connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that ensures the stability of the terminal orientation within the housing. [Solution] The terminal 20 has protrusions 31 and 32 that project radially from the outer conductor 22, which is the main body. The housing 40 has recesses 46 and 47 on one radial side of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43 for fitting the protrusions 31 and 32, and a mounting hole 53 for accommodating the retainer 60 from the other radial side. When the retainer 60 is housed in the mounting hole 53, it has a receiving portion 64 that faces the front-rear intermediate portion of the terminal 20 from the other radial side, and a retaining portion 67 that protrudes from the receiving portion 64 and locks the front-rear intermediate portion of the terminal 20. At least one of the receiving portion 64 of the retainer 60 and the front-rear intermediate portion of the terminal 20 has protrusions 68 and 69 that project toward and contact the other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a high-frequency connector including an inner terminal (hereinafter referred to as "terminal"), an inner housing (hereinafter referred to as "housing"), and a female-side spacer (hereinafter referred to as "retainer"). The housing has an inner terminal accommodation chamber (hereinafter referred to as "cavity"), and a spacer insertion hole (hereinafter referred to as "mounting hole") that intersects the cavity and opens on the lower surface of the housing. The terminal is accommodated in the cavity of the housing from the rear. The retainer is accommodated in the mounting hole of the housing from below. The retainer locks the terminal and suppresses the terminal from coming out backward from the cavity. The rear end portion of the terminal has a cylindrical enlarged-diameter portion with its axis in the front-rear direction. An upright piece that protrudes to one side in the vertical direction intersecting the front-rear direction is formed on the enlarged-diameter portion. A guide groove that recesses to one side in the vertical direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cavity of the housing. The upright piece is fitted into the guide groove.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For the terminal accommodated in the cavity, a force may act to push the terminal from the part on the side of the upright piece that contacts the inner surface of the guide groove to the other side in the vertical direction. If the terminal is pushed to the other side, problems such as destabilization of the posture (accommodation posture, insertion posture) of the terminal may occur.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a connector that can ensure the stability of the terminal orientation within the housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of this disclosure is a connector comprising a terminal, a housing, and a retainer, wherein the terminal has a main body portion with its axis oriented in the front-rear direction and a protrusion projecting from the main body portion to one side in the radial direction intersecting the front-rear direction, the housing has a cavity extending in the front-rear direction to accommodate the terminal from the rear, a recess provided on one side in the radial direction of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity to fit the protrusion, and a mounting hole intersecting the front-rear intermediate portion of the cavity to accommodate the retainer from the other side in the radial direction, the retainer having, when housed in the mounting hole, a receiving portion facing the front-rear intermediate portion of the terminal from the other side in the radial direction, and a retaining portion projecting from the receiving portion to lock the front-rear intermediate portion of the terminal, and at least one of the receiving portion of the retainer and the front-rear intermediate portion of the terminal has a protrusion projecting toward and contacting the other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This disclosure makes it possible to provide a connector that can ensure the stability of the terminal orientation within the housing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the second outer conductor of the terminal in the connector of Embodiment 1, viewed from the rear. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the housing of the connector according to Embodiment 1, viewed from the rear. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan cross-sectional view of the housing in the connector of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the retainer in the connector of Embodiment 1, viewed from the front. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a front view of the retainer in the connector of Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a rear view of the retainer in the connector of Embodiment 1. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a rear view of the connector of Embodiment 1. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to Embodiment 1, taken along line AA in Figure 8. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of Embodiment 1 in a state where the retainer is locked in a position to prevent the terminals from coming loose. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of Embodiment 1, in which each protrusion of the retainer is in contact with the other radial side of the outer surface of the terminal. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the connector of Embodiment 2, with the terminals viewed from below. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of Embodiment 2, in which each protruding portion of the terminal is facing the receiving surface of the retainer so as to be able to contact it. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. The connector disclosed herein is (1) A connector comprising a terminal, a housing, and a retainer, wherein the terminal has a main body portion with its axis oriented in the front-rear direction, and a protrusion projecting from the main body portion to one side in the radial direction intersecting the front-rear direction, the housing has a cavity extending in the front-rear direction to accommodate the terminal from the rear, a recess formed on one side in the radial direction of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity to fit the protrusion, and a mounting hole intersecting the front-rear intermediate portion of the cavity to accommodate the retainer from the other side in the radial direction, the retainer having, when housed in the mounting hole, a receiving portion facing the front-rear intermediate portion of the terminal from the other side in the radial direction, and a retaining portion projecting from the receiving portion to lock the front-rear intermediate portion of the terminal, and at least one of the receiving portion of the retainer and the front-rear intermediate portion of the terminal has a protrusion projecting toward and in contact with the other. When a force is applied to a terminal housed in a cavity, pushing the terminal radially in the other direction from the protruding portion that contacts the inner surface of the recess, the radially other side of the outer circumferential surface of the main body can come into contact with the protruding portion. This contact between the radially other side of the outer circumferential surface of the main body and the protruding portion prevents the terminal from moving radially in the other direction (hereinafter referred to as "deviation"), thereby ensuring the stability of the terminal's orientation within the housing.

[0010] (2) In the connector described in (1) above, it is preferable that the protrusion is arranged on a virtual diagonal line passing through the center of the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the cavity and the recess. According to the configuration described in (2) above, when a force is applied to the terminal from the convex portion that is in contact with the inner surface of the recess, pushing the terminal radially to the other side, the outer surface of the main body can come into contact with the protruding portion in the direction of that pushing. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the terminal from shifting radially to the other side.

[0011] (3) In the connector according to (2) above, the convex portions include a first convex portion and a second convex portion arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion, the concave portion includes a first concave portion into which the first convex portion is fitted and a second concave portion into which the second convex portion is fitted, and the protruding portion preferably includes a first protruding portion arranged on one of the virtual diagonal lines passing through the center of the front-rear intermediate portion of the cavity and the first concave portion, and a second protruding portion arranged on the other virtual diagonal line passing through the center of the front-rear intermediate portion of the cavity and the second concave portion. According to the configuration of (3) above, it is possible to more reliably prevent the terminal from shifting to the other side in the radial direction.

[0012] (4) In the connector according to any one of (1) to (3) above, it is preferable that the protruding portion is arranged side by side with the retaining portion in the front-rear direction. According to the configuration of (4) above, even if the retainer has a protruding portion separately from the retaining portion, it is possible to avoid an increase in size in the left-right direction, and thus avoid an increase in size of the connector in the left-right direction.

[0013] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this exemplification, and is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0014] <Embodiment 1> The connector 10 of Embodiment 1 is a so-called shielded connector, and as shown in Figure 1, it is equipped with a terminal 20 as a shield terminal that is connected to the end of a shielded wire 90. The connector 10 is equipped with a housing 40 that houses the terminal 20 and a retainer 60 that prevents the terminal 20 from coming off the housing 40. The housing 40 is matable with a mating connector (not shown). In the following description, the front-rear direction is defined as the side of the housing 40 that is mated with the mating connector being the front. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each figure except Figure 4. The reference for each direction does not necessarily coincide with the reference for direction when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like (not shown).

[0015] (Terminal 20 and shielded wire 90) As shown in Figure 1, the terminal 20 has a shape that extends long in the front-to-back direction as a whole. The terminal 20 has an inner conductor 21, an outer conductor 22, and a dielectric 23 (see Figure 13, which corresponds to Embodiment 2 described later). The inner conductor 21 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate. The inner conductor 21 has a cylindrical connecting portion (not shown) and a crimping portion 25 that is connected to the rear of the connecting portion. The connecting portion is connected to a mating inner conductor (not shown). The crimping portion 25 is connected to the core wire 91 at the end of the shield wire 90 by crimping. As shown in Figure 8, the shield wire 90 is a so-called coaxial cable and has an insulating covering 92 surrounding the outer circumference of the core wire 91, a mesh-tube-shaped braided wire 93 surrounding the outer circumference of the covering 92, and an insulating sheath 94 surrounding the outer circumference of the braided wire 93. The core wire 91 has the function of transmitting high-frequency signals. The braided wire 93 has the function of shielding electromagnetic waves.

[0016] The outer conductor 22 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer conductor 22 has a first outer conductor 26 and a second outer conductor 27, which are separate from each other. Both the first outer conductor 26 and the second outer conductor 27 have a cylindrical shape with their axes oriented in the front-rear direction. The front end of the first outer conductor 26 is fitted inside the rear end of the second outer conductor 27. The first outer conductor 26 and the second outer conductor 27 are connected by welding, such as spot welding, applied to their fitting portions. In their connected state, the first outer conductor 26 and the second outer conductor 27 constitute a cylindrical main body (corresponding to the outer conductor 22) that extends in the front-rear direction.

[0017] As shown in Figure 2, the front portion of the second outer conductor 27 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the rear portion of the second outer conductor 27. Multiple contact portions 28 are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the front portion of the second outer conductor 27 at intervals in the circumferential direction. A mating outer conductor (not shown) is fitted into the front portion of the second outer conductor 27 from the front. The outer conductor 22 and the mating outer conductor are electrically connected by each contact portion 28 contacting the inner circumferential surface of the mating outer conductor. The rear end of the first outer conductor 26 is connected to the braided wire 93 of the shield wire 90 by crimping. The first outer conductor 26 has a constricted portion 29 that is radially inwardly tapered in shape between the rear end that is crimped to the braided wire 93 of the shield wire 90 and the front end that is fitted into the second outer conductor 27. With the terminal 20 housed in the housing 40, the locking projection 55 of the lance 54, which will be described later, enters and is positioned in the constricted portion 29.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, two protrusions 31 and 32 are formed at the rear end of the second outer conductor 27 (corresponding to the front-to-rear intermediate part of the outer conductor 22), projecting radially outward. The two protrusions 31 and 32 are positioned side by side on both the left and right sides (both sides in the circumferential direction) of the upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the second outer conductor 27. The front end of the first outer conductor 26 is positioned radially inward of the two protrusions 31 and 32. Of the two protrusions 31 and 32, one is the first protrusion 31 which functions as a misinsertion prevention part, and the other is the second protrusion 32 which functions as a rotation suppression part.

[0019] The first protrusion 31 is positioned on the outer circumferential surface of the second outer conductor 27, on one side of the uppermost end of the second outer conductor 27 (the left side in Figure 2 when viewed from the rear). The first protrusion 31 is provided between a pair of circumferential slits 33 formed at the rear end of the second outer conductor 27, with a shape that bends radially outward. Specifically, the first protrusion 31 has a support end 34 located between the front ends of each slit 33 and continuous with the adjacent portion of the second outer conductor 27, and a strip-shaped extension 35 that extends cantilevered rearward from the support end 34, and is formed by bending the extension 35 radially outward in a mountain shape at the front-rear intermediate portion. The bending direction (radial direction) of the first protrusion 31 corresponds to the thickness direction of the first protrusion 31. The front and rear surfaces of the first protrusion 31 are plate surfaces. The radially outer top surface 36 of the first protrusion 31 is also a plate surface and exhibits a curved shape.

[0020] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the first protrusion 31 is fitted into the first recess 46 of the housing 40, which will be described later. When the terminal 20 is inserted into the housing 40, if the terminal 20 is in an incorrect position in the circumferential direction, the first protrusion 31 may abut against the stepped surface 44 of the housing 40, which will be described later, instead of being in a corresponding position with the first recess 46. This prevents the terminal 20 in an incorrect position from being inserted into the housing 40.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the second protrusion 32 is positioned on the outer circumferential surface of the second outer conductor 27, on the side opposite the uppermost end of the second outer conductor 27 (to the right in Figure 2 when viewed from the rear). The second protrusion 32 is provided in a shape that protrudes radially outward by bending a part of the rear end of the second outer conductor 27 along a fold in the front-rear direction. In other words, the second protrusion 32 is formed by cutting and bending a part of the rear end of the second outer conductor 27 radially outward. The plate surface of the second protrusion 32 is oriented in the circumferential direction. The tip surface 37 of the second protrusion 32 (the tip surface in the protruding direction and the radially outward end surface) is a cut surface. As shown in Figures 8 and 11, the second protrusion 32 is fitted into the second recess 47 of the housing 40, which will be described later. By the circumferential contact between the circumferential sides of the second protrusion 32 and the inner surface of the second recess 47, rotation of the terminal 20 around its axis within the housing 40 is suppressed.

[0022] The dielectric 23 is molded from an insulating synthetic resin material. The dielectric 23 is formed as a whole in a cylindrical shape with its axis oriented in the front-to-back direction. The dielectric 23 has a housing hole 38 (see Figure 13) that extends in the axial direction. The inner conductor 21 is inserted into the housing hole 38 of the dielectric 23 from the rear and housed there. The shield wire 90 is positioned behind the dielectric 23, except for the tip of the core wire 91 connected to the inner conductor 21. The inner conductor 21 and the outer conductor 22 are kept insulated from each other by the dielectric 23 interposed between them.

[0023] (Housing 40) The housing 40 is molded from an insulating synthetic resin material. As shown in Figure 1, the housing 40 has a housing body 41 and a hood portion 42 that protrudes forward from the housing body 41. As shown in Figure 4, the housing body 41 has a cavity 43 that extends in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figure 9, the terminal 20 is inserted into the cavity 43 from the rear.

[0024] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the cross-section of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43 (the cross-section obtained by cutting the housing body 41 in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction) is circular in shape. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a stepped surface 44 is formed near the rear end of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43. As shown in Figure 9, the stepped surface 44 is tilted forward radially inward on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43. In the cavity 43 of the housing body 41, the rear end on the front side of the stepped surface 44 is formed with a larger diameter than the front end on the front side. The interior of the rear end of the cavity 43 is a receiving space 45 for receiving the terminal 20.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3 and 10, two recesses 46 and 47 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43. The two recesses 46 and 47 are recessed side by side on both the left and right sides (both sides in the circumferential direction) at the upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43. As shown in Figure 11, of the two recesses 46 and 47, one is configured as the first recess 46 that receives the first protrusion 31, and the other is configured as the second recess 47 that receives the second protrusion 32.

[0026] The first recess 46 is located at the upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43, on one side of the uppermost edge of the inner circumferential surface (to the left in Figure 10 when viewed from the rear). As shown in Figure 4, the first recess 46 has a groove shape extending in the front-rear direction, with its rear end opening to the rear surface of the housing body 41 and its front end being closed at a position near the front end of the housing body 41 (a position forward of the lance 54, which will be described later).

[0027] Of the first recess 46 extending in the front-rear direction, the portion formed at the rear end of the cavity 43 (the portion facing the receiving space 45) has a shallower radial depth (amount of recess) than the portion formed at the front part of the cavity 43. The first recess 46 opens to the stepped surface 44 near the rear end. As shown in Figure 10, the first recess 46 has a back surface 48 at a position recessed radially outward from the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43. The back surface 48 of the first recess 46 is a surface facing radially inward and is arranged along the direction parallel to the tangent to the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43 and along the front-rear direction. As shown in Figure 11, the top surface 36 of the first convex portion 31 can contact the back surface 48 of the first recess 46 by surface contact.

[0028] As shown in Figure 10, the second recess 47 is located at the upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43, on the side opposite the uppermost edge of the inner circumferential surface (to the left in Figure 10 when viewed from the rear). As shown in Figure 4, the second recess 47 has a groove shape extending in the front-rear direction, with its rear end opening to the rear surface of the housing body 41 and its front end being closed at a position closer to the front end of the housing body 41 (a position forward of the lance 54). The first recess 46 and the second recess 47 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction and are arranged parallel to each other. The front end of the second recess 47 is located forward of the front end of the first recess 46.

[0029] Of the second recess 47 extending in the front-rear direction, the portion formed at the rear end of the cavity 43 has a shallower radial depth than the portion formed at the front of the cavity 43. The second recess 47 opens to the stepped surface 44 near the rear end. As shown in Figure 10, the back surface 49 of the second recess 47 is positioned along the direction parallel to the tangent to the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43 and along the front-rear direction. The back surface 49 of the second recess 47 has a smaller circumferential opening width than the back surface 48 of the first recess 46.

[0030] Multiple convex portions 51 and 52 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43 at intervals in the circumferential direction. Each convex portion 51 or 52 is fixedly positioned and protrudes from both the left and right sides (both sides in the circumferential direction) at the lower end of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43. Of each convex portion 51 or 52, a portion is configured as a first convex portion 51 located on the radially opposite side of the first recess 46, and the other portion is configured as a second convex portion 52 located on the radially opposite side of the second recess 47.

[0031] As shown in Figure 8, the first convex portion 51 is located at the lower end of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43, on the side opposite the lowest edge of the inner circumferential surface (to the right in Figure 8 when viewed from the rear). The second convex portion 52 is located at the lower end of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43, on the side opposite the lowest edge of the inner circumferential surface (to the left in Figure 8 when viewed from the rear). The first convex portion 51 and the second convex portion 52 have the same shape.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the first convex portion 51 and the second convex portion 52 have a rib shape extending in the front-rear direction, with their rear ends facing the rear surface of the housing body 41 and their front ends reaching the rear end of the mounting hole 53, which will be described later. The circumferential surfaces of the convex portions 51 and 52 have an arc-shaped cross-section and are connected in a curved manner to the inner circumferential surface portion of the adjacent cavity 43. The convex portions 51 and 52 are divided into front and rear sides via a stepped surface 44. The front convex portions 51 and 52 and the rear convex portions 51 and 52 are formed with the same projection dimensions via the stepped surface 44. In the cavity 43, the formation range of the convex portions 51 and 52 in the front-rear direction and the formation range of the recesses 46 and 47 in the front-rear direction overlap with each other.

[0033] As shown in Figure 8, the first convex portion 51 and the first recess 46 are aligned on a virtual diagonal D1 passing through the center of the cavity 43 when viewed from the rear. The second convex portion 52 and the second recess 47 are aligned on another virtual diagonal D2 passing through the center of the cavity 43 when viewed from the rear. The first convex portion 51 and the second recess 47 are aligned on a virtual perpendicular line in the vertical direction when viewed from the rear. The second convex portion 52 and the first recess 46 are aligned on another virtual perpendicular line in the vertical direction when viewed from the rear. The first recess 46 and the second recess 47 are aligned on a virtual horizontal line in the left-right direction when viewed from the rear. The first convex portion 51 and the second convex portion 52 are aligned on another virtual horizontal line in the left-right direction when viewed from the rear.

[0034] As shown in Figures 4, 10, and 11, the housing body 41 has a mounting hole 53 that intersects with the cavity 43. The mounting hole 53 is formed from the lower surface of the housing body 41 to the front-to-rear middle part of the cavity 43. In short, the mounting hole 53 penetrates the lower wall of the housing body 41 in the vertical direction. The retainer 60 is inserted into the mounting hole 53 from below the housing body 41. A lance 54 is formed on the lower wall of the housing body 41. As shown in Figure 4, the lance 54 faces the mounting hole 53 and divides the left-to-right middle part of the mounting hole 53. The lance 54 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction with its base, which corresponds to the rear end of the mounting hole 53, as a fulcrum. A locking projection 55 is formed at the tip (front end) of the lance 54, which protrudes into the front-to-rear middle part inside the cavity 43. The locking projection 55 is positioned to be lockable against the rear end of the second outer conductor 27.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the left and right outer surfaces of the housing body 41 have side portions 56 that run in the front-rear and up-down directions. The side portions 56 are recessed from the adjacent portions on the left and right outer surfaces of the housing body 41. As shown in Figure 1, a temporary locking portion 57 and a permanent locking portion 58 are formed protruding from the side portions 56. Both the temporary locking portion 57 and the permanent locking portion 58 have a rib shape that extends in the front-rear direction. The temporary locking portion 57 and the permanent locking portion 58 are arranged side by side in the up-down direction. The permanent locking portion 58 is positioned above the temporary locking portion 57. The temporary locking portion 57 and the permanent locking portion 58 perform the function of holding the retainer 60 in the temporary locking position and the permanent locking position relative to the housing 40.

[0036] As shown in Figure 1, an elastically deformable locking arm 59 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 40. The locking arm 59 extends in the front-rear direction from the hood portion 42 to the housing body 41. This locking arm 59 has the function of locking the mating connector and holding the connector 10 and the mating connector in a mated state. The front end of the cavity 43 is open at the rear end surface (the rear side facing forward) of the hood portion 42. The mating connector is mated inside the hood portion 42.

[0037] (Retainer 60) The retainer 60 is molded from an insulating synthetic resin material. As shown in Figures 5-7, the retainer 60 has a rectangular plate-shaped base 61 when viewed from below, and a pair of left and right side portions 62 that rise from the left and right ends of the base 61. Each side portion 62 is rectangular plate-shaped when viewed from the side. The retainer 60 is positioned to move between a temporary locking position and a permanent locking position relative to the housing 40. When the retainer 60 is in the temporary locking position, the lower surface of the base 61 is positioned below the lower surface of the rear of the housing body 41. When the retainer 60 is in the permanent locking position, the lower surface of the base 61 is positioned at the same vertical position (same height) as the lower surface of the rear of the housing body 41.

[0038] As shown in Figure 10, each side portion 62 is positioned to cover each side portion 56 in the main locking position. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, a pair of left and right retaining protrusions 63 are formed protruding from the inner surfaces (opposite surfaces) of the upper ends of each side portion 62. Each retaining protrusion 63 has a rib shape extending in the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the upper end of each side portion 62. The retaining protrusions 63 are positioned between the temporary locking portion 57 and the main locking portion 58, thereby holding the retainer 60 in the temporary locking position relative to the housing 40. As shown in Figure 10, the retaining protrusions 63 are positioned above the main locking portion 58, and the base portion 61 strikes the front-rear intermediate portion of the housing body 41 (including the lower surface of the lance 54) from below, thereby holding the retainer 60 in the main locking position relative to the housing 40. The lance 54 is covered by the base portion 61, which suppresses excessive downward deflection.

[0039] As shown in Figures 5-7, the retainer 60 has a pair of left and right receiving portions 64 that protrude from the upper surfaces on both the left and right sides of the base portion 61. Each receiving portion 64 is positioned facing the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 22 from below. The upper end surface of each receiving portion 64 is a receiving surface 65 that curves in an arc along the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 22. Each receiving portion 64 is wall-shaped, with its wall surface facing left and right. Each receiving portion 64 faces each side portion 62 parallel to it, spaced apart from the left and right inner sides of each side portion 62. As shown in Figure 5, each receiving portion 64 has a pair of left and right projections 66 that protrude forward from the base portion 61.

[0040] A pair of left and right retaining portions 67 are formed protruding from the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the receiving surface 65 of each receiving portion 64. The front surfaces of each retaining portion 67 are arranged along the vertical direction. The front surfaces of each retaining portion 67 face the rear end of the second outer conductor 27 so as to be able to lock into place at the main locking position. The upper end surface of each retaining portion 67 is curved in an arc shape along the outer circumferential surface of the constricted portion 29 of the first outer conductor 26.

[0041] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, multiple protrusions 68 and 69 are fixedly provided on the receiving surface 65 of each receiving portion 64. Each protrusion 68 and 69 has a rib-like shape that extends in the front-rear direction in the left-right middle portion of each receiving surface 65. The rear ends of the protrusions 68 and 69 are connected to the front surface of the retaining portion 67. The front ends of the protrusions 68 and 69 face the front end surface of the projection portion 66. Except for the rear ends, the protrusions 68 and 69 are provided on the receiving surface 65 of the projection portion 66. The circumferential surfaces of the protrusions 68 and 69 have an arc-shaped cross-section. A stepped portion 71 is formed near the base of the projection portion 66. Of the front and rear sides of the protrusions 68 and 69, the upper end of the protrusion 68 and 69 located on the front side of the stepped portion 71 is positioned one step lower than the upper end of the protrusion 68 and 69 located on the rear side. The protrusions 68 and 69 are not provided behind the retaining portion 67. With the retainer 60 held in the housing 40, the formation ranges of the protrusions 68 and 69 in the front-rear direction and the formation ranges of the recesses 46 and 47 in the front-rear direction overlap with each other.

[0042] With the retainer 60 positioned in the locking position relative to the housing 40, of the protrusions 68 and 69, the one on the left or right side is configured as a first protrusion 68 located radially opposite to the first recess 46, and the other on the left or right side is configured as a second protrusion 69 located radially opposite to the second recess 47.

[0043] As shown in Figure 11, with the retainer 60 positioned in the locking position relative to the housing 40, the first projection 68 and the first recess 46 are aligned on a virtual diagonal D1 passing through the center of the front-to-rear middle section of the cavity 43. The second projection 69 and the second recess 47 are aligned on another virtual diagonal D2 passing through the center of the front-to-rear middle section of the cavity 43. The first projection 68 and the second recess 47 are aligned on a virtual perpendicular line along the vertical direction. The second projection 69 and the first recess 46 are aligned on another virtual perpendicular line along the vertical direction. The first recess 46 and the second recess 47 are aligned on a virtual horizontal line along the left-to-right direction. The first projection 68 and the second projection 69 are aligned on another virtual horizontal line along the left-to-right direction.

[0044] (The function of the connector) During assembly, the retainer 60 is held in a temporary locking position relative to the housing 40, and the terminal 20 is inserted into the cavity 43. During the insertion process into the cavity 43, the first protrusion 31 is inserted into the first recess 46, and the second protrusion 32 is inserted into the second recess 47. The top surface 36 of the first protrusion 31 contacts the back surface 48 of the first recess 46, and the first protrusion 31 undergoes slight elastic deformation with the support end 34 as the fulcrum. The tip surface 37 of the second protrusion 32 is positioned away from the back surface 49 of the second recess 47 in non-contact. The circumferential sides of the second protrusion 32 are positioned to be able to contact the inner surface of the second recess 47. The circumferential sides of the first protrusion 31 are also positioned to be able to contact the inner surface of the first recess 46. Due to the contact between each of the first protrusion 31 and the second protrusion 32 and the housing 40 (the inner surfaces of the first recess 46 and the second recess 47), a force acts on the terminal 20 that presses the outer conductor 22 toward the radial opposite side (lower side in the figure) of the cavity 43 where each of the first protrusion 31 and the second protrusion 32 is located. When the terminal 20 receives this force, the outer conductor 22 attempts to move in a direction that is biased toward the radial opposite side (hereinafter referred to as "shift"). Then, the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the second outer conductor 27 of the outer conductor 22 from the radial opposite side, preventing the shift of the outer conductor 22 toward the radial opposite side (see Figures 8 and 9). In this embodiment 1, the first recess 46 and the first convex portion 51 are arranged on one virtual diagonal D1 when viewed from the rear, and the second recess 47 and the second convex portion 52 are arranged on another virtual diagonal D2 when viewed from the rear. As a result, the force pressing the outer conductor 22 to the other radial side is effectively received by the first convex portion 51 and the second convex portion 52. This allows the outer conductor 22 to be inserted straight into the cavity 43 along the front-rear direction.

[0045] In contrast, if the terminal 20 is in an incorrect position in the circumferential direction, such as being inverted upside down, the front end of the outer conductor 22 enters the receiving space 45, the front surface of the first protrusion 31 abuts against the stepped surface 44, and the incorrectly positioned terminal 20 is prevented from being inserted into the cavity 43. In this embodiment 1, if the terminal 20 is in an incorrect position, the top surface 36 of the first protrusion slides against the upper end of the rear first convex portion 51, and one radial side of the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 22 contacts the inner circumferential surface of the rear end of the cavity 43 while receiving the elastic reaction force of the first protrusion 31. As a result, the front end of the outer conductor 22 can move through the receiving space 45 without tilting along the front-rear direction, so that the state in which the front surface of the first protrusion 31 abuts against the stepped surface 44 can be reliably achieved.

[0046] When the outer conductor 22 is properly inserted into the cavity 43, the locking projection 55 of the lance 54 enters the constricted portion 29 and faces the rear end of the second outer conductor 27 so as to be able to lock into it. This temporarily prevents the terminal 20 from coming out of the cavity 43 to the rear. The first protrusion 31 and the second protrusion 32 are positioned on the front end side (the tip side in the insertion direction) of the first recess 46 and the second recess 47, respectively. In this state, the retainer 60 is moved to the locking position relative to the housing 40. As shown in Figure 9, when the retainer 60 reaches the locking position, each retaining portion 67 enters the constricted portion 29 and faces the rear end of the second outer conductor 27 so as to be able to lock into it, and the terminal 20 from coming out of the cavity 43 to the rear is secondarily prevented.

[0047] Even when the retainer 60 is positioned in the locked position, a force acts on the terminal 20 that causes it to shift radially to the opposite side from where the first and second protrusions 31 and 32 are located, due to contact between the first and second protrusions 31 and 32 and the housing 40. In this embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 11, the radially opposite side (lower side in Figure 11) of the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 22 contacts the first and second protrusions 68 and 69 of the retainer 60, thereby preventing the outer conductor 22 from shifting radially to the other side. In particular, since the first recess 46 and the first protrusion 68 are positioned on one virtual diagonal D1, and the second recess 47 and the second protrusion 69 are positioned on another virtual diagonal D2, the force pressing the outer conductor 22 radially to the other side is effectively received by the first and second protrusions 68 and 69. Therefore, the terminal 20 is held in a state where looseness is suppressed at the position corresponding to the retainer 60. As a result, positional fluctuations of the terminal 20 within the housing 40 are suppressed, and the shielding performance of the terminal 20 can be improved.

[0048] As described above, the connector 10 of this embodiment 1 comprises a housing 40, a terminal 20, and a retainer 60. The terminal 20 has a cylindrical outer conductor 22 (main body) with its axis oriented in the front-rear direction, and protrusions 31 and 32 projecting from the outer conductor 22 on one side in the radial direction intersecting the front-rear direction. The housing 40 has a cavity 43 extending in the front-rear direction to accommodate the terminal 20 from the rear, recesses 46 and 47 recessed on one side in the radial direction of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43 for fitting the protrusions 31 and 32, and protruding protrusions 51 and 52 fixed to the other side in the radial direction of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43. In this configuration, when the terminal 20 is inserted into the cavity 43 and a force is applied from the side of the protrusions 31 and 32 that are in contact with the inner surfaces of the recesses 46 and 47, pushing the terminal 20 radially to the other side, the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 22 can come into contact with the protrusions 51 and 52 (see Figures 8 and 9). By the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 22 coming into contact with the protrusions 51 and 52, displacement of the terminal 20 radially to the other side can be suppressed, and the stability of the position of the terminal 20 within the housing 40 can be ensured.

[0049] Furthermore, the recesses 46, 47 and the convex portions 51, 52 are arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43, which has a circular cross-section, on radial virtual diagonals D1, D2 passing through the center of the cavity 43 when viewed from the rear (see Figure 8). With this configuration, when a force is applied to the terminal 20 from the portion of the convex portion 31, 32 that is in contact with the inner surface of the recesses 46, 47, pushing the terminal 20 radially to the other side, the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 22 can effectively contact the convex portion 51, 52 that is in the opposite direction of the pushing force. This makes it possible to more reliably suppress tilting of the terminal 20.

[0050] Furthermore, the protrusions 31 and 32 have a first protrusion 31 and a second protrusion 32 arranged side by side in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the outer conductor 22. The recesses 46 and 47 have a first recess 46 that fits the first protrusion 31 and a second recess 47 that fits the second protrusion 32 on the inner surface of the cavity 43. The convex portions 51 and 52 have a first convex portion 51 arranged side by side with the first recess 46 on one virtual diagonal D1 on the inner surface of the cavity 43 and a second convex portion 52 arranged side by side with the second recess 47 on another virtual diagonal D2. This makes it possible to more reliably suppress tilting of the terminal 20.

[0051] In this embodiment 1, the housing 40 has a mounting hole 53 that intersects with the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the cavity 43 and accommodates the retainer 60 from the other radial side. When housed in the mounting hole 53, the retainer 60 has a receiving portion 64 that faces the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the terminal 20 from the other radial side, and a retaining portion 67 that protrudes from the receiving portion 64 and locks the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the terminal 20. The receiving portion 64 of the retainer 60 has protruding portions 68 and 69 that protrude radially toward the terminal 20.

[0052] When a force is applied to the terminal 20 housed in the cavity 43, pushing the terminal 20 radially to the other side from the protruding parts 31 and 32 that are in contact with the inner surfaces of the recesses 46 and 47, the radially other side of the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 22 can come into contact with the protruding parts 68 and 69. By the radially other side of the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor 22 coming into contact with the protruding parts 68 and 69, displacement of the terminal 20 radially to the other side can be avoided, and the stability of the position of the terminal 20 within the housing 40 can be ensured.

[0053] Furthermore, since the protrusions 68 and 69 are positioned on virtual diagonals D1 and D2 passing through the center of the front-to-back intermediate portion of the cavity 43 and the recesses 46 and 47, when a force is applied to the terminal 20 from the portion of the protrusions 31 and 32 that contacts the inner surface of the recesses 46 and 47, pushing the terminal 20 radially to the other side, the outer surface of the outer conductor 22 can contact the protrusions 68 and 69 in that pushing direction (see Figure 11). This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the terminal 20 from shifting radially to the other side.

[0054] Furthermore, the protrusions 31 and 32 have a first protrusion 31 and a second protrusion 32 arranged side by side in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the outer conductor 22. The recesses 46 and 47 have a first recess 46 that fits the first protrusion 31 and a second recess 47 that fits the second protrusion 32. The projections 68 and 69 have a first projection 68 arranged on a virtual diagonal D1 passing through the center of the front-to-rear intermediate part of the cavity 43 and the first recess 46, and a second projection 68 arranged on another virtual diagonal D2 passing through the center of the front-to-rear intermediate part of the cavity 43 and the second recess 47. With this configuration, it is possible to more reliably prevent the terminal 20 from shifting radially to the other side.

[0055] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, since the protrusions 68 and 69 are arranged in the front-to-back direction alongside the retaining portion 67, even if the retainer 60 has protrusions 68 and 69 in addition to the retaining portion 67, it is possible to avoid increasing the size in the left-to-right direction, and consequently, to avoid increasing the size of the connector 10 in the left-to-right direction.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment 1, the terminal 20 has an outer conductor 22 with its axis oriented in the front-rear direction, and a first protrusion 31 which is shaped by bending the portion of the outer conductor 22 extending rearward from the support end 34 radially outward. The housing 40 has a cavity 43 which extends in the front-rear direction and in which the outer conductor 22 is arranged, and a first recess 46 which extends in the front-rear direction while communicating with the cavity 43 and in which the first protrusion 31 is arranged. The first recess 46 has a back surface 48 which is recessed radially outward from the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 43. The top surface 36 of the first protrusion 31 is set to contact the back surface 48 of the first recess 46.

[0057] With the above configuration, as shown in Figure 9, the play between the top surface 36 of the first protrusion 31 and the back surface 48 of the first recess 46 can be eliminated, thereby suppressing the terminal 20 from shifting radially to the other side due to the play, and ensuring the stability of the terminal 20's position within the housing 40. In particular, as shown in Figure 2, the first protrusion 31 has a shape in which the portion extending rearward from the support end 34 of the outer conductor 22 is bent radially outward, and the top surface 36 of the first protrusion 31 is curved, so damage to the contact area between the top surface 36 of the first protrusion 31 and the back surface 48 of the first recess 46 can be avoided.

[0058] Furthermore, the terminal 20 has a second protrusion 32 which is shaped by cutting out a portion of the outer conductor 22 radially outward from a portion circumferentially away from the first protrusion 31. The housing 40 has a second recess 47 which extends in the front-rear direction while communicating with the cavity 43, at a portion circumferentially away from the first recess 46, and in which the second protrusion 32 is positioned. As shown in Figures 8 and 11, the tip surface 37 of the second protrusion 32 is set to be located away from the back surface 49 of the second recess 47. As a result, contact resistance due to contact between the tip surface 37 of the second protrusion 32 and the back surface 49 of the second recess 47 is not generated, so even though the terminal 20 has a first protrusion 31 and a second protrusion 32, it is possible to avoid a large insertion resistance of the terminal 20 into the cavity 43. In particular, even if the tip surface 37 of the second protrusion 32 is a cut surface, it is prevented from contacting the back surface 49 of the second recess 47, thus avoiding damage to the back surface 49 of the second recess 47.

[0059] <Embodiment 2> The connector 10 of Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in that, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the retainer 60 does not have protrusions 68 and 69, while the terminals 20 do have protrusions 18 and 19. Otherwise, it is the same as Embodiment 1.

[0060] The protrusions 18 and 19 are provided in pairs, spaced apart in the circumferential direction, on the lower end side of the rear end of the second outer conductor 27. In other words, each protrusion 18 and 19 is positioned on the opposite side of the first convex portion 31 and the second convex portion 32 at the rear end of the second outer conductor 27. Each protrusion 18 and 19 is provided in an embossed shape that bulges radially outward at the rear end of the second outer conductor 27. Each protrusion 18 and 19 has a circular outer shape when viewed from the radially outward side. When the terminal 20 is inserted into the cavity 43 of the housing 40, the formation range of each protrusion 18 and 19 in the front-rear direction and the formation range of each recess 46 and 47 in the front-rear direction overlap with each other. Furthermore, when the terminal 20 is inserted into the cavity 43, each of the protrusions 18 and 19 has a first protrusion 18 positioned alongside the first recess 46 on one virtual diagonal D1 with respect to virtual diagonals D1 and D2 passing through the center of the front-to-rear intermediate part of the cavity 43, and a second protrusion 19 positioned alongside the second recess 47 on the other virtual diagonal D2.

[0061] As shown in Figure 13, with the terminal 20 inserted into the cavity 43 and the retainer 60 held in the locked position relative to the housing body 41, the radially outer tips of the first projection 18 and the second projection 19 face each other so as to be able to contact the receiving surface 65 of the projection 66 of each receiving portion 64. The first convex portion 31 is inserted so as to be able to contact the first recess 46, and the second convex portion 32 is inserted so as to be able to contact the second recess 47 on one radial side of the cavity 43 (upper side in Figure 13), so as to be able to contact the second recess 47, a force acts on the terminal 20 to shift it radially to the other radial side of the cavity 43 (lower side in Figure 13). In this second embodiment, the radial outward shift of the terminal 20 is suppressed by the first projection 18 and the second projection 19 contacting their respective receiving portions 64. As a result, rattling of the terminal 20 while it is inserted into the cavity 43 can be avoided, and the stability of the terminal 20's position can be ensured. In particular, since the first protrusion 18 and the first recess 46 are arranged on one virtual diagonal D1, and the second protrusion 19 and the second recess 47 are arranged on another virtual diagonal D2, the displacement of the terminal 20 can be prevented even more reliably.

[0062] [Other embodiments of this disclosure] Embodiments 1 and 2 disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. In Embodiment 1, the first convex portion and the second convex portion were formed as ribs extending in the front-rear direction, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion were also formed as ribs extending in the front-rear direction. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the first convex portion and the second convex portion may be formed as protrusions at positions corresponding to the first recess and the second recess. In Embodiment 2, the first and second protrusions were formed as circular bulges on the outer conductor of the terminal. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the first and second protrusions may be formed as ribs extending in the front-rear direction on the outer conductor of the terminal. In Embodiments 1 and 2, the convex portion was composed of a first convex portion and a second convex portion, and the concave portion was composed of a first concave portion and a second concave portion. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the convex portion may be composed of only the first convex portion, and the concave portion may be composed of only the first concave portion. In Embodiment 1, the protrusion was provided only on the retainer. In Embodiment 2, the protrusion was provided only on the terminal. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the protrusion may be provided on both the retainer and the terminal. In Embodiment 1, the terminal was a shielded terminal having an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a dielectric. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the terminal may be a general terminal composed entirely of a conductive metal plate material without having a dielectric. In Embodiment 1, the housing was provided with a convex portion, and the retainer was provided with a protruding portion. In Embodiment 2, the terminal was provided with a protruding portion. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the first protruding portion contacts the back surface of the first recess, and when a force is applied to shift the terminal to the other radial side, the other radial side of the outer surface of the terminal contacts the other radial side of the inner surface of the housing or the receiving surface of the retainer, thereby ensuring the stability of the terminal's position. In this case, focusing on the viewpoint of suppressing rattling of the terminal within the housing, for example, the housing may not be provided with a convex portion, the retainer may not be provided with a protruding portion, and the terminal may not be provided with a protruding portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 10… Connectors 18,68...First protrusion (protrusion) 19,69...Second protrusion (protrusion) 20… Terminals 21...Inner conductor 22…Outer conductor 23… Dielectrics 25... Crimping section 26...First outer conductor 27...Second outer conductor 28... Contact point 29... the constricted area 31...First protrusion (protrusion) 32...Second convex part (convex part) 33... Slit 34…Support end 35...Extension part 36…Top surface 37…Tip surface 38…Containment port 40… Housing 41… Housing body 42…Food Department 43... Cavity 44...Step surface 45…Receptive space 46…First recess (recess) 47…Second recess (recess) 48...Inner surface of the first recess 49...Inner surface of the second recess 51...First convex part (convex part) 52...Second convex part (convex part) 53… Mounting hole 54... Lance 55...Latching protrusion 56…Side part 57... Temporary locking part 58...Main locking part 59... Lock Arm 60…Retainer 61...Base 62... Side 63…Retaining protrusion 64...receiving part 65... Receiving surface 66…Protruding piece part 67... Retaining part 68...First protrusion (protrusion) 69…Second protrusion (protrusion) 71...Double section 90...Shielded power lines 91... Core wire 92... Covering 93...braided wire 94...Sheath D1…One virtual diagonal (virtual diagonal) D2...Other virtual diagonals (virtual diagonals)

Claims

1. A connector comprising terminals, housing and retainer, The aforementioned terminal is, The main body has its axis oriented in the front-to-back direction, The main body has a protrusion that extends radially in one direction intersecting the front-rear direction, The aforementioned housing is A cavity extending in the front-rear direction and housing the terminals from the rear, A recess is provided on one radial side of the inner circumferential surface of the cavity to fit the protrusion, It has a mounting hole that intersects with the front and rear intermediate portion of the cavity and accommodates the retainer from the other radial side, The aforementioned retainer is, With the terminal housed in the mounting hole, the receiving portion faces the front-to-rear intermediate portion from the other radial side, It has a retaining portion that protrudes from the receiving portion and locks the intermediate portion of the terminal, A connector in which at least one of the receiving portion of the retainer and the front and rear intermediate portion of the terminal has a protruding portion that protrudes toward and contacts the other.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is positioned on a virtual diagonal line passing through the center of the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the cavity and the recess.

3. The aforementioned protrusion has a first protrusion and a second protrusion arranged side by side in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the main body. The recess has a first recess for fitting the first protrusion and a second recess for fitting the second protrusion. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the protrusions include a first protrusion positioned on one virtual diagonal passing through the center of the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the cavity and the first recess, and a second first protrusion positioned on another virtual diagonal passing through the center of the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the cavity and the second recess.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protruding portion is arranged in the front-to-back direction alongside the retaining portion.

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