JP3079996B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a split type connector having a fitting detection function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, connectors used in automobile wire harnesses have become increasingly multipolar. However, in such a multipolar connector, a large mating force is required when mating male and female connector housings at a time. Required.
Conventionally, as a workaround, a so-called split-type connector has been used in which one connector housing is divided into a plurality of parts and these are sequentially fitted to the other connector housing to reduce the fitting force. . On the other hand, particularly in an important circuit such as an airbag circuit, detection is performed using a short-circuit terminal or the like in order to accurately detect whether or not the connector is properly fitted.

[0003]

However, if the above-described fitting detection is to be performed with a split type connector, it is necessary to provide a short-circuit terminal for each split housing and perform a detection operation for each. There has been a problem that leads to an increase in cost and complexity of work, leading to an increase in cost. The present invention has been completed in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a connector which is of a split type in order to reduce the fitting force and which realizes simplified fitting detection. And

[0004]

As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a male and female connector housing each having a terminal fitting group mounted thereon, and one of the connector housings is provided in plural. In a connector that is divided into a plurality of housing portions of the other connector housing and can be fitted into a plurality of housing portions, the fitting permitting means that allows the subsequent split housing to be fitted only after the previous split housing is properly fitted. And a fitting detection means for detecting whether or not the divided housing is properly fitted to the final divided housing is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the divided connector housing is configured such that the sub-housing can be moved in the main housing along the fitting direction with the mating connector housing. Provided, and the sub-housing is temporarily lockable in a state preceding the front in the fitting direction, and the fitting permitting means releases the temporary locking only after the sub-housing is properly fitted. In addition to the function of allowing the main housing to fit, the main housing is provided with the fitting detection means.

[0006]

Function and Effect of the Invention

<Invention of claim 1> When the divided housings are sequentially fitted, the latter divided housing can be fitted only after the former divided housing is properly fitted. Therefore, at the time when the final divided housing is fitted, all the divided housings before that are properly fitted, and if the fitting state of the final divided housing is detected, all the divided housings are detected. Can be detected at once.
That is, since it is only necessary to provide the fitting detecting means in the final divided housing, the number of parts can be reduced, the detecting operation can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

<Invention of Claim 2> When the connector housing is pushed in, the sub-housing is first fitted, and when it is properly fitted, the main housing is fitted while moving relatively. At the time when the main housing is fitted, the sub-housing has already been properly fitted, and if the fitted state of the main housing is detected, the fitted state of both housings can be detected at once. Since it is only necessary to provide the fitting detection means in the main housing, the number of parts can be reduced and the detection operation can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced. Further, since the main housing and the sub-housing can be assembled in a temporarily locked state, an excellent handling effect can be obtained.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the PC
1 illustrates a connector for B. As shown in FIG. 1, a male connector housing 1 connected to a printed wiring board is provided.
(Hereinafter simply referred to as a male housing) and a female connector housing 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as a female housing) fitted to the female housing. The female housing 2 further includes a main housing 3 and a sub housing 4. Has been split.

The male housing 1 is formed of a synthetic resin material in the shape of a box with an open front surface on the fitting side, and a flange 6 is formed over the entire outer peripheral surface on the front end side. The inside of the male housing 1 is roughly divided into two areas on the left and right as viewed from the front. In each area, one end side of six male terminal fittings 7 formed in an L shape is provided in two rows and three steps. And are projected from the back surface. As shown in FIG. 7, the other end of each male terminal fitting 7 projects downward through an alignment plate 8 projecting from the bottom of the rear surface of the male housing 1 to be connected to a contact of a printed wiring board (not shown). It is possible. Of the male terminal fittings 7, the two uppermost male terminal fittings in the right region are detection terminals 7 a for fitting detection, which will be described in detail later.

The female housing 2 is also formed of a synthetic resin material, and comprises the main housing 3 and the sub-housing 4 as described above. The main housing 3 is formed in a block shape that can be fitted into the male housing 1 described above, and houses the sub housing 4 on one side in the width direction (the other side in FIG. 1) so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. A storage space 9 is provided on both front and rear sides so as to open. On the other hand, four cavities 10 are formed in alignment in the lower portion on the near side of the main housing 3, and each cavity 10 has a female terminal fitting 12 fixed to the end of the electric wire 11 (see FIG. 2). Are accommodated, and each female terminal fitting 12 can be individually fitted and connected to the four lower male terminal fittings 7 in the right region of the male housing 1. A mounting space 35 for mounting the short-circuit terminal 36 is provided above the portion where the cavity 10 is provided, and a ceiling surface thereof is provided to lock the main housing 3 and the male housing 1 in a fitted state. Are provided, which will be described later.

The sub-housing 4 is formed in a block shape that can be fitted into the storage space 9 of the main housing 3 described above. Six cavities 10 are aligned in the sub-housing 4, and female terminal fittings 12 similarly fixed to the ends of the electric wires 11 are respectively accommodated therein. These female terminal fittings 12 The male housing 1 can be individually fitted and connected to the six male terminal fittings 7 in the left region.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lock piece 14 is provided on a side wall 9a of the storage space 9 of the main housing 3 opposite to the side on which the cavity 10 is provided. The lock piece 14 is used when the two housings 3 and 4 are properly fitted into the male housing 1 as described later.
Functions to keep the main housing 3 in a retaining state. That is, the lock piece 14 has a hook portion 15 at the tip, protrudes rearward from the front edge side of the side wall 9a, and is provided so as to be bent and deformed outward. When the front surfaces of the main housing 3 and the sub housing 4 are aligned with each other, the lock piece 14
The hook 15 at the tip of the bracket 4 is engaged with a notch 16 formed on the rear surface of the sub-housing 4 (see FIG. 6) so that the sub-housing 4 can be locked in a state in which it cannot be pulled backward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 9b of the storage space 9 of the main housing 3 on the side where the cavity 10 is provided has a front edge (right side in FIG. 2) at a substantially center height position. As a result, a projection 18 having a chevron shape is formed. On the other hand, on the side surface of the sub housing 4 corresponding to the side wall 9b, a guide groove 19 in the front-rear direction is formed at a substantially central height position, and a locking piece 20 is formed on the front end surface of the guide groove 19. ing. The locking piece 20 has a mountain-shaped protrusion 21 formed at the front end, which can be engaged with the locking ridge 18, and is provided so as to protrude rearward. To be elastically deformable.

The sub housing 4 is connected to the main housing 3.
The locking piece 14 is inserted from the rear side while bending the locking piece 14 toward the inside of the storage space 9, and is further pushed in while bending the locking piece 20, as shown in FIG. Where it protrudes from the front of the
By locking the projection 21 of the locking piece 20 with the locking ridge 18, it is temporarily assembled in a state in which it cannot be pulled out to the rear side. Therefore, the main housing 3 and the sub-housing 4 can be integrally fitted into the male housing 1.

The male housing 1 has a projecting piece 23 which can be fitted into the guide groove 19 of the sub-housing 4. The protruding piece 23 is formed so as to protrude from the back surface at a position between the left and right regions, and a bending prevention portion 24 protruding toward the right region is formed at the tip thereof. In addition, a space in the back of the bending prevention portion 24 is configured to define a bending deformation space 25 that allows the locking piece 20 to be bent and deformed.

More specifically, when the sub-housing 4 is fitted into the left area of the male housing 1, as shown in FIG. It relatively enters along the guide groove 19 while being sunk, and during that time the bending deformation is prevented by the bending prevention part 24 corresponding to the back side of the locking piece 20. On the other hand, when the sub-housing 4 is fitted to the inner surface of the male housing 1, that is, to the regular position, as shown in FIG. The setting is such that the piece 20 is allowed to bend and deform toward the bending deformation space 25.

The locking structure between the main housing 3 and the male housing 1 is as follows. A lock arm 27 is provided on the ceiling surface of the mounting space 35 for the short-circuit terminal 36 in the main housing 3. This lock arm 27
The main housing 3 is provided so as to extend from the front edge to the rear edge, and as shown in FIG. 7, the distal end side where the pressing operation portion 28 is formed can be bent and deformed into the mounting space 35. I have. At the center in the length direction on the upper surface of the lock arm 27, a locking ridge 29 having an inclined surface 30 on the front side is formed.

On the other hand, on the upper surface of the male housing 1, the portion where the lock arm 27 is fitted is provided from the front edge, which is the fitting edge, to slightly before the flange 6, and from the rear surface of the flange 6 to the rear. A fitting groove 32 into which the locking ridge 29 of the lock arm 27 can be fitted is cut over the region. A portion of the fitting groove 32 that protrudes forward of the flange 6 forms a contact portion 33 that contacts the locking protrusion 29.

That is, when the main housing 3 is fitted into the male housing 1, the abutting portion 33 abuts on the inclined surface 30 of the locking ridge 29 during the fitting, as shown in FIG. When the lock arm 27 is pushed into the mounting space 35 side while being bent and deformed, and the main housing 3 is fitted to the inner surface of the male housing 1, that is, to the regular position, the locking ridge 29 is engaged.
As shown in FIG. 9, the locking arm 27 is restored by the restoring elasticity while fitting the locking ridge 29 into the fitting groove 32, and the locking ridge 29 is By being locked to the rear surface, it is locked in a retaining state. Note that, from the above locked state, the pressing operation unit 28
Is pressed to deflect the lock arm 27.
Since the lock of 9 is released, the fitting can be released by pulling it out as it is.

Next, a description will be given of the structure of an electrical fitting detection portion which operates in conjunction with the locking operation of the main housing 3 described above. In the mounting space 35 of the main housing 3, short-circuit terminals 3
6 is mounted. This short-circuit terminal 36
Are spaced apart from each other as shown in FIG.
Connection plate 3 serving also as a mounting portion on the base end side of the elastic contact pieces 37
8, and a pressed portion 39 is formed at the tip of both elastic contact pieces 37 so as to rise. As shown in FIG. 7, the short-circuit terminal 36 is attached by inserting the connection plate 38 into an attachment groove 41 formed on the bottom surface of the front edge of the mounting space 35, and the elastic contact pieces 37 are provided.
The front end has an inclined posture in which the front end gradually increases toward the rear, and the front end is elastically deformable downward. Then, when the main housing 3 is fitted into the male housing 1, the two detection terminals 7 a provided on the male housing 1 can each enter toward the upper surface of the tip of the elastic contact piece 37. Has become.

A receiving plate 4 for restricting upward deformation of the detection terminals 7a is provided on the upper surfaces of the detection terminals 7a.
2 are formed to protrude from the inner surface. On one mounting space 35 side, a guide plate 43 for guiding the receiving plate 42 along the lower surface side is formed so as to be folded from the front edge to the rear edge side. More specifically, when the main housing 3 is fitted close to the inner surface of the male housing 1, the detection terminal 7 a enters the mounting space 35 until the detection terminal 7 a can contact the elastic contact piece 37. As shown in FIG. 7, the lock arm 27 is bent downward and the pressed portion 39 is pressed to deform the elastic contact piece 37 downward, so that the detection terminal 7a and the elastic contact piece 37 are deformed downward.
Has not yet contacted. However, as shown in FIG. 9, when the main housing 3 is properly fitted and the lock arm 27 is restored to its original shape, the pressing force against the elastic contact piece 37 is removed, so that the elastic contact piece 37 is also restored and deformed. The setting is such that the corresponding detection terminal 7a is pressed against the receiving plate 42.

This embodiment has the above-described structure,
Subsequently, the operation will be described. First, the short-circuit terminal 36 is mounted in the mounting space 35 in the main housing 3 of the female housing 2, and the sub-housing 4 is stored in the storage space 9, as shown in FIG. Assemble in a protruding temporary locking state. The female housing 2 assembled in this way is pushed into the male housing 1 of the other party.

When pushed to some extent, as shown in FIG. 3, the projecting piece 23 on the male housing 1
4 relatively enters along the guide groove 19 while being sunk into the back side of the locking piece 20. In the meantime, since the bending prevention portion 24 corresponds to the back side of the locking piece 20, the bending deformation is prevented. Therefore, while the locking piece 20 is pressed as it is by the locking ridge 18, the sub-housing 4 advances. The male and female terminal fittings 12, which are fitted in the left area of the male housing 1,
7 are fitted together.

When the pushing is further advanced, as shown in FIG. 4, the sub-housing 4 reaches the inner surface of the left area, and is fitted in the proper position. At this time, the bending prevention portion 24 comes out forward of the tip of the locking piece 20, and the locking piece 20 can be bent and deformed toward the bending deformation space 25, that is, the temporary locking is released. . Although the male terminal fittings 7 in the right region start to be fitted into the female terminal fittings 12 on the main housing 3 side, a small fitting force is not required to reach the entrance.

When the main housing 3 is further pushed in from the state shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG.
The main housing 3 is pushed while moving with respect to the sub-housing 4 by pushing the locking piece 20 to the bending deformation space 25 side, and the corresponding male and female terminal fittings 12 and 7 are deeply fitted. . When the main housing 3 is pushed in this way, as shown in FIG. 8, the mounting space 35 until the detection terminal 7 a can contact the elastic contact piece 37 of the short-circuit terminal 36.
As described above, the lock arm 27 bends toward the mounting space 35 and presses the pressed portion 39 to deform the elastic contact piece 37 downward. Therefore, the detection terminal 7a and the elastic contact piece 37 have not yet contacted. When the locking projection 18 of the main housing 3 exceeds the projection 21 of the locking piece 20, the locking piece 2
0 is restored to its original form.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the main housing 3 reaches the inner surface of the male housing 1 and is properly fitted, as shown in FIG. The ridge 29 is restored and deformed while being fitted into the fitting groove 32, and the locking ridge 29 is locked on the rear surface of the flange 6,
Locked in the retaining state. Also, as shown in FIG.
Hook 15 of lock piece 14 provided in main housing 3
Are fitted into the cutouts 16 on the rear surface of the sub housing 4, and the sub housing 4 is locked to the main housing 3 in a retaining state.

When the main housing 3 is properly fitted and the lock arm 27 is restored to its original shape as shown in FIG. 9, the pressing force of the short-circuit terminal 36 against the elastic contact piece 37 is removed, and The contact piece 37 is also restored and deformed, and is pressed against the receiving plate 42 with the corresponding detection terminal 7a interposed therebetween. As a result, both detection terminals 7a are short-circuited via short-circuit terminal 36, and it is detected that main housing 3 is properly fitted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Since the sub housing 4 and the main housing 3 are sequentially fitted to the male housing 1, the fitting operation can be performed with a low fitting force. In addition, when the main housing 3 is fitted, the sub-housing 4 has already been properly fitted, and if only the fitting of the main housing 3 is detected, the fitting state of the two housings 3 and 4 is determined. Can be detected at once. That is, the short-circuit terminal 36 is connected to the main housing 3.
, The number of parts can be reduced, and the detection operation can be performed quickly at only one place, so that the cost can be reduced. Further, since the main housing 3 and the sub-housing 4 can be assembled in a temporarily locked state, they are excellent in handling when transporting and fitting work.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, a connector in which the main housing and the sub-housing can be integrally fitted in a tentatively assembled state has been exemplified. However, in the present invention, the divided connector housings are separately and sequentially provided. The present invention can be similarly applied to a mating type connector. (2) The number of divisions of the connector housing is two or more. (3) Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a connector other than the PCB connector, and the male housing side may be divided on the contrary to the above embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the male and female housings before fitting.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sub-housing when fitting is started.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a state where the sub-housing is properly fitted.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the main housing is being fitted.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state where the main housing is properly fitted.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view showing the structure of a fitting detection portion.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway side view when the main housing is in a half-fitted state.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state where the main housing is properly fitted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Male connector housing 2 ... Female connector housing 3 ... Main housing 4 ... Sub housing 7 ... Male terminal fitting 7a ... Detection terminal 9 ... Housing space 12 ... Female terminal fitting 18 ... Locking ridge 20 ... Locking piece 21 ... Projecting part 23 ... Projecting piece 24 ... Deflection preventing part 25 ... Deflection deformation space 27 ... Lock arm 36 ... Short-circuit terminal

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector comprising a male and female connector housing, each of which is provided with a terminal fitting group, wherein one of the connector housings is divided into a plurality of housings and can be fitted into a plurality of housing portions of the other connector housing. In the above, there is provided a fitting permitting means for permitting the subsequent split housing to be fitted only after the former split housing is properly fitted, and whether the split housing is properly fitted to the final split housing. A connector characterized by having a fitting detecting means for detecting the connection. 2. The divided connector housing is provided such that a sub-housing is movable within a main housing along a mating direction with a mating connector housing.
The sub-housing can be temporarily locked in a state preceding the front in the fitting direction, and the fitting permitting means releases the temporary locking only after the sub-housing is properly fitted to release the main housing. Functions to allow the mating of
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said main housing is provided with said fitting detecting means.