JP2006054065A - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof connector capable of reducing its size, without apprehension of damaging its waterproofing property even if fitting and release are repeated. <P>SOLUTION: The waterproof connector is composed of a plug type connector and a receptacle type connector to be fitted into each other. A ring-shaped rubber packing 90 is arranged on the receptacle type connector, and a ring-shaped rib 42 is arranged along the rubber packing 90 at a front end face 41 of the plug type connector facing the rubber packing 90. Deformation of the rubber packing 90 is minimized by pressing the rib 42 in a direction of fitting it to the rubber packing 90 by jointing a coupling 50 fitted to an outside of the plug type connector with play to a male screw formed on an outer circumference of the receptacle type connector. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector comprising a plug-type connector and a receptacle-type connector that fit together.

  Conventionally, in this type of waterproof connector, an annular seal member is provided at one of the boundary portions of both connectors facing each other in the mating direction when mated, and the other boundary portion is brought into contact with the seal member to face each other. A watertight boundary is formed. An O-ring, rubber packing, or the like is used as the annular seal member.

JP 59-160981 A (FIGS. 2 and 3) JP 2001-52805 A (FIGS. 1 and 2) Japanese Utility Model Publication No.59-166380

  By the way, when it is going to miniaturize the waterproof connector of the above structures, the annular sealing member provided in order to form watertightness is arrange | positioned near the outer periphery of the boundary part which opposes between both connectors. It becomes like this. Then, when the seal member is compressed and deformed by the coupling provided for fitting both the connectors, the deformed seal member and the coupling tend to interfere with each other, and the seal member is caught in the rotating coupling or the cup. The seal member is damaged by a screw (female screw) formed on the ring, and there is a possibility that the waterproof performance is impaired while the fitting is repeated.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector that can be reduced in size and that does not have a risk of damaging waterproof performance even when repeated fitting is performed.

The waterproof connector according to the present invention includes one connector and the other connector that are fitted to each other, and an annular seal member is provided at one of the boundary portions of both connectors that face each other in the fitting direction at the time of fitting. In the waterproof connector in which the water tightness of the boundary portion facing the part is brought into contact with the seal member,
An annular rib is formed along the seal member at the other boundary contacting the seal member, and a coupling loosely fitted on the outside of the other connector is coupled to a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the one connector. Thus, the rib is pressed against the seal member in the fitting direction.

  In the configuration as described above, a stop shoulder facing the front end surface in the fitting direction of the coupling is provided on the rear end side in the fitting direction from the male screw formed on the outer periphery of the one connector, and the coupling and the male screw are provided. At the end of the coupling, it is desirable that the front end face of the coupling and the stop shoulder abut.

  Further, a slide stopper facing the rear end surface of the coupling is provided on the rear end side in the fitting direction of the other connector, and the rear end surface of the coupling loosely fitted on the outer side of the other connector contacts the slide stopper. It is desirable that the front end face of the coupling be positioned in front of the annular rib in the contact state.

  According to the waterproof connector of the present invention configured as described above, since the rib is pressed against the seal member, the seal member is only slightly deformed compared to the case where the flat surface is pressed against the seal member to obtain water tightness. The water tightness can be secured. As a result, the amount of deformation due to compression of the seal member can be reduced, interference with the coupling can be avoided, and it can be avoided that the seal member is caught in the rotating coupling or damaged by the screw of the coupling. Since sealing members such as O-rings and rubber packings are not restricted to be disposed near the outer peripheral edge of the boundary between the two connectors, the waterproof connector can be miniaturized.

  When the one shoulder is provided with a stop shoulder so that the stop shoulder and the front end surface of the coupling are brought into contact with each other at the end of the coupling between the coupling and the male screw portion, the forward movement position of the coupling when the two connectors are fitted together And the amount of compression and deformation of the seal member can be made constant. Moreover, overtightening can be prevented. For this reason, the performance as a waterproof connector can be reliably exhibited without individual differences by the operator.

  Also, if a slide stopper facing the rear end surface of the coupling is provided, and the rear end surface of the coupling is in contact with the slide stopper so that the front end surface of the coupling is positioned forward of the annular rib, Before fitting the connector, the annular rib exposed to the outside is protected by the front end of the coupling, maintaining the optimum shape of the rib against the O-ring and other sealing members, and the waterproof performance as a waterproof connector is impaired. Can not be.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a portion A that is a main part of the waterproof connector 10 shown in FIG. 2B (a cross-sectional view of the waterproof connector 10 of FIG. 2A cut along SS). The waterproof connector 10 includes the other connector 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (hereinafter referred to as a plug-type connector 20) and the one connector 60 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (hereinafter referred to as a receptacle-type connector 60 for convenience). To be). The plug-type connector 20 and the receptacle-type connector 60 can be fitted to each other so that the power cable 11 that terminates the plug-type connector 20 and the power cable 12 that terminates the receptacle-type connector 60 can be connected. The fitting direction for the plug-type connector 20 is the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2, and the fitting direction for the receptacle-type connector 60 is the direction of arrow C in FIG.

  The plug-type connector 20 is supported in a predetermined arrangement (FIG. 4) by an insulating housing 30 in which a plurality of pin contacts 21 are overmolded. The distal end of the pin contact 21 protrudes into a receptacle 31 formed on the front end side of the insulating housing 30, and the proximal end of the pin contact 21 extends rearward from the insulating housing 30, and the individual electric wires 11 a of the power cable 11 are connected. Yes.

  The outside of the insulating housing 30 is covered with a cylindrical plug cover 40. The plug cover 40 has a front end in the fitting direction (left side in FIG. 3) that extends slightly forward from the front end of the insulating housing 30. Further, the rear end portion of the plug cover 40 extends rearward larger than the rear end of the insulating housing 30. The front end face 41 in the front direction of the plug cover 40 in the fitting direction is in a plane perpendicular to the fitting direction. On the front end face 41, as best shown in FIG. An annular shape is provided along the front end face 41.

  The plug cover 40 extending greatly in the rear end direction accommodates the connecting portion between the pin contact 21 and the electric wire 11a and reaches the portion where the outer cover of the power cable 11 is not peeled off. A male screw 43 is provided on the outer periphery of the rear end of the plug cover 40 so that an annular cap 44 can be coupled thereto. By the coupling of the cap 44, a rubber bush 45 fitted on the outer periphery of the jacket of the power cable 11 is driven forward, and water-tightness of the introduction portion of the power cable 11 can be obtained.

  A cylindrical coupling 50 for coupling with the receptacle-type connector 60 is loosely fitted on the outside of the plug cover 40 so as to be rotatable around the plug cover 40 and slidable back and forth. A female screw 51 is provided on the inner periphery on the front end side in the fitting direction of the coupling 50. On the other hand, the rear end side of the coupling 50 is L-shaped in cross section, and the engaging portion 52 is formed in an annular shape. An engagement shoulder 46 and a slide stopper 47 are provided on the outer periphery of the plug cover 40 so as to face the annular engagement portion 52. The slide stopper 47 is mounted in an annular groove 48 formed along the outer periphery of the plug cover 40 after fitting the coupling 50 to the plug cover 40.

  When the plug-type connector 20 is fitted to the receptacle-type connector 60, the engagement portion 52 of the coupling 50 is engaged with the engagement shoulder portion 46, and the plug-type connector 20 is connected to the receptacle-type connector 60 via the coupling 50. It can be moved forward in the fitting direction. Further, before the mating with the receptacle-type connector 60, the backward sliding of the coupling 50 can be limited by the engagement of the engaging portion 52 and the slide stopper 47.

  Next, in the receptacle type connector 60, the socket contact 61 having an arrangement (FIG. 6) corresponding to the plurality of pin contacts 21 is connected to the first insulating housing 70 on the front end side (right side in FIG. 5) in the mating direction. It is supported by the second insulating housing 71 on the end side. The first insulating housing 70 forms a plug portion 72 that enters the receptacle 31 formed in the insulating housing 30 of the plug-type connector 20. The distal end portion of the socket contact 61 is accommodated in the plug portion 72. The base end of the socket contact 61 extends rearward from the second insulating housing 71 and is connected to the individual electric wires 12 a of the power cable 12.

  A cylindrical receptacle cover 80 is attached to the outside of the first and second insulating housings 70 and 71 integrated to support the socket contact 61. The front end of the receptacle cover 80 in the fitting direction is located at the base of the plug part 72, and the plug part 72 projects forward in the fitting direction. Similar to the plug cover 40 of the plug-type connector 20, the rear end side of the receptacle cover 80 greatly extends rearward in the fitting direction. The rear end side of the receptacle cover 80 greatly extending rearward in the fitting direction covers the connection portion between the socket contact 61 and the electric wire 12a, and the annular cap 84 drives the rubber bush 85 into the introduction portion of the power cable 12. Watertightness can be obtained.

  Two step portions 86 and 87 are provided on the outer periphery of the front end side in the fitting direction of the receptacle cover 80 in a plane perpendicular to the fitting direction. Between the two step portions 86 and 87, the cup A male screw 88 that can be coupled to the female screw 51 of the ring 50 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, of the two step portions 86 and 87, one of the front step portions 86 can be opposed to the entire front end surface 41 of the plug cover 40 constituting the plug-type connector 20. It is formed in an annular shape. In addition, the other stepped portion 87 on the rear side is formed in an annular shape so as to face the entire front end surface 53 in the fitting direction of the coupling 50.

  Further, an annular groove 89 is formed along the inner periphery of the front step portion 86. An annular rubber packing 90 (see FIG. 8) having a square cross section is mounted so that the inner peripheral edge is accommodated in the annular groove 89, and the rubber packing 90 is seated on the stepped portion 86.

  2A and 2B show a state in which the plug-type connector 20 and the receptacle-type connector 60 configured as described above are fitted to each other. The female screw 51 of the coupling 50 provided on the plug-type connector 20 side is coupled to the male screw 88 formed on the receptacle cover 80 on the receptacle-type connector 60 side, and the fitting state is maintained. As shown in the figure, the front end face 41 of the plug cover 40 that constitutes the plug-type connector 20 and the stepped portion 86 of the receptacle cover 80 that constitutes the receptacle-type connector 60 are the boundary portions of the connectors 20 and 60 that face each other. Is forming. And the annular rib 42 formed in the front end surface 41 of the plug cover 40 which is the other boundary part is pressed against the rubber packing 90 installed in the step part 86 which is one boundary part, and the water tightness of the boundary part is formed. ing.

  The coupling of the female screw 51 of the coupling 50 and the male screw 88 of the receptacle cover 80 is such that the rotation of the coupling 50 is stopped when the front end surface 53 of the coupling 50 abuts on the rear stepped portion 87 provided on the receptacle cover 80. , End the join. That is, the rear step 87 is a stop shoulder with respect to the coupling 50.

  The thickness in the fitting direction of the rubber packing 90, the height in the fitting direction of the rib 42, the angle of the apex, and the shape are determined when the coupling of the coupling 50 is stopped at the stop shoulder 87. It can be determined by design so that reliable watertightness can be obtained between 90 and the rib 42, and deformation due to compression of the rubber packing 90 can be minimized. Compared to the case where the front end surface 41 formed of a flat surface is pressed against the rubber packing 90 to obtain water tightness, the water tightness can be ensured only by slightly deforming the rubber packing 90. As a result, the amount of deformation due to compression of the rubber packing 90 is reduced, interference with the rotating coupling 50 is avoided, and it is avoided that the rubber packing 90 is caught in the coupling 50 or damaged by the female screw 51 of the coupling 50. it can.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the coupling 50 of the plug-type connector 20 slides rearward in the fitting direction, and the engaging portion 52 is in contact with and engaged with the slide stopper 47. The coupling 50 is positioned forward with the front end surface 53 beyond the apex of the rib 42 formed on the front end surface 41 of the plug cover 40 in a state where the engaging portion 52 is in contact with and engaged with the slide stopper 47 in this manner. As such, the length (fitting direction) and the slide range are set. By doing so, the rib 42 is protected by the coupling 50 before the plug-type connector 20 is fitted to the receptacle-type connector 60, and the plug-type connector 20 is accidentally dropped or hit against other objects. However, the rib 42 is prevented from being damaged, and the watertight performance due to contact with the rubber packing 90 is not impaired. In FIG. 7, D indicates a sliding range of the coupling 50 forward.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the rib 42 can be provided on the receptacle-type connector 60 side, and the rubber packing 90 can be provided on the plug-type connector 20 side. In addition, the coupling 50 can be provided on the receptacle-type connector side and can be coupled to a male screw provided on the plug-type connector 20 side. Furthermore, although the embodiment is the waterproof connector 10 for power supply, it can be similarly implemented as a waterproof connector for signals. The shape, number of poles, arrangement, etc. of the pin contact 21 and the socket contact 61 are changed. A metal shell for electromagnetic shielding may be provided.

It is sectional drawing to which the principal part (A part of FIG. 2) of the waterproof connector of embodiment of this invention was expanded. It is a top view in the fitting state of the waterproof connector of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the fitting state of the waterproof connector of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the plug-type connector which comprises the waterproof connector of embodiment. It is a figure of the front end face of a plug type connector similarly. It is sectional drawing of the receptacle type connector which comprises the waterproof connector of embodiment. It is a front end view of the same receptacle type connector. It is sectional drawing explaining the sliding range of the coupling provided in the plug type connector. It is a top view of rubber packing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Waterproof connector 11 Power cable 11a Electric wire 12 Power cable 12a Electric wire 20 Plug type connector 21 Pin contact 30 Insulation housing 31 Receptacle 40 Plug cover 41 Front end surface 42 Rib 43 Male screw 44 Cap 45 Rubber bush 46 Engagement shoulder 47 Slide stopper 48 Annular groove 50 Coupling 51 Female thread 52 Engaging portion 53 Front end surface 60 Receptacle connector 61 Socket contact 70 First insulating housing 71 Second insulating housing 72 Plug portion 80 Receptacle cover 84 Cap 85 Rubber bushing 86 Step portion 87 Step Part / stop shoulder 88 male thread 89 annular groove 90 rubber packing

Claims (3)

An annular seal member (90) formed of one connector (60) and the other connector (20) that are fitted to each other, at one of the boundary portions of both connectors (20, 60) that face each other in the fitting direction when fitted. In the waterproof connector (10) in which the other boundary is brought into contact with the seal member (90) to form the water tightness of the opposing boundary,
An annular rib (42) is formed along the seal member (90) at the other boundary (41) contacting the seal member (90), and loosely fitted to the outside of the other connector (20). The rib (42) is pressed against the seal member (90) in the fitting direction by coupling the coupling (50) to a male screw (88) formed on the outer periphery of one connector (60). Waterproof connector. A stop shoulder (87) facing the front end surface (53) in the fitting direction of the coupling (50) on the rear end side in the fitting direction from the male screw (88) formed on the outer periphery of the one connector (60). The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the front end face (53) and the stop shoulder (87) of the coupling (50) abut at the end of the coupling of the coupling (50) and the male screw (88). A slide stopper (47) facing the rear end surface of the coupling (50) is provided on the rear end side in the fitting direction of the other connector (20), and is loosely fitted outside the other connector (20). The front end surface (53) of the coupling (50) is positioned forward of the annular rib (42) in a state where the rear end surface of the coupling (50) is in contact with the slide stopper (47). The waterproof connector according to claim 1 or 2.

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