connector

Abstract

To provide a connector with improved cable holding strength.SOLUTION: A female connector 10 is fitted to an end of a coaxial cable 100 which has a core wire, an insulator 102 covering the core wire, and a braid 103 covering the insulator 102. The female connector includes: a female inner terminal 20 fitted to the core wire; a female inner housing 30 covering the female inner terminal 20; and a female outer terminal 40 covering the female inner housing 30. The female outer terminal 40 has: a braid caulking piece 43 to be caulked to the braid 103; and a folded piece 43a formed by folding back a portion of the braid caulking piece 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Various techniques have been proposed for improving the holding strength of a cable in a connector. Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal capable of ensuring a conductive connection. In this terminal, the inverted part is placed on the crimping bottom part while being bitten into the bottom protrusion part provided on the crimping bottom part of the outer terminal. Then, the crimping piece is brought into close contact with the outer circumference of the inverted part and the upper protrusion part is bitten into the sheath of the inverted part, and then the crimping piece is brought into close contact with the outer circumference of the inverted part to perform crimping so that the end of the crimping piece overlaps the end of the crimping piece. Then, the outer crimping part is crimped in a state where it is in close contact with the inverted part by squeezing the sheath, and further, both protrusion parts are held in a state where they are bitten into the sheath of the inverted part.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a low-cost terminal structure of an electric wire having a shielding effect. This terminal structure is a terminal structure in which a shield connector is connected to the terminal of an electric wire in which an insulator is provided around an internal conductor, and a shield layer made of metal foil and a sheath layer made of resin tape are wound around the insulator in this order. The shield connector includes an inner terminal connected to the internal conductor, an insulating member covering the inner terminal, an outer terminal covering the insulating member, and a crimping member for crimping the outer terminal to the shield layer, and the outer terminal has a connecting piece arranged along the outer periphery of the insulator. The crimping member is crimped from around the shield layer to crimp and connect the shield layer and the connecting piece. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-164263 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2014-2974 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conventional technology, a part of the connector (e.g., a protrusion) is brought into contact with the cable to tighten it, thereby holding the cable in place. However, if the tightening strength of the tightening is not high, there is a risk that the holding force will decrease.

[0006] The present invention provides a connector with improved cable retention strength. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector according to the present invention has the following features. A connector to be attached to an end of a cable having an inner conductor, an insulator covering the inner conductor, and an outer conductor covering the insulator, an inner terminal attached to the inner conductor; an insulating member covering the inner terminal; an outer terminal covering the insulating member; The outer terminal has a crimping piece that is crimped to the outer conductor, and a folded-back piece formed by folding back a part of the crimping piece. death , The outer terminal has a cylindrical portion that accommodates the insulating member, The crimping piece extends from the tubular portion along a longitudinal direction of the outer terminal toward one side of the longitudinal direction of the outer terminal, the folded-back piece extends along the longitudinal direction toward the other longitudinal direction by folding back an end portion of the crimping piece such that a side surface of the folded-back piece extends along the longitudinal direction and faces an outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor extending along the longitudinal direction, the side surface of the folded piece and the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor are in close contact with each other by crimping the crimping piece to the outer conductor. connector. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the crimping piece of the outer terminal has a folded-back piece formed by folding back a part of the crimping piece, so that the connection between the outer conductor and the outer terminal is maintained, thereby improving the cable retention strength of the outer terminal.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the detailed description of the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a female connector and a male connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a mated state. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the female connector according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the female connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A shows a first step in the method of assembling the female connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B shows a second step in the method of assembling the female connector. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C shows a third step in the method of assembling the female connector. [Figure 4D] FIG. 4D shows a fourth step in the method of assembling the female connector. [Figure 4E] FIG. 4E shows a fifth step in the method of assembling the female connector. [Figure 4F] FIG. 4F shows a sixth step in the method of assembling the female connector. [Figure 4G] FIG. 4G shows the seventh step in the method of assembling the female connector. [Figure 4H] FIG. 4H shows the eighth step in the method of assembling the female connector. [Figure 4I] FIG. 4I shows a ninth step in the method of assembling the female connector. [Figure 4J] FIG. 4J shows the tenth step in the method of assembling the female connector. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the female connector before the braided crimping piece is crimped between the step of FIG. 4G and the step of FIG. 4H. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the female connector according to the second embodiment before the female outer terminal is assembled. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, a female connector (also simply referred to as a "connector") 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the female connector 10 of this embodiment is connected to the tip of a coaxial cable 100 and is mated with a male connector 200, which is a mating connector. The male connector 200 is connected to the tip of a coaxial cable 300 and is mated with the female connector 10. This mating electrically connects the coaxial cable 100 of the female connector 10 and the coaxial cable 300 of the male connector 200. In addition, the female connector 10 and the male connector 200 have a shielding function for suppressing electromagnetic noise that enters from the outside through the coaxial cables 100 and 300. The female connector 10 and the male connector 200 function as high-frequency connectors capable of transmitting high-frequency signals, for example.

[0012] First, a description will be given of male connector 200, which is a mating connector, and coaxial cable 300, which transmits electrical signals. Male connector 200 includes male outer housing 201, male outer terminal 202, male inner housing 203, and male inner terminal 204.

[0013] The resin male outer housing 201 constitutes the exterior of the male connector 200, and has a hood portion 201a and a lock hole 201b. The hood portion 201a is a portion of the male outer housing 201 that has a slightly larger diameter, and a rectangular lock hole 201b is formed in the upper surface of the hood portion 201a. The hood portion 201a and the lock hole 201b are portions that are responsible for fitting with the female connector 10, as described below.

[0014] On the inner surface of the male outer housing 201, a male outer terminal 202, a male inner housing 203, and a male inner terminal 204 are arranged in this order from the outside to the center in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the male connector 200. As described later, the metallic male outer terminal 202 serves to ground electromagnetic noise entering from the outside via the coaxial cable 300. The resin male inner housing 203 serves as an insulating member that electrically insulates the metallic male outer terminal 202 and the metallic male inner terminal 204.

[0015] The metallic male inner terminal 204 is disposed at the radial center of the male connector 200 and is attached to a core wire 301 which is the inner conductor of the coaxial cable 300. The male inner terminal 204 transmits an electrical signal from the core wire 301 to the female connector 10, as described below.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the female connector 10 of the first embodiment comprises a female outer housing 11, a female outer terminal (also simply referred to as an "outer terminal") 40, a female inner housing (also simply referred to as an "insulating member") 30, and a female inner terminal (also simply referred to as an "inner terminal") 20.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, a resin female outer housing 11 constitutes the exterior of the female connector 10 and has a lock arm 11a and a lock protrusion 11b for fitting with the male connector 200. The lock arm 11a has a cantilever shape, and the lock protrusion 11b is formed on the lock arm 11a. The user lowers the lock arm 11a while pressing the end of the lock arm 11a, and inserts the female connector 10 into the hood portion 201a of the male connector 200. After insertion, when the user returns the lock arm 11a to its original position, the lock protrusion 11b engages with the lock hole 201b, and the female connector 10 and the male connector 200 fit together.

[0018] In addition, the spacer 12 is attached to the underside of the female outer housing 11, and during the assembly process, the spacer 12 can be engaged from the underside of the female outer housing 11 to engage the female outer terminals 40 and the like inside the female outer housing 11.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the female connector 10 with the female outer housing 11 removed, and the assembly in this state may be called a "female connector." The female connector 10 is a connector that is attached to the end of a coaxial cable 100. The coaxial cable 100 is a cable having a core wire 101 that is an inner conductor, an insulator 102 that covers the core wire 101, a braid 103 that is an outer conductor that covers the insulator 102, and a sheath 104 that is the outermost layer. The braid 103 is connected to, for example, an earth wire (not shown) and functions as a ground. Note that the coaxial cable 300 in FIG. 1 also has a core wire 301, an insulator 302, a braid 303, and a sheath 304, similar to the coaxial cable 100.

[0020] The female connector 10 has the configuration shown in Fig. 2 in addition to the female outer housing 11 shown only in Fig. 1. That is, the female connector 10 has a female inner terminal 20 attached to a core wire 101 of a coaxial cable 100, a female inner housing 30 that covers the female inner terminal 20, and a female outer terminal 40 that covers the female inner housing 30. On the inner surface of the female outer housing 11, the female outer terminal 40, the female inner housing 30, and the female inner terminal 20 are arranged in this order from the outside to the center in the radial direction of the female connector 10.

[0021] The metallic female inner terminal 20 is disposed at the radial center of the female connector 10, and is connected to the male inner terminal 204 of the male connector 200 when the female connector 10 and the male connector 200 are mated. As a result, an electrical signal from the core wire 301 of the coaxial cable 300 is transmitted to the core wire 101 of the coaxial cable 100 through the male inner terminal 204 and the female inner terminal 20.

[0022] The resin-made hollow cylindrical female inner housing 30 is arranged to cover the female inner terminal 20 in the radial direction, and serves as an insulating member that electrically insulates the female inner terminal 20 from the outer female outer terminal 40. The metallic female outer terminal 40 is arranged to cover the entire circumference of the female inner housing 30, and is crimped to the braid 103 of the coaxial cable 100 and electrically connected to the braid 103. The female outer terminal 40 has a contact spring 41 at its tip. When the female connector 10 and the male connector 200 are mated, the contact spring 41 comes into contact with the inner surface of the male outer terminal 202 and is electrically connected to the male outer terminal 202. As a result, the braid 303 of the coaxial cable 300, the male outer terminal 202, the female outer terminal 40, and the braid 103 of the coaxial cable 100 are electrically connected to each other and function as a ground, and electromagnetic wave noise entering from the outside through the coaxial cable 300 can be blocked.

[0023] Next, the female outer terminal 40 will be described in detail. The female outer terminal 40 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by, for example, performing a punching process, a bending process, or the like on a metal plate. The female outer terminal 40 includes a cylindrical tubular portion 45, a braided crimping piece (also simply referred to as a "crimping piece") 43, and a sheath crimping piece 42. The tubular portion 45 includes an inner housing accommodating chamber 48 that is an accommodating chamber capable of accommodating the female inner housing 30 therein, and accommodates the female inner housing 30. The braided crimping piece 43 is a metal piece that is crimped to the braid 103 of the coaxial cable 100, and the crimping method will be described later. The sheath crimping piece 42 is a metal piece formed adjacent to the braided crimping piece 43 across a notch portion 44 in the longitudinal direction of the female outer terminal 40. The crimping method will be described later.

[0024] Furthermore, braid crimping piece 43 that is crimped to braid 103 of coaxial cable 100 has a folded-back piece 43a formed by folding back a portion of braid crimping piece 43. Braid crimping piece 43 extends from tubular portion 45 in parallel with the radial direction of tubular portion 45, and also extends in the length direction of tubular portion 45 (the longitudinal direction of female outer terminal 40). Here, folded-back piece 43a extends in the opposite direction to the base portion extending from tubular portion 45 by being folded back, and the radial size (thickness) of braid crimping piece 43 is larger at the portion of folded-back piece 43a.

[0025] According to this configuration, folded-back piece 43a of braid crimping piece 43 crimps braid 103, which is the outer conductor, and at the same time acts as a beam, improving the rigidity of braid crimping piece 43. This improves the repulsive force of the crimp, and maintains the connection between braid 103 and female outer terminal 40. This prevents female outer terminal 40, which is formed by bending a metal plate, from opening due to an external force from coaxial cable 100, improving the cable retention strength of female outer terminal 40.

[0026] Moreover, the sheath 104 of the coaxial cable 100 covers the braid 103 except for the tip portion 105. The folded piece 43a is a part of the tip portion 105 of the braid 103, and is disposed between the sheath 104 and a braid folded portion 103a (also simply referred to as a "folded portion") 103a at which the tip portion 105 of the coaxial cable 100 is folded back onto the insulator 102.

[0027] This allows the braid crimping piece 43 to be crimped to the braid 103 with the folded back piece 43a disposed between the braid fold back 103a and the sheath 104 in the longitudinal direction of the coaxial cable 100, thereby improving the connection reliability between the braid 103 and the female outer terminal 40. Note that the braid fold back 103a is folded back onto a sleeve 106 attached to the coaxial cable 100, as will be explained in the assembly method described later (see FIGS. 4C to 4G).

[0028] Furthermore, the female outer terminal 40 has a plate portion 46 extending from the cylindrical portion 45 in the length direction of the cylindrical portion 45 (see FIG. 3). The folded piece 43a is formed by folding back an end portion of the plate portion 46 (an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the female outer terminal 40).

[0029] This allows the folded piece 43a to be formed by folding back the plate portion 46 of the female outer terminal 40, making manufacturing easy. More specifically, the folded piece 43a is formed by folding back an end portion of a metal plate constituting the female outer terminal 40 cut into a substantially L-shape, i.e., the shape of the notch portion 44. This allows the folded piece 43a to be formed without wasting the portion of the metal plate corresponding to the notch portion 44 when manufacturing the female outer terminal 40 by processing the metal plate.

[0030] Next, a method of assembling female connector 10 will be described. Figures 4A to 4J show first to tenth steps of the assembly method. In the first step of Figure 4A, coaxial cable 100 is cut to a predetermined length. In the second step of Figure 4B, sheath 104 is stripped to expose braid 103. In the third step of Figure 4C, sleeve 106 is placed over braid 103, and sleeve 106 is crimped to braid 103.

[0031] 4D, the tip of the braid 103 is folded back onto the sleeve 106 and covered with the sleeve 106. The part covered with the sleeve 106 becomes the braid fold back 103a. After folding back, a part of the exposed insulator 102 is removed to expose the core wire 101.

[0032] In a fifth step in Fig. 4E, the female inner terminal 20 is attached (crimped) to the core wire 101. In a sixth step in Fig. 4F, the female inner terminal 20 is inserted into the female inner housing 30. The female inner terminal 20 has a locking protrusion on its outer circumferential surface, and is positioned relative to the female inner housing 30 by engaging the locking protrusion with a recess provided on the inner periphery of the female inner housing 30.

[0033] In the seventh step of Fig. 4G, the female inner housing 30 and the female inner terminal 20 therein are inserted into the inner housing accommodating chamber 48 of the female outer terminal 40. Fig. 5 shows the female connector 10 after the seventh step shown in Fig. 4G and before the braided crimping piece 43 is crimped.

[0034] In the eighth step of Fig. 4H, the sheath crimping piece 42 and the braid crimping piece 43 are crimped to the coaxial cable 100, thereby achieving the state of Fig. 2. At this time, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 2, the braid crimping piece 43 is crimped to the braid 103, and in particular, the folded-back piece 43a portion crimps the braid 103 and at the same time acts as a beam, thereby improving the rigidity of the braid crimping piece 43.

[0035] 4D and sheath 104. With this, the braid crimping piece 43 is crimped to the braid 103 with the braid crimped piece 43a disposed between the braid crimped piece 103a and the sheath 104, so that the connection reliability between the braid 103 and the female outer terminal 40 can be improved.

[0036] In the ninth step of Fig. 4I, the assembly (female connector 10) assembled up to Fig. 4H is inserted into the female outer housing 11. This assembly is held in the female outer housing 11 by the lance provided in the female outer housing 11 being engaged with the cylindrical portion 45 of the female outer terminal 40. In the tenth step of Fig. 4J, the spacer 12 is attached from the lower side of the female outer housing 11 to prevent the lance from being displaced, and the female connector 10 is completed.

[0037] Second Embodiment 6 and 7 show the female connector 10 of the second embodiment, where FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 3 of the first embodiment and FIG. 7 corresponds to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4G. In this embodiment, a slit portion 47 is provided in the folded piece 43a of the female outer terminal 40. The slit portion 47 has a long and thin slot shape and is provided along the folding direction of the folded piece 43a. The folded piece 43a becomes thinner at the slit portion 47, so that the folded piece 43a has a spring property. By providing the folded piece 43a with a spring property, the folded piece 43a easily bites into the braid 103, and the retention force is further improved by being caught.

[0038] 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. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the braided crimping piece 43 of the female outer terminal 40 has a folded piece 43a, but the braided crimping piece of the male outer terminal may have a folded piece.

[0039] Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [5].

[0040] [1] A connector (female connector 10) to be attached to an end of a cable (coaxial cable 100) having an inner conductor (core wire 101), an insulator (102) covering the inner conductor, and an outer conductor (braid 103) covering the insulator, an inner terminal (female inner terminal 20) attached to the inner conductor; An insulating member (female inner housing 30) that covers the inner terminal; and an outer terminal (female outer terminal 40) covering the insulating member, The outer terminal has a crimping piece (braided crimping piece 43) that is crimped to the outer conductor, and has a folded-back piece (43a) formed by folding back a part of the crimping piece. connector.

[0041] According to the connector having the configuration of [1] above, the folded-back piece of the crimping piece crimps the outer conductor and at the same time acts as a beam, improving the rigidity of the crimping piece. This improves the repulsive force of the crimping, and maintains the connection between the outer conductor and the outer terminal. This improves the cable retention strength of the outer terminal.

[0042] [2] The cable has a sheath (104) that covers the outer conductor except for a tip portion (105), The folded piece is a part of the tip of the outer conductor, and is disposed between a folded portion (braid fold 103a) where the tip of the cable is folded back onto the insulator, and the sheath. 2. The connector according to claim 1.

[0043] According to the connector having the configuration [2] above, the crimping piece is crimped to the outer conductor with the folded piece positioned between the folded portion (braided fold) and the sheath, thereby improving the connection reliability between the outer conductor and the outer terminal.

[0044] [3] The outer terminal has a cylindrical portion (45) that houses the insulating member, The crimping piece has a plate portion (46) extending from the tubular portion in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion, The folded piece is formed by folding back an end of the plate portion. The connector according to the above [1] or [2].

[0045] According to the connector having the above configuration [3], the folded piece can be formed by folding back the plate portion of the outer terminal, and therefore, manufacturing is easy.

[0046] [4] The folded piece is provided with a slit portion (47). A connector according to any one of the above [1] to [3].

[0047] According to the connector having the configuration [4] above, by providing a slit portion in the folded piece, the folded piece has a springy property, which makes it easier for the folded piece to bite into the outer conductor, and the retention force is further improved by the hooking.

[0048] [5] The slit portion is provided along the folding direction of the folded piece, 2. The connector according to claim 1 ,

[0049] According to the connector having the configuration [5] above, the provision of a slit portion in the folded piece gives it a springy property, making it easier for it to bite into the outer conductor, and the retention force is further improved by the hooking. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10 Female connector (connector) 11 Female outer housing (outer housing) 12 Spacer 20 Female inner terminal (inner terminal) 30 Female inner housing (insulating material) 40 Female outer terminal (outer terminal) 41 Contact spring 42 Sheath tightening piece 43 Braided crimping piece (crimping piece) 43a Folding piece 44 Notch 45 Cylindrical section 46 Board part 47 Slit section 48 Inner Housing Chamber (Containment Chamber) 100 Coaxial cable (cable) 101 Core (inner conductor) 102 Insulators 103 Braid (outer conductor) 103a Braided turn-up (turn-up part) 104 Sheath 105 Tip 106 Sleeve 200 Male connector (mating connector) 201 Male outer housing 202 Male outer terminal 203 Male inner housing 204 Male inner terminal 300 Coaxial cable (cable) 301 Core wire (inner conductor)

Claims

1. A connector to be attached to an end of a cable having an inner conductor, an insulator covering the inner conductor, and an outer conductor covering the insulator, an inner terminal attached to the inner conductor; an insulating member covering the inner terminal; an outer terminal covering the insulating member; the outer terminal has a crimping piece that is crimped to the outer conductor, and a folded-back piece formed by folding back a part of the crimping piece, The outer terminal has a cylindrical portion that houses the insulating member, The crimping piece extends from the tubular portion toward one side of the outer terminal in the longitudinal direction, the folded-back piece extends along the longitudinal direction toward the other longitudinal direction by folding back an end portion of the crimping piece such that a side surface of the folded-back piece extends along the longitudinal direction and faces an outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor extending along the longitudinal direction, the side surface of the folded piece and the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor are in close contact with each other by crimping the crimping piece to the outer conductor. connector.

2. The cable has a sheath that covers a portion of the outer conductor except for a tip portion, The folded piece is a part of the tip portion of the outer conductor, and is disposed between a folded portion of the cable where the tip portion is folded back onto the insulator, and the sheath. The connector of claim 1 .

3. The tightening piece has a plate portion extending from the tubular portion in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion, The folded piece is formed by folding back an end of the plate portion. The connector of claim 1 .

4. A slit portion penetrating the folded piece in the thickness direction of the folded piece is provided in a part of the folded piece. A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The slit portion is provided along the folding direction of the folded piece. The connector according to claim 4.

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