connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of achieving both of improvement of a cut-off performance by a seal member and improvement of workability of a sealing operation by using the seal member.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: an electric wire 70; a terminal fitting 60 connected to the electric wire 70; and a housing 10 in which a conducting path including the electric wire 70 and the terminal fitting 60 is distributed in an inner part. The housing 10 includes: an interior space 11a that is defined so as to distributed its conducting path; an opening part 10a that connects the interior space 11a with an external part of the housing 10; a cover 90 that is inserted into the opening part 10a so as to block the opening part 10a; and a seal member 100 that is for sealing a gap L between an open inner wall of the opening part 10a and the cover 90. The cover 90 nips the seal member 100 in a space from a predetermined place 16 of the housing 10 when it is inserted into the opening part 10a to apply a pressure along an insertion direction of the cover 90, and thus, blocks the gap L by expanding the seal member 100 to a direction crossed to the insertion direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector including an electric wire, a terminal fitting to which a conductor core wire of the electric wire is electrically connected, and a housing that accommodates the terminal fitting. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, connectors have been proposed that include a seal member (e.g., a packing) that liquid-tightly separates the terminal accommodating chamber from the outside in order to prevent liquids such as water from entering the terminal accommodating chamber in the housing. In this type of connector, for example, a seal member is provided so as to seal an outlet through which an electric wire extending from a terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber is drawn to the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-004850 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the connector having the above-mentioned seal member, an annular seal member may be used to seal between the outlet and the electric wire. In order to improve the waterproof performance of such a seal member, it is possible to increase the thickness of the seal member (i.e., to make it thicker). However, if the seal member is made thicker, the seal member is pressed strongly against the outlet, etc., and a large frictional force is generated between the outlet, etc., and the seal member, so that the work of pushing the seal member into the outlet may become difficult. On the other hand, if the thickness of the seal member is made smaller (i.e., to make the seal member thinner) to make the work easier, a gap is likely to occur between the outlet, etc., and the seal member, so that the waterproof performance originally required of the seal member may be impaired. In addition, as can be understood from the above description, when a seal member is provided in an opening provided in a housing, not limited to the outlet of the electric wire, the sealing work may become difficult or the waterproof performance may be impaired depending on the thickness of the seal member, as described above. In this way, it is generally difficult to achieve both the improvement of the waterproof performance of the seal member and the improvement of the workability of the sealing work using the seal member.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector which is capable of achieving both improved waterproofing performance by a seal member and improved workability of a sealing operation using the seal member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the connector according to the present invention comprises the following components [1] to [ 2 ] is one of its features. [1] A connector comprising: an electric wire; a terminal fitting to which a conductor core wire of the electric wire is electrically connected; and a housing that accommodates the terminal fitting and has a conductive path including the electric wire and the terminal fitting arranged therein, The housing includes: an internal space defined to route the conductive path; an opening that connects the internal space to the outside of the housing; a cover that is inserted into the opening to close the opening and isolates the internal space from the outside; a seal member for sealing a gap between an inner wall of the opening and the cover, The cover is When the cover is inserted into the opening, the seal member is sandwiched between the cover and a predetermined portion of the housing and pressed along the insertion direction of the cover, and the seal member is expanded in a direction intersecting the insertion direction to seal the gap. 、 The housing includes: The cover further includes a bolt fastening structure that applies an external force for pressing the seal member to the cover directly or indirectly using a bolt, the housing includes a main body portion having a box-like shape defining the internal space and having the opening at one end in the insertion direction of the cover, and an electric wire accommodating portion having a cylindrical shape extending from the main body portion in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the cover and having an outlet at an extending end thereof through which the electric wire is inserted and drawn out to the outside, The connector further includes a first shell member arranged to cover the wire accommodating portion, and a second shell member arranged to cover the main body, in contact with the cover, and separate from the first shell member, The first shell member, the second shell member, and the housing are The second shell member is configured to apply the external force to the cover when the second shell member is fastened to the first shell member and the housing by using the bolt. It is a connector. [ 2 ] [1] To In the connector described, The sealing member is the seal member has an annular shape extending along the inner wall of the opening, and is disposed such that one surface of the seal member in a radial direction abuts against the inner wall of the opening and the other surface of the seal member abuts against the cover; a width of the seal member in the radial direction when not pressed against the cover is equal to or smaller than a width of the gap in the radial direction; It is a connector.

[0007] According to the connector having the configuration of [1] above, the seal member (e.g., packing) disposed at the opening of the housing is pressed by the cover, sandwiched between the cover and a predetermined portion of the housing, and spread in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the cover, thereby sealing the gap between the inner wall of the opening and the cover. Therefore, for example, it is possible to realize that the seal member when not pressed by the cover has a size (e.g., the above-mentioned thin shape) suitable for mounting or fitting to the cover or the inner wall of the opening, and the seal member when pressed by the cover has a size (e.g., the above-mentioned thick shape) that tightly seals the gap between the cover and the inner wall of the opening. Furthermore, by inserting the cover into the opening, it is easy to increase the pressing force exerted on the seal member, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the pressing force on the seal member due to a positional shift of the cover itself. In this way, the connector having this configuration can achieve both improved water-stopping performance by the seal member and improved workability of the sealing work using the seal member.

[0008] As a further advantage, since the seal member is pressed against the cover and deformed into a shape suitable for sealing, it is possible to apply a single type of seal member of a common shape to many different types of openings and covers having different shapes. In other words, the connector having the above configuration can improve the versatility of the seal member.

[0009] Furthermore, the above[ 1 According to the connector having the above configuration, the seal member is pressed by the cover which receives an external force (so-called fastening force) due to the bolt fastening structure of the housing. Therefore, the cover can be pressed against the seal member with a stronger and more stable force than when the cover is pressed against the seal member by a method such as hooking the cover onto the housing. This improves the water-stopping performance of the seal member. Furthermore, it is possible to more firmly prevent the pressure on the seal member from decreasing due to misalignment of the cover itself, which would result in a loss of the water-stopping performance of the seal member.

[0010] Furthermore, the above[ 1According to the connector having the above configuration, the cover can be pressed against the seal member to seal the gap between the cover and the inner wall of the opening during the process of fastening the shell member covering the opening to the fastening object (for example, a part of the housing) with a bolt. This makes it possible to improve the productivity of the connector compared to a case where the process of pressing the cover against the seal member is performed separately and independently.

[0011] the above[ 2 According to the connector having the above configuration, the radial width of the seal member when not pressed against the cover is equal to or smaller than the width of the gap between the cover and the inner wall of the opening. This makes it easier to insert the cover into the opening to close the opening. This improves the productivity of the connector. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can achieve both improved waterproofing performance by the seal member and improved workability of the sealing operation using the seal member.

[0013] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the following description of the embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiment") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(a) being a side view thereof, and FIG. 1(b) being a top view thereof. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1(b), and FIG. 3(b) is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 3(a). [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 3(a), illustrating the state before each component is assembled into the housing. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5(a) is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a state in which the components are being assembled into the housing, and FIG. 5(b) is an enlarged view of part D in FIG. 5(a). [Figure 6] FIG. 6(a) is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a state in which the components have been completely assembled into the housing, and FIG. 6(b) is an enlarged view of part E in FIG. 6(a). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, a connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The connector 1 shown in Fig. 1 functions as a relay connector that electrically connects a pair of electric wires 70 extending from an electric wire accommodating portion 12 of a housing 10 to a mating connector 120 (see Fig. 7) that is fitted into a connector portion 13 of the housing 10.

[0016] For ease of explanation, the following definitions are used for the "front-rear direction", "up-down direction", "width direction", "front", "rear", "up" and "down" as shown in FIG. 1 etc. The "front-rear direction", "up-down direction" and "width direction" are perpendicular to each other. The up-down direction coincides with the fitting direction of the connector portion 13 and the mating connector 120. The front-rear direction coincides with the extending direction of the pair of electric wires 70 from the electric wire accommodating portion 12.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 3(a), each electric wire 70 is composed of a metal conductor core wire 71 and an insulating coating 72 that covers the conductor core wire 71. A metal terminal 60 (see Fig. 3(a)) is attached to one end of the electric wire 70 so as to be electrically connected to the conductor core wire 71. The terminal 60 has a shape that extends in the front-rear direction.

[0018] 2 and 3, the connector 1 mainly includes a housing 10, a pair of packings 20, a holder 30, a first shell member 40, a second shell member 50, a cover 90, and a packing 100. Each of the members constituting the connector 1 will be described below in order.

[0019] First, the housing 10 will be described. The housing 10 is a resin molded product, and as shown in Figures 2 and 3, integrally includes a main body 11, an electric wire accommodating portion 12 extending rearward from the rear end of the main body 11, and a connector portion 13 protruding upward from the upper end of the main body 11. Thus, the housing 10 has a substantially L-shape when viewed in the width direction.

[0020] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the main body 11 has a substantially rectangular box shape. A substantially rectangular cylindrical opening 10a penetrating in the vertical direction is formed in the lower part of the main body 11 (see Figure 3(a)). The opening 10a communicates between the internal space 11a (see Figure 3(a)) of the main body 11 and the outside of the housing 10. As will be described in detail later, the opening 10a is liquid-tightly closed by a resin cover 90 fitted with a rubber packing 100 (see Figures 2 and 3(a)).

[0021] 2 and 3, the wire accommodating section 12 is a cylindrical section extending in the front-rear direction and having a long hole shape that is long in the width direction when viewed from the rear. Inside the wire accommodating section 12, a pair of wire accommodating holes 14 are provided extending in the front-rear direction and aligned in the width direction. Each wire accommodating hole 14 has a circular cross-sectional shape. Each wire accommodating hole 14 penetrates in the front-rear direction and communicates with the internal space 11a of the main body 11. An electric wire 70 connected to a terminal 60 is accommodated in the wire accommodating hole 14.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the connector portion 13 is a cylindrical portion extending in the vertical direction and having a long hole shape that is long in the width direction when viewed from above. A pair of terminal accommodating holes 15 are provided inside the connector portion 13 so as to extend in the vertical direction and be aligned in the width direction. Each terminal accommodating hole 15 penetrates in the vertical direction and communicates with the internal space 11a of the main body portion 11. A metal terminal 80 (see Figure 3(a)) is accommodated and fixed in the terminal accommodating hole 15. The terminal 80 has a shape that extends in the vertical direction.

[0023] 3(b) and the like, a downward-facing, generally rectangular, annular stepped surface 16 is formed on the inner wall surface at a position a predetermined distance above the opening end of the opening 10a of the main body 11. As will be described in detail later, the stepped surface 16 functions as a stopper that determines the insertion depth of the packing 100 inserted into the opening 10a, and also holds the packing 100 by sandwiching it between the cover 90 and the stepped surface 16.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, a rectangular box-shaped base 17 that protrudes upward and extends in the width direction is integrally provided at the upper part of the boundary between the main body 11 and the electric wire accommodating portion 12 in the housing 10. An upper flange 44 (described later) of the first shell member 40 (see Fig. 2, etc.) is placed on the base 17 (see Fig. 3(a)).

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, a flange portion 18 is integrally formed at the boundary between the main body portion 11 and the connector portion 13 of the housing 10, projecting outward on both sides in the width direction. A pair of bolt insertion holes 19 are formed at both ends in the width direction of the flange portion 18 so as to pass through in the up-down direction. When the connector 1 is assembled, a pair of bolts 116 (see Fig. 2, etc.) are inserted into the pair of bolt insertion holes 19.

[0026] Locking projections 11b are provided at multiple locations (four locations in this example) in the circumferential direction of the opening 10a on the outer wall surface of the opening 10a of the main body 11 (see FIG. 2). The multiple locking projections 11b engage with edges of locking holes 94 of multiple locking pieces 93 of the cover 90, which will be described later.

[0027] Next, the pair of gaskets 20 will be described. As shown in Fig. 3(a), each gasket 20 is a rubber sealing member having a substantially cylindrical shape with a hole 21. The pair of gaskets 20 are inserted into the pair of electric wire accommodating holes 14 of the housing 10 with the electric wires 70 inserted into the holes 21, respectively, and function to seal the gap between the inner wall surface of the electric wire accommodating hole 14 and the outer circumferential surface of the electric wires 70.

[0028] Next, the holder 30 will be described. The holder 30 is a resin molded product, and as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3(a), is composed of a pair of cylindrical parts 31 aligned in the width direction corresponding to a pair of electric wire accommodating holes 14 of the housing 10, and a connecting part 33 connecting the pair of cylindrical parts 31 in the width direction.

[0029] The holder 30 functions to prevent a pair of gaskets 20 inserted into a pair of wire accommodating holes 14 from falling rearward by inserting a pair of cylindrical portions 31 into the inside of a pair of wire accommodating holes 14 of the housing 10 with electric wires 70 inserted into the respective hole portions 32.

[0030] Next, the first shell member 40 will be described. The first shell member 40 is formed by performing pressing, bending, and the like on a metal plate. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3(a), the first shell member 40 includes a first cylindrical portion 41 and a second cylindrical portion 42 connected to the front side of the first cylindrical portion 41.

[0031] The first cylindrical portion 41 has a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction and having a long hole shape that is long in the width direction when viewed from the rear, corresponding to the outer circumferential shape of the wire accommodating portion 12 of the housing 10. The second cylindrical portion 42 has a larger diameter over the entire circumferential direction than the first cylindrical portion 41. The second cylindrical portion 42 has a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction and having a long hole shape that is long in the width direction when viewed from the rear, corresponding to the outer circumferential shape of the packing 114 (see Figs. 2 and 3(a)) that is attached to a position adjacent to the rear side of the base portion 17 on the outer periphery of the wire accommodating portion 12.

[0032] An inner flange portion 43 extending radially inward around the entire circumference is provided on the rear end edge of the first cylindrical portion 41. When the connector 1 is assembled, the inner flange portion 43 comes into contact with the outer peripheral edge portion of the rear end portion of the holder 30, and serves to prevent the holder 30 from falling off rearward.

[0033] A flat upper flange portion 44 that protrudes forward and extends in the width direction is provided at the top of the front edge of the second tubular portion 42. A pair of bolt insertion holes 45 are formed in both widthwise ends of the upper flange portion 44 so as to penetrate in the up-down direction. When the connector 1 is assembled, a pair of bolts 115 (see FIG. 2, etc.) are inserted into the pair of bolt insertion holes 45. The first shell member 40 performs a shielding function to prevent leakage of electromagnetic noise from the inside by attaching the first and second tubular portions 41, 42 to the electric wire accommodating portion 12 of the housing 10 so as to cover the electric wire accommodating portion 12 (i.e., the pair of electric wire accommodating holes 14).

[0034] Next, the second shell member 50 will be described. The second shell member 50 is a so-called die-cast product formed by casting a metal such as aluminum. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the second shell member 50 has a substantially rectangular flat bottom wall 51, a pair of substantially rectangular flat side walls 52 rising upward from both widthwise edges of the bottom wall 51, and a substantially rectangular flat front wall 53 rising upward from the front edge of the bottom wall 51 and connecting to the pair of side walls 52, and has a box-like shape that opens rearward and upward.

[0035] A pair of bolt fastening surfaces 54 facing upward are formed on the pair of side walls 52 in correspondence with the pair of bolt insertion holes 45 of the first shell member 40. A pair of bolt insertion holes 55 are formed in the pair of bolt fastening surfaces 54 so as to penetrate in the up-down direction. A pair of bolts 115 (see FIG. 2, etc.) are inserted into the pair of bolt insertion holes 55.

[0036] Similarly, a pair of upwardly facing bolt fastening surfaces 56 are formed on the pair of side walls 52 at positions forward of the pair of bolt fastening surfaces 54 in correspondence with the pair of bolt insertion holes 19 of the housing 10. A pair of bolt insertion holes 57 are formed in the pair of bolt fastening surfaces 56 so as to pass therethrough in the up-down direction. A pair of bolts 116 (see FIG. 2, etc.) are inserted into the pair of bolt insertion holes 57.

[0037] Furthermore, a pair of flanges 58 protruding outward in the width direction are integrally formed on the upper edge portions of the pair of side walls 52. A pair of bolt insertion holes 59 are formed in the pair of flanges 58 so as to penetrate in the up-down direction. Bolts (see FIG. 7) used when fitting a mating connector 120 (see FIG. 7) and the connector portion 13 of the housing 10 are inserted into the pair of bolt insertion holes 59.

[0038] The second shell member 50 is attached to the housing 10 so as to cover the main body portion 11 and the connector portion 13 of the housing 10, thereby performing a shielding function to prevent the leakage of electromagnetic noise from the inside.

[0039] Next, the cover 90 will be described. The cover 90 is a component that is attached to the opening 10a of the housing 10 and functions to close the opening 10a. The cover 90 is a resin molded product, and includes a bottom plate portion 91 that is substantially rectangular and flat, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4 etc. The bottom plate portion 91 has a shape that corresponds to the opening shape of the opening 10a of the housing 10 when viewed from above.

[0040] A generally rectangular tubular standing wall portion 92 protruding upward around the entire circumference is integrally provided at a position a predetermined distance inward from the outer circumferential edge on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 91. When the cover 90 is attached to the opening 10a, a radial gap L is defined around the entire circumference between the outer circumferential surface of the standing wall portion 92 and the inner wall surface of the opening 10a (see FIG. 3(b)).

[0041] On the outer periphery of the bottom plate portion 91, there are formed locking pieces 93 extending upward at a plurality of locations (four locations in this example) in the circumferential direction of the bottom plate portion 91, corresponding to a plurality of locking projections 11b (see FIG. 2) of the housing 10. Each locking piece 93 has a locking hole 94 extending in the up-down direction formed therein.

[0042] A downwardly protruding projection 95 is formed at each of the four corners of the lower surface of the bottom plate portion 91. The four projections 95 function as points that come into contact with the bottom wall 51 of the second shell member 50 and are pressed upward by the bottom wall 51 when the connector 1 is assembled (see FIGS. 3 and 6).

[0043] Next, the packing 100 will be described. As shown in Figures 2 to 4 (particularly Figure 3(b)), the packing 100 is a rubber sealing member having a generally rectangular tubular shape extending in the vertical direction. When viewed from above, the packing 100 has a shape corresponding to the outer peripheral shape of the standing wall portion 92 of the cover 90.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5(b), a pair of inner lip portions 101 are provided on the inner wall surface of the packing 100 so as to be aligned in the vertical direction, and a pair of outer lip portions 102 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the packing 100 so as to be aligned in the vertical direction. In the inelastically deformed state of the packing 100, the radial thickness of the packing 100 (the radial distance from the top of the inner lip portion 101 to the top of the outer lip portion 102) is equal to or smaller than the radial gap L (see FIG. 3(b)). The packing 100 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the vertical wall portion 92 of the cover 90, and the cover 90 is assembled to the opening 10a, and is sandwiched between the cover 90 and the step surface 16 of the housing 10 and spread out to the periphery as described later, thereby fulfilling the function of sealing the gap between the inner wall surface of the opening 10a and the outer peripheral surface of the vertical wall portion 92 (see FIG. 3(b)). This makes it easier to insert the cover 90 with the packing 20 attached into the opening 10a. Above, each member constituting the connector 1 has been described.

[0045] Next, the procedure for assembling the connector 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 6. First, the pair of terminals 80 are inserted from below toward above into the pair of terminal accommodating holes 15 of the connector section 13 of the housing 10, and then accommodated and fixed. A flexible electric wire 112 and a joint terminal 117 are previously assembled to each of the pair of terminals 80. Specifically, the terminal 80 is crimped to one end of the flexible electric wire 112, and the joint terminal 117 is crimped to the other end of the flexible electric wire 112. Next, a series of operations for accommodating the pair of electric wires 70 in the electric wire accommodating section 12 is performed, which will be described below.

[0046] To accommodate the pair of electric wires 70 in the electric wire accommodating section 12, first, the pair of electric wires 70 are inserted, from one end of each pair, through the first and second tubular sections 41, 42 of the first shell member 40, the pair of hole sections 32 of the holder 30, and the hole sections 21 of the pair of gaskets 20, in this order.

[0047] Next, the terminals 60 are connected to the ends of the pair of electric wires 70 so as to be electrically connected to the conductor core wires 71. Next, the packing 114 is attached to the outer periphery of the electric wire accommodating portion 12 at a position adjacent to the rear side of the seat portion 17 (see Figs. 2 and 3(a)). Note that the packing 114 may be attached before the above-mentioned pair of electric wires 70 is inserted through each of the members.

[0048] Next, a pair of terminals 60 connected to one ends of the pair of electric wires 70 are inserted through a pair of electric wire accommodating holes 14 of the housing 10. Then, with the tips (front ends) of the pair of terminals 60 positioned in the internal space 11a of the main body 11 of the housing 10, the pair of joint terminals 117 and the pair of terminals 60 are fastened to a pair of nuts 111 fixed at predetermined positions on the inner wall of the main body 11 using a pair of bolts 113 (see FIG. 3(a)). Specifically, with the joint terminal 117 disposed on the nut 111 side (upper side in FIG. 3(a)) and the terminal 60 disposed on the bolt 113 side (lower side in FIG. 3(a)), the joint terminal 117 and the terminal 60 are fastened together by the nuts 111 and the bolts 113. As a result, the pair of joint terminals 117 and the pair of terminals 60 are fastened to the inner wall of the main body 11. As a result, the front-rear direction position of the pair of electric wires 70 connected to the pair of terminals 60 with respect to the housing 10 is defined. This fastening operation can be performed by inserting a fastening tool or the like into the internal space 11a of the main body 11 through the opening 10a of the main body 11.

[0049] Furthermore, by the above-mentioned fastening, the front ends of the pair of terminals 60 and the pair of terminals 80 are electrically connected via the pair of joint terminals 117 and the pair of flexible wires 112, respectively.

[0050] Next, the cover 90 is provisionally fixed to the opening 10a of the main body 11. For this purpose, the packing 100 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the vertical wall portion 92. Next, the cover 90 to which the packing 100 is attached is moved upward relative to the opening 10a from below until the vertical wall portion 92 faces the inner wall surface of the opening 10a, the multiple locking pieces 93 face the outer peripheral surface of the opening 10a, and the edges of the locking holes 94 of the multiple locking pieces 93 engage with the multiple locking projections 11b of the housing 10 (see FIG. 5(b)). When the edges of the locking holes 94 of the multiple locking pieces 93 engage with the multiple locking projections 11b of the housing 10, the provisional fixing of the cover 90 to the opening 10a is completed (see FIG. 5(b)).

[0051] When the cover 90 is provisionally fixed to the opening 10a, the engagement between the edge of the locking hole 94 and the locking protrusion 11b prevents the cover 90 from falling off downward. In addition, only the upper portion of the packing 100 extending in the vertical direction is interposed in the radial gap L (see FIG. 3(b)), and a vertical gap exists between the upper end surface of the packing 100 and the step surface 16 of the housing 10. Here, as described above, since the radial thickness of the packing 100 is equal to or smaller than the radial gap L, no large frictional force is generated between the inner lip portion 101 located in the upper portion of the packing 100 and the outer peripheral surface of the standing wall portion 92, and between the outer lip portion 102 located in the upper portion of the packing 100 and the inner wall surface of the opening 10a. This makes it easier to provisionally fix the cover 90 to the opening 10a.

[0052] Next, the pair of packings 20 and the holder 30 are moved forward relative to the pair of electric wires 70, and the pair of packings 20 and the pair of cylindrical portions 31 of the holder 30 are inserted in this order into the pair of electric wire accommodating holes 14. Next, the first shell member 40 is moved forward relative to the pair of electric wires 70, and assembled (extra-inserted) into the electric wire accommodating portion 12 so that the first and second cylindrical portions 41, 42 cover the electric wire accommodating portion 12 of the housing 10 (i.e., the pair of electric wire accommodating holes 14) and so that the inner flange portion 43 of the first shell member 40 contacts the outer circumferential edge portion of the rear end portion of the holder 30 (see Figs. 1 and 3(a)).

[0053] When the first shell member 40 has been completely assembled into the electric wire accommodating portion 12, the packing 114 reliably seals the gap between the inner wall surface of the second cylindrical portion 42 of the first shell member 40 and the outer circumferential surface of the electric wire accommodating portion 12 of the housing 10 (see FIG. 3(a)). Furthermore, the upper flange portion 44 of the first shell member 40 is placed so as to be in close contact with the upper surface of the base portion 17 of the housing 10 (see FIG. 3(a)).

[0054] Next, the second shell member 50 is moved upward relative to the main body portion 11 of the housing 10 from below the main body portion 11, and is disposed on the outside of the housing 10 so as to cover the main body portion 11 and the connector portion 13, and so that both widthwise ends of the upper flange portion 44 of the first shell member 40 are positioned above the bolt fastening surface 54 of the second shell member 50, and both widthwise ends of the flange portion 18 of the housing 10 are positioned above the bolt fastening surface 56 of the second shell member 50. At this time, the lower surface of the protrusion 95 is in contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall 51 of the second shell member 50. Furthermore, there are vertical gaps H between the lower surfaces of both widthwise ends of the upper flange portion 44 and the bolt fastening surface 54, and between the lower surfaces of both widthwise ends of the flange portion 18 and the bolt fastening surface 56 (see FIG. 5(a)).

[0055] Next, the first shell member 40, the second shell member 50, and the housing 10 are fastened together using a pair of bolts 115 and a pair of bolts 116 (see FIG. 2). For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 2, the pair of bolts 115 are inserted from above into the pair of bolt insertion holes 45 of the first shell member 40 and the pair of bolt insertion holes 55 of the second shell member 50, in this order, and screwed into a pair of nuts (not shown) located below the pair of bolt insertion holes 55. Similarly, the pair of bolts 116 are inserted from above into the pair of bolt insertion holes 19 of the housing 10 and the pair of bolt insertion holes 57 of the second shell member 50, in this order, and screwed into a pair of nuts (not shown) located below the pair of bolt insertion holes 57.

[0056] As a result, the second shell member 50 moves upward relative to the housing 10 and the first shell member 40 by the axial force (fastening force) generated by screwing in the pair of bolts 115 and the pair of bolts 116, so that the gap H (see FIG. 5(a)) becomes smaller. Accordingly, the bottom wall 51 of the second shell member 50 presses upward the four protrusions 95 of the cover 90, and the outer peripheral edge portion 91a (see FIG. 5(a)) of the bottom plate portion 91 of the cover 90 presses upward the packing 100, so that the cover 90 and the packing 100 move upward as a unit relative to the housing 10 (opening 10a).

[0057] Such movement of the cover 90 and the packing 100 continues until the packing 100 abuts against the stepped surface 16 of the housing 10. At the time when the packing 100 abuts against the stepped surface 16, the gap H still remains. Therefore, even after the packing 100 abuts against the stepped surface 16, the outer peripheral edge portion 91a of the cover 90 presses the packing 100 upward due to the axial force generated by the further screwing-in of the pair of bolts 115 and the pair of bolts 116.

[0058] As a result, the packing 100 is pressed vertically while being sandwiched between the outer peripheral edge portion 91a of the cover 90 and the step surface 16 of the housing 10, and is elastically deformed so as to be crushed vertically and spread radially inward and outward. This elastic deformation causes the inner lip portion 101 of the packing 100 to come into pressing contact with the outer peripheral surface of the standing wall portion 92 of the cover 90, and the outer lip portion 102 of the packing 100 to come into pressing contact with the inner wall surface of the opening 10a (see FIG. 6(b)).

[0059] As the pair of bolts 115 and the pair of bolts 116 are screwed in, the upper flange portion 44 of the first shell member 40 and the bolt fastening surface 54 come into close contact with each other, and the flange portion 18 of the housing 10 and the bolt fastening surface 56 come into close contact with each other (the gap H disappears), and when the pair of bolts 115 and the pair of bolts 116 are tightened with a specified torque, the first shell member 40, the second shell member 50, and the housing 10 are fastened together (see FIG. 6), and the assembly of the connector 1 is completed. As a result, the connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

[0060] 6(b), when the connector 1 is in an assembled state, the inner lip portion 101 is crushed by being in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the vertical wall portion 92 of the cover 90 with sufficient pressing force, and the outer lip portion 102 is crushed by being in close contact with the inner wall surface of the opening 10a with sufficient pressing force, due to the above-mentioned elastic deformation of the packing 100. As a result, the packing 100 reliably seals the gap between the cover 90 (the vertical wall portion 92) and the housing 10 (the opening 10a).

[0061] In this manner, in this embodiment, during the fastening operation of the first shell member 40, the second shell member 50, and the housing 10, the cover 90 is pressed against the packing 100 to elastically deform the packing 100, thereby simultaneously sealing the opening 10a of the housing 10. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by adjusting the vertical position of the step surface 16 of the housing 10, a single type of packing 100 having a common shape can be applied to combinations of many types of covers 90 and housings 10 having different radial gaps L (see FIG. 3(b)).

[0062] Specifically, as the radial gap L increases, a housing 10 in which the step surface 16 is positioned lower is used. As a result, as the gap L decreases, the amount of squeezing of the packing 100 in the up-down direction increases, and the amount of spreading of the packing 100 in the radially inward and outward directions also increases. As a result, when a single type of packing 100 is used, regardless of the size of the radial gap L, the inner lip portion 101 is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the standing wall portion 92 with an appropriate pressing force and crushed, and the outer lip portion 102 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the opening 10a with an appropriate pressing force and crushed, thereby allowing the opening 10a to be properly sealed.

[0063] <Actions and Effects> As described above, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the packing 100 disposed between the opening 10a of the housing 10 and the cover 90 is pressed by the cover 90 along the insertion direction (vertical direction) of the cover 90, and is sandwiched between the step surface 16 of the housing 10 and spread in a direction (radial direction) intersecting the insertion direction of the cover 90. Therefore, it is possible to realize that the packing 100 in a state where it is not pressed by the cover 90 has a size (for example, the above-mentioned thin shape) suitable for mounting or fitting into the cover 90 or the opening 10a, and the packing 100 in a state where it is pressed by the cover 90 has a size (for example, the above-mentioned thick shape) that tightly seals the gap between the cover 90 and the opening 10a. Since the packing 100 is pressed by the cover 90 to have a shape suitable for sealing, a single type of packing 100 of a common shape can be applied to many types of openings 10a and covers 90 with different shapes, and therefore the versatility of the packing 100 can be improved. In this manner, the connector 1 according to this embodiment can achieve both improved watertightness by the packing 100 and improved workability in attaching the packing 100 to the electric wires 70 and the housing 10.

[0064] Furthermore, the packing 100 is pressed by the cover 90 which receives an external force (so-called fastening force) due to the bolt fastening structure of the housing 10. Therefore, the cover 90 can be pressed against the packing 100 with a stronger fastening force than when the cover 90 is pressed against the packing 100 by a method such as hooking the cover 90 to the housing 10. This allows the packing 100 to more tightly seal the gap between the cover 90 and the opening 10a, thereby improving the water-stopping performance of the packing 100. Furthermore, it is possible to more firmly prevent the cover 90 itself from being unintentionally displaced, thereby reducing the pressing force on the packing 100.

[0065] Furthermore, during the process of fastening the second shell member 50 covering the opening 10a to the first shell member 40 and the housing 10 with the bolts 115, 116, the cover 90 can be pressed against the packing 100 to seal the gap between the cover 90 and the opening 10a. This improves the productivity of the connector compared to the case where the process of pressing the cover 90 against the packing 100 is performed separately and independently.

[0066] Furthermore, the radial width of the annular packing 100 is equal to or smaller than the width of the gap L between the cover 90 and the opening 10a when it is not pressed by the cover 90. This makes it easier to place the packing 100 in the gap L between the cover 90 and the opening 10a. This improves the productivity of the connector 1.

[0067] <Other forms> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications, improvements, etc. are possible. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the packing 100 is pressed by the cover 90 which receives an external force (so-called fastening force, axial force) due to the bolt fastening structure of the housing 10. In contrast, the cover 90 may be configured to be pressed against the packing 100 by a method such as hooking the cover 90 onto the housing 10. Specifically, for example, the cover 90 and the housing 10 may be provided with a locking mechanism for locking the cover 90 to the housing 10 in a state in which the cover 90 is pressed against the packing 100.

[0069] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, during the fastening operation between the first shell member 40, the second shell member 50, and the housing 10, the cover 90 is pressed against the packing 100 to simultaneously seal the opening 10a of the housing 10. In contrast to this, as shown in Fig. 7, during the fastening operation between the second shell member 50 and the mating connector 120, the cover 90 may be pressed against the packing 100 to simultaneously seal the opening 10a of the housing 10.

[0070] In the example shown in Figure 7, the cover 90 is temporarily fixed to the opening 10a of the housing 10, the second shell member 50 is positioned on the outside of the housing 10, and the mating connector 120 is temporarily fitted into the connector portion 13 of the housing 10, and then the second shell member 50 and the mating connector 120 are fastened together using a pair of bolts 115.

[0071] 7, a pair of bolts 115 are inserted from below into a pair of bolt insertion holes 59 of the second shell member 50 and a pair of bolt insertion holes 122 formed in a pair of flange portions 121 of the mating connector 120, in this order, and screwed into a pair of nuts (not shown) located above the pair of bolt insertion holes 122. As a result, due to an axial force generated by screwing in the pair of bolts 115, the cover 90 is pressed against the packing 100, sealing the opening 10a of the housing 10, and the mating connector 120 is pressed against the connector portion 13, so that the mating connector 120 and the connector portion 13 are completely fitted together.

[0072] Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the connector 1 according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [4]. [1] A connector (1) comprising: an electric wire (70); a terminal fitting (60) to which a conductor core wire (71) of the electric wire (70) is electrically connected; and a housing (10) that accommodates the terminal fitting (60) and in which a conductive path including the electric wire (70) and the terminal fitting (60) is arranged, The housing (10) is An internal space (11a) defined for routing the conductive path; an opening (10a) connecting the internal space (11a) to the outside of the housing (10); a cover (90) that is inserted into the opening (10a) so as to close the opening (10a) and isolate the internal space (11a) from the outside; a seal member (100) for sealing a gap (L) between an inner wall of the opening (10a) and the cover (90); The cover (90) is When the seal member (100) is inserted into the opening (10a), the seal member (100) is sandwiched between the seal member (100) and a predetermined portion (16) of the housing (10) and pressed along the insertion direction of the cover (90), and the seal member (100) is pushed and spread in a direction intersecting the insertion direction, thereby sealing the gap (L). Connector(1). [2] The connector (1) according to the above [1], The housing (10) is The cover (90) further includes a bolt fastening structure for applying an external force for pressing the seal member (100) to the cover (90) directly or indirectly using bolts (115, 116). Connector(1). [3] The connector (1) according to the above [2], a shell member (50) that covers the opening (10a) and contacts the cover (90); The shell member (50) is The shell member (50) is configured to exert the external force on the cover (90) when the shell member (50) is fastened to the object (10, 40) by using the bolts (115, 116). Connector(1). [4] In the connector (1) according to any one of the above [1] to [3], The sealing member (100) is the seal member (100) has an annular shape extending along the inner wall of the opening (10a), and is disposed such that one surface of the seal member (100) in the radial direction abuts against the inner wall of the opening and the other surface of the seal member abuts against the cover (90); a width of the seal member (100) in the radial direction when not pressed against the cover (90) is equal to or smaller than a width of the gap (L) in the radial direction; Connector(1). [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 Connector 10 Housing (object to be fastened) 10a opening 11a Interior space 16 Step surface (specified location) 40 First shell member (object to be fastened) 50 Second shell member (shell member) 60 Terminal (Terminal metal fitting) 70 Electric wire 71 Conductor core wire 90 Cover 100 Packing (sealing material) 115,116 Volts

Claims

1. A connector comprising: an electric wire; a terminal fitting to which a conductor core wire of the electric wire is electrically connected; and a housing that accommodates the terminal fitting and has a conductive path including the electric wire and the terminal fitting arranged therein, The housing includes: an internal space defined to route the conductive path; an opening that connects the internal space to the outside of the housing; a cover that is inserted into the opening to close the opening and isolates the internal space from the outside; a seal member for sealing a gap between an inner wall of the opening and the cover, The cover is When the cover is inserted into the opening, the seal member is sandwiched between the cover and a predetermined portion of the housing and pressed along the insertion direction of the cover, and the seal member is expanded in a direction intersecting the insertion direction to seal the gap. The housing includes: The cover further includes a bolt fastening structure that applies an external force for pressing the seal member to the cover directly or indirectly using a bolt, the housing includes a main body portion having a box-like shape defining the internal space and having the opening at one end in the insertion direction of the cover, and an electric wire accommodating portion having a cylindrical shape extending from the main body portion in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the cover and having an outlet at an extending end thereof through which the electric wire is inserted and drawn out to the outside, The connector further includes a first shell member arranged to cover the wire accommodating portion, and a second shell member arranged to cover the main body, in contact with the cover, and separate from the first shell member, The first shell member, the second shell member, and the housing are The second shell member is configured to apply the external force to the cover when the second shell member is fastened to the first shell member and the housing by using the bolt. connector.

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, The sealing member is the seal member has an annular shape extending along the inner wall of the opening, and is disposed such that one surface of the seal member in a radial direction abuts against the inner wall of the opening and the other surface of the seal member abuts against the cover; a width of the seal member in the radial direction when not pressed against the cover is equal to or smaller than a width of the gap in the radial direction; connector.

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