JP2003308926A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrical connector 1 wherein abrasion of both terminals 4, 5 during vibration can be suppressed by devising a connecting method of the both terminals 4, 5. <P>SOLUTION: A pair of contact pieces 41, 42 are installed at a female terminal 4, and a retainer 6 is loaded outside of both contact pieces 41, 42. The form of a contact face of the inner faces 61, 62 of the retainer 6 and the outer faces 41a, 42a of the contact pieces 41, 42 of the female terminal 4 is made to be in a tapered form. By this, in coupling of both connector housings 2, 3, a pressurizing force f which is effected on the retainer 6 by a first regulating part 2a is amplified as a contact force F of the female terminal 4 and the male terminal 5, and can be increased more than a contact force in a conventional electric connector 100. The abrasion of both terminals 4, 5 can be suppressed because a relative motion of both the terminals 4, 5 is inhibited during the vibration of the electrical connector 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric connector formed by connecting a female / male terminal housing housed in both connector housings by fitting a pair of female / male connector housings. Is suitable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional electrical connector, for example, FIG.
The one shown in 7 is used. Conventional electrical connector 1
In 00, the female terminal 102 housed and fixed in the female connector housing 101 includes a contact portion 102a and a bent portion 102b facing each other, as shown in FIG. The electric wire 7 is connected and fixed to the female terminal 102 by caulking or the like. When the female connector housing 101 and the male connector housing 103 are fitted to each other, the male terminal 104 housed and fixed in the male connector housing 103 becomes the contact portion 10 of the female terminal 102.
It is inserted between 2a and the bent portion 102b. At this time, the bent portion 102b is elastically deformed to exert a pressing force on the male terminal 104. Due to this pressing force, a contact force is generated between the female terminal 102 and the male terminal 104, and good electrical conduction between both terminals can be obtained. In addition, the female connector housing 101 and the male connector housing 1
When mated with 03, female connector housing 1
Locking arm 1 which is the first locking portion provided on 01.
01a engages with the arm engaging portion 103a which is the second engaging portion provided in the male connector housing 103. As a result, both connector housings 101 and 103 are locked, and they are prevented from separating in the axial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 9).

[0003]

However, when this type of electrical connector 100 is used for electrical wiring in a vehicle, for example, the vibration of the vehicle or the engine is transmitted to the female terminal 102 via the electric wire 105 and vibrates. . Here, the female terminal 102 and the male terminal 104
Since the pressing force (force acting in the left-right direction in FIG. 9) exerted between them is only the elastic deformation force of the bent portion 102a of the female terminal 102, relative movement may occur between the female terminal 102 and the male terminal 104. there were. When both terminals 102 and 104 move relative to each other, both terminals 10
The contact parts of 2 and 104 are worn, and further, both terminals 1
There is a possibility that a poor electrical connection between 02 and 104 may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object thereof is to devise a method of connecting a female terminal and a male terminal to fit a female connector housing to a male connector housing. By increasing the contact force acting between the female terminal 102 and the male terminal 104, the electric connector capable of suppressing the wear of both terminals is provided.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means. The electrical connector according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a female side connector housing for accommodating and fixing a female terminal, a male side connector housing for accommodating and fixing a male terminal and capable of fitting with the female side connector housing, and a male terminal. A pair of contact pieces provided on the female terminal facing each other, a first locking portion provided on the female connector housing, and a second locking portion provided on the male connector housing. When the housings are fitted, both connector housings are locked by the engagement of the first locking portion and the second locking portion, and the male terminal is sandwiched between the pair of contact pieces of the female terminal and closely adheres to the female terminal. An electrical connector characterized in that a male terminal is electrically conducted, and is arranged so as to surround a pair of contact pieces of a female terminal and to be movable in an axial direction. A retainer having a substantially square shape, a first restricting portion that is provided in the female connector housing and that restricts movement of the retainer axially moving away from the male connector housing, and a male connector that is provided in the female connector housing in the axial direction A second restricting portion that restricts the movement of the retainer that approaches the housing is provided, and the outer surface of each contact piece approaches the male terminal as it moves axially away from the male connector housing when the female terminal and the male terminal are in close contact with each other. When the female terminal and the male terminal are in contact with each other, the inner surfaces of the retainer that face the outer surfaces of the contact pieces are formed substantially parallel to the outer surfaces of the contact pieces that face each other. When both connector housings are locked by the engagement between the first locking portion and the second locking portion, the retainer abuts the first restricting portion and receives a pressing force, and Each inner surface of the burner was constructed in close contact with the outer surface of each opposed contact pieces. That is, when the female terminal and the male terminal are in close contact with each other, the outer surfaces of the contact pieces of the female terminal and the inner surfaces of the retainer are in contact with each other in a tapered shape. In this way, by making the contact surfaces of both of them into a tapered shape, both connector housings are fitted and locked, and when the retainer receives a pressing force from the first restricting portion of the female connector housing, the inner surface of each retainer causes the female terminal to come out. A pressing force is generated toward the contact piece of, and the pressing force causes the female terminal to be pressed against the male terminal. In this case, the force with which the female terminal is pressed against the male terminal, that is, the contact force F between the female terminal and the male terminal is F = f (1-μ) / ta
It can be represented by nθ. Here, f is the force that the retainer receives from the first restricting portion of the female connector housing, μ is the coefficient of friction between the inner surface of the retainer and the female terminal, and θ is the taper angle. For example, if μ = 0.15 and θ = 3 °, F =
It will be 9.7f. That is, a contact force F that is about 10 times as large as the axial force f required to fit both connector housings can be obtained. As a result, the contact force acting between the two terminals when the two connector housings are fitted to each other is increased, the relative movement of the two terminals is suppressed when the electric connector vibrates, and the abrasion of the two terminals can be suppressed. Can be realized.

In the electric connector according to claim 2 of the present invention, the axial length of the retainer is set to be smaller than the axial distance between the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion. Accordingly, when opening both connector housings, the second restricting portion of the female connector housing can be moved by a certain distance and applied to the retainer. That is, since the second restricting portion can apply an impact force to the retainer in a direction away from the male connector housing, the retainer and the female terminal can be easily separated.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An electric connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking an electric connector 1 mounted on a vehicle and used for electric wiring connection as an example.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electric connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state where the electric connector 1 is connected, that is, the female connector housing 2 and the male connector housing 3 are fitted together, and the female terminal 4 and the male terminal 5 are in close contact with each other so that both terminals 4 and 5 are electrically conductive. Shows the case.

The electric connector 1 is mounted on a vehicle, for example, an automobile, and is connected to electric wires, or various devices (for example, a male connector housing 3) are fixed.
Fuel pump, motor, etc. (Not shown) and the electric wire 7 connected to the female connector housing 2 are used.

The male connector housing 3 is made of a resin or the like, and a male terminal 5 made of a conductive metal is provided at a substantially central portion outside the male connector housing 3 (upward in FIG. 1). It is extending toward. In addition, the male connector housing 3 is provided with a guide portion 3b for fitting with a female connector housing 2 described later.
Is formed so as to extend in parallel to the axial direction of. Further, on the outer periphery of the guide portion 3b, a locking arm 2 that is a first locking portion provided in a female connector housing 2 described later is provided.
Arm locking portion 3a which is a second locking portion for engaging with c
Are formed. When the male connector housing 3 and the female connector housing 2 are fitted to each other, the locking arm 2c of the female connector housing 2 and the arm locking portion 3a of the male connector housing 3 are engaged with each other, so that both connector housings 2 The connection of 3 is locked. Also,
A bush 9 is attached to the male connector housing 3. The bush 9 is formed of a flexible rubber or resin and prevents water, foreign matter, and the like from entering the connecting portions of the terminals 4 and 5 when the connector housings 2 and 3 are connected.

The female connector housing 2 is made of resin or the like, and a female terminal 4 made of a conductive metal is formed in the axial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) in the substantially central portion.
It is arranged to be movable. A guide portion 2d for fitting with the male connector housing 3 is formed in the female connector housing 2 so as to extend in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the guide portion 2d has a locking arm which is a first locking portion for engaging with an arm locking portion 3a which is a second locking portion provided in the male side connector housing 3. 2c is formed. The female connector housing 2 has an axial direction of a retainer 6 (see FIG.
A first restricting portion 2a and a second restricting portion 2b that restrict the movement of the second restricting portion 2a are formed. That is, the first restricting portion 2a restricts the movement of the retainer 6 away from the male connector housing 3, that is, the upward movement in FIG.
The second restricting portion 2b restricts the movement of the retainer 6 in the direction toward the male-side connector housing 3, that is, the downward movement in FIG. Further, a cover 8 is attached to an end portion (upper side in FIG. 1) opposite to the male connector housing 3 of the female connector housing 2. The cover 8 is formed of a flexible rubber or resin, and as shown in FIG. 1, it is in close contact with the electric wire 7 and the female connector housing 2, and when the connector housings 2 and 3 are connected, the terminals 4 and 5 are connected. Water and foreign substances are prevented from entering the connection.

An electric wire 7 is connected and fixed to the end of the female terminal 4 opposite to the male connector housing 3 (upper side in FIG. 1) by caulking or the like. On the other hand, a pair of contact pieces 41 and 42 facing each other are formed at the end of the female terminal 4 on the male connector housing 3 side. Both contact pieces 4
The interval between 1 and 42 is set to be substantially equal to the thickness of the male terminal 5 so that the contact pieces 41 and 42 sandwich the male terminal 5 when the connector housings 2 and 3 are connected. The outer surfaces 41a and 42a of the contact pieces 41 and 42 approach the male terminal 5 as they move axially away from the male connector housing 3 (toward the upper side in FIG. 1) when the two connector housings 2 and 3 are connected. It is formed to be inclined in the direction. That is, the outer surface 41 of the contact piece 41
The a and the outer surface 42a of the contact piece 42 form a taper of an angle θ, as shown in the sectional view of the female terminal 4 in FIG.

Outside the contact pieces 41, 42, a retainer 6 having a substantially square cross section is arranged so as to surround the contact pieces 41, 42 and is movable in the axial direction. The retainer 6 is made of resin or metal having high strength. Also, the outer surfaces 41a and 42a of the contact pieces 41 and 42, respectively.
The inner surfaces 61 and 62 of the retainer 6 that face each other and are in close contact with the outer surfaces 41a and 42a of the contact pieces 41 and 42 when the two connector housings 2 and 3 are connected are the outer surfaces when the two connector housings 2 and 3 are connected. 41a, 42a
It is formed so as to be parallel to. That is, the inner surface 61 and the inner surface 62 of the retainer 6, as shown in the sectional view of the retainer 6 of FIG.
Similar to the above case, a taper with an angle θ is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the axial length L1 of the retainer 6 is set to be shorter than the axial distance L2 between the first restricting portion 2a and the second restricting portion 2b provided on the female connector housing 2. There is.

Next, a procedure for assembling the female terminal 4 and the retainer 6 to the female connector housing 2 of the electric connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described.

First, the cover 8 is attached to the electric wire 7. Then, the electric wire 7 is connected and fixed to the female terminal 4 by caulking or the like.

Next, the retainer 6 is attached to the female connector housing 2. At this time, the female connector housing 2
While being elastically deformed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4, the retainer 6 is pushed into the female connector housing 2 from below in FIG. Here, the axial length L1 of the retainer 6 is, as shown in FIG.
It is set to be shorter than the distance L2 between the first restricting portion 2a and the second restricting portion 2b provided on the. Therefore, the retainer 6
Can move in the axial direction even after being attached to the female connector housing.

Next, the female terminal 4 to which the electric wire 7 is connected
Is assembled to the female connector housing 2 and the retainer 6. At this time, the pair of contact pieces 41, 4 of the female terminal 4
2 is inserted into the retainer 6 while elastically deforming in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

Finally, the cover 8 is attached to the female connector housing 2, and the assembling of the female terminal 4 and the retainer 6 to the female connector housing 2 is completed.

Next, a connecting operation of the electric connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the two connector housings 2 and 3 are in the middle of fitting in the connecting operation of the electrical connector 1, that is, the locking arm 2 of the female connector housing 2.
The state before c is engaged with the arm locking portion 3a of the male connector housing 3 is shown.

First, while the guide portion 2d of the female connector housing 2 and the guide portion 3b of the male connector housing 3 are fitted together, the female connector housing 2 is pushed downward in FIG. Fit. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the contact pieces 41 and 42 of the retainer 6 and the female terminal 4 are not yet fixed and are in a free state.

Further, the female connector housing 2 is shown in FIG.
Then, the first restricting portion 2a of the female connector housing 2 contacts the end surface 63 of the retainer 6, and the inner surfaces 61, 61 of the retainer 6 are respectively contacted with the outer surfaces 41a of the contact pieces 41, 42. 42a is contacted.

Further, the female connector housing 2 is pushed in, and the locking arm 2c of the female connector housing 2 is moved to the male connector while applying a pressing force from the first restricting portion 2a of the female connector housing 2 to the end surface 63 of the retainer 6. It is engaged with the arm locking portion 3a of the housing 3. As a result, both connector housings 2 and 3 are brought into a state as shown in FIG. 1, and the connecting work of the electric connector 1 is completed.
In this state, the end surface 63 of the retainer 6 receives the pressing force f by the first restricting portion 2a of the female connector housing 2. Since the contact surface between the retainer 6 and the female terminal 4, that is, the contact surface between the inner surfaces 61 and 62 of the retainer 6 and the outer surfaces 41a and 42a of the contact pieces 41 and 42 of the female terminal 4, is tapered, f, from the inner surfaces 61, 62 of the retainer 6 to the contact piece 41 of the female terminal 4,
A pressing force f ′ acts on the outer surfaces 41 a, 42 a of the 42. Therefore, the female terminal 4 is pressed by the male terminal 5 with this pressing force f '. That is, the contact force F between the female terminal 4 and the male terminal 5 = pressing force f ′.

The contact force F is F = f (1-μ) / tan θ
Can be expressed as μ is a friction coefficient between the inner surfaces 61 and 62 of the retainer 6 and the outer surfaces 41a and 42a of the contact pieces 41 and 42 of the female terminal 4, and θ is a taper angle. For example, μ = 0.1
When 5 and θ = 3 °, F = 9.7f. For example,
A force required to connect both connector housings 2 and 3, that is, the first restricting portion 2 of the female connector housing 2.
When the pressing force f exerted on the retainer 6 from a is 50 N, the contact force F between the terminals 4 and 5 is 48.
It becomes 5N. On the other hand, in the case of the conventional electrical connector 100,
The contact force between both terminals 102 and 104 is about 7N.
Therefore, the electrical connector 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention
According to this, the contact force acting between both terminals 4, 5 when connecting both connector housings 2, 3 can be significantly increased as compared with the case of the conventional electrical connector 100, and when the electrical connector 1 vibrates. In the above, it is possible to realize the electric connector 1 which can suppress the relative movement of the terminals 4 and 5 and suppress the wear of the terminals 4 and 5.

The magnitude of the contact force F between the female terminal 4 and the male terminal 5 is determined by the retainer 6 shown in FIGS.
And the taper angle θ of the contact pieces 41, 42, or FIG.
It can be changed by appropriately setting the size of the opening L3 of the retainer 6 shown in FIG.

In the electrical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the female connector housing 2 for accommodating and fixing the female terminal 4 and the male terminal 5 are accommodated and fixed, and are fitted to the female connector housing 2. Possible male connector housing 3, a pair of contact pieces 41, 42 provided on female terminal 4 so as to face each other so as to sandwich male terminal 5, locking arm 2c provided on female connector housing 2, Side connector housing 3
When the two connector housings 2 and 3 are connected, the locking arm 2c and the arm locking portion 3a are engaged with each other to lock the two connector housings 2 and 3. The terminal 5 is one electrical connector characterized in that the terminal 5 is sandwiched between the pair of contact pieces 41, 42 of the female terminal 4 and closely adheres to electrically connect the female terminal 4 and the male terminal 5.
And a retainer 6 having a substantially rectangular cross section that surrounds the pair of contact pieces 41, 42 and is movable in the axial direction, and a retainer that is provided in the female connector housing 2 and that is separated from the male connector housing 3 in the axial direction. First to regulate the movement of 6
Each contact piece 4 is provided with a restricting portion 2a and a second restricting portion 2b that is provided on the female connector housing 2 and restricts movement of the retainer 6 that approaches the male connector housing 3 in the axial direction.
The outer surfaces 41a and 42a of the first and the second terminals 42 are formed so as to be inclined toward the male terminal 5 as they move away from the male connector housing 3 in the axial direction when the female terminal 4 and the male terminal 5 are in close contact with each other. When the male terminal 4 and the male terminal 5 are in close contact with each other, the inner surfaces 6 of the retainer 6 facing the outer surfaces 41a, 42a of the contact pieces 41, 42, respectively.
Reference numerals 1 and 62 are formed substantially parallel to the outer surfaces of the contact pieces facing each other, and when the locking arms 2c and the arm locking portions 3a are engaged to lock both connector housings 2 and 3,
The retainer 6 comes into contact with the first restricting portion 2a and receives a pressing force,
In addition, the inner surfaces 61 and 62 of the retainer 6 are in close contact with the outer surfaces of the facing contact pieces. Accordingly, when the two connector housings 2 and 3 are connected, the inner surfaces 61 and 62 of the retainer 6 and the contact pieces 41 and 4 of the female terminal 4 are connected.
The contact surface with the outer surfaces 41a and 42a of 2 is tapered,
The pressing force f exerted on the retainer 6 from the first restricting portion 2a of the female connector housing 2 was amplified by the taper structure and acted as the contact force F between the female terminal 4 and the male terminal 5. Therefore, both connector housings 2, 3
The contact force F acting between the terminals 4 and 5 at the time of connection can be made to be significantly larger than the contact force acting between the terminals 102 and 104 in the conventional electric connector 100, and the vibration of the electric connector 1 can be achieved. At times, it is possible to suppress the relative motion of both terminals 4 and 5 and to suppress the wear of both terminals 4 and 5.

Since the axial length L1 of the retainer 6 is set smaller than the axial distance L2 between the first restricting portion 2a and the second restricting portion 2b of the female connector housing 2, both connector housings 2 and 3 are provided. When opening, the second restricting portion 2b of the female connector housing 2 can be moved by a distance (L2-L1) to collide with the end surface 64 of the retainer 6. That is, since the second restricting portion 2b can apply an impact force to the retainer 6 in a direction away from the male connector housing 3, the retainer 6 and the female terminal 4 can be easily separated.

The electrical connector 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a so-called one-pole connector having one female terminal 4 and one male terminal 5, but a plurality of female terminals 4 and five male terminals 5 are provided. It may be a multi-pole connector.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electrical connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a female terminal 4 in the electrical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a retainer 6 in the electric connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a work of attaching the retainer 6 to the female connector housing 2 in the electric connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a work of mounting the female terminal 4 on the retainer 6 in the electrical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a connecting operation of the female connector housing 2 and the male connector housing 3 in the electric connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional electrical connector 100.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electrical connector 2 Female connector housing 2a First Regulation Department 2b Second Regulation Department 2c Locking arm (first locking part) 2d guide part 3 Male side connector housing 3a Arm locking part (second locking part) 3b Guide part 4 female terminal 41, 42 contact piece 41a, 42a outer surface 5 Male Terminal 6 retainer 61, 62 inner surface 63, 64 end face 7 electric wire 8 covers 9 bush 100 electrical connector f, f'pressing force F contact force L1 length L2 distance L3 length θ taper angle

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A female-side connector housing for accommodating and fixing a female terminal, a male-side connector housing for accommodating and fixing a male terminal and capable of fitting with the female-side connector housing, and facing each other so as to sandwich the male terminal. Both connector housings are provided with a pair of contact pieces provided on the female terminal, a first locking portion provided on the female connector housing, and a second locking portion provided on the male connector housing. At the time of mating, the both connector housings are locked by the engagement of the first locking portion and the second locking portion, and the male terminal is sandwiched between the pair of contact pieces of the female terminal for close contact. An electrical connector in which the female terminal and the male terminal are electrically connected to each other, wherein the female connector surrounds the pair of contact pieces and extends in the axial direction. A retainer that is movably arranged and has a substantially rectangular cross section, a first restricting portion that is provided in the female connector housing and that restricts movement of the retainer axially moving away from the male connector housing, and the female connector. Second retainer provided on the housing to restrict movement of the retainer axially toward the male connector housing
A restriction portion, and an outer surface of each contact piece is formed to be inclined in a direction approaching the male terminal as it moves away from the male connector housing in the axial direction when the female terminal and the male terminal are in close contact with each other. In the state where the female terminal and the male terminal are in close contact with each other, each inner surface of the retainer facing the outer surface of the contact piece is formed substantially parallel to the outer surface of the facing contact piece.
When the both connector housings are locked by the engagement of the locking portion and the second locking portion, the retainer is set to the first
An electrical connector characterized in that the retainer comes into contact with a restriction portion and receives a pressing force, and the inner surfaces of the retainer are in close contact with the outer surfaces of the facing contact pieces. 2. The axial length of the retainer is the first length.
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is set to be smaller than the axial distance between the restriction portion and the second restriction portion.