JP2013062030A - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure smooth insertion operation of a terminal fitting.SOLUTION: In a collective rubber plug 40, a seal portion 42 that adheres, in a compressed state, to the inner peripheral surface 24 of a housing recess 22 in a connector housing 20 and adheres, in the compressed state, to the outer peripheral surface of a wire 90 is formed. On the inlet side, which is the side of inserting at least a terminal fitting 80, of the collective rubber plug 40, an introduction part 43 that regulates displacement between each insertion hole 41 and each through hole 63 by abutting or not abutting against the inner peripheral surface 24 of a housing recess 22 and the outer peripheral surface of a wire 90 with a compression force small than that of the seal portion 42, is formed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector.

  A conventional waterproof connector is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This waterproof connector includes a connector housing, a collective rubber plug accommodated in an accommodation recess opening on the rear surface of the connector housing, and a holder accommodated in the accommodation recess following the collective rubber plug to prevent the collective rubber plug from coming off. I have. A plurality of cavities, a plurality of insertion holes, and a plurality of through holes are formed in the connector housing, the collective rubber plug, and the holder so as to be coaxial with each other in the front-rear direction. A terminal fitting with an electric wire is inserted into the cavity of the connector housing from the through hole through the insertion hole. When the terminal fitting is properly inserted into the cavity, the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole of the collective rubber plug in a compressed state, whereby the seal around the electric wire is taken. Further, at this time, the outer peripheral surface of the collective rubber plug is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess in a compressed state, thereby sealing the connector housing.

JP 2011-1000059 A

  By the way, the above-mentioned collective rubber plug is formed with a seal portion that is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess in a compressed state over substantially the entire length in the front-rear direction. In this case, when the collective rubber plug is housed in the housing recess, the seal portion is compressed and deformed radially inward, and accordingly, each insertion hole may also shift radially inward. As a result, each insertion hole is displaced from the corresponding through hole, and the insertion operation of the terminal fitting inserted from each through hole into each insertion hole is prevented, and the terminal fitting may not reach the cavity. .

  The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to facilitate the insertion operation of the terminal fitting.

  As means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a collective rubber plug having a plurality of insertion holes, an accommodation recess capable of accommodating the collective rubber plug, and communicating with the respective insertion holes. A connector housing having a plurality of cavities, and a plurality of the housings that are attached to the connector housing with the batch rubber plugs sandwiched therebetween to prevent the batch rubber plugs from coming out of the receiving recesses and communicate with the insertion holes. A holder having a through-hole, and the collective rubber plug is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess in a compressed state, and a terminal fitting with a wire is inserted into the cavity from the through-hole through the insertion hole. Is a waterproof connector in which a seal portion is formed in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire in a compressed state when inserted into the wire rubber plug. By contacting or not contacting each of the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess and the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire with a compressive force smaller than that of the seal portion on the entrance side, which is the side where the metal fitting is inserted. A feature is that an introduction portion for restricting a positional shift between each insertion hole and each through hole is formed.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the introduction part, the outer peripheral surface of the collective rubber plug does not contact the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess in the introduction portion.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the introduction part according to claim 1 or 2, the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole of the batch rubber plug does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire in the introduction portion. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the one according to any one of the first to third aspects, the outlet side of the batch rubber plug opposite to the side where the terminal fitting is inserted is provided on the outlet side. Each insertion hole when the collective rubber plug is turned upside down by contacting or not contacting each of the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess and the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire with a compressive force smaller than that of the seal portion. And another introduction part that regulates the positional deviation between the through holes and the respective through holes.

<Invention of Claim 1>
At least the entrance side, which is the side into which the terminal fitting is inserted, of the collective rubber plug contacts or does not contact each of the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess and the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire with a compressive force smaller than that of the seal portion. As a result, since the introduction portion for restricting the positional deviation between each insertion hole and each through hole is formed, the insertion operation of the terminal fitting inserted from each through hole to each insertion hole is smoothly performed. .

<Invention of Claim 2>
In the introduction portion, the outer peripheral surface of the collective rubber plug does not contact the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess, so that the introduction portion does not substantially receive a compressive force from the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess. Therefore, it is more reliably avoided that each insertion hole is shifted inward in the radial direction, and the positional deviation between each insertion hole and each through hole is more reliably regulated.

<Invention of Claim 3>
In the introduction part, the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole of the batch rubber stopper does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire, so the hole diameter of the insertion hole in the introduction part becomes sufficiently large, and in the unlikely event, each insertion hole shifts radially inward. However, the communication state with each through-hole can be maintained.

<Invention of Claim 4>
Another introduction part is formed on the outlet side of the collective rubber plug, and when the collective rubber plug is turned upside down, the position shift between each insertion hole and each through hole is regulated by another introduction part, When the collective rubber plug is accommodated in the accommodation recess, it is not necessary to distinguish the front and back of the collective rubber plug, and the workability is improved.

In the waterproof connector which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is sectional drawing showing the state before a terminal metal fitting is inserted in the cavity of a connector housing. It is sectional drawing showing the state just before a terminal metal fitting is normally inserted in the cavity of a connector housing. It is a front view of a lump rubber stopper. It is XX sectional drawing of a lump rubber stopper. It is sectional drawing of a connector housing. It is sectional drawing of a holder.

<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 connector housing 20, a collective rubber plug 40, a holder 60, and a terminal fitting 80.

  The connector housing 20 is made of a synthetic resin, has a block shape, and can be fitted into a mating connector housing (not shown). As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of cavities 21 are formed in the connector housing 20 so as to extend in the front-rear direction. The cavities 21 are arranged in alignment in the height direction and the width direction, and a lance (not shown) is formed on the inner wall thereof so as to be deflectable. A terminal fitting 80 is inserted into each cavity 21 from the rear, and the normally inserted terminal fitting 80 is elastically retained by a lance.

  The terminal fitting 80 is integrally formed by bending a conductive metal plate, and as shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical main body 81 elongated in the front-rear direction and an open barrel-like shape continuous to the rear of the main body 81. And a barrel portion 82. In the main body 81, a contact portion (not shown) is formed which comes into electrical contact with a mating terminal mounted on the mating connector housing when both connector housings are properly fitted. The barrel portion 82 is connected to the terminal portion of the electric wire 90 by crimping. In the case of the first embodiment, the outer dimensions of the main body portion 81 and the barrel portion 82 are substantially the same.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a housing recess 22 is formed in the rear surface of the connector housing 20 so as to open. The collective rubber plug 40 can be accommodated in the accommodating recess 22 of the connector housing 20 from the rear. The housing recess 22 is defined by a back surface 23 disposed along the height direction and an inner peripheral surface 24 that is connected to the periphery of the back surface 23 and disposed inside the rear end of the connector housing 20. The rear end of each cavity 21 is opened in the back surface 23 of the housing recess 22. In addition, a pair of locking protrusions 25 are formed to protrude from both ends in the height direction of the rear end portion on the outer surface of the connector housing 20. A lock piece 65 (described later) of the holder 60 can be elastically locked to both the lock protrusions 25.

  The collective rubber plug 40 is made of rubber such as silicon rubber, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, has a flat mat shape that is long in the height direction as a whole. The batch rubber plug 40 is formed with a plurality of insertion holes 41 penetrating coaxially with the cavities 21 in the front-rear direction while being accommodated in the accommodation recess 22. The electric wire 90 is inserted into each insertion hole 41 after the terminal fitting 80 has passed.

  The collective rubber plug 40 includes a seal portion 42 and a pair of front and rear introduction portions 43 that are built up at the center in the height direction of both front and rear surfaces of the seal portion 42. The seal portion 42 has a substantially oval shape in front view that is long in the height direction, and is disposed in the central portion of the collective rubber plug 40 in the front-rear direction (thickness direction). On the other hand, the both introduction portions 43 have a substantially rectangular shape in front view that is long in the height direction, and are disposed at both front and rear end portions of the batch rubber plug 40 with the seal portion 42 interposed therebetween.

  Each insertion hole 41 is configured to communicate both the introduction portion 43 and the seal portion 42 in the front-rear direction, and is arranged in alignment in the central portion in the height direction of the collective rubber plug 40 on the both introduction portion 43 side. The longitudinal length of each insertion hole 41 (the longitudinal length of the collective rubber plug 40) is substantially the same as the longitudinal length of the housing recess 22. A tapered opening 44 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of each insertion hole 41 so as to greatly expand toward both the front and rear surfaces of both introduction portions 43.

  In addition, a pair of entry holes 45 are formed in the seal portion 42 of the batch rubber plug 40 so as to penetrate both sides in the height direction across the insertion holes 41. The entrance hole 45 has a slit-like shape elongated in the width direction, and both inner peripheral lips 46 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of which the projecting pieces 64 (described later) are elastically adhered in a compressed state. The inner peripheral lips 46 on both sides are configured to go around the inner peripheral surface of the entry hole 45, and are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction.

  In addition, an outer peripheral lip 47 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the seal portion 42 so as to elastically adhere to the inner peripheral surface 24 of the housing recess 22 in a compressed state. The outer peripheral lip 47 is configured to go around the outer peripheral surface of the seal portion 42 (collective rubber plug 40), and is arranged side by side in two front and rear. The outer peripheral lip 47 has a substantially quadrangular cross-sectional shape having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the inner peripheral lips 46 on both sides, and is disposed at a position where the inner peripheral lips 46 and the inner peripheral lip 49 described later overlap each other in the front-rear direction. Has been. Further, the valley between the outer peripheral lips 47, the valley between the inner peripheral lips 46 on both sides, and the valley between the inner peripheral lips 49 are all arranged at the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the collective rubber plug 40.

  The front and rear surfaces of the outer peripheral lip 47 are flat surfaces 48 that rise along the height direction, and are disposed on both front and rear sides with the top of the outer peripheral lip 47 as a boundary. The flat surface 48 is continuously formed on both front and rear surfaces of the inner peripheral lips 46 on both sides.

  On the inner peripheral surface of each insertion hole 41 of the collective rubber plug 40, an inner peripheral lip 49 that is elastically adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90 in a compressed state is formed. The inner peripheral lip 49 is configured to go around the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 41 and is arranged in two lines in the front-rear direction. The inner peripheral lip 49 has a pair of hem portions 51 that gradually increase in diameter toward both front and rear ends on both sides in the front and rear direction with the top as a boundary. Both front and rear hem portions 51 are integrally connected to both front and rear openings 44 of the insertion hole 41. The collective rubber plug 40 has a substantially symmetrical shape on both the front and rear sides with the center in the front-rear direction.

  The holder 60 is made of a synthetic resin and has a cap shape as a whole. As shown in FIG. 1, the holder 60 is attached to the rear surface of the connector housing 20 from the rear, and has a flat pressing plate 61 that can come into contact with the rear surface of the collective rubber plug 40. And a cylindrical peripheral wall plate 62 projecting into the wall. A plurality of through holes 63 are formed in the pressing plate 61 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction at positions facing the respective insertion holes 41 of the collective rubber plug 40. As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of projecting pieces 64 are formed to protrude forward at both ends in the height direction of the front surface of the pressing plate 61. The projecting piece 64 has a plate shape elongated in the width direction, and is inserted into the entrance hole 45 in a close contact state, thereby serving to position and hold the batch rubber plug 40.

  A pair of locking pieces 65 are formed at both ends in the height direction of the peripheral wall plate 62 so as to be able to bend. The lock piece 65 is formed with a lock hole 66 extending in the front-rear direction and opening in the rear surface of the presser plate 61 in the thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 1, when the lock piece 65 is elastically locked to the lock protrusion 25 of the connector housing 20, the lock protrusion 25 is fitted into the lock hole 66, whereby the holder 60 is held by the connector housing 20. It is like that.

Next, the operation of the waterproof connector 10 according to the first embodiment will be described.
A batch rubber plug 40 is inserted into the housing recess 22 of the connector housing 20 from the rear. When the collective rubber plug 40 is normally inserted into the housing recess 22, the front surface of the introduction portion 43 comes into contact with the back surface 23 of the housing recess 22, and the outer peripheral lip 47 of the seal portion 42 is the inner peripheral surface 24 of the housing recess 22. Elastically in a compressed state. Thereby, the seal in the connector housing 20 is taken. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the introduction portion 43 is not in contact with the inner peripheral surface 24 of the accommodation recess 22, and the compression force from the accommodation recess 22 side is not substantially applied to the introduction portion 43.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1, the holder 60 is attached to the connector housing 20 from the rear. When the lock piece 65 of the holder 60 elastically locks the lock protrusion 25, the collective rubber plug 40 is prevented from coming into the accommodation recess 22, and the protruding piece 64 penetrates the entry hole 45, The tip is disposed so as to be able to contact the back surface 23 of the housing recess 22. Since the compressing force from the accommodating recess 22 is not substantially applied to the introduction portion 43, the insertion hole 41 on the introduction portion 43 side is maintained at a predetermined position without shifting to the center portion side in the height direction. . For this reason, the displacement between each insertion hole 41 and each through-hole 63 and between each insertion hole 41 and each cavity 21 is prevented. In the case of the first embodiment, the opening 44 on the front side of each insertion hole 41 faces the cavity 21, and the through-hole 63 faces the opening 44 on the rear side of the insertion hole 41. ing. Therefore, even if each insertion hole 41 is slightly shifted to the center in the height direction, the positional relationship between the holes 21, 41, 63 does not shift. Further, even if the collective rubber plug 40 is inverted (reversed back and forth) and inserted into the housing recess 22, the overall shape of the collective rubber plug 40 does not change and only the front and rear introduction parts 43 are replaced. The positional relationship between the holes 21, 41, and 63 is maintained appropriately.

  Thereafter, the terminal fitting 80 with the electric wire 90 is inserted into the cavity 21 from behind. In this case, the terminal fitting 80 is inserted into the cavity 21 from the through hole 63 through the insertion hole 41. In the process of insertion, the through-hole 63, the insertion hole 41, and the cavity 21 are in coaxial communication with each other by the introduction portion 43, so that the insertion operation of the terminal fitting 80 is not restricted. As shown in FIG. 2, when the terminal fitting 80 is properly inserted, the inner peripheral lip 49 of the seal portion 42 is elastically adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90 in a compressed state, whereby the seal around the electric wire 90 is released. It is done. At this time, the electric wires 90 are inserted in the insertion holes 41 and the through holes 63 on the introduction portion 43 side in a loosely fitted state.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface 24 of the housing recess 22 and the electric wire 90 are disposed at least on the entrance side (rear side) of the batch rubber plug 40 where the terminal fitting 80 is inserted. An introduction portion 43 that does not contact the outer peripheral surface is formed, and the introduction portion 43 regulates a positional shift between each insertion hole 41 and each through hole 63, so that the introduction portion 43 is introduced from each through hole 63 to each insertion hole 41. The inserted terminal fitting 80 can be smoothly inserted.

  In addition, since the outer peripheral surface of the collective rubber plug 40 does not contact the inner peripheral surface 24 of the housing recess 22 in the introducing portion 43, the introducing portion 43 can substantially receive a compressive force from the inner peripheral surface 24 of the housing recess 22. Absent. Therefore, it is more reliably avoided that each insertion hole 41 shifts to the height direction center part side (radially inner side), and the positional deviation between each insertion hole 41 and each through hole 63 is more reliably regulated. The

  Moreover, since the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 41 of the batch rubber plug 40 does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 90 in the introduction portion 43, the hole diameter of the insertion hole 41 on the introduction portion 43 side becomes sufficiently large. Even when the insertion hole 41 is shifted to the center in the height direction, the communication state with each through-hole 63 can be maintained.

  In addition, a front (separate) introduction part 43 is formed on the outlet side (front side) of the batch rubber plug 40 opposite to the side where the terminal fitting 80 is inserted, and the batch rubber plug 40 is turned upside down. In some cases, the front introduction part 43 is located on the rear side, and the collective rubber plug 40 is accommodated when the collective rubber plug 40 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 22 in order to maintain the communication state between the insertion holes 41 and the through holes 63. It is not necessary to distinguish the front and back of the stopper 40, and workability is improved.

<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 outer peripheral surface of the introduction portion may be configured to be lightly in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess to such an extent that the compressive force from the housing recess side is not received as much as the seal portion side.
(2) The inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole on the introduction portion side may be configured to lightly abut on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire so that the compression force from the electric wire side is not received as much as the seal portion side.
(3) The introduction portion may be provided only on the entrance side which is the side facing the holder side in a state where the collective rubber stopper is accommodated in the accommodation recess.
(4) The holder may enter the receiving recess.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Waterproof connector 20 ... Connector housing 21 ... Cavity 22 ... Accommodation recessed part 24 ... Inner peripheral surface of accommodation recessed part 40 ... Collective rubber stopper 41 ... Insertion hole 42 ... Sealing part 43 ... Introducing part 47 ... Outer peripheral lip 49 ... Inner peripheral lip 60 ... Holder 63 ... Through hole 80 ... Terminal fitting 90 ... Electric wire

Claims (4)

A batch rubber plug having a plurality of insertion holes; a connector housing having a receiving recess capable of accommodating the batch rubber plug; and a plurality of cavities communicating with the insertion holes; and the batch rubber with respect to the connector housing The batch rubber plug includes a holder having a plurality of through-holes that restricts the batch rubber plug from coming out of the receiving recess by being assembled with the plug interposed therebetween, and communicates with the insertion holes. A seal that is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess in a compressed state and that is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire in a compressed state when a terminal fitting with an electric wire is inserted from the through hole into the cavity through the insertion hole. A waterproof connector in which a portion is formed,
Among the batch rubber plugs, at least on the entrance side on which the terminal fitting is inserted, a compressive force smaller than that of the seal portion is applied to each of the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess and the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire. A waterproof connector, characterized in that an introduction portion is formed that regulates a positional shift between each insertion hole and each through hole by contacting or not contacting.   2. The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the collective rubber plug does not contact an inner peripheral surface of the housing recess in the introduction portion.   3. The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole of the collective rubber plug does not contact an outer peripheral surface of the electric wire in the introduction portion.   Out of the batch rubber plug, the outlet side opposite to the side where the terminal fitting is inserted is smaller than the seal portion with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess and the outer peripheral surface of the wire. By introducing or not abutting with a compressive force, another introduction portion is formed that regulates a positional shift between each insertion hole and each through hole when the collective rubber plug is reversed upside down. The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the waterproof connector is provided.

Images