connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of improving water shutoff performance for a spring provided in a housing.SOLUTION: A connector 1 includes: a housing 2 that is fitted to a mating connector 90; and a spring unit 4 that is provided in the housing 2 and generates a biasing force along a connection direction X with the mating connector 90. The spring unit 4 is configured to have: a spring 41 that is formed along the connection direction X and is accommodated in an accommodation chamber 224 with an inlet opened and a back side closed; a spring cover 42 that has a cylindrical shape with one end opened and the other end closed, and is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 224 so as to cover the spring 41 with an opened end portion 421 facing a back side of the accommodation chamber 224; and a packing 43 that is attached to an outer periphery of the spring cover 42 and shuts off water between the spring cover 42 and the accommodation chamber 224.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, a connector that connects a male housing and a female housing, in which a coil spring is incorporated in the female housing, is known. The spring biases the female housing and the male housing in a direction separating them. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-079483 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] This connector has room for improvement in that the watertightness of the spring may be insufficient. That is, in the above-mentioned connector, the spring is located inside the female housing, but there is a risk that water may enter the position where the spring is located through the gap between the female and male housings. For this reason, it is desirable to improve the watertightness of the spring.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector that improves the waterproofing properties of a spring provided in a housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In other words, the connector of the present invention comprises a housing that is mated with a mating connector, and a spring portion that is provided in the housing and generates a spring force along the connection direction with the mating connector, and the spring portion is configured to have a spring that is housed in a storage chamber that is formed along the connection direction with the mating connector and has an open entrance and a closed rear end, a spring cover that is tubular with one end open and the other end closed and is housed in the storage chamber so as to cover the spring with the open end facing the rear side of the storage chamber, and a gasket that is attached to the outer periphery of the spring cover and seals off water between the spring cover and the storage chamber. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the connector of the present invention, it is possible to improve the waterproofing property of the spring provided in the housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a cam groove in the connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a spring portion in the connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a spring portion of the connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a connection in a connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a connection in a connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a connection in a connector according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] This embodiment relates to a connector. In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, 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, width direction Y, and height direction Z are perpendicular to one another. The connection direction X corresponds to the connection direction, mating direction, and separation direction of a connector and a mating connector. The width direction Y and height direction Z correspond to intersecting directions that intersect with the connection direction X. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, each direction used in the following description represents the direction when each part is assembled to each other. Note that orthogonal here includes nearly orthogonal.

[0011] 1 and 2, connector 1 is a lever-type connector used to connect to a mating connector 90, and includes a housing 2, a lever 3, and a spring portion 4. Connector 1 is mounted on, for example, a vehicle and used as a component of a wire harness WH. For example, connector 1 is a male connector, and mating connector 90 is a female connector.

[0012] The housing 2 is a member that houses and holds the terminals 5, and has, for example, an inner housing 21 and an outer housing 22. The inner housing 21 is a member that holds the terminals 5, and is provided inside the connector 1. The outer housing 22 is provided outside the inner housing 21, and is formed to cover the periphery of the tip of the terminal 5. The outer housing 22 is cylindrical, and forms an opening 221 that opens to the mating connector 90. The outer housing 22 may function as a cover, casing, shield cover, or shield shell in the connector 1.

[0013] The inner housing 21 forms a terminal accommodating portion 211 that protrudes toward the mating connector 90. The terminal accommodating portion 211 is a cylindrical portion with an open front end, and accommodates the terminals 5 therein. The terminal accommodating portions 211 are formed according to the number of terminals 5 to be installed; for example, three terminal accommodating portions 211 are formed for three terminals 5. The terminals 5 are connected to electric wires W, and a ring-shaped seal member 51 is attached to the electric wires W.

[0014] The inner housing 21 has a tubular portion 212 at its tip end facing the mating connector 90. The tubular portion 212 is a cylindrical portion with an elliptical or oblong cross section, which surrounds the terminal accommodating portion 211 and defines an installation space for the terminal accommodating portion 211. A flange portion 213 is formed on the outer periphery of the tubular portion 212. The flange portion 213 is a plate member formed in a direction intersecting the connection direction X with the mating connector 90. For example, the flange portion 213 has a rectangular or nearly rectangular shape and is provided so as to protrude outward from the tubular portion 212. A packing 61 is attached to the outer periphery of the tip end of the tubular portion 212. The packing 61 is a waterproof member that seals off water between the inner housing 21 and the mating connector 90. A small tubular portion 214 is formed inside the tubular portion 212. The small tubular portion 214 is a portion inside the tubular portion 212 that surrounds the base end of the terminal accommodating portion 211. A packing 62 is attached to the outer periphery of the small cylindrical portion 214. The packing 62 is a waterproof member that seals off water between the inner housing 21 and the mating connector 90.

[0015] The inner housing 21 accommodates a shielding member 63 and a rear holder 64. The shielding member 63 is a cylindrical body that covers the electric wires W inside the inner housing 21 and is formed of, for example, a metal material. The rear holder 64 is attached to the inner housing 21 and holds the seal member 51. For example, the rear holder 64 is provided so that the electric wires W pass through it, and is attached to the inner housing 21 while holding the seal member 51. The rear holder 64 is configured to be separable, for example, along the connection direction X, to make it easier to pass multiple electric wires W through it.

[0016] A rear shield 65 and a grommet 68 are attached to the rear end portion of the inner housing 21. The rear shield 65 is a member that covers and shields the rear end portion of the connector 1 and is formed of, for example, a metal material. The rear shield 65 is configured, for example, by dividing it along the connection direction X and is integrated by threading screws 651 and assembled to the rear end portion of the inner housing 21. A ring member 66 is attached to the rear end of the rear shield 65. The rear shield 65 functions as a portion where the terminals of a braided body serving as a shielding member (not shown) that covers the electric wires W are crimped via the ring member 66 for electrical conduction. The grommet 68 is a cover member attached to the rear end of the rear shield 65. The grommet 68 is tapered toward the rear end and is attached to cover the rear portion of the inner housing 21 and the rear shield 65. The grommet 68 is fastened and assembled to the inner housing 21 by a band member 67.

[0017] 3, the outer housing 22 is attached to the inner housing 21 so as to be movable in the connection direction X with the mating connector 90. The outer housing 22 is cylindrical and fitted onto the body 215 of the inner housing 21 so as to be movable in the connection direction X. The movement range of the outer housing 22 is, for example, from the position where an opposing surface 225 facing the flange portion 213 abuts against the flange portion 213 to the position where a rear end 226 abuts against the front end 681 of the grommet 68.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1 , the lever 3 is rotatably attached to the housing 2. The lever 3 is a member that engages with the mating connector 90 to mate the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 and maintain the mating state. For example, the lever 3 has an arm portion 31 and an operating portion 32, and is rotatably attached to the outer housing 22. The arm portion 31 is rotatably attached to a shaft member 223 formed on a side portion 222 of the outer housing 22. Two arm portions 31 are formed, one on each side portion 222 of the outer housing 22, sandwiching the outer housing 22. The arm portion 31 forms a hole 33 into which the shaft member 223 is inserted. For example, the arm portion 31 is bent rearward from the base end position where the hole 33 is formed to the tip end position. Here, rearward refers to the direction opposite the mating connector 90 in the connector 1. The operating portion 32 is a portion that bridges the tips of the arm portions 31 and extends along the width direction Y. The lever 3 has two arm portions 31 and an operating portion 32, and is formed in an inverted U shape, and is rotatable around a rotation center position C.

[0019] A cam groove 34 is formed in the lever 3. The cam groove 34 is a groove into which a cam follower 91 formed in the mating connector 90 is inserted, and into which the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 are moved in the mating direction or the disengagement direction by the rotation of the lever 3. Here, the mating direction is a direction along the connection direction X, and is the direction in which the connector 1 approaches the mating connector 90, and the direction in which the mating connector 90 approaches the connector 1. The disengagement direction is the direction opposite to the mating direction, and is the direction in which the connector 1 moves away from the mating connector 90, and the direction in which the mating connector 90 moves away from the connector 1.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3 , the cam groove 34 is formed in the arm portion 31 and is configured to allow the cam follower 91 to be inserted therethrough. For example, the cam follower 91 is formed as a columnar or cylindrical protrusion, and the cam groove 34 is configured as a groove having a width greater than the outer diameter of the cam follower 91. The cam follower 91 has a head portion 911 at the tip that is larger in diameter than the body portion 912, making it difficult for the cam follower 91 to come out of the cam groove 34. That is, the cam groove 34 is configured so that the width of the portion through which the head portion 911 of the cam follower 91 passes is large, making it a stepped groove. This configuration prevents the cam follower 91 from easily coming out of the cam groove 34 when inserted into the cam groove 34. The cam groove 34 is formed up to a surface 311 of the arm portion 31 that faces the mating connector 90, and is configured to be aligned along the connection direction X when the lever 3 is in the mating start position as shown in FIG. 3 . Therefore, when the connector 1 is mated with the mating connector 90, the cam follower 91 is smoothly inserted into the cam groove .

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4 , the cam groove 34 is formed in the arm portion 31 on the mating connector 90 side with respect to the rotation center position C, and extends at an angle with respect to the rotation direction R of the lever 3. That is, the cam groove 34 is formed to include a partial mating region 343 and a normal mating region 344 that extend at an angle with respect to the rotation direction R of the lever 3. For example, the cam groove 34 is formed by connecting an entrance region 342, a partial mating region 343, and a normal mating region 344. The entrance region 342 is a region where the cam follower 91 begins to enter the cam groove 34, and has an insertion entrance position 342A. For example, when the lever 3 is in the mating start position, the entrance region 342 is formed linearly along the connection direction X. The insertion entrance position 342A is the entrance position of the entrance region 342.

[0022] The partial mating region 343 is a region where the cam follower 91 is located when the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 are in a partial mated state, and is formed so as to approach the rotation center position C of the lever 3 from the entrance position P1 of the partial mating region 343 toward the boundary position P2 with the proper mating region 344. For example, when the cam follower 91 is in the entrance position P1, the lever 3 is rotated for mating, so that the cam follower 91 approaches the rotation center position C of the lever 3, thereby increasing the degree of mating between the connector 1 and the mating connector 90. Here, the mating rotation is the rotation of the lever 3 for bringing the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 closer to each other or mating them. In FIG. 4, the mating rotation is the counterclockwise rotation of the lever 3. The rotation center position C is the center position of the shaft member 223, which is the position of the central axis.

[0023] The normal mating region 344 is the region where the cam follower 91 is located when the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 are properly mated, and is formed so as to move away from the rotation center position C from a boundary position P2 with the partial mating region 343 toward a mating completion position P3. For example, when the lever 3 is rotated for mating while the cam follower 91 is at the boundary position P2, the cam follower 91 moves over the protrusion 346 and enters the normal mating region 344, moving away from the rotation center position C of the lever 3. The cam follower 91 then moves to the mating completion position P3, and the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 are properly mated. The mating completion position P3 is the rear position of the cam groove 34, and is the position where the cam follower 91 is located when the mating of the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 is completed. Cam groove 34 is bent at the boundary between partial mating region 343 and proper mating region 344, and protrusion 346 is formed on the side surface of cam groove 34. Protrusion 346 is formed on the side farthest from rotation center position C, of ​​the two side surfaces on both sides of cam groove 34, and is formed to protrude toward rotation center position C. When connector 1 and mating connector 90 are in a properly mated state, cam follower 91 is pressed by spring portion 4 from inner surface 347 of cam groove 34 toward the opposite side from mating connector 90, and is held in mating end position P3. This makes it difficult for cam follower 91 to come out of proper mating region 344, and lever 3 is locked.

[0024] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the spring portion 4 is provided in the housing 2 and is a biasing portion that generates a biasing force along the connection direction X with the mating connector 90. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the connector 1 for explaining the spring portion 4, with a cross section taken along line VV in Figure 1 and a portion of the connector 1 cut away. The spring portion 4 is provided, for example, between the inner housing 21 and the outer housing 22 and applies a reaction force to the inner housing 21 to bias the outer housing 22 and the lever 3 in the direction opposite to the mating connector 90. More specifically, the spring portion 4 is provided in the accommodation chamber 224 of the outer housing 22 and applies a reaction force to the flange portion 213 of the inner housing 21 to bias the outer housing 22 and the lever 3 in the direction opposite to the mating connector 90 (diagonally upward right in Figure 5).

[0025] The spring portion 4 includes a spring 41, a spring cover 42, and a packing 43. The spring 41 is, for example, a coil spring, and generates a biasing force in the direction of extension when compressed. The spring 41 is accommodated in a housing chamber 224 formed in the outer housing 22. The housing chamber 224 is a hole with a circular cross section formed in the rear portion of the flange portion 213, and is formed, for example, by recessing an opposing surface 225 facing the flange portion 213 along the connection direction X. That is, the housing chamber 224 is a space with an open entrance and a closed rear side. A rod-shaped shaft portion 224A is provided at the center of the housing chamber 224. The shaft portion 224A is formed from a bottom surface 224B on the rear side along the connection direction X. The spring 41 is fitted to the exterior of the shaft portion 224A and is disposed with the shaft portion 224A inserted therethrough. The spring cover 42 is a cover that covers the spring 41 and is a cylindrical body with one end closed and the other end open. The spring cover 42 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 224 with its open end 421 facing the inner side of the accommodation chamber 224 to cover the spring 41. The spring cover 42 may be integral with the flange portion 213. The packing 43 is a ring-shaped elastic member that provides a watertight seal between the outer periphery of the spring cover 42 and the contents of the accommodation chamber 224. The packing 43 is attached to the outer periphery of the spring cover 42. As described above, the spring 41 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 224 and covered by the spring cover 42, thereby preventing water from entering the arrangement position of the spring 41. For example, even if water enters the installation position of the spring portion 4, the spring 41 is covered by the spring cover 42, which has a watertight function, and therefore the water is prevented from entering the installation position of the spring 41. The spring portion 4 is provided behind the flange portion 213 and is structured not to come into contact with the mating connector 90. This structure makes it difficult for water to enter the installation position of the spring portion 4.

[0026] A plurality of spring portions 4 are disposed at a predetermined distance from a center position P of the housing 2. The center position P is the position of the central axis of the housing 2 along the connecting direction X. For example, four spring portions 4 are provided, and are disposed at the four corner positions of the outer housing 22, which has a rectangular or nearly rectangular cross section intersecting the connecting direction X. By providing multiple spring portions 4 in this manner, the connector 1 can bias the outer housing 22 and the lever 3 along the connecting direction X. Furthermore, the multiple spring portions 4 have a waterproof function for each spring 41. Therefore, the connector 1 can ensure the waterproofing of each spring 41. Note that when multiple spring portions 4 are provided, they may be disposed at positions or in shapes other than those shown in FIG. 6.

[0027] Next, the connection of the connector 1 according to this embodiment and the waterproof function of the spring portion will be described.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, when connecting connector 1 to mating connector 90, first, connector 1 is positioned so as to face mating connector 90. At this time, lever 3 of connector 1 is raised to the mating start position. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, the position and posture of connector 1 are aligned with respect to mating connector 90, and the entrance region 342 of cam groove 34 is aligned so as to face cam follower 91 of mating connector 90.

[0029] In this state, connector 1 is moved toward mating connector 90, and cam follower 91 is inserted into cam groove 34. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when cam follower 91 reaches partial mating region 343 of cam groove 34, lever 3 is rotated for mating. That is, lever 3 is rotated in the mating direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 7). As lever 3 rotates, cam follower 91 moves according to the shape of cam groove 34, and cam follower 91 approaches rotation center position C of lever 3. At this time, cam follower 91 moves through partial mating region 343 of cam groove 34 toward proper mating region 344. As a result, connector 1 and mating connector 90 are mated to an increased degree from the partial mating state toward the proper mating state.

[0030] 8, as the lever 3 rotates for mating, the cam follower 91 approaches the rotation center position C of the lever 3 and reaches the boundary position between the partial mating region 343 and the normal mating region 344 of the cam groove 34. In this state, as the lever 3 is further rotated for mating, the cam follower 91 moves over the protrusion 346 and advances into the normal mating region 344, and the lever 3 reaches the normal mating position, as shown in FIG. 9. This causes the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 to move from the partial mating state to the normal mating state, and they are properly mated and connected.

[0031] In this state, the biasing force of the spring portion 4 makes it difficult for the cam follower 91 to come out of the proper mating region 344, locking the lever 3 at the proper mating position, and locking the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 in a mated state. That is, the spring portion 4 applies a reaction force to the inner housing 21 to bias the outer housing 22 and the lever 3 in the mating direction (toward the right in FIG. 9 ). As a result, the cam follower 91 is difficult to move from the proper mating region 344 of the cam groove 34 to the partial mating region 343, and the lever 3 is locked at the proper mating position. In other words, to rotate the lever 3 from the proper mating position in the removal direction (clockwise in FIG. 9 ), it is necessary to rotate it against the biasing force of the spring portion 4. Furthermore, to rotate the lever 3 from the proper mating position in the removal direction, the cam follower 91 needs to move over the protrusion 346 in the cam groove 34 to the partial mating region 343, which requires a strong force. Therefore, the lever 3 is held in the normal mating position by the biasing force of the spring portion 4.

[0032] At this time, the spring portion 4 is located behind the flange portion 213. On the other hand, the electrical connection between the connector 1 and the mating connector 90 is made at a position in front of the flange portion 213, and the connection portion is waterproofed by the packings 61 and 62 to prevent water intrusion. However, in the connector 1, the spring portion 4 is not waterproofed by the packings 61 and 62.

[0033] In contrast, the spring portion 4 has its own waterproofing function. That is, the spring portion 4 covers the spring 41 with the spring cover 42, and the packing 43 prevents water from entering the interior of the spring cover 42. Therefore, the connector 1 can prevent water from entering the installation position of the spring 41 inside the spring cover 42. Therefore, the connector 1 can prevent the spring 41 from corroding due to water and the urging force from decreasing.

[0034] As described above, in the connector 1 according to this embodiment, the spring 41 is covered with the spring cover 42 to block contact between the spring 41 and water, and the packing 43 prevents water from entering the installation position of the spring 41. Therefore, the connector 1 according to this embodiment can improve the waterproofing properties of the spring 41.

[0035] Furthermore, the connector 1 of this embodiment has a water-stopping function for the spring 41, even when the spring portion 4 is provided between the inner housing 21 and the outer housing 22, so that water can be reliably prevented from entering the installation position of the spring 41.

[0036] Furthermore, in the connector 1 according to this embodiment, even when multiple spring portions 4 are installed at a predetermined distance from the center position P of the housing 2, each spring portion 4 has a waterproof function for the spring 41. Therefore, the connector 1 according to this embodiment can reliably prevent water from entering the installation position of the spring 41.

[0037] The connector according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The connector 1 according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the above-described embodiments and modifications.

[0038] For example, although the connector 1 according to the above embodiment has been described as being mounted on a vehicle, it may also be used without being mounted on a vehicle.

[0039] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the connector 1 has been described in which the spring portion 4 receives a reaction force from the inner housing 21 to urge the outer housing 22 and the lever 3 in the direction opposite to the mating connector 90. However, the connector may also be one in which the spring portion 4 urges a member other than the outer housing 22 and the lever 3. For example, the spring portion 4 of the connector may urge the mating connector 90 in a direction away from the connector. Even in such a connector, the watertightness of the spring 41 can be improved, as in the above-described embodiment.

[0040] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the connector 1 is provided with the lever 3, but the connector may not be provided with the lever 3 as long as it is provided with the spring portion 4. Even with such a connector, the watertightness of the spring 41 can be improved, as in the above-described embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1: Connector 2: Housing 3: Lever 4: Spring part 21: Inner housing 22: Outer housing 41: Spring 42: Spring cover 43; Packing 224: Containment Room 421:Open end P: Center position X: Connection direction

Claims

1. a housing that is mated with a mating connector; a spring portion provided in the housing and generating a biasing force along a connection direction with the mating connector, The spring portion is a spring accommodated in a chamber formed along the connecting direction and having an open entrance and a closed rear side; a shaft portion provided from the bottom surface of the innermost portion of the accommodation chamber toward the connecting direction and through which the spring is inserted; a spring cover having a cylindrical shape with one end open and the other end closed, the open end of which faces the inner side of the storage chamber and is accommodated in the storage chamber so as to cover the spring; a packing attached to the outer periphery of the spring cover, in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the storage chamber, and sealing off water between the spring cover and the storage chamber; connector.

2. The housing has an inner housing for holding terminals, an outer housing provided outside the inner housing, and a lever that is rotatably attached and engages with the mating connector. the outer housing is attached to the inner housing so as to be movable along a connection direction with the mating connector, the spring portion is provided between the inner housing and the outer housing, and applies a reaction force to the inner housing to urge the outer housing and the lever in a direction opposite to the mating connector. The connector according to claim 1 .

3. The spring portion is provided in plurality at a predetermined distance from the center position of the housing.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2.

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