Connector and connector assembly

Abstract

To provide a connector and a connector assembly capable of fitting with a mating connector while reducing insertion force of a plurality of mating contacts and absorbing positional deviation from the mating connector.SOLUTION: In a plurality of relay contacts 61 movably held in a second insulator 31, tips of connection portions 42 of fixed contacts 41U and 41L, which are in contact with second contact portions 66 respectively, come into contact with receiving surfaces 67, and thereby the tips are restricted from moving toward the fixed contacts along a mating direction. The tip end of the connection portion 42 of at least one of the plurality of fixed contacts 41U and 41L is arranged at a different position in the fitting direction with respect to a tip end of the connection portion of the other fixed contact.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector and a connector assembly, and more particularly to a connector in which a plurality of contacts are electrically connected to a plurality of mating contacts of a mating connector by being inserted into the mating connector in a mating direction. The present invention also relates to a connector assembly comprising such a connector and a mating connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a connector that fits with a mating connector, in which a plurality of mating contacts of the mating connector are inserted into the connector along a fitting direction, so that the plurality of mating contacts of the mating connector and the plurality of contacts of the connector are electrically connected. In this type of connector, when the plurality of mating contacts of the mating connector and the plurality of contacts of the connector are simultaneously connected when the mating connector is fitted into the connector, the insertion force of the plurality of mating contacts into the connector increases, which may reduce the operability of the connector.

[0003] Therefore, for example, in the connector 1 disclosed in Patent Document 1, as shown in Fig. 30, two contacts 3 and 4 held in a housing 2 have contacts 3A and 4A at different positions in a mating direction D1. The contacts 3 and 4 each have two elastic beams 5 that face each other, and the contacts 3A and 4A, where the distance between the two beams 5 is minimum, are formed at positions biased toward either end of the contacts 3 and 4 from the center in the mating direction D1. The contacts 3 and 4 have the same configuration, but are held in the housing 2 in opposite directions to each other with respect to the mating direction D1, so that the positions of the contacts 3A and 4A in the mating direction D1 are shifted from each other by a distance L.

[0004] Therefore, when the two mating contacts 6 and 7 of the mating connector are inserted into the connector 1 along the mating direction D1, first one of the mating contacts 6 reaches the position of the contact 3A of the corresponding contact 3, and then the other mating contact 7 reaches the position of the contact 4A of the corresponding contact 4.

[0005] When the mating contacts 6 and 7 reach the positions of the contacts 3A and 4A of the corresponding contacts 3 and 4, respectively, they come into contact with the contacts 3A and 4A and are inserted so as to push apart the space between the two beams 5 that make up the contacts 3 and 4, requiring a certain insertion force. However, since the contacts 3A and 4A are positioned offset from each other in the mating direction D1, the mating contacts 6 and 7 do not come into contact with the contacts 3A and 4A at the same time, and the maximum insertion force of the mating contacts 6 and 7 required to mate the mating connector with the connector 1 can be kept small. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-77118 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in order to make the positions of the contacts 3A and 4A of the contacts 3 and 4 different in the mating direction D1, it is necessary to hold the two contacts 3 and 4 in predetermined positions relative to the housing 2. Therefore, if there is a positional deviation between the contacts 3 and 4 and the mating contacts 6 and 7 in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction D1 due to manufacturing tolerances or the like, the contact resistance between the contacts 3 and 4 and the mating contacts 6 and 7 may vary, which may reduce the reliability of the electrical connection between the connector 1 and the mating connector. In addition, if there is a large positional deviation between the contacts 3 and 4 and the mating contacts 6 and 7, it may become difficult to mate the connector 1 with the mating connector.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve these conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a connector and connector assembly that can be fitted with a mating connector while absorbing misalignment with the mating connector and reducing the insertion force of multiple mating contacts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The connector according to the present invention comprises: A connector that mates with a mating connector along a mating direction, Housing and a plurality of fixed contacts each having a flat connecting portion that is fixed to the housing and extends along a mating direction and a first direction perpendicular to the mating direction; a plurality of relay contacts corresponding to the plurality of fixed contacts, movably held within the housing, and electrically connected to the corresponding fixed contacts; Equipped with Each of the relay contacts includes: a first extension portion and a second extension portion extending in a fitting direction and facing each other with a gap in a second direction intersecting both the fitting direction and the first direction; a connecting portion that connects intermediate portions of the first extension portion and the second extension portion in the fitting direction to each other; a first contact portion that is disposed at one end of the first extension portion and the second extension portion in the mating direction and that contacts and is electrically connected to a corresponding mating contact of a mating connector; a second contact portion that is disposed at the other end of the first extension portion and the second extension portion in the fitting direction and that contacts and is electrically connected to the connection portion of the corresponding fixed contact; a receiving surface facing the tip of the connecting portion of the corresponding fixed contact along the mating direction; having the plurality of relay contacts are held within the housing so as to be movable in the mating direction, the first direction, and the second direction, a tip end of a connection portion of each of the plurality of intermediate contacts, which is in contact with the second contact portion, comes into contact with the receiving surface, thereby restricting movement of the intermediate contacts toward the corresponding fixed contact along the mating direction; The tip end of the connection portion of at least one of the plurality of fixed contacts is characterized in that it is disposed at a different position in the fitting direction from the tip ends of the connection portions of the other fixed contacts.

[0010] The housing is a first insulator to which a plurality of stationary contacts are fixed; a second insulator connected to the first insulator and movably holding a plurality of relay contacts; It is preferred that the compound has the formula: The second insulator can be removably coupled to the first insulator. Moreover, it is preferable that the relay contacts have the same structure.

[0011] Each of the plurality of relay contacts preferably has a pair of receiving surfaces spaced apart from each other in the first direction. The pair of receiving surfaces are disposed at the same positions relative to each other in the fitting direction, The tip end of the connecting portion of the fixed contact may be configured so that the portions that come into contact with the pair of receiving surfaces are disposed at the same positions in the fitting direction. In this case, it is preferable that the maximum distance in the first direction between the pair of receiving surfaces is shorter than the width dimension in the first direction of the tip end portion of the connection portion of each of the fixed contacts.

[0012] the second insulator has a plurality of relay contact accommodating portions for accommodating a plurality of relay contacts; Each of the relay contact receiving portions has a pair of side wall portions extending along the mating direction and facing each other in a first direction, and a rod-shaped support portion connecting the pair of side wall portions along the first direction, The support portion may be configured to pass between the first extension portion and the second extension portion of the relay contact accommodated in the relay contact accommodation portion and between the connecting portion and the first contact portion. 。

[0013] Each relay contact can be formed from a single bent metal plate and configured to have a second extension portion, a pair of connecting portions extending in a second direction from both side edges in the first direction of the second extension portion, and a pair of first extension portions respectively connected to the pair of connecting portions. In this case, the receiving surface can be formed by a pair of connecting portions.

[0014] Each relay contact may be formed from a single bent metal plate and configured to have a first extension portion, a second extension portion, a connecting portion connecting one side edge in the first direction of the first extension portion and one side edge in the first direction of the second extension portion and extending in the second direction, and a protrusion protruding in the second direction from at least one of the other side edge in the first direction of the first extension portion and the other side edge in the first direction of the second extension portion. In this case, the receiving surface can be formed by the connecting portion and the protrusion.

[0015] The connector assembly according to the present invention comprises: The above connector and a mating connector having a plurality of mating contacts that are fitted to the connector and electrically connected to the plurality of intermediate contacts; Equipped with The tip portions of the plurality of mating contacts facing the plurality of intermediate contacts in the mating direction are characterized in that they are arranged at the same positions relative to each other in the mating direction.

[0016] In each of the relay contacts, the contact pressure of the second contact portion against the connecting portion of the corresponding fixed contact is preferably higher than the contact pressure of the first contact portion against the corresponding mating contact. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to this invention, the connector comprises a plurality of fixed contacts fixed to a housing, and a plurality of intermediate contacts movably held within the housing and electrically connected to corresponding fixed contacts, each of the plurality of intermediate contacts having a first contact portion electrically connected to a corresponding mating contact, a second contact portion electrically connected to the connection portion of the corresponding fixed contact, and a receiving surface facing the tip portion of the connection portion of the corresponding fixed contact along the mating direction, and the tip portion of the connection portion of the fixed contact that is in contact with the second contact portion contacts the receiving surface, thereby restricting movement of the plurality of intermediate contacts toward the corresponding fixed contact along the mating direction, and the tip portion of the connection portion of at least one of the plurality of fixed contacts is positioned at a different position in the mating direction relative to the tip portions of the connection portions of the other fixed contacts, so that the connector can be mated with the mating connector while reducing the insertion force of the plurality of mating contacts and absorbing positional misalignment with the mating connector. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a connector according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a connector according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 2 is a perspective view showing a first insulator used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a first insulator used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a perspective view showing a second insulator used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a second insulator used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a perspective view showing a fixed contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 2 is a plan view showing a fixed contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 2 is a perspective view of a relay contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment, seen obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 12] 2 is a perspective view of a relay contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment, viewed obliquely from below. FIG. [Figure 13] 2 is a plan view showing a relay contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 14] 2 is a side view showing a relay contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 15] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a fixed contact and a relay contact connected to each other. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a fixed contact and a relay contact connected to each other. [Figure 18] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a mating connector is aligned with the connector of embodiment 1. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. [Figure 20] 1 is a perspective view showing a mating state of a connector according to a first embodiment and a mating connector. [Figure 21]1 is a plan view showing a mating state of the connector according to the first embodiment and a mating connector. FIG. [Figure 22] 1 is a side view showing a mating state of the connector according to the first embodiment and the mating connector. FIG. [Diagram 23] 2 is a perspective view showing a fixed contact, an intermediate contact, and a mating contact in a mating state of the connector according to the first embodiment and the mating connector. FIG. [Figure 24] 2 is a side view showing a fixed contact, an intermediate contact, and a mating contact in a mating state of the connector according to the first embodiment and the mating connector. FIG. [Diagram 25] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a mating state of the connector according to the first embodiment and the mating connector. FIG. [Figure 26] 11 is a perspective view showing a relay contact used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 27] 11 is a perspective view showing the relay contact used in the connector according to the second embodiment, viewed from another angle. FIG. [Figure 28] 11 is a side view showing a relay contact used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 29] 13 is a side view showing an intermediate contact used in a connector according to a second embodiment, connected to a fixed contact and a mating contact. FIG. [Diagram 30] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First embodiment 1 to 3 show a connector 11 according to embodiment 1. The connector 11 has a housing 12, and the housing 12 is composed of a first insulator 21 and a second insulator 31 attached to the first insulator 21. 2, three fixed contacts 41U and three fixed contacts 41L are held in the first insulator 21. Furthermore, a connection bolt 51 for connecting an external wiring member is attached to each of the three fixed contacts 41U and three fixed contacts 41L.

[0020] 1 and 3, six sockets 32 are formed in the second insulator 31. The six sockets 32 are divided into two rows, upper and lower, with three sockets 32 arranged in each row. Six relay contacts 61, some of which can be seen through the six sockets 32 in FIG. 3, are held inside the second insulator 31. Each of the sockets 32 is for inserting a corresponding mating contact of a mating connector (not shown) when the mating connector is fitted to the connector 11.

[0021] 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 11. The three fixed contacts 41U and the three fixed contacts 41L are arranged in two rows, one above the other, and the six relay contacts 61 are arranged in two rows, one above the other, with three relay contacts 61 arranged in each row. Although the fixed contact 41U has a different size from the fixed contact 41L, the three fixed contacts 41U have the same structure as each other, and the three fixed contacts 41L also have the same structure as each other. Moreover, the six relay contacts 61 have the same structure as each other.

[0022] With the three fixed contacts 41U and the three fixed contacts 41L held in the first insulator 21 and the six relay contacts 61 held in the second insulator 31, the second insulator 31 is attached to the first insulator 21, thereby connecting the six relay contacts 61 to the three fixed contacts 41U and the three fixed contacts 41L. The first insulator 21 and the second insulator 31 are each formed from an insulating material such as an insulating resin, and the fixed contacts 41U, 41L and the relay contact 61 are each formed from a conductive metal material.

[0023] For convenience, the direction from the second insulator 31 toward the first insulator 21 is referred to as the +Y direction, the arrangement direction of the three fixed contacts 41U and the arrangement direction of the three fixed contacts 41L is referred to as the X direction, and the direction from the three fixed contacts 41L toward the three fixed contacts 41U is referred to as the +Z direction. The +Y direction is the fitting direction of a mating connector (not shown) with the connector 11.

[0024] 5, the first insulator 21 has an insulator body 22 and a flange 23 that protrudes from the insulator body 22 along the XZ plane near the -Y direction end of the insulator body 22. The insulator body 22 is formed with three fixed contact accommodating portions 24U that accommodate three fixed contacts 41U, and three fixed contact accommodating portions 24L that accommodate three fixed contacts 41L. The three fixed contact accommodating portions 24U and the three fixed contact accommodating portions 24L are each arranged in the X direction, and the three fixed contact accommodating portions 24L are disposed on the -Z direction side of the three fixed contact accommodating portions 24U.

[0025] 6, the fixed contact housings 24U and 24L each extend along the Y direction. A cylindrical portion 24A that is open toward the -Y direction and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape is formed at the -Y direction end of the fixed contact housings 24U and 24L, and a holding groove 24B that extends along the Y direction is formed on the inner wall of the fixed contact housings 24U and 24L located on the +Y direction side of the cylindrical portion 24A. The +Y direction ends of the fixed contact housings 24U and 24L are open toward the +Y and +Z directions, and a screw hole 25 that extends in the Z direction is formed at this +Y direction end.

[0026] Although the cylindrical portions 24A of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U and the cylindrical portions 24A of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24L are located at the same position in the Y direction, the Y direction length of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U is formed shorter than the Y direction length of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24L. Therefore, the screw hole 25 formed at the +Y direction end of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U is shifted in the -Y direction from the screw hole 25 formed at the +Y direction end of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24L without overlapping in the Z direction.

[0027] Also, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the insulator body 22 has a protrusion 26 that protrudes further toward the -Y direction side than the flange 23, and a plurality of claw portions 27 are formed on the +Z direction side outer edge portion and the -Z direction side outer edge portion of this protrusion 26, respectively.

[0028] 7, the second insulator 31 has a box shape that is open toward the +Y direction, and six relay contact accommodating portions 33 are formed inside the second insulator 31. The six relay contact accommodating portions 33 are divided into two rows in the Z direction, and in each row, three relay contact accommodating portions 33 are arranged in the X direction. Each relay contact accommodating portion 33 extends along the Y direction and has a pair of side walls 33A facing each other in the X direction. A rod-shaped support portion 33B that extends along the X direction and connects the pair of side walls 33A is formed at the +Y direction end of each relay contact accommodating portion 33 that is open toward the +Y direction.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 8, the insertion opening 32 formed in the second insulator 31 is disposed at the end of each relay contact receiving portion 33 in the -Y direction. Also, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a plurality of claw portions 34 are formed on the +Z direction side inner edge portion and the -Z direction side inner edge portion of the +Y direction end portion of the second insulator 31 that is open toward the +Y direction. The multiple claw portions 34 of the second insulator 31 are supported so as to be elastically displaceable in the Z direction, and when the +Y direction end of the second insulator 31 is pressed toward the -Y direction end of the first insulator 21, they catch on the multiple claw portions 27 of the first insulator 21, thereby detachably holding the second insulator 31 relative to the first insulator 21.

[0030] The configuration of the fixed contact 41U is shown in Figures 9 and 10. The fixed contact 41U extends in the Y direction, which is the fitting direction, and a flat connecting portion 42 extending along the Y direction and the X direction (first direction) perpendicular to the Y direction is formed at the -Y direction end of the fixed contact 41U. The connecting portion 42 is connected to the relay contact 61, and the tip portion of the connecting portion 42 in the -Y direction extends linearly along the X direction and has a width dimension W1 in the X direction.

[0031] Further, a through hole 43 penetrating the fixed contact 41U in the Z direction is formed near the +Y direction end of the fixed contact 41U, and a protrusion 44 protruding in the X direction is formed on both sides in the X direction of the intermediate portion in the Y direction of the fixed contact 41U. The through hole 43 is for passing a connection bolt 51 through, and the protrusion 44 is for pressing and fixing the fixed contact 41U into the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U by being pressed against the inner surface of the retaining groove 24B when the fixed contact 41U is inserted into the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U of the first insulator 21.

[0032] The fixed contact 41U is inserted into the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U from the -Y direction end of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U of the first insulator 21 shown in Figures 5 and 6, and is fixed to the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U by moving both X direction side portions of the fixed contact 41U in the +Y direction along the holding groove 24B of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U until the convex portion 44 of the fixed contact 41U is pressed into the holding groove 24B. At this time, the connecting portion 42 of the fixed contact 41U is positioned inside the cylindrical portion 24A of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U.

[0033] 9 and 10, the fixed contact 41L accommodated in the fixed contact accommodating portion 24L of the first insulator 21 is formed to be longer in the Y direction than the fixed contact 41U shown in Figures 9 and 10, and has a Y direction length corresponding to the fixed contact accommodating portion 24L of the first insulator 21. The fixed contact 41L has the same configuration as the fixed contact 41U except for the Y direction length, and is accommodated in the fixed contact accommodating portion 24L of the first insulator 21 in the same manner as the fixed contact 41U.

[0034] 11 and 12, the relay contact 61 is formed from a single bent and elastic metal plate, and has a pair of first extension portions 62 each extending in the Y direction, a second extension portion 63 facing the pair of first extension portions 62 at a distance in the Z direction (second direction), and a pair of connecting portions 64 connecting intermediate portions in the Y direction of the pair of first extension portions 62 to intermediate portions in the Y direction of the second extension portion 63. The pair of connecting portions 64 extend in the Z direction from both side edges in the X direction of the second extension portion 63, respectively, and are connected to the pair of first extension portions 62.

[0035] A first contact portion 65 is formed by the -Y direction ends of the pair of first extension portions 62 and the -Y direction ends of the pair of second extension portions 63, which sandwich the mating contact of a mating connector (not shown) from the +Z direction and the -Z direction and contact the mating contact. A pair of arms 63A are formed at the +Y direction end of the second extension portion 63, each extending in the +Y direction with a gap between them in the X direction, and a second contact portion 66 is formed by the +Y direction ends of the pair of first extension portions 62 and the pair of arms 63A of the second extension portion 63, which sandwich the connection portion 42 of the fixed contacts 41U, 41L from the +Z direction and contact the connection portion 42.

[0036] In addition, in a natural state where no external force acts on the relay contact 61, the Z-direction distance between the -Y-direction end of the first extension portion 62 and the -Y-direction end of the second extension portion 63 which form the first contact portion 65 is formed smaller than the Z-direction thickness dimension of the support portion 33B formed in the relay contact accommodating portion 33 of the second insulator 31, and the Z-direction distance between the first extension portion 62 and the second extension portion 63 in the vicinity of the connecting portion 64 is formed larger than the Z-direction thickness dimension of the support portion 33B. In addition, the X-direction width of the first extension portion 62 and the second extension portion 63 located on the -Y-direction side of the connecting portion 64 is formed narrower than the X-direction distance between a pair of side wall portions 33A of the relay contact accommodating portion 33 of the second insulator 31.

[0037] In addition, the Z-direction distance between the +Y-direction end of the first extension portion 62 and a pair of arm portions 63A of the second extension portion 63 that form the second contact portion 66 is formed to be smaller than the Z-direction thickness of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contacts 41U, 41L.

[0038] 13 and 14, a pair of receiving surfaces 67 are formed at the +Y direction ends of the pair of connecting portions 64, the receiving surfaces 67 being spaced apart from each other in the X direction and facing the +Y direction. The pair of receiving surfaces 67 are located at the same positions as each other in the Y direction. The maximum distance W2 in the X direction between the pair of receiving surfaces 67 is set to be shorter than the width dimension W1 in the X direction at the -Y direction tip end of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contacts 41U and 41L as shown in FIG.

[0039] 7 and 8, first, the support portion 33B of the relay contact accommodating portion 33 comes into contact between the -Y direction end of the first extension portion 62 and the -Y direction end of the second extension portion 63. In this state, when the relay contact 61 is pushed in the -Y direction, the support portion 33B elastically deforms the first extension portion 62 and the second extension portion 63 such that the -Y direction end of the first extension portion 62 and the -Y direction end of the second extension portion 63 move away from each other in the Z direction, and when the first contact portion 65 of the relay contact 61 gets over the support portion 33B and is positioned on the -Y direction side of the support portion 33B, the elastically deformed first extension portion 62 and second extension portion 63 return to their original state.

[0040] As a result, the support portion 33B passes in the X direction between the first extension portion 62 and the second extension portion 63 of the relay contact 61 and between the connecting portion 64 and the first contact portion 65, and the relay contact 61 is accommodated and held in the relay contact accommodating portion 33 so as to be movable in the Y direction, which is the mating direction, and in the Z direction and X direction perpendicular to the mating direction.

[0041] In this manner, the second insulator 31 holding the six relay contacts 61 is attached from the -Y direction to the first insulator 21 to which the three fixed contacts 41U and the three fixed contacts 41L are fixed, thereby assembling the connector 11 shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0042] When assembling the connector 11, as shown in FIG. 15, of the six relay contacts 61 held by the second insulator 31, the +Y-direction ends of the first extension portions 62 and the +Y-direction ends of the second extension portions 63 of the three relay contacts 61 located on the +Z-direction side come into contact with the tip portions of the connection portions 42 of the three fixed contacts 41U held by the first insulator 21, and the first extension portions 62 and the second extension portions 63 elastically deform so as to move away from each other in the Z direction, and the second contact portions 66 of each relay contact 61 contact the +Z-direction side surfaces and -Z-direction side surfaces of the connection portions 42 of the corresponding fixed contacts 41U with a predetermined contact pressure.

[0043] Similarly, of the six relay contacts 61, the +Y direction ends of the first extension portions 62 and the +Y direction ends of the second extension portions 63 of the three relay contacts 61 located on the -Z direction side contact the tip portions of the connection portions 42 of the three fixed contacts 41L held by the first insulator 21, causing the first extension portions 62 and the second extension portions 63 to elastically deform so as to move away from each other in the Z direction, and the second contact portions 66 of each relay contact 61 contact the +Z direction side surfaces and -Z direction side surfaces of the connection portions 42 of the corresponding fixed contacts 41L with a predetermined contact pressure.

[0044] At this time, although the second contact portion 66 of each relay contact 61 contacts the connection portion 42 of the corresponding fixed contact 41U or 41L, the corresponding support portion 33B of the second insulator 31 passes in the X direction between the first extension portion 62 and the second extension portion 63 of the relay contact 61 and between the connecting portion 64 and the first contact portion 65, and the relay contact 61 is in a movable state within the corresponding relay contact accommodating portion 33. Further, the first contact portion 65 of the relay contact 61 is located on the +Y direction side of the corresponding insertion port 32 of the second insulator 31.

[0045] In addition, due to the difference in the Y-direction lengths of the fixed contact accommodating portion 24U and the fixed contact accommodating portion 24L in the first insulator 21, and the difference in the Y-direction lengths of the fixed contacts 41U and 41L, the tip ends of the connection portions 42 of the three fixed contacts 41U held in the first insulator 21 are shifted in the -Y direction by a distance dY and positioned in a different position relative to the tip ends of the connection portions 42 of the three fixed contacts 41L.

[0046] Furthermore, the maximum distance W2 in the X direction between the pair of receiving surfaces 67 of the relay contacts 61 is shorter than the width W1 in the X direction at the -Y direction tip portions of the connection portions 42 of the fixed contacts 41U and 41L. For this reason, when the relay contact 61 located on the +Z direction side among the six relay contacts 61 held movably moves in the +Y direction, the pair of receiving surfaces 67 of the relay contact 61 come into contact with the -Y direction tip portions of the connection portions 42 of the fixed contacts 41U, and further movement of the relay contact 61 in the +Y direction is restricted, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17 . Here, the pair of receiving surfaces 67 of the intermediate contact 61 are disposed at the same positions relative to each other in the Y direction, and the -Y direction end portion of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contact 41U extends linearly along the X direction. That is, at the -Y direction end portion of the connection portion 42, the portions that come into contact with the pair of receiving surfaces 67 are disposed at the same positions relative to each other in the Y direction. For this reason, when the pair of receiving surfaces 67 come into contact with the -Y direction end portions of the connection portion 42, the intermediate contact 61 assumes a posture that extends along the Y direction without inclining with respect to the Y direction, which is the mating direction.

[0047] Similarly, when the relay contact 61 located on the -Z direction side of the six relay contacts 61 held movably moves in the +Y direction, a pair of receiving surfaces 67 of the relay contact 61 comes into contact with the -Y direction tip of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contact 41L, and the relay contact 61 is restricted from moving further in the +Y direction and assumes a posture extending along the Y direction without inclining relative to the Y direction.

[0048] In this manner, when the second insulator 31 is attached to the first insulator 21, the multiple claw portions 34 of the second insulator 31 hook onto the multiple claw portions 27 of the first insulator 21, thereby locking the second insulator 31 to the first insulator 21 and preventing it from coming off the first insulator 21.

[0049] The connector 11 can be fitted with a mating connector 71 as shown in FIG. The mating connector 71 has a structure in which six bus bars 73 are held in a housing 72 formed from an insulating material such as insulating resin, and each of the six bus bars 73 has six mating contacts 74 protruding in the +Y direction from the housing 72. The six mating contacts 74 correspond to the six sockets 32 and six relay contacts 61 of the connector 11.

[0050] 19, the six mating contacts 74 are divided into two rows in the Z direction, and in each row, three mating contacts 74 are arranged in the X direction. The tips of the six mating contacts 74 in the +Y direction are arranged at the same position in the Y direction. By inserting the six mating contacts 74 protruding in the +Y direction from the housing 72 of the mating connector 71 into the six sockets 32 of the connector 11, respectively, and pushing the mating connector 71 in the +Y direction toward the connector 11, a connector assembly is formed in which the mating connector 71 is mated with the connector 11, as shown in Figures 20 to 22.

[0051] At this time, as shown in Figures 23 and 24, the mating contact 74 of each bus bar 73 is pushed in the +Y direction toward the corresponding relay contact 61, and the first contact portion 65 of the relay contact 61 contacts the +Z direction side surface and the -Z direction side surface of the mating contact 74 with a predetermined contact pressure.

[0052] As a result, of the six mating contacts 74 of the mating connector 71, the mating contact 74 located on the +Z direction side is electrically connected to the fixed contact 41U via the corresponding relay contact 61, and the mating contact 74 located on the -Z direction side is electrically connected to the fixed contact 41L via the corresponding relay contact 61.

[0053] Note that Figures 23 and 24 only show two bus bars 73 of the mating connector 71 and one fixed contact 41U and one fixed contact 41L of the connector 11 that are electrically connected to these bus bars 73, but in a similar manner, six bus bars 73 of the mating connector 71 are electrically connected to three fixed contacts 41U and three fixed contacts 41L of the connector 11.

[0054] 25 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector 11 and the mating connector 71 mated with each other. When the mating connector 71 is pushed in the +Y direction toward the connector 11, first, the +Y direction tip portions of the six mating contacts 74 come into contact with the -Y direction ends of the corresponding relay contacts 61. As a result, the relay contacts 61 movably held in the second insulator 31 of the connector 11 are pushed by the +Y direction tip portions of the mating contacts 74 and move in the +Y direction. Then, the pair of receiving surfaces 67 of the relay contacts 61 come into contact with the -Y direction tip portions of the connecting portions 42 of the fixed contacts 41U or 41L, and further movement of the relay contacts 61 in the +Y direction is restricted.

[0055] In this way, the mating contact 74 is pushed further in the +Y direction relative to the relay contact 61, whose movement in the +Y direction is restricted, so that the mating contact 74 comes into contact with the first contact portion 65 of the corresponding relay contact 61.

[0056] 15, in the connector 1, the -Y direction tip of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contact 41U is disposed at a position shifted by a distance dY toward the -Y direction with respect to the -Y direction tip of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contact 41L. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 25, the first contact portion 65 of the relay contact 61, whose pair of receiving surfaces 67 are in contact with the -Y direction tip of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contact 41U, is disposed at a position shifted by the distance dY toward the -Y direction from the first contact portion 65 of the relay contact 61, whose pair of receiving surfaces 67 are in contact with the -Y direction tip of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contact 41L.

[0057] On the other hand, the +Y direction tips of the six mating contacts 74 in the mating connector 71 are arranged at the same Y direction position. Therefore, when the mating connector 71 is pushed in the +Y direction toward the connector 11, the six mating contacts 74 of the mating connector 71 do not contact the six relay contacts 61 of the connector 11 at the same time, but rather, of the six mating contacts 74, three mating contacts 74 located on the +Z direction side contact the relay contacts 61 connected to the fixed contacts 41U, and then the three mating contacts 74 located on the -Z direction side contact the relay contacts 61 connected to the fixed contacts 41L.

[0058] As a result, the insertion force of the six mating contacts 74 required to mate the mating connector 71 with the connector 11 can be divided into two in terms of time, making it possible to keep the maximum value of the insertion force small.

[0059] Furthermore, since the six relay contacts 61 of the connector 11 are each movably held by the second insulator 31, even if misalignment in the X and Z directions perpendicular to the mating direction occurs between the three fixed contacts 41U and the three fixed contacts 41L of the connector 11 and the six mating contacts 74 of the mating connector 71 due to manufacturing tolerances or the like, the misalignment is absorbed by the relay contacts 61, and a highly reliable electrical connection can be established between the connector 11 and the mating connector 71.

[0060] It should be noted that the connector 11 and the mating connector 71 can be electrically disconnected by moving the mating connector 71 mated with the connector 11 in the -Y direction and pulling it out from the connector 11. Here, in each of the six relay contacts 61 of the connector 11, it is desirable that the contact pressure of the second contact portion 66 against the connection portion 42 of the corresponding fixed contact 41U, 41L is set to be higher than the contact pressure of the first contact portion 65 against the corresponding mating contact 74.

[0061] If the contact pressure by the second contact portion 66 is higher than the contact pressure by the first contact portion 65, for example, when pulling out the mating connector 71 that is mated with the connector 11 from the connector 11, the mating contact 74 can be easily pulled out from the first contact portion 65 of the intermediate contact 61 while maintaining the receiving surface 67 of the intermediate contact 61 in contact with the tip portion of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contacts 41U, 41L. This effectively prevents the intermediate contact 61 from moving in the -Y direction due to being dragged by the mating contact 74. Furthermore, as a result, the second insulator 31 is prevented from being pushed in the -Y direction by the intermediate contact 61 that has moved in the -Y direction, and from coming off the first insulator 21.

[0062] In the above embodiment 1, of the total six fixed contacts, the -Y direction tip ends of the connection portions 42 of three fixed contacts 41U are positioned at a position shifted in the Y direction relative to the -Y direction tip ends of the connection portions 42 of three fixed contacts 41L, thereby distributing the insertion force of the six mating contacts 74 required for mating into two in time, but this is not limited to this.

[0063] For example, if the tip of the connection part of at least one of the six fixed contacts is located at a different position in the Y direction, which is the mating direction, from the tip of the connection part of the other fixed contacts, the insertion force of the mating contact 74 can be distributed and the maximum value of the insertion force can be kept small. Also, the tip parts of the connection parts of the six fixed contacts can all be located at different positions in the Y direction.

[0064] In the above-described first embodiment, the relay contact 61 has a pair of receiving surfaces 67 formed on the +Y direction ends of the pair of connecting portions 64, but it is not necessarily required to have a pair of receiving surfaces 67, and may have only one receiving surface 67. Even in this case, the one receiving surface 67 comes into contact with the -Y direction tip portion of the connecting portion 42 of the fixed contact 41U or 41L, so that the relay contact 61 is restricted from moving further in the +Y direction.

[0065] However, if the relay contact 61 has a pair of receiving surfaces 67 spaced apart in the X-direction, the pair of receiving surfaces 67 come into contact with the -Y-direction tip portion of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contact 41U or 41L, thereby preventing the relay contact 61 from tilting with respect to the Y-direction, which is the mating direction, and improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the first contact portion 65 of the relay contact 61 and the mating contact 74.

[0066] In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the first extension portion 62 and the second extension portion 63 of the intermediate contact 61 face each other with a gap in the Z direction, but they do not necessarily have to face each other in the Z direction, and may face each other with a gap in a direction intersecting both the Y direction, which is the mating direction, and the X direction, which is the width direction of the connection portions 42 of the fixed contacts 41U and 41L. However, in order to bring the second contact portion 66 of the relay contact 61 into contact with the +Z direction side surface and the -Z direction side surface of the connection portion 42 with a predetermined contact pressure, it is preferable that the first extension portion 62 and the second extension portion 63 of the relay contact 61 face each other with a gap in the Z direction.

[0067] The -Y direction end portions of the connection portions 42 of the fixed contacts 41U, 41L fixed to the first insulator 21 extend linearly along the X direction, but are not limited to this. For example, the -Y direction end portions of the connection portions 42 have a pair of pressing surfaces that correspond to a pair of receiving surfaces 67 of the intermediate contacts 61 and are spaced apart from each other in the X direction and are positioned at the same position in the Y direction, and the pair of pressing surfaces do not have to extend linearly along the X direction as long as they are positioned at the same position in the Y direction. In this case, a pair of receiving surfaces 67 of the intermediate contact 61 come into contact with a pair of pressing surfaces of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contacts 41U, 41L, so that the movement of the intermediate contact 61 in the +Y direction is restricted, and the intermediate contact 61 assumes a posture extending along the Y direction without inclining relative to the Y direction.

[0068] The connector 11 according to the above-mentioned embodiment 1 has three fixed contacts 41U and three fixed contacts 41L, and therefore can also be used, for example, in a hybrid vehicle or the like, to electrically connect two on-board motors for three-phase AC to an inverter circuit. However, in the present invention, the total number of fixed contacts is not limited to six, as long as it is two or more. Furthermore, the multiple fixed contacts do not have to be arranged in two rows, one above the other, but may be arranged in one row or three or more rows. Furthermore, the multiple fixed contacts may be arranged randomly without forming rows.

[0069] Embodiment 2 In the connector 11 according to the first embodiment, instead of the relay contact 61, a relay contact 81 shown in FIGS. The relay contact 81 is formed from a single bent and elastic metal plate, and has a first extension portion 82 extending in the Y direction, a second extension portion 83 facing the first extension portion 82 at a distance in the Z direction (second direction), and a connecting portion 84 extending in the -Z direction from the -X direction side edge of the middle portion of the first extension portion 82 in the Y direction to the -X direction side edge of the middle portion of the second extension portion 83 in the Y direction to connect the first extension portion 82 and the second extension portion 83.

[0070] Furthermore, a protrusion 85 protruding in the -Z direction is formed on the side edge on the +X direction side of the intermediate portion in the Y direction of the first extension portion 82, and a protrusion 86 protruding in the +Z direction is formed on the side edge on the +X direction side of the intermediate portion in the Y direction of the second extension portion 83. Protrusion 85 is disposed offset toward the -Y direction side with respect to protrusion 86. Furthermore, the -Y direction end of protrusion 85 is disposed at the same Y direction position as the -Y direction end of connecting portion 84, and the +Y direction end of protrusion 86 is disposed at the same Y direction position as the +Y direction end of connecting portion 84.

[0071] A first contact portion 87 is formed by the -Y direction side portion of the first extension portion 82 and the -Y direction side portion of the second extension portion 83, which face each other in the Z direction, and a second contact portion 88 is formed by the +Y direction side portion of the first extension portion 82 and the +Y direction side portion of the second extension portion 83, which face each other in the Z direction. Furthermore, a pair of receiving surfaces 89 arranged at an interval in the X direction (first direction) and facing the +Y direction are formed by the +Y direction end of the connecting portion 84 and the +Y direction end of the protrusion 86, which are arranged at the same position in the Y direction. The pair of receiving surfaces 89 are arranged at the same position in the Y direction.

[0072] By positioning the relay contact 81 so that the support portion 33B of the second insulator 31 shown in Figures 7 and 8 passes between the first extension portion 82 and the second extension portion 83 of the relay contact 81 and between the connecting portion 84 and the protrusion 85 and the first contact portion 87 in the X direction, the relay contact 81 is movably accommodated and held in the relay contact accommodating portion 33 of the second insulator 31. The maximum distance in the X direction between a pair of receiving surfaces 89 of the intermediate contact 81 is set to be shorter than the width dimension W1 in the X direction at the -Y direction tip end of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contacts 41U and 41L as shown in FIG. 10.

[0073] As shown in Figure 29, when the second contact portion 88 of the relay contact 81 is in contact with the +Z direction side and -Z direction side faces of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contact 41U with a predetermined contact pressure and the mating contact 74 is pushed in the +Y direction toward the relay contact 81, the relay contact 81 is pushed by the mating contact 74 and moves in the +Y direction, and a pair of receiving surfaces 89 of the relay contact 81 come into contact with the -Y direction tip portion of the connection portion 42 of the fixed contact 41U, and further movement of the relay contact 81 in the +Y direction is restricted.

[0074] As the mating contact 74 is pushed further in the +Y direction relative to the relay contact 81, whose movement in the +Y direction is restricted, the mating contact 74 comes into contact with the first contact portion 87 of the corresponding relay contact 81 and is electrically connected to the fixed contact 41U via the relay contact 81.

[0075] If the tip end of the connection portion of at least one of the multiple fixed contacts 41U and 41L is positioned at a different position in the Y direction, which is the mating direction, relative to the tip end of the connection portion of the other fixed contacts, even when such an intermediate contact 81 is used, it is possible to distribute the insertion force of the multiple mating contacts 74 over time, as in embodiment 1, and keep the maximum value of the insertion force low.

[0076] In addition, since the relay contact 81 is movably held by the second insulator 31, even if misalignment in the X and Z directions perpendicular to the mating direction occurs between the multiple fixed contacts 41U and 41L of the connector 11 and the multiple mating contacts 74 of the mating connector 71 due to manufacturing tolerances or the like, the misalignment is absorbed by the relay contact 81, and a highly reliable electrical connection can be established between the connector 11 and the mating connector 71.

[0077] In addition, in the intermediate contact 81 of embodiment 2, it is desirable that the contact pressure of the second contact portion 88 with the connection portion 42 of the corresponding fixed contact 41U, 41L be set to be higher than the contact pressure of the first contact portion 87 with the corresponding mating contact 74. As a result, when the mating connector 71 in the mated state is pulled out, the intermediate contact 81 moves in the -Y direction, being dragged by the mating contact 74, and the moved intermediate contact 81 pushes the second insulator 31 in the -Y direction, preventing the second insulator 31 from coming off the first insulator 21.

[0078] In addition, in embodiments 1 and 2, the relay contacts 61, 81 are formed from a single bent metal plate, but this is not limited to this and may be composed of an assembly of multiple parts as long as they have first contact portions 65, 87 and second contact portions 66, 88 and a pair of receiving surfaces 67, 89. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 connector, 2 housing, 3, 4 contact, 3A, 4A contact point, 5 beam, 6, 7 mating contact, 11 connector, 12 housing, 21 first insulator, 22 insulator body, 23 flange, 24U, 24L fixed contact accommodating portion, 24A cylindrical portion, 24B holding groove, 25 screw hole, 26 protruding portion, 27 claw portion, 31 second insulator, 32 insertion port, 33 intermediate contact accommodating portion, 33A side wall portion, 33B support portion, 34 claw portion, 41U, 41L fixed contact, 42 connection portion, 43 through hole, 44 convex portion, 51 connection bolt, 61, 81 intermediate contact, 62, 82 first extension portion, 63, 83 second extension portion, 63A arm portion, 64, 84 connecting portion, 65, 87 First contact portion, 66, 88 second contact portion, 67, 89 receiving surface, 71 mating connector, 72 housing, 73 bus bar, 74 mating contact, 85, 86 protrusion, W1 width dimension, W2 maximum distance, dY,L distance, D1 mating direction.

Claims

1. A connector that mates with a mating connector along a mating direction, Housing and a plurality of fixed contacts each having a flat connecting portion that is fixed to the housing and extends along the mating direction and a first direction perpendicular to the mating direction; a plurality of relay contacts corresponding to the plurality of fixed contacts, movably held within the housing, and electrically connected to the corresponding fixed contacts; Equipped with Each of the plurality of relay contacts is a first extending portion and a second extending portion extending in the fitting direction and facing each other at an interval in a second direction intersecting both the fitting direction and the first direction; a connecting portion connecting intermediate portions of the first extending portion and the second extending portion in the fitting direction to each other; a first contact portion disposed at one end of the first extension portion and the second extension portion in the mating direction and in contact with a corresponding mating contact of the mating connector to be electrically connected; a second contact portion disposed at the other end of the first extension portion and the second extension portion in the fitting direction and in contact with the connection portion of the corresponding fixed contact to be electrically connected thereto; a receiving surface facing a tip end of the connection portion of the corresponding fixed contact along the fitting direction; having the plurality of relay contacts are held in the housing so as to be movable in the mating direction, the first direction, and the second direction, the distal end of the connection portion of the fixed contact that is in contact with the second contact portion comes into contact with the receiving surface, so that movement of each of the intermediate contacts toward the corresponding fixed contact along the fitting direction is restricted; A connector characterized in that the tip end of the connection portion of at least one of the plurality of fixed contacts is positioned at a different position in the mating direction relative to the tip end of the connection portion of the other fixed contacts.

2. The housing includes: a first insulator to which the plurality of stationary contacts are fixed; a second insulator connected to the first insulator and movably holding the plurality of relay contacts; The connector of claim 1 , comprising:

3. The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the second insulator is detachably connected to the first insulator.

4. 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of relay contacts have the same structure.

5. 5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of relay contacts has a pair of the receiving surfaces spaced apart from each other in the first direction.

6. The pair of receiving surfaces are disposed at the same positions relative to each other in the fitting direction, 6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the tip ends of the connection portions of the fixed contacts have portions that come into contact with the pair of receiving surfaces and are arranged at the same positions in the fitting direction.

7. 7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein a maximum distance in the first direction between the pair of receiving surfaces is shorter than a width dimension in the first direction of a tip end of the connection portion of the fixed contact.

8. the second insulator has a plurality of relay contact accommodating portions that accommodate the plurality of relay contacts, Each of the relay contact accommodating portions has a pair of side wall portions extending along the fitting direction and facing each other in the first direction, and a rod-shaped support portion connecting the pair of side wall portions along the first direction, 4. A connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the support portion passes between the first extension portion and the second extension portion of the relay contact accommodated in the relay contact accommodating portion and between the connecting portion and the first contact portion.

9. A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each of the relay contacts is formed from a single bent metal plate and has one of the second extension portions, a pair of the connecting portions extending in the second direction from both side edges of the second extension portion in the first direction, and a pair of the first extension portions respectively connected to the pair of the connecting portions.

10. The connector according to claim 9 , wherein the receiving surface is formed by the pair of the connecting portions.

11. A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each of the relay contacts is formed from a single bent metal plate and has one of the first extension portions, one of the second extension portions, one of the connecting portions that connects one side edge of the first extension portion in the first direction to one side edge of the second extension portion in the first direction and extends in the second direction, and a protrusion that protrudes in the second direction from at least one of the other side edge of the first extension portion in the first direction and the other side edge of the second extension portion in the first direction.

12. The connector according to claim 11 , wherein the receiving surface is formed by the connecting portion and the protrusion.

13. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 12, a mating connector having a plurality of mating contacts that are fitted to the connector and electrically connected to the plurality of intermediate contacts; Equipped with a connector assembly including a connector body having a plurality of mating contacts, each of which has a tip end portion facing the plurality of intermediate contacts in the mating direction, the tip end portions being arranged at the same positions in the mating direction.

14. 14. The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein in each of the intermediate contacts, a contact pressure of the second contact portion against the connecting portion of the corresponding fixed contact is higher than a contact pressure of the first contact portion against the corresponding mating contact.

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