JP2010027317A - Connector structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector structure comprising a locking part for locking the housing fitting of each of male and female connectors, the locking part having coming-off portions, for avoiding contamination problems resulting from the coming-off portions. <P>SOLUTION: The connector structure 31 connects male and female terminals 5, 17 to each other to the housing fitting of the male and female connectors 2, 3. The female connector 2 has the locking part 9, and the male connector 3 has a locked part 23. The locking part has the coming-off portions 10f, 10r formed to improve elastic deformability. The locking part which is elastically deformed is moved into the locked part during the housing fitting and locked to the locked part to lock the housing fitting. The locked part has a blocking protrusion 32 which is fitted to the coming-off portions to block them, when the locking part is moved into the locked part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector structure in which electrical connection between terminals of a female connector and a male connector each configured by accommodating a terminal in a terminal housing is made by housing fitting, and particularly relates to a connector structure suitable for use in oil.

  The connector includes a female connector having a female terminal and a male connector having a male terminal. Both the male and female connectors form a specific connector structure for making an electrical connection to each terminal.

  As a connector structure with both male and female connectors, one typical case is that each male and female connector has a terminal housing, and the terminal is accommodated in the terminal housing. The other terminal housing is fitted (generally, the terminal housing of the female connector is fitted to the terminal housing of the male connector), and the terminals of the female connector and the male connector are electrically connected by housing fitting. It is normal. In such a connector structure, when high stability is required for electrical connection of terminals, a fitting lock mechanism is provided, and the fitting lock mechanism can lock the housing fitting of both male and female connectors. It is common.

  About the connector structure provided with the fitting lock mechanism, the connector structure as shown in FIGS. 5-7 is one of the typical examples. This connector structure 1 has a female connector 2 and a male connector 3 as structural elements, and the female connector 2 and the male connector 3 are fitted to the male connector 3 in the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG. Each terminal is electrically connected. 5A shows the state of the female connector 2 viewed from the front, FIG. 5B shows the state of the female connector 2 viewed from the side, and FIG. 5C shows the male connector 3. FIG. 5D shows a state in which the male connector 3 is seen from the side. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the female connector 2 and the male connector 3 are partially sectioned, and FIG. 7 shows a housing fitting state of the female connector 2 and the male connector 3 in a partially sectional state.

  The female connector 2 is formed by housing a plurality of female terminals 5 (FIG. 6) in a terminal housing 4 formed by resin molding. More specifically, the terminal housing 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a flat rectangular cross section, and a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 7 are formed by partitioning with a partition wall 6 as shown in FIG. The female terminals 5 are accommodated in the respective terminal accommodating chambers 7. Further, the terminal housing 4 is provided with a guide receiving portion 8 having a ridge structure on each front and rear surfaces thereof, and a lock portion 9 is provided in a symmetrical state on each of the left and right side surfaces.

  The lock portion 9 is formed by resin molding integrated with the terminal housing 4 and can be elastically deformed in a direction orthogonal to the side surface of the terminal housing 4 (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5). A missing portion 10 (front end side missing portion 10f, rear end side missing portion 10r: FIG. 6) for enhancing elastic deformability is provided. More specifically, with respect to the side surface of the terminal housing 4, the front end side (the arrow C side in FIG. 5) and the rear end side (the arrow D side) with respect to the fitting direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5). The lock portion 9 is in a state of rising at the side surface portion on the front end side of the terminal housing 4 and is provided with elastic deformation, and the side surface on the rear end side of the terminal housing 4. The rear end side rising portion 12 is provided that is formed so as to stand up at the portion and is given elastic deformation. The lock portion 9 is formed so as to connect the leading end side rising portion 11 and the trailing end side rising portion 12, and is displaced in the lateral direction (in the direction of arrow B) by elastic deformation of the leading end side rising portion 11 and the trailing end side rising portion 12. And a pressing button 14 for performing a pressing operation for forcibly generating a displacement in the lateral direction of the arm portion 13. A locking claw 15 provided as a stop is provided. The lock portion 9 is provided with a detachment portion 10 (front end side detachment portion 10f, rear end side detachment portion 10r) in each of the front end side rising portion 11 and the rear end side rising portion 12, so that the front end side rising portion 11 and the rear end portion thereof The rigidity of each of the end side rising portions 12 is lowered, thereby improving the elastic deformability.

  Here, the detaching portion 10 is formed by molding in which the resin material is detachable at the portion, and the tip-side detaching portion 10f is formed as a hole penetrating the flat plate-like tip-side rising portion 11. The rear end side missing portion 10r is formed as a hole penetrating the flat plate-like rear end side rising portion 12.

  On the other hand, the male connector 3 includes a plurality of male terminals 17 accommodated in a terminal housing 16 formed by resin molding. The terminal housing 16 includes a housing body 18 and a base 19. The housing body 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the terminal housing 4 of the female connector 2 so that the terminal housing 4 can be fitted in close contact with the female connector 2. A rear wall 20 (FIG. 6) for holding the male terminal 17 in an upright state is provided on the rear end side joined to the base portion 19 while using the base portion 19 while serving as a frontage for housing fitting. It has been. The rear wall 20 is provided with a terminal block 21 for holding the male terminal 17 on the rear wall 20 for each male terminal 17. The terminal block 21 is formed by a pick-up shape of a mold for insert molding of the male terminal 17 into the terminal housing 16 and is formed in a state of protruding in a trapezoidal shape.

  In addition, the housing body 18 is provided with guide portions 22 having a groove structure on the front and rear surfaces, and is provided with lock receiving portions 23 (FIG. 6) in a symmetrical state on the left and right side surfaces. The lock receiving portion 23 uses the side wall 24 of the housing main body 18 and is provided along the inside of the side wall 24, and includes a locking receiving portion 25 formed so as to open to the side wall 24. It is said that.

  The housing fitting and releasing of both the connectors 2 and 3 in the connector structure 1 by the female connector 2 and the male connector 3 as described above are performed as follows. First, in housing fitting, the terminal housing 4 is fitted to the housing main body 18 as shown in FIG. 7 while receiving the fitting guide by the guide portion 22 through the guide receiving portion 8, whereby the female terminal 5 and the male terminal are fitted. The terminal connection body 26 (FIG. 7) is formed by making 18 electrical connections. When the housing is fitted, the lock portion 9 first deforms the leading end side rising portion 11 and then also deforms the trailing end side rising portion 12 to cause the arm portion 13 to move in the lateral direction and enter the lock receiving portion 23. As a result, the locking claw 15 is locked to the locking receiving portion 25 as shown in FIG. 7, thereby locking the housing.

  On the other hand, the housing fitting is released by pressing the pressing button 14 in the housing fitting state of FIG. 7 to forcibly cause a displacement in the lateral direction of the arm portion 13 to the locking receiving portion 25 of the locking claw 15. In this state, the terminal housing 4 is pulled out from the housing main body 18.

  In the connector structure 1 as described above, when used in oil, that is, when the female connector 2 and the male connector 3 are used immersed in oil, the lock portion 9 is provided with a removal portion 10. There is a contamination problem. That is, in the connector structure 1, as shown in FIG. 7, an intrusion path Cp for contamination (foreign matter such as minute dust mixed in oil) is formed by the front end side missing portion 10f and the rear end side missing portion 10r. This is a problem that contamination that enters through the intrusion route Cp adheres to the terminal connection body 26, thereby causing a short circuit between lines.

  With respect to this problem, it is only necessary not to provide the missing portion 10. However, if the removal part 10 is not provided, the entry resistance of the lock part 9 to the lock receiving part 23 at the time of housing fitting becomes too large, and the workability of housing fitting is greatly reduced. For this reason, the missing portion 10 becomes indispensable, and it is required that the contamination problem caused by the missing portion 10 can be effectively solved on the assumption that the missing portion 10 exists.

  As for the general connector structure, examples disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature 1 to Patent Literature 3 are known.

JP 2004-63179 A JP 2002-75517 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-23320

  The present invention has been made to meet the above-mentioned demands, and the problem is that the connector structure as described above, that is, housing fitting of male and female connectors (first and second connectors) is performed. The connector structure having a lock part for locking and having a dropout part in the lock part is to effectively eliminate the contamination problem during use in oil caused by the dropout part. .

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the first connector and the second connector each having a terminal accommodated in a terminal housing, the terminal housing of the first connector and the second connector of the second connector. By fitting the terminal housing into the housing, the terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, and the side surface of the terminal housing of the first connector is elastically deformed. And a lock receiving portion is provided on the side surface of the terminal housing of the second connector, and a lock receiving portion is provided on the side surface of the second connector. When the housing is fitted, the lock portion is elastically deformed to enter the lock receiving portion to move the lock portion to the lock receiving portion. In the connector structure that is locked to lock the housing, the lock receiving portion of the second connector is provided with a closing projection, and the lock portion is formed on the lock receiving portion. It is characterized in that, when entering, the closing projection is inserted into the removal portion so as to close the removal portion.

  In such a connector structure, the omission portion of the lock portion can be closed and hermetically sealed by inserting the closing protrusion provided in the lock receiving portion. And by the sealing, it can prevent that a missing part becomes a contamination intrusion path, and can effectively eliminate the contamination problem when used in oil.

  The lock portion in the connector structure as described above is formed in a state where it rises at each of the front end side surface portion and the rear end side surface portion on the side surface of the terminal housing, and is provided with elastic deformation. A rear end side rising portion, an arm portion formed to connect the front end side rising portion and the rear end side rising portion, and displaceable by elastic deformation of the front end side rising portion and the rear end side rising portion; And the front end side rising portion and the rear end side by forming the detachment portion in each of the front end side rising portion and the rear end side rising portion. It is preferable to increase the elastic deformability of each rising portion. In this case, the closing projection in the lock receiving portion is fitted into the removal portion of the leading-end rising portion. It is preferable to the structure.

  Moreover, in this invention, in order to solve the said subject, about the 1st connector and the 2nd connector which each accommodate a terminal in a terminal housing, the said terminal housing of the said 1st connector, and the said 2nd connector With the housing fitting for fitting the terminal housing, the terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, and the first housing is further fitted with the terminal housing fitted. The rear holder 42 is fitted to the terminal housing of the connector from the opposite side of the fitting side of the second connector, and the side surface of the terminal housing of the first connector is elastically deformable. The terminal housing of the second connector is provided with a lock portion in which a pull-out portion is formed to enhance its elastic deformability. A lock receiving portion is provided on the side of the housing, and when the housing is fitted, the lock portion is elastically deformed to enter the lock receiving portion, thereby locking the lock portion to the lock receiving portion. In the connector structure configured to lock the housing fitting, the rear holder is provided with a closing projection, and when the rear holder is fitted into the terminal housing of the first connector, the closing projection Is characterized in that the omission part is closed by being inserted into the omission part.

  In such a connector structure, it is possible to close and seal the locking portion by inserting the closing protrusion provided on the rear holder. And by the sealing, it can prevent that a missing part becomes a contamination intrusion path, and can effectively eliminate the contamination problem when used in oil.

  The lock portion in the connector structure as described above is formed in a state where it rises at each of the front end side surface portion and the rear end side surface portion on the side surface of the terminal housing, and is provided with elastic deformation. A rear end side rising portion, an arm portion formed to connect the front end side rising portion and the rear end side rising portion, and displaceable by elastic deformation of the front end side rising portion and the rear end side rising portion; And the front end side rising portion and the rear end side by forming the detachment portion in each of the front end side rising portion and the rear end side rising portion. It is preferable to increase the elastic deformability of each rising portion. In this case, the closing projection in the rear holder fits into the removal portion of the rear end rising portion. Preferably in the concrete.

  According to the present invention as described above, with respect to the connector structure having the lock portion for locking the housing fitting of each of the first and second connectors, and the drop portion is provided in the lock portion, It is possible to effectively eliminate the contamination problem when used in oil due to the above.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described. 1 and 2 show the configuration of the connector structure 31 according to the first embodiment. In addition, the connector structure 31 in this embodiment is the same as that of the connector structure 1 in FIGS. Therefore, hereinafter, a characteristic configuration of the connector structure 31 will be mainly described, and a configuration common to the connector structure 1 is denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 5 to 7, and the above description is incorporated. It shall be.

  The connector structure 31 is provided with a closing projection 32 on each of the left and right lock receiving portions 23 of the male connector 3. The closing projection 32 is provided so as to correspond to the position of the distal end side missing portion 10f of the distal end side rising portion 11 of the lock portion 9 when the lock portion 9 has entered the lock receiving portion 23, and the distal end side. An outer peripheral shape is provided so that the outer peripheral surface can be brought into intimate contact with the distal-end-side missing portion 10f when fitted into the missing portion 10f.

  When the housing is fitted with such a connector structure 31, as shown in FIG. 2, the closing projection 32 is fitted into the distal end side recess 10f. As a result, the front end side missing portion 10f is closed and sealed with the closing protrusion 32. For this reason, the contamination entry path Cp is cut off at the distal end side missing portion 10f, and the contamination problem in the case of use in oil can be effectively solved.

  3 and 4 show the configuration of the connector structure 41 according to the second embodiment. In addition, the connector structure 41 in this embodiment is the same as that of the connector structure 1 in FIGS. Therefore, hereinafter, a characteristic configuration of the connector structure 41 will be mainly described, and a configuration common to the connector structure 1 is indicated by the same reference numeral as in FIGS. 5 to 7, and the above description is used. It shall be.

  The connector structure 41 is a case where the rear holder 42 is added as a structural element. The rear holder 42 is connected to the rear side of the female connector 2 (opposite side of the mating side of the male connector 3) in a state where the female terminal 5 and the male terminal 17 are electrically connected by housing fitting to form the terminal connection body 26. To the terminal housing 4 of the female connector 2.

  In the present embodiment, such a rear holder 42 is used to solve the contamination problem. Specifically, a closing projection 43 is provided at each of the left and right ends of the rear holder. The closing projection 43 is in a state where the female connector 2 and the male connector 3 are fitted into the housing, that is, in a state where the lock portion 9 has entered the lock receiving portion 23 and the rear holder 42 is fitted in the terminal housing 4. The rear end side rising portion 12 of the lock portion 9 is provided so as to correspond to the rear end side missing portion 10r, and the outer peripheral surface of the lock portion 9 when the rear end side missing portion 10r is fitted to the rear end side missing portion 10r. An outer peripheral shape that can be brought into close contact with the portion 10r is provided.

  When the rear holder 42 is fitted to the terminal housing 4 after the housing is fitted with such a connector structure 41, as shown in FIG. 4, the closing projection 43 is fitted into the rear end side recess 10r. As a result, the rear end side missing portion 10r is closed and sealed with the closing projection 43. For this reason, the contamination intrusion path Cp is blocked at the rear end side missing portion 10r, and the contamination problem in the case of use in oil can be effectively solved.

  As mentioned above, although the form for implementing this invention was demonstrated, these are only representative examples, This invention can be implemented with various forms in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the connector structure by 1st Embodiment about the state before housing fitting. It is a figure which shows the housing fitting state of the connector structure of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the connector structure by 2nd Embodiment about the state before rear holder fitting. It is a figure which shows the rear holder fitting state of the connector structure of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional connector structure which has a fitting lock mechanism about the state before housing fitting. It is a figure which shows the partial cross-sectional state of the connector structure of FIG. It is a figure which shows the housing fitting state of the connector structure of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 31, 41 Connector structure 2 Female connector (first connector)
3 Male connector (second connector)
4 Terminal housing 5 Female terminal (terminal)
9 Locking portion 10 Removal portion 10f Front end side removal portion 10r Rear end side removal portion 11 Front end side rising portion 12 Rear end side rising portion 13 Arm portion 15 Locking claw (locking portion)
16 Terminal housing 17 Male terminal (terminal)
23 Lock receiving portion 32 Closure protrusion 42 Rear holder 43 Closure protrusion

Claims (4)

With respect to the first connector and the second connector each containing a terminal in a terminal housing, the housing fitting for fitting the terminal housing of the first connector and the terminal housing of the second connector, The terminal of each of the first connector and the second connector is connected,
The side surface of the terminal housing of the first connector is provided with a lock portion that can be elastically deformed and has a removal portion for enhancing the elastic deformability. A lock receiving portion is provided on a side surface of the terminal housing,
When the housing is fitted, the lock portion is elastically deformed to enter the lock receiving portion, thereby locking the lock portion to the lock receiving portion to lock the housing fitting. Connector structure
A closing projection is provided in the lock receiving portion of the second connector, and when the locking portion enters the lock receiving portion, the closing projection is inserted into the removal portion to close the removal portion. A connector structure characterized by being configured as described above.   The lock portion is in a state of rising at each of a front end side surface portion and a rear end side surface portion on the side surface of the terminal housing, and is provided with elastic deformation and a front end side rising portion and a rear end side rising portion, An arm part formed to connect the leading end side rising part and the trailing end side rising part, and displaceable by elastic deformation of the leading end side rising part and the trailing end side rising part, and provided in the arm part The leading end side rising portion and the trailing end side rising portion are formed with the detaching portions (distal end portion, trailing end detaching portion) at the leading end rising portion and the trailing end rising portion, respectively. The elastic deformation of each of the front and rear end side rising portions is enhanced, and the closing projection is fitted into the removal portion of the leading end rising portion. Item 1. Connector structure. With respect to the first connector 2 and the second connector each containing a terminal in a terminal housing, by housing fitting for fitting the terminal housing of the first connector and the terminal housing of the second connector, The terminal of the first connector is connected to the terminal housing of the first connector in a state where the terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected, and the terminal housing is fitted. The rear holder is fitted from the opposite side of the fitting side,
The side surface of the terminal housing of the first connector is provided with a lock portion that can be elastically deformed and has a removal portion for enhancing the elastic deformability. A lock receiving portion is provided on a side surface of the terminal housing,
When the housing is fitted, the lock portion is elastically deformed to enter the lock receiving portion, thereby locking the lock portion to the lock receiving portion to lock the housing fitting. Connector structure
A closing projection is provided on the rear holder, and when the rear holder is fitted into the terminal housing of the first connector, the closing projection is fitted into the removal portion so as to close the removal portion. Connector structure characterized by being made.   The lock portion is in a state of rising at each of a front end side surface portion and a rear end side surface portion on the side surface of the terminal housing, and is provided with elastic deformation and a front end side rising portion and a rear end side rising portion, An arm part formed to connect the leading end side rising part and the trailing end side rising part, and displaceable by elastic deformation of the leading end side rising part and the trailing end side rising part, and provided in the arm part The leading end side rising portion and the trailing end side rising portion are formed with the detaching portions (distal end portion, trailing end detaching portion) at the leading end rising portion and the trailing end rising portion, respectively. The elastic protrusion of each of the rear end side rising part and the rear end side rising part is enhanced, and the closing projection is fitted into the removal part of the rear end side rising part. Claim 3 Connector structure.

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