Connectors, how to assemble connectors

Abstract

To provide a connector that can absorb positional deviation caused by component tolerance and an external load, is easily assembled, and has a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: a housing 4 accommodating a connection metal fitting 7 connected with a terminal of an electric wire 2; and a terminal 3 connected with the connection metal fitting 7. The terminal 3 includes a fitting part 31 fitted to a terminal of a mating connector, and a plate part 32 placed on the connection metal fitting 7. The plate part 32 is jointly fastened to the connection metal fitting 7 using a bolt 6 and a nut 5 while being placed on the connection metal fitting 7. An overlapping surface of the plate part 32 and the connection metal fitting 7 is inclined with respect to a fitting direction of the fitting part 31 and a derivation direction of the electric wire 2 to the outside of the housing 4. The housing 4 is provided with an insertion hole 49 of a jig 9 for whirl-stopping the terminal 3 in jointly fastening the plate part 32 and connection metal fitting 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Connectors are used for connecting electric wires to each other or connecting electric wires to electronic devices. As an example of a connector, the one shown in FIG. 8 is publicly known (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The connector 511 shown in FIG. 8 includes a front holder 525 that accommodates a terminal 513 connected to a mating terminal, a housing 517, a lid member 519, a fixed terminal 521 for conductor connection, and a flexible conductor 579.

[0004] The housing 517 is formed in a substantially L-shape by intersecting a holder inserting portion 551 into which the front holder 525 is inserted and an external wire lead-out portion 553. The housing 517 is provided with a work opening 563 for performing assembly work. The lid member 519 is attached to this work opening 563.

[0005] One end of the fixed terminal 521 for conductor connection is connected to a core wire 547 of an external electric wire 515, and an intermediate portion 565 is fixed to the housing 517, formed to be passable through the external wire lead-out portion 553, and accommodated in the housing 517.

[0006] The flexible conductor 579 is made of a soft material, one end of which is connected to the terminal 513, and the other end of which is connected to the other end of the fixed terminal 521 for conductor connection. Further, the flexible conductor 579 is provided with an external force absorbing portion 577 that is slackened by the extra length.

[0007] In the connector 511 described above, positional deviation occurring between the fixed terminal 521 for conductor connection and the terminal 513 can be absorbed by the flexible conductor 579. Thereby, the terminal 513 can achieve good contact with the mating terminal.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-192359 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The aforementioned connector 511 has a flexible conductor 579 that absorbs misalignment due to component tolerances and external loads, but this has resulted in a time-consuming assembly process and a high cost due to the large number of components.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a connector that can absorb positional misalignment due to component tolerances and external loads, and that is easy to assemble and has a simple structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention relates to a connector comprising: a housing that houses a plate-shaped connecting fitting connected to the end of an electric wire; a terminal housed within the housing and connected to the connecting fitting, wherein the terminal comprises a mating portion that mates with the terminal of a mating connector and a plate portion that overlaps the connecting fitting, the plate portion being fastened together with the connecting fitting by bolts and nuts while overlapping with the connecting fitting, the housing comprising a first housing portion that houses the mating portion, a second housing portion that houses the plate portion and the connecting fitting, and a third housing portion that houses the electric wire, wherein the mating direction of the mating portion and the exit direction of the electric wire led out of the housing from the third housing portion are perpendicular, the overlapping surface of the plate portion with respect to the mating direction and the exit direction, and the first housing portion is provided with an insertion hole for a jig that prevents the terminal from rotating when the plate portion and the connecting fitting are fastened together.

[0012] The present invention relates to a method for assembling the above-mentioned connector, characterized in that a jig having a rod-shaped portion extending in the mating direction is used, the rod-shaped portion is inserted into the insertion hole and brought into contact with the mating portion, and the plate portion and the connecting fitting are fastened together. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can absorb positional misalignment due to component tolerances and external force loads, and that is easy to assemble and has a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing a connector in the process of being assembled according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view along the CC line in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a front view of the connector. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the jig shown. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view showing the connector in Figure 1 without the jig attached. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 5. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 5. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of a conventional connector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] A "connector" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

[0016] The connector 1 shown in Figures 1 and 5 is connected to a mating connector mounted on the housing of an in-vehicle device. This connector 1 comprises a housing 4 that houses a plate-shaped connecting fitting 7 connected to the end of an electric wire 2, and terminals 3 etc. housed within the housing 4 and connected to the connecting fitting 7.

[0017] The electric wire 2 is a round electric wire comprising a core wire 21 and an insulating coating. At the terminal of the electric wire 2, the insulating coating is stripped to expose the core wire 21. The exposed core wire 21 is ultrasonically bonded to the connection fitting 7. In addition, the connector 1 of the present example is connected to the terminals of two electric wires 2.

[0018] The terminal 3 is obtained by subjecting a conductive metal plate to pressing or other processing. The terminal 3 comprises a fitting portion 31 that fits with a terminal of a mating connector, and a plate portion 32 overlapped on the connection fitting 7. The fitting portion 31 is of a female type, and comprises a cylindrical portion 38 that receives a male terminal of the mating connector, a spring 39 provided inside the cylindrical portion 38, and a protrusion 34 protruding outward from the cylindrical portion 38. The plate portion 32, in a state of being overlapped with the connection fitting 7, is clamped and fixed together with the connection fitting 7 by the bolt 6 and the nut 5. In the present example, the nut 5 is attached to the plate portion 32 to improve workability.

[0019] The housing 4 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. The housing 4 comprises a first accommodating portion 41 that accommodates the fitting portion 31, a second accommodating portion 42 that accommodates the plate portion 32 and the connection fitting 7, and a third accommodating portion 43 that accommodates the electric wire 2. The housing 4 is formed such that the fitting direction of the fitting portion 31 is perpendicular to the lead-out direction of the electric wire 2 led out of the housing 4 from the third accommodating portion 43, and is formed in an L-shape when viewed from the side.

[0020] The first accommodating portion 41 is provided with an opening 44 through which the terminal of the mating connector is inserted, a recess 48 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) for positioning the protrusion 34 of the terminal 3, a lance 47 that locks into the locking hole 33 of the terminal 3, and an insertion hole 49 for a jig 9 to be described later. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two insertion holes 49 are provided in the present example.

[0021] The second accommodating portion 42 is provided with a working opening 40 for when the plate portion 32 and the connection fitting 7 are clamped and fixed together by the bolt 6 and the nut 5. The working opening 40 is provided on a side of the second accommodating portion 42 opposite to the first accommodating portion 41. This working opening 40 is blocked by a cover not shown in the drawings.

[0022] With the plate portion 32 of terminal 3 housed in the second housing portion 42, the overlapping surface of the plate portion 32 with respect to the fitting direction of the fitting portion 31 and the direction in which the electric wire 2 is led out of the housing 4 is inclined. Therefore, the connecting fitting 7 superimposed on the plate portion 32 is also inclined in the same way as the plate portion 32. Furthermore, the end of the electric wire 2 joined to the connecting fitting 7 is bent toward the working opening 40 with respect to the direction in which the electric wire 2 is led out of the housing 4.

[0023] Furthermore, in this example, the terminal 3, connecting fitting 7, and electric wire 2 are not rigidly fixed to the housing 4. The positions of the plate portion 32 and the connecting fitting 7 may shift slightly due to tolerances of each component and the load when the mating portion 31 mates with the mating terminal, but the degree of bending of the electric wire 2 can be changed in accordance with this shift, thereby reducing the load on the terminal 3. In other words, the connector 1 can absorb positional shifts caused by component tolerances and external loads with the electric wire 2.

[0024] Next, an example of how to assemble the connector 1 described above will be explained. First, the insulation coating is stripped from the end of the electric wire 2, and the core wire 21 is ultrasonically bonded to the connecting fitting 7. Next, the terminal 3 is assembled into the first housing section 41 by accessing it through the open working opening 40. Next, the electric wire 2 is inserted into the housing 4 from the third housing section 43 side, and the connecting fitting 7 is placed on top of the plate section 32. Next, the connecting fitting 7 and the plate section 32 are fastened together with bolts 6 and nuts 5 by accessing it through the working opening 40. Finally, the working opening 40 is closed with the cover 5. The connector 1 is assembled through these steps.

[0025] Furthermore, when fastening the connecting fitting 7 and the plate portion 32 together with bolts 6 and nuts 5, the terminal 3 is prevented from rotating by using the jig 9 shown in Figure 4. The jig 9 comprises a flat plate portion 91, a peripheral wall 92 erected from the edge of the flat plate portion 91, and a pair of rod-shaped portions 93 erected from the flat plate portion 91.

[0026] The jig 9 is attached to the housing 4 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Specifically, the first housing portion 41 is positioned inside the peripheral wall 92, and a pair of rod-shaped portions 93 extending in the fitting direction are inserted into the respective insertion holes 49 and brought into contact with the fitting portion 31. In this state, the plate portion 32 and the connecting fitting 7 are fastened together.

[0027] When the plate portion 32 and the connecting fitting 7 are fastened together without using the jig 9, the terminal 3 rotates during fastening, causing the projection 34 of the terminal 3 to interfere with the recess 48 of the housing 4, as shown in Figure 6, or the lance 47 of the housing 4 to interfere with the locking hole 33 of the terminal 3, as shown in Figure 7. Such interference raises concerns about deformation or damage to the housing 4. By using the jig 9, the rotation of the terminal 3 can be restricted, preventing deformation or damage to the housing 4. In addition, the insertion hole 49 can also be used as a hole for checking continuity.

[0028] In this way, in connector 1, by housing the end of the electric wire 2 in a bent state within the housing 4, it is possible to absorb displacement due to component tolerances and external forces without using a flexible conductor (see Figure 8) as in conventional products. Therefore, the load on terminal 3 can be reduced. In addition, since connector 1 eliminates the flexible conductor, the assembly effort and number of parts can be reduced, resulting in cost reduction.

[0029] 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]

[0030] 1 Connector 2 electric wire 3 terminals 4 Housing 5 nuts 6 volts 7. Connecting fittings 9. Jig 31 Fitting part 32 Board part 41. First Detention Unit 42 Second Detention Unit 43 Third Detention Unit 49 Insertion hole 93 Rod-shaped part

Claims

1. A housing containing a plate-shaped connector attached to the end of an electric wire, The housing comprises a terminal housed within the housing and connected to the connecting fitting, The terminal comprises a mating portion that mates with the terminal of the mating connector and a plate portion that is superimposed on the connecting fitting. The plate portion is stacked with the connecting fitting and fastened together with the connecting fitting by bolts and nuts. The housing comprises a first housing section that houses the fitting section, a second housing section that houses the plate section and the connecting fitting, and a third housing section that houses the electric wire. The fitting direction of the fitting portion and the direction of the wire leading out from the third housing portion to the outside of the housing are perpendicular to each other. The plate portion has an overlapping surface with the connecting fitting that is inclined with respect to the fitting direction and the exit direction. The first housing section is provided with an insertion hole for a jig that prevents the terminal from rotating when fastening the plate section and the connecting fitting together. A connector characterized by the following features.

2. Two of the aforementioned insertion holes are provided. The connector according to feature 1.

3. A method for assembling a connector according to claim 1 or 2, Using a jig equipped with a rod-shaped portion extending in the fitting direction, the rod-shaped portion is inserted into the insertion hole and brought into contact with the fitting portion, and the plate portion and the connecting fitting are fastened together. A method for assembling a connector characterized by the following features.

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