JP2013004376A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably prevent looseness between housings.SOLUTION: In a connector, a first housing 10 is fitted with a second housing 30. While a hood part 12 is fitted between a terminal housing part 31 and a cylindrical fitting part 32, the first housing 10 and the second housing 30 are restrained from being relatively displaced in a direction crossing with a fitting direction by projection parts 17 and 36 formed on an outer periphery of the hood part 12 and an inner periphery of the cylindrical fitting part 32. A cylindrical restraining part 13 that is fitted with the outside of the cylindrical fitting part 32 across an entire periphery to restrain relative displacement of the first housing 10 and the second housing 30 while the first housing 10 is fitted with the second housing 30 is formed on the first housing 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a first housing having a hood portion, a male first terminal fitting attached to the first housing and surrounded by a hood portion at a distal end tab, and a terminal accommodating portion as a cylindrical fitting portion. And a female second terminal fitting housed in the terminal housing portion, and the hood portion is fitted between the terminal housing portion and the cylindrical fitting portion. A connector is disclosed in which a first terminal fitting and a second terminal fitting are connected by fitting a housing and a second housing.

JP 2011-34846 A

This type of connector has a structure in which a protrusion formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical fitting portion is pressed against the outer periphery of the hood portion as a backlash filling means of the housing that receives vibration. This backlashing means restricts relative displacement of the housings in the direction intersecting the fitting direction, and measures are taken to prevent fine sliding wear between the terminal fittings. However, when the cylindrical fitting portion is deformed so as to escape to the outer peripheral side due to high temperature, there is a concern that the backlash filling function is not sufficiently exhibited.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to reliably prevent backlash between housings.

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a hood portion is protruded toward the tip side, and a tab at the tip attached to the first housing is attached to the hood portion. A second housing having an enclosed male first terminal fitting, a block-shaped terminal accommodating portion, a cylindrical fitting portion that protrudes toward the distal end side and surrounds the terminal accommodating portion, and the terminal accommodating portion A female second terminal fitting accommodated, wherein the first housing and the second housing are fitted, and the hood portion is fitted between the terminal accommodating portion and the cylindrical fitting portion Then, relative displacement in a direction intersecting with the fitting direction of the first housing and the second housing by a protrusion formed on at least one of the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical fitting portion and the outer circumferential surface of the hood portion. Is now regulated The first housing and the first housing are externally fitted over the entire circumference of the cylindrical fitting portion in a state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted to the first housing. 2 It has the characteristic in that the cylindrical control part which controls the relative displacement of a housing is formed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the outer surface of the terminal accommodating portion can be elastically displaced in a direction crossing the fitting direction, and the first housing and the second housing are arranged. A lock arm for locking in a fitted state is provided, and an opening for allowing elastic displacement of the lock arm is formed in the tubular fitting portion, and the formation region of the tubular regulating portion is In the state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted, the opening and the lock arm do not interfere with each other.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the formation region of the cylindrical restricting portion in the fitting direction of the first housing and the second housing extends over the entire circumference. In the state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted, only the range facing the tip of the cylindrical fitting portion is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the first housing and the second housing are locked in a fitted state on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion. A lock projection is formed, and in a state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted, the distal end portion of the cylindrical fitting portion is positioned closer to the base end side than the lock projection. And the support part which protrudes from the vicinity of the said lock | rock protrusion and contacts the inner peripheral surface of the said cylindrical fitting part is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the said hood part.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When the first housing and the second housing are fitted, the cylindrical restriction portion is fitted onto the cylindrical fitting portion, so that the cylindrical fitting portion is restricted from being deformed so as to escape to the outer peripheral side. Thereby, the backlash between the housings resulting from deformation so as to escape to the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical fitting portion can be prevented.

<Invention of Claim 2>
When the formation region of the cylindrical restricting portion includes a range that overlaps with the lock arm, a bending space for allowing the elastic displacement of the lock arm must be secured inside the tubular restricting portion. Increase in size. Therefore, in the present invention, the region where the cylindrical restricting portion is formed is in a range that does not interfere with the opening for allowing the elastic displacement of the lock arm. Thereby, since it is not necessary to ensure the bending space of a lock arm inside a cylindrical control part, a cylindrical control part can be reduced in size.

<Invention of Claim 3>
In the process of fitting the two housings, the cylindrical regulating portion and the cylindrical fitting portion start sliding contact immediately before the fitting is completed. Therefore, the fitting resistance resulting from the sliding contact between the cylindrical regulating portion and the cylindrical fitting portion is reduced, and the workability is excellent.

<Invention of Claim 4>
In the case where the distal end portion of the cylindrical fitting portion is positioned on the base end side with respect to the lock protrusion, at least the protrusion dimension of the lock protrusion is provided between the inner surface of the cylindrical fitting portion and the outer surface of the hood portion. Since the space is vacant, there is a concern that large backlash occurs between the housings. In that respect, the present invention has a support portion that protrudes from the vicinity of the lock projection and contacts the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion, so that rattling between the housings can be reliably prevented. .

Sectional drawing showing the state which fitted the 1st housing and the 2nd housing in Embodiment 1. Sectional view of the first housing Sectional view of the second housing XX sectional view of FIG. Front view of first housing Top view of the first housing Front view of second housing Plan view of the second housing

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector of the present embodiment includes a first housing 10 and a second housing 30 that are fitted with their tips facing each other (butting together). In the following description, the direction parallel to the fitting direction of both housings 10 and 30 and the front-rear direction are used synonymously. Moreover, in each housing 10 and 30, the front side and the front end side are used synonymously, and the rear side and the base end side are used synonymously.

  The first housing 10 is made of a synthetic resin material having excellent heat resistance, and is integrally formed with an auxiliary machine (not shown) provided in the engine room of the automobile. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first housing 10 includes a terminal holding portion 11, a cylindrical hood portion 12 that protrudes from the front surface of the terminal holding portion 11 to the front end side, and a hood among the front surfaces of the terminal holding portion 11. A cylindrical restricting portion 13 that protrudes from the outer peripheral side (region surrounding the hood portion 12) to the distal end side than the portion 12 is integrally formed. A male first terminal fitting 14 is attached to the terminal holding portion 11, and a tab 15 at the tip of the first terminal fitting 14 is surrounded by the hood portion 12.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the 1st protrusion 17 which protrudes below is formed in the outer surface of the lower surface wall 16 which comprises the food | hood part 12 in the width direction center position. First protrusions 17 that protrude outward are also formed on the outer surfaces of the left and right side walls 18 that constitute the hood part 12. A pair of guide ribs 19 are formed on the outer surfaces of the left and right side walls 18, and a first protrusion 17 that protrudes upward is also formed on the upper surface of the guide rib 19.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the outer surface (upper surface) of the upper surface wall 20 constituting the hood portion 12 is formed with a lock protrusion 21 that protrudes upward at the center position in the width direction. The lock protrusion 21 cooperates with a lock arm 39 described later to lock both housings 10 and 30 in the fitted state. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front surface of the lock protrusion 21 is a guide slope 22 that is inclined with respect to the fitting direction of the two housings 10 and 30, and the rear surface of the lock protrusion 21 is the both housings 10 and 30. The locking surface 23 is substantially perpendicular to the fitting direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pair of left and right support portions 24 are formed on the upper surface wall 20 so as to sandwich the lock protrusion 21 from both sides in the width direction. The support portion 24 protrudes upward in a rib shape and is disposed in the vicinity of the lock protrusion 21. The upper surface of the support portion 24 is positioned slightly above the upper surface of the lock protrusion 21. In addition, the region in which the support portion 24 is formed in the front-rear direction is the entire region from the front end to the rear end of the hood portion 12, in other words, from the front (front end side) to the lock protrusion 21 to the rear (base). (End side) position.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cylindrical restriction portion 13 is continuously connected over the entire circumference like the hood portion 12. The inner peripheral shape of the cylindrical restriction portion 13 is substantially the same as the outer peripheral shape of the hood portion 12. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the forward projecting dimension of the cylindrical restriction portion 13 is smaller than that of the hood portion 12. That is, the front end of the cylindrical restricting portion 13 is located further rearward than the rear end of the lock protrusion 21. The position of the front end of this cylindrical regulating part 13 is the same over the entire circumference.

  The second housing 30 is made of a synthetic resin material having lower heat resistance than the first housing 10 and is connected to a terminal portion of a wire harness (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the second housing 30 includes a block-shaped terminal accommodating portion 31 configured by assembling a rear member and a front member, and a cylindrical fitting portion configured to surround the terminal accommodating portion 31. 32. A female second terminal fitting 33 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 31.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rear end portion of the terminal fitting portion 31 is connected to the rear end portion of the cylindrical fitting portion 32 so that the cylindrical fitting portion 32 protrudes forward. Yes. Between the outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating part 31 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting part 32, the cylindrical fitting space 34 opened ahead is formed. As shown in FIG. 7, a second protrusion 36 that protrudes upward at the center position in the width direction is formed on the inner surface of the lower wall part 35 constituting the cylindrical fitting part 32. A second protrusion 36 that protrudes inward is also formed on the inner surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 37 constituting the cylindrical fitting portion 32. The left and right side wall portions 37 are formed with a pair of guide grooves 38 whose inner surface is recessed, and a second protrusion 36 that protrudes downward is also formed on the upper surface of the guide groove 38.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 7, and 8, the second housing 30 is formed with a lock arm 39 for cooperating with the lock protrusion 21 to lock both the housings 10 and 30 in the fitted state. . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lock arm 39 includes an arm portion 40 that extends in the front-rear direction, and a leg portion 41 that extends downward from a substantially central position in the length direction of the arm portion 40 and continues to the upper surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31. And is configured. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lock arm 39 is always held in a locked posture with the arm portion 40 facing in the front-rear direction, but the front end side is the terminal accommodating portion 31 with the leg portion 41 as a fulcrum. It can be elastically displaced in a seesaw shape to a release posture in which it is displaced upward (in a direction intersecting with the fitting direction of both housings 10 and 30) so as to be separated from the outer surface of the housing. A lock hole 42 penetrating in the vertical direction (a direction substantially parallel to the elastic displacement direction of the lock arm 39) is formed at the front end of the lock arm 39.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 8, an opening 44 is formed in the upper wall portion 43 constituting the cylindrical fitting portion 32 to allow the lock arm 39 to be elastically displaced to the release posture. Yes. The opening area of the opening 44 in the front-rear direction opens from the rear end of the second housing 30 to a range slightly ahead of the front end of the lock arm 39. Further, the opening area of the opening 44 in the width direction (left-right direction) is a range including the entire plane area of the lock arm 39 as shown in FIG. Therefore, only the tip 43F remains in the region corresponding to the opening 44 in the width direction of the upper wall 43. The front end portion 43F has a form in which the left and right side portions of the opening 44 in the upper wall portion 43 are connected in a bridging manner at the front end portion.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the lock arm 39 is in the locked posture, the upper surface of the arm portion 40 is located above the lower surface of the upper wall portion 43, and a part of the arm portion 40 is opened in the vertical direction. It is accommodated in the part 44. With this opening 44, the lock arm 39 can be elastically displaced upward so as to protrude further upward than the upper surface of the upper wall 43, and can assume a release posture. As described above, at least a part of the thickness region of the upper wall portion 43 is a placement space for placing the lock arm 39 and a bending space that allows the elastic displacement of the lock arm 39.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the housings 10 and 30 are fitted, the front ends (front end portions) of the housings are brought close to each other and the hood portion 12 enters the fitting space 34. At this time, the lock protrusion 21 abuts on the front end portion of the lock arm 39 without interfering with the front end portion 43F (front end portion) of the upper wall portion 43 of the cylindrical fitting portion 32. Thereafter, as the fitting of the housings 10 and 30 proceeds, the locking arm 39 rides on the locking protrusion 21 and is elastically displaced to the releasing posture due to the inclination of the guide inclined surface 22. Then, when both the housings 10 and 30 reach the proper fitting state, the lock arm 39 is elastically returned to the locked posture, and the lock hole 42 is fitted to the lock protrusion 21. Then, due to the engagement between the hole edge on the distal end side of the lock hole 42 and the engagement surface 23, the fitted housings 10, 30 are locked in a state in which detachment is restricted.

  In a state where both housings 10 and 30 are fitted, the first terminal fitting 14 and the second terminal fitting 33 are connected. Further, the plurality of first protrusions 17 on the outer surface of the hood portion 12 abut against the corresponding second protrusions 36 on the inner surface of the cylindrical fitting portion 32, and the first protrusions 17 and the second protrusions. By the contact with 36, relative displacement in the direction (up and down, left and right direction) in which both housings 10 and 30 intersect with the fitting direction is restricted, and the housing is in a loose state.

  Further, in a state where both the housings 10 and 30 are fitted, the cylindrical restriction portion 13 is fitted over the entire circumference of the distal end portion 43 </ b> F of the cylindrical fitting portion 32. Thus, by surrounding the outer periphery of the cylindrical fitting portion 32 with the cylindrical restriction portion 13, the cylindrical fitting portion 32 is deformed so as to expand radially outward so as to escape from the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion 12. Is prevented. Accordingly, the contact state between the second protrusion 36 of the cylindrical fitting portion 32 and the first protrusion 17 of the hood portion 12 is maintained, and the backlash prevention function of the housings 10 and 30 by both the protrusions 17 and 36 is maintained. Is maintained. As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent rattling between the housings 10 and 30 caused by the deformation of the cylindrical fitting portion 32 so as to escape to the outer peripheral side.

  In the present embodiment, a lock arm 39 that is elastically displaceable in a direction intersecting the fitting direction of the housings 10 and 30 is provided on the outer surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31, and the upper wall portion of the cylindrical fitting portion 32. An opening 44 that allows elastic displacement of the lock arm 39 is formed in 43. In such a form, if the formation region of the cylindrical restricting portion includes a range overlapping with the lock arm (that is, the tubular restricting portion covers at least a part of the lock arm), the lock Since the bending space for allowing the elastic displacement of the arm has to be ensured inside the tubular restricting portion, the tubular restricting portion 13 is increased in size.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the region where the cylindrical restricting portion 13 is formed in a state where both the housings 10 and 30 are fitted is set to a range that does not interfere with the opening 44 for allowing the elastic deformation of the lock arm 39. Specifically, in the front-rear direction, the position of the distal end of the cylindrical restricting portion 13 is set to substantially the same position as the distal end edge of the opening 44, and the entire tubular restricting portion 13 is in a position retracted to the front of the lock arm 39. It was arranged. According to this configuration, it is not necessary to secure a bending space for the lock arm 39 inside (downward) the cylindrical regulating portion 13, so that the cylindrical regulating portion 13 can be reduced in size.

  Further, the formation region of the cylindrical restriction portion 13 in the fitting direction of both the housings 10 and 30 is opposed to the distal end portion 43F of the cylindrical fitting portion 32 in the fitted state of both the housings 10 and 30 over the entire circumference. It is considered as a range only. According to this configuration, as described above, the formation region of the cylindrical restricting portion 13 is set as a range that is disengaged from the lock arm 39 so that it is not necessary to secure a bending space of the lock arm 39 inside the tubular restricting portion 13. In addition to technical significance, it has the following technical significance. If the formation region of the cylindrical restricting portion 13 is limited to a range corresponding only to the distal end portion 43F of the cylindrical fitting portion 32, the tubular restricting portion 13 and the tubular portion are in the process of fitting both the housings 10 and 30. The shape fitting part 32 starts sliding contact immediately before the fitting is completed. Therefore, the fitting resistance resulting from the sliding contact between the tubular regulating portion 13 and the tubular fitting portion 32 is reduced, and the workability is excellent.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the lock protrusion 21 for locking both the housings 10 and 30 to a fitting state is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the hood part 12, and in the state which both the housings 10 and 30 fitted, it is cylindrical. The distal end portion 43 </ b> F of the fitting portion 32 is positioned on the proximal end side with respect to the lock protrusion 21. In the case of such a form, it arrange | positions in the position higher than the lock protrusion 21, ie, the position higher than the upper surface of the upper surface wall 20 of the food | hood part 12, so that the front-end | tip part 43F of the cylindrical fitting part 32 may not interfere with the lock protrusion 21. Is done. Therefore, a space corresponding to at least the protruding dimension of the lock protrusion 21 is vacated between the inner surface (lower surface) of the distal end portion 43F of the cylindrical fitting portion 32 and the outer surface (upper surface) of the upper surface wall 20, and both housings. There is a concern that a large backlash occurs between 10 and 30. In view of this point, in the present embodiment, the support portion 24 that protrudes from the vicinity of the lock protrusion 21 and contacts the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion 32 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion 12. According to this structure, since the front-end | tip part 43F of the cylindrical fitting part 32 which floated from the outer surface of the food | hood part 12 can be pinched | interposed radially between the support part 24 and the cylindrical control part 13, both housings The backlash between 10 and 30 can be reliably prevented.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the formation region of the cylindrical restriction portion is a range that is out of the bending space for allowing the elastic displacement of the lock arm. You may ensure the bending space of a lock arm inside a cylindrical control part so that the range which overlaps with a lock arm may be included.
(2) In the above embodiment, the lock protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion as means for locking both housings in the fitted state, but not limited to this, means for locking both housings in the fitted state are: A step-like lock portion or a groove-like lock portion may be used.
(3) In the above embodiment, the formation region of the cylindrical restricting portion is limited to the range facing the distal end portion of the tubular fitting portion over the entire circumference. Only the area corresponding to the lock arm in the circumferential direction is limited to the area facing the tip of the cylindrical fitting portion, and the other areas are cylindrical fitting in the fitting direction of both housings. You may make it oppose over the wide range of a joint part.
(4) In the above-described embodiment, the protrusions for backlashing between the two housings are formed on both the outer peripheral surface of the hood part and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting part. May be formed only on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion, or may be formed only on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion.
(5) In the above embodiment, the case where the first housing is integrally formed with the auxiliary machine provided in the engine room of the automobile has been described. However, in the present invention, the first housing is separate from the auxiliary machine. It can also be applied when it is a thing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... 1st housing 12 ... Hood part 13 ... Cylindrical control part 14 ... 1st terminal metal fitting 15 ... Tab 17 ... 1st protrusion 21 ... Locking protrusion 24 ... Support part 30 ... 2nd housing 31 ... Terminal accommodating part 32 ... Cylindrical fitting part 33 ... 2nd terminal metal fitting 36 ... 2nd protrusion 39 ... Lock arm 44 ... Opening part

Claims (4)

A first housing in a form in which the hood portion protrudes toward the distal end side;
A male first terminal fitting attached to the first housing and surrounded by a hood portion at a tip tab;
A second housing having a block-shaped terminal accommodating portion and a cylindrical fitting portion that protrudes toward the distal end side and surrounds the terminal accommodating portion;
A female second terminal fitting housed in the terminal housing portion,
In a state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted and the hood portion is fitted between the terminal accommodating portion and the cylindrical fitting portion, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion and the In the connector in which the relative displacement in the direction intersecting the fitting direction of the first housing and the second housing is regulated by the protrusion formed on at least one of the outer peripheral surfaces of the hood portion,
The first housing and the second housing are fitted over the entire circumference of the first fitting with the tubular fitting portion in a state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted. A connector characterized in that a cylindrical restricting portion for restricting relative displacement is formed. A lock arm that is elastically displaceable in a direction intersecting the fitting direction and that locks the first housing and the second housing in a fitted state is provided on the outer surface of the terminal accommodating portion,
The cylindrical fitting portion is formed with an opening that allows elastic displacement of the lock arm,
The region where the cylindrical restricting portion is formed is a range in which the opening and the lock arm do not interfere with each other when the first housing and the second housing are fitted. connector.   The formation region of the cylindrical restriction portion in the fitting direction of the first housing and the second housing is the cylindrical fitting portion in a state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted over the entire circumference. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is only in a range facing the tip of the connector. A lock protrusion for locking the first housing and the second housing in a fitted state is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion,
In a state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted, a distal end portion of the cylindrical fitting portion is positioned closer to a proximal end side than the lock protrusion,
The support part which protrudes from the vicinity of the said lock | rock protrusion and contacts the inner peripheral surface of the said cylindrical fitting part is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the said food | hood part. The connector according to any one of 3.

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