Connector

Abstract

A connector (10) is provided with: a case (11); a pair of electric wires (22) disposed inside the case (11); a pair of terminals (23) provided at the respective tips of the pair of electric wires (22); a pair of bus bars (14) that are provided in the case (11) and to which the pair of terminals (23) are connected; and a pair of electric wire holding parts (32) that are provided in the case (11) and that hold respective ones of the pair of electric wires (22). Each electric wire holding part (32) is configured such that the electric wire (22) can be inserted thereinto along the radial direction of the electric wire (22).

Description

connector

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors.

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a connector that can be attached to an electrical device. The connector includes a case that contains a pair of electric wires and an electrical component. When the case is inserted into the housing of the electrical device, the connector is electrically connected to contacts inside the electrical device.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-24292

[0004] In the connector described above, since a pair of electric wires is arranged inside a case, the length of each electric wire tends to be short. If the length of each electric wire is short, it becomes difficult to route the electric wires inside the case. As a result, there is a risk that the assembly workability will be deteriorated.

[0005] Furthermore, in the above-described connector, a holder for holding each pair of electric wires may be provided in the case to prevent interference between the pair of electric wires. In this case, the holder maintains the distance between the pair of electric wires, thereby preventing interference between the pair of electric wires. However, a configuration in which each electric wire is held by a holder narrows the range of movement of each electric wire, which, combined with the short length of the electric wires, may further deteriorate the ease of assembly.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can improve assembly workability while suppressing interference between a pair of electric wires.

[0007] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a case, a pair of electric wires arranged within the case, a pair of terminals respectively provided at the tip ends of the pair of electric wires, a pair of bus bars provided within the case to which the pair of terminals are respectively connected, and a pair of wire holding portions provided within the case, each holding the pair of electric wires, wherein each of the wire holding portions is configured so that the electric wire can be inserted radially of the electric wire.

[0008] According to the connector of the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the ease of assembly while suppressing interference between a pair of electric wires.

[0009] 1 is a schematic diagram of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a holder according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. A connector of the present disclosure includes: [1] a case, a pair of electric wires arranged in the case, a pair of terminals respectively provided at the ends of the pair of electric wires, a pair of bus bars provided in the case and to which the pair of terminals are respectively connected, and a pair of electric wire holding portions provided in the case and each holding the pair of electric wires, wherein each of the electric wire holding portions is configured to allow the electric wires to be inserted along a radial direction of the electric wires.

[0011] With this configuration, since each electric wire can be inserted radially into each electric wire holding portion, after connecting each electric wire to each bus bar, each electric wire can be held by each electric wire holding portion. As a result, when connecting the terminal to the bus bar, the wire holding portion does not restrict the range of movement of the electric wire, improving assembly workability, and after connecting the terminal to the bus bar, each electric wire holding portion can maintain the spacing between the pair of electric wires. Therefore, it is possible to improve assembly workability while suppressing interference between the pair of electric wires.

[0012] [2] In the above [1], the connector may include a holder configured as a separate entity from the case, the holder may be disposed within the case, and each of the wire holding portions may be formed on the holder.

[0013]

[0013] According to this configuration, after the terminals are connected to the busbar, the holder can be assembled to each electric wire, which contributes to improving the efficiency of assembly. [3] In the above [1] or [2], each of the electric wire holding portions may have a pair of opposing portions opposed to each other and a pair of elastic pieces extending from each of the pair of opposing portions, and each of the electric wire holding portions may be configured to hold the electric wire by the pair of elastic pieces.

[0014] According to this configuration, the pair of elastic pieces can hold the electric wire so that it does not come off the electric wire holding portion. [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the connector of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, for the convenience of explanation, some of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios of each part may differ from one drawing to another.

[0015] The connector 10 of this embodiment shown in Figure 1 is a connector to be attached to an electrical device D1 mounted on a vehicle. The electrical device D1 may be, for example, a power supply unit mounted on a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, in which a battery and a high-voltage device are integrated. The connector 10 has a case 11, at least a portion of which is inserted into the housing of the electrical device D1. The case 11 has, for example, a shape that is elongated in the direction of insertion into the electrical device D1.

[0016] The connector 10 includes, for example, a case 11, a distribution section 12, a connector section 13, a pair of bus bars 14, a holder 15, and a plurality of external connection wires 16 extending from the case 11 to the outside. The distribution section 12, the connector section 13, the pair of bus bars 14, and the holder 15 are each housed in the case 11. The connector section 13 is connected to the distribution section 12 within the case 11. Each of the external connection wires 16 extends from the case 11 to the outside.

[0017] (Internal Configuration of Case 11) The connector portion 13 includes a connection member 21, a pair of electric wires 22 extending from the connection member 21, and terminals 23 provided at the tip ends of the pair of electric wires 22, respectively.

[0018] The connection member 21 has a pair of connection terminals 24. The pair of connection terminals 24 are electrically connected to the pair of electric wires 22, respectively. The connection member 21 is housed in the case 11. The connection member 21 is configured to be detachable from the case 11. When the connection member 21 is attached to the case 11, the pair of connection terminals 24 are electrically connected to the distribution unit 12.

[0019] The distribution unit 12 is electrically connected to a plurality of external connection wires 16. Although three external connection wires 16 are illustrated in FIG. 1 , the number of external connection wires 16 is not limited to three and may be two, four, or more. Each external connection wire 16 is drawn out to the outside of the case 11 and the outside of the housing of the electrical device D1. The external connection wires 16 are electrically connected to a plurality of auxiliary machines (not shown) mounted on the vehicle.

[0020] The pair of electric wires 22 are respectively drawn out from a pair of outlets 25 in the connection member 21. The pair of outlets 25 are arranged side by side in the width direction of the connector 10. In the following description, the width direction of the connector 10 may be simply referred to as the "width direction." Each of the pair of electric wires 22 is, for example, a thick electric wire capable of handling a large current and having a conductor cross-sectional area of ​​10 square millimeters or more. Each outlet 25 of the connection member 21 is located within the case 11. Furthermore, each electric wire 22 drawn out from each outlet 25 is housed within the case 11.

[0021] Terminals 23 provided at the ends of the pair of electric wires 22 are respectively connected to a pair of bus bars 14 held within the case 11. Each bus bar 14 is formed of a conductor such as metal. Each terminal 23 is fastened to the corresponding bus bar 14 within the case 11 by, for example, bolts B. This electrically connects the terminals 23 and the bus bars 14. Each bus bar 14 is connected to an equipment-side terminal (not shown) of the electric device D1. This electrically connects the connector 10 and the electric device D1.

[0022] The connection portion between each terminal 23 and each bus bar 14 is located at a position outside the respective outlets 25 in the width direction. In other words, the distance from the center line CL of the connector 10 in the width direction to the connection portion between the bus bar 14 and the terminal 23 is set to be greater than the distance from the center line CL to the outlets 25. As a result, when connecting the terminal 23 to the bus bar 14, it is necessary to connect the terminal 23 to the bus bar 14 while moving the terminal 23 outward in the width direction relative to the outlets 25. For this reason, to facilitate the routing of the electric wire 22 and to make it easier to connect the terminal 23 to the bus bar 14, an excess length is set in the electric wire 22.

[0023] 2, the holder 15 holds each of the pair of electric wires 22 so as to maintain the spacing between them. The holder 15 includes, for example, a base 31 extending along the width direction and a pair of electric wire holding portions 32 provided on the base 31. Each of the pair of electric wire holding portions 32 is, for example, a metal member held by a synthetic resin portion that forms at least a part of the base 31.

[0024] Each wire holding portion 32 has a pair of opposing portions 33 that face each other in the height direction of the connector 10, and a connecting portion 34 that connects the pair of opposing portions 33. The pair of opposing portions 33 extend, for example, in the width direction from both height-direction ends of the connecting portion 34. The wire holding portion 32 has a pair of elastic pieces 35 that extend from each tip of the pair of opposing portions 33. The pair of elastic pieces 35 are inclined so as to approach each other toward their tips.

[0025] The electric wire 22 is inserted between the elastic pieces 35 of the electric wire holding portion 32 along its radial direction (see the arrows in FIG. 2 ). At this time, the elastic pieces 35 are pressed by the electric wire 22 and deformed so that the intervals between the elastic pieces 35 increase. Then, when the electric wire 22 passes over the elastic pieces 35 and enters the deep end of the electric wire holding portion 32, the elastic pieces 35 elastically return to their original state, thereby maintaining the electric wire 22 positioned between the pair of opposing portions 33. This prevents the electric wire 22 from coming off the electric wire holding portion 32.

[0026] (Assembly of Connector 10) Next, a description will be given of an assembly of the connector 10. First, the connection member 21 of the connector portion 13 is assembled to the case 11, whereby each connection terminal portion 24 of the connection member 21 is connected to the distribution portion 12.

[0027] Next, the terminals 23 provided at the tip of each electric wire 22 extending from each outlet 25 of the connection member 21 are fastened and fixed to the bus bar 14. At this time, each electric wire 22 is not held by each electric wire holding portion 32 of the holder 15 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 ). This makes it easy to handle each electric wire 22 without restricting the range of movement of each electric wire 22, and therefore makes it possible to easily connect each terminal 23 to each bus bar 14.

[0028] After connecting each terminal 23 to each bus bar 14, each electric wire 22 is held by each electric wire holding portion 32 of the holder 15. At this time, as described above, each electric wire 22 is inserted into each electric wire holding portion 32 along its own radial direction. As a result, each electric wire 22 is held by each electric wire holding portion 32. Therefore, the electric wire holding portions 32 maintain the spacing between each electric wire 22.

[0029] The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The connector 10 is provided in the case 11 and includes a pair of wire holding portions 32 that respectively hold a pair of wires 22. Each wire holding portion 32 is configured to allow the wires 22 to be inserted radially into the wire holding portion 32. With this configuration, the wires 22 can be inserted radially into the wire holding portion 32, and after the wires 22 are connected to the bus bars 14, the wires 22 can be held by the wire holding portion 32. This improves assembly workability without restricting the range of movement of the wires 22 due to the wire holding portion 32, and after the terminals 23 are connected to the bus bars 14, the wire holding portions 32 can maintain the spacing between the pair of wires 22. Therefore, it is possible to improve assembly workability while suppressing interference between the pair of wires 22. Furthermore, since the electric wire 22 of this embodiment is a thick electric wire that is difficult to bend, the effect of this configuration, which does not narrow the range of motion of the electric wire 22 when connecting the terminal 23 and the bus bar 14, becomes more pronounced.

[0030] (2) The connector 10 includes the holder 15, which is configured as a separate body from the case 11. The holder 15 is disposed inside the case 11. Each electric wire holding portion 32 is formed on the holder 15. With this configuration, it is possible to assemble the holder 15 to each electric wire 22 after connecting the terminals 23 to the bus bar 14. This contributes to improving the ease of assembly.

[0031] (3) Each electric wire holding portion 32 has a pair of opposing portions 33 that face each other and a pair of elastic pieces 35 that extend from each of the pair of opposing portions 33. Each electric wire holding portion 32 is configured to hold the electric wire 22 with the pair of elastic pieces 35. With this configuration, the pair of elastic pieces 35 can hold the electric wire 22 so that it does not come off the electric wire holding portion 32.

[0032] (Modifications) This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0033] The configuration of the wire holding portion 32 is not limited to the above embodiment and can be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the connector 10. For example, in the above embodiment, the pair of opposing portions 33 of the wire holding portion 32 face each other in the height direction of the connector 10. That is, the wire holding portion 32 is configured so that the wire 22 can be inserted between the pair of opposing portions 33 along the width direction of the connector 10. Alternatively, the pair of opposing portions 33 may be configured so as to face each other in the width direction of the connector 10, and the wire 22 may be inserted between the pair of opposing portions 33 along the height direction of the connector 10.

[0034] Each electric wire holding portion 32 may be provided integrally with the case 11. The number of electric wires 22 arranged in the case 11 and the number of electric wire holding portions 32 that hold the electric wires 22 are not limited to those in the above embodiment, and each may be three or more.

[0035] The electrical device D1 to which the connector 10 is connected is not limited to a power supply unit, and may be an electrical device other than a power supply unit. The holder 15 of the non-limiting embodiment shown in Figure 2 is an example of a wire separation spacer configured to separate adjacent electrical wires 22 within the case 11 in the radial direction of the electrical wires 22 within a predetermined separation distance range. This predetermined separation distance range for the electrical wires 22 can be defined by a minimum separation distance and a maximum separation distance that is greater than the minimum separation distance by a play distance. As in the example shown in Figure 2, the play distance, which is the difference between the minimum separation distance and the maximum separation distance, may be smaller than the thickness of the electrical wires 22. For example, the holder 15 may be configured to allow the terminals 23 and the wires 22 to move in the longitudinal direction, and to allow the terminals 23 and the wires 22 to move with play in the radial direction of the wires 22, and to prevent adjacent wires 22 from approaching closer to each other than the minimum separation distance in the radial direction of the wires 22, before the terminals 23 are fastened to the bus bar 14 by the bolts B and when the wires 22 are held in the holder 15. The holder 15 may be configured to substantially not allow the terminals 23 and the wires 22 to move in the longitudinal direction of the wires 22, substantially not allow the terminals 23 to move in the radial direction of the wires 22, and to allow the wires 22 to move with play in the radial direction, and to prevent adjacent wires 22 from approaching closer to each other than the minimum separation distance in the radial direction of the wires 22, after the terminals 23 are fastened to the bus bar 14 by the bolts B and when the wires 22 are held in the holder 15.

[0036] In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , each wire holding portion 32 is an example of a loose wire gripper configured to grip the corresponding wire 22 with some play. For example, each of the two elastic pieces 35 of each wire holding portion 32 may be folded inward from the corresponding opposing portion 33 via a folded portion, for example, so as to face the radially inward surface of the connecting portion 34. The tip of each elastic piece 35 may define a wire entrance that is a slit therebetween. When the wire holding portion 32 is in its natural shape, i.e., when neither of the elastic pieces 35 is elastically deformed, the elastic pieces 35 are an example of a one-way stopper configured to allow the wire 22 to be inserted radially into the wire holding portion 32 from the outside and to prevent the wire 22 from being removed radially from the inside of the wire holding portion 32 to the outside of the wire holding portion 32.

[0037] The embodiments and modified examples disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. That is, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0038] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Connector 11 Case 12 Distribution section 13 Connector section 14 Bus bar 15 Holder 16 External connection electric wire 21 Connection member 22 Electric wire 23 Terminal 24 Connection terminal section 25 Lead-out port 31 Base section 32 Electric wire holding section 33 Opposing section 34 Connection section 35 Elastic piece B Bolt CL Center line D1 Electrical equipment

Claims

1. A connector comprising: a case; a pair of electric wires placed within the case; a pair of terminals respectively provided at ends of the pair of electric wires; a pair of bus bars provided within the case to which the pair of terminals are respectively connected; and a pair of wire holding portions provided within the case, each holding the pair of electric wires, wherein each of the wire holding portions is configured to allow the electric wires to be inserted radially of the electric wires.

2. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a holder configured as a separate body from said case, said holder being disposed within said case, and each of said electric wire holding portions being formed on said holder.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the electric wire holding portions has a pair of opposing portions opposed to each other and a pair of elastic pieces respectively extending from the pair of opposing portions, and each of the electric wire holding portions holds the electric wire by the pair of elastic pieces.

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