JP2005129460A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof connector which is adaptable to miniaturization and fit for use over a long period of time under a hot environment. <P>SOLUTION: In this connector, terminal metal fittings 20 are inserted into a housing 10 penetrating a collective rubber stopper 30 arranged on the back end face of the housing 10, and electric wires 24 are penetrated into the collective rubber stopper 30. The collective rubber stopper 30 is made of an elastic material having adhesion, and the elastic material having adhesion is brought into close contact with the outer periphery of the wire 24, surely preventing the formation of a clearance between the collective rubber stopper 30 and the wires 24 by its adhesive property. As a result, since silicon gel is not used as the material of the collective rubber stopper 30, it is possible to avoid the degradation of waterproof performance caused by using the silicon gel material when the connector is used over a long period of time under a hot environment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector having a waterproof function.

As a connector for waterproofing, a flat rubber plug made of silicon gel material is attached to the rear end surface of the housing, and the terminal fitting is inserted into the housing from behind while penetrating the collective rubber plug, and the rear end of the terminal fitting. There is one in which a lump rubber plug is closely attached to the outer periphery of the electric wire connected to. If the collective rubber plug made of this silicon gel material is used, it is possible to cope with a reduction in the pitch of the terminal fittings, and in turn, to reduce the size of the connector. In addition, there exists a thing described in patent document 1 as this kind of connector.
JP 2002-237350 A

  As described above, the lump rubber plug made of silicon gel material loses its elasticity when it is used for a long time under high temperature environment. There is concern about the occurrence of gaps.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and can provide a waterproof connector that can cope with downsizing and can be used for a long period of time in a high-temperature environment. With the goal.

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a collective rubber plug is attached to the rear end surface of the housing, and a terminal fitting is inserted into the housing from the rear while penetrating the collective rubber plug, The collective rubber plug is tightly sealed to the outer periphery of the electric wire connected to the rear end of the terminal fitting, and the collective rubber plug is characterized by being made of an elastic material having adhesiveness.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the collective rubber stopper is made of an adhesive material made of acrylic resin.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the collective rubber plug is made of a foam.

  The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in any one of claims 1 to 3, the batch rubber plug is compressed and deformed in the axial direction of the electric wire between the housing and the holder. Have

  The invention according to claim 5 is the one according to claim 4, wherein the housing is formed with cavities for receiving the terminal fittings arranged in a line. It is characterized in that slits are formed along the alignment direction of the cavities.

<Invention of Claim 1>
An elastic material having adhesiveness is in close contact with the outer periphery of the electric wire penetrating the collective rubber plug, and the adhesion performance reliably prevents the gap between the collective rubber plug and the electric wire. Moreover, since the silicon gel material is not used as the material of the batch rubber stopper, it is possible to avoid a decrease in waterproof performance due to the use of the silicon gel material when used for a long time in a high temperature environment.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the batch rubber stopper is made of an acrylic resin adhesive, it can exhibit a highly stable waterproof performance in an environment where weather resistance and heat resistance are required. In addition, in the case of a lump rubber plug made of silicon gel material, the oil impregnated in the silicon gel seals by filling the gap with the electric wire, so that the sealing performance deteriorates due to deterioration or outflow of oil. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the adhesive material made of acrylic resin is sealed by directly adhering to the outer periphery of the electric wire by its own adhesive force, the sealing performance is improved for a long time. Can be maintained.

<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the lump rubber plug is made of a foam, a sufficient thickness can be secured, and the adhesive area with the electric wire can be increased correspondingly to improve the waterproof performance. Moreover, since the elastic deformation amount of the lump rubber stopper is sufficiently ensured by using the foam, it is possible to reliably adhere to an electric wire having a large outer diameter.

<Invention of Claim 4>
Since the collective rubber plug is compressed and deformed so as to be crushed in the axial direction of the electric wire, the degree of adhesion to the electric wire is increased and the sealing performance is improved.

<Invention of Claim 5>
When inserting the terminal fitting into the cavity, the position of the cavity can be grasped by observing the slit, so that the workability at the time of insertion is good. Further, when the terminal fitting once inserted into the cavity is extracted, the extraction path of the terminal fitting is easily expanded by the formation of the slit, so that the workability at the time of extraction is good. In addition, since the lump rubber stopper is crushed between the housing and the holder, the gap between the slits is eliminated, and the sealing performance is not deteriorated.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector of this embodiment is a collective waterproof male connector, and includes a housing 10, a plurality of terminal fittings 20, a collective rubber plug 30, and a holder 40. In the following description, the right side in FIG.

  The housing 10 is formed in a block shape from a synthetic resin material. A hood portion 11 for fitting a mating female connector (not shown) is formed at the front end portion, and a collective rubber is formed at the rear end portion. An accommodation recess 12 for accommodating the stopper 30 and the holder 40 is formed to open rearward. The housing recess 12 has a substantially square shape with four corners arcuate when viewed from the rear, and a region on the back side of the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12 is a seal surface 13. Further, the back end surface of the housing recess 12, that is, the surface with which the front end surface of the collective rubber plug 30 abuts is a flat surface orthogonal to the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20. Further, inside the housing 10, a plurality of cavities 14 penetrating in the front-rear direction and opening to the back end surface of the hood portion 11 and the back end surface of the housing recess 12 are divided into three upper and lower tiers, and one row in the left-right direction at each step. Are aligned (parallel).

  The terminal fitting 20 is formed by pressing a metal plate having excellent conductivity, has a shape in which a tab 22 protrudes from the tip of a cylindrical main body 21, and the barrel portion 23 at the rear end is crimped. Is crimped to the end of the electric wire 24. The terminal fitting 20 is inserted through the receiving hole 41 of the holder 40 described later and the slit 32 of the collective rubber plug 30 in order, is inserted into the cavity 14, and is prevented from being removed by the resin lance 15 in the cavity 14. When the terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the cavity 14, the electric wire 24 passes through the slit 32 of the collective rubber plug 30.

  A batch rubber plug 30 is fitted into the inner side of the housing recess 12, that is, the space corresponding to the seal surface 13. The collective rubber plug 30 is formed in a horizontally long thick plate shape so as to cover the rear surface of all the cavities 14, and has a front end surface (a surface corresponding to the back end surface of the housing recess 12) and a rear end surface. The (corresponding surface with the holder 40) is a flat surface orthogonal to the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20. The collective rubber plug 30 is accommodated in the accommodating recess 12 without being elastically deformed. In the accommodated state, the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug 30 is not in contact with the seal surface 13 or is sealed. It is only lightly contacting the surface 13 to such an extent that the sealing function is not substantially exhibited.

  Further, the collective rubber plug 30 has three upper and lower cavities so as to correspond to a group of cavities 14 (rows) parallel to the upper stage, a group of cavities 14 (rows) parallel to the middle, and a group of cavities 14 (rows) parallel to the lower stage. A slit 32 extending in a straight line in the horizontal direction (left and right direction) is formed. Each slit 32 penetrates the lump rubber stopper 30 back and forth and is opened in the shape of a horizontally long window hole. The vertical dimension of the slit 32 is preferably smaller than the height (vertical) dimension of the terminal fitting 20 and substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the electric wire 24. Even if the dimension is made larger than the height dimension of the terminal fitting 20, there is no problem in the waterproof performance.

  The collective rubber plug 30 is made of an elastic material having adhesiveness. As an elastic material having adhesiveness, a foam material made of an acrylic resin is used. An example of a product that can be used as the collective rubber plug 30 is “3M Beta Tape” (registered trademark) manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited. Further, non-adhesive and non-stretchable sheets 35 (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4) are laminated on both front and rear surfaces of the collective rubber plug 30. In this sheet 35, through holes 36 corresponding to the cavities 14 are formed in order to avoid interference when the terminal fitting 20 penetrates the collective rubber plug 30.

  In addition, although the outer periphery of the sheet | seat 35 is a form aligned with the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug 30 in this embodiment, it is good also as a form smaller than the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug 30, or a large form. If it is larger than the outer peripheral edge of the collective rubber plug 30, the collective rubber plug 30 accommodated in the containment recess 12 is arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions (the collective rubber plug with respect to the containment recess 12. 30 in the direction perpendicular to the assembling direction).

  The holder 40 is fitted in the inlet side in the housing recess 12, that is, in the space behind the housing area of the batch rubber plug 30. The holder 40 is made of a synthetic resin, and is formed in a horizontally long thick plate shape so that it can be fitted almost tightly into the housing recess 12. The front end surface of the holder 40 is connected to the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20. The flat surfaces are orthogonal to each other so that they can uniformly abut against the rear end surface (sheet 35) of the batch rubber plug 30 over almost the entire region. Further, the holder 40 is formed with a receiving hole 41 penetrating in the front-rear direction so as to allow a plurality of terminal fittings 20 corresponding to the slits 32 of the batch rubber plug 30 to pass therethrough.

  This holder 40 is spaced apart from the main locking position (see FIG. 4) in contact with the rear end surface (sheet 35) of the collective rubber plug 30 accommodated in the accommodating recess 12 by a predetermined distance from the collective rubber plug 30. It is held at the temporary locking position (see FIG. 3). As the holding means, for example, the locking pieces formed on the left and right ends of the holder 40 are provided on the locking protrusions on the left and right outer surfaces of the housing 10 for the temporary locking and for the two locking protrusions for the front and rear. A well-known structure to be locked can be used.

  Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  When assembling the connector, first, the collective rubber plug 30 is housed in an uncompressed state (not elastically deformed) in the back side of the housing recess 12 (see FIG. 2). Thereafter, the holder 40 is temporarily locked to the housing 10 (see FIG. 2). In this state, the holder 40 is in a state of being separated rearward with respect to the collective rubber plug 30, so that the collective rubber plug 30 is not elastically deformed by the holder 40. Therefore, the slits 32 of the batch rubber plug 30 are not displaced up and down with respect to the corresponding cavities 14 and the receiving holes 41 of the holder 40, respectively.

  From this state, the terminal fitting 20 fixed to the end of the electric wire 24 is inserted into each receiving hole 41 of the holder 40, the through hole 36 of the rear sheet 36, the slit 32 of the batch rubber plug 30, and the front sheet. 35 is inserted into the cavity 14 through the through hole 36 (see FIG. 3). When the insertion of all the terminal fittings 20 is completed, the holder 40 in the temporary locking position is pushed forward to move to the final locking position.

  In the process of moving the holder 40 from the temporary locking position to the final locking position, the front end surface of the holder 40 comes into contact with the rear end surface (rear sheet 35) of the batch rubber plug 30 immediately before reaching the final locking position, While moving from this state to the final locking position, the holder 40 compresses the bulk rubber plug 30 in the front-rear direction (in the axial direction of the electric wire 24) with the back end surface of the housing recess 12 (to be crushed). ) To be elastically deformed. In a state where the holder 40 is held at the main locking position, the collective rubber plug 30 crushed in the front-rear direction by the pressing of the holder 40 expands in the up-down, left-right direction (direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the electric wire 24). That is, it elastically deforms so that the outer periphery of the batch rubber plug 30 is displaced outward (see FIG. 8). As a result, the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug 30 is brought into close contact with the sealing surface 13 on the inner periphery of the housing recess 12 without gaps by the elastic restoring force of the collective rubber plug 30 and the adhesive force of the collective rubber plug 30. The gap between the outer periphery of 30 and the inner periphery of the housing recess 12 is sealed.

  Further, as the collective rubber plug 30 is compressed back and forth, the vertical opening width of the slit 32 is narrowed, and in the region where the electric wire 24 exists, the upper and lower surfaces of the slit 32 are semicircular to the outer periphery of the electric wire 24. In an area where the electric wire 24 does not exist, while being elastically deformed so as to follow the arc shape of the outer periphery of the arc shape, the elastic restoring force of the collective rubber plug 30 and the adhesive force of the collective rubber plug 30 are in close contact with each other. The upper surface and the lower surface of the slit 32 are in close contact with each other without any gap (see FIG. 8). Thereby, the clearance gap between the batch rubber stopper 30 and the electric wire 24 is sealed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the collective rubber plug 30 that adheres and seals to the outer periphery of the electric wire 24 is made of an elastic material having an adhesive property, the gap between the collective rubber plug 30 and the electric wire 24 depends on the adhesive performance. It is surely prevented. Moreover, since the silicon gel material is not used as the material of the collective rubber plug 30, when used for a long time in a high-temperature environment, it is possible to avoid a decrease in waterproof performance due to the use of the silicon gel material. .

  Moreover, since the collective rubber plug 30 is made of an acrylic resin adhesive, it is possible to exhibit a highly stable waterproof performance in an environment where weather resistance and heat resistance are required.

  In addition, in the case of a lump rubber plug made of silicon gel material, the oil impregnated in the silicon gel seals by filling the gap with the electric wire, so that the sealing performance deteriorates due to deterioration or outflow of oil. However, in this embodiment, the acrylic resin adhesive is sealed by directly adhering to the outer periphery of the electric wire 24 by its own adhesive force. It can be maintained for a long time.

  Moreover, since the lump rubber plug 30 is made of a foam, a sufficient thickness can be secured in the axial direction of the electric wire 24, and the adhesive area with the electric wire 24 can be increased correspondingly to improve the waterproof performance. it can. Moreover, since the elastic deformation amount of the collective rubber plug 30 is sufficiently ensured by using the foamed body, it is possible to reliably adhere to the electric wire 24 having a large outer diameter.

  Further, since the collective rubber plug 30 is compressed and deformed so as to be crushed in the axial direction of the electric wires 24, the degree of adhesion to the electric wires 24 is increased, and the sealing performance can be improved.

  Further, since the slits 32 are formed in the lump rubber plug 30 along the alignment direction of the cavities 14, when the terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the cavities 14, the positions of the cavities 14 are grasped by visually observing the slits 32. Therefore, workability at the time of insertion is good.

  Further, when the terminal fitting 20 once inserted into the cavity 14 is extracted, if the holder 40 is retracted to the temporary locking position and the slit 32 is opened, the extraction path of the terminal fitting 20 is expanded, Workability is good. In addition, since the lump rubber stopper 30 is crushed between the housing 10 and the holder 40, the gap between the slits 32 is eliminated, so that the sealing performance is not deteriorated.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the connector for a male terminal fitting having a tab at the tip has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to a connector for a female terminal fitting.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the batch rubber stopper is made of an acrylic resin adhesive, but according to the present invention, an adhesive made of a resin other than acrylic resin may be used.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the lump rubber stopper is a foam, but according to the present invention, an adhesive material that is not a foam may be used.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the slit is formed in the batch rubber stopper, but according to the present invention, the slit may not be formed.

  (5) Although the slit is formed in the batch rubber stopper in the above embodiment, according to the present invention, it may be formed by penetrating a small hole or a pinhole instead of the slit.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the collective rubber plug is sandwiched between the housing and the holder and elastically compressed and deformed. However, according to the present invention, the collective rubber plug may not be elastically deformed.

  (7) In the above embodiment, the slit is opened in a window shape without compressing and deforming the batch rubber stopper. However, according to the present invention, the slit is not opened in a slit shape, that is, in a window shape without being compressed and deformed. Form may be sufficient.

  (8) In the said embodiment, you may comprise a lump rubber stopper by laminating | stacking the adhesive material which makes several sheets in the plate | board thickness direction.

  (9) In the above embodiment, the vertical dimension of the slit may be smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire.

Sectional drawing showing the separation state of Embodiment 1 Sectional drawing which shows the state which accommodated the lump rubber stopper in the accommodation recessed part, and the holder was temporarily latched to the housing Sectional view showing the terminal fitting inserted through the rubber plug Cross-sectional view of a state where assembly is completed and the holder elastically deforms the lump rubber stopper and seals between the housing recess Rear view of housing Rear view of batch rubber stopper Rear view showing the state where the rear sheet is removed from the batch rubber stopper Rear view showing the batch rubber stopper with the rear seat removed compressed in the axial direction of the wire Partial enlarged sectional view showing the laminated structure of a batch rubber stopper and sheet Partial enlarged sectional view showing a laminated structure of a lump rubber stopper and sheet compressed in the axial direction of the electric wire

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing 14 ... Cavity 20 ... Terminal metal fitting 24 ... Electric wire 30 ... Collective rubber stopper 32 ... Slit 40 ... Holder

Claims (5)

A batch rubber plug is attached to the rear end surface of the housing, a terminal fitting is inserted into the housing from behind while penetrating the batch rubber plug, and the batch rubber plug is attached to the outer periphery of the electric wire connected to the rear end of the terminal fitting. In what was made to adhere and seal,
The connector characterized in that the collective rubber stopper is made of an elastic material having adhesiveness. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the batch rubber stopper is made of an adhesive material made of acrylic resin. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the batch rubber plug is made of a foam. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the collective rubber plug is compressed and deformed in the axial direction of the electric wire between the housing and the holder. In the housing, in which cavities for accommodating the terminal fittings are formed in a line,
The connector according to claim 4, wherein a slit along the alignment direction of the cavities is formed in the batch rubber stopper.

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