JP2008027604A - Connector and connector unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector of a simple structure which can be repeatedly inserted and pulled out, with occurrence of arc prevented. <P>SOLUTION: A connector unit 1 comprises a connector 2 and a mating connector 17 that can be engaged with the connector 2. The connector 2 comprises a housing 3 and a terminal 9. A contact 12 of the terminal 9 for a mating terminal 26 is provided with a fine rough 13, and the rough 13 is coated with an arc-resistant grease as an arc generation preventing agent. The mating connector 17 comprises a mating housing 18 and the mating terminal 26. A contact 29 of the mating terminal 26 for the terminal 9 is provided with a fine rough 32, and the rough 32 is coated with an arc-resistant grease as an arc generation preventing agent. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector and a connector unit capable of holding an arc generation preventing agent applied to a terminal.

  Many electronic devices are mounted on automobiles, and electronic devices are connected to automobiles and other electronic devices via wire harnesses. The wire harness and the electronic device are connected when the connectors included in the wire harness and the electronic device are fitted to each other, and the wire harness transmits electric power, a control signal, and the like to the electronic device.

  When the connectors that are fitted and electrically connected are removed, the terminals of the connectors that are in contact with each other are separated. At this time, when the voltage applied to the connector is high, arc discharge occurs between the terminals at the moment when the terminals are separated from each other. Due to this arc discharge, the terminals melt and change in shape, which may cause poor contact between the terminals. Further, by repeatedly inserting and removing the connector, the shape of the terminal due to arc discharge may be remarkably deformed, resulting in a state where the insertion and removal are impossible. In particular, in automobiles, the influence of arc discharge on the terminals is enormous due to the higher voltage of the power supply.

  In order to solve this type of problem, various connectors have been used (for example, see Patent Document 1). This type of connector includes a terminal that contacts and electrically connects to a mating terminal of a mating connector that can be fitted to each other, and an arc suppressor. The arc suppressor is made of a conductive material and is electrically connected to the terminal. The arc suppressor is provided at a position where the terminal and the counterpart terminal are in contact with each other when the terminal and the counterpart terminal that are in contact with each other are separated from each other and the terminal and the counterpart terminal are electrically connected.

When the connector provided with the arc arresting body and the terminal and the counterpart connector provided with the counterpart terminal are fitted, the terminal and the counterpart terminal are in contact with each other and are electrically connected. When the connector and the counterpart connector are removed, the terminal and the counterpart terminal are separated. The arc suppressor continues to contact the counterpart terminal even after the terminal is separated from the counterpart terminal, and maintains an electrical connection between the connectors. Thereby, an arc suppression body suppresses the arc discharge which may occur between the said terminal and the other party terminal. Arc discharge may occur between the arc arresting body and the mating terminal whose electrical connection is finally disconnected. However, since the arc suppressor is very thin compared to the terminal and the metal supply is immediately stopped, the arc discharge immediately disappears. Although a part of the arc suppressor melts due to arc discharge, the counterpart terminal is less damaged.
JP 2003-249302 A

  The connector described in Patent Document 1 and the like described above includes an arc suppressor. For this reason, the structure of the connector tends to be complicated and the production cost tends to increase. Further, the contact portion of the arc suppressor with the counterpart terminal is easily melted when arc discharge occurs, and the melted contact portion does not function as the arc suppressor.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector and a connector unit that have a simple structure and can prevent the occurrence of arcs that can be repeatedly inserted and removed.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the connector of the present invention according to claim 1 is a connector comprising a terminal that contacts and electrically connects to a mating terminal of a mating connector that can be fitted to each other. The contact portion of the terminal with the counterpart terminal is provided with fine unevenness, and an arc generation inhibitor is applied to the unevenness.

  A connector unit according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the connector according to the first aspect and a mating connector that can be fitted to the connector.

  According to the connector of the present invention described in claim 1, fine irregularities are provided in the contact portion of the terminal, and the arc generation preventing agent is applied to the irregularities. For this reason, the applied arc generation preventing agent is effectively held by the unevenness of the contact portion, and hardly flows out to other portions.

  According to the connector unit of the present invention described in claim 2, fine irregularities are provided in the contact portion of the terminal, and the arc generation preventing agent is applied to the irregularities. For this reason, the applied arc generation preventing agent is effectively held by the unevenness of the contact portion, and hardly flows out to other portions.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, fine unevenness is provided on the contact portion of the terminal, and the arc generation inhibitor is applied to the unevenness. For this reason, the applied arc generation preventing agent is effectively held by the unevenness of the contact portion, and hardly flows out to other portions. Therefore, the arc discharge between the contact portions can be suppressed by the arc generation preventive agent even in the repeated insertion / extraction operation with a simple structure. Even when arc discharge occurs, the contact portion is covered with the arc generation inhibitor, so that it does not directly touch the arc, and there is little melting loss due to arc discharge. Therefore, it is possible to suppress melting of the terminal due to arc discharge.

  Moreover, since the fine unevenness | corrugation is provided in the contact part of the terminal, the contact area between contact parts is small. That is, even if arc discharge occurs, the metal supply is small and the arc discharge can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suppress melting of the terminal due to arc discharge.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, fine unevenness is provided in the contact portion of the terminal, and the arc generation inhibitor is applied to the unevenness. For this reason, the applied arc generation preventing agent is effectively held by the unevenness of the contact portion, and hardly flows out to other portions. Therefore, the arc discharge between the contact portions can be suppressed by the arc generation preventive agent even in the repeated insertion / extraction operation with a simple structure. Even when arc discharge occurs, the contact portion is covered with grease, so that it does not directly touch the arc, and there is little melting loss due to arc discharge. Therefore, it is possible to suppress melting of the terminal due to arc discharge.

  Moreover, since the fine unevenness | corrugation is provided in the contact part of the terminal, the contact area between contact parts is small. That is, even if arc discharge occurs, the metal supply is small and the arc discharge can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suppress melting of the terminal due to arc discharge.

  Hereinafter, a connector unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a connector 2 and a mating connector 17 that can be fitted to the connector 2. The connector 2 includes a housing 3 and terminals 9. The counterpart connector 17 includes a counterpart housing 18 and a counterpart terminal 26.

  The housing 3 is made of an insulating synthetic resin and is formed in a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. The housing 3 includes a housing housing chamber 4 at one of the openings, and accommodates the counterpart housing 18. A terminal accommodating chamber 8 is provided on the other side of the opening to accommodate the terminal 9. The inner surface 6 of the upper wall 5 of the housing accommodating chamber 4 is provided with a lock hole 7 as an engagement receiving portion. The lock hole 7 is recessed from the inner surface 6 of the upper wall 5 and does not penetrate the upper wall 5. The lock hole 7 can be engaged with an engagement protrusion 25 of a counterpart housing 18 described later.

  The terminal 9 is made of conductive sheet metal or the like, and is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 8 of the housing 3 as shown in FIG. The terminal 9 includes a wire connecting portion 10 that is connected to the electric wire 15 and a contact portion 12 that contacts the counterpart terminal 26. The wire connecting portion 10 includes a plurality of caulking pieces 11. The caulking piece 11 caulks the end of the electric wire 15 and is electrically connected to the core wire 16 of the electric wire 15.

  The contact portion 12 is formed in a substantially rod shape, and is provided so as to protrude into the housing accommodating chamber 4 in a direction facing the mating connector 17 to be fitted, as shown in FIG. When the housing 3 and the counterpart housing 18 are fitted, the contact portion 12 contacts the contact portion 29 of the counterpart terminal 26 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and the terminal 9 and the counterpart terminal 26 are electrically connected. To do. As shown in FIG. 2, fine irregularities 13 are provided on the surface of the contact portion 12.

  The recesses of the irregularities 13 are formed in a round shape having a diameter of about 1 μm to 500 μm. The unevenness 13 is formed at the time of sheet metal before terminal molding, etc. by rolling with a roll having an uneven shape. The unevenness 13 may be formed by pressing with a mold having a rough surface at the time of terminal molding. Further, the unevenness 13 may be formed by shot peening using a shot material such as ceramic, glass or metal after terminal molding. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a grease layer 14 is formed on the concavo-convex portion 13 as an arc generation preventing agent, which is applied with a grease for preventing arc generation, which will be described later. The grease is applied to the irregularities 13 by dip coating. The grease may be applied directly with an applicator such as a brush.

  The counterpart housing 18 is made of an insulating synthetic resin as shown in FIG. The counterpart housing 18 includes a terminal accommodating chamber 19 and a lock arm 21. The terminal accommodating chamber 19 is formed in a cylindrical shape and accommodates the counterpart terminal 26.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lock arm 21 is integrally provided with a wall 23 parallel to the upper wall 20 of the terminal accommodating chamber 19 and a connecting wall 22 that connects the upper wall 20 and the wall 23. It is formed in an inverted L shape. The lock arm 21 has flexibility. The lock arm 21 includes an engaging protrusion 25 as an engaging portion protruding from the outer surface 24 of the wall 23. When the counterpart housing 18 is accommodated in the housing accommodation chamber 4, the outer surface 24 of the wall 23 of the lock arm 21 and the inner surface 6 of the upper wall 5 of the housing accommodation chamber 4 come into contact with each other. Engage.

  The counterpart terminal 26 is made of a conductive sheet metal or the like, and includes a wire connecting portion 27 connected to the electric wire 15 and a contact portion 29 contacting the terminal 9 as shown in FIG. The electric wire connection portion 27 includes a plurality of caulking pieces 28. The caulking piece 28 caulks the end of the electric wire 15 and is electrically connected to the core wire 16 of the electric wire 15.

  The contact portion 29 is formed in a substantially box shape and opens in a direction facing the connector 2 to be fitted, as shown in FIG. The contact portion 29 is provided with a plate-like contact piece 30 on the inner upper surface and an elastic contact piece 31 on the inner lower surface. When the housing 3 and the counterpart housing 18 are fitted to each other, the contact portion 29 sandwiches the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 with the plate-like contact piece 30 and the elastic contact piece 31 as shown in FIG. The terminal 26 is electrically connected. As shown in FIG. 2, fine irregularities 32 are provided on the surface of the contact portion 29. Since the unevenness 32 is the same as the unevenness 13 provided on the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Grease as an arc generation preventing agent is composed of a base oil, a thickener, and an additive which will be described later. The composition ratio is 95 to 70% by weight of the base oil, and 5 to 30% by weight of the thickener and the additive. Increasing the proportion of the thickener can prevent arcing more, while increasing the volume resistivity of the grease and lowering the conductivity. The thickener is preferably 15% by weight or less, and the additive is preferably 10% by weight or less. In addition, when the grease has a relatively high consistency or a base oil with a relatively low viscosity, it is difficult to flow out to the other parts when applied to the irregularities 13 and 32, thereby preventing appearance damage and adhesion of dust and the like. It is possible.

  When the base oil is a mineral oil, the paraffinic mineral oil and the naphthenic mineral oil can prevent arc generation more. In the synthetic oil system, polyol ester oil, polyalkylene glycol oil, diester oil, then poly-α-olefin oil, and finally diphenyl ether oil can further prevent arcing. One or two or more types can be selected from the above base oils. In the case of the same type of base oil, the lower the viscosity, the more the arc can be prevented. This is because when the viscosity is low, there is no stringiness or followability and the paintability to the contact portion is excellent, so that a sufficient grease layer is formed.

  Thickeners can prevent arcing of organic bentonite, calcium composite soap, then urea compound, lithium soap, calcium soap, and aluminum soap. . One or two or more types can be selected from the above thickeners. The grease containing the organic bentonite may not be energized depending on the particle shape, but when it is granulated and added to the base oil, the electroconductivity is improved.

  One or more additives can be selected from an antioxidant, an antistatic agent and a thickener. As the antistatic agent, one type or two or more types can be selected from nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and mixed surfactants of anionic and cationic types.

  In the present embodiment, the grease having the above configuration is used as the grease for preventing arc generation. The grease is insulative. Even if the insulating grease is applied to the irregularities 13 and 32, the contact portions 12 and 29 are in direct contact with each other as shown in FIG. 5, or the contact portions 12 and 29 are in contact with each other as shown in FIG. Can be energized when they are in contact via the thin grease layers 14 and 33.

  When the connector 2 having the above-described configuration and the counterpart connector 17 are fitted, first, the counterpart housing 18 of the counterpart connector 17 is inserted into the housing accommodating chamber 4 of the connector 2 as shown in FIG. At this time, the substantially rod-shaped contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 gradually enters the substantially box-shaped contact portion 29 of the counterpart terminal 26 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the counterpart housing 18 contacts the outer surface 24 of the wall 23 of the lock arm 21 and the inner surface 6 of the upper wall 5 of the housing accommodating chamber 4 and enters the housing accommodating chamber 4. When the engaging protrusion 25 provided on the outer surface 24 of the wall 23 comes into contact with the upper wall 5, the wall 24 is elastically deformed in a direction in which the side away from the connecting wall 22 approaches the terminal accommodating chamber 19. The counterpart housing 18 enters the housing accommodation chamber 4 while contacting the upper surface of the engagement protrusion 25 and the inner surface 6 of the upper wall 5. When the engagement protrusion 25 reaches the lock hole 7, the engagement protrusion 25 and the lock hole 7 are engaged. At the same time, due to the elastic restoring force of the lock arm 21, the outer surface 24 of the wall 23 and the inner surface 6 of the upper wall 5 are in contact with each other, and the housing 3 and the counterpart housing 18 are fitted.

  In parallel with the fitting of the housing 3 and the counterpart housing 18 described above, the terminal 9 and the counterpart terminal 26 approach each other. As shown in FIG. 3, the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 further enters the contact portion 29 of the counterpart terminal 26.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, before the contact part 12 of the terminal 9 and the contact part 29 of the other party terminal 26 contact, the grease layers 14 and 33 of the contact parts 12 and 29 approach and contact each other. . The contact portion 12 and the contact portion 29 are provided with irregularities 13 and 32 on the surface, and grease is applied to prevent arcing. The applied grease is insulative, but can be energized at the part where the contact parts 12 and 29 are in contact with each other via the thin grease layers 14 and 33. Therefore, arc discharge may occur when the grease layers 14 and 33 are in contact with each other. However, the surfaces of the connecting portions 12 and 29 are covered with grease for preventing arc generation, and the melting of the terminal 9 and the counterpart terminal 26 due to arc discharge can be suppressed.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 5, the contact portions 12 and 29 are in contact with each other. The contact part 12 elastically deforms the elastic contact piece 31 of the contact part 29 downward. The contact portion 12 is sandwiched between the plate-like contact piece 30 and the elastic contact piece 31, and the terminal 9 and the counterpart terminal 26 are in contact with each other.

  When removing the connector 2 and the mating connector 17, the side of the wall 23 of the lock arm 21 away from the connecting wall 24 is elastically deformed in a direction approaching the terminal accommodating chamber 19 of the mating connector 17. Then, the engagement protrusion 25 and the lock hole 7 are disengaged. In this state, the housing 3 and the counterpart housing 18 can be removed by pulling the housing 3 and the counterpart housing 18 in opposite directions.

  In parallel with the removal of the housing 3 and the counterpart housing 18 described above, the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 gradually comes out of the contact portion 29 of the counterpart terminal 26. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4, the contact portion 12 and the contact portion 29 are separated from each other, and the elastic contact piece 31 of the contact portion 29 is restored upward by the elastic restoring force. On the other hand, the grease layers 14 and 33 maintain contact with each other. At this stage, the electrical connection is maintained due to the electrical conductivity of the grease layers 14 and 33.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 3, the grease layer 14 of the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 is separated from the grease layer 33 of the contact portion 29 of the counterpart terminal 25, and the terminal 9 and the counterpart terminal 25 are separated. The contact portion 12 and the contact portion 29 are provided with irregularities 13 and 32 on the surface, and grease is applied to prevent arcing. The applied grease is insulative, but can be energized at the part where the contact parts 12 and 29 are in contact with each other via the thin grease layers 14 and 33. Therefore, arc discharge may occur when the grease layers 14 and 33 are separated. However, the surfaces of the contact portions 12 and 29 are covered with grease that prevents arcing, so that melting of the terminal 9 and the counterpart terminal 26 due to arc discharge can be suppressed.

  According to this embodiment, the fine unevenness | corrugation 13 and 32 is provided in the contact part 12 of the terminal 9, and the contact part 29 of the other party terminal 26, and the arc generation inhibitor is apply | coated. For this reason, the applied arc generation preventing agent is effectively held by the irregularities 13 and 32 of the contact portions 12 and 26 and hardly flows out to other portions. Therefore, the arc discharge between the contact portions 12 and 26 can be suppressed by the arc generation preventing agent even in the repeated insertion / extraction operation with a simple structure. Even when arc discharge occurs, the contact portions 12 and 29 are covered with the arc generation preventing agent, so that they do not directly touch the arc, and there is little melting loss due to arc discharge. Therefore, the melting damage of the terminal 9 and the counterpart terminal 12 due to arc discharge can be suppressed.

  Moreover, since the fine unevenness | corrugations 13 and 32 are provided in the contact part 12 of the terminal 9, and the contact part 29 of the other party terminal 26, the contact area between the contact parts 12 and 29 is small. That is, even if arc discharge occurs, the metal supply is small and the arc discharge can be reduced. Therefore, the melting damage of the terminal 9 and the counterpart terminal 26 due to arc discharge can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, as the arc generation preventing agent, the grease for preventing arc generation as described above is used. However, in the present invention, an oily substance other than the grease may be applied. Oily substances include mineral oils (eg, paraffinic mineral oil, naphthenic mineral oil, etc.), synthetic oils (eg, polyol ester oil, polyalkylene glycol oil, diester oil, poly-α-olefin oil, diphenyl ether oil) Etc.), animal oils, vegetable oils and the like. From the above, one or two or more of these may be blended, or those described above may be added to these. Furthermore, what added the above-mentioned thickener may be used. The applied oily substance forms an oil layer with the unevennesses 13 and 32 provided on the terminals 9 and 26, and is effectively held by the unevennesses 13 and 32.

  Further, in the present embodiment, fine irregularities 13 and 32 are provided at both the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 of the connector 2 and the contact portion 29 of the counterpart terminal 26 of the counterpart connector 17 to prevent the occurrence of arcing. It was applied. However, in the present invention, the grease may be applied by providing irregularities on at least one of the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 of the connector 2 and the contact portion 29 of the counterpart connector 26 of the counterpart connector 17.

  For example, the unevenness 13 is provided only on the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 and grease for preventing arc generation is applied. When the terminal 9 and the counterpart terminal 26 approach each other, the grease layer 14 of the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 and the contact portion 29 of the counterpart terminal 26 approach each other and come into contact with each other. The grease layer 14 of the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 can suppress arc discharge between the contact portions 12 and 29. Even when arc discharge occurs, the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9 is covered with grease, so that it does not directly touch the arc, and there is little melting damage due to arc discharge of the contact portion 12 of the terminal 9.

It is sectional drawing of the connector unit concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the unevenness | corrugation of the contact part of the terminal of the connector which comprises the connector unit shown by FIG. 1, and the unevenness | corrugation of the contact part of the other party terminal of the other party connector. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the state which the connector shown in FIG. 1 and the other party connector approached, and the terminal and the other party terminal approached. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the state which the connector shown in FIG. 1 and the other party connector approach, the terminal and the other party terminal approach, and the grease layer of a contact part is contacting. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the state which the connector shown by FIG. 1 and the other party connector approached, and the terminal and the other party terminal are contacting.

Explanation of symbols

1 Connector unit 2 Connector 3 Housing 9 Terminal 12 Contact part (terminal)
13 Concavity and convexity (terminal)
14 Grease layer (terminal)
17 Mating connector 18 Mating housing 26 Mating terminal 29 Contact part (mating terminal)
32 Concavity and convexity (mating terminal)
33 Grease layer (mating terminal)

Claims (2)

In a connector having a terminal that contacts and electrically connects to a mating terminal of a mating connector that can be fitted to each other,
A connector in which fine irregularities are provided in a contact portion of the terminal with the counterpart terminal, and an arc generation preventing agent is applied to the irregularities.   A connector unit comprising the connector according to claim 1 and a mating connector that can be fitted to the connector.

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