connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can inhibit excessive temperature rise of a connection member.SOLUTION: A male connector 2 includes: a ground terminal member 8 which is formed of a conductive metal material and has a plurality of tab parts 31; and a resin male housing 7 in which a portion of the ground terminal member 8 is insert molded. The ground terminal member 8 includes: a body fixed part 21 fixed to a vehicle; a neck part 22 raised from the body fixed part 21; and a base part 32 which is connected to the neck part 22 and in which the plurality of tab parts 31 is formed projecting. A bolt insertion hole 23 is formed in the body fixed part 21, and a pair of reinforcing ribs 25, 25 raised from the body fixed part 21 is formed on both sides in a width direction of a portion of the body fixed part 21 which is close to the neck part 22 relative to the bolt insertion hole 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] As an earth joint connector for connecting multiple electric wires together to an earth part of a vehicle, there is one in which a connecting member made of a conductive metal material having multiple tab portions is integrally provided in a resin housing (see Patent Document 1). This connecting member is configured with a fixing plate portion fixed to the vehicle, a support plate portion standing up from the fixing plate portion, and a base portion connected to the support plate portion and having multiple tab portions protruding therefrom. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-110713 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In an earth joint connector, the current flowing from the mating connector passes through the tab portion of the connecting member, joins at the support plate portion, and flows from the fixed plate portion to the vehicle body, but the amount of heat generated can increase due to the current concentrating at the support plate portion.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can prevent excessive temperature rise in connecting members. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A connector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a connecting member formed from a conductive metal material having a plurality of tab portions, and a resin housing into which a portion of the connecting member is insert-molded. The connecting member has a fixed plate portion that is fixed to the vehicle, a support plate portion that rises from the fixed plate portion, and a base portion that is connected to the support plate portion and has a plurality of tab portions that protrude from it. A bolt insertion hole is formed in the fixed plate portion, and a pair of rib portions that rise from the fixed plate portion are formed on both sides of the width of the portion of the fixed plate portion that is closer to the support plate portion than the bolt insertion hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can suppress an excessive temperature rise in a connecting member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an earth joint connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a side view showing an example of an earth joint connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an earth joint connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a male connector according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a male connector according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the ground terminal member as seen from the opposite side to that of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a blank material before forming an earth terminal member. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank material before being formed into an earth terminal member. [Figure 13A] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a process for applying a waterproofing material to the earth terminal member. [Figure 13B] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a process for applying a waterproofing material to the earth terminal member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] 1 to 3, the earth joint connector 1 is configured by combining a connector (male connector 2) and a mating connector (female connector 3). The mating connector (female connector 3) is fitted into the connector (male connector 2) according to this embodiment.

[0011] First, the mating connector (female connector 3) will be described.

[0012] The female connector 3 is equipped with a mating housing (female housing 4) made of resin. The female housing 4 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 61, and the tip side of the female housing 4 forms a mating portion 62. These plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 61 are formed along the joining direction with the male connector 2. Furthermore, these plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 61 are arranged in the width direction of the female housing 4, and the arrangement is in two rows, upper and lower.

[0013] The female terminal 5 is accommodated (inserted) into the terminal accommodating chamber 61 from the rear end side, which is the rear side in the joining direction with the male connector 2. The female terminal 5 is formed from a conductive metal material such as copper or a copper alloy. An electric wire 6, which has a conductor covered with an outer sheath, is crimped and electrically connected to the female terminal 5. When the female terminal 5 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 61 from the rear end side of the female housing 4, the electrical connection portion of the female terminal 5 is engaged with a lance portion (not shown) in the terminal accommodating chamber 61. As a result, the female terminal 5 is held accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 61.

[0014] Next, the connector (male connector 2) will be described.

[0015] The male connector 2 includes a resin housing (male housing 7). The male housing 7 is formed with a mating recess 11 that is open at the tip end, which is the front side in the joining direction with the female connector 3. The mating portion 62 of the female housing 4 is fitted into the mating recess 11 of the male housing 7, thereby joining the connector (male connector 2) to the mating connector (female connector 3).

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the male connector 2 has a housing (male housing 7) and a connecting member (ground terminal member 8).

[0017] The male housing 7 has a hood portion 10, the inside of which is a mating recess 11. The hood portion 10 has a rear wall portion (bottom wall portion 12) and a peripheral wall portion 13 extending from the periphery of the bottom wall portion 12 toward the tip side. A ring-shaped packing (not shown) is fitted inside the hood portion 10 of the male housing 7. When the mating portion 62 of the female housing 4 is fitted into the mating recess 11 of the male housing 7, this packing seals off water between the mating recess 11 and the mating portion 62.

[0018] 8 to 10, the ground terminal member 8 is configured to include a bus bar 20 and a terminal fitting 30. The bus bar 20 and the terminal fitting 30 are made of a conductive metal material such as copper or a copper alloy, and are integrally formed by press working.

[0019] The bus bar 20 has a flat fixing plate portion (body fixing portion 21) and a support plate portion (neck portion 22) that rises from the body fixing portion 21. A bolt insertion hole 23 is formed in the body fixing portion 21. The body fixing portion 21 is fastened to the vehicle body by fastening a bolt (not shown) inserted into the bolt insertion hole 23 to the body (car body), thereby grounding the bus bar 20. An earth terminal (not shown) of an earth wire is also fastened to the body fixing portion 21 by the bolt. A rotation prevention piece 24 is formed in a part of the body fixing portion 21. The rotation prevention piece 24 is a bent portion that engages with a stepped portion or hole portion around the contact surface to which the body fixing portion 21 is bolted. The rotation prevention piece 24 engages with the stepped portion or hole portion around the contact surface, thereby restricting rotation of the body fixing portion 21 with respect to the contact surface.

[0020] A protrusion 21a for increasing the rigidity of busbar 20 is formed from body fixing portion 21 to neck portion 22. In addition, a protrusion 24a for increasing the rigidity of anti-rotation piece 24 is formed on anti-rotation piece 24.

[0021] At the end of the body fixing portion 21 on the neck portion 22 side (the portion near the neck portion 22), ribs (reinforcing ribs 25) are formed on both sides in the width direction, rising vertically from the body fixing portion 21. At least the upper portions of this pair of reinforcing ribs 25, 25 are covered with a resin portion (coating portion 16) protruding from the male housing 7 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). When vibrations are applied to the earth joint connector 1 while it is fixed to the vehicle body, the vibrations transmitted through the female connector 3 may repeatedly apply a large load to the base portion 22a of the neck portion 22 located between the earth terminal member 8 and the body fixing portion 21. By configuring the earth terminal member 8 as described above, the load applied to the earth terminal member 8 through the female connector 3 can be dispersed, preventing the load from being concentrated at the base portion 22a of the neck portion 22 of the earth terminal member 8.

[0022] Furthermore, in the earth joint connector 1, the current flowing from the female connector 3 passes through the multiple tab portions 31 of the earth terminal member 8, joins at the neck portion 22, and flows from the body fixing portion 21 to the vehicle body. At this time, the current may concentrate at the neck portion 22, which may increase the amount of heat generated at the neck portion 22. By providing the earth terminal member 8 with a structure having the rib portion (reinforcing rib 25) as described above, the heat dissipation effect of the rib portion (reinforcing rib 25) can be obtained, reducing the amount of heat generated at the neck portion 22 and suppressing temperature rise.

[0023] If the reinforcing ribs 25 were to be arranged on both sides of the neck portion 22 in the width direction (at the locations indicated by reference numeral 41 in FIG. 12), the tab portions 31 are located on the outer sides of the width direction in the blank material 40 (the sheet material before being bent into the ground terminal member 8), making it impossible to ensure the height of the reinforcing ribs 25. In contrast, in this embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 25 are arranged on both sides of the body fixing portion 21 in the width direction, so that the tab portions 31 are not located on the outer sides of the blank material 40 in the width direction, and the height of the reinforcing ribs 25 can be ensured (see FIG. 12). Furthermore, the arrangement of the reinforcing ribs 25 is in an area that would conventionally be unused and discarded, thereby improving the yield of materials.

[0024] Furthermore, the end of the neck portion 22 on the terminal fitting 30 side (the portion in the vicinity of the terminal fitting 30) is formed with a crank portion 26 that is bent into a crank shape.

[0025] The terminal fitting 30 has a base portion 32 and a plurality of tab portions 31. The base portion 32 is formed in a flat plate shape, and the tab portions 31 protrude in the same direction from the edge of the base portion 32. In the ground terminal member 8, the plurality of tab portions 31 protruding in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the base portion 32 are arranged in two rows, one above the other.

[0026] 4 to 7, the ground terminal member 8 is insert-molded into the male housing 7. As a result, the neck portion 22 of the bus bar 20 and the base portion 32 of the terminal fitting 30 of the ground terminal member 8 are embedded in and integrated with the bottom wall portion 12 that forms the fitting recess 11 of the male housing 7. The tab portion 31 of the ground terminal member 8 protrudes from the bottom wall portion 12 into the fitting recess 11.

[0027] The ground terminal member 8 is formed by punching a metal plate to produce a blank 40 (see FIGS. 11 and 12 ), and then bending the blank 40. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the blank 40 has a bus bar 20 formed on one end of the blank 40, a terminal fitting 30 formed on the other end of the blank 40, and a neck portion 22 formed between the bus bar 20 and the terminal fitting 30.

[0028] The base portion 32 of the terminal fitting 30 has a first base portion 42 and a pair of second base portions 43, 43 connected to both sides of the first base portion 42 in the width direction. Each of the pair of second base portions 43 is formed with a tab portion 31, and the base portion of the second base portion 43 is folded back to overlap the first base portion 42. A rivet fastening portion 33 is formed by fastening a portion of the overlapping portion of the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43 with a rivet (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0029] In this embodiment, the rivet fastening portion 33 and the widthwise center portion of the base portion 32 are not covered by resin (part of the male housing 7) but are exposed by exposed portions (thinned portions 14, 15) (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Because the rivet fastening portion 33 is exposed by the thinned portion 14 after insert molding, it is possible to discover any riveting that has been omitted by visual inspection after insert molding. Furthermore, compared to when the rivet fastening portion 33 is covered with resin, the amount of resin used is reduced, and the weight of the male connector 2 can also be reduced.

[0030] Incidentally, the overall volume of the male housing 7 decreases after insert molding due to the shrinkage of the resin. Furthermore, the ground terminal member 8, which is heated and thermally expanded during insert molding, also decreases in volume after insert molding. However, since the volume reduction rate of the male housing 7 is greater than that of the ground terminal member 8, the difference in these volume reduction rates can cause a small gap to form between the ground terminal member 8 and the male housing 7 in the male connector 2. Therefore, a waterproof material application portion 27 (see FIG. 10) is formed around the entire circumference of the neck portion 22 of the ground terminal member 8, and then the ground terminal member 8 is insert molded.

[0031] A water-stopping material 51 (see FIG. 13A ) is applied to the ground terminal member 8 before insert molding. The water-stopping material 51 is, for example, liquid when applied to the ground terminal member 8 and solidifies when dried. First, as shown in FIG. 13A , the ground terminal member 8 is placed with the tab portion 31 facing upward, and the water-stopping material 51 is applied to the neck portion 22 of the busbar 20 using a nozzle 50 such as a dispenser. At this time, the end of the neck portion 22 on the terminal fitting 30 side (the portion near the terminal fitting 30) has a crank portion 26 formed by bending the neck portion 22 into a crank shape. This crank portion 26 prevents the water-stopping material 51 from flowing into the tab portion 31. Then, as shown in FIG. 13B , the ground terminal member 8 is placed with the tab portion 31 facing downward, and the water-stopping material 51 is also applied to the opposite surface of the neck portion 22 of the busbar 20 using the nozzle 50.

[0032] As described above, the connector (male connector 2) according to this embodiment includes a connection member (ground terminal member 8) made of a conductive metal material and having a plurality of tab portions 31. The connector (male connector 2) includes a resin housing (male housing 7) into which a portion of the connection member (ground terminal member 8) is insert-molded. The connection member (ground terminal member 8) includes a fixing plate portion (body fixing portion 21) that is fixed to the vehicle and a support plate portion (neck portion 22) that extends from the fixing plate portion (body fixing portion 21). The connection member (ground terminal member 8) includes a base portion 32 that is connected to the support plate portion (neck portion 22) and from which a plurality of tab portions 31 protrude. A bolt insertion hole (23) is formed in the fixing plate portion (body fixing portion 21). A pair of ribs (reinforcing ribs 25, 25) that extend from the fixing plate portion (body fixing portion 21) are formed on both sides in the width direction of a portion of the fixing plate portion (body fixing portion 21) that is closer to the support plate portion (neck portion 22) than the bolt insertion hole 23.

[0033] In the earth joint connector 1, the current flowing from the female connector 3 passes through the multiple tabs 31 of the earth terminal member 8, joins at the neck portion 22, and flows from the body fixing portion 21 to the vehicle body. At this time, the current may concentrate at the neck portion 22, which may increase the amount of heat generated at the neck portion 22. By providing the earth terminal member 8 with the above-described reinforcing rib 25, the reinforcing rib 25 has a heat dissipation effect, reducing the amount of heat generated at the neck portion 22 and suppressing temperature rise.

[0034] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a connector (male connector 2) that can suppress an excessive temperature rise in the connecting member (ground terminal member 8).

[0035] In the connector (male connector 2), a pair of rib portions (reinforcement ribs 25, 25) may each be partially covered with a resin portion (coating portion 16) protruding from the housing (male housing 7).

[0036] By structuring the reinforcing rib 25 in this manner, heat can be dispersed from the neck portion 22 of the earth terminal member 8 to the covering portion 16 (male housing 7), thereby further reducing the amount of heat generated in the neck portion 22 and effectively suppressing temperature rise.

[0037] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 2 male connectors 7 Male housing 8 Earth terminal member 16 Covering part 21 Body fixing part 22 Neck 23 Bolt insertion hole 25 Reinforcing rib 31 Tab section 32 Base

Claims

1. a connecting member made of a conductive metal material and having a plurality of tab portions; a resin housing into which a part of the connection member is insert-molded, The connecting member is a fixed plate portion fixed to the vehicle; a support plate portion standing upright from the fixed plate portion; a base portion connected to the support plate portion and having a plurality of the tab portions formed thereon to project therefrom; The fixing plate portion has a bolt insertion hole formed therein, a pair of rib portions standing up from the fixing plate portion are formed on both sides in a width direction of a portion of the fixing plate portion that is closer to the support plate portion with respect to the bolt insertion hole, The pair of rib portions are formed so as to be continuous only with the fixing plate portion. connector.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of each of the pair of ribs is covered by a resin portion protruding from the housing.

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