Rotating Connector

Abstract

To provide a rotary connector that includes a packing and assemblies, and keeps waterproof performance by the packing and enables the assemblies to rotate relatively to each other.SOLUTION: A rotary connector 1 comprises: a first assembly 2 that has a first terminal 10 and a first housing 20; a second assembly 3 that has a second terminal 30, a second housing 40, and an electric wire 50; and a packing 60 sandwiched between the first and second housings 20 and 40. The first housing 20 has a temporary latching groove 21 and a main latching groove 22. The second housing 40 has a temporary latching claw 42a. When the latching claw 42a is latched to the temporary latching groove 21, the packing 60 is not in contact with at least one of the first housing 20 and the second housing 40, and the first and second assemblies 2 and 3 can rotate relatively to each other. When the latching claw 42a is latched to the main latching groove 22, the packing 60 is in contact with both the first housing 20 and the second housing 40, and the relative rotation of the first and second assemblies 2 and 3 is impossible.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary connector comprising a first assembly incorporating a first terminal connectable to a mating terminal, and a second assembly incorporating a second terminal connected to the first terminal and from which an electric wire extends, wherein the first assembly and the second assembly are configured to be rotatable relative to each other. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, connectors (so-called rotary connectors) have been proposed in which a front assembly and a rear assembly are assembled so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and the direction of extension of electric wires extending from the rear assembly can be adjusted in the rotational direction while maintaining a state in which terminals in the front assembly are electrically connected to mating terminals (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-075558 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In some rotary connectors of the type described above, a waterproof gasket is provided to seal the gap between the front assembly and the rear assembly. However, if the front assembly and the rear assembly rotate relative to each other while the gasket is sandwiched and crushed between them, the sliding between the assemblies and the gasket may cause wear or deformation of the gasket. Because wear or deformation of the gasket can impair the waterproof performance of the gasket, it is desirable to avoid this as much as possible.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary connector that allows relative rotation between assemblies while maintaining waterproof performance provided by a packing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the rotary connector according to the present invention has the following features.

[0007] a first assembly including a first terminal connectable to a mating terminal and a cylindrical first housing accommodating the first terminal; a second assembly including a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal, a second housing accommodating the second terminal, and an electric wire electrically connected to the second terminal; a packing sandwiched between the first housing and the second housing, a rotary connector in which the first assembly and the second assembly are capable of relative rotation around a cylindrical axis of the first housing when the first terminals and the second terminals are electrically connected, the first housing has a temporary locking groove and a full locking groove, the second housing has a locking claw, When the locking claw is locked in the temporary locking groove, the packing does not contact at least one of the first housing and the second housing, and the relative rotation is possible; When the locking claw is locked in the main locking groove, the packing contacts both the first housing and the second housing, and the relative rotation is disabled; It is a rotating connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the rotary connector of the present invention, the first housing of the first assembly has a temporary-locking groove and a full-locking groove, and the second housing of the second assembly has a locking claw. When the locking claw is locked in the temporary-locking groove (i.e., in a temporary-locked state), the first assembly and the second assembly can rotate relative to each other while the packing is not in contact with at least one of the assemblies (i.e., not crushed). On the other hand, when the locking claw is locked in the full-locking groove (i.e., in a full-locked state), the packing is in contact with both assemblies (i.e., crushed), and relative rotation between the first assembly and the second assembly is not possible. As a result, by switching between a state in which the locking claw is locked in the temporary-locking groove and a state in which the locking claw is locked in the full-locking groove as needed, the first assembly and the second assembly can rotate relative to each other while suppressing deformation such as wear of the packing. Therefore, the rotary connector of this configuration allows relative rotation between the assemblies while maintaining the waterproof performance provided by the packing.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the front assembly and the rear assembly rotating relative to each other in the provisionally locked state. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view showing the positional relationship between the temporary locking grooves, the full locking grooves and the front protrusions of the front housing, and the locking pieces (locking claws) and the rear protrusions of the rear housing in the temporary locking state. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a top view showing the positional relationship between the provisional locking groove, the full locking groove, and the front protrusion of the front housing, and the locking pieces (locking claws) and the rear protrusion of the rear housing in the full locking state. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cross section corresponding to the cross section AA in FIG. 3 in the fully locked state. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 6 in the provisionally locked state. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 6 in the fully locked state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] <Embodiment> A connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connector 1 is a rotary connector that includes a front assembly 2 incorporating front terminals 10 connectable to mating terminals (not shown), and a rear assembly 3 incorporating rear terminals 30 connected to the front terminals 10 and through which electric wires 50 extend, and in which the front assembly 2 and rear assembly 3 are rotatable relative to one another. When a front housing 20 belonging to the front assembly 2 is mated with a mating housing (not shown) belonging to the mating connector, the connector 1 functions to electrically connect electric wires 50 to the mating terminals (not shown) incorporated in the mating housing via the front terminals 10 and the rear terminals 30.

[0012] For the sake of convenience, the following definitions are used for the terms "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" as shown in Figures 1 to 8. The "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," and "left-right direction" are perpendicular to one another. The front-rear direction coincides with the mating direction of the front housing 20 and the mating housing, and the connecting direction of the front terminals 10 and the rear terminals 30.

[0013] First, a description will be given of the front assembly 2. The front assembly 2 has front terminals 10 connectable to mating terminals, and a cylindrical front housing 20 that houses the front terminals 10, as shown in Fig. 2 and other figures.

[0014] The front housing 20 is a resin molded body having a generally cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction, as shown in Fig. 2 etc. Although a detailed description of the front housing 20 will be omitted, it is actually formed by combining a plurality of resin parts (see Fig. 6).

[0015] A pair of left and right front terminals 10 are housed in the front housing 20 and are aligned with a gap in the left-right direction (see FIGS. 2 and 6). As shown in FIG. 6, each front terminal 10 integrally comprises a cylindrical portion (female terminal portion) 11 extending in the front-rear direction to be connected to a mating terminal (male terminal), and a connecting portion 12 located behind the cylindrical portion 11 to be connected to the rear terminal 30. The connecting portion 12 is exposed at the rear end side of the front housing 20. Hereinafter, when it is necessary to distinguish between the pair of left and right front terminals 10, the left front terminal 10 and the right front terminal 10 will be referred to as the "front terminal 10A" and the "front terminal 10B," respectively.

[0016] The connection portion 12 (hereinafter referred to as "connection portion 12A") of the front terminal 10A corresponds to a cylindrical connection portion 31A (see FIG. 2) of the rear terminal 30A (described later), and has a cylindrical shape that is arranged coaxially with the front housing 20 and extends in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 6). The connection portion 12 (hereinafter referred to as "connection portion 12B") of the front terminal 10B corresponds to a cylindrical connection portion 31B (see FIG. 2) of the rear terminal 30B (described later), and has a cylindrical shape that is arranged coaxially with the connection portion 12A in the hollow portion of the connection portion 12A, and extends in the front-rear direction with a smaller diameter than the connection portion 12A (see FIG. 6).

[0017] 2 and 4, etc., the outer peripheral surface of the substantially cylindrical front housing 20 is provided with a temporary-locking groove 21, a full-locking groove 22, and a front protrusion 23. As shown in Fig. 4, etc., the temporary-locking groove 21 is an annular recessed groove provided continuously around the entire circumferential direction at the rear end of the outer peripheral surface of the front housing 20. The temporary-locking groove 21 functions to maintain the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 in a "temporarily locked state" in cooperation with locking pieces 42 (locking claws 42a) (described later) that belong to the rear assembly 3 (see Figs. 4 and 7).

[0018] 2 and 4, the main locking grooves 22 are a plurality of (eight in this example) recesses provided in a row at predetermined rotational angles (45 degrees in this example) in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the front housing 20 adjacent to the front side of the temporary locking groove 21. The main locking grooves 22 function to maintain the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 in a "mainly locked state" in cooperation with the locking pieces 42 (locking claws 42a) of the rear assembly 3 (see FIGS. 5 and 8).

[0019] 2 and 4, the front protrusions 23 are a plurality (eight in this example) of protrusions provided on the outer peripheral surface of the front housing 20 adjacent to the front side of the temporary locking groove 21, and arranged at circumferential positions between circumferentially adjacent full locking grooves 22, so as to be spaced apart at predetermined rotational angles (45 degrees in this example). Each front protrusion 23 protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the front housing 20. The front protrusions 23 function to regulate the rotational positions of the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 in cooperation with a rear protrusion 43 (described later) that belongs to the rear assembly 3 (see FIG. 5). The front assembly 2 has been described above.

[0020] Next, a description will be given of the rear assembly 3. The rear assembly 3 has a rear terminal 30 connected to the front terminal 10, a rear housing 40 that houses the rear terminal 30, and an electric wire 50 connected to the rear terminal 30.

[0021] The rear housing 40 is a resin molded body having a generally rectangular flat plate shape extending in the up-down and left-right directions, as shown in Fig. 2 etc. Although detailed description of the rear housing 40 will be omitted, it is actually formed by combining a plurality of resin parts (see Figs. 6 to 8).

[0022] The rear housing 40 accommodates a pair of left and right rear terminals 30 corresponding to the pair of left and right front terminals 10, spaced apart in the left-right direction (see FIGS. 2 and 6). Each rear terminal 30 integrally includes a connection portion 31 extending in the front-rear direction to be connected to the connection portion 12 of the front terminal 10, and a wire connection portion 32 extending downward from the rear end of the connection portion 31 and connected to an end of an electric wire 50. The connection portion 31 is exposed on the front side of the rear housing 40 (see FIG. 2). The electric wire 50 extends downward from the wire connection portion 32 to the outside of the rear housing 40 (see FIGS. 1 to 3). Hereinafter, when it is necessary to distinguish between the pair of left and right rear terminals 30, the left rear terminal 30 and the right rear terminal 30 will be referred to as the "rear terminal 30A" and the "rear terminal 30B," respectively.

[0023] The connection portion 31 (hereinafter referred to as "connection portion 31A") of the rear terminal 30A corresponds to the cylindrical connection portion 12A (see FIG. 6) of the front terminal 10A, and is disposed in the center of the front surface of the rear housing 40. The connection portion 31A has a cylindrical shape that protrudes forward from the front surface of the rear housing 40 (see FIG. 2). A circumferentially extending recessed groove (recessed stripe) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion 31A, and an annular coil spring 71 is fitted into this recessed groove. The coil spring 71 is sandwiched between the connection portion 31A and the connection portion 12A of the front terminal 10A, and functions to electrically connect the connection portion 31A and the connection portion 12A. The connection portion 31 (hereinafter referred to as "connection portion 31B") of the rear terminal 30B corresponds to the cylindrical connection portion 12B (see FIG. 6) of the front terminal 10B. It is arranged coaxially with the connection portion 31A in the hollow portion of the connection portion 31A and has a cylindrical shape that protrudes forward from the front surface of the rear housing 40 (see FIG. 2). A circumferentially extending recessed groove (recessed stripe) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion 31B, and an annular coil spring 72 is fitted into this recessed groove. The coil spring 72 is sandwiched between the connection portion 31B and the connection portion 12B of the front terminal 10B, and functions to electrically connect the connection portion 31B and the connection portion 12B.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, a circular packing groove 41 is provided on the front surface of the rear housing 40, and is arranged coaxially with the cylindrical connecting portion 31A of the rear terminal 30A and radially outward of the connecting portion 31A. A circular rubber packing 60 (see Fig. 2) is housed in the packing groove 41 (see Figs. 6 to 8). In the fully locked state, the packing 60 seals the gap between the front housing 20 and the rear housing 40, thereby providing a waterproof function (see Figs. 6 and 8).

[0025] 2, the front surface of the rear housing 40 is further provided with locking pieces 42 and rear protrusions 43. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the locking pieces 42 are a plurality of pieces (four in this example) that are provided to be aligned circumferentially at predetermined rotational angles (90 degrees in this example) on the front surface of the rear housing 40 adjacent to the radially outer side of the packing groove 41. Each locking piece 42 has a cantilever shape that extends forward from the front surface of the rear housing 40, and a locking claw 42a that protrudes radially inward is provided at its tip (see Figures 7 and 8).

[0026] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the rear protrusions 43 are a plurality (four in this example) of protrusions provided on the front surface of the rear housing 40 adjacent to the radially outer side of the packing groove 41, and arranged at circumferential positions between adjacent locking pieces 42 in the circumferential direction, so as to be aligned at predetermined rotational angles (90 degrees in this example). Each rear protrusion 43 protrudes forward from the front surface of the rear housing 40. The front-rear direction positions of the protruding ends (front ends) of the rear protrusions 43 and the protruding ends (front ends) of the locking pieces 42 are approximately aligned (see Figures 4 and 5). The rear assembly 3 has been described above.

[0027] Next, we will explain how to assemble the connector 1. In the connector 1, the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 can be switched between a "provisionally locked state" (see FIGS. 4 and 7) and a "fully locked state" (see FIGS. 5 and 8) as needed.

[0028] When the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3, with the packing 60 housed in the packing groove 41, are moved toward each other in the front-rear direction from a state in which they are separated from each other in the front-rear direction, the locking pieces 42 are temporarily elastically deformed radially outward by pressure from the rear end 20a (see FIG. 7) of the outer circumferential surface of the front housing 20, and the locking claws 42a of each locking piece 42 enter and lock into the temporary locking groove 21 of the front housing 20 (see FIGS. 4 and 7). This achieves a "temporarily locked state" of the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3. In the temporary locked state, the cylindrical connecting portion 12A of the front terminal 10A is fitted onto the cylindrical connecting portion 31A of the rear terminal 30A, and the cylindrical connecting portion 12B of the front terminal 10B is fitted onto the columnar connecting portion 31B of the rear terminal 30B (see FIG. 6). As a result, the front terminals 10A and 10B are electrically connected to the rear terminals 30A and 30B, respectively.

[0029] In the provisionally locked state, the front ends of the locking pieces 42 and the rear projection 43 are positioned rearward of the rear end of the front projection 23 (see FIG. 4), so that the locking pieces 42 and the rear projection 43 do not engage with the front projection 23 in the circumferential direction. In addition, the provisionally locked grooves 21, which are engaged with the locking pawls 42a, are continuous over the entire circumferential direction. This allows for arbitrary relative rotation between the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 (see the arrow in FIG. 3). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the rear end surface (flat surface) of the front housing 20 and the packing 60 are separated in the front-to-rear direction, so the packing 60 is not crushed by the front housing 20 and the rear housing 40. This allows for relative rotation between the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 without causing deformation, such as wear, of the packing 60.

[0030] In the temporary locking state, when the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 are moved closer to each other in the front-to-rear direction from a state in which the circumferential positions of any of the locking claws 42a and any of the full-locking grooves 22 are aligned, each locking piece 42 is temporarily elastically deformed radially outward due to pressure from the outer circumferential surface of the front housing 20 between the temporary locking groove 21 and the full-locking groove 22, and the locking claws 42a of each locking piece 42 enter and lock into the corresponding full-locking groove 22 of the front housing 20 (see FIGS. 5 and 8). This achieves a "full locking state" of the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3. In the full locking state, as in the temporary locking state, the front terminals 10A, 10B and the rear terminals 30A, 30B are electrically connected to each other.

[0031] In the fully locked state, the locking claws 42a of each locking piece 42 are locked in the corresponding fully locked grooves 22 of the front housing 20. In addition, because the rear protrusion 43 and the front protrusion 23 partially overlap in the front-to-rear direction (see FIG. 5), the rear protrusion 43 and the front protrusion 23 engage in the circumferential direction. This prevents relative rotation between the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the rear end surface (flat surface) of the front housing 20 presses against the packing 60, and the packing 60 is pressed and sandwiched between the front housing 20 and the rear housing 40 and crushed. This allows the packing 60 to exhibit its waterproof function. In the fully locked state, relative rotation between the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 is prevented, so that the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 do not rotate relative to each other with the packing 60 crushed between them.

[0032] In this example, four locking pieces 42 (locking claws 42a) are arranged at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction, and eight full-locking grooves 22 are arranged at 45-degree intervals in the circumferential direction. Therefore, by changing the full-locking grooves 22 that lock the locking claws 42a in the full-locking state, the relative circumferential positions of the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3, where the full-locking state is achieved, can be changed in 45-degree intervals. To change the full-locking grooves 22 that lock the locking claws 42a in the full-locking state, the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 are first temporarily shifted from the full-locking state to the partial-locking state. Then, the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 are rotated relative to each other in the partial-locking state until the circumferential positions of the locking claws 42a and the new full-locking grooves 22 are aligned. Then, the partial-locking state is returned to the full-locking state. This allows the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 to rotate relative to each other while suppressing deformation, such as wear, of the packing 60.

[0033] <Actions and Effects> As described above, in the rotary connector 1 according to this embodiment, the front housing 20 of the front assembly 2 has the temporary-locking groove 21 and the full-locking groove 22, and the rear housing 40 of the rear assembly 3 has the locking claw 42a. When the locking claw 42a is locked in the temporary-locking groove 21, the packing 60 is not crushed (i.e., the temporary-locked state), and relative rotation between the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 is possible. On the other hand, when the locking claw 42a is locked in the full-locking groove 22, the packing 60 is crushed (i.e., the full-locked state), and relative rotation between the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 is not possible. As a result, by switching between the state in which the locking claw 42a is locked in the temporary-locking groove 21 and the state in which the locking claw 42a is locked in the full-locking groove 22 as needed, the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 can rotate relative to each other while suppressing deformation, such as wear, of the packing 60. Therefore, the rotary connector 1 according to this embodiment allows the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 to rotate relative to each other while maintaining the waterproof performance provided by the packing 60.

[0034] Furthermore, the temporary locking groove 21 is a recessed groove extending in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral wall of the front housing 20. Therefore, with the locking pawl 42a locked in the temporary locking groove 21, relative rotation between the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 is possible. Furthermore, the full locking grooves 22 are a plurality of recesses arranged side by side at predetermined intervals (every 45 degrees in this example) in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral wall of the front housing 20. Therefore, by selecting which full locking groove 22 to lock the locking pawl 42a into, the relative rotational position between the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 can be appropriately regulated (every 45 degrees in this example).

[0035] Furthermore, when the locking claw 42a is locked in the main locking groove 22, the front protrusion 23 and the rear protrusion 43 engage with each other in the rotational direction. As a result, the rotational positions of the front assembly 2 and the rear assembly 3 can be further tightly restricted by the engagement between the main locking groove 22 and the locking claw 42a, as well as the engagement between the front protrusion 23 and the rear protrusion 43.

[0036] <Other forms> It should be noted that 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 modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0037] For example, in the above embodiment, the front housing 20 is provided with the temporary locking groove 21, the full locking groove 22, and the front protrusion 23, and the rear housing 40 is provided with the locking piece 42 (locking claw 42a) and the rear protrusion 43. However, the front protrusion 23 may be omitted from the front housing 20, and the rear protrusion 43 may be omitted from the rear housing 40.

[0038] Here, the features of the embodiment of the rotary connector 1 according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3].

[0039] [1] a first assembly (2) having a first terminal (10) connectable to a mating terminal and a cylindrical first housing (20) accommodating the first terminal (10); a second assembly (3) including a second terminal (30) electrically connected to the first terminal (10), a second housing (40) accommodating the second terminal (30), and an electric wire (50) electrically connected to the second terminal (30); a packing (60) sandwiched between the first housing (20) and the second housing (40), A rotary connector (1) in which the first assembly (2) and the second assembly (3) are capable of relative rotation around a cylindrical axis of the first housing (20) when the first terminal (10) and the second terminal (30) are electrically connected, The first housing (20) has a temporary locking groove (21) and a full locking groove (22), The second housing (40) has a locking claw (42a), When the locking claw (42a) is locked in the temporary locking groove (21), the packing (60) does not contact at least one of the first housing (20) and the second housing (40), and the relative rotation is possible; When the locking claw (42a) is locked in the main locking groove (22), The packing (60) contacts both the first housing (20) and the second housing (40), and the relative rotation is disabled. Rotating connector (1).

[0040] According to the rotary connector having the configuration [1] above, the first housing of the first assembly has a temporary-locking groove and a full-locking groove, and the second housing of the second assembly has a locking claw. When the locking claw is locked in the temporary-locking groove (i.e., in the temporary-locked state), the first assembly and the second assembly can rotate relative to each other while the packing is not in contact with at least one of the assemblies (i.e., not crushed). On the other hand, when the locking claw is locked in the full-locking groove (i.e., in the full-locked state), the packing is in contact with both assemblies (i.e., crushed), and relative rotation between the first assembly and the second assembly is not possible. As a result, by switching between the state in which the locking claw is locked in the temporary-locking groove and the state in which the locking claw is locked in the full-locking groove as needed, the first assembly and the second assembly can rotate relative to each other while suppressing deformation such as wear of the packing. Therefore, the rotary connector of this configuration allows relative rotation between the assemblies while maintaining the waterproof performance provided by the packing.

[0041] [2] In the rotary connector (1) described in [1] above, The temporary locking groove (21) is a recessed groove provided in the outer peripheral wall of the first housing (20) and extending in the circumferential direction, The main locking groove (22) is A plurality of recesses are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the first housing (20) and arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. Rotating connector (1).

[0042] According to the rotary connector having the configuration [2] above, the temporary locking groove is a recessed groove extending circumferentially on the outer peripheral wall of the first housing. Therefore, with the locking pawl locked in the temporary locking groove, the first assembly and the second assembly can rotate relative to each other. Furthermore, the full locking groove is a plurality of recesses arranged side by side at predetermined intervals (e.g., at predetermined rotation angles) in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral wall of the first housing. Therefore, by selecting which full locking groove the locking pawl is locked in, the rotational positions of the first assembly and the second assembly can be appropriately regulated (e.g., at predetermined rotation angles).

[0043] [3] In the rotary connector (1) described in [1] above, The first housing (20) includes: a first projection (23) projecting from the outer peripheral wall of the first housing (20); The second housing (40) includes: a second projection (43) extending toward the first housing (20); When the locking claw (42a) is locked in the temporary locking groove (21), The first protrusion (23) and the second protrusion (43) do not interfere with each other in the rotation direction of the relative rotation, When the locking claw (42a) is locked in the main locking groove (22), The first protrusion (23) and the second protrusion (43) interfere with each other in the rotation direction of the relative rotation. Rotating connector (1).

[0044] According to the rotary connector having the configuration [3] above, when the locking pawl is locked in the main locking groove, the first protrusion and the second protrusion engage in the rotational direction. This allows the rotational positions of the first assembly and the second assembly to be more firmly restricted by the engagement between the main locking groove and the locking pawl, as well as the engagement between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 connector 2 Front assembly (first assembly) 3 Rear assembly (second assembly) 10 Front terminal (first terminal) 20 Front housing (first housing) 21 Temporary locking groove 22 locking grooves 23 Front protrusion (first protrusion) 30 Rear terminal (second terminal) 40 Rear housing (second housing) 42a Locking claw 43 Rear protrusion (second protrusion) 50 Electric wire 60 Gasket

Claims

1. a first assembly including a first terminal connectable to a mating terminal and a cylindrical first housing accommodating the first terminal; a second assembly including a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal, a second housing accommodating the second terminal, and an electric wire electrically connected to the second terminal; a packing sandwiched between the first housing and the second housing, a rotary connector in which the first assembly and the second assembly are capable of relative rotation around a cylindrical axis of the first housing in a state in which the first terminals and the second terminals are electrically connected, the first housing has a temporary locking groove and a full locking groove, the second housing has a locking claw, When the locking claw is locked in the temporary locking groove, the packing does not contact at least one of the first housing and the second housing, and the relative rotation is possible; When the locking claw is locked in the main locking groove, the packing contacts both the first housing and the second housing, and the relative rotation is disabled; Rotating connector.

2. 2. The rotary connector according to claim 1, The temporary locking groove is a recessed groove provided in an outer peripheral wall of the first housing and extending in a circumferential direction, The main locking groove is a plurality of recesses provided on the outer peripheral wall of the first housing and arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction; Rotating connector.

3. 2. The rotary connector according to claim 1, The first housing includes: a first projection protruding from an outer peripheral wall of the first housing; The second housing includes: a second projection extending toward the first housing; When the locking claw is locked in the temporary locking groove, the first protrusion and the second protrusion do not interfere with each other in the rotation direction of the relative rotation, When the locking claw is locked in the main locking groove, the first protrusion and the second protrusion interfere with each other in the rotation direction of the relative rotation; Rotating connector.

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