JP2013026002A - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof connector which is adaptable to a plurality of types of wire having different diameters.SOLUTION: Rubber plugs 60A, 60B are housed in a housing recess 27 of a connector housing 20. In the wire insertion holes 61A, 61B of the rubber plugs 60A, 60B, a wire 80 is inserted after passage of a terminal metal 90, so that the outer peripheral surface of the wire 80 adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the wire insertion holes 61A, 61B. At a part of the rubber plug 60A, 60B on the near side of the terminal metal 90 in the insertion direction, a small diameter rubber plug 60B having a small bore diameter of the wire insertion hole 61B is formed, and a large diameter rubber plug 60A having a bore diameter of the wire insertion hole 61A larger than the small diameter rubber plug 60B is formed at a part on the rear side of the terminal metal 90 in the insertion direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional waterproof connector. This includes a connector housing, a rubber plug mounted on the connector housing, and a rubber plug retainer mounted on the connector housing to prevent the rubber plug from coming off. A plurality of cavities into which terminal fittings can be inserted are formed in the connector housing. The rubber plug is formed with a plurality of wire insertion holes penetrating the cavities in a state of being mounted on the connector housing. And each terminal metal fitting is inserted in a corresponding cavity, after passing an electric wire insertion hole. When each terminal fitting is properly inserted into the cavity, the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire is elastically adhered to the inner peripheral surface of each electric wire insertion hole of the rubber plug so that a seal around the electric wire is taken. .

JP 2009-117376 A

  By the way, in the conventional waterproof connector, if the wire diameter is increased, the insertion resistance when the wire is inserted into the wire insertion hole may be excessive, and if the wire diameter is decreased, the wire insertion hole There is a risk that the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire does not sufficiently adhere to the inner peripheral surface of the wire and the sealing performance is lowered. That is, in the conventional waterproof connector, it is difficult to flexibly cope with a plurality of types of electric wires having different electric wire diameters.

  This invention is completed based on the above situations, Comprising: It aims at providing the waterproof connector which can respond to the multiple types of electric wire from which an electric wire diameter differs.

  As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a terminal fitting connected to a terminal portion of an electric wire, a connector housing in which a cavity into which the terminal fitting is inserted is formed, and the connector housing. A rubber plug is attached to the wire insertion hole that communicates with the cavity in that state after the terminal fitting has passed, and the outer peripheral surface of the wire is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the wire insertion hole. A waterproof connector provided, wherein a portion of the rubber plug on the front side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting is formed with a small diameter portion having a small diameter of the wire insertion hole, and a portion on the back side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting. Is characterized in that a large-diameter portion in which the diameter of the wire insertion hole is larger than the small-diameter portion is formed.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion are constituted by two rubber stoppers separated from each other.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion are overlapped with each other on the opening edge portion of the wire insertion hole in the small diameter portion on the back side in the insertion direction. In this state, a bulging portion that enters the wire insertion hole of the large diameter portion is formed.

<Invention of Claim 1>
Since the electric wire with a small electric wire diameter is elastically adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the electric wire insertion hole of the small diameter portion, a predetermined sealing property is ensured. On the other hand, since an electric wire with a large electric wire diameter can reduce the insertion resistance at the time of being inserted in the electric wire insertion hole of a large diameter part, it can avoid that insertion resistance becomes excessive. Therefore, according to this invention, the waterproof connector which can respond to the multiple types of electric wire from which an electric wire diameter differs is provided.

  Also, among the rubber plugs, a small diameter part is formed on the front side of the terminal fitting in the insertion direction, and a large diameter part is formed on the back side in the insertion direction. Even when a small electric wire is inserted, water is prevented from entering the electric wire insertion hole from the outside.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion are composed of two rubber plugs that are separated from each other, molding is easier than forming them together in one rubber plug.

<Invention of Claim 3>
If the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion are separated from each other, there is a situation that it is difficult to arrange both the wire insertion holes on the same axis. However, according to the present invention, when the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion are overlapped with each other, the bulging portion of the small diameter portion enters the electric wire insertion hole of the large diameter portion, so that the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion are Since these are positioned with respect to each other, both the wire insertion holes can be easily arranged on the same axis.

It is sectional drawing of the waterproof connector which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing showing the state by which the main-body part of the terminal metal fitting was inserted in the electric wire insertion hole of a rubber plug. It is sectional drawing showing the state by which the main-body part of the terminal metal fitting was inserted in the cavity of the connector housing. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a terminal fitting is properly inserted into the cavity of the connector housing and the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the electric wire insertion hole of the rubber plug. It is sectional drawing showing the state by which the electric wire with a big electric wire diameter was inserted in the electric wire insertion hole of a rubber plug. It is a front view of a waterproof connector. It is a rear view of a large diameter rubber stopper. It is a rear view of a small diameter rubber stopper.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The waterproof connector 10 according to the first embodiment includes a terminal fitting 90, a connector housing 20, and rubber plugs 60A and 60B. The connector housing 20 can be fitted into a mating connector housing (not shown). In the following description, in the front-rear direction, the side where the mating connector housing is located at the start of fitting is defined as the front.

  The terminal fitting 90 is integrally formed by bending a metal plate or the like, and has a cylindrical main body portion 91 and a barrel portion 92 connected to the rear of the main body portion 91 as shown in FIG. A mating terminal fitting (not shown) is inserted into the main body 91 from the front in connection with the fitting of the two connector housings. The barrel portion 92 is connected by crimping to the terminal portion of the electric wire 80.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connector housing 20 is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a block-shaped housing main body 21 and a fitting cylinder 22 surrounding the housing main body 21. The rear end portion of the housing body 21 and the rear end of the fitting tube portion 22 are integrally connected via a connecting portion 23. A fitting space 24 into which the mating connector housing enters is formed between the housing main body portion 21 and the fitting cylinder portion 22 and in front of the connecting portion 23. A seal ring 50 is fitted to the rear end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the housing main body portion 21 at a position immediately before the connecting portion 23. When the two connector housings are fitted together, the seal ring 50 is elastically adhered between the fitting tube portion 22 and the mating connector housing so that the seal between the two connector housings is taken.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of cavities 25 are formed through the housing body 21. A cantilever lance 26 is formed on the inner wall of each cavity 25 so as to protrude forward. A terminal fitting 90 is inserted into each cavity 25 from the rear, and the normally inserted terminal fitting 90 is elastically prevented from being detached by the lance 26.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a front mask 40 is attached to the front surface of the housing main body 21 so as to cover it. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of tab insertion holes 41 are formed through the front mask 40 at positions corresponding to the cavities 25. When the two connector housings are fitted, a tab of a mating terminal fitting (not shown) is inserted into the cavity 25 through the tab insertion hole 41. Further, a contact wall 42 is formed substantially vertically at the front end portion of the tab insertion hole 41, and a rear portion of the tab insertion hole 41 with the contact wall 42 as a boundary is a receiving portion 43. The terminal fitting 90 that is normally inserted into the cavity 25 is held against the abutting wall 42 in a state where the body 91 is fitted into the receiving portion 43.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a housing recess 27 capable of housing the rubber plugs 60 </ b> A and 60 </ b> B is formed in the rear portion of the housing main body 21 from the connecting portion 23 so as to open rearward. The rear end opening of each cavity 25 faces the front surface (back surface) of the housing recess 27.

  The rubber plugs 60A and 60B are made of rubber such as silicon rubber, and as shown in FIG. 1, are composed of two types of large diameter rubber plug 60A and small diameter rubber plug 60B separated from each other. The large-diameter rubber plug 60 </ b> A and the small-diameter rubber plug 60 </ b> B are housed in a state where they are stacked on the housing recess 27 of the connector housing 20. In this case, the large diameter rubber plug 60A is disposed on the front side, and the small diameter rubber plug 60B is disposed on the rear side.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the large-diameter rubber plug 60A has a flat mat shape. As shown in FIG. 1, a wire insertion hole 61A having a circular cross section is formed at a position corresponding to each cavity 25. Yes. The electric wire 80 is inserted into each electric wire insertion hole 61A after the terminal fitting 90 has passed. A plurality of inner peripheral lips 62A are formed in the front-rear direction on the inner peripheral surface of each wire insertion hole 61A. Each inner peripheral lip 62 </ b> A is elastically brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 80, whereby a seal around the electric wire 80 is taken. A plurality of outer peripheral lips 63A are formed in the front-rear direction on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter rubber plug 60A. Each outer peripheral lip 63 </ b> A is elastically brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 27, whereby a seal in the housing body 21 is taken. The large-diameter rubber plug 60A has a point-symmetric shape as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the small-diameter rubber plug 60B has substantially the same shape and the same size as the large-diameter rubber plug 60A except for the hole diameter of the wire insertion hole 61B. That is, the small rubber plug 60B has an inner peripheral lip 62B and an outer peripheral lip 63B similar to the large rubber plug 60A. As shown in FIG. 1, when the large-diameter rubber plug 60A and the small-diameter rubber plug 60B are accommodated in the accommodating recess 27, the cavity 25, the electric wire insertion hole 61A of the large-diameter rubber plug 60A, and the electric wire insertion hole 61B of the small-diameter rubber plug 60B. Are communicated in the front-rear direction.

  The wire insertion hole 61B of the small diameter rubber plug 60B has a smaller diameter than the wire insertion hole 61A of the large diameter rubber plug 60A. And as shown in FIG. 4, the bulging part 65 bulges forward at the opening edge part of each electric wire insertion hole 61B in the front surface (surface of the insertion direction back side of the terminal fitting 90) of the small diameter rubber plug 60B. Is formed. The bulging portion 65 has a cylindrical shape that gradually becomes thinner toward the front end. In the state where the large-diameter rubber plug 60A and the small-diameter rubber plug 60B are accommodated in the accommodating recess 27 and the large-diameter rubber plug 60A and the small-diameter rubber plug 60B are stacked, the electric wire of the large-diameter rubber plug 60A to which each bulging portion 65 corresponds. By entering the insertion hole 61A from the rear, the mutual displacement of the large diameter rubber plug 60A and the small diameter rubber plug 60B can be regulated. In addition, the outer peripheral surface of the bulging part 65 is arrange | positioned along the rear-end part of the inner peripheral surface of the electric wire insertion hole 61B.

  After the large-diameter rubber plug 60A and the small-diameter rubber plug 60B are inserted into the housing recess 27 of the connector housing 20, the rubber plug presser 30 is inserted as shown in FIG. The rubber plug retainer 30 is formed with a plurality of wire insertion holes 31 penetrating at positions corresponding to the wire insertion holes 61A and 61B. The terminal fitting 90 and the electric wire 80 are loosely inserted into the electric wire insertion hole 31. The rubber plug retainer 30 is locked to the connector housing 20 via a locking means (not shown), thereby preventing the large diameter rubber plug 60A and the small diameter rubber plug 60B from coming out of the housing recess 27.

Next, a procedure for assembling the waterproof connector 10 according to this embodiment will be described.
First, the large-diameter rubber plug 60A is inserted into the housing recess 27 of the connector housing 20, and then the small-diameter rubber plug 60B is inserted. Subsequently, the rubber stopper holder 30 is inserted into the housing recess 27, and the large diameter rubber stopper 60 </ b> A and the small diameter rubber stopper 60 </ b> B are sandwiched between the rubber stopper holder 30 and the connector housing 20. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the front surface of the large-diameter rubber plug 60A is disposed so as to substantially contact the front surface of the housing recess 27, and the front surface of the small-diameter rubber plug 60B substantially contacts the rear surface of the large-diameter rubber plug 60A. And the front surface of the rubber plug retainer 30 is disposed substantially in contact with the rear surface of the small diameter rubber plug 60B. Further, the cavity 25 of the connector housing 20, the electric wire insertion hole 61A of the large diameter rubber plug 60A, and the electric wire insertion hole 61B of the small diameter rubber plug 60B are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction. Further, the bulging portion 65 of the small diameter rubber plug 60B enters and fits into the electric wire insertion hole 61A of the large diameter rubber plug 60A from the rear.

  In this state, the terminal fitting 90 with the electric wire 80 is inserted into the cavity 25 of the connector housing 20 from behind. As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the terminal fitting 90 has a cavity through the wire insertion hole 31 of the rubber plug retainer 30 through the wire insertion hole 61B of the small diameter rubber plug 60B and the wire insertion hole 61A of the large diameter rubber plug 60A. 25 is inserted. Here, the terminal fitting 90 is relatively small, and the electric wire 80 also has a relatively small electric wire diameter. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, when the terminal fitting 90 is properly inserted into the cavity 25, the electric wire 80 is inserted into the electric wire insertion hole 61A of the large-diameter rubber plug 60A in a substantially loose fit state. Since it is inserted into the electric wire insertion hole 61B of the small-diameter rubber plug 60B in a close contact state, a predetermined sealing property is secured at this portion.

  By the way, since a gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the wire insertion hole 61A of the large diameter rubber plug 60A and the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 80, there is a concern that water may enter here and the sealing performance may be impaired. However, according to the first embodiment, the large-diameter rubber plug 60A is positioned in front of the small-diameter rubber plug 60B, and the wire insertion hole 61A of the large-diameter rubber plug 60A is not exposed to the outside. Water is prevented from entering the wire insertion hole 61A of the plug 60A, and a predetermined sealing property is ensured.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, an electric wire 80A having a larger diameter than the above may be inserted into the electric wire insertion holes 61A and 61B. In this case, when the terminal fitting 90 passes through the wire insertion hole 61B of the small-diameter rubber plug 60B, the insertion resistance due to the sliding between the main body 91 and the inner peripheral lip 62A increases, but the terminal fitting 90 is large. Since this insertion resistance decreases when passing through the wire insertion hole 61A of the diameter rubber plug 60A, the insertion resistance as a whole does not increase significantly. Further, in the case of the electric wire 80 having a large electric wire diameter, the electric wire 80 is inserted in a close contact state into the electric wire insertion hole 61A of the large diameter rubber plug 60A in addition to the electric wire insertion hole 61B of the small diameter rubber plug 60B. For this reason, a predetermined sealing property is ensured.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the rubber plugs 60A and 60B are composed of the small diameter rubber plug 60B having a small hole diameter of the wire insertion hole 61B and the large diameter rubber plug 60A having a large hole diameter of the wire insertion hole 61A. A predetermined sealing property can be ensured for a plurality of types of electric wires 80 having different electric wire diameters, and an excessive insertion resistance when the terminal fitting 90 passes can be avoided.
Of the rubber plugs 60A and 60B, a small-diameter rubber plug 60B is disposed at the rear portion on the front side of the terminal fitting 90 in the insertion direction, and a large-diameter rubber plug 60A is disposed on the front portion on the rear side in the insertion direction. Therefore, water is prevented from entering the wire insertion hole 61A of the large-diameter rubber plug 60A from the outside.

  Furthermore, since the small-diameter rubber plug 60B and the large-diameter rubber plug 60A are composed of two rubber plugs 60A and 60B separated from each other, molding is easier than forming them together in one rubber plug. .

  Furthermore, in a state where the large diameter rubber plug 60A and the small diameter rubber plug 60B are overlapped in the front-rear direction, the bulging portion 65 of the small diameter rubber plug 60B is positioned in the wire insertion hole 61A of the large diameter rubber plug 60A from behind. Since it is inserted, it is avoided that the large diameter rubber plug 60A and the small diameter rubber plug 60B are displaced. As a result, it is ensured that the electric wire insertion hole 61A of the large diameter rubber plug 60A and the electric wire insertion hole 61B of the small diameter rubber plug 60B are arranged coaxially.

<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) The rubber plug may be formed by integrating a small diameter rubber plug and a large diameter rubber plug in an inseparable manner.
(2) The rubber plug may have another rubber plug portion in addition to the small diameter rubber plug and the large diameter rubber plug.
(3) The wire insertion hole may be configured to gradually increase the hole diameter from the small diameter rubber plug to the large diameter rubber plug.
(4) The present invention is a hybrid type in which a large cavity into which a large terminal fitting connected to a thick wire can be inserted and a small cavity into which a small terminal fitting connected to a thin wire can be inserted. It is applicable to other connectors.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Waterproof connector 20 ... Connector housing 21 ... Housing main body 25 ... Cavity 27 ... Housing recessed part 30 ... Rubber plug retainer 60A ... Large diameter rubber plug (large diameter part)
60B ... Small diameter rubber stopper (small diameter part)
61A ... Wire insertion hole of large diameter rubber plug 61B ... Wire insertion hole of small diameter rubber plug 65 ... bulging part 80 ... wire 90 ... terminal fitting

Claims (3)

A terminal fitting connected to the end of the wire;
A connector housing having a cavity into which the terminal fitting is inserted;
The electric wire is inserted into the electric wire insertion hole that is attached to the connector housing and communicates with the cavity in that state, and then the electric wire is inserted, and the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the electric wire insertion hole. A waterproof connector with a rubber plug,
Of the rubber plug, a small-diameter portion having a small hole diameter of the wire insertion hole is formed in a portion on the near side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting, and a hole diameter of the wire insertion hole in a portion on the back side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting. A large-diameter portion larger than the small-diameter portion is formed.   The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion are constituted by two rubber plugs separated from each other.   At the opening edge of the small diameter portion on the back side in the insertion direction of the wire insertion hole, the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion enter the wire insertion hole of the large diameter portion in a state where the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion overlap each other. The waterproof connector according to claim 2, wherein a bulging portion is formed.

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