Connector, Connector Manufacturing Method, and Wire Harness

Abstract

To provide a connector, a connector manufacturing method, and a wire harness with which a terminal-attached electric wire can be smoothly assembled to a housing.SOLUTION: A connector 1 includes: a plurality of terminal-attached electric wires 3 in each of which a terminal 31 is attached to an electric wire 32 in a direction intersecting an extending direction of the electric wire 32; and a housing 2 including a plurality of compartments 221 that holds the terminal 31 in a fitting direction, and a plurality of electric wire insertion portions 214 that penetrates a side wall portion 212 and is configured to extract the electric wire 32 in the plurality of terminal-attached electric wires 3 from an internal space 2A in a direction intersecting the fitting direction. The housing 2 has guide portions 215 provided between individual accommodating regions R for the plurality of terminal-attached electric wires 3 arrayed and accommodated in the internal space 2A. The guide portion 215 has an inclined surface 215A inclined with respect to the extending direction of the electric wire 32. The inclined surface 215A is inclined so as to be separated from an inner surface 211A of a front surface portion 211 from the electric wire insertion portion 214 toward the compartment 221.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, a connector manufacturing method, and a wire harness.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1, a connector that holds a plurality of wires with terminals by a housing is known in relation to a connector, a connector manufacturing method, and a wire harness. In this connector, the terminals are arranged facing the fitting direction of the mating connector, and the wires are drawn out in a direction intersecting the fitting direction. That is, the wire with a terminal is provided so that the terminal faces in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the wire.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such a connector, there is room for improvement in that it is difficult to assemble the wire with a terminal to the housing. For example, since the wire with a terminal faces in a direction in which the wire and the terminal intersect each other and is L-shaped, it is difficult to insert it into the housing through the wire insertion hole.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector, a connector manufacturing method, and a wire harness in which a wire with a terminal can be smoothly assembled to a housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] That is, the connector according to the present invention includes a plurality of wire-with-terminal wires attached to the wire in a direction intersecting the terminals with respect to the extending direction of the wire, a front surface portion formed along a direction intersecting the fitting direction to the mating connector, a side wall portion provided along the outer edge portion of the front surface portion and presenting a frame shape, an internal space defined by the front surface portion and the side wall portion and capable of arranging and accommodating the plurality of wire-with-terminal wires along the front surface portion, a plurality of accommodating portions for accommodating and holding the terminals in the plurality of arranged wire-with-terminal wires in the fitting direction, and a housing that forms a plurality of wire insertion portions that are cylindrical and penetrate the side wall portion and draw out the wires in the plurality of wire-with-terminal wires from the internal space in a direction intersecting the fitting direction. The housing has a guide portion provided between the respective accommodation regions for the plurality of wire-with-terminal wires arranged and accommodated in the internal space. The guide portion forms an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the extending direction of the wire, and the inclined surface is inclined so as to be separated from the inner surface of the front surface portion from the wire insertion portion toward the accommodation portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the connector, connector manufacturing method, and wire harness of the present invention, the wire-with-terminal wire can be smoothly assembled to the housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Also, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art or are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] The present embodiment relates to a connector, a connector manufacturing method, and a wire harness. In the following description, among the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction that intersect each other, the first direction is referred to as the "connection direction X", the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as the "height direction Z". Here, the connection direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are orthogonal to each other. The connection direction X corresponds to the connection direction and the fitting direction between the connector and the mating connector. The width direction Y and the height direction Z correspond to the crossing directions that intersect the connection direction X. Also, each direction used in the following description represents the direction in a state where each part is assembled to each other unless otherwise specified. Note that the orthogonality referred to here includes substantially orthogonal.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 1 is a connector used for connection with a mating connector, and includes a housing 2 and a wire 3 with terminals. The connector 1 is mounted on a vehicle, for example, and used as a component of the wire harness WH. That is, the wire harness WH includes the connector 1 and the wire 32 drawn from the connector 1. Note that FIGS. 1 and 2 omit the illustration of the cover attached to the back of the housing 2 for convenience of explanation. Also, the mating connector may function as a mating housing.

[0012] The housing 2 is a member for accommodating and holding the wire 3 with terminals. For example, it has an outer housing 21 and an inner housing 22. The outer housing 21 is a member for accommodating and holding a plurality of wires 3 with terminals. It is formed in a box shape with an open back. For example, the outer housing 21 has a front face portion 211 and side wall portions 212. The front face portion 211 is a plate member formed in a direction intersecting the connection direction X (fitting direction) with the mating connector. For example, it is formed in a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape. The side wall portions 212 are wall members formed along the outer edge portion of the front face portion 211 and extend from the inner surface 211A of the front face portion 211 toward the connection direction X. The side wall portions 212 are, for example, in the form of a frame presenting a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape and, together with the front face portion 211, define the internal space 2A of the housing 2. Note that the side wall portions 212 may be in the form of a frame with a shape other than rectangular.

[0013] The housing 2 is provided with a fitting portion 213. The fitting portion 213 is a portion that fits with the mating connector and is formed to protrude from the outer surface 211B of the front face portion 211 toward the connection direction X. The fitting portion 213 is, for example, a cylindrical body with an elliptical cross-section or a cross-section in the shape of a large-denomination coin. The inner housing 22 is assembled to the fitting portion 213. The inner housing 22 is a member for accommodating and holding the terminals 31 of the wire 3 with terminals. It presents a block shape and has a plurality of accommodating portions 221 for respectively accommodating the plurality of terminals 31. For example, four accommodating portions 221 are provided corresponding to four terminals 31 and are formed side by side along the width direction Y. The accommodating portions 221 are formed with accommodating holes for inserting the terminals 31 and are capable of accommodating the terminals 31 in the fitting direction toward the mating connector.

[0014] A packing 23 and a holder 24 are provided on the outer periphery of the fitting portion 213. The packing 23 is a water-stop member for performing water-stop between the connector 1 and the mating connector. For example, it is formed of an annular elastic member. The holder 24 is a member for holding the packing 23. For example, it is annular and is formed of a member having higher rigidity than the packing 23.

[0015] The housing 2 is provided with a wire insertion portion 214. The wire insertion portion 214 is a part for pulling out the wire 32 of the wired terminal 3 accommodated in the housing 2 to the outside of the housing 2, and functions as an insertion path of the wired terminal 3 when the wired terminal 3 is assembled. The wire insertion portion 214 is provided according to the number of installed wired terminals 3. For example, four wire insertion portions 214 are provided for four wired terminals 3. The wire insertion portion 214 has a cylindrical shape and is formed through the side wall portion 212. That is, the wire insertion portion 214 forms an insertion hole 214A, and the internal space 2A communicates with the outside through the insertion hole 214A. The wire insertion portion 214 is provided in a direction intersecting the fitting direction (connection direction X), and the wire 32 can be pulled out in a direction intersecting the fitting direction.

[0016] The wired terminals 3 are arranged and accommodated side by side in a direction intersecting the fitting direction in the internal space 2A of the housing 2. In this wired terminal 3, the terminal 31 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 221 of the inner housing 22, and the wire 32 is pulled out to the outside through the wire insertion portion 214.

[0017] The housing 2 is provided with a guide portion 215. The guide portion 215 is a part for guiding the terminal 31 when assembling the wired terminal 3 into the housing 2. The guide portion 215 is provided between the respective accommodation regions R for a plurality of wired terminals 3 arranged and accommodated in the internal space 2A. As shown in FIG. 1, when four wired terminals 3 are arranged, three guide portions 215 are provided. The guide portion 215 has, for example, a plate shape, protrudes from the inner surface 211A of the front surface portion 211, and is formed along the extending direction of the wire 32. The guide portion 215 also functions as a partition plate that suppresses contact between adjacent terminals 31.

[0018] The guide portion 215 forms an inclined surface 215A that is inclined with respect to the extending direction of the electric wire 32. The inclined surface 215A is inclined so as to be separated from the inner surface 211A of the front portion 211 toward the accommodating portion 221 from the electric wire insertion portion 214. That is, the inclined surface 215A guides the terminal 31 of the electric wire 3 with a terminal inserted through the electric wire insertion portion 214 so as to be separated from the front portion 211.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the electric wire 3 with a terminal has a bent shape in which the terminal 31 is directed in a direction intersecting the electric wire 32, and is formed in an L shape. That is, in a state where the electric wire 3 with a terminal is assembled to the housing 2, the electric wire 32 is directed in a direction intersecting the connection direction X, and the terminal 31 is directed in the connection direction X. The terminal 31 is bent and attached to the electric wire 32 at a right angle, for example. Here, the right angle includes a substantially right angle. For this reason, it is difficult to insert the electric wire 3 with a terminal into the electric wire insertion portion 214 and assemble it to the housing 2. As the terminal 31, for example, a crimp terminal crimped and attached to the electric wire 32 is used. Further, the terminal 31 may be attached to the electric wire 32 and function as a bus bar. As the electric wire 32, for example, a coated electric wire in which a core wire, which is a conductor, is coated with an insulating member is used.

[0020] A water stop portion 33 is provided on the electric wire 32. The water stop portion 33 is a water stop structure provided on the outer periphery of the electric wire 32, and is provided at the position of the electric wire insertion portion 214. The water stop portion 33 is a structure for stopping water between the housing 2 and the electric wire 32, and includes, for example, a packing. Further, the water stop portion 33 may include a cylindrical shield terminal. In this case, the water stop portion 33 may have a packing for stopping water between the housing 2 and the shield terminal, and a packing between the electric wire 32 and the shield terminal.

[0021] Next, a manufacturing method of the connector 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0022] Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a manufacturing method of the connector 1 according to the present embodiment. Each step of the flowchart in Fig. 4 may be performed, for example, manually by an operator, or may be executed by automatic control of a manufacturing apparatus such as a robot arm.

[0023] In the manufacture of the connector 1, first, in step S10 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "S10". The same applies to the steps after S10.), a wire insertion process is performed. The wire insertion process is a process of sequentially inserting the wired terminals 3 into the plurality of wire insertion portions 214.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 5, in the wire insertion process, the wired terminal 3 is inserted into the wire insertion portion 214 with the terminal 31 at the head. Since the terminal 31 is bent and attached to the wire 32 in the wired terminal 3, for example, the wire 32 is inserted obliquely with respect to the wire insertion portion 214. That is, the wired terminal 3 is inserted into the wire insertion portion 214 so that the terminal 31 faces the guide portion 215.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 6, when the terminal 31 passes through the wire insertion portion 214, it abuts against the guide portion 215 and is guided by the guide portion 215 so as to be separated from the inner surface 211A of the housing 2. That is, the terminal 31 contacts the inclined surface 215A of the guide portion 215 and separates from the inner surface 211A. For this reason, it is suppressed that the terminal 31 hits the inner surface 211A or the adjacent wire 32 or the like. Further, since the terminal 31 separates from the inner surface 211A of the front portion 211, the terminal 31 becomes easy to grip.

[0026] Then, the process proceeds to S12 in FIG. 4, and the wire installation process is performed. The wire installation process is a process of accommodating the terminal 31 of the wired terminal 3 inserted into the wire insertion portion 214 in the accommodation portion 221. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, in the wire installation process, the terminal 31 of the wired terminal 3 is directed toward the accommodation portion 221 and accommodated in the accommodation portion 221. As a result, the terminal 31 is directed in the connection direction X (fitting direction), and the wired terminal 3 is installed in the accommodation area R. At this time, since the terminal 31 is at a position away from the inner surface 211A in the wire insertion process of S10, the terminal 31 is easy to grip. For this reason, the accommodation of the terminal 31 can be easily performed, and the wire installation process can be smoothly performed.

[0027] Then, the process proceeds to S14 in FIG. 4, and it is determined whether or not all the wired terminals 3 have been inserted into the wire insertion portion 214. For example, if all four wired terminals 3 have not been inserted, the process returns to the wire insertion process of S10. That is, the wire insertion process of S10 and the wire arrangement process of S12 are sequentially repeated. The wire insertion process of the second and subsequent wired terminals 3 is performed by inserting the wired terminal 3 into the vacant wire insertion portion 214 and bringing the terminal 31 into contact with the inclined surface 215A of the guide portion 215 as described above. Then, the wired terminals 3 are sequentially inserted into the vacant wire insertion portions 214, and the wired terminals 3 are installed in the accommodation area R. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, all the wired terminals 3 are arranged and installed in the accommodation area R respectively.

[0028] If all the wired terminals 3 have been inserted into the wire insertion portion 214 in S14, the series of control processes in FIG. 4 are completed. In this way, each wired terminal 3 is accommodated and held in the accommodation area R. Then, a cover (not shown) is attached to the back of the housing 2, and necessary attachment members such as protectors are attached to the connector 1 and the wire 32, and the manufacture of the connector 1 is completed.

[0029] As described above, the connector 1 and the wire harness WH according to the present embodiment are provided with the guide portion 215, so that when the wire 3 with a terminal is inserted into the housing 2 through the wire insertion portion 214, the terminal 31 is prevented from contacting the inner surface 211A or the adjacent wire 32, etc., and the wire 3 with a terminal can be smoothly assembled to the housing 2.

[0030] The method for manufacturing a connector according to the present embodiment smoothly assembles the wire 3 with a terminal to the housing 2 by inserting the wire 3 with a terminal into the wire insertion portion 214 so that the terminal 31 abuts against the inclined surface 215A of the guide portion 215 and does not hit the inner surface 211A or the adjacent wire 32, etc.

[0031] Note that the connector, the connector manufacturing method, and the wire harness according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope described in the claims. The connector 1, the connector manufacturing method, and the wire harness WH according to the present embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the above-described embodiments and modified examples.

[0032] For example, the connector 1, the connector manufacturing method, and the wire harness WH according to the above-described embodiments have been described for the case where the connector 1 and the wire harness WH are mounted on a vehicle, but they may be used without being mounted on a vehicle.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] 1: Connector 2: Housing 2A: Internal Space 3: Wire with Terminal 31: Terminal 32: Wire 211: Front Portion 211A: Inner Surface 212: Side Wall Portion 214: Wire Insertion Portion 215: Guide Portion 215A: Inclined Surface 221: Accommodation Portion R: Accommodation Region WH: Wire harness

Claims

1. A plurality of wire terminals attached to the wire in a direction intersecting the terminals with respect to the extending direction of the wire, A front portion formed along a direction intersecting the fitting direction to the mating connector, a side wall portion provided along the outer edge portion of the front portion and having a frame shape, and an internal space defined by the front portion and the side wall portion and capable of arranging and accommodating the plurality of wire terminals along the front portion, a plurality of accommodating portions for accommodating and holding the terminals in the plurality of arranged wire terminals in the fitting direction, and a plurality of wire insertion portions formed in a cylindrical shape and provided through the side wall portion for pulling out the wires in the plurality of wire terminals from the internal space in a direction intersecting the fitting direction. A housing, and, The housing has a guide portion provided between the respective accommodation regions for the plurality of wire terminals arranged and accommodated in the internal space, The guide portion forms an inclined surface inclined with respect to the extending direction of the wire, The inclined surface is inclined so as to be separated from the inner surface of the front portion from the wire insertion portion toward the accommodation portion, Connector.

2. A wire insertion step of sequentially inserting a plurality of wire terminals with respect to the housing through a plurality of cylindrical wire insertion portions, A wire installation step of arranging the wire terminals with terminals inserted through the wire insertion portions in an accommodation region of the internal space of the housing and accommodating the terminals of the wire terminals with terminals in an accommodation portion provided in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the wire insertion portion in the housing, and, The wire terminal with a terminal is configured by attaching the terminal to the wire in a direction intersecting the terminal with respect to the extending direction of the wire, The housing arranges a plurality of the wire terminals with terminals side by side with respect to the internal space and forms a guide portion between the accommodation regions of the plurality of the wire terminals with terminals, The guide portion forms an inclined surface inclined with respect to the extending direction of the wire, The inclined surface is inclined so as to be separated from the accommodation portion from the wire insertion portion toward the accommodation portion, In the wire insertion step, the terminal is inserted into the wire insertion portion so that the terminal abuts against the inclined surface of the guide portion and the terminal is separated from the accommodation portion, Connector manufacturing method.

3. A plurality of wires, A connector having a housing for inserting and holding the plurality of wires and connectable to a mating connector, The plurality of electric wires constitute a plurality of electric wires with terminals attached thereto in a direction intersecting the extending direction. The housing is a front surface portion formed along a direction intersecting the fitting direction to the mating connector, a side wall portion provided along the outer edge portion of the front surface portion and presenting a frame shape, an internal space defined by the front surface portion and the side wall portion and capable of arranging and accommodating the plurality of electric wires with terminals along the front surface portion, a plurality of accommodating portions for accommodating and holding the terminals in the plurality of arranged electric wires with terminals in the fitting direction, a plurality of wire insertion portions formed in a cylindrical shape, penetrating the side wall portion, and pulling out the electric wires in the plurality of electric wires with terminals from the internal space in a direction intersecting the fitting direction, having a guide portion provided between the respective accommodating regions for the plurality of electric wires with terminals arranged and accommodated in the internal space and forming an inclined surface inclined with respect to the extending direction of the electric wires, The inclined surface is inclined so as to be separated from the inner surface of the front surface portion from the wire insertion portion toward the accommodating portion. Wire harness.

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