JP2002203615A - Waterproof mold connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof mold connector which effectively prevents corrosion of a conductive part by improvement of waterproof property. SOLUTION: A solder-soaked conductive region 4c with exposed conductive parts soaked with solder is provided between a conductive part 4b connected to terminal fittings 2, 3 and coated parts 4a at end parts of electric wires 4. All the part from the solder-soaked conductive regions 4c to the coated parts 4a at the end parts of the electric wires 4 is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 9 and is tightly sealed by the heat shrinkage, which makes up a connector main body 6 mold-coated over pressure-welded parts 2a, 3a of the terminal fittings 2, 3 up to the heat-shrinkable tube 9 and outer periphery faces of the coated parts 4a of the wires 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a waterproof molded connector suitable for use in a bad environment such as outdoors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a connector on a vehicle body used for a so-called towing hitch automobile wire harness for electrically connecting a trailer and the vehicle body is provided on a trailer side prepared by a general user in the market. The shape and dimensions are standardized according to the SAE standard so that they can be electrically connected to the wire harness, ensuring compatibility.

[0003] Since this type of connector is installed so as to be exposed to the outside, such as under a bumper behind the vehicle main body, it is often necessary to connect or tow a trailer to the rear and to run the vehicle alone. In the rainy weather, the connector may be wet.

Therefore, in this type of conventional connector, waterproofness is ensured by directly molding with a PVC resin in a state where a terminal fitting is crimped to the exposed conductor at the end of the electric wire. It was a structure.

[0005]

However, such a connector having a waterproof structure is not sufficiently waterproof, and water penetrates from the opening side of the connector into the connector under the above-mentioned usage conditions, Further, there is a possibility that the conductor penetrates into the space between the wires constituting the conductor of the electric wire, corrodes the conductor of the electric wire, and breaks the wire.

[0006] Since the corrosion of the conductor inside the electric wire cannot be judged from the external appearance, when the conductor is used without notice of the disconnection due to the corrosion, a predetermined electric signal is not transmitted to the connected trailer side, and the tail lamp is not transmitted. Or a situation in which the brake lamp does not light up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof molded connector that effectively prevents corrosion of a conductor by improving waterproofness.

[0008]

The technical means for solving the above-mentioned problem is that a terminal fitting is connected to a conductor which is exposed by stripping a covering portion of an end of a wire, and a connecting portion of the terminal fitting is provided. In a waterproof molded connector covered with a resin material over the outer peripheral surface of the covering portion of the electric wire, the exposed conductor is provided between the conductor portion connected to the terminal fitting and the covering portion of the electric wire end portion. A solder penetrating conductor portion region impregnated with solder in the portion, and covering from the solder penetrating conductor portion region to the covering portion of the electric wire end with a heat-shrinkable tube and closely adhered by the heat shrinkage thereof, and In that the resin material covers the heat-shrinkable tube and the outer peripheral surface of the wire from the connection portion.

The heat-shrinkable tube may have a structure in which a hot-melt layer is provided on the inner surface side.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an automobile wire harness for electrically connecting a trailer to a vehicle body. Waterproof connector as a connector on the side of the vehicle body to be used.
Terminal fittings 2 and 3 in a plurality of electric wires 4 connected to
The connector body 6 that covers the crimped portion of the wire and the end of each wire 4 by molding, the mounting member 7 attached to the middle part of the connector body 6 in the longitudinal direction, and the connection of the terminal fittings 2 and 3 in the connector body 6 And a rubber cap 8 which covers the side end 6a so as to be detachable.

As shown in FIG. 3, a crimping portion 2a to which the terminal fittings 2 and 3 are crimped and connected at the conductor portion 4b where the covering portion 4a at the end of each electric wire 4 is peeled and exposed. , 3a and a portion located between the covering portion 4a at the end of each electric wire 4 is provided with a solder-penetrated conductor portion region 4c impregnated with solder with a predetermined length.

[0012] Further, from the solder penetrating conductor region 4c to the covering portion 4a at the end of the electric wire 4, it is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 9 made of polyolefin or the like and provided with a hot melt layer on the inner side, and is heat-shrinked. It is in close contact.

The crimping portions 2a of the terminal fittings 2, 3
A connector main body 6 is formed by molding from a portion 3a to an outer peripheral surface of each heat-shrinkable tube 9 and a covering portion 4a of each electric wire 4 with an elastomer or the like as a thermoplastic resin material.

The mounting member 7 is connected to the connector body 6.
Is molded with PPGT (glass fiber and reinforced polypropylene containing talc) on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and has a mounting hole 7a for mounting to the vehicle body and a holding projection 7b for holding the rubber cap 8 at an upper end. It has a configuration.

The rubber cap 8 is made of EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer) or the like. Strip-shaped elastically deformable band portion 8 connecting the main body 8 and the main body mounting portion 8a.
b are integrally provided.

The rubber cap 8 is provided with fitting concave portions 8c and 8d fitted tightly to the connecting end 6a and the protruding terminal fitting 3 through elastic deformation. When not in use, as shown in FIG. 2, a rubber cap 8 is attached to the connection side end 6a to cover and protect each of the terminal fittings 2, 3 which are exposed.

When the trailer is connected, the fitting recess 8 d of the rubber cap 8 is connected to the holding projection 7 of the mounting member 7.
By being fitted to b, it can be held by the mounting member 7 in the retracted state.

Further, a flexible protective tube 10 for bundling and protecting the electric wires 4 extending from the connector main body 6 is mounted, and an end of the connector main body 6 on the side where the electric wires 4 extend and an end of the protective tube 10 are connected. , A cover body 11 made of PVC or the like is attached.

FIG. 4 shows a process of covering each of the electric wires 4 and the terminal fittings 2 and 3 connected thereto with a connector body 6 by molding. First, as shown in FIG. The covering portion 4a at the four ends is relatively long, so-called long strip, and the exposed conductor portion 4b is formed.
A terminal fitting (here, a female terminal fitting is shown) 2 is crimped to the end of.

Next, as shown in FIG.
A sufficient amount of solder is soaked between the strands of the conductor portion 4b in the portion from the covering portion 4a to the terminal fitting 2 to form the solder-penetrated conductor portion region 4c.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), from the solder penetrating conductor region 4c to the covering 4a at the end of the electric wire 4, it is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 9 provided with a hot melt layer on the inner surface side. It is heat-shrinked and tightly covered with no gap.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (D), the molding is performed from the terminal fitting 2 (the crimping portion 3a in the case of the male terminal fitting 3) to the heat-shrinkable tube 9 and the outer peripheral surface of the covering portion 4a of the electric wire 4. The connector body 6 is formed by molding.

In FIG. 4, the conductor 4 of the electric wire 4 is shown.
Although the portion where the female terminal fitting 2 is connected to b is described, the portion where the male terminal fitting 3 is connected is also configured in substantially the same manner.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the solder-penetrated conductor region 4c in which the solder is impregnated into the gaps between the wires in the conductor portion 4b is provided in the portion covered by the connector body 6. Therefore, even when the connection side end 6a of the connector main body 6 is wet, water can be effectively prevented from entering between the strands into the inside of the electric wire 4.

Further, the outer peripheral surface of the solder penetrated conductor region 4c and the outer peripheral surface of the covering portion 4a of the electric wire 4 are tightly covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 9, so that the gap between the covering portion 4a and the conductor portion 4b can be reduced. The infiltration of water can be effectively prevented, and a finer gap can be filled by the hot melt layer provided on the inner surface side.
Are further improved, and a long-term adhesion protection effect can be expected.

Furthermore, the connector body 6 has a structure in which the entire heat-shrinkable tube 9 and the crimping portion 2a and the covering portion 4a at both ends in the longitudinal direction are covered with a mold, and are protected from external stresses such as bending and impact. There are advantages.

Here, while maintaining the shape and dimensions specified by the SAE standard, it is possible to more effectively prevent water from penetrating into the conductor portion 4b of the electric wire 4 by water over a long period of time.
Corrosion of the conductor portion 4b can be effectively prevented.

Further, as compared with the conventional structure, it has a simple structure in which a solder-penetrated conductor portion area 4c impregnated with solder is provided and is tightly covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 9, and special processing equipment and special parts are used. There is also an advantage that it can be provided at low cost without performing.

In the above embodiment, the connector used to electrically connect the vehicle body and the trailer is shown, but other connectors may be used. It is not limited to any structure.

[0030]

As described above, according to the waterproof molded connector of the present invention, the exposed conductor is impregnated with solder between the conductor connected to the terminal fitting and the covering of the end of the electric wire. A solder-penetrated conductor portion area is provided, and is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube from the solder-penetrated conductor portion region to a covering portion of an end of the electric wire, and is adhered by the heat shrinkage. Molded with resin material over the outer peripheral surface of the covering part, it is a simple structure, it can be provided at low cost, and more effectively prevents water from entering the conductor of the electric wire for a long time more reliably It can improve the waterproofness,
There is an advantage that corrosion of the conductor can be effectively prevented.

If a heat-shrinkable tube having a hot-melt layer on its inner surface is used, there is an advantage that the adhesion between the heat-shrinkable tube and the electric wire is further improved, and the waterproofness is further improved. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a waterproof molded connector according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where a rubber cap is removed.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which a rubber cap is attached to the waterproof molded connector.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of the waterproof molded connector.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a part of a manufacturing process of the waterproof molded connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Waterproof molded connector 2 Terminal fitting 2a Crimping part 3 Terminal fitting 3a Crimping part 4 Electric wire 4a Covering part 4b Conductor part 4c Solder penetration conductor part area 6 Connector body 7 Mounting member 8 Rubber cap 9 Heat shrink tube

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A terminal fitting is connected to a conductor portion exposed by peeling a covering portion of an end of an electric wire, and is molded and covered with a resin material from a connection portion of the terminal fitting to an outer peripheral surface of the covering portion of the electric wire. In the waterproof molded connector, between the conductor portion connected to the terminal fitting and the covering portion of the wire end portion, a solder-penetrated conductor portion region in which the exposed conductor portion is impregnated with solder is provided, From the solder penetrating conductor region to the covering portion of the end of the electric wire, it is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube and adhered by the heat shrinkage, and extends from the connection portion of the terminal fitting to the outer peripheral surface of the covering portion of the heat-shrinkable tube and the electric wire. A waterproof molded connector characterized by being covered with the resin material. 2. The waterproof molded connector according to claim 1, wherein the heat-shrinkable tube has a hot-melt layer on an inner surface thereof.