JP2008311020A - Connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain waterproofness that is endurable to high-pressure washing, without having to enhance the sealing properties of a packing, in a connector device equipped with the packing that seals a gap of a fitting part of male and female connectors. <P>SOLUTION: This is equipped with a first connector A equipped with a cylindrical part 13, a male terminal protruding to an aperture, in the axial direction of the cylindrical part 13 from the bottom face of the cylindrical part 13; a second connector B which is inserted into the bottom face, in the inside of the cylindrical part 13 from its aperture in the axial direction of the cylindrical part 13 and which is fitted to the cylindrical part 13 of the first connector A; a female-type terminal which is electrically connected to the male-type terminal that is advanced to a plug-in hole of insertion side end face of the second connector B, when the second connector B is fitted inside of the cylindrical part 13; a packing to seal between the inner face of the cylindrical part 13 and the outer face of the second connector B; a cover 30 having an extension part 31 which is assembled with the second connector B, in a form that includes this to cover the outer periphery of the cylindrical part 13; and a locking means to lock between the first connector and the second connector in a fitting state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector device used for connecting harnesses in an electric system of an automobile.

  Such a connector device can be configured as shown in FIGS.

  In FIG. 3, A is a 1st connector provided with the cylinder part 13, and the male terminal 14 which protrudes from the bottom face of the cylinder part 13 to the opening in the axial direction of the cylinder part 13 is accommodated with an electric wire. B is a second connector which is inserted into the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 13 from the opening thereof into the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 13 and is fitted to the cylindrical portion 13 of the first connector A. The insertion hole of the male terminal 14 is opened, and the female terminal 15 electrically connected to the male terminal 14 entering the insertion hole is accommodated together with the electric wire.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes an outer shape portion that forms a groove-like recess (not shown) extending in the fitting direction on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 13, and 18 denotes an entrance into the groove-like recess, and the front end in the entry direction is on the outer surface of the second connector B. The protrusion is fixed and the rear end side is formed so as to be elastically deformable inward as will be described later as it enters the groove-shaped recess, and a protrusion having a triangular right section is formed on the inner surface of the groove-shaped recess. A protrusion 19 having a square cross section is formed on the outer surface of the piece 18.

  The rear end side of the projecting piece 19 is inserted into the second connector B while elastically deforming so that the projection 19 having a quadrangular section crosses the projection having a right-angled triangular section (slope side surface) as it enters the groove-shaped recess. At the fitting position where the side end surface abuts against the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 13, the projection 19 having a quadrangular cross section engages with a projection (step surface) having a right triangular section, while the first connector A and the second connector B are fitted. In the combined state (the engagement state of the protrusion 19 having a square cross section and the protrusion having a right triangle shape), the rear end side of the protrusion 18 has a shape protruding partly outside the groove-shaped recess. When it is pushed and bent inward, the engagement state between the protrusion 19 having a square cross section and the protrusion having a right triangular section is released, and the connection between the first connector A and the second connector B can be disconnected.

  A fitting state between the first connector A and the second connector B by the groove-shaped concave portion, the elastically deformable protruding piece 18, the protrusion 19 having a quadrangular section, and the protrusion having a right-angled triangular section (see FIG. The second connector B is inserted into the inside of the tube portion 13 to lock the male terminal 14 and the female terminal 15 electrically). 21 is a corrugated tube that covers the wire lead-out portion of the male terminal 14 of the first connector A, 22 is a corrugated tube that covers the wire pull-out portion of the female terminal 15 of the second connector B, and 23 is the entire connector Is a clip that supports the vehicle body side.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows a fitting state between the first connector A and the second connector B, and prevents the washing water from entering the contact portion between the terminals 14 and 15 at the time of car washing. Therefore, a packing 24 is provided that seals between the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 13 of the first connector A and the outer periphery of the second connector B inserted inside the cylindrical portion 13.

In Patent Documents 1 to 3, a waterproof cover for a connector is disclosed.
Japanese Patent No. 2857316 JP-A-10-32037 JP 2002-25684 A

  In such a connector device, since the cleaning water prevents the cleaning water from entering the contact portion between the terminals 14 and 15, when the cleaning water pressure (injection pressure) increases, the high-pressure cleaning water There is a possibility of intrusion. For this reason, if the sealing performance of the packing 24 is improved, it becomes difficult to insert the second connector B into the cylindrical portion 13 of the first connector A, and the fitting between the first connector A and the second connector B (first connector A The connection between the male terminal 14 and the female terminal 15 of the second connector B) is not easily performed.

  An object of this invention is to provide an effective means for solving such a problem.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector device comprising: a first connector having a cylindrical portion; a male terminal protruding from the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion into the opening in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion; A second connector which is inserted into the bottom surface by inserting the direction into the bottom surface, and a male mold which enters the insertion hole on the insertion side end surface of the second connector when the second connector is fitted inside the cylindrical portion. A female terminal that is electrically connected to the terminal, a packing that seals between the inner surface of the tube portion and the outer surface of the second connector, and an outer periphery of the tube portion that is assembled in a form that encloses the second connector. The second connector is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical portion between the cover having the extension portion to cover and the first connector and the second connector so that the male terminal of the first connector and the female terminal of the second connector are electrically connected. And means for locking in a fitted state to be connected.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector device according to the first aspect of the present invention, as a means for locking the first connector and the second connector in a fitted state, a groove-like recess extending in the fitting direction on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion A protrusion that can enter the recess, has a front end in the direction of entry fixed to the outer surface of the second connector, and a rear end that can be elastically deformed inward as the groove enters the groove. A portion protruding from a groove-like recess on the rear end side of the projecting piece while engaging in a fitting state in which the male terminal of the first connector and the female terminal of the second connector are electrically connected between the projecting pieces And a means for setting the engagement so as to be disengageable when it is pushed and bent inward.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the connector device according to the second aspect of the invention, the cover is composed of a pair of cover halves having a U-shaped cross section, and the locking means that cannot be released by abutting the joint surfaces of both cover halves. In a fitting state where the male terminal of the first connector and the female terminal of the second connector are electrically connected, the groove-shaped recess on the rear end side of the elastically deformable protruding piece is used. A hinge structure for pushing in the protruding portion is provided.

  In the first invention, between the first connector and the second connector, the second connector is inserted inside the cylindrical portion so that the male terminal of the first connector and the female terminal of the second connector are electrically connected. Locked to the mating state to be connected. In this state, a labyrinth is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion by the extended portion of the cover, so that the cleaning water does not hit the packing, so that it has sufficient waterproofness to withstand high pressure cleaning without increasing the sealing performance of the packing. can get.

  In the second invention, during inspection, the fitting state between the first connector and the second connector (the male terminal of the first connector and the female terminal of the second connector are electrically connected) is locked by a simple operation. It is possible to release the electrical connection between the male terminal of the first connector and the female terminal of the second connector. At the time of inspection, since the cover has an extension portion that covers the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, it is necessary to remove the cover from the second connector before unlocking the fitting state between the first connector and the second connector.

  In the third aspect of the invention, the cover is assembled to the second connector, and both cover halves are integrated by a non-releasable locking means, so that they do not come off due to vibration during driving or water pressure during car washing. High reliability of protection function can be obtained. At the time of inspection, the cover hinge structure allows easy operation of the fitting state between the first connector and the second connector (the male terminal of the first connector and the female terminal of the second connector are electrically connected). Can be unlocked.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 1, A is a first connector, B is a second connector, these are integrally molded from a synthetic resin, and assembled in a form that encloses the second connector B, and the outer periphery of a cylindrical portion 13 to be described later. A cover 30 having an extension 31 covering the surface is provided.

  The 1st connector A is provided with the cylinder part 13, and the male terminal which protrudes from the bottom face of the cylinder part 13 to the opening in the axial direction of the cylinder part 13 is accommodated with an electric wire. The second connector B is for inserting the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 13 into the bottom surface from the opening inside the cylindrical portion 13 and fitting with the cylindrical portion 13 of the first connector A. An insertion hole of a male terminal (see FIG. 4) is opened on the end face, and a female terminal (see FIG. 4) that is electrically connected to the male terminal entering the insertion hole is accommodated together with the electric wire. .

  The first connector A and the second connector B are locked between these fitting states (the second connector B is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical portion 13 and the male terminal and the female terminal are electrically connected). Means (see FIG. 3) are provided. Reference numeral 16 denotes an outer portion that forms a groove-like recess (not shown) extending in the fitting direction on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 13, and a projecting piece that can enter the groove-like recess is provided on the second connector B. The projecting piece is formed such that the front end in the entry direction with respect to the groove-shaped recess is fixed to the outer surface of the second connector B, and the rear end side is elastically deformable inward as described later along with the entry into the groove-shaped recess.

  A protrusion having a right-angled triangular cross section is formed on the inner surface of the groove-shaped recess, and a protrusion having a square cross-section (see FIG. 3) is formed on the outer surface of the protruding piece, and the rear end side of the protruding piece enters the groove-shaped recess. Accordingly, the projection at the insertion side end of the second connector B abuts against the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 13 while being elastically deformed so that the projection having a quadrangular section crosses over the projection (slanted side surface) having a right-angled triangular section. The quadrangular projection engages with the projection (step surface) having a right-angled triangular cross section, while the first connector A and the second connector B are engaged with each other (the square-shaped projection and the right-angled triangular projection). In the engaged state), the rear end side of the projecting piece has a shape protruding partly to the outside of the groove-shaped recess, and when this part is pushed and bent inwardly, The engagement state of the first connector and the second connector is released. It is adapted to decouple the connection.

  Although not shown in the drawings, the first connector A and the second connector B are fitted to each other by a groove-shaped recess, an elastically deformable protruding piece, a protrusion having a square cross section, and a protrusion having a right-angled triangular section. Means for locking in a state (the second connector is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical portion and the male terminal and the female terminal are electrically connected) is configured. When the cover 30 is in the fitted state between the first connector A and the second connector B, the cover 30 covers the portion protruding from the groove-shaped recess on the rear end side of the elastically deformable protruding piece (first connector A side). The part becomes the extension part 31.

  In FIG. 1, 21 is a corrugated tube that covers the wire lead-out portion of the male terminal of the first connector A, 22 is a corrugated tube that covers the wire pull-out portion of the female terminal of the second connector B, and 23 This is a clip that supports the entire connector on the vehicle body side.

  The cover 30 is integrally molded from a synthetic resin as shown in FIG. Reference numerals 30a and 30b denote U-shaped cover halves, and reference numeral 30c denotes a hinge portion 30c that connects the cover halves 30a and 30b so that they can be opened and closed. Both cover halves 30a and 30b are integrated by a locking means 33 that cannot be released when the hinge portion 30c is closed and the joint surfaces are brought into contact with each other. The lock means 33 includes a projection 33b and an insertion hole 33a corresponding to the projection 33b. A hole 33c is formed in the protrusion 33b, and a claw (not shown) protrudes inside the insertion hole 33a. When the cover halves 30a and 30b are brought into contact with each other, the protrusion 33b is inserted into the insertion hole 33a. When the claw engages with the hole 33c while entering, it is locked in the cylindrical closed state.

  In FIG. 2, 35 is a receiving portion for the clip 23, 36 is a fitting portion for locking the corrugated tube 22, and 37 is an outer portion 16 (FIG. 1, FIG. 1) that forms a groove-like recess on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 13. Of the protrusions that can be elastically deformed in the fitting state in which the male terminal of the first connector A and the female terminal of the second connector B are electrically connected to each other. A hinge structure 38 is provided at a position corresponding to a portion protruding from the groove-like recess on the rear end side. The hinge structure 38 is obtained by inserting a U-shaped slit 38a (see FIG. 1) in the bottom wall of the recess 37, and the portion surrounded by the slit 38a can be pushed inward.

  With this configuration, the cover 30 is assembled to the second connector B, and when the cover halves 30a and 30b are locked in the cylindrical closed state, there is no means for releasing them from the outside. It will not come off due to the vibration of the water or the water pressure at the time of car wash, and the reliability of the protection function will be improved. In addition, since the extension portion 31 covers the outer periphery of the cylinder portion 13, a labyrinth is formed on the outer periphery of the cylinder portion 13 by the extension portion 31, so that the cleaning water does not hit the packing and enhances the sealing performance of the packing. Therefore, sufficient waterproofness that can withstand high pressure washing can be obtained.

  At the time of inspection, the hinge structure 38 of the cover 30 is used to fit the first connector A and the second connector B (the male terminal of the first connector A and the female terminal of the second connector B are electrically connected). Can be unlocked by a simple operation. That is, when the portion protruding from the groove-shaped concave portion on the rear end side of the elastically deformable protruding piece is pushed by the hinge mechanism 30, the engagement state between the protrusion having the quadrangular cross section and the protrusion having the right triangular section is released. The connection between the first connector A and the second connector B can be disconnected.

It is a perspective view explaining embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the cover before the same assembly. It is a perspective view explaining the premise technique of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining a fitting state similarly.

Explanation of symbols

A 1st connector B 2nd connector 13 Cylindrical part 16 Groove-shaped recessed part 30 Cover 30a, 30b Cover half body 30c Cover half-hinge part 31 Extension part 37 Recessed part which outer part can be taken in and out 38 Hinge structure

Claims (3)

  A first connector having a tubular portion; a male terminal protruding from the bottom surface of the tubular portion into the opening in the axial direction of the tubular portion; and an axial direction of the tubular portion from the opening to the bottom surface inside the tubular portion. And a female terminal that is electrically connected to a male terminal that enters the insertion hole of the insertion-side end face of the second connector when the second connector is fitted inside the cylindrical portion. A seal that seals between the inner surface of the tube portion and the outer surface of the second connector, a cover that is assembled to the second connector so as to enclose it and covers the outer periphery of the tube portion, Means for locking between the connector and the second connector in a fitting state in which the second connector is inserted inside the cylindrical portion and the male terminal of the first connector and the female terminal of the second connector are electrically connected; A connector device comprising:   As means for locking the first connector and the second connector in a fitted state, a groove-like recess extending in the fitting direction on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion, and a front end in the entry direction that can enter the recess are the second connector. And a male terminal of the first connector between the groove-shaped recess and the elastically deformable protrusion, and a protruding piece that is fixed to the outer surface of the groove and whose rear end side is elastically deformable inward as the groove-shaped recess enters. Means for engaging the female terminal of the second connector in an electrically connected state and setting the portion protruding from the groove-like recess on the rear end side of the projecting piece inward so that the engagement can be released. The connector device according to claim 1, further comprising:   The cover is composed of a pair of cover halves having a U-shaped cross section, and is integrated by a locking means that cannot be released by abutting the joint surfaces of both cover halves, and is a male terminal of the first connector And a female terminal of the second connector in a fitting state in which the female terminal is electrically connected, and includes a hinge structure for pushing in a portion protruding from the groove-shaped recess on the rear end side of the elastically deformable protruding piece. Item 3. The connector device according to Item 2.