JP2010225488A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of surely and electrically connecting with a mating connector by absorbing a positional deviation between its terminal metal fitting and that of the mating connector without adding a load to the terminal metal fitting. <P>SOLUTION: The connector 1 has the terminal metal fitting 2, a connector housing 3, and a support member 5. The terminal metal fitting 2 has an electrical contact section 21, a device connection section 22, and an electrical connection section 23. The electrical contact section 21 is electrically connected with the mating connector. The device connection section 22 is further separated from the mating connector than the electrical contact section 21. The electrical connection section 23 is formed of a material being more flexible than a material forming the electrical contact section 21 and the device connection section 22, and mutually connects the electrical contact section 21 and the device connection section 22. The support member 5 stores the electrical contact section 21, and is mounted inside the connector housing 3. The support member 5 supports the electrical contact section 21 in the connector housing 3 in free displacement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector that includes a terminal fitting and a connector housing that houses the terminal fitting, and is attached to an electronic device, for example, to supply electric power to the electronic device.

  A wide variety of electronic devices are mounted on automobiles as moving bodies. In this automobile, a wire harness is routed in order to transmit electric power, a control signal, and the like to the electronic device. The wire harness includes a plurality of electric wires and a connector attached to the electric wires. The connector includes, for example, a female terminal fitting and a connector housing that accommodates the female terminal fitting.

  In particular, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are equipped with motors, ECUs (Electronic Control Units), and the like as the electronic devices described above. These electronic devices include a case made of an insulating synthetic resin, various electric components housed in the case, and plate-like connection terminals. The case forms the outer shell of the electronic device. The case has a connector receiving hole.

  The connection terminal is obtained by pressing a conductive sheet metal. The connection terminal is formed integrally with the case by, for example, insert molding and attached in the case. One end of the connection terminal is electrically connected to the above-described electrical component, and the other end is positioned in the connector receiving hole.

  Conventionally, various connectors (for example, see Patent Document 1) have been used to connect the connector of the wire harness and the electronic device. The connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a connector housing, a relay terminal, a positioning member, and the like.

  The connector housing is made of an insulating synthetic resin. The connector housing is formed in a cylindrical shape and accommodates the relay terminal. The relay terminal is obtained by pressing a conductive sheet metal. The relay terminal includes a cylindrical female electrical contact section, a plate-shaped male electrical contact section, and a plate-shaped coupling section that couples the electrical contact sections to each other. The positioning member is formed in a flat plate shape and includes a plurality of holes through which the male electrical contact portion passes.

  When assembling the connector described above, the female electrical contact portion is positioned on one opening side of the cylindrical connector housing facing the electronic device, and the male electrical contact portion is positioned on the other opening side, and relayed. The terminal is accommodated in the connector housing. Then, the positioning member is inserted into the connector housing through the other opening, the male electrical contact portion of the relay terminal is passed through the hole, and the locking portion of the positioning member is locked to the inner surface of the connector housing. The electrical contact portion is positioned with respect to the connector housing.

  The connector thus assembled is attached to the electronic device after the connector housing is inserted into the case of the electronic device through the connector receiving hole from one opening side. Then, the connection terminal in the case enters the female electrical contact portion of the relay terminal, and the connection terminal and the relay terminal are electrically connected.

  Thereafter, the connector of the wire harness is inserted into the connector housing through the other opening, and is fitted to the connector. Then, the male electrical contact portion of the relay terminal enters the female terminal fitting of the connector of the wire harness, and the relay terminal and the female terminal fitting are connected. Thus, the connector electrically connects the electronic device and the connector of the wire harness.

JP 2004-253163 A

  In the connector described in Patent Document 1 described above, when the male electrical contact portion of the relay terminal is positioned with respect to the connector housing by the positioning member, the connector is connected to the female terminal fitting of the connector of the wire harness. In addition, the male electrical contact portion is prevented from being displaced.

  However, the male electrical contact portion of the relay terminal may be displaced from a predetermined position in the connector housing due to manufacturing tolerances such as the outer shape of the positioning member, the position of the hole, and the inner shape of the connector housing. If the relay terminal and the terminal fitting are forcibly connected in such a misaligned state, there is a risk that the relay terminal and the terminal fitting cannot be securely connected, and there is a load on the relay terminal and the terminal fitting. As a result, the relay terminal and the terminal fitting may be damaged over time.

  In particular, when the connector fitted to the connector described in Patent Document 1 is not a wire harness connector but a connector attached to an electronic device, the terminal fitting is often fixed to the connector housing. There was a problem that it was easy to happen.

  In addition, when the electronic device is a motor, the connection between the terminal fittings may become unstable due to vibration caused by the rotation of the rotor, and when the connector is mounted on the vehicle, vibration due to the running of the automobile. And there is a problem that damage to the terminal fittings is more likely to occur. Such a problem due to vibration can occur even when the relay terminal and the terminal fitting are connected in a state where they are positioned at predetermined positions.

  The present invention aims to solve such problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can absorb the positional deviation of the mating connector from the terminal fitting without imposing a load on the terminal fitting and can be reliably electrically connected to the mating connector.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1 is a connector comprising a terminal fitting and a connector housing that accommodates the terminal fitting, wherein the terminal fitting is a mating connector. One electrical contact portion connected to the other electrical contact portion farther away from the mating connector than the one electrical contact portion, and the material constituting the one electrical contact portion and the other electrical contact portion And an electrical connecting portion that connects the one electrical contact portion and the other electrical contact portion to each other, and accommodates the one electrical contact portion, And a support member attached to the connector housing and movably supporting the one electrical contact portion within the connector housing. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the first aspect, the support member includes the support portion main body that houses the one electrical contact portion and is accommodated in the connector housing, and the support. And a first elastic arm extending from the outer surface of the main body toward the inner surface of the connector housing, wherein the connector housing includes an engaging portion that engages with the first elastic arm. It is.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the second aspect, the engagement portion is connected to an outer wall of the connector housing and is elastically deformable toward the outside of the connector housing; And an engaging protrusion protruding from the arm body toward the inside of the connector housing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the second or third aspect, the support member is provided to extend from the inner surface of the support portion main body toward the one electrical contact portion. A connector comprising a second elastic arm for locking the one electrical contact portion in the support body.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the fourth aspect, the direction in which the second elastic arm is elastically deformed is a direction that intersects the direction in which the first elastic arm is elastically deformed. It is a connector characterized by this.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, even when the terminal fitting of the connector is connected to the terminal fitting of the mating connector, even if these terminal fittings are misaligned, one of the electrical contacts supported by the support member The portion is displaced in the connector housing to bend the electrical connecting portion, and the terminal fittings are electrically connected. Therefore, it is possible to absorb the positional deviation of the mating connector from the terminal metal fitting without applying a load to the terminal metal fitting, and to reliably connect to the mating connector. Further, even if the connector or the counterpart connector vibrates, the electrical connecting portion is bent to absorb the vibration, the connection between the terminal fittings can be stabilized, and a load can be prevented from being applied to the terminal fitting.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the first elastic arm is elastically deformed, the support portion body is displaced in the connector housing, and one of the electrical contact portions accommodated in the support portion body is the connector housing. Displace within. Therefore, one electrical contact portion can be reliably displaced within the connector housing.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, when the first elastic arm is elastically deformed, the arm main body of the engaging portion is elastically deformed toward the outside of the connector housing. Therefore, the first elastic arm can be prevented from being damaged without applying a large load to the elastically deformed first elastic arm.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, when the second elastic arm is elastically deformed, one electric contact portion is displaced in the support portion main body, that is, in the connector housing. Therefore, one electrical contact portion can be reliably displaced within the connector housing.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the direction in which the first elastic arm is elastically deformed and the one electric contact portion is displaced is the direction in which the second elastic arm is elastically deformed and the one electric contact portion is displaced. The direction will intersect. Therefore, the degree of freedom in the direction of displacement of one of the electrical contact portions is improved, and it becomes easier to cope with the positional deviation.

It is a section perspective view showing the connector concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional perspective view which expands and shows the principal part of the connector shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing of the whole connector along the III-III line in FIG.

  A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to, for example, an electric control unit (ECU) 7 that is attached to a motor 6 of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle and is directly connected to the motor 6. The motor 6 is supplied with electric power and the like by being fitted with the pair of mating connectors 8.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the motor 6 includes a case 61 made of synthetic resin and containing various electrical components, a plate-like connection terminal (not shown) that is electrically connected to the connector 1, and the like. Yes. The case 61 forms the outer shell of the motor 6. The case 61 has a connector receiving hole 61a.

  The connector receiving hole 61 a penetrates the outer wall of the case 61 and is formed along the outer shape of a connecting body 33 (described later) of the connector 1 and a pair of outer main bodies 32 connected to the connecting body 33. The connector 33 and the pair of outer main bodies 32 enter the case 61 through the connector receiving holes 61a. Further, in the vicinity of the connector receiving hole 61a of the case 61, there are provided a boss 61b for positioning the ECU, a bolt hole 61c for fixing the ECU, a bolt hole 61d for fixing the connector in which the nut 91 is embedded (FIG. 3), and the like. It has been.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ECU 7 includes a case 71 made of synthetic resin and containing various electrical components, a connection terminal (not shown) that is electrically connected to the mating connector 8, and the like. The case 71 forms the outer shell of the ECU 7. The case 71 has a connector receiving hole 71a.

  A pair of connector receiving holes 71a are formed along the outer shape of a main body portion 83 of a connector housing 81, which will be described later, of the mating connector 8 through the outer wall of the case 71. The main body 83 enters the case 71 through each connector receiving hole 71a. Further, in the vicinity of the connector receiving hole 71a of the case 71, a positioning hole 71b into which the boss 61b enters and a bolt hole 71c communicating with the bolt hole 61c of the motor 6 are provided.

  The mating connector 8 includes a terminal fitting 80 and a connector housing 81. The terminal fitting 80 is a so-called female terminal fitting. A plurality of terminal fittings 80 are provided. The terminal fitting 80 includes a female electrical contact portion 82 that the terminal fitting 2 of the connector 1 enters and is electrically connected to the terminal fitting 2, and a device that is connected to the electrical contact portion and electrically connected to the connection terminal of the ECU 7. And a connection part (not shown).

  The connector housing 81 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. The connector housing 81 includes a main body portion 83 that accommodates the terminal fitting 80 and a hood portion 84 that extends from the end surface of the main body portion 83 facing the connector 1 toward the connector 1. The main body 83 is formed in a box shape and accommodates a plurality of terminal fittings 80 in a state of being insulated from each other.

  The hood portion 84 is formed in a hood shape, and when the mating connector 8 is fitted to the connector 1, the support member 5 described later of the connector 1 is positioned inside. The inside of the hood portion 84 is partitioned by a plurality of partition walls 84a. Further, a lock projection 84 b that engages with the connector 1 is provided on the outer surface of the hood portion 84.

  The above-described connector 8 is fitted to the connector 1 along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting 80 accommodated in the main body 83. When the connector 1 and the mating connector 8 are fitted together, the direction in which the connectors 1 and 8 are relatively contacted or separated (approached or moved away) is indicated by an arrow X (FIG. 1 or the like). Call.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 1 includes a terminal fitting 2, a connector housing 3, and a support member 5. A plurality of terminal fittings 2 are provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal fitting 2 is disposed closer to the mating connector 8 and is connected to the mating connector 8 (corresponding to one electrical contact portion) 21, and more than the electrical contact portion 21. A device connection portion (corresponding to the other electrical contact portion) 22 that is arranged away from the counterpart connector 8 and connects to the motor 6, and an electrical connection portion 23 that connects the electrical contact portion 21 and the device connection portion 22 to each other. And.

  The electrical contact portion 21 is obtained by pressing a conductive sheet metal, and is provided separately from the device connection portion 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical contact portion 21 includes a rectangular plate-shaped flat plate portion 21a and a crimping piece 21b erected from the flat plate portion 21a. One end portion in the longitudinal direction of the flat plate portion 21 a protrudes into an inner housing 31 (to be described later) of the connector housing 3 and is electrically connected to the terminal fitting 80 of the mating connector 8. The other end of the flat plate portion 21 a is accommodated in the support member 5 and positioned in the inner housing 31. An engaging hole 21c (FIG. 3) that engages with a later-described second elastic arm 52 of the support member 5 passes through the other end portion.

  The caulking pieces 21b are provided at the other end portion of the flat plate portion 21a, and a pair of caulking pieces 21b are provided standing from both ends in the width direction of the flat plate portion 21a. The crimping piece 21b sandwiches the electrical connecting portion 23 between the flat plate portion 21a and electrically and mechanically connects the electrical contact portion 21 and the electrical connecting portion 23.

  The device connection portion 22 is obtained by pressing a conductive sheet metal. The apparatus connection part 22 is provided with the rectangular plate-shaped flat plate part 22a and the crimping piece 22b erected from the flat plate part 22a. One end of the flat plate portion 22a in the longitudinal direction is exposed to the outside of the connector 1, and the connection terminal of the motor 6 is overlaid. When the connection terminal of the motor 6 is overlapped with the one end portion, a bolt hole 22c communicating with the bolt hole of the connection terminal passes therethrough. The terminal fitting 2 is electrically and mechanically connected to the connection terminal of the motor 6 by screwing a bolt into the bolt hole of the connection terminal and the bolt hole 22c. The other end portion of the flat plate portion 22a is accommodated in a main body portion 35 described later of the connector 1. A packing 92 is attached to the other end portion so as to be in close contact with the inner surface of the main body portion 35 and keep the main body portion 35 and the device connection portion 22 watertight.

  The crimping piece 22b is provided at the other end portion of the flat plate portion 22a, and is erected from both ends in the width direction of the flat plate portion 22a. The crimping piece 22b electrically and mechanically connects the device connection part 22 and the electrical connection part 23 with the electrical connection part 23 sandwiched between the flat plate part 22a.

  The electrical connecting portion 23 is composed of a braided electric wire that is more flexible than the sheet metal constituting the electrical contact portion 21 and the device connection portion 22. The electrical connecting portion 23 includes a conductive braided wire 23a and an insulating covering portion 23b. The braided wire 23a is formed by knitting a strand made of copper or the like into a mesh shape, and is formed in a strip shape. The covering portion 23b is made of an insulating synthetic resin and covers the outer periphery of the braided wire 23a. The covering portion 23b is formed thin so as to be easily bent. By using the electrical connecting portion 23 as a braided electric wire, the flexibility can be increased as compared with an electric wire including a core wire formed by twisting a plurality of strands and a covering portion covering the core wire.

  The electrical connecting portion 23 is formed to be longer than the distance between the electrical contact portion 21 accommodated in the connector housing 3 and the device connecting portion 22 and is bent in the connector housing 3. Yes. As for the electrical connection part 23, both ends of the braided wire 23a that is peeled off and exposed are crimped to the crimping pieces 21b and 22b as described above, and one end is electrically and mechanically connected to the electrical contact part 21. The other end portion is electrically and mechanically connected to the device connection portion 22.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connector housing 3 includes an outer housing 30, an inner housing 31, and a fixing member 40. The outer housing 30 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. The outer housing 30 includes a pair of outer main bodies 32, a connecting body 33 that connects the pair of outer main bodies 32, and a flange portion 34.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outer main body 32 includes a main body portion 35 and a hood portion 36. The main body 35 is formed in a box shape. The main body portion 35 includes a terminal accommodating chamber 35 a that accommodates the device connecting portion 22 of the terminal fitting 2. A plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 35a are provided through the main body 35 along the fitting direction X and spaced from each other. Each terminal accommodating chamber 35 a accommodates the device connection portion 22 of one terminal fitting 2. The terminal accommodating chamber 35a accommodates the device connecting portions 22 of the plurality of terminal fittings 2 in an insulated state.

  Further, the main body portion 35 is formed by cutting out the main body portion 35 and exposes one end portion of the flat plate portion 22a of the device connection portion 22 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 35a to the outside of the connector 1. Is provided. The terminal exposed portion 35 b exposes one surface of the one end portion of the device connecting portion 22. In addition, the main body portion 35 is provided with a recess from the outer surface where the other surface of the one end portion of the device connecting portion 22 overlaps, and a nut 93 is embedded therein to communicate with the bolt hole 22c at the one end portion. 3) is formed.

  The hood portion 36 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape, and extends from the end surface of the main body portion 35 near the mating connector 8 toward the mating connector 8. A locking recess 36 a that locks the inner housing 31 is provided on the inner edge of the hood portion 36 over the entire circumference. The hood portion 36 accommodates the electrical connecting portion 23 of the terminal fitting 2 and the inner housing 31 inside.

  The coupling body 33 is formed in a box shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting body 33 has one end connected to the outer peripheral surface near the mating connector 8 of one outer main body 32 and the other end is the outer peripheral surface near the mating connector 8 of the other outer main body 32. It is connected to. The connecting body 33 connects the pair of outer main bodies 32 to each other so that the central axis directions of the pair of outer main bodies 32 are parallel to each other.

  The flange portion 34 is provided across the connecting body 33 and the pair of outer main bodies 32 connected to the connecting body 33, and is provided at the end of the connecting body 33 and the outer main body 32 near the mating connector 8. Yes. The flange portion 34 protrudes from the outer peripheral surfaces of the connecting body 33 and the outer main body 32, and is provided over the entire circumference of the connecting body 33 and the outer main body 32. The flange portion 34 overlaps the outer surface of the case 61 when the connecting body 33 and the outer main body 32 are positioned in the case 61 of the motor 6 through the connector receiving hole 61a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a lower surface that overlaps the case 61 of the flange portion 34 and an upper surface that overlaps the case 71 of the ECU 7 on the side opposite to the lower surface are provided over the entire circumference of the flange portion 34, respectively. A mounting groove 34a is provided. An annular packing 94a that is in close contact with the case 61 and that keeps water tight between the case 61 and the connector housing 3 is attached to the attachment groove 34a on the lower surface. Further, an annular packing 94b is attached to the mounting groove 34a on the upper surface so as to be in close contact with the case 71 and keep the case 71 and the connector housing 3 watertight.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of bolting pieces 34 c having bolt holes 34 b protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 34. When the connecting body 33 and the outer body 32 are positioned in the case 61 of the motor 6 through the connector receiving hole 61a, the bolting piece 34c overlaps the outer surface of the case 61, and the bolt hole 34b communicates with the bolt hole 61d of the case 61. To do. Bolts 95 are screwed into these communicating bolt holes 34 b and 61 d, and the outer housing 30, that is, the connector 1 is attached to the case 61.

  The inner housing 31 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 1, two inner housings 31 are provided, one in each outer housing 30, and attached to the outer housing 30. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner housing 31 includes an inner main body 37, an engagement arm (corresponding to an engagement portion) 38, and a flange portion 39.

  The inner body 37 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the hood portion 36 of the outer housing 30. The inner body 37 is accommodated in the hood part 36 with a gap between the inner body 37 and the hood part 36. The inner body 37 accommodates the support member 5 that houses the electrical contact portion 21 of the terminal fitting 2 inside. The inner body 37 is inserted into the hood portion 36 from one opening and is accommodated on the distal end side of the hood portion 36, and the support member 5 enters through the other opening.

  A pair of engagement arms 38 are provided at both ends of the inner body 37 in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 2). The engagement arm 38 engages with a first elastic arm 51 described later of the support member 5 to lock the support member 5 in the inner body 37. The engagement arm 38 includes an arm main body 38a and an engagement protrusion 38b.

  The arm main body 38 a is formed in a rod shape whose longitudinal direction is along the central axis direction of the inner main body 37, that is, the fitting direction X, and has both end portions in a double-armed arm shape that is continuous with the outer wall of the inner main body 37, that is, the outer wall of the connector housing 3. Is formed. The arm body 38 a has a surface disposed on the inner surface side of the inner body 37 that is flush with the inner surface of the inner body 37, and a surface disposed on the outer surface side of the inner body 37 is flush with the outer surface of the inner body 37. Is provided. The arm main body 38 a is provided so as to be elastically deformable toward the outer direction and the inner direction of the inner main body 37 (that is, toward the outside of the connector housing 3 and into the connector housing 3), and elastically deforms along the width direction of the inner main body 37. It is provided freely.

  The engagement protrusion 38b is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the arm main body 38a, and protrudes from the surface disposed on the inner side of the inner main body 37 of the arm main body 38a toward the inner main body 37 (that is, inside the connector housing 3). The end surface on the one opening side of the engagement protrusion 38b is a flat surface formed flat along a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction X. Further, the end surface on the other opening side of the engagement protrusion 38b is a tapered surface that is gradually inclined toward the arm body 38a as the other opening is approached.

  The flange portion 39 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface on the other opening side of the inner main body 37 and is provided over the entire circumference of the inner main body 37. When the inner main body 37 is accommodated in the hood portion 36 of the outer housing 30, the flange portion 39 is positioned in the locking recess 36 a of the hood portion 36.

  The fixing member 40 is obtained by pressing a sheet metal. The fixing member 40 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape, and a screw hole passes through the central portion. The fixing member 40 has a screw 96 passed through the screw hole in a state where the center portion is overlapped with the surface of the coupling body 33 facing the mating connector 8 and both ends are overlapped with the flange portion 39 of the inner housing 31. It is being fixed to the outer housing 30 by. The fixing member 40 fixes the inner housing 31 to the outer housing 30 with the flange portion 39 of the inner housing 31 sandwiched between the fixing member 40 and the outer housing 30.

  In the connector housing 3 described above, the device connecting portion 22 is accommodated in the main body portion 35 of the outer housing 30, and the electrical contact portion accommodated in the electrical connecting portion 23 and the inner housing 31 in the hood portion 36 of the outer housing 30. 21 is accommodated, and the terminal fitting 2 is accommodated inside. Further, the connector housing 3 is inserted into the case 61 from the main body 35 side of the outer housing 30 through the connector receiving hole 61a, and in the inner main body 37 of the inner housing 31 accommodated in the hood portion 36 of the outer housing 30. The connector housing 81 of the mating connector 8 enters.

  The support member 5 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 1, two support members 5 are provided. Each support member 5 is housed in each of the two inner housings 31 and attached to the inner housing 31. That is, the support member 5 is accommodated in the connector housing 3 and attached to the connector housing 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the support member 5 includes a support body 50, a first elastic arm 51, and a second elastic arm 52.

  The support body 50 is formed in a rectangular box shape. The support body 50 is accommodated in the inner body 37, that is, the connector housing 3 with a gap between the support body 50 and the inner body 37. The support portion main body 50 includes a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 50a (FIG. 3) for accommodating the electrical contact portions 21 of the terminal fitting 2.

  The terminal accommodating chamber 50 a passes through the support body 50 along the height direction of the support member 5, that is, the fitting direction X. The terminal accommodating chambers 50a are provided in parallel with each other at an interval. Each terminal accommodating chamber 50a accommodates the other end portion of the flat plate portion 21a of the electric contact portion 21 of one terminal fitting 2 and the crimping piece 21b. The terminal accommodating chamber 50a accommodates the electrical contact portions 21 of the plurality of terminal fittings 2 in an insulated state.

  Further, the support body 50 is provided with a slit 50b. The slit 50b is formed by cutting out the support body 50 along the extending direction of the terminal accommodating chamber 50a from the surface of the support body 50 facing the mating connector 8. The slit 50b is provided between the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 50a. The partition wall portion 84a of the mating connector 8 enters the slit 50b.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first elastic arm 51 extends from the outer surface at both ends in the width direction W (indicated by the arrow W in FIG. 2) of the support body 50 toward the inner surface of the inner housing 31, that is, the inner surface of the connector housing 3. It is installed. The first elastic arm 51 includes a base 51a, a pair of arm main bodies 51b, and a connecting piece 51c.

  The base 51 a is formed in a box shape and protrudes from the outer surface of the support body 50. The arm body 51 b is formed in a rod shape whose longitudinal direction is along the height direction of the support section body 50, that is, the fitting direction X. The pair of arm main bodies 51b are arranged in parallel to each other and spaced from each other. The arm main body 51b has one end portion in the longitudinal direction connected to the base portion, and the other end portion is disposed closer to the mating connector 8 than the one end portion and is a free end. The arm main body 51 b is provided so as to be elastically deformable in a direction in which the other end approaches the support main body 50 and in a direction away from the support main body 50, and is provided so as to be elastically deformable along the width direction W of the support main body 50. Yes. The connecting piece 51c connects the other ends of the pair of arm main bodies 51b.

  In the first elastic arm 51 described above, when the support member 5 is inserted into the inner main body 37 from the other opening side, the base 51a comes into contact with the engaging protrusion 38b of the engaging arm 38 and elastically deforms the arm main body 38a. Thereafter, the engaging protrusion 38b is positioned between the pair of arm main bodies 51b and the connecting piece 51c, and the tip end portion on the connecting piece 51c side is engaged with the engaging arm 38. The support member 5 is attached to the connector housing 3 by being held by the inner housing 31 while being accommodated in the inner housing 31 when the first elastic arm 51 is engaged with the engagement arm 38.

  The 2nd elastic arm 52 is provided in the inner surface of the support part main body 50, as shown in FIG. The second elastic arm 52 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 50a from one inner surface orthogonal to the thickness direction T (indicated by arrow T in FIG. 3 and the like) of the support portion main body 50 among the inner surfaces of the support portion main body 50. It extends toward the electrical contact portion 21. The second elastic arm 52 includes an arm main body 52a and a locking projection 52b.

  The arm body 52 a is formed in a rod shape whose longitudinal direction is parallel to the arm body 51 b of the first elastic arm 51. The arm main body 52a has one end in the longitudinal direction connected to the center of the inner surface of the support main body 50, and the other end is disposed closer to the mating connector 8 than the one end and is a free end. The arm main body 52 a is provided such that the other end can be elastically deformed in a direction approaching the inner surface of the support main body 50. The arm main body 52 a is provided so as to be elastically deformable in the thickness direction T of the support body 50, that is, in a direction orthogonal to (crossing) the elastic deformation direction of the first elastic arm 51. The locking projection 52b is provided on the other end portion of the arm main body 52a, and protrudes from a surface away from the inner surface of the support main body 50 of the arm main body 52a.

  Further, the end surface of the locking projection 52b near one end of the arm main body 52a is a tapered surface that is gradually inclined away from the surface of the arm main body 52a as the distance from the one end is increased. Further, the end surface of the locking projection 52b away from the one end portion of the arm main body 52a is a flat surface formed flat along the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction X.

  In the second elastic arm 52 described above, when the electric contact portion 21 of the terminal fitting 2 is inserted into the support portion main body 50 from one end portion side of the arm main body 52a, the locking protrusion 52b comes into contact with the electric contact portion 21. After the arm body 52a is elastically deformed, the locking projection 52b is positioned in the engagement hole 21c of the electric contact portion 21 and engages with the engagement hole 21c, and the electric contact portion 21 is engaged in the support portion main body 50. Stop.

  The support member 5 described above is supported by the support body 50 containing the electrical contact portion 21 inside and the second elastic arm 52 engaging the electrical contact portion 21 housed in the support body 50. The body 50 is attached to the electrical contact portion 21. The support member 5 is accommodated in the inner housing 31, and the first elastic arm 51 engages with the engagement arm 38, and is attached to the inner housing 31, that is, the connector housing 3.

  As described above, the support member 5 attached to the electrical contact portion 21 and attached in the connector housing 3 has the arm body 51b of the first elastic arm 51 (and the arm body 38a of the engagement arm 38) as the support portion body 50. The support portion main body 50, that is, the electrical contact portion 21 to which the support portion main body 50 is attached, is supported in the connector housing 3 so as to be displaceable in the width direction W of the support portion main body 50. To do. Further, the support member 5 is configured such that the electric contact portion 21 of the support portion main body 50 is formed in the connector housing 3 by elastically deforming the arm main body 52 a of the second elastic arm 52 along the thickness direction T of the support portion main body 50. It is supported so as to be displaceable in the thickness direction T.

  When assembling the connector 1 described above, first, the inner body 37 of each inner housing 31 is inserted into the hood portion 36 of the outer housing 30 from one opening side, and the flange portion 39 is positioned in the locking recess 36a. Later, the fixing member 40 is screwed to the outer housing 30, and the inner housing 31 is attached to the outer housing 30. Further, the electric contact portion 21 of the terminal fitting 2 is inserted into the support portion main body 50 from one end side of the arm main body 52a of the second elastic arm 52, and the second elastic arm 52 and the engagement hole 21c are engaged. The electrical contact portion 21 is attached to the support member 5.

  Next, the packing 92 is attached to the device connection portion 22 of the terminal fitting 2, the terminal fitting 2 is inserted into the connector housing 3 from the device connection portion 22 side, and the device connection portion 22 is inserted into the main body portion 35 of the outer housing 30. insert. Further, the support member 5 is inserted into the inner housing 31, the first elastic arm 51 and the engagement arm 38 are engaged, and the support member 5 is attached to the inner housing 31. The packings 94a and 94b are mounted in the mounting grooves 34a of the outer housing 30. Thus, the connector 1 is assembled.

  The connector 1 assembled as described above is inserted into the case 61 from the main body 35 side of the outer housing 30 through the connector receiving hole 61a. Then, the flange portion 34 of the outer housing 30 is overlapped on the outer surface of the case 61, the bolt hole 34b of the bolt fastening piece 34c and the bolt hole 61d of the case 61 are connected, and the bolt 95 is screwed into the connected bolt holes 34b and 61d. Then, the connector 1 is attached to the motor 6.

  Then, the packing 94a keeps the space between the connector housing 3 and the case 61 watertight. Further, the connection terminal of the motor 6 is overlapped on the device connection part 22 of the terminal fitting 2 exposed at the terminal exposure part 35b of the outer housing 30, and the bolt is screwed into the round hole of the connection terminal and the bolt holes 22c and 35c. 2 and a connection terminal, that is, the connector 1 and the motor 6 are electrically connected.

  Thereafter, the ECU 7 is brought closer to the motor 6 along the fitting direction X, and the boss 61b provided in the case 61 is caused to enter the positioning hole 71b. Then, the ECU 7 is further brought closer to the motor 6 and the hood portion 84 of the connector housing 81 of the mating connector 8 is caused to enter the inner body 37 of the inner housing 31 through the other opening.

  Then, the support part main body 50 of the support member 5 enters the hood part 84, and the partition part 84a enters the slit 50b. At this time, even if the support portion main body 50 is displaced with respect to the hood portion 84 and the partition wall portion 84a and the electrical contact portions 21, 82, that is, the terminal fittings 2, 80 are displaced, the first elastic arm 51 ( And the engaging arm 38) is elastically deformed and the electric connecting portion 23 is bent to absorb this positional shift.

  At this time, the electrical contact portion 21 of the terminal fitting 2 of the connector 1 enters the electrical contact portion 82 of the terminal fitting 80 of the mating connector 8. At this time, even if the electrical contact portions 21 and 82, that is, the terminal fittings 2 and 80 are misaligned, the second elastic arm 52 is elastically deformed and the electrical connecting portion 23 is bent to absorb this misalignment.

  Thereafter, the electrical contact portion 21 completely enters the electrical contact portion 82, and the electrical contact portions 21, 82, that is, the terminal fittings 2, 80 are electrically connected. The locking projection 84b of the mating connector 8 gets over the engagement protrusion 38b of the engagement arm 38 of the inner housing 31 and the engagement portion 38b between the distal end of the first elastic arm 51 of the support member 5. The mating protrusion 38b is positioned and engaged with the tip and the engaging protrusion 38b. Thus, the connectors 1 and 8 are fitted together, and the motor 6 and the ECU 7 are electrically connected.

  Finally, a bolt is passed through the bolt hole 61c of the case 61 of the motor 6 and the bolt hole 71c of the case 71 of the ECU 7 and a nut is screwed to connect the motor 6 and the ECU 7. The packing 94b keeps the space between the connector housing 3 of the connector 1 and the case 61 of the ECU 7 watertight.

  According to this embodiment, when the terminal metal fitting 2 of the connector 1 is connected to the terminal metal fitting 80 of the mating connector 8, even if the terminal metal fittings 2 and 80 are displaced from each other, the electricity supported by the support member 5 is used. The contact portion 21 is displaced in the connector housing 3 to bend the electrical connecting portion 23 so that the terminal fittings 2 and 80 are electrically connected. Therefore, it is possible to absorb the positional deviation of the mating connector 8 from the terminal fitting 80 without applying a load to the terminal fittings 2, 80, and to be reliably electrically connected to the mating connector 8. Further, even if the connector 1 or the mating connector 8 vibrates, the electrical connecting portion 23 is bent to absorb the vibration, the connection between the terminal fittings 2 and 80 can be stabilized, and a load is applied to the terminal fittings 2 and 80. Can be prevented.

  Further, when the first elastic arm 51 is elastically deformed, the support portion main body 50 is displaced in the connector housing 3 along the width direction W of the support portion main body 50, and the electric contact portion accommodated in the support portion main body 50 is accommodated. 21 is displaced in the connector housing 3 along the width direction W of the support body 50. Therefore, the electrical contact portion 21 can be reliably displaced within the connector housing 3.

  Further, when the first elastic arm 51 is elastically deformed, the arm main body 38 a of the engagement arm 38 is elastically deformed toward the outside of the connector housing 3. Accordingly, the first elastic arm 51 can be prevented from being damaged without applying a large load to the elastically deformed first elastic arm 51.

  Further, the second elastic arm 52 is elastically deformed, whereby the electrical contact portion 21 is displaced along the thickness direction T of the support portion main body 50 in the support portion main body 50, that is, in the connector housing 3. Therefore, the electrical contact portion 21 can be reliably displaced within the connector housing 3.

  When the first elastic arm 51 is elastically deformed, the electric contact portion 21 is displaced in the width direction W of the support portion main body 50, and when the second elastic arm 52 is elastically deformed, the electric contact portion 21 is thicker than the support portion main body 50. Displacement along the direction T. Therefore, the degree of freedom in the direction of displacement of the electrical contact portion 21 is improved, and it becomes easier to cope with the positional deviation.

  In the embodiment described above, the connector 1 is attached to the motor 6, but may be attached to another electronic device, an electric wire, or the like. Similarly, the counterpart connector 8 may also be attached to an electronic device other than the ECU 7, an electric wire, or the like. In the above-described embodiment, the connector 1 is the connector of the present invention. However, the mating connector 8 may be the connector of the present invention, and both the connectors 1 and 8 are the connectors of the present invention. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the electrical connecting portion 23 is a braided electric wire. However, although there is a possibility that flexibility may be reduced, a core wire formed by twisting a plurality of strands and the core wire are covered. The electric wire provided with the coating | coated part to perform may be sufficient. Moreover, the electrical connection part 23 may be comprised only by the braided wire 23a (there is no coating | coated part 23b), Furthermore, flexibility is larger than the electrical contact part 21 and the apparatus connection part 22, and electroconductivity is sufficient. As long as it has, any shape and material may be used.

  In the embodiment described above, the first elastic arm 51 is engaged with the engagement arm 38, but only the engagement protrusion 38 b protruding from the inner surface of the inner housing 31 may be provided. In the above-described embodiment, the support member 5 is provided separately from the connector housing 3. However, particularly when the terminal fitting 2 is a female terminal fitting, the connector housing 3 is connected to the connector housing 3. A locking lance for locking the terminal fitting 2 may be used as the support member 5.

  In the above-described embodiment, the second elastic arm 52 locks the electrical contact portion 21 in the support body 50, but the electrical contact portion 21 is not provided with the second elastic arm 52. 50 may be insert-molded. The direction in which the second elastic arm 52 is elastically deformed may be parallel to the direction in which the first elastic arm 51 is elastically deformed, although the degree of freedom of displacement of the electrical contact portion 21 may be reduced.

  The above-described embodiments are merely representative examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 2 Terminal metal fitting 3 Connector housing 5 Support member 8 Connector of the other party 21 Electrical contact part (one electrical contact part)
22 Device connection (the other electrical contact)
23 Electric connection part 38 Engagement arm (engagement part)
38a Arm main body 38b Engagement protrusion 50 Support part main body 51 First elastic arm 52 Second elastic arm T Direction of elastic deformation of the second elastic arm W Direction of elastic deformation of the first elastic arm

Claims (5)

In a connector comprising a terminal fitting, and a connector housing that houses the terminal fitting,
The terminal fitting is connected to a mating connector, one electrical contact portion, the other electrical contact portion farther from the mating connector than the one electrical contact portion, the one electrical contact portion and the other electrical contact portion An electrical connecting portion that is made of a material that is more flexible than the material that constitutes the electrical contact portion, and that connects the one electrical contact portion and the other electrical contact portion to each other;
A connector comprising: a support member that accommodates the one electrical contact portion and is mounted in the connector housing and movably supports the one electrical contact portion in the connector housing. The support member contains the one electrical contact portion and is accommodated in the connector housing; a first elastic arm extending from the outer surface of the support portion main body toward the inner surface of the connector housing; With
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes an engaging portion that engages with the first elastic arm.   The engaging portion includes an arm main body that is connected to an outer wall of the connector housing and is elastically deformable toward the outside of the connector housing, and an engaging protrusion that protrudes from the arm main body into the connector housing. The connector according to claim 2.   The support member includes a second elastic arm provided extending from an inner surface of the support portion main body toward the one electrical contact portion and locking the one electrical contact portion in the support portion main body. The connector according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein   The connector according to claim 4, wherein a direction in which the second elastic arm is elastically deformed is a direction intersecting with a direction in which the first elastic arm is elastically deformed.

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