JP2003272764A - Self-positioning connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small self-positioning connector with good connection and high connection reliability of a connector, with a large volume for absorbing centering errors at the time of fitting, and with a large degree of freedom for wiring a harness. <P>SOLUTION: This self-positioning connector has an alignment mechanism comprising a positioning part 230 of a housing body 220 of a connector device 20, a guide groove 233 formed by a locking claw 229, and a rail part 281 of a bracket 28 attached to a connector 10; and an alignment mechanism comprising a locking claw 104 of a housing body 100 of the connector 10, a guide groove formed by a guide 109, and a rail part 271 of a bracket 27 attached to the connector device 20. The connector device 20 can move in a vertical direction, and the connector 10 can move in a horizontal direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure of a connector used for electrical connection of electrical equipment, and more particularly to a self-locating connector mounted on a modular instrument panel mounted on an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a self-locating device for connecting an instrument harness such as a meter, an audio, an air conditioner of an automobile or an electric device housed under the instrument panel to a body harness arranged on a vehicle body. As the connector, for example, there is one as disclosed in JP-A-6-325823.

7 to 9 are shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-325823.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a male connector according to a conventional example. For example, the male connector is mounted on the vehicle body side of an automobile, and a male terminal is inserted into a bottom surface of a lunch box-shaped housing body 510. .

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional female connector, which is mounted, for example, on the instrument side of an automobile, in which a rectangular parallelepiped housing body 520 has a female terminal fitted therein, and the housing body 520. 4 at the end of
Individual stopper pieces 521 are provided. Reference numeral 53 is a bracket that supports the female connector 52, and the female connector 52 is elastically supported by elastic pieces 531 and 532 provided on the inner four sides of the opening end of the female connector 52 to form the connector device 50. .

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram before fitting the male connector and the female connector according to the conventional example, and illustrates the fitting operation of the male connector shown in FIG. 7 and the female connector shown in FIG. Is.

In FIG. 9, a certain mounting error occurs when the instrument with the connector device 50 is assembled to the vehicle body with the male connector 51 attached. Since the connector 52 is supported by the bracket 53 directly attached to the vehicle body through the elastic pieces 531 and 532, the elastic pieces 531 and 532 move vertically and horizontally within a range in which the male piece 51 can be bent. The male connector 51 can be fitted with the female connector 52, and even if there is a certain dimensional error between the vehicle body and the instrument.
The nut 522 and the screw member 54 of the female connector 52 are tightened so that the both can be assembled.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the dimensional error between the vehicle body side and the instrument side is caused by the elastic pieces 531 and 532 provided on the four sides inside the opening end of the bracket 53. Since the elastic pieces 531 and 532 are absorbed by bending, it is necessary to increase the shape of the elastic pieces 531 and 532 in order to increase the absorption amount of the dimensional error. Since the male connector 51 and the female connector 52 can be fitted to each other by sliding contact with the outer circumference of the connector, it is necessary to secure a predetermined strength and rigidity against a load in the fitting direction. However, there was a problem that there was a limit to the absorption of the dimensional error. Also, depending on the wiring of the harness, the bending force and pulling force of the harness exert a twisting force on the male and female terminals,
There was a problem that the connection workability between the connectors was impaired and the connection reliability was reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and increases the absorption amount of the axial misalignment at the time of fitting the male connector and the female connector, and the bending force and the tensile force of the harness. An object of the present invention is to provide a self-locating connector which is not affected and has good connector connection workability and high connection reliability, and which is suitable for use in an instrument module.

[0010]

A first aspect of the invention for achieving the above object comprises a first connector for accommodating a male terminal or a female terminal, and a second connector for accommodating a female terminal or a male terminal. Consisting of the first connector and the second
A self-locating connector in which a connector is slidably engaged in a vertical and horizontal direction relative to a support member and automatically adjusts axial misalignment at the time of fitting, the first connector and the second connector One of them is movable in a substantially horizontal direction, and the other is movable in a substantially vertical direction.

A second aspect of the invention is the self-locating connector according to the first aspect, wherein the first connector is
A guide in which the housing body includes a locator that is slidably inserted in the male terminal or the female terminal in the axial direction, and the movable mechanism of the first connector is formed by a positioning portion of the housing body of the locator and a locking claw. A guide groove formed by a groove and a rail portion of a bracket in which the first connector is mounted, and a movable mechanism of the second connector formed by a locking claw and a guide of a housing body of the second connector; And a rail portion of a bracket to which the connector is attached.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the self-locating connector according to the first or second aspect of the invention, the harness arranged in the first and second connectors has a movable direction of the first and second connectors. In the direction orthogonal to the first, second
It is characterized in that it is pulled out from each connector and wired.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Embodiment of the Invention) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument module side according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4, vent duct 13, differential nozzle 15, harness 26
Parts such as the above are mounted, and the connector device 20 is mounted on both ends of the steering member 12 via brackets 27 as support members.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the instrument module side and the vehicle body side connector before fitting according to the embodiment of the present invention. A pair of male connector and female connector are provided on the instrument module side bracket and the vehicle body side, respectively. The state where it is attached to the bracket is shown. In FIG. 2, arrow P indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle, arrow M indicates the left-right direction, and arrow Q indicates the up-down direction.

FIG. 3 shows an instrument module side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view sectional view,
(B) is a front view of a connector and a locator.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 21 is a connector incorporated on the instrument module side.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a locator, which accommodates a connector 21 therein so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the terminal (hereinafter referred to as "axial direction"), and constitutes a connector device 20.

A pair of locate pins 221 in the M direction and a pair of locate pins 222 in the Q direction are provided at the end portion of the locator 22 in the P direction, and a recess 213 for receiving the mating connector 10 on the vehicle body side is formed inside thereof. ing.

Further, a pair of location and pins 221, 222
Slopes 225 and 226 for absorbing axial misalignment at the time of fitting with the vehicle-body-side connector 10 are formed at the tip of the, and a pair of parallel faces 223 and 224 extending in the axial direction are joined to the slopes 225 and 226. A groove 227 is formed inside the parallel surface 223 and extends in the axial direction.

The dimensions of the parallel surfaces 223 and 224 in the axial direction are ensured to be necessary and sufficient to prevent axial misalignment of both connectors even after the connector 10 on the vehicle body side is fitted in the corresponding portion.

Further, the slope 226 of the locate pin 222 is provided with a triangular recess 228 for receiving the lock pin 102 of the vehicle body side connector 10.

Reference numeral 210 denotes a housing body constituting the connector 21, which has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, a plurality of male terminals 211 are inserted therein, and locators 22 are provided on both sides in the M direction.
Is provided with a ridge 212 slidably fitted into the concave groove 227 of the vehicle body, and a protector and a recess 214 into which the auxiliary locate pin (101 described later) of the vehicle body side connector is fitted on the surface facing the vehicle body side connector 10. A recess 215 into which (108 described later) is fitted is provided.

24 is a connector 2 on the instrument module side
1 is a lever for facilitating a fitting operation between the connector 1 and the vehicle body side connector.

The lever 24 has a U-shape and is composed of a handle 245 and a pair of base plates 227 on the opposite side.
A center hole 244 is provided in each of the base plate portions 227 at the center of rotation of the lever, and the housing body 22 of the locator 22 is provided.
A center pin 232 provided at 0 is rotatably slidably engaged, and a cam groove (notch) 241 of a concentric circle centered on the center hole 244 and a cam extending radially outward from the rotation center of the lever in an arc shape. A groove (slot) 242 is formed.

A guide pin 216 integrally formed with the connector housing body 210 is slidably engaged with the cam groove 242.

The lever lever 24 first elastically deforms the base plate portion 227 inward so that the housing body 2 of the locator 22 can be obtained.
After the insertion into the inside of 20, the elastic deformation is released and the center hole 244 and the center pin 232 of the locator are engaged. As a result, the position of the lever 24 is determined by using the locator 22 as an opposition. Next, lever 2
4 between the two board portions 243 of the connector housing body 21.
When 0 is inserted from the rear in the P direction, the guide pin 216
However, the base plate 227 is expanded at the thin portion formed near the outer end of the cam groove 242 of the base plate 227, and the guide pin 21
6 is engaged with the cam groove 242. As a result, the connector housing body 210 is prevented from coming off the locator 22 via the lever 24.

Reference numeral 23 is a resin harness cover, which is engaged with the locking hole by a locking projection provided on the housing body 210 (not shown).

4A and 4B show a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view in plan view, and are related to the positioning portion 230 of the housing body 220 of the locator 22. Guide groove 23 formed by the pawl 229
The connector 21 can be moved in the Q direction with respect to the bracket 27 by 3 and the rail portion 271 of the bracket 27 on the instrument module side.

Further, the harness 26 is pulled out from the connector 21, is routed in the direction orthogonal to the movable direction Q of the connector 21, and a predetermined dimension is secured up to the fixing point K of the harness. Even if the connector 21 moves in the axial direction and the Q direction in accordance with the fitting operation with the connector 10, the harness is not subjected to bending force or tensile force, and the connector can be fitted as it is, so that the connector workability is good and the connection reliability is high. high.

FIG. 5 shows a vehicle body side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a front view and (b) is a plan view.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 10 denotes a connector mounted on the vehicle body side, which is a rectangular parallelepiped housing body 10.
A plurality of female terminals 103 are inserted into the inside of 0.

Reference numeral 101 designates an auxiliary locate pin for aligning the axial misalignment in the M direction when fitting with the connector 21 on the instrument module side, and an inclined surface 105 is provided on the outside.

Parallel surfaces 1 fitted to the instrument module side connectors 21 on both end surfaces in the Q direction of the housing body 100.
11 is formed and the lock pin 102 is provided in the center thereof, and the instrument module side connector 2 is provided at both ends in the M direction.
1 is formed with a pair of parallel surfaces 110, and a recessed groove 107 into which the protrusion 212 of the connector 21 on the instrument module side is fitted is provided in the center. Reference numeral 108 denotes a protector having a T-shape when viewed from the front, and prevents damage to the female terminal inserted in the housing body 100 during the fitting operation of the connector 21 and the connector 10 and during the transportation of the connector 10. . The protector 108 also serves as an auxiliary locate pin for aligning the axial misalignment in the Q direction when the protector 108 is fitted with the connector 21 on the instrument module side, and the slope 112 is provided on the outside.

Further, the housing body 10 of the connector 10
The connector 10 is movable in the M direction with respect to the bracket 28 by the guide groove formed by the locking claw 104 of 0 and the guide 109 and the rail portion 281 (FIG. 2) of the bracket 28 as a support member to which the connector is attached.

The wiring of the harness is similar to the wiring on the side of the connector 21, and the harness 29 (FIG. 2) is pulled out from the connector 10 and arranged in a direction orthogonal to the movable direction M of the connector 10. Since a predetermined dimension is secured up to the fixing point (not shown) of the harness, even if the connector 10 moves in the M direction in accordance with the fitting operation of the connector 20 and the connector 10, the bending force and the pulling force by the harness 29 are maintained. Since it can be fitted as it is without adding, the workability of connecting the connector is good and the connection reliability is high.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the fitting operation of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The fitting operation of the instrument module side connector and the vehicle body side connector will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6A shows a state immediately before the fitting, and shows a position where the connector 10 on the vehicle body side and the connector 21 on the instrumental module side face each other when the instrument module is attached to the vehicle body. In this state, the slope 105 of the auxiliary locate pin 101 of the connector 10 is just the locator 22.
Is a position where the locate pin 221 comes into contact with the slope 225, and the connector 21 on the instrument module side from this position.
Shows the limit point where the fitting of both connectors where the position of is displaced to the outside becomes impossible.

From this position, when installing the instrument module on the vehicle body, the connector 2 on the instrument module side
When 1 is pushed in the axial direction (P direction, connector 10 side), the connector 10 on the vehicle body side moves the slope 22 of the locator 22.
5 is slidably in contact with the slope 105 of the vehicle-body-side connector 10 so that the bracket 10 on the vehicle-body side is aligned in the M direction, and in the Q-direction (direction orthogonal to M), the slope 226 of the locator 22 and the vehicle-body side The bevel 112 of the connector 10 is engaged,
Then, the end surface 1 of the lock pin 102 of the vehicle body side connector 10
06 is slidably in contact with the slope 226 of the locator 22, and the connector 10 on the instrument module side is moved and aligned with the bracket 28 on the instrument module side. Then, the connector 21 on the instrument module side is further pushed to reach the position shown in FIG. This position is the position at which the installation of the instrument module to the vehicle body is completed and the instrument module is fixed to the vehicle body by an appropriate means such as a bolt, and the parallel surface 223 of the locator 22.
The parallel surface 110 of the vehicle body side connector is fitted to the parallel surface 224 of the locator 22 with the parallel surface 111 (FIG. 5) of the vehicle body side connector 10 with a predetermined dimension in the axial direction, and the lock pin 102 is fixed to the three corners of the locator 22. It is a position where it is fitted into the starting end 246 of the cam groove 241 of the lever 24 through the shaped recess 228.

FIG. 6 (c) shows the end of connector fitting.

By rotating the lever 24 in the R direction from the state shown in FIG. 7 (b) in which the instrument module has been fixed to the vehicle body, the lock pin 102 of the connector 10 on the vehicle body side is axially moved by the cam groove 241. On the other hand, the guide pin 216 is guided by the cam groove 242, the connector 21 is pulled toward the connector 10, and the tip of the protrusion 212 of the connector 21 has the concave groove 1 of the connector 10.
While fitting into 07, the connector 21 and the connector 10 are completely fitted, the auxiliary locate pin 101 is in the recess 214 of the connector 21, and the protector 108 is the recess 2 of the connector 21.
Fit in 15.

In this embodiment, the locator 22 is used as described above.
The locating pins 221 and 222 are provided with slopes 225 and 226, and the auxiliary locate pin 101 and the protector 108 provided on the connector 10 on the vehicle body side are also provided with the slope 10.
Since 1 and 112 are provided, the centering function in the M direction has a sum L (= L) of the size L1 of the locator 22 and the size L2 of the auxiliary locate pin 101 of the vehicle body side connector 10.
L1 + L2), and in the embodiment, the L dimension is about 10 mm, which is about twice as large as that of the auxiliary locate pin 101 having no inclined surface. The same applies to the Q direction.

Therefore, in the conventional connector, it is inevitable that the connector is large in size in order to obtain the aligning function required for modularization, but it is possible to obtain a connector having a small size and a high aligning function. it can.

Further, the auxiliary locate pin 101 and the protector 108 are provided inside the housing main body 100, and when the connector is completely fitted, they are housed in the housing main body 210 of the connector 21, which is effective for downsizing.

Further, since the connector housing main body 100 is fitted in the recess 213 of the connector housing 210 and fitted to each other in parallel planes having a predetermined dimension in the axial direction, the male and female connectors are bent by the bending force and pulling force of the harness. Also, the female terminal will not be twisted.

[0046]

The first aspect of the present invention relates to the first connector 21.
And the second connector 10 are both movable, and one is movable substantially in the left-right direction (M), and the other is moved substantially in the vertical direction (Q). As a result, the centering function is high, and the restriction on the harness withdrawal direction can be reduced.

According to the second invention, the first connector 2
The first movable mechanism includes a guide groove 233 formed by the positioning portion 230 of the housing body of the locator of the first connector and the locking claw 229, and the rail portion 271 of the bracket on which the first connector is mounted. The movable mechanism of the second connector 10 is constituted by a guide groove formed by the locking claw 104 of the housing body of the second connector and the guide 109, and a rail portion 281 of the bracket to which the second connector is attached. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect that the connector can be made small and the amount of axial misalignment can be absorbed to a large extent.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the harnesses 24 and 29 arranged on the first and second connectors are the first and second harnesses.
Since it is characterized in that it is drawn out from each of the first and second connectors in a direction orthogonal to the movable direction of the connector and is routed, the bending work and the pulling force by the harness are not received, and the connecting work is performed. It is possible to obtain the effect that the connection reliability is improved and the connection reliability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument module side according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the instrument module side connector and the vehicle body side connector according to the embodiment of the present invention before being fitted.

FIG. 3 is an instrument module side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a cross-sectional plan view and (b) is a front view of a connector and a locator.

FIG. 4 is a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a plan view.

FIG. 5 is a vehicle-body-side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a plan view.

6A and 6B are explanatory views of the fitting operation of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is immediately before fitting, FIG. 6B is when the lever operation is started, and FIG. Indicates the time.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a male connector according to a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a female connector according to a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram before fitting a male connector and a female connector according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Connector (second connector, vehicle body side) 50: Connector device 100: Housing body 51: Male connector 101: Auxiliary locate pin 510:
Male connector body 102: Lock pin 52: Female connector 103: Female terminal 520:
Female connector body 104: locking claw 521:
Stopper piece 105: Slope 522:
Nut 106: End face 53: Bracket 107: Groove 531,
532: Elastic piece 108: Protector 54: Screw member 109: Guide 110, 111: Parallel surface 12: Steering member 13: Vent duct 14: Air conditioning unit 15: Differential nozzle 20: Connector device 21: Connector (first connector, instrument module) Side 210: housing body 211: male terminal 212: ridge 213: recess 214, 215: recess 216: guide pin 22: locator 220: housing body 229: locking claws 221 and 222: locate pin 230: positioning part 223 224: Parallel surface 231: Flexible portion 225, 226: Sloping surface 232: Center pin 227: Recessed groove 233: Guide groove 228: Recessed portion 24: Lever 25: Harness covers 241, 242: Cam groove 26, 29:
Harness 243: Board part 27: Bracket (module side) 244: Center hole 271: Rail part 245: Handle 28: Bracket (vehicle body side) 246: Starting end 281: Rail part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first housing for accommodating a male terminal or a female terminal.
A connector and a second connector accommodating a female terminal or a male terminal, wherein the first connector and the second connector are locked slidably in the vertical and horizontal directions relative to the support member when fitted A self-locating connector for automatically adjusting axial misalignment, wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is movable in a substantially horizontal direction and the other is movable in a substantially vertical direction. 2. The first connector includes a locator into which the housing body is slidably inserted in the male terminal or the female terminal in the axial direction, and the movable mechanism of the first connector is located at the housing body of the locator. The guide groove formed by the fixing portion and the locking claw, and the rail portion of the bracket on which the first connector is mounted, and the movable mechanism of the second connector is the locking claw of the housing body of the second connector. The self-locating connector according to claim 1, wherein the self-locating connector comprises a guide groove formed by a guide and a rail portion of a bracket to which the second connector is attached. 3. A harness to be routed to the first and second connectors is routed by pulling out from the first and second connectors in a direction orthogonal to a movable direction of the first and second connectors, respectively. The self-locating connector according to claim 1, wherein the self-locating connector is provided.