 111 coincides with the width direction of the housing 11.

[0020] A roughly rectangular opening 11c is provided in the center of the lower plate portion 111 in the width direction. Two holes 11d are provided on both sides of the lower plate portion 111 in the width direction, with the opening 11c in the middle and the other two holes 11d extending through in the front-to-back direction. A circular ring-shaped collar 13 is fitted inside each hole 11d.

[0021] In this embodiment, the equipment-side connector 100A allows the housing 11 to be fixed to the unit 300 by screwing a screw 301 into a screw hole 300a provided on the unit 300 side through each hole 11d.

[0022] The mating cylinder portion 11b is the part into which the housing 21 of the W / H side connector 200A, which will be described later, is inserted. The mating cylinder portion 11b protrudes in a substantially elongated cylindrical shape toward the rear from the rear side of the front wall 11a, and opens in a substantially elongated oval shape on the rear side of the housing 11. In addition, the longitudinal direction of the mating cylinder portion 11b coincides with the vertical direction of the housing 11.

[0023] Furthermore, the front side of the fitting cylinder portion 11b is provided with a fitting projection 11e that has a shape corresponding to the opening 11c of the front wall 11a and is fitted into the inside of the opening 11c. In addition, the front side of the fitting projection 11e is provided with a plurality (two in this embodiment) of sleeve portions 14a, 14b that protrude forward in a flat cylindrical shape from both the left and right sides.

[0024] A waterproof unit packing 15 is provided on the front side of the front wall 11a. The unit packing 15 is fitted inside the opening 11c so as to surround the multiple sleeve portions 14a and 14b.

[0025] The multiple terminal forming sections 12 are made by processing a highly conductive metal plate, such as copper, into a predetermined shape. In this embodiment, a busbar made by bending a long metal plate is used as the terminal forming section 12.

[0026] One end of each of the multiple terminal forming sections 12 is located on the side (the rear side in this embodiment) into which the W / H side connector 200A of the housing 11 is inserted, and a first terminal row 16 is formed in which multiple (two in this embodiment) connector terminals 16a, 16b are arranged in a first direction (up and down direction in this embodiment) (hereinafter referred to as "first direction Z").

[0027] The other ends of the multiple terminal forming sections 12 are located on a side of the housing 11 different from the side where the first terminal row 16 is provided (in this embodiment, the front side), and constitute a second terminal row 17 in which multiple (two in this embodiment) connection terminals 17a, 17b are arranged in a second direction (left-right direction in this embodiment) (hereinafter referred to as "second direction Y").

[0028] The multiple connector terminals 16a and 16b constituting the first terminal row 16 are located inside the mating cylinder portion 11b and are provided to protrude cylindrically toward the rear in parallel to each other. In addition, each connector terminal 16a and 16b is integrally provided with a resin cap 18 that covers the outside of the base end and penetrates the inside from the base end to the tip end.

[0029] The multiple connection terminals 17a and 17b constituting the second terminal row 17 are provided so as to protrude forward in a rectangular, flat shape parallel to each other, while penetrating the sleeve portions 14a and 14b. The multiple connection terminals 17a and 17b constituting the second terminal row 17 are electrically connected to the equipment side through the opening 300b provided in the unit 300 when the housing 11 is fixed to the unit 300 side.

[0030] In the device-side connector 100A of this embodiment, the first direction Z and the second direction Y are in a positional relationship where they intersect each other (orthogonal in this embodiment) when viewed from a plane parallel to the first direction Z and the second direction Y (when the YZ plane is viewed from the X-axis direction in this embodiment).

[0031] The multiple terminal forming sections 12 have a routing structure that converts the orientation of the terminals between the first terminal row 16 and the second terminal row 17. Specifically, the multiple terminal forming sections 12 include terminal forming sections that form connector terminals 16a and connection terminals 17a (hereinafter distinguished as "first terminal forming section 12A") and terminal forming sections that form connector terminals 16b and connection terminals 17b (hereinafter distinguished as "second terminal forming section 12B").

[0032] The first terminal forming section 12A has a first routing section 19a that forms the space between the connector terminal 16a and the connecting terminal 17a. The second terminal forming section 12B has a second routing section 19b that forms the space between the connector terminal 16b and the connecting terminal 17b. The first terminal forming section 12A and the second terminal forming section 12B change the orientation of the terminals between the first terminal row 16 and the second terminal row 17 by making the lengths and bending positions of the first routing section 19a and the second routing section 19b different.

[0033] In the device-side connector 100A of this embodiment, which has the configuration described above, it is possible to convert the orientation of the terminals between the first terminal row 16 and the second terminal row 17 to a first direction Z and a second direction Y that are orthogonal to each other.

[0034] Furthermore, the equipment-side connector 100A in this embodiment is a straight-type connector in which the orientations of the first terminal row 16 and the second terminal row 17 are parallel to each other in a third direction (the front-to-back direction in this embodiment) (hereinafter referred to as "third direction X").

[0035] (W / H side connector) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, 5 and 6, the other W / H side connector 200A comprises a male housing 21 that is inserted into the equipment side connector 100A, a plurality (two in this embodiment) of terminal forming sections 22 held in the housing 21, and a plurality (two in this embodiment) of electric wire cords 23 that are electrically connected to the plurality of terminal forming sections 22.

[0036] The housing 21 is made of a molded synthetic resin. The housing 21 has a front plug 24 that forms its front side and a rear case 25 that forms its rear side. The housing 21 has a structure in which multiple terminal forming parts 22 are housed between the front plug 24 and the rear case 25 and are integrated with each other by screw fastening.

[0037] In this embodiment, four holes 24a are provided at the four corners of the front plug 24, extending through in the front-to-back direction. A circular ring-shaped collar 26 is fitted inside each hole 24a. On the other hand, four screw holes 25e corresponding to the four holes 24a are provided on the front side of the rear case 25.

[0038] The front plug 24 and the rear case 25 are integrated into a housing 21 by screwing screws 27 through the holes 24a on the front plug 24 side and through the screw holes 25e on the rear case 25 side.

[0039] Furthermore, a waterproof inner gasket 28 is provided between the front plug 24 and the rear case 25. The inner gasket 28 is positioned sandwiched between the front plug 24 and the rear case 25, surrounding the area between them.

[0040] The front plug 24 has a mating cylinder portion 24b that is mated with the mating cylinder portion 11b of the equipment-side connector 100A described above, and a plurality of (two in this embodiment) contact plugs 24c that are mated with a plurality of connector terminals 16a, 16b that constitute the first terminal row 16.

[0041] The fitting cylinder portion 24b protrudes forward from the front side of the front plug 24 in a substantially elongated cylindrical shape and opens in a substantially elongated oval shape on the front side of the front plug 24. Furthermore, the longitudinal direction of the fitting cylinder portion 24b coincides with the longitudinal direction of the fitting cylinder portion 11b (the vertical direction in this embodiment).

[0042] A waterproof connector packing 29 is provided on the front side of the front plug 24. The connector packing 29 is fitted around the mating cylinder portion 24b via a packing holder 30.

[0043] Multiple contact plugs 24c are arranged in a first direction Z and are located inside the fitting cylinder portion 24b, protruding cylindrically forward and parallel to each other.

[0044] The rear case 25 has a housing recess 25a that accommodates multiple terminal forming sections 22 from the front side, and a cord outlet section 25b that leads multiple electric wires 23 to the outside of the housing 21.

[0045] The housing recess 25a has partition walls 25c that demarcate the periphery of each of the multiple terminal forming portions 22 housed inside.

[0046] The cord outlet section 25b has a plurality (two in this embodiment) of sleeve sections 25d arranged in the first direction Z. The plurality of sleeve sections 25d are provided projecting outwards from one side of the rear case 25 in the second direction Y, parallel to each other, in a substantially elongated cylindrical shape. Furthermore, the plurality of sleeve sections 25d are connected to each other.

[0047] The multiple terminal forming sections 22 are formed by processing a highly conductive metal plate, such as copper, into a predetermined shape. In this embodiment, long crimp terminals are used as terminal forming sections 22.

[0048] One end of each of the multiple terminal forming sections 22 is located on the side of the housing 21 that is inserted into the equipment-side connector 100A (the front side in this embodiment), and multiple (two in this embodiment) connector terminals 31a, 31b constitute a third terminal row 31 arranged in the first direction Z.

[0049] The other ends of the multiple terminal forming sections 22 are located on a side different from the side of the housing 21 where the third terminal row 31 is provided (one side in the second direction Y in this embodiment), and multiple (two in this embodiment) connection terminals 32a, 32b constitute a fourth terminal row 32 arranged in the first direction Z.

[0050] The multiple terminal forming sections 22 include terminal forming sections that form connector terminals 31a and connection terminals 32a (hereinafter distinguished as "third terminal forming section 22A") and terminal forming sections that form connector terminals 31b and connection terminals 32b (hereinafter distinguished as "fourth terminal forming section 22B").

[0051] The third terminal forming portion 22A is bent at a right angle between the connector terminal 31a and the connecting terminal 32a. The fourth terminal forming portion 22B is bent at a right angle between the connector terminal 31b and the connecting terminal 32b.

[0052] The multiple connector terminals 31a and 31b constituting the third terminal row 31 are arranged parallel to the first direction Z and protrude cylindrically toward the front. Each connector terminal 31a and 31b is fitted inside each contact plug 24c. A coil-shaped terminal spring 33 is also arranged inside each contact plug 24c.

[0053] The multiple connection terminals 32a and 32b constituting the fourth terminal row 32 are arranged parallel to the first direction Z and protrude in a rectangular, flat shape toward one side of the second direction Y. Each connection terminal 32a and 32b is housed inside each partition wall 25c of the housing recess 25a.

[0054] Multiple electrical wires 23 have a structure in which an electrical wire, such as copper, is covered with an insulating resin. An LA terminal 34 is attached to one end of each electrical wire 23.

[0055] The LA terminals 34 of the multiple electrical wires 23 and the multiple connection terminals 32a and 32b that constitute the fourth terminal row 32 are fixed to the rear case 25 in a joined state by screwing screws 35 into screw holes 25e provided inside the housing recess 25a of the rear case 25, through holes 34a and 32d provided on the end of each terminal.

[0056] The other end of the electric wire cord 23 is extended to the outside of the housing 21 through the sleeve portion 25d of the cord outlet. A waterproof wire packing 36 is fitted to the tip of the sleeve portion 25d via a pair of packing holders 37.

[0057] In the W / H side connector 200A having the above configuration, the direction of the arrangement of the third terminal row 31 and the direction of the arrangement of the fourth terminal row 32 are parallel to each other in the first direction Z. Furthermore, the W / H side connector 200A constitutes an L-type connector in which the orientations of the third terminal row 31 and the fourth terminal row 32 are orthogonal to each other in the third direction X and the second direction Y.

[0058] (Lever lock mechanism) In the connector structure of this embodiment, the equipment-side connector 100A and the W / H-side connector 200A are lever-lock type connectors and are equipped with a lever-lock mechanism 50 that fixes the housings 11 and 21 of each other in a fitted state.

[0059] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the lever lock mechanism 50 includes a lever 51 provided on either the equipment-side connector 100A or the W / H-side connector 200A (in this embodiment, the W / H-side connector 200A), and a lock pin 52 provided on the other connector (in this embodiment, the equipment-side connector 100A).

[0060] The lever 51 is rotatably mounted on the housing 21 (rear case 25) via a pair of hinge portions 51a provided on both sides in a first direction Z. A pair of guide slits 51b are provided on both sides of the lever 51 in the first direction Z. The pair of guide slits 51b are cut out in an arc shape from one side in the rotational direction of the lever 51.

[0061] The lock pins 52 are provided protruding from both sides of the housing 11 in the first direction Z. The tip of the lock pins 52 is provided with a flange portion 52a that protrudes in the expanding direction around its entire circumference.

[0062] In the lever lock mechanism 50, with the housings 11 and 21 fitted together, rotating the lever 51 in the locking direction causes the pair of lock pins 52 to engage with the pair of guide slits 51b and be guided to the ends of the pair of guide slits 51b. Furthermore, rotating the lever 51 to the locked position fixes the housings 11 and 21 in a biased position toward fitting together. This lever lock mechanism 50 installation operation makes it possible to attach the W / H side connector 200A to the equipment side connector 100A.

[0063] On the other hand, in the lever lock mechanism 50, rotating the lever from the locked position in the unlocking direction guides the pair of locking pins 52 to the open ends of the pair of guide slits 51b. Furthermore, rotating the lever 51 to the unlocked position releases the engagement between the pair of locking pins 52 and the pair of guide slits 51b. By removing this lever lock mechanism 50, the housings 11 and 21 are released from their mated state, making it possible to remove the W / H side connector 200A from the equipment side connector 100A.

[0064] (Interlock mechanism) In the connector structure of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, the equipment-side connector 100A and the W / H-side connector 200A are equipped with an interlock mechanism 60 that enables current to be passed between them by detecting when their respective housings 11 and 21 are mated together.

[0065] The interlock mechanism 60 includes an interlock housing 61 and a wire cord 62 for the detection circuit provided on the equipment-side connector 100A side, and a short terminal 63 and a detection circuit element 64 provided on the W / H-side connector 200A side.

[0066] The interlock housing 61 is attached to the front of the front plug 24 (housing 11) via a spacer 65 into a mounting hole 11f provided between the sleeve portions 14a and 14b, while holding the signal terminal 62a provided at the end of the wire cord 62 for the detection circuit.

[0067] The short terminal 63 is fitted inside the contact plug 24d for the detection circuit, which is located inside the mating cylinder portion 24b of the front plug 24.

[0068] The detection circuit element 64 is a CPA (Connector Position Assurance) device that ensures that the connectors 100A and 200A are mated to their correct positions. The detection circuit element 64 is mounted on the rear side of the rear case 25 (housing 11).

[0069] In the interlock mechanism 60, when the connectors 100A and 200A are mated together by the lever lock mechanism 50 described above, power is not supplied between the connectors 100A and 200A unless the signal terminal 62a on the equipment-side connector 100A contacts the detection circuit element 64. This configuration ensures that the connectors 100A and 200A are mated to their correct positions.

[0070] (Connector structure) In the connector structure of this embodiment, when the housing 11 of the equipment-side connector 100A and the housing 21 of the W / H-side connector 200A are fitted together, the fitting cylinder portion 11b of the housing 11 and the fitting cylinder portion 24b of the housing 21 are fitted together. Furthermore, when the multiple connector terminals 16a and 16b constituting the first terminal row 16 are fitted into the multiple contact plugs 24c of the housing 21, the multiple connector terminals 16a and 16b constituting the first terminal row 16 and the multiple connector terminals 31a and 31b constituting the third terminal row 31 are electrically connected.

[0071] Furthermore, in the connector structure of this embodiment, when the housing 11 of the equipment-side connector 100A and the housing 21 of the W / H-side connector 200A are fitted together, the direction of arrangement of the second terminal row 17 on the equipment side is the second direction Y, while the direction of arrangement of the electric wire cord 23 on the W / H side is the first direction Z, which is perpendicular to the second direction Y.

[0072] As described above, in the device-side connector 100A of this embodiment, by converting the alignment direction of the first terminal row 16 and the second terminal row 17 between each other to a first direction Z and a second direction Y which are mutually orthogonal, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the alignment direction of the first terminal row 16 and the second terminal row 17.

[0073] In the above-mentioned device-side connector 100A, as shown in Figure 7, the signal terminal 62a of the interlock mechanism 60 is located on one side of the multiple connector terminals 16a, 16b arranged in the first direction Z, and the signal terminal 62a of the interlock mechanism 60 is located between the multiple connection terminals 17a, 17b arranged in the second direction Y.

[0074] On the other hand, in the above-mentioned equipment-side connector 100A, as shown in Figure 8(A), it is also possible to configure the device-side connector 100A so that the signal terminal 62a of the interlock mechanism 60 is located between a plurality of connector terminals 16a, 16b arranged in the first direction Z, and the signal terminal 62a of the interlock mechanism 60 is located between a plurality of connection terminals 17a, 17b arranged in the second direction Y.

[0075] On the other hand, in the above-mentioned equipment-side connector 100A, as shown in Figure 8(B), it is also possible to have a configuration in which the signal terminal 62a of the interlock mechanism 60 is located on one side of the multiple connector terminals 16a, 16b arranged in the first direction Z, and the signal terminal 62a of the interlock mechanism 60 is located on one side of the multiple connection terminals 17a, 17b arranged in the second direction Y.

[0076] In the first embodiment described above, the equipment-side connector 100A and the W / H-side connector 200A have a two-terminal structure, but a three-terminal structure is also possible, and the number of terminals is not particularly limited.

[0077] <Second Embodiment> (Connector structure) As a second embodiment of the present invention, for example, the connector structure between the W / H side connector 200B of this embodiment and the mating equipment side connector 100B, as shown in Figures 9 to 16, will be described.

[0078] Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of the device-side connector 100B and the W / H-side connector 200B in a mated state. Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the device-side connector 100B and the W / H-side connector 200B in a mated state. Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the state before the device-side connector 100B and the W / H-side connector 200B are mated. Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the device-side connector 100B. Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the device-side connector 100B. Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the W / H-side connector 200B. Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the W / H-side connector 200B. Figure 16 is a front view of the W / H-side connector 200B. Furthermore, in the following description, parts equivalent to the device-side connector 100A and the W / H-side connector 200B will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0079] As shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, the connector structure of this embodiment electrically connects the W / H side connector 200B of this embodiment with the mating equipment side connector 100B by mating, enabling current to flow between connectors 100B and 200B.

[0080] The other device-side connector 100B constitutes a female (receptacle) connector. On the other hand, the W / H-side connector 200B of this embodiment constitutes a male (plug) connector. Therefore, the connector structure of this embodiment is such that the device-side connector 100B and the W / H-side connector 200B are mated together when the W / H-side connector 200B is inserted into the device-side connector 100B.

[0081] In this embodiment, the direction in which the W / H side connector 200B is inserted into the device side connector 100B is defined as the front (+X direction) of each connector 100B, 200B, and the opposite direction is defined as the rear (-X direction). The side facing the first direction is defined as the front side of each connector 100B, 200B, and the opposite side is defined as the rear side of each connector 100B, 200B.

[0082] (Device-side connector) As shown in Figures 9 to 13, the device-side connector 100A comprises a female housing 11 into which the W / H-side connector 200B is inserted, and a plurality (three in this embodiment) of terminal forming portions 12 held in the housing 11.

[0083] The housing 11 is made of a molded synthetic resin. The housing 11 has a front wall 11a that forms its front side and a fitting cylindrical portion 11b that forms its rear side. The housing 11 has a structure in which multiple terminal forming portions 12 are sandwiched between the front wall 11a and the fitting cylindrical portion 11b, and these portions are integrated together.

[0084] The front wall 11a is the part that abuts against the equipment-side unit 300. The front wall 11a has a shape in which a roughly rectangular flat lower plate portion 111 with rounded corners and a roughly triangular flat upper plate portion 112 with a rounded top are integrated in the vertical direction. In addition, the longitudinal direction of the lower plate portion 111 coincides with the width direction of the housing 11.

[0085] A roughly rectangular opening 11c is provided in the center of the lower plate portion 111 in the width direction. Two holes 11d are provided on both sides of the lower plate portion 111 in the width direction, with the opening 11c in the middle and the other two holes 11d extending through in the front-to-back direction. A circular ring-shaped collar 13 is fitted inside each hole 11d.

[0086] In this embodiment, the equipment-side connector 100B allows the housing 11 to be fixed to the unit 300 by screwing a screw 301 into a screw hole 300a provided on the unit 300 side through each hole 11d.

[0087] The mating cylinder portion 11b is the part into which the housing 21 of the W / H side connector 200B, which will be described later, is inserted. The mating cylinder portion 11b protrudes from the rear side of the front wall 11a toward the rear in a substantially elongated cylindrical shape, and opens in a substantially elongated oval shape on the rear side of the housing 11. In addition, the longitudinal direction of the mating cylinder portion 11b coincides with the vertical direction of the housing 11.

[0088] Furthermore, on the front side of the fitting cylinder portion 11b, there is a fitting projection 11e that has a shape corresponding to the opening 11c of the front wall 11a and is fitted into the inside of the opening 11c. In addition, on the front side of the fitting projection 11e, there are multiple (three in this embodiment) sleeve portions 14a, 14b, and 14c that are arranged parallel to the second direction Y (left-right direction in this embodiment) and protrude forward in a flattened cylindrical shape.

[0089] A waterproof unit packing 15 is provided on the front side of the front wall 11a. The unit packing 15 is fitted inside the opening 11c so as to surround the multiple sleeve portions 14a, 14b, and 14c.

[0090] The multiple terminal forming sections 12 are made by processing a highly conductive metal plate, such as copper, into a predetermined shape. In this embodiment, a busbar made by bending a long metal plate is used as the terminal forming section 12.

[0091] One end of each of the multiple terminal forming sections 12 is located on the side (the rear side in this embodiment) into which the W / H side connector 200B of the housing 11 is inserted, and multiple (three in this embodiment) connector terminals 16a, 16b, and 16c form a first terminal row 16 arranged in the second direction Y.

[0092] The other ends of the multiple terminal forming sections 12 are located on a side of the housing 11 different from the side where the first terminal row 16 is provided (the front side in this embodiment), and multiple (three in this embodiment) connection terminals 17a, 17b, 17b constitute a second terminal row 17 arranged in the second direction Y.

[0093] The multiple connector terminals 16a, 16b, and 16c constituting the first terminal row 16 are located inside the mating cylinder portion 11b and are provided to protrude cylindrically toward the rear in parallel to each other. In addition, each connector terminal 16a, 16b, and 16c is integrally provided with a resin cap 18 that covers the outside of the base end and penetrates the inside from the base end to the tip end.

[0094] The multiple connection terminals 17a, 17b, and 17c constituting the second terminal row 17 are provided so as to protrude forward in a rectangular, flat shape parallel to each other, while passing through the sleeve portions 14a, 14b, and 14c. The multiple connection terminals 17a, 17b, and 17c constituting the second terminal row 17 are electrically connected to the equipment side through the opening 300b provided in the unit 300 when the housing 11 is fixed to the unit 300 side.

[0095] The multiple terminal forming sections 12 include a terminal forming section that forms the connector terminal 16a and the connection terminal 17a (hereinafter distinguished as the "first terminal forming section 12C"), a terminal forming section that forms the connector terminal 16b and the connection terminal 17b (hereinafter distinguished as the "second terminal forming section 12D"), and a terminal forming section that forms the connector terminal 16c and the connection terminal 17c (hereinafter distinguished as the "third terminal forming section 12E").

[0096] The first terminal forming portion 12C is bent in a crank shape between the connector terminal 16a and the connecting terminal 17a. The second terminal forming portion 12D is bent in a crank shape between the connector terminal 16b and the connecting terminal 17b. The third terminal forming portion 12E is bent in a crank shape between the connector terminal 16c and the connecting terminal 17c.

[0097] In the device-side connector 100B of this embodiment, which has the configuration described above, the direction of arrangement of the first terminal row 16 and the direction of arrangement of the second terminal row 17 are parallel to each other in a second direction Y. Furthermore, the device-side connector 100B of this embodiment is a straight-type connector in which the orientations of the first terminal row 16 and the second terminal row 17 are parallel to each other in a third direction X.

[0098] (W / H side connector) As shown in Figures 9 to 1 and 14 to 16, the other W / H side connector 200B comprises a male housing 21 that is inserted into the equipment side connector 100A, a plurality (three in this embodiment) of terminal forming parts 22 held in the housing 21, and a plurality (three in this embodiment) of electric wire cords 23 that are electrically connected to the plurality of terminal forming parts 22.

[0099] The housing 21 is made of a molded synthetic resin. The housing 21 has a front plug 24 that forms its front side and a rear case 25 that forms its rear side. The housing 21 has a structure in which multiple terminal forming parts 22 are housed between the front plug 24 and the rear case 25 and are integrated with each other by screw fastening.

[0100] In this embodiment, four holes 24a are provided at the four corners of the front plug 24, extending through in the front-to-back direction. A circular ring-shaped collar 26 is fitted inside each hole 24a. On the other hand, four screw holes 25e corresponding to the four holes 24a are provided on the front side of the rear case 25.

[0101] The front plug 24 and the rear case 25 are integrated into a housing 21 by screwing screws 27 through the holes 24a on the front plug 24 side and through the screw holes 25e on the rear case 25 side.

[0102] Furthermore, a waterproof inner gasket 28 is provided between the front plug 24 and the rear case 25. The inner gasket 28 is positioned sandwiched between the front plug 24 and the rear case 25, surrounding the area between them.

[0103] The front plug 24 has a mating cylinder portion 24b that is mated with the mating cylinder portion 11b of the equipment-side connector 100A described above, and a plurality of (three in this embodiment) contact plugs 24c that are mated with a plurality of connector terminals 16a, 16b that constitute the first terminal row 16.

[0104] The fitting cylinder portion 24b protrudes forward from the front side of the front plug 24 in a substantially elongated cylindrical shape and opens in a substantially elongated oval shape on the front side of the front plug 24. Furthermore, the longitudinal direction of the fitting cylinder portion 24b coincides with the longitudinal direction of the fitting cylinder portion 11b (the left-right direction in this embodiment).

[0105] A waterproof connector packing 29 is provided on the front side of the front plug 24. The connector packing 29 is fitted around the mating cylinder portion 24b via a packing holder 30.

[0106] Multiple contact plugs 24c are arranged in a second direction Y and are located inside the fitting cylinder portion 24b, protruding cylindrically forward and parallel to each other.

[0107] The rear case 25 has a housing recess 25a that accommodates multiple terminal forming sections 22 from the front side, and a cord outlet section 25b that leads multiple electric wires 23 to the outside of the housing 21.

[0108] The housing recess 25a has partition walls 25c that demarcate the periphery of each of the multiple terminal forming portions 22 housed inside.

[0109] The cord outlet section 25b has a plurality (three in this embodiment) of sleeve sections 25d arranged in a first direction Z (up and down in this embodiment). The plurality of sleeve sections 25d are provided projecting outwards from one side of the rear case 25 in a second direction Y, parallel to each other, in a substantially elongated cylindrical shape. Furthermore, the plurality of sleeve sections 25d are connected to each other.

[0110] The multiple terminal forming sections 22 are formed by processing a highly conductive metal plate, such as copper, into a predetermined shape. In this embodiment, long crimp terminals are used as terminal forming sections 22.

[0111] One end of each of the multiple terminal forming sections 22 is located on the side of the housing 21 that is inserted into the equipment-side connector 100A (the front side in this embodiment), and multiple (three in this embodiment) connector terminals 31a, 31b, and 31c constitute a third terminal row 31 arranged in the first direction Z.

[0112] The other ends of the multiple terminal forming sections 22 are located on a side different from the side of the housing 21 where the third terminal row 31 is provided (one side in the second direction Y in this embodiment), and multiple (three in this embodiment) connection terminals 32a, 32b, and 32c constitute a fourth terminal row 32 arranged in the first direction Z.

[0113] The multiple terminal forming sections 22 have a routing structure that changes the orientation of the terminals between the third terminal row 31 and the fourth terminal row 32. Specifically, the multiple terminal forming sections 22 include terminal forming sections that form connector terminals 31a and connection terminals 32a (hereinafter distinguished as "fourth terminal forming section 22C"), terminal forming sections that form connector terminals 31b and connection terminals 32b (hereinafter distinguished as "fifth terminal forming section 22D"), and terminal forming sections that form connector terminals 31c and connection terminals 32c (hereinafter distinguished as "sixth terminal forming section 22E").

[0114] The fourth terminal forming section 22C has a first routing section 19c that forms the space between the connector terminal 31a and the connecting terminal 32a. The fifth terminal forming section 22D has a second routing section 19d that forms the space between the connector terminal 31b and the connecting terminal 32b. The sixth terminal forming section 22E has a third routing section 19e that forms the space between the connector terminal 31c and the connecting terminal 32c. The fourth terminal forming section 22C, the fifth terminal forming section 22D, and the sixth terminal forming section 22E change the orientation of the terminals between the third terminal row 31 and the fourth terminal row 32 by varying the lengths and bending positions of the first routing section 19c, the second routing section 19d, and the third routing section 19e.

[0115] The multiple connector terminals 31a, 31b, and 31c constituting the third terminal row 31 are arranged parallel to the second direction Y and protrude forward in a cylindrical shape. Each connector terminal 31a, 31b, and 31c is fitted inside each contact plug 24c. A coil-shaped terminal spring 33 is also arranged inside each contact plug 24c.

[0116] The multiple connection terminals 32a, 32b, and 32c constituting the fourth terminal row 32 are arranged parallel to the first direction Z and protrude in a rectangular, flat shape toward one side of the second direction Y. Each connection terminal 32a, 32b, and 32c is housed inside each partition wall 25c of the housing recess 25a.

[0117] Multiple electrical wires 23 have a structure in which an electrical wire, such as copper, is covered with an insulating resin. An LA terminal 34 is attached to one end of each electrical wire 23.

[0118] The LA terminals 34 of the multiple electrical wires 23 and the multiple connection terminals 32a, 32b, and 32c that constitute the fourth terminal row 32 are fixed to the rear case 25 in a joined state by screwing screws 35 into screw holes 25e provided inside the housing recess 25a of the rear case 25, through holes 34a and 32d provided on the end of each terminal.

[0119] The other end of the electric wire cord 23 is extended to the outside of the housing 21 through the sleeve portion 25d of the cord outlet. A waterproof wire packing 36 is fitted to the tip of the sleeve portion 25d via a pair of packing holders 37.

[0120] In the W / H side connector 200B having the above configuration, it is possible to convert the alignment direction between the third terminal row 31 and the fourth terminal row 32 between the two mutually orthogonal second direction Y and first direction Z.

[0121] Furthermore, the W / H side connector 200B of this embodiment is an L-shaped connector in which the orientations of the third terminal row 31 and the fourth terminal row 32 are orthogonal to each other in the third direction X and the second direction Y.

[0122] (Lever lock mechanism) In the connector structure of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 9 to 16, the equipment-side connector 100A and the W / H-side connector 200A are lever-lock type connectors and are equipped with a lever-lock mechanism 50 that fixes the housings 11 and 21 of each other in a fitted state. The configuration of the lever-lock mechanism 50 will not be described here.

[0123] In the lever lock mechanism 50, with the housings 11 and 21 fitted together, rotating the lever 51 in the locking direction causes the pair of lock pins 52 to engage with the pair of guide slits 51b and be guided to the ends of the pair of guide slits 51b. Furthermore, rotating the lever 51 to the locked position fixes the housings 11 and 21 in a biased position toward fitting together. This lever lock mechanism 50 installation operation makes it possible to attach the W / H side connector 200B to the equipment side connector 100B.

[0124] On the other hand, in the lever lock mechanism 50, rotating the lever from the locked position in the unlocking direction guides the pair of lock pins 52 to the open ends of the pair of guide slits 51b. Furthermore, rotating the lever 51 to the unlocked position releases the engagement between the pair of lock pins 52 and the pair of guide slits 51b. By removing this lever lock mechanism 50, the housings 11 and 21 are released from their mated state, making it possible to remove the W / H side connector 200B from the equipment side connector 100B.

[0125] (Interlock mechanism) In the connector structure of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 9 to 16, the equipment-side connector 100A and the W / H-side connector 200A are equipped with an interlock mechanism 60 that enables current to flow between them by detecting when their respective housings 11 and 21 are mated together. The configuration of the interlock mechanism 60 will not be described here.

[0126] A waterproof interlock packing 66 is provided on the rear side of the rear case 25 (housing 11). The interlock packing 66 is fitted into the mounting hole 11f via a packing holder 67. On the other hand, the interlock housing 61 is provided protruding rearward from the rear side of the rear case 25 (housing 11), passing through the interlock packing 66 and the packing holder 67.

[0127] In the interlock mechanism 60, when the connectors 100B and 200B are mated together by the lever lock mechanism 50 described above, power is not supplied between the connectors 100B and 200B unless the signal terminal 62a on the equipment-side connector 100B contacts the detection circuit element 64. This configuration ensures that the connectors 100B and 200B are mated together in their correct positions.

[0128] (Connector structure) In the connector structure of this embodiment, when the housing 11 of the equipment-side connector 100B and the housing 21 of the W / H-side connector 200B are fitted together, the fitting cylinder portion 11b of the housing 11 and the fitting cylinder portion 24b of the housing 21 are fitted together. Furthermore, when the multiple connector terminals 16a, 16b, 16c constituting the first terminal row 16 are fitted into the multiple contact plugs 24c of the housing 21, the multiple connector terminals 16a, 16b, 16c constituting the first terminal row 16 and the multiple connector terminals 31a, 31b, 31c constituting the third terminal row 31 are electrically connected.

[0129] Furthermore, in the connector structure of this embodiment, as shown in the figure, when the housing 11 of the equipment-side connector 100B and the housing 21 of the W / H-side connector 200B are fitted together, the direction of arrangement of the second terminal row 17 on the equipment side is the second direction Y, while the direction of arrangement of the electric wire cord 23 on the W / H side is the first direction Z, which is perpendicular to the second direction Y.

[0130] As described above, in the W / H side connector 200B of this embodiment, by converting the alignment direction of the third terminal row 31 and the fourth terminal row 32 between them to a first direction Z and a second direction Y that are orthogonal to each other, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the alignment direction of the third terminal row 31 and the fourth terminal row 32.

[0131] In the second embodiment described above, the equipment-side connector 100B and the W / H-side connector 200B have a 3-terminal structure, but it is also possible to have a 2-terminal structure, and the number of terminals is not particularly limited. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0132] 11…Housing 12…Terminal forming section 16…First terminal row 16a,16b,16c…Connector terminals 17…Second terminal row 17a,17b,17c…Connection terminals 19a…First wiring section 19b…Second wiring section 19c…First wiring section 19d…Second wiring section 19e…Third wiring section 21…Housing 22…Terminal forming section 23…Electric wire cord 31…Third terminal row 31a,31b,31c…Connector terminals 32…Fourth terminal row 32a,32b,32c…Connection terminals 50…Lever lock mechanism 60…Interlock mechanism 100A,100B…Equipment side connector 200A,200B…W / H side connector 300…Unit X…Third direction Y…Second direction Z...First direction

Claims

1. A female housing into which the other connector is inserted, The housing comprises a plurality of terminal forming portions held in the housing, One end of the plurality of terminal forming portions is located on the side of the housing into which the mating connector is inserted, and the plurality of connector terminals are arranged in a first direction to form a first terminal row. The other end of the plurality of terminal forming portions is located on a side of the housing different from the side on which the first terminal row is provided, and constitutes a second terminal row in which the plurality of connection terminals are arranged in a second direction. A connector in which the first direction and the second direction intersect each other when viewed from a plane parallel to the first direction and the second direction.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of terminal forming portions have a wiring structure that changes the orientation of the terminals between the first terminal row and the second terminal row.

3. A male housing that plugs into the other connector, The housing comprises a plurality of terminal forming portions held in the housing, One end of the plurality of terminal forming portions is located on the side of the housing that is inserted into the mating connector, and the plurality of connector terminals form a third terminal row arranged in a second direction. The other end of the plurality of terminal forming portions is located on a side of the housing different from the side on which the third terminal row is provided, and constitutes a fourth terminal row in which the plurality of connection terminals are arranged in the first direction. A connector in which the first direction and the second direction intersect each other when viewed from a plane parallel to the first direction and the second direction.

4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of terminal forming portions have a wiring structure that changes the orientation of the third terminal row and the fourth terminal row from one another.

5. The connector according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the first direction and the second direction are in a positional relationship that is orthogonal to each other when viewed in plan with respect to a plane parallel to the first direction and the second direction.

6. The connector according to claim 1 or 3, which is a lever-lock type connector that is mated with the mating connector by the rotation of the lever.

Images