JP2004335218A

JP2004335218A - Housing for laminated layer type connector

Info

Publication number: JP2004335218A
Application number: JP2003127998A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Tatsuo Tamagawa; 達男玉川; Hiroki Hirai; 宏樹平井
Original assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd; AutoNetworks Technologies Ltd; Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd; AutoNetworks Technologies Ltd; Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-06
Filing date: 2003-05-06
Publication date: 2004-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-06
Also published as: JP3984560B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively reduce a connector dimension in its laminating direction, and effectively reinforce a housing, while avoiding molding of thin-walled walls over a whole region of the housing. <P>SOLUTION: The housing 10 is provided with a plurality of terminal containing rooms 14 lined up in a specific direction, and it constitutes a laminated connector by being mutually laminated in a direction crossing the line-up direction. At least a rear part of each terminal containing room 14 is opened up on one side of the laminated direction, and a terminal support wall 17 is formed on the other side. A reinforcing wall 16A is formed at one part of the open region, and a notch 16B of the part corresponding to the reinforcing wall is formed on the opposite side of the open region, and the reinforcing wall of the housing laminated on the bottom wall 17 side is made capable of being fitted into the notch 16B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、複数のハウジングが相互積層されることにより構築される積層型コネクタに関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、車両用ワイヤハーネスの組立作業を効率良く行うために、当該ワイヤハーネスを複数の小ハーネスに分け、各小ハーネスを個別に形成した後にこれら小ハーネスを合体させて最終のワイヤハーネスを構築するといった方法が用いられている。このような方法によれば、電線調尺、端子圧着、端子コネクタ挿入といった単純で回数の多い工程は各小ハーネスごとに行ってその自動化、効率化を図る一方、最後は前記各小ハーネスを合体させるだけの簡単な工程で最終の大型ハーネスを構築できるという利点がある。
【０００３】
しかしながら、この方法では、前記ワイヤハーネスの分割に伴って当該ワイヤハーネスの端末に設けられるコネクタも分割しなければならず、その個数が増えるため、その個数分だけコネクタ同士の接続作業の回数も増えてしまう欠点がある。
【０００４】
そこで近年は、その分割されたコネクタのハウジング同士を後から積層状態で合体できるようにし、その積層状態のまま相手方コネクタのフード内に一度に嵌入できるようにした電気接続装置の開発が進められている。
【０００５】
前記のような積層型コネクタとして、例えば下記特許文献１には、一方向に配列された複数の端子を保持し、かつ、その配列方向と直交する方向に相互に積層自在な複数のハウジングを備え、これらのハウジングを積層した状態で相手コネクタのフード内に嵌入できるようにしたものが開示されている。
【０００６】
【特許文献１】
特開２００２−２４６１２７号公報（第４〜５頁，図３）
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前記積層型コネクタでは、そのハウジングの積層数が増えるほど当該積層方向の寸法が大きくなる。特に、前記特許文献１に記載されるハウジングのように各端子収容室を上下から（積層方向両側から）囲む壁を有するものでは、その上下の壁の厚みの和が積層数だけ加算されていくことになり、当該積層方向の寸法が大きく増大することになる。
【０００８】
このような積層方向の寸法を抑える手段として、上下の壁を薄肉にすることが考えられるが、このような薄肉壁を成形するには金型内にその壁厚に対応する寸法の微小間隙を形成して当該間隙内に樹脂を流入させる必要があるため、当該薄肉壁の面積が大きいと、これに対応する前記微小間隙の面積も大きくなり、当該間隙内に樹脂を行き渡らせることが困難になってしまう。
【０００９】
本発明は、このような事情に鑑み、ハウジングの全領域にわたって薄肉壁を成形することを避けながら、その積層方向のコネクタ寸法を有効に削減することを目的とする。
【００１０】
【課題を解決するための手段】
ハウジングの全領域にわたって薄肉壁を成形することを避けながら、その積層方向のコネクタ寸法を有効に削減する手段として、各端子収容室の後部を当該ハウジングの積層方向の一方に開放して壁をなくし、その分だけ反対側の壁を厚くすることが考えられる。ただし、このように各端子収容室をハウジング積層方向の一方に完全に開放させてしまうと、ハウジング全体の曲げ剛性（特に端子収容室の並び方向の曲げ剛性）及び端子保持強度が著しく低下するおそれがある。
【００１１】
本発明は、このような観点からなされたものであり、特定方向に並ぶ複数の端子収容室を有し、当該端子収容室の並び方向と直交する方向に相互積層されることにより積層型コネクタを構成する積層型コネクタ用ハウジングであって、前記各端子収容室の少なくとも後部が当該ハウジングの積層方向の一方に開放されて他方に端子支持壁が形成されるとともに、前記端子収容室が開放された領域の一部に補強壁が形成され、前記端子支持壁側には当該端子支持壁側に積層されるハウジングの補強壁を嵌入するための嵌入空間が形成されているものである。
【００１２】
また本発明は、積層型コネクタ用ハウジングが複数段にわたって相互積層されることにより構築される積層型コネクタであって、前記各ハウジングの補強壁が当該補強壁側に重ねられるハウジングの端子支持壁側に形成された嵌入空間内に嵌入可能であるものである。
【００１３】
以上の構成によれば、ハウジングにおける端子収容室の少なくとも後部については当該ハウジングの積層方向の一方に開放されていて壁がない状態とされているので、その他方に存在する端子支持壁は特に薄肉にしなくてもハウジング積層方向の寸法の削減を図ることが可能である。しかも、その開放領域の一部に補強壁が形成されることにより、有効な補強がなされるとともに、当該開放領域と反対の側すなわち端子支持壁側には当該端子支持壁側に積層されるハウジングの補強壁を嵌入するための嵌入空間が形成されているので、その嵌入により、前記補強壁の存在にかかわらずハウジング積層状態での当該積層方向の寸法削減を図ることができる。
【００１４】
前記嵌入空間としては、前記補強壁と反対の側に前記端子支持壁が部分的に欠如する切欠が形成されているものが好適である。この構成によれば、補強壁が比較的厚肉であっても当該補強壁が前記切欠内に嵌入することでその肉厚を吸収することができる。
【００１５】
前記各端子収容室の前部については、当該前部を当該ハウジングの積層方向の両側から囲む囲み壁を有し、この囲み壁は前記端子支持壁よりも薄肉でかつ当該囲み壁に前記端子収容室内に収容される端子を係止する係止部が設けられている構成とすることにより、当該端子の係止を可能にし、かつその端子保持強度を十分に確保することができる。
【００１６】
この構造では、前記補強壁が少なくとも前記各端子収容室の後端部分すなわち前記囲み壁から最も離れた部分に形成されているのが、補強効果上好ましい。
【００１７】
その場合、前記補強壁は前記各端子収容室の並び方向の全域にわたって連続するものであってもよいが、この構造では前記補強壁の形成部分に対応してその反対側では嵌入空間の形成によって端子収容室の後端に端子支持壁が全く存在しないことになり、端子を端子収容室内へ適正な方向に挿入する作業が難しくなるが、当該補強壁を前記各端子収容室の一部を覆うように当該端子収容室の並び方向について断続的に形成されたものとし、当該補強壁同士の間の位置に対応する位置に存在する前記端子支持壁の部分が各端子収容室内へ端子を案内する案内壁を構成するようにすれば、その案内機能によって端子挿入作業を容易化することができる。
【００１８】
一方、前記補強壁として前記各端子収容室の並び方向の全域にわたって連続するものが含まれる構成とすれば、特にその並び方向についてのハウジング全体の曲げ剛性を有効に高めることができる。
【００１９】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１に示す電気接続装置は、積層型コネクタである雌コネクタＦＣとこれに嵌合されるフード付コネクタである雄コネクタＭＣとで構成されている。
【００２０】
前記雌コネクタＦＣは、図２にも示すように、複数の端子１２を保持する積層型コネクタ用ハウジング１０が複数段（図例では３段）に積層することにより構成され、その最上段のハウジング１０にロック機能付の蓋材２０が装着されるようになっている。
【００２１】
前記各ハウジング１０は全て同一形状とされ、任意のハウジング１０の上に別のハウジング１０を重ねて積層することが可能となっている。具体的に、各ハウジング１０の幅方向両側部には、上向きに突出する係合腕１０ａと側方に開口する係合凹部１０ｂとが設けられ、任意のハウジング１０を上下に重ねた状態で下側のハウジングの係合腕１０ａに形成された内向きの爪が上側のハウジングの係合凹部１０ｂに係合することにより、その積層状態が保持されるようになっている。
【００２２】
前記ハウジング１０は、図３〜図５に示すような複数の端子収容室１４を有している。これらの端子収容室１４は、ハウジング積層方向と直交する方向（図例では水平方向）に並んでおり、各端子収容室１４に雌端子１２が保持されるようになっている。
【００２３】
各雌端子１２は、電線Ｄの端末で絶縁被覆が除去されることにより露出した導体部分に圧着される導体圧着部１２ａと、そのすぐ後側に位置する絶縁被覆部分に圧着される絶縁圧着部１２ｂと、前記導体圧着部１２ａを挟んで前記絶縁圧着部１２ｂと反対の側に形成された雌型（図例では箱型）の電気接触部１２ｄとを一体に有し、この電気接触部１２ｄの上面には被係止溝１２ｃが形成されている。
【００２４】
一方、前記各端子収容室１４は、ハウジング後方から各雌端子１２を挿入可能な長孔状に形成されている。
【００２５】
これら端子収容室１４のうち、その前側部分すなわち端子嵌合側部分は、ハウジング１０の箱型部分１５によって四方から囲まれ、当該箱型部分１５内に係止されるようになっている。具体的に、前記箱型部分１５は、各端子収容室１４の前側部分を上下方向（ハウジング積層方向）の両側から囲む囲み壁１５ａ，１５ｂを有し、上側囲み壁１５ａには前記雌端子１２の被係止溝１２ｃを係止するランス（係止部）１５ｃが形成されており、この箱型部分１５の前端壁には前側から相手方端子である後述の雄端子３２を挿入するための端子挿入孔１０ｄが設けられている。
【００２６】
ここで、図６（ａ）に示すように、各囲み壁１５ａ，１５ｂの肉厚ｔ_１，ｔ_１′は小さめに設定されており、これによってハウジング積層方向の寸法削減が図られている。
【００２７】
一方、前記端子収容室１４の後側部分すなわち電線側部分は当該ハウジング１０の上側囲み壁の成形が省略されて上方に開放され、下側囲み壁すなわち本発明にいう端子支持壁に相当する底壁１７のみが形成された状態となっている。ただし、その開放領域（図では上面）の後端部分にはハウジング１０の左側壁上端から右側壁上端まで連続する（すなわち端子収容室１４の並び方向の全域にわたって連続する）補強壁１６Ａが形成され、これに対応して前記底壁１７の後端部には前記補強壁１６Ａと同形状の切欠（底壁が部分的に欠如している部分）１６Ｂが形成されており、ハウジング積層時に下側のハウジング１０の補強壁１６Ａが上側のハウジング１０の切欠１６Ｂ内に嵌入できるようになっている。
【００２８】
このハウジング後側部分では、図６（ａ）に示すように上側囲み壁がない分だけ底壁１７の肉厚ｔ２が前記箱型部分１５の囲み壁１５ａ，１５ｂの肉厚ｔ_１，ｔ_１′よりも大きく設定することが可能となっており、同様に、補強壁１６Ａの肉厚ｔ_２′も、当該補強壁１６Ａがその上側のハウジング１０の切欠１６Ｂ内に嵌入するために、前記肉厚ｔ_１，ｔ_１′よりも大きく設定することが可能となっている。
【００２９】
なお、前記底壁１７の下面適所には二重係止突起１０ｅが突設され、複数のハウジング１０を積層した状態で上側のハウジングの二重係止突起１０ｅが下側のハウジングに保持されている端子１２の箱型電気接触部１２ｄの後端１２ｅに対して後方から当接する（二重係止する）ようになっている。
【００３０】
前記蓋材２０は、最上段のハウジング１０に対してこれを上から覆うように装着されるもので、当該ハウジング１０の前記係合腕１０ａに係合可能な係合凹部２２を左右両側面に有している。また、この蓋材２０の上面には、相手方の雄コネクタＭＣとの嵌合状態を保持するための嵌合ロック片２４が形成されている。
【００３１】
一方、図１に示す雄コネクタＭＣはフード３０を有し、このフード３０は前記ハウジング１０及び蓋材２０が積層された雌コネクタＦＣ全体を嵌入できる内側面形状を有している。そして、このフード３０の奥方に前記雌端子１２とそれぞれ嵌合される雄端子３２が配列されるとともに、当該フード３０の天壁に前記嵌合ロック片２４と係合される嵌合ロック窓３４が設けられている。
【００３２】
このような構成によれば、端末にそれぞれ前記ハウジング１０が設けられている小ハーネスを複数束ねて大型のワイヤハーネスを構築するとともに、適当なハウジング１０同士を積層して前記雌コネクタ（積層型コネクタ）ＦＣを構築してからこの雌コネクタＦＣをまとめて相手方の雄コネクタＭＣに嵌合することにより、ワイヤハーネスの配索及びその電気接続の作業を効率良く行うことができる。
【００３３】
ここで、各ハウジング１０のうち、前側部分すなわち箱型部分１５についてはその上下の囲み壁１５ａ，１５ｂの肉厚ｔ_１，ｔ_１′が後側部分の底壁１７の肉厚ｔ_２′よりも小さく設定される一方、当該後側部分では上側壁の成形が省略されて端子収容室１４が上方に開放された状態にあるため、いずれの部分においても積層方向における雌コネクタＦＣ全体の寸法（高さ寸法）を削減することが可能となっている。
【００３４】
ここで、当該高さ寸法を削減する手段として、図６（ｂ）に示すハウジング１０′のように薄肉の上下囲み壁１５ａ，１５ｂをハウジング前後方向の全域にわたって成形するようにしてもよいのであるが、その場合には大面積の薄肉壁を成形する必要があり、当該成形が非常に難しくなるとともに、雌端子１２の後端の電線圧着部の高さ寸法が大きくなると端子収容室１４内への雌端子１２の挿入が困難となる欠点がある。
【００３５】
また、図７に示すように、前記図３等に示した補強壁１６Ａを省略してハウジング後側部分全域を開放領域にしてもコネクタ高さ寸法の削減が可能であるが、この場合には当該後側部分の剛性（特に端子収容室１４の並び方向についての曲げ剛性）が著しく低下し、また各雌端子１２の端子保持強度も低下するおそれがある。
【００３６】
これに対し、図３〜図５及び図６（ａ）に示すような補強壁１６Ａをハウジング後端に形成することによって有効な補強ができるとともに、当該補強壁１６Ａの形成部分に対応して底壁１７側に補強壁１６Ａを嵌入するための空間である切欠１６Ｂを形成することにより、積層方向の寸法削減効果を維持することができるのである。
【００３７】
また、前記切欠１６Ｂの分だけ補強壁１６Ａの肉厚ｔ_２′を大きくできるだけでなく、当該補強壁１６Ａの裏面を箱型部分１５の上側囲み壁１５ａの裏面よりも上側へ逃がすことが可能であるため（図６（ａ）の二点鎖線参照）、端子１２の後端の電線圧着部の高さ寸法が比較的大きい場合にも、当該端子１２が支障なく端子収容室１４内へ挿入される構成とすることが可能である。
【００３８】
なお、前記底壁１７の具体的な寸法や形状は雌端子１２の寸法等に応じて適宜設定可能であり、例えば補強壁１６Ａの長手方向をハウジング前後方向に対して傾斜させるようにしてもよいし、図８に示すように補強壁１６Ａの幅寸法を図３に示すものより大きくすればそれだけ補強効果は高まることになる。また、図９（ａ）（ｂ）に示すように、互いに前後方向の寸法が異なるハウジング１０Ａ，１０Ｂを適当に組み合わせて積層することにより、雌コネクタＦＣの全体形状を相互異ならせて雌コネクタＦＣ同士の識別を容易にすることができる。
【００３９】
前記補強壁１６Ａは、その補強効果上なるべくハウジング後端に形成されていることが好ましいが、例えばハウジング前後方向の中間位置に形成されていてもよいし、中間位置と後端位置の双方に形成されていてもよい。その例を図１０に示す。
【００４０】
同図のハウジング１０では、ハウジング前後方向の中間位置に端子収容室１４の並び方向の全域にわたって連続する補強壁１６Ａ及び図略の切欠が形成されるのに加え、ハウジング後端にも補強壁１６Ｃが形成されている。ただし、図示の補強壁１６Ｃは前記各端子収容室１４の一部（図１０では右側半部）のみを覆うように端子収容室１４の並び方向について断続的に形成されており、ハウジング底壁側では前記各補強壁１６Ｃに対応する位置に切欠１６Ｄが形成されている。
【００４１】
この構造によれば、前記切欠１６Ｄ同士の間に残されている底壁部分１７ａが各端子収容室１４内へ雌端子１２を案内するための案内壁を構成するため、例えば前記図３に示すように底壁後端部分が全く省略されたハウジング１０に比べ、後方から各端子収容室１４内へ雌端子１２を挿入する作業をより円滑に行うことが可能になる。
【００４２】
また、図１１に示すように、補強壁１６Ａの後方部分において、各端子収容室１４同士の間の仕切り壁１８の上端から前記補強壁１６Ａに比して肉厚の小さいごく薄肉の電線案内薄片１８ａを左右の端子収容室１４側へ突出させるようにしても、ハウジング積層方向の寸法は抑えながら各電線案内薄片１８ａの案内作用によって端子挿入作業の円滑化を図ることが可能である。
【００４３】
なお、本発明では補強壁１６Ａがこれに積層されるハウジングの切欠１６Ｂ内に嵌入可能であるように両者の形状が設定されていればよく、補強壁１６Ａの形状と切欠１６Ｂの形状とが多少相違していても構わない。
【００４４】
また本発明にかかる「嵌入空間」は必ずしも前記切欠１６Ｂ，１６Ｄのように完全に底壁１７が欠如したものに限らず、例えば補強壁の肉厚が比較的小さい場合にはこれに対応して端子支持壁に有底の凹部を形成するようにしてもよい。
【００４５】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明は、積層型コネクタ用ハウジングの各端子収容室の少なくとも後部を積層方向の一方に開放してその開放領域の一部に補強壁を形成し、当該開放領域と反対の端子支持壁側にはこれに積層されるハウジングの補強壁を嵌入するための嵌入空間を形成したものであるので、ハウジングの全領域にわたって薄肉壁を成形することを避けながら、その積層方向のコネクタ寸法を有効に削減し、かつ、前記端子収容室が開放された領域の存在にかかわらず十分なハウジングの剛性及び端子保持強度を確保することができる効果がある。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の形態にかかる電気接続装置を示す斜視図である。
【図２】（ａ）は図１に示される雌コネクタの各ハウジングを積層する前の状態を示す斜視図、（ｂ）は当該ハウジングを積層した後の状態を示す斜視図である。
【図３】前記ハウジングの斜視図である。
【図４】前記ハウジングに端子が挿入される前の状態を示す断面斜視図である。
【図５】前記ハウジングに端子が挿入された状態を示す断面斜視図である。
【図６】（ａ）は前記ハウジングの断面正面図、（ｂ）は全体にわたって薄肉の上下囲み壁が形成されたハウジングの例を示す断面正面図である。
【図７】補強壁をもたないハウジングの例を示す斜視図である。
【図８】補強壁の幅の大きいハウジングの例を示す斜視図である。
【図９】（ａ）（ｂ）は互いに前後方向の寸法が異なるハウジングを組み合わせて積層した積層型コネクタの例を示す側面図である。
【図１０】中間部に連続型の補強壁が形成されて後端に断続型の補強壁が形成されたハウジングの例を示す斜視図である。
【図１１】中間部に補強壁が形成されてその後方に電線案内薄片が形成されたハウジングの例を示す斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
１０ハウジング
１２雌端子
１４端子収容室
１５箱型部分
１５ａ，１５ｂ囲み壁
１５ｃランス（係止部）
１６Ａ，１６Ｃ補強壁
１６Ｂ，１６Ｄ切欠（補強壁の嵌入空間）
１７底壁（端子支持壁）
１７ａ底壁部分（案内壁を構成）
Ｄ電線
ＦＣ雌コネクタ（積層型コネクタ）
ｔ_１，ｔ_１′ 囲み壁の肉厚
ｔ_２底壁の肉厚[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laminated connector constructed by laminating a plurality of housings.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in order to efficiently assemble a wire harness for a vehicle, the wire harness is divided into a plurality of small harnesses, each small harness is individually formed, and then the small harnesses are combined to construct a final wire harness. Such a method is used. According to such a method, simple and frequent steps such as wire measuring, terminal crimping, and terminal connector insertion are performed for each small harness to achieve automation and efficiency, while finally combining the small harnesses. There is an advantage that a final large-sized harness can be constructed with a simple process that only requires a simple process.
[0003]
However, in this method, the connectors provided at the terminals of the wire harness must also be divided along with the division of the wire harness, and the number of connectors increases. There are drawbacks.
[0004]
Therefore, in recent years, the development of an electrical connection device that allows the divided connector housings to be combined later in a laminated state and that can be fitted into the hood of the mating connector at a time in the laminated state has been promoted. I have.
[0005]
As the above-mentioned stacked connector, for example, Patent Literature 1 below includes a plurality of housings that hold a plurality of terminals arranged in one direction and that can be stacked on each other in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction. A structure in which these housings can be fitted into the hood of a mating connector in a stacked state is disclosed.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-246127 (pages 4 to 5, FIG. 3)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the multilayer connector, as the number of stacked housings increases, the dimension in the stacking direction increases. In particular, in a housing having a wall surrounding each terminal accommodating chamber from above and below (from both sides in the stacking direction) like the housing described in Patent Document 1, the sum of the thicknesses of the upper and lower walls is added by the number of layers. As a result, the dimension in the stacking direction is greatly increased.
[0008]
As means for suppressing such dimension in the laminating direction, it is conceivable to make the upper and lower walls thinner. To form such a thin wall, a minute gap having a size corresponding to the wall thickness is formed in a mold. Since it is necessary to form and allow the resin to flow into the gap, if the area of the thin wall is large, the area of the minute gap corresponding to this is also large, and it is difficult to spread the resin in the gap. turn into.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to effectively reduce the dimension of a connector in the stacking direction while avoiding forming a thin wall over the entire area of a housing.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means of effectively reducing the connector dimension in the stacking direction while avoiding forming a thin wall over the entire area of the housing, the rear portion of each terminal accommodating chamber is opened in one of the housing stacking directions to eliminate the wall. It is conceivable to make the opposite wall thicker by that amount. However, if each terminal accommodating chamber is completely opened in one of the housing laminating directions, the bending rigidity of the entire housing (particularly, the bending rigidity in the direction in which the terminal accommodating chambers are arranged) and the terminal holding strength may be significantly reduced. There is.
[0011]
The present invention has been made from such a viewpoint, and has a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers arranged in a specific direction, and a stacked connector is obtained by being mutually laminated in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodation chambers. In the laminated connector housing to be constituted, at least a rear portion of each of the terminal accommodating chambers is opened to one side in a laminating direction of the housing, and a terminal support wall is formed on the other side, and the terminal accommodating chamber is opened. A reinforcing wall is formed in a part of the region, and a fitting space for fitting the reinforcing wall of the housing laminated on the terminal supporting wall is formed on the terminal supporting wall side.
[0012]
Further, the present invention is a laminated connector constructed by laminating the laminated connector housings in a plurality of stages, wherein the reinforcing wall of each of the housings overlaps with the terminal supporting wall of the housing. Can be inserted into the insertion space formed in the first hole.
[0013]
According to the above configuration, at least the rear portion of the terminal accommodating chamber in the housing is open in one side in the stacking direction of the housing and has no wall, so that the terminal supporting wall existing on the other side is particularly thin. It is possible to reduce the dimension in the housing lamination direction without doing so. In addition, since the reinforcing wall is formed in a part of the open area, effective reinforcement is achieved, and the housing laminated on the terminal support wall side on the side opposite to the open area, that is, on the terminal support wall side. Since the fitting space for fitting the reinforcing wall is formed, the fitting can reduce the dimension in the stacking direction in the housing stacked state regardless of the presence of the reinforcing wall.
[0014]
The fitting space preferably has a cutout formed on the side opposite to the reinforcing wall so that the terminal support wall is partially missing. According to this configuration, even if the reinforcing wall is relatively thick, the thickness can be absorbed by fitting the reinforcing wall into the notch.
[0015]
The front portion of each of the terminal accommodating chambers has an enclosing wall surrounding the front portion from both sides in the stacking direction of the housing, and the enclosing wall is thinner than the terminal support wall and the terminal accommodating wall is provided on the enclosing wall. With the configuration in which the locking portion that locks the terminal accommodated in the room is provided, the terminal can be locked and the terminal holding strength can be sufficiently ensured.
[0016]
In this structure, it is preferable in terms of the reinforcing effect that the reinforcing wall is formed at least at a rear end portion of each terminal accommodating chamber, that is, a portion farthest from the surrounding wall.
[0017]
In this case, the reinforcing wall may be continuous over the entire area in the direction in which the terminal housing chambers are arranged, but in this structure, the fitting wall is formed on the opposite side corresponding to the portion where the reinforcing wall is formed. Since there is no terminal support wall at the rear end of the terminal accommodating chamber, it is difficult to insert the terminal into the terminal accommodating chamber in an appropriate direction, but the reinforcing wall covers a part of each terminal accommodating chamber. As described above, the terminal supporting chambers are formed intermittently in the direction in which the terminal receiving chambers are arranged, and the terminal supporting wall portions located at positions corresponding to the positions between the reinforcing walls guide the terminals into the respective terminal receiving chambers. If the guide wall is formed, the terminal inserting operation can be facilitated by the guide function.
[0018]
On the other hand, if the reinforcing wall includes a structure that is continuous over the entire area in the arrangement direction of the terminal housing chambers, the bending rigidity of the entire housing particularly in the arrangement direction can be effectively increased.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The electrical connection device shown in FIG. 1 includes a female connector FC which is a laminated connector and a male connector MC which is a hooded connector fitted to the female connector FC.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, the female connector FC is configured by stacking a plurality of (in the illustrated example, three) stacked housings 10 for a multilayer connector that holds a plurality of terminals 12. A cover member 20 having a lock function is attached to 10.
[0021]
Each of the housings 10 has the same shape, and another housing 10 can be stacked on an arbitrary housing 10. Specifically, an engaging arm 10a protruding upward and an engaging concave portion 10b opening laterally are provided on both side portions in the width direction of each housing 10, and a lower portion is provided when any housing 10 is vertically stacked. The inward claw formed on the engagement arm 10a of the housing on the side engages with the engagement recess 10b of the upper housing, so that the stacked state is maintained.
[0022]
The housing 10 has a plurality of terminal receiving chambers 14 as shown in FIGS. These terminal accommodating chambers 14 are arranged in a direction (horizontal direction in the illustrated example) orthogonal to the housing laminating direction, and the female terminals 12 are held in each terminal accommodating chamber 14.
[0023]
Each female terminal 12 has a conductor crimping portion 12a crimped on a conductor portion exposed by removing the insulation coating at the end of the electric wire D, and an insulation crimping portion crimped on the insulation coating portion located immediately behind the conductor crimping portion. 12b and a female (box in the illustrated example) electrical contact portion 12d formed on the side opposite to the insulating crimp portion 12b across the conductor crimp portion 12a. A locked groove 12c is formed on the upper surface of the.
[0024]
On the other hand, each terminal accommodating chamber 14 is formed in a long hole shape into which each female terminal 12 can be inserted from the rear of the housing.
[0025]
The front portion, that is, the terminal fitting side portion, of the terminal accommodating chambers 14 is surrounded from all sides by a box-shaped portion 15 of the housing 10 and is locked in the box-shaped portion 15. Specifically, the box-shaped portion 15 has surrounding walls 15a and 15b surrounding the front side of each terminal accommodating chamber 14 from both sides in the up-down direction (housing stacking direction), and the upper surrounding wall 15a has the female terminals 12 A lance (locking portion) 15c for locking the locked groove 12c is formed on the front end wall of the box-shaped portion 15, and a terminal for inserting a later-described male terminal 32, which is a mating terminal, from the front side. An insertion hole 10d is provided.
[0026]
Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, the thicknesses t ₁ and t ₁ ′ of each of the surrounding walls 15a and 15b are set to be small, thereby reducing the dimension in the housing laminating direction.
[0027]
On the other hand, the rear part of the terminal accommodating chamber 14, that is, the electric wire side part is opened upward without forming the upper surrounding wall of the housing 10, and the lower surrounding wall, that is, the bottom corresponding to the terminal supporting wall according to the present invention. Only the wall 17 is formed. However, a reinforcing wall 16A that is continuous from the upper end of the left side wall to the upper end of the right side wall of the housing 10 (that is, continuous over the entire area in the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 14) is formed at the rear end of the open area (the upper surface in the figure). Correspondingly, a cutout (a part where the bottom wall is partially missing) 16B having the same shape as the reinforcing wall 16A is formed at the rear end of the bottom wall 17 so that the lower side is formed when the housing is laminated. The reinforcing wall 16A of the housing 10 can be fitted into the cutout 16B of the upper housing 10.
[0028]
In the housing rear portion, surrounding walls 15a, the wall thickness of 15b t ₁ of the thickness t2 of the partial absence of the upper surrounding walls by the bottom wall 17 the box-type portion 15 as shown in FIG. 6 _(a), t ₁ Similarly, the wall thickness t ₂ ′ of the reinforcing wall 16A can be set larger than the thickness t ₂ ′ because the reinforcing wall 16A fits into the cutout 16B of the housing 10 above it. It is possible to set the thickness larger than the thicknesses t ₁ and t ₁ ′.
[0029]
In addition, a double locking projection 10e is protruded at an appropriate position on the lower surface of the bottom wall 17, and the double locking projection 10e of the upper housing is held by the lower housing in a state where a plurality of housings 10 are stacked. The terminal 12 contacts the rear end 12e of the box-shaped electrical contact portion 12d of the terminal 12 from behind (double-locks).
[0030]
The lid member 20 is mounted on the uppermost housing 10 so as to cover the housing 10 from above, and engaging recesses 22 engageable with the engaging arms 10a of the housing 10 are provided on both left and right side surfaces. Have. In addition, a fitting lock piece 24 is formed on the upper surface of the lid member 20 for maintaining a fitted state with the mating male connector MC.
[0031]
On the other hand, the male connector MC shown in FIG. 1 has a hood 30, and the hood 30 has an inner surface shape that can fit the entire female connector FC on which the housing 10 and the lid member 20 are laminated. Male terminals 32 respectively fitted to the female terminals 12 are arranged at the back of the hood 30, and a fitting lock window 34 engaged with the fitting lock pieces 24 on the top wall of the hood 30. Is provided.
[0032]
According to such a configuration, a large wire harness is constructed by bundling a plurality of small harnesses each provided with the housing 10 on the terminal, and appropriate female housings 10 are laminated together to form the female connector (laminated connector). By constructing the FC and then fitting the female connector FC together to the mating male connector MC, the work of wiring the wiring harness and its electrical connection can be performed efficiently.
[0033]
Here, the thickness t ₁ , t ₁ ′ of the upper and lower surrounding walls 15 a, 15 b of the front portion, that is, the box-shaped portion 15 of each housing 10 is larger than the thickness t ₂ ′ of the bottom wall 17 of the rear portion. On the other hand, since the molding of the upper side wall is omitted in the rear portion and the terminal accommodating chamber 14 is open upward, the size of the entire female connector FC in the laminating direction (in any portion) Height dimension) can be reduced.
[0034]
Here, as means for reducing the height, thin upper and lower surrounding walls 15a and 15b may be formed over the entire area in the front-rear direction of the housing as in a housing 10 'shown in FIG. 6B. However, in this case, it is necessary to form a thin wall having a large area, and it is very difficult to form the thin wall, and when the height of the wire crimping portion at the rear end of the female terminal 12 becomes large, the wall enters the terminal accommodating chamber 14. There is a disadvantage that it becomes difficult to insert the female terminal 12.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to reduce the height of the connector by omitting the reinforcing wall 16A shown in FIG. The rigidity of the rear portion (particularly, the bending rigidity in the direction in which the terminal accommodating chambers 14 are arranged) may be significantly reduced, and the terminal holding strength of each female terminal 12 may be reduced.
[0036]
On the other hand, by forming a reinforcing wall 16A at the rear end of the housing as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIG. By forming the notch 16B, which is a space for fitting the reinforcing wall 16A, on the wall 17 side, the effect of reducing the dimension in the stacking direction can be maintained.
[0037]
Further, not only the thickness t ₂ ′ of the reinforcing wall 16A can be increased by the amount of the cutout 16B, but also the back surface of the reinforcing wall 16A can be released above the back surface of the upper surrounding wall 15a of the box-shaped portion 15. Therefore, even when the height of the wire crimping portion at the rear end of the terminal 12 is relatively large (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6A), the terminal 12 can be inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 14 without any trouble. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which:
[0038]
The specific size and shape of the bottom wall 17 can be appropriately set according to the size of the female terminal 12 and the like. For example, the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing wall 16A may be inclined with respect to the front-rear direction of the housing. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, if the width dimension of the reinforcing wall 16A is made larger than that shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcing effect increases accordingly. Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, by appropriately combining and laminating housings 10A and 10B having different dimensions in the front-rear direction, the overall shape of the female connector FC is made different from each other, and It is possible to easily identify each other.
[0039]
The reinforcing wall 16A is preferably formed at the rear end of the housing as much as possible to enhance the reinforcing effect. However, the reinforcing wall 16A may be formed at an intermediate position in the housing front-rear direction, or formed at both the intermediate position and the rear end position. It may be. An example is shown in FIG.
[0040]
In the housing 10 shown in the figure, a reinforcing wall 16A and a notch not shown are formed at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the housing over the entire area in the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 14. Is formed. However, the illustrated reinforcing wall 16C is formed intermittently in the direction in which the terminal accommodating chambers 14 are arranged so as to cover only a part (the right half in FIG. 10) of each of the terminal accommodating chambers 14, and is provided on the housing bottom wall side. A notch 16D is formed at a position corresponding to each reinforcing wall 16C.
[0041]
According to this structure, the bottom wall portion 17a remaining between the notches 16D constitutes a guide wall for guiding the female terminal 12 into each terminal accommodating chamber 14, and is shown in, for example, FIG. As compared with the housing 10 in which the rear end portion of the bottom wall is omitted altogether, the operation of inserting the female terminals 12 into the respective terminal accommodating chambers 14 from the rear can be performed more smoothly.
[0042]
Also, as shown in FIG. 11, at the rear part of the reinforcing wall 16A, an extremely thin wire guide flake having a smaller thickness than the reinforcing wall 16A from the upper end of the partition wall 18 between the terminal accommodating chambers 14. Even if the terminal 18a is made to protrude toward the left and right terminal accommodating chambers 14, the terminal insertion operation can be facilitated by the guiding action of each wire guide piece 18a while suppressing the dimension in the housing laminating direction.
[0043]
In the present invention, the shape of the reinforcing wall 16A and the shape of the notch 16B need only be set so that the reinforcing wall 16A can be fitted into the notch 16B of the housing to be laminated thereon. They may be different.
[0044]
Further, the "fitting space" according to the present invention is not necessarily limited to the case in which the bottom wall 17 is completely absent as in the notches 16B and 16D. A bottomed concave portion may be formed in the terminal support wall.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, at least the rear portion of each terminal accommodating chamber of the multilayer connector housing is opened to one side in the stacking direction, a reinforcing wall is formed in a part of the open area, and the terminal opposite to the open area is formed. The support wall has a fitting space for fitting the reinforcing wall of the housing to be laminated thereon, so that it is not necessary to form a thin wall over the entire area of the housing, and the connector dimension in the laminating direction is avoided. Is effectively reduced, and sufficient housing rigidity and terminal holding strength can be ensured irrespective of the area where the terminal accommodating chamber is open.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a perspective view showing a state before the respective housings of the female connector shown in FIG. 1 are stacked, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a state after the housings are stacked.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing.
FIG. 4 is a sectional perspective view showing a state before a terminal is inserted into the housing.
FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective view showing a state where a terminal is inserted into the housing.
FIG. 6A is a sectional front view of the housing, and FIG. 6B is a sectional front view showing an example of a housing in which thin upper and lower surrounding walls are formed throughout.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a housing having no reinforcing wall.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a housing having a large reinforcing wall.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are side views showing examples of a stacked connector in which housings having different dimensions in the front-rear direction are combined and stacked.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a housing in which a continuous reinforcing wall is formed at an intermediate portion and an intermittent reinforcing wall is formed at a rear end.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a housing in which a reinforcing wall is formed in an intermediate portion and a wire guide flake is formed behind the reinforcing wall.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Housing 12 Female terminal 14 Terminal accommodating chamber 15 Box-shaped parts 15a, 15b Surrounding wall 15c Lance (locking part)
16A, 16C Reinforcement walls 16B, 16D Notch (fitting space for reinforcement wall)
17 Bottom wall (terminal support wall)
17a Bottom wall part (constitutes guide wall)
D Wire FC Female Connector (Multilayer Connector)
t ₁ , t ₁ ′ Wall thickness of surrounding wall t ₂ Wall thickness of bottom wall

Claims

A multilayer connector housing having a plurality of terminal housing chambers arranged in a specific direction and being stacked in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the terminal housing chambers are arranged, thereby forming a multilayer connector. At least a rear portion of the chamber is opened to one side in the stacking direction of the housing, and a terminal support wall is formed on the other side, and a reinforcing wall is formed in a part of an area where the terminal accommodating chamber is opened, and the terminal support wall is formed. A housing for a laminated connector, wherein a fitting space for fitting a reinforcing wall of the housing laminated on the terminal support wall side is formed on a side of the housing.

2. The housing for a multilayer connector according to claim 1, wherein a notch in which the terminal support wall is partially missing is formed on the side opposite to the reinforcing wall as the fitting space. .

3. The multilayer connector housing according to claim 1, further comprising an enclosing wall surrounding a front portion of each of the terminal accommodating chambers from both sides in the stacking direction of the housing, wherein the enclosing wall is thinner than the terminal support wall. A housing for a laminated connector, wherein a locking portion for locking a terminal housed in the terminal housing chamber is provided on the surrounding wall.

4. The housing for a laminated connector according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing wall is formed at least at a rear end portion of each of the terminal accommodating chambers.

5. The multilayer connector housing according to claim 4, wherein the reinforcing wall is formed intermittently in a direction in which the terminal housing chambers are arranged so as to cover a part of each of the terminal housing chambers, and between the reinforcing walls. Wherein the portion of the terminal support wall present at a position corresponding to the position of (a) constitutes a guide wall for guiding the terminal into each terminal accommodating chamber.

The housing for a multilayer connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reinforcing wall includes a reinforcing wall that is continuous over the entire area in the direction in which the terminal housing chambers are arranged. .

A laminated connector constructed by laminating the laminated connector housings according to any one of claims 1 to 6 over a plurality of stages, wherein a reinforcing wall of each housing is overlapped with the reinforcing wall side. A laminated connector which can be fitted into a fitting space formed on a terminal support wall side of a housing.