connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which enables appearance inspection of a rivet retaining part to be performed after insert molding.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 connected to the neck part 22. The base part 32 has: a first base part 42; and a second base part 43 which is overlapped with the first base part 42 and in which the tab parts 31 are formed. The second base part 43 is fixed to the first base part 42 by rivet retaining parts 33 which partially crimp parts of an overlapped portion of the first base part 42 and the second base part 43. Lightened parts 14 each of which exposes the rivet retaining part 33 are formed in the male housing 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] As an earth joint connector for collectively connecting a plurality of electric wires to an earth part of a vehicle, there is one in which a connection member formed of a conductive metal material having a plurality of tab portions is integrally provided in a resin housing (see Patent Document 1). This connection member is configured to include a fixing plate portion fixed to the vehicle, a support plate portion raised from the fixing plate portion, and a base portion continuously provided on the support plate portion and having a plurality of tab portions protruding therefrom.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In an earth joint connector, the base portion of the connection member has a first base portion and a second base portion continuously provided on the first base portion, and the root portion of the second base portion is folded back and overlapped with the first base portion. Then, the second base portion is fixed to the first base portion by a riveting portion that crimps a part of the overlapping portion of the first base portion and the second base portion. Since this riveting portion is generally filled with resin (a part of the housing) after insert molding, it is impossible to perform an appearance inspection of the riveting portion after insert molding.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that enables an appearance inspection of the riveting portion even after insert molding.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A connector according to an 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 in which a part of the connecting member is insert-molded. The connecting member has a fixing plate portion fixed to a vehicle, a support plate portion rising from the fixing plate portion, and a base portion connected to the support plate portion. The base portion has a first base portion and a second base portion superimposed on the first base portion and having tab portions formed thereon. A part of the superimposed portion of the first base portion and the second base portion is crimped, and the second base portion is fixed to the first base portion by a rivet portion. The housing has an exposed portion that exposes the rivet portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that allows for visual inspection of the rivet fastening portion even after insert molding. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing an example of an earth joint connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing an example of an earth joint connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an earth joint connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing an example of a male connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a front view showing an example of a male connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 5. [Figure 7] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the BB line. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of the grounding terminal component. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of the grounding terminal component, seen from the opposite side of Figure 8. [Figure 10] This is a side view of the grounding terminal component. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the blank material before forming the grounding terminal component. [Figure 12] This is a plan view of the blank material before forming the earth terminal component. [Figure 13A] This is an explanatory diagram of the process of applying a waterproofing agent to the earth terminal component. [Figure 13B] This is an explanatory diagram of the process of applying a waterproofing agent to the earth terminal component. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The connector according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the earth joint connector 1 is composed of a connector (male connector 2) and a mating connector (female connector 3). In this embodiment, the mating connector (female connector 3) is mated to the connector (male connector 2).

[0011] First, let's explain the other connector (female connector 3).

[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 housing chambers 61, and the tip of the female housing 4 is a mating portion 62. These plurality of terminal housing chambers 61 are formed along the direction of connection with the male connector 2. Furthermore, these plurality of terminal housing chambers 61 are arranged in the width direction of the female housing 4, and the arrangement is in two layers, upper and lower.

[0013] In the terminal housing chamber 61, the female terminal 5 is accommodated (inserted) 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 of a conductive metal material such as copper or a copper alloy, for example. An electric wire 6 with an outer covering covering the periphery of the conductor is crimped to the female terminal 5 and electrically connected. This female terminal 5 is inserted into the terminal housing chamber 61 from the rear end side of the female housing 4, and the electrical connection portion of the female terminal 5 is locked to a lance portion (not shown) in the terminal housing chamber 61. Thereby, the female terminal 5 is held in a state of being accommodated in the terminal housing chamber 61.

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

[0015] The male connector 2 includes a resin housing (male housing 7). In the male housing 7, a fitting recess 11 with an open front end side, which is the front side in the joining direction with the female connector 3, is formed. Then, by fitting the fitting portion 62 of the female housing 4 into the fitting recess 11 of the male housing 7, the mating connector (female connector 3) is joined to the connector (male connector 2).

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

[0017] The male housing 7 has a hood portion 10, and the inside of this hood portion 10 is the fitting 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 to the front end side. Also, an annular packing (not shown) is fitted into the hood portion 10 of the male housing 7. This packing seals the space between the fitting recess 11 and the fitting portion 62 when the fitting portion 62 of the female housing 4 is fitted into the fitting recess 11 of the male housing 7.

[0018] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the ground terminal member 8 is composed of a bus bar 20 and a terminal fitting 30. These bus bar 20 and 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 busbar 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. Bolt insertion holes 23 are formed in the body fixing portion 21. The body fixing portion 21 is fastened to the vehicle body by fastening bolts (not shown) inserted through the bolt insertion holes 23 to the vehicle body, thereby grounding the busbar 20. In addition, an earth terminal (not shown) for an earth wire is fastened together with the body fixing portion 21 by a bolt. A rotation-preventing piece portion 24 is formed in a part of the body fixing portion 21. The rotation-preventing piece portion 24 is a bent portion that engages with a stepped portion or hole around the ground surface to which the body fixing portion 21 is bolted, and the rotation of the body fixing portion 21 relative to the ground surface is restricted by the engagement of this rotation-preventing piece portion 24 with the stepped portion or hole around the ground surface.

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

[0021] At the end of the body fixing portion 21 on the neck portion 22 side (the part near the neck portion 22), rib portions (reinforcement ribs 25) are formed on both sides in the width direction, rising vertically from the body fixing portion 21. At least the upper part of this pair of reinforcement ribs 25, 25 is covered by a resin portion (covering portion 16) that protrudes from the male housing 7 (see Figures 1 and 2). When vibration is applied while the earth joint connector 1 is fixed to the vehicle body, the vibration 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 making the earth terminal member 8 as described above, the load applied to the earth terminal member 8 through the female connector 3 can be distributed, and the load cannot be concentrated on 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 multiple tab portions 31 of the earth terminal member 8 and merges at the neck portion 22, then flows from the body fixing portion 21 to the vehicle body. At this time, the concentration of current at the neck portion 22 may lead to a large amount of heat being generated at the neck portion 22. By making the earth terminal member 8 a structure having the aforementioned rib portion (reinforcement rib 25), the heat dissipation effect of this rib portion (reinforcement rib 25) can be obtained, reducing the amount of heat generated at the neck portion 22 and suppressing the temperature rise.

[0023] Furthermore, if the reinforcing ribs 25 were to be placed on both sides in the width direction of the neck portion 22 (the locations indicated by reference numeral 41 in Figure 12), the tab portion 31 would be located on the outer side in the width direction of the blank material 40 (the plate material before it is bent to form the ground terminal member 8), making it impossible to secure the height of the reinforcing ribs 25. In contrast, in this embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 25 are placed on both sides in the width direction of the body fixing portion 21, so there is no tab portion 31 on the outer side in the width direction of the blank material 40, and the height of the reinforcing ribs 25 can be secured (see Figure 12). In addition, since the placement of the reinforcing ribs 25 is in an area that would conventionally be discarded without being used, the material yield can be improved.

[0024] Furthermore, a crank portion 26 is formed at the end of the neck portion 22 on the terminal fitting 30 side (the part near the terminal fitting 30) by bending it 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 from the edge of the base portion 32 in the same direction. In the earth terminal member 8, the plurality of tab portions 31 protruding from the base portion 32 in a direction perpendicular to its surface are arranged in two rows, upper and lower.

[0026] As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the ground terminal member 8 is insert-molded into the male housing 7. As a result, the ground terminal member 8 is integrated with the male housing 7, with the neck portion 22 of its busbar 20 and the base portion 32 of its terminal fitting 30 embedded in the bottom wall portion 12 that forms the fitting recess 11. 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 out a blank material 40 (see Figures 11 and 12) from a metal plate and then bending the blank material 40. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the blank material 40 has a bus bar 20 formed on one end of the blank material 40, a terminal fitting 30 formed on the other end of the blank material 40, and a neck portion 22 formed between the bus bar 20 and the terminal fitting 30.

[0028] Furthermore, 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 these pair of second base portions 43 has a tab portion 31 formed thereon, and the base portion of the second base portion 43 is folded back and overlapped with the first base portion 42. Then, a rivet portion 33 is formed in which the second base portion 43 is fixed to the first base portion 42 by riveting a part of the overlapping portion of the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43 (see Figures 8 and 9).

[0029] In this embodiment, the rivet portion 33 and the widthwise central portion of the base portion 32 are not covered by resin (part of the male housing 7) but are exposed by exposed portions (cut-out portions 14, 15) (see Figures 5 and 6). Since the rivet portion 33 is exposed by the cut-out portion 14 after insert molding, it becomes possible to detect any riveting errors during visual inspection after insert molding. Furthermore, compared to the case where the rivet portion 33 is covered with resin, the amount of resin used is reduced, and the weight of the male connector 2 can be reduced.

[0030] Incidentally, the male housing 7 loses volume as the resin shrinks after insert molding. Also, the ground terminal member 8, which expands due to heat during insert molding, loses 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, a tiny gap may form between the ground terminal member 8 and the male housing 7 in the male connector 2 due to this difference in volume reduction rates. Therefore, a water-sealing material coating portion 27 (see Figure 10) is formed around the entire circumference of the neck portion 22 of the ground terminal member 8 before insert molding is performed on the ground terminal member 8.

[0031] A waterproofing agent 51 (see Figure 13A) is applied to the ground terminal member 8 before insert molding. The waterproofing agent 51 used is, for example, one that is liquid when applied to the ground terminal member 8 and solidifies when dried. First, as shown in Figure 13A, the ground terminal member 8 is positioned with the tab portion 31 facing upwards, and the waterproofing agent 51 is applied to the neck portion 22 of the busbar 20 using a nozzle 50 such as a dispenser. At this time, a crank portion 26 is formed at the end of the neck portion 22 on the terminal fitting 30 side (the part near the terminal fitting 30), so this crank portion 26 can prevent the waterproofing agent 51 from flowing into the tab portion 31. Then, as shown in Figure 13B, the ground terminal member 8 is positioned with the tab portion 31 facing downwards, and the waterproofing agent 51 is applied to the opposite side of the neck portion 22 of the busbar 20 using a nozzle 50.

[0032] As described above, the connector (male connector 2) according to this embodiment includes a connecting member (earth terminal member 8) formed from a conductive metal material having a plurality of tab portions 31. The connector (male connector 2) includes a resin housing (male housing 7) in which a part of the connecting member (earth terminal member 8) is insert-molded. The connecting member (earth terminal member 8) has a fixing plate portion (body fixing portion 21) that is fixed to the vehicle, a support plate portion (neck portion 22) that rises up from the fixing plate portion (body fixing portion 21), and a base portion 32 connected to the support plate portion (neck portion 22). The base portion 32 has a first base portion 42 and a second base portion 43 that is superimposed on the first base portion 42 and has tab portions 31 formed thereon. A part of the superimposed portion of the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43 is crimped and the second base portion 43 is fixed to the first base portion 42 by a rivet portion 33. The housing (male housing 7) has an exposed portion (lightweight portion 14) that exposes the rivet fastening portion 33.

[0033] In this embodiment, the rivet portion 33 is not covered by resin (part of the male housing 7) and is exposed by the weight-reducing portion 14 (see Figures 5 and 6). Since the rivet portion 33 is exposed by the weight-reducing portion 14 after insert molding, it becomes possible to detect any riveting errors during the visual inspection after insert molding. Furthermore, compared to the case where the rivet portion 33 is covered with resin, the amount of resin used is reduced, and the weight of the male connector 2 can be reduced.

[0034] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a connector (male connector 2) that allows for visual inspection of the rivet fastening portion 33 even after insert molding.

[0035] In the connector (male connector 2), a pair of rivet fastening portions 33 are formed in the width direction of the base portion 32, and these pair of rivet fastening portions 33, 33 may not be covered by resin, but may be exposed by exposed portions (weight-reducing portions 14).

[0036] Since the pair of rivet fastening portions 33, 33 are exposed by the weight-reducing portions 14 after insert molding, it is possible to detect any missing rivets during visual inspection after insert molding.

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

[0038] 2 Male connectors 7 Male Housing 8. Grounding terminal component 14. Weight reduction section 21 Body fixing part 22 Neck 31 Tab section 32 Base section 33. Riveted section 42. First base section 43. Second Base Section

Claims

1. A connecting member formed from a conductive metal material having multiple tab portions, The housing comprises a resin housing in which a portion of the connecting member is insert-molded, The aforementioned connecting member is A fixing plate portion that is fixed to the vehicle, A support plate portion is raised from the aforementioned fixed plate portion, It has a base portion connected to the support plate portion, The base portion comprises a first base portion and a second base portion superimposed on the first base portion, on which the tab portion is formed. A portion of the overlapping area between the first base portion and the second base portion is crimped, and the second base portion is fixed to the first base portion by a rivet. The housing has an exposed portion that exposes the riveted portion. The housing has a hood portion having a bottom wall portion and a peripheral wall portion extending from the periphery of the bottom wall portion toward the front end, The exposed portion is formed in the bottom wall portion located inside the hood portion, A pair of reinforcing ribs are formed on both sides of the fixing plate portion in the width direction, extending upward from the fixing plate portion. The pair of reinforcing ribs are formed to be continuous only with the fixing plate portion. connector.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a pair of rivet fastening portions are formed in the width direction of the base portion, and these pair of rivet fastening portions are not covered by resin, but are exposed by the exposed portion.

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