Connector device

Abstract

The present invention avoids an increase in size of a housing in which an electrical connection box is housed.　A connector device comprises: a housing (11); an electrical connection box (20) housed in the housing (11); a first connector (30) attached to the housing (11) in a state of being connected to the electrical connection box (20); and a second connector (60) connected to the first connector (30) from the outside of the housing (11). The first connector (30) has a first terminal fitting (40), and the second connector (60) has a second terminal fitting (66) connected to the first terminal fitting (40). The first terminal fitting (40) has a pair of elastic contact pieces (44) and a clip (50) that relatively displaces the pair of elastic contact pieces (44) integrally, and the second terminal fitting (66) has a tab (68) inserted between the pair of elastic contact pieces (44).

Description

Connector device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a device having a connector that is attached to a housing from the outside and a mating connector that is arranged inside the housing. By attaching the connector to the housing, terminals of the connector and terminals of the mating connector are connected.

[0003] JP 2015-072795 A

[0004] In this type of device, the connector is fixed to the outside of the housing by bolts or the like, and the mating connector is attached to an electrical junction box fixed inside the housing. In this type of structure, misalignment may occur between the terminals of the connector and the terminals of the mating connector. One possible way to absorb misalignment between the terminals is to place a misalignment absorber between the mating connector and the electrical junction box inside the housing. However, this method requires space within the housing to accommodate the misalignment absorber, which results in an increase in the size of the housing.

[0005] The connector device of the present disclosure was developed based on the above circumstances, and aims to prevent the housing that houses the electrical junction box from becoming too large.

[0006] The connector device of the present disclosure comprises a housing; an electrical connection box accommodated within the housing; a first connector attached to the housing while connected to the electrical connection box; and a second connector connected to the first connector from outside the housing, wherein the first connector has a first terminal fitting; the second connector has a second terminal fitting connected to the first terminal fitting; one of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting has a pair of resilient contact pieces and a clip that displaces the pair of resilient contact pieces relative to one another as a unit; and the other of the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting has a tab inserted between the pair of resilient contact pieces.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the housing that houses the electrical junction box.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector device according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first terminal fitting.

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. Any combination of the following exemplary embodiments, provided that no contradiction occurs, is also included in the embodiments for carrying out the invention. The connector device of the present disclosure (1) comprises a housing, an electric junction box accommodated in the housing, a first connector attached to the housing while connected to the electric junction box, and a second connector connected to the first connector from outside the housing, wherein the first connector has first terminal fittings, the second connector has second terminal fittings connected to the first terminal fittings, one of the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings has a pair of resilient contact pieces and a clip for displacing the pair of resilient contact pieces relative to one another, and the other of the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings has a tab inserted between the pair of resilient contact pieces. With this configuration, if the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings are connected while being misaligned in the direction of elastic displacement of the resilient contact pieces, the pair of resilient contact pieces displace with the tab sandwiched between them, thereby absorbing the misalignment. The pair of resilient contact pieces are displaced together by the clip, so the contact pressure between the resilient contact pieces and the tab is maintained at a desired value. Because the clip is provided on the first terminal fitting or the second terminal fitting, there is no need to interpose a misalignment absorbing member between the first connector and the electrical junction box. This avoids an increase in the size of the housing.

[0010] (2) Preferably, the pair of resilient contact pieces extend in a cantilevered manner in the same direction as the insertion direction of the tab, the clip has a base and a pair of clamping parts extending in a cantilevered manner from the base in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the tab, the base is located forward of the extending ends of the pair of resilient contact pieces in the extension direction, and the pair of clamping parts are arranged to sandwich the pair of resilient contact pieces. This configuration prevents interference between the tab and the clip.

[0011] (3) In (1) or (2), it is preferable that the pair of resilient contact pieces have a pair of contact portions that contact the tab, and the clip has a base and a pair of clamping portions that cantilever from the base in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the tab, and the pair of clamping portions abut against the pair of contact portions. With this configuration, the clamping force of the clip acts directly on the tab via the contact portions, so that the contact pressure between the tab and the resilient contact pieces is stable.

[0012] (4) In (3), it is preferable that the contact portion has a recess, and the clamping portion abuts against the contact portion within the recess. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the clamping portion from being displaced relative to the contact portion.

[0013] [Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] [Example 1] A connector device according to Example 1 embodying the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. In Example 1, the up-down direction is defined as the H direction in Figures 1 and 2 as the upside. The left-right direction is defined as the R direction in Figures 1 and 2 as the rightside.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the connector device of the first embodiment includes an electrical device 10 and a second connector 60. The electrical device 10 includes a housing 11, an electrical junction box 20 housed in the housing 11, a functional member (not shown) housed in the housing 11, and a first connector 30. The housing 11 is a metal member having a shielding function. An opening 13 is formed in a top plate 12 of the housing 11 for connecting the first connector 30 and a second connector 60 (described later). A positioning groove 14 is formed in the upper surface of the top plate 12 of the housing 11 so as to surround the opening 13.

[0015] The electrical junction box 20 is a component used, for example, as a junction block (JB) having a centralized connection function for electrical circuits, a power distribution unit (PDU), etc. The electrical junction box 20 includes a box main body 21, a plurality of electrical components 25, a plurality of bus bars 26, and a third connector 27. The box main body 21 is a component having a shielding function. An upper plate portion 22 of the box main body 21 is formed with a mounting hole 23 for mounting a first connector 30. The box main body 21 is fixed to the upper plate 12 of the housing 11 using bolts 24.

[0016] The electrical components 25 are housed within the box body 21 and form a high-voltage circuit. Specific examples of the electrical components 25 include relays and fuses. The bus bar 26 is a member that connects the electrical components 25 to each other. The third connector 27 is connected to the electrical components 25 via the bus bar 26. The third connector 27 is attached to the box body 21. The functional components are connected to the electrical junction box 20 at the third connector 27. Specific examples of the functional components include a battery pack formed by stacking multiple battery cells.

[0017] The first connector 30 includes a first housing 31, a pair of left and right holding members 35, and a pair of left and right first terminal fittings 40. The first housing 31 is a single component having a terminal accommodating portion 32 and a first flange portion 33 extending horizontally from each of the front, rear, left, and right surfaces of the terminal accommodating portion 32. The first connector 30 is fixed to the electrical junction box 20 by a fixing member (not shown). When the first connector 30 is attached to the electrical junction box 20, the first flange portion 33 abuts against the upper surface of the upper plate portion 22 of the electrical junction box 20, and the terminal accommodating portion 32 closes the mounting hole 23. The upper end of the terminal accommodating portion 32 is positioned so as to face the opening 13 of the housing 11. In a plan view of the connector device viewed from above, the terminal accommodating portion 32 is positioned within the opening region of the opening 13. A pair of left and right first terminal accommodating chambers 34 are formed within the terminal accommodating portion 32. The upper ends of the first terminal accommodating chambers 34 open to the upper surface of the terminal accommodating portion 32.

[0018] The holding member 35 is a single component formed by bending a metal plate. The holding member 35 has high rigidity and does not deform even when subjected to connection resistance generated during the connection process between the first terminal fittings 40 and the second terminal fittings 66 (described later). The holding member 35 includes a cylindrical holding portion 36 and an extending portion 37. As shown in FIG. 2 , the cylindrical holding portion 36 has a rectangular cylindrical shape with both upper and lower ends open. The extending portion 37 extends downward from the lower edge of the left side plate of the cylindrical holding portion 36. As shown in FIG. 1 , in a front view of the connector device, the extending portion 37 has an L-shaped bent shape. The extending end of the extending portion 37 is connected to the electrical components 25 that constitute the electrical junction box 20.

[0019] The first terminal fitting 40 is constructed by assembling one connecting member 41 and one clip 50. The connecting member 41 is a single component made of a metal plate having a thickness smaller than that of the holding member 35 and lower bending rigidity than that of the holding member 35. The connecting member 41 has a rectangular tube portion 42 and a pair of resilient contact pieces 44 that are symmetrical. The rectangular tube portion 42 is open at both the top and bottom ends and is fixed to the holding member 35 while being housed within the cylindrical holding portion 36. The rectangular tube portion 42 and the cylindrical holding portion 36 are electrically connected.

[0020] The pair of resilient contact pieces 44 are formed by cutting out portions of the left and right side plate portions 43 that make up the rectangular tube portion 42. The resilient contact pieces 44 are connected at their upper ends to the side plate portions 43 and extend diagonally downward in a cantilevered manner. The pair of resilient contact pieces 44 are shaped so that the distance between them narrows downward as they face each other. The pair of resilient contact pieces 44 can be elastically displaced in the left-right direction (the direction in which the resilient contact pieces 44 face each other) with their upper ends (base ends) as fulcrums.

[0021] A contact portion 45 is formed at a position closer to the extension end (lower end) than the center in the extension direction (up-down direction) of the resilient contact piece 44. The contact portion 45 is a curved portion that protrudes inward (toward the mating resilient contact piece 44) in the left-right direction (the direction in which the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 face each other). A curved recess 46 is formed on the outer surface of the resilient contact piece 44 (contact portion 45) in the left-right direction.

[0022] The clip 50 is a single component made of a metal plate having higher rigidity than the connecting member 41. The clip 50 has a base 51 and a pair of left-right symmetrical clamping portions 52. The base 51 is a flat plate-shaped portion with its thickness oriented in the vertical direction. The pair of clamping portions 52 extend upward in a cantilevered manner from both left and right edge portions of the base 51. The pair of clamping portions 52 are shaped such that the distance between them narrows upward as they extend. A pressing portion 54 is formed at a position closer to the extension end (upper end) of the clamping portion 52 than the center in the extension direction (vertical direction). The pressing portion 54 has an arc shape that protrudes toward the opposing pressing portion 54 when viewed from the front.

[0023] The pair of clamping portions 52 are capable of elastically displacing in the left-right direction (the direction in which the pair of clamping portions 52 face each other) with the side edges of the base portion 51 as fulcrums. The entire clip 50 is housed within the rectangular tube portion 42. The clip 50 is attached to the connecting member 41 with the base portion 51 positioned below the extending ends (lower ends) of the resilient contact pieces 44 and sandwiched between the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 by the pair of clamping portions 52. The pair of pressing portions 54 abut against the pair of recesses 46 (contact portions 45). The pair of pressing portions 54 fit into the pair of recesses 46, thereby maintaining the clip 50 attached to the pair of resilient contact pieces 44.

[0024] When the first terminal fitting 40 and the second terminal fitting 66 are not connected and the clip 50 is attached to the resilient contact piece 44, one of the following three configurations occurs: the first configuration is one in which both the resilient contact piece 44 and the clamping portion 52 are elastically deformed, the second configuration is one in which the clamping portion 52 is not elastically deformed but the resilient contact piece 44 is elastically deformed, and the third configuration is one in which neither the resilient contact piece 44 nor the clamping portion 52 are elastically deformed.

[0025] The second connector 60 includes a second housing 61 and a pair of left and right second terminal fittings 66. The second housing 61 has a terminal holding portion 62 and a second flange portion 64 that extends horizontally in all directions from the outer peripheral surface of the terminal holding portion 62. The terminal holding portion 62 is formed with a second terminal accommodating chamber 63 that opens on both the top and bottom surfaces of the terminal holding portion 62. The bottom surface of the second flange portion 64 is formed with a positioning protrusion 65 that fits into the positioning groove 14 of the housing 11.

[0026] The second terminal fitting 66 is a single component having a terminal body 67 and a tab 68 protruding forward (downward in FIG. 1 ) from the terminal body 67. The terminal body 67 is connected to the electric wires 71 that make up the wire harness 70. The thickness (left-right dimension) of the tab 68 is greater than the minimum distance between the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 when the clip 50 is attached. The second terminal fitting 66 is attached to the second housing 61 with the terminal body 67 housed in the second terminal accommodating chamber 63 and the tab 68 protruding downward from the terminal holding portion 62.

[0027] The second connector 60 is attached to the housing 11 with the second flange 64 abutting against the upper surface of the top plate 12 of the housing 11 and the positioning protrusion 65 fitted into the positioning groove 14. The second flange 64 is fixed by a fixing member (not shown). With the second connector 60 attached to the housing 11, the tab 68 is inserted between the pair of elastic contact pieces 44, thereby electrically connecting the first terminal fittings 40 and the second terminal fittings 66.

[0028] During the process of connecting the first terminal fitting 40 and the second terminal fitting 66, the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 elastically expand and deform so as to move away from each other. Accompanying the elastic deformation of the resilient contact pieces 44, the pair of clamping portions 52 of the clip 50 also elastically deform. The contact pressure between the resilient contact pieces 44 and the tab 68 is ensured by the elastic restoring force of the resilient contact pieces 44 and the elastic restoring force of the clip 50 (the pair of clamping portions 52).

[0029] When the second connector 60 is attached to the housing 11, if the first terminal fittings 40 and the second terminal fittings 66 are misaligned in the left-right direction, the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 will be displaced left or right to absorb the misalignment. At this time, the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 are displaced together by the clip 50, so the minimum opposing distance between the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 is maintained at the same dimension as when the misalignment is not absorbed. Therefore, the contact pressure between the resilient contact pieces 44 and the tab 68 is constant whether or not the misalignment is absorbed. Because the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 are displaced together by the clip 50, the contact pressure between the resilient contact pieces 44 and the tab 68 is maintained at a desired value.

[0030] The connector device of the first embodiment includes a housing 11, an electric junction box 20 housed within the housing 11, a first connector 30, and a second connector 60. The first connector 30 is attached to the housing 11 while connected to the electric junction box 20. The second connector 60 is connected to the first connector 30 from outside the housing 11. The first connector 30 includes a first terminal fitting 40. The second connector 60 includes a second terminal fitting 66 connected to the first terminal fitting 40. The first terminal fitting 40 includes a pair of resilient contact pieces 44 and a clip 50 that displaces the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 relative to one another. The second terminal fitting 66 includes a tab 68 that is inserted between the pair of resilient contact pieces 44.

[0031] With this configuration, if the first terminal fittings 40 and the second terminal fittings 66 are connected with misalignment in the elastic displacement direction (left-right direction) of the elastic contact pieces 44, the pair of elastic contact pieces 44 will move left-right while sandwiching the tab 68, thereby absorbing the misalignment. At this time, the pair of elastic contact pieces 44 (contact portions 45) are displaced together by the clip 50, so the contact pressure between the elastic contact pieces 44 and the tab 68 is maintained at a desired value. Because the clip 50 is provided on the first terminal fitting 40 or the second terminal fitting 66, there is no need to interpose a misalignment absorbing member (not shown) between the first connector 30 and the electrical junction box 20. This prevents the housing 11 from becoming larger.

[0032] The pair of resilient contact pieces 44 extend in a cantilevered manner in the same direction (downward) as the insertion direction of the tab 68. The clip 50 has a base 51 and a pair of clamping portions 52 extending in a cantilevered manner from the base 51 in the opposite direction (upward) from the insertion direction of the tab 68. The base 51 is located forward (downward) of the extending ends (lower ends) of the pair of resilient contact pieces 44 in the extension direction. The pair of clamping portions 52 are arranged to sandwich the pair of resilient contact pieces 44. This configuration prevents interference between the tab 68 and the clip 50 when the tab 68 is connecting with the pair of resilient contact pieces 44.

[0033] The pair of resilient contact pieces 44 have a pair of contact portions 45 that contact the tab 68. The clip 50 has a base 51 and a pair of clamping portions 52 that cantilever from the base 51 in the opposite direction (upward) from the insertion direction of the tab 68. The pair of clamping portions 52 abut against the pair of contact portions 45. With this configuration, the clamping force of the clip 50 acts directly on the tab 68 via the contact portions 45, thereby stabilizing the contact pressure between the tab 68 and the resilient contact pieces 44. The contact portions 45 have recesses 46. The clamping portions 52 abut against the contact portions 45 within the recesses 46. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the clamping portions 52 from shifting position relative to the contact portions 45.

[0034] Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is defined by the claims. The present invention includes all modifications equivalent to and within the scope of the claims, including the following embodiments. The second terminal fitting may be provided with a pair of resilient contact pieces and a clip, and the first terminal fitting may be provided with a tab inserted between the pair of resilient contact pieces. The base may be located closer to the contact portion than the extending ends of the pair of resilient contact pieces. The base of the clip may be aligned with the resilient contact pieces in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the tab. The clamping portion may abut against the resilient contact pieces at a location other than the contact portion. The abutment area of ​​the clamping portion on the contact portion may have a shape other than a recess. The resilient contact pieces may be formed by folding back from both side plates of the rectangular tube portion. The resilient contact pieces may extend upward in a cantilevered manner (in the opposite direction to the insertion direction of the tab into the first terminal fitting), or both ends may be supported by the rectangular tube portion.

[0035] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10...Electrical device 11...Housing 12...Top plate 13...Opening 14...Positioning groove 20...Electrical junction box 21...Box body 22...Top plate portion 23...Mounting hole 24...Bolt 25...Electrical component 26...Bus bar 27...Third connector 30...First connector 31...First housing 32...Terminal accommodating portion 33...First flange portion 34...First terminal accommodating chamber 35...Retaining member 36...Cylindrical holding portion 37...Extending portion 40...First terminal fitting 41...Connecting member 42...Rectangular tube portion 43...Side plate portion 44...Resilient contact piece 45...Contact portion 46...Recess 50...Clip 51...Base portion 52...Clutching portion 54...Pressing portion 60...Second connector 61...Second housing 62...Terminal holding portion 63...Second terminal accommodating chamber 64... Second flange portion 65... Positioning protrusion 66... ​​Second terminal fitting 67... Terminal main body portion 68... Tab 70... Wire harness 71... Electric wire

Claims

1. A connector device comprising: a housing; an electrical connection box housed within the housing; a first connector attached to the housing while connected to the electrical connection box; and a second connector connected to the first connector from outside the housing, wherein the first connector has first terminal fittings, the second connector has second terminal fittings connected to the first terminal fittings, one of the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings has a pair of elastic contact pieces and a clip that displaces the pair of elastic contact pieces relative to one another as a unit, and the other of the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings has a tab that is inserted between the pair of elastic contact pieces.

2. A connector device as described in claim 1, wherein the pair of resilient contact pieces are cantilevered in the same direction as the insertion direction of the tab, the clip has a base and a pair of clamping portions that cantilever from the base in the opposite direction to the insertion direction of the tab, the base is located forward in the extension direction of the extending ends of the pair of resilient contact pieces, and the pair of clamping portions are arranged to sandwich the pair of resilient contact pieces.

3. A connector device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pair of elastic contact pieces have a pair of contact points that come into contact with the tab, the clip has a base and a pair of clamping parts that extend cantilever-like from the base in the opposite direction to the insertion direction of the tab, and the pair of clamping parts abut against the pair of contact points.

4. A connector device according to claim 3, wherein the contact portion has a recess, and the clamping portion abuts against the contact portion within the recess.

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