connector

Abstract

The present invention provides a connector that simplifies the structure of the groove and can stably hold the packing in the groove. [Solution] In a connector comprising a housing 3 provided with an annular groove 15 and an annular packing assembled to the groove 15, the groove 15 has a large area A with a large curvature and a small area B with a smaller curvature than the large area A, and multiple ribs 21 are provided on the outer inner wall 17 of the groove 15 in the circumferential direction of the groove 15, with the ribs 21 pressing the packing toward the inner inner wall 19 of the groove 15, and the spacing between adjacent ribs 21, 21 is set to be narrower in the large area A than in the small area B.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a connector, there is known one including a housing provided with an annular groove portion and an annular packing assembled to the groove portion (see Patent Document 1). In this connector, in the groove portion, a pair of tongue pieces that are elastically deformable and extend from the groove bottom toward the opening and face each other with a gap in the groove width direction are provided. A plurality of pairs of tongue pieces are provided in the circumferential direction of the groove portion. In such a connector, the plurality of pairs of tongue pieces can prevent the packing from falling off from the groove portion by holding the packing.

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 connector of Patent Document 1, although a pair of elastically deformable tongue pieces are provided in the groove portion, the structure of the groove portion is complicated by the pair of tongue pieces. In addition, it is necessary to secure a space in the groove portion for the tongue pieces to elastically deform, and the groove portion has become larger.

[0005] On the other hand, there is one in which a plurality of ribs protruding toward the inside of the groove portion are provided on the outer peripheral inner wall of the groove portion in the circumferential direction of the groove portion. The plurality of ribs press the packing assembled to the groove portion toward the inner peripheral inner wall of the groove portion and hold the packing in the groove portion. The intervals between adjacent ribs are set at equal intervals with respect to the circumferential direction of the groove portion.

[0006] By the way, in connectors like the one described in Patent Document 1, the groove is formed in an annular shape, having a large area with a large curvature and a small area with a small curvature. When an external force is applied to a packing assembled in such a groove, stress concentration is likely to occur in the part located in the large area with a large curvature. If the spacing between adjacent ribs in the groove is equal, stress concentration in the packing in the large area with a large curvature of the groove can cause the packing to lift up or detach from the groove.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art. The object of this invention is to provide a connector that can simplify the structure of the groove and stably hold the packing in the groove. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The connector according to this embodiment comprises a housing provided with an annular groove and an annular packing assembled to the groove, wherein the groove has a large area with a large curvature and a small area with a smaller curvature than the large area, and a plurality of ribs protruding toward the interior of the groove are provided on the outer inner wall of the groove in the circumferential direction of the groove, the ribs press the packing toward the inner inner wall of the groove, and the spacing between adjacent ribs is set to be narrower in the large area than in the small area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that simplifies the structure of the groove and can stably hold the packing in the groove. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the connector housing according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged view of the main part of Figure 3. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the gasket of the connector according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The connector according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the connector 1 according to this embodiment is applied to electrically connect two electrical components (not shown), for example, between a power source and equipment mounted on a vehicle, or between two pieces of equipment. The connector 1 is applied, for example, to an electrical connection portion (not shown) provided on one of the electrical components. At the electrical connection portion of the electrical component, for example, a wire (not shown) electrically connected to an electrical element (not shown) housed inside a case (not shown) is drawn out to the outside of the case through an opening (not shown) in the case. A terminal (not shown) is electrically connected to the end of the wire drawn out through the opening. The connector 1 houses the terminal and is assembled to the opening of the case, thereby constituting the electrical connection portion of the electrical component. The connector 1, electrically connected to one electrical component, is matable with a mating connector (not shown) electrically connected to the other electrical component. By mating with the mating connector, the connector 1 is electrically connected to the mating connector, and the two electrical components are electrically connected.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the connector 1 comprises a housing 3 and a packing 5.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the housing 3 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 3 includes a fitting portion 7 and a fixing portion 9.

[0015] The mating portion 7 extends in a cylindrical shape along the mating direction with the mating connector. One side of the mating portion 7 in the direction of extension is matable with the mating housing (not shown) of the mating connector. The other side of the mating portion 7 in the direction of extension is insertable into the opening of the electrical component case. Here, there are multiple wires that are pulled out from the opening of the electrical component case, and terminals are electrically connected to the ends of each of the multiple wires. The multiple terminals are each housed inside one of multiple (two in this case) mating housings (not shown). The mating housings housing the multiple terminals are held in a housing chamber 11 provided inside the mating portion 7.

[0016] Multiple (two in this case) housing chambers 11 are provided inside the mating portion 7. The housing chambers 11 extend along the mating direction with the mating connector, and both sides in the extending direction are open. The opening on one side of the housing chamber 11 is a connection opening into which the mating terminal (not shown) of the mating connector is inserted when the mating portion 7 and the mating housing of the mating connector are mated. The opening on the other side of the housing chamber 11 is an insertion opening into which the mating housing is inserted. Inside the housing chamber 11, there is an engagement portion that engages with the mating housing and holds the mating housing inside the housing chamber 11.

[0017] The mating portion 7 is positioned such that the mating housing is held in the housing chamber 11, and the connector 1 is assembled to the case of the electrical component, with the connection opening side of the housing chamber 11 facing outside the case. By mating the mating portion 7 with the mating housing of the mating connector, the mating terminal of the mating connector is inserted into the connection opening of the housing chamber 11. The mating terminal inserted into the housing chamber 11 is electrically connected to the terminal, and the two electrical components are electrically connected.

[0018] The fixing portion 9 is a member continuous with the fitting portion 7 and extending outward from the outer surface of the fitting portion 7, and extends in a rectangular shape along a plane direction parallel to the wall surface of the case of the electrical component. The fixing portion 9 is set to be larger than the opening of the case of the electrical component. At the four corner portions of the fixing portion 9, fixing holes 13 penetrating through the fixing portion 9 are provided. A fixing member (not shown) such as a bolt fixed to the case of the electrical component is inserted into the fixing hole 13, and by fixing the fixing member to the case, the connector 1 is fixed to the case of the electrical component.

[0019] On the opposing surface of the fixing portion 9 to the wall surface of the case of the electrical component, a rectangular annular groove portion 15 is provided. The groove portion 15 is set to be larger than the opening of the case so as to be located around the opening of the case of the electrical component. The width between the outer peripheral inner wall 17 and the inner peripheral inner wall 19, which is the width of the groove portion 15, is uniformly set in the circumferential direction of the groove portion 15. The groove portion 15 has a large region A with a large curvature (small radius of curvature) and a small region B with a small curvature (large radius of curvature) in the circumferential direction of the groove portion 15.

[0020] On the outer peripheral inner wall 17 of the groove portion 15, a plurality of ribs 21 project toward the inside (inner peripheral inner wall 19) of the groove portion 15. The ribs 21 extend along a direction orthogonal to the bottom of the groove portion 15 from the bottom of the groove portion 15 toward the opening of the groove portion 15. The plurality of ribs 21 press the packing 5 accommodated in the groove portion 15 toward the inner peripheral inner wall 19 and hold the assembled state of the packing 5 with respect to the groove portion 15. By holding the packing 5 in the groove portion 15 with the plurality of ribs 21, it is not necessary to provide an elastically deformable locking piece or the like in the groove portion 15, the structure of the groove portion 15 is simplified, and the groove portion 15 does not become large-sized.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the packing 5 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example, and includes a main body portion 23 and a lip portion 25.

[0022] The main body portion 23 is formed in a rectangular ring shape, identical in shape to the groove portion 15. The main body portion 23 is set to be larger than the opening of the case so that it is positioned around the opening of the case of the electrical component. The width of the main body portion 23 is set to be equal to or slightly wider than the width of the groove portion 15. The thickness of the main body portion 23 is set to be equal to the depth of the groove portion 15.

[0023] The lip portion 25 is provided on the outer and inner edges of the main body portion 23, and is formed continuously in the circumferential direction of the main body portion 23. The lip portion 25 protrudes outward from the opposite side of the main body portion 23 that faces the bottom of the groove portion 15. The protrusion height of the lip portion 25 is set to the height at which it is exposed from the groove portion 15 when the main body portion 23 is housed in the groove portion 15.

[0024] When the packing 5 is housed in the groove 15, the outer circumferential surface of the main body 23 is pressed by multiple ribs 21, and the packing 5 is held in the groove 15. When the connector 1 is assembled into the case of the electrical component, the lip portion 25 of the packing 5 assembled in the groove 15 is in close contact with the wall surface of the case located around the opening of the case. By the lip portion 25 of the packing 5 being in close contact with the wall surface of the case, the area around the opening of the case is sealed, preventing water and other substances from entering the opening of the case.

[0025] Here, the groove 15 has a large region A with a large curvature (small radius of curvature) and a small region B with a small curvature (large radius of curvature) in the circumferential direction of the groove 15. When an external force is applied to the packing 5 assembled in such a groove 15, stress concentration is likely to occur in the large region A with a large curvature. If the spacing between adjacent ribs 21, 21 in the groove 15 is equal, stress concentration in the packing 5 in the large region A with a large curvature of the groove 15 may cause the packing 5 to lift up or detach from the groove 15.

[0026] Therefore, the spacing between adjacent ribs 21, 21 is set differently in the large area A and the small area B. The spacing P1 between adjacent ribs 21, 21 in the large area A is set narrower than the spacing P2 in the small area B. By narrowing the spacing P1 in the large area A, multiple (in this case, three) ribs 21 can be placed in the large area A of the groove 15. As a result, the packing 5 can be pressed by multiple ribs 21 in the large area A, and even if stress concentration occurs in the packing 5, it is possible to prevent the packing 5 from lifting up or falling out of the groove 15. Consequently, the packing 5 can be stably held in the groove 15, and the transport of the connector 1 with the packing 5 assembled in the groove 15 and its assembly to electrical components can be performed stably, improving the ease of assembly of the connector 1. Ribs 21 are placed at the boundary C between the large area A and the small area B. By placing ribs 21 at boundary C, it becomes easier to set the spacing P1 in the large area A and the spacing P2 in the small area B based on ribs 21 at boundary C. In addition, ribs 21 located at boundary C can be shared between the large area A and the small area B.

[0027] Such a connector 1 comprises a housing 3 with an annular groove 15 and an annular packing 5 assembled to the groove 15. The groove 15 has a large area A with a large curvature and a small area B with a smaller curvature than the large area A. Multiple ribs 21 are provided on the outer inner wall 17 of the groove 15 in the circumferential direction of the groove 15, projecting inward into the groove 15. The ribs 21 press the packing 5 toward the inner inner wall 19 of the groove 15. The spacing between adjacent ribs 21, 21 is set to be narrower in the large area A than in the small area B.

[0028] By providing multiple ribs 21 in the groove 15, it is not necessary to provide elastically deformable locking pieces or the like in the groove 15, simplifying the structure of the groove 15 and preventing it from becoming larger. By setting the spacing P1 between adjacent ribs 21, 21 in the large area A to be narrower than the spacing P2 in the small area B, multiple ribs 21 can be arranged in the large area A of the groove 15. As a result, the packing 5 can be pressed by multiple ribs 21 in the large area A, and even if stress concentration occurs in the packing 5, it is possible to prevent the packing 5 from lifting up or falling out of the groove 15.

[0029] Therefore, in such a connector 1, the structure of the groove portion 15 can be simplified, and the packing 5 can be stably held in the groove portion 15.

[0030] Furthermore, ribs 21 are placed at the boundary C between the large area A and the small area B.

[0031] Therefore, it is possible to easily set the spacing P1 in the large area A and the spacing P2 in the small area B based on the rib 21 at the boundary C. In addition, the rib 21 located at the boundary C can be shared between the large area A and the small area B.

[0032] Although this embodiment has been described above, this embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of this embodiment.

[0033] For example, in the connector according to this embodiment, three ribs are arranged in a large area of ​​the groove, but the connector is not limited to this, and four or more ribs may be arranged in a large area of ​​the groove. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 Connector 3 Housing 5. Packing 15 groove 17. Outer perimeter inner wall 19 Inner perimeter inner wall 21 Ribs A large area B Small Area C. Realm Section

Claims

1. A housing with an annular groove, An annular packing assembled to the groove, Equipped with, The groove portion has a large region with a large curvature and a small region with a smaller curvature than the large region. Multiple ribs are provided on the outer inner wall of the groove, projecting toward the interior of the groove in the circumferential direction of the groove. The rib presses the packing toward the inner wall of the inner circumference of the groove, A connector in which multiple ribs are set such that the spacing between adjacent ribs is narrower in the larger region than in the smaller region.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the ribs are arranged at the boundary between the large area and the small area.

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