connector

Abstract

To suppress wear of each component due to movement of a movable part in a connector comprising the moving part absorbing positional displacement with a mating connector.SOLUTION: A female connector 3 comprises a movable part 7 holding a female terminal, and an immovable part 10 movably holding the movable part 7 along a direction perpendicular to a connector fitting direction. The immovable part 10 comprises a first immovable part 8 and a second immovable part 9 sandwiching the movable part 7 therebetween. The second immovable part 9 is provided with a pin 96 that extends toward the first immovable part 8 side and inserted into a through hole 76 of the movable part 7. A gap is provided between the pin 96 and the through hole 76. A rubber component 36 attached to an outer periphery of the pin 96, is arranged in the gap. The rubber component 36 comes into contact with an inner surface of the through hole 76 at four points of the outer periphery in a natural state. The pin 96 is positioned at the center of the through hole 76. As the movable part 7 moves with respect to the immovable part 10, the rubber component 36 is elastically deformed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector provided with a mechanism for absorbing misalignment with a mating connector.

Background Art

[0002] A connector provided with a mechanism for absorbing misalignment with a mating connector is known. As an example of such a connector, there is one shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a connection structure 2400 between a vehicle-side connector 2402 attached to a vehicle and a battery-side connector 2452 attached to a battery pack. The vehicle-side connector 2402 includes a vehicle-side mounting portion 2404, a vehicle-side coupling portion 2406 that holds terminals and alignment pins 2420, and a vehicle-side coupler 2408 that movably attaches the vehicle-side coupling portion 2406 to the vehicle-side mounting portion 2404.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle-side coupler 2408 passes through a hole 2602 of the vehicle-side coupling portion 2406, and includes a bolt 2412 attached to the vehicle-side mounting portion 2404 and a coil spring 2414 that surrounds the bolt 2412 and is disposed between the vehicle-side mounting portion 2404 and the vehicle-side coupling portion 2406. The hole 2602 is larger than the diameter of the shaft of the bolt 2412. The coil spring 2414 applies an elastic force between the vehicle-side mounting portion 2404 and the vehicle-side coupling portion 2406.

[0005] In a state where such a vehicle-side connector 2402 is not fitted with the battery-side connector 2452, the vehicle-side coupling portion 2406 is maintained at a neutral position by the vehicle-side coupler 2408. When being fitted with the battery-side connector 2452, the alignment pins 2420 are accommodated in the alignment sockets 2470 of the battery-side connector 2452, so that the vehicle-side coupling portion 2406 moves and is aligned with the battery-side connector 2452.

Prior Art Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-28939 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In the vehicle-side connector 2402 described above, repeated mating operations could cause wear on the coil spring 2414 and the parts in contact with the coil spring 2414, leading to the accumulation of wear particles and potentially narrowing the range of motion of the vehicle-side coupling portion 2406.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to suppress wear of each component due to the movement of the movable part in a connector equipped with a movable part that absorbs misalignment with the mating connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The connector of the present invention comprises a terminal, a movable part that holds the terminal, and a fixed part that movably holds the movable part, wherein the fixed part comprises a first fixed part and a second fixed part that sandwich the movable part between them, the movable part is movable in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first fixed part and the second fixed part, a through hole is formed in the movable part, the second fixed part is provided with a pin that extends toward the first fixed part and passes through the through hole, a gap is formed between the pin and the through hole, and a rubber part is provided on the outer circumference of the pin and positioned in the gap The through-hole is formed in a square shape, the rubber part is formed in a cylindrical shape, and in the natural state of the rubber part, four points on the outer surface of the rubber part are in contact with the inner surface of the through-hole, and the pin is positioned at the center of the through-hole. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, wear of each component due to the movement of the movable part can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1]This figure shows the connection structure between a connector and a mating connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connector from a different angle. [Figure 4] This figure shows the connector in Figure 2 with the first fixed part removed. [Figure 5] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the connector. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the conventional connection structure between the vehicle-side connector and the battery-side connector. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle-side connector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] A "connector" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0013] Figure 1 shows a connection structure 1 between a female connector 3 (corresponding to the "connector" in the claims) and a male connector 2 that mate with each other. In this example, the female connector 3 is attached to the vehicle body panel 13 by a plurality of bolts 17 (it may be attached to the housing of an in-vehicle unit or the like in other examples). The male connector 2 in this example is attached to the housing 12 of the in-vehicle unit by a plurality of bolts 15.

[0014] The male connector 2 comprises a plurality of male terminals 21, a pair of alignment pins 22, and a holding portion 5 that holds them. The holding portion 5 comprises a plate portion that is superimposed on the housing 12 and fixed to the housing 12 by a plurality of bolts 15, and a hood portion 57 that surrounds the plurality of male terminals 21. The pair of alignment pins 22 are arranged on both sides of the hood portion 57. These alignment pins 22, the hood portion 57, and the plurality of male terminals 21 are passed through an opening 12a formed in the housing 12 and are located outside the housing 12.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the female connector 3 includes a plurality of female terminals 31, a plurality of housing portions 6a that accommodate the respective female terminals 31, a housing portion 6b that accommodates the plurality of female terminals, a pair of alignment sleeves 32, a movable portion 7, a fixed portion 10, and a rubber component 36.

[0016] The female terminal 31 is connected to a power line and is accommodated in the housing portion 6a. In this example, one female terminal 31 is accommodated in one housing portion 6a. The female connector 3 of this example includes six housing portions 6a. Each housing portion 6a is fixed to the movable portion 7 by a bolt 18.

[0017] The housing portion 6b accommodates a plurality of female terminals connected to signal lines. The female connector 3 of this example includes two housing portions 6b. Each housing portion 6b is fixed to the movable portion 7 by a bolt 18.

[0018] The alignment sleeve 32 aligns the female connector 3 and the male connector 2 by accommodating the alignment pin 22 of the male connector 2, and guides them so that the two can be smoothly fitted. The pair of alignment sleeves 32 are attached to both ends of the movable portion 7.

[0019] The movable portion 7 is a metal component and includes a plate portion 71 and a hood portion 77 that is continuous with the surface of the plate portion 71 on the side of the male connector 2, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0020] The plate portion 71 includes a central portion 71a with a large thickness and an outer edge portion 71b with a small thickness. A plurality of insertion holes 72 through which the housing portions 6a and 6b are inserted are formed through the central portion 71a. Further, bolt holes 73 for fastening bolts 18 for fixing the housing portions 6a and 6b are formed in the vicinity of each insertion hole 72 in the central portion 71a.

[0021] Square through-holes 76 are formed at the four corners of the outer edge portion 71b. Insertion holes 75 for attaching the alignment sleeves 32 are formed through both ends of the outer edge portion 71b.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the hood portion 77 surrounds the housing portions 6a and 6b, which are inserted through the respective insertion holes 72. The hood portion 77 and the housing portions 6a and 6b inside it pass through an opening formed in the vehicle body panel 13. The hood portion 77 is inserted inside the hood portion 57 of the male connector 2. Each male terminal 21 inside the hood portion 57 is inserted into each female terminal 31.

[0023] The immovable part 10 is superimposed on the vehicle body panel 13 and fixed to the vehicle body panel 13 by a plurality of bolts 17. The immovable part 10 also holds the movable part 7 in a movable manner. The immovable part 10 comprises a first immovable part 8 and a second immovable part 9 that sandwich the outer edge 71b of the movable part 7 between them.

[0024] The movable part 7 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first fixed part 8 and the second fixed part 9. That is, the movable part 7 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction between the female connector 3 and the male connector 2. A connector 3 equipped with such a movable part 7 is sometimes called a "floating connector".

[0025] The first fixed part 8 is formed in a shallow box shape, comprising an upper wall 81 and side walls 82, 83, 84, and 85. An opening 80 is formed through the center of the upper wall 81, through which the central part 71a of the movable part 7 and a pair of alignment sleeves 32 pass. Through holes 87 are formed at the four corners of the upper wall 81, through which bolts 17 are inserted. Through holes 86 are formed at positions that overlap with the through holes 76 in the upper wall 81, through which bolts 16 are inserted.

[0026] The second fixed part 9 is a metal component and integrally comprises a plate portion 91, insertion portions 97 through which bolts 17 provided at the four corners of the plate portion 91 are inserted, and a pin 96 provided in a position that overlaps with the through hole 76 of the plate portion 91. An opening 90 is formed through the center of the plate portion 91 through which the hood portion 77 and a pair of alignment sleeves 32 are passed.

[0027] In this example, since four through holes 76 are formed in the movable part 7, four pins 96 are provided in the second immovable part 9. Each pin 96 extends toward the first immovable part 8 and passes through each through hole 76.

[0028] A gap is formed between the pin 96 and the through hole 76, and a rubber component 36 attached to the outer circumference of the pin 96 is positioned in this gap. The rubber component 36 is formed in a cylindrical shape. In its natural state (i.e., when the female connector 3 is not mated), the rubber component 36 has four points on its outer surface in contact with the inner surface of the through hole 76, and the pin 96 is positioned at the center of the through hole 76. When the movable part 7 moves relative to the immovable part 10, the rubber component 36 undergoes elastic deformation.

[0029] In this example, a bolt hole is formed in the center of the pin 96, and the first fixed part 8 and the second fixed part 9 are fixed to each other by fastening a bolt 16 into this bolt hole. By forming a bolt hole in the pin 96 in this way, the space required for fastening the bolt 16 can be reduced, and the size of the female connector 3 can be suppressed.

[0030] In the connection structure 1 described above, when the female connector 3 and the male connector 2 are mated, the pair of alignment pins 22 and the pair of alignment sleeves 32 first come into contact, and the alignment pins 22 are inserted into the alignment sleeves 32, thereby aligning the female connector 3 and the male connector 2. At this time, if there is a misalignment between the female connector 3 and the male connector 2, the movable part 7 moves to absorb the misalignment. After that, the hood parts 57 and 77 are mated together, and the terminals are mated together.

[0031] As described above, since the rubber part 36 is interposed between the through hole 76 and the pin 96, the inner surface of the through hole 76 and the pin 96 do not come into contact, allowing the movable part 7 to move (absorb misalignment) and center the movable part 7. In other words, since the movable part 7 and the second immovable part 9 are made of metal, repeated contact between the inner surface of the through hole 76 and the pin 96 would cause wear and generate wear particles, but the rubber part 36 can suppress this wear. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the narrowing of the range of motion of the movable part 7 (due to the accumulation of wear particles) with respect to repeated fitting operations, and to ensure the amount of floating of the movable part 7.

[0032] The embodiments described above merely represent typical forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. That is, it can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the core principles of the present invention. As long as such modifications still possess the configuration of the present invention, they are of course included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Connection structure 2 Male connectors 3 Female connectors 7 Moving parts 8 1st immobile part 9 Second immobile part 10. Immovable parts 31 Female terminal 36 Rubber parts 76 Through hole 96 pins

Claims

1. It comprises a terminal, a movable part that holds the terminal, and a fixed part that movably holds the movable part, The immovable part comprises a first immovable part and a second immovable part that sandwich the movable part between them. The movable part is movable in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first fixed part and the second fixed part, The aforementioned movable part has a through hole formed in it. The second immovable part is provided with a pin that extends toward the first immovable part and passes through the through hole, and a gap is formed between the pin and the through hole. The pin is provided with a rubber component that is located on the outer circumference and positioned in the gap, The through hole is formed in a square shape, The aforementioned rubber part is formed in a cylindrical shape, In the natural state of the rubber part, four points on the outer surface of the rubber part are in contact with the inner surface of the through hole, and the pin is positioned at the center of the through hole. A connector characterized by the following features.

2. A bolt hole is formed in the center of the pin, and the first fixed part and the second fixed part are fixed to each other by fastening a bolt into the bolt hole. The connector according to feature 1.

3. The movable part and the pin are made of metal. The connector according to feature 1.

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