JP2013062055A - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure locking force of terminal fittings to achieve reduction in number of components and size of a housing.SOLUTION: A waterproof connector comprises: a housing having cavities 35 into which terminal fittings 20 connected to terminals of electric wires 10 are to be inserted from a rear side; first locking parts 36 provided in the cavities 35, for being elastically locked in first parts 25 to be locked of the terminal fittings 20 to lock the terminal fittings 20; an integrated type rubber plug 40 arranged in a rear face of the housing 30, and provided with through-holes 42 into which the terminal fittings 20 and the electric wires 10 can be inserted; and a holder 50 capable of being attached to the housing 30 on a rear face side of the rubber plug 40 so as to hold the rubber plug 40 in a state being closely attached to the rear face of the housing 30. Second locking parts 55 are formed in a projecting manner in a front face of the holder 50, the second locking parts penetrating through the rubber plug 40 in a waterproof state to face the insides of the cavities 35, and being elastically locked in second parts 23B to be locked on a rear side of the terminal fittings 20 to lock the terminal fittings 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector using a batch rubber stopper.

  Conventionally, what was described in the following patent document 1 is known as an example of this type of waterproof connector. This is mounted from the side of the housing with a housing having a cavity into which the terminal fitting connected to the end of the wire is inserted from the rear, a lance that is provided in the cavity and elastically locks to the inserted terminal fitting. A retainer that can be secondarily locked to the terminal fitting, a batch type rubber stopper that is provided on the rear surface of the housing and has an insertion hole through which the terminal fitting and the electric wire can be inserted, and the rubber stopper on the rear surface of the housing And a holder that can be assembled to the housing on the rear surface side of the rubber plug so as to be held in close contact with the housing.

  As an assembling procedure, the retainer is temporarily assembled with respect to the housing, while a rubber stopper is applied to the rear surface of the housing and is held in close contact with the holder. From this state, the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity through the insertion hole of the rubber plug together with the electric wire, and when it is inserted to the proper position, it is primarily locked by the lance, and then the retainer is pushed in, so that the terminal fitting is secondary engaged. It has come to be stopped.

Japanese Patent No. 4089179

In the above conventional structure, a retainer is provided to strengthen the terminal metal retaining force, but not only the number of parts is increased, but also a space for inserting the retainer is required, so that the housing is particularly large in the axial direction. There has been a problem that it has led to further improvement, and further improvement has been desired.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a waterproof connector that achieves a reduction in the number of parts and a reduction in the size of the housing while securing the retaining force of the terminal fitting. There is to offer.

  The waterproof connector according to the present invention includes a housing having a cavity into which a terminal fitting connected to an end of an electric wire is inserted from the rear, and is elastically locked to a first locked portion of the terminal fitting provided in the cavity. A first locking portion that prevents the plug from coming off, a batch type rubber plug provided on the rear surface of the housing and provided with an insertion hole through which the terminal fitting and the electric wire can be inserted, and the rubber plug on the rear surface of the housing A holder that can be assembled to the housing on the rear side of the rubber plug so as to be held in close contact with the housing, and the front surface of the holder penetrates the rubber plug in a watertight state into the cavity. A feature is that the second locking portion that protrudes and is elastically locked to the second locked portion on the rear side of the terminal fitting is formed to protrude.

When the rubber plug is disposed on the rear surface of the housing and the holder is assembled to hold the rubber plug, the second locking portion formed to protrude from the front surface of the holder penetrates the rubber plug in a watertight manner and faces the cavity. From this state, the terminal fitting and the electric wire are inserted into the cavity through the insertion hole of the rubber plug, and the terminal fitting is pushed in while elastically displacing the second locking portion and further the first locking portion, and is pushed into the normal position. The first locking portion and the second locking portion are restored and displaced to be locked to the first locked portion and the second locked portion, respectively, and the terminal fitting is double-locked to be strong. Will be retained.
Since the retainer function for secondary locking to the terminal fitting is performed by the second locking part formed integrally with the holder, the retainer can be omitted, and the number of parts can be reduced. Space can be eliminated and the housing can be downsized.

The following configuration may also be used.
(1) The terminal fitting is fixed to the end of the electric wire by caulking a barrel provided on the terminal fitting, and the barrel serves as the second locked portion. Since the second locked portion locked to the second locking portion is covered by the existing barrel, the structure of the terminal fitting is not required to be changed.

(2) While the auxiliary insertion hole is formed through the front and rear surfaces of the rubber plug, the second locking portion of the holder is attached to the tip of a rod that is watertightly fitted into the auxiliary insertion hole. It is the shape where the head locked to the 2nd to-be-latched part of the said terminal metal fitting was provided so that elastic displacement was possible.
As the holder is assembled, the second locking part is inserted into the auxiliary insertion hole of the rubber plug, and when the holder is properly assembled, the rod is fitted in the auxiliary insertion hole in a watertight manner and sealed, and the head at the tip is elastically displaced. Facing the cavity in a possible form.

  (3) An escape recess is formed on the peripheral surface of the cavity to escape the head of the second locking portion when it is displaced. Without changing the size of the cross section of the cavity, it is possible to allow elastic displacement of the head portion of the second locking portion, and it is possible to suppress the housing from being enlarged in the radial direction.

  According to the waterproof connector of the present invention, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the number of parts and a reduction in the size of the housing while securing a retaining force of the terminal fitting.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state before mounting | wearing the housing with the female terminal which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Longitudinal sectional view showing the state after insertion of the female terminal Front view of rubber stopper Side view Front view of holder Plan view Side view

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The waterproof connector according to the present embodiment is of a type that collectively seals a plurality of electric wires. As shown in FIG. 1, a female housing 30 in which a female terminal 20 connected to the terminal of the electric wire 10 is accommodated. And a collective rubber plug 40 (hereinafter simply referred to as a rubber plug 40) that is mounted on the female housing 30 and seals the periphery of the electric wire 10, and a holder 50 that is mounted on the female housing 30 and holds the rubber plug 40. ing.

The electric wire 10 is a covered electric wire in which the periphery of the core wire 11 is covered with an insulating coating 12, and the terminal of the electric wire 10 is subjected to a process in which the end of the core wire 11 is exposed for a certain length by being peeled off.
The female terminal 20 is formed by pressing a metal plate having excellent conductivity, and behind the terminal connecting portion 21 having a rectangular tube shape into which a tab of a mating male terminal (not shown) is inserted and connected. In this structure, a wire barrel 22 and an insulation barrel 23 are provided. The wire barrel 22 is formed with a pair of left and right barrel pieces 22A facing each other, and the insulation barrel 23 is formed by a pair of left and right barrel pieces 23A and 23B being displaced forward and backward.

The wire barrel 22 of the female terminal 20 is caulked to the end of the core wire 11 in the electric wire 10 subjected to the above-described terminal treatment, and the insulation barrel 23 is caulked to the end of the remaining insulation coating 12. Then, the pair of barrel pieces 22A are caulked so as to form a heart shape while abutting the protruding ends, respectively, and in the insulation barrel 23, the pair of barrel pieces 23A, 23B are wound around the insulating coating 12 in a form displaced forward and backward. By being caulked in this way, the female terminal 20 is fixedly connected to the end of the electric wire 10.
On the front end side of the upper surface of the terminal connection portion 21 of the female terminal 20, a first locked portion 25 is formed to protrude, and the above-described crimped insulation barrel 23, specifically, the rear barrel piece 23B is provided. The second locked portion referred to in the present invention.

The female housing 30 is made of synthetic resin and has a shape in which a hood portion 32 having a front opening is formed around a terminal accommodating portion 31 having a horizontally long block shape. A front wall member 33 formed as a separate piece is mounted on the front surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31. A mating male housing (not shown) is fitted from the front side of the female housing 30.
A rubber ring 34 that seals between the terminal housing 31 and the male housing is fitted to the outer periphery on the base end side, and is prevented from coming off by the front wall member 33. A lock arm 32 </ b> A is provided on the upper surface of the hood portion 32 to lock the mating male housing with the mating male housing.

In the terminal accommodating portion 31 of the female housing 30, eight cavities 35 that can be accommodated by inserting the female terminals 20 connected to the ends of the electric wires 10 from the rear are divided into two upper and lower tiers. Yes. The cavity 35 is open at both front and rear end faces, and a terminal insertion port 33A into which a tab of a male terminal attached to the mating male housing is inserted at each position of the front wall member 33 facing the front opening of the cavity 35. Is open.
On the ceiling surface of the front end portion of each cavity 35, a lance 36 that is a first locking portion that is elastically locked to the first locked portion 25 of the female terminal 20 is formed. The lance 36 is formed in a cantilever shape having a slanted and sloping posture, and is elastically displaceable with its tip directed upward.

  On the rear surface of the terminal housing portion 31 of the female housing 30, a circumferential wall 38 having a slightly larger lateral shape is projected. Inside the circumferential wall 38, a housing chamber 39 capable of housing the rubber plug 40 and the holder 50 is rearward. An opening is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rubber plug 40 is formed in a thick rectangular plate having a horizontally long rectangular shape, and is tightly fitted in a substantially half region on the back side (front side) in the above-described storage chamber 39. Is possible. Three outer peripheral lips 41 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rubber plug 40 so as to be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the storage chamber 39 and to keep the two surfaces watertight.

The rubber plug 40 is provided with an insertion hole 42 through which the female terminal 20 and the electric wire 10 can be inserted through the front and rear surfaces. The insertion holes 42 are formed in two upper and lower stages corresponding to the arrangement of the cavities 35 provided in the female housing 30 described above. When the rubber plug 40 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 39, each insertion hole 42 is provided. 35 to match.
The insertion hole 42 is a circular hole having a slightly larger diameter than that of the electric wire 10, and an inner peripheral lip 43 is provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 10 and to keep the both surfaces watertight. There are 3 lines.

  The holder 50 is made of a synthetic resin and is formed in a thick plate shape having a horizontally long rectangular shape that is substantially the same size as the rubber plug 40 as shown in FIGS. The holder 50 is provided with an introduction hole 51 through which the female terminal 20 and the electric wire 10 can be inserted so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction. The introduction hole 51 is formed as a rectangular hole larger than the insertion hole 42 of the rubber plug 40 so that the female terminal 20 can be inserted with a clearance, and has the same arrangement as the insertion hole 42 and the cavity 35 of the female housing 30. Is formed.

The holder 50 can be housed behind the rubber plug 40 in the housing chamber 39, and is locked at a position where the front surface of the holder 50 is in contact with the rear surface of the rubber plug 40.
Therefore, a cylindrical portion 52 having a larger size is formed on the outer periphery of the rear end portion of the holder 50 so as to be folded forward, and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 52 has upper and lower surfaces. A total of six lock protrusions 53 are formed, two on the left and one on the left and one on the left.
On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the peripheral wall 38 of the storage chamber 39, the same number of lock holes 38 </ b> A are opened at each position facing the lock protrusion 53 of the holder 50.

  When the holder 50 is pushed in after the rubber plug 40 is stored in the storage chamber 39, the cylindrical portion 52 of the holder 50 is fitted onto the peripheral wall 38 of the storage chamber 39, and the holder 50 connects the rubber plug 40 to the terminal. When it is pushed in until it is pressed against the rear surface of the accommodating portion 31, the holder 50 is locked by fitting each lock projection 53 into the corresponding lock hole 38A, and the rubber plug 40 is held in close contact with the rear surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31. It has come to be.

Now, on the front surface of the holder 50, there are eight second locking portions 55 that are locked to the rear barrel piece 23B (second locked portion) of the insulation barrel 23 of the female terminal 20. From the position of the central portion in the width direction at the upper edge of the front surface side of each introduction hole 51 formed in the front, the front hole is integrally projected in a horizontal posture toward the front.
Specifically, the second locking portion 55 has a shape in which a head 57 is provided at the tip of a rod 56 made of a round bar having a length slightly larger than the thickness of the rubber plug 40. The head 57 is shaped such that the upper half of a short round bar thicker than the rod 56 is cut off, and the front surface of the head 57 is the rear side of the crimped insulation barrel 23. It can be locked to the rear surface of the upper position of the barrel piece 23B. Further, the head portion 57 can be elastically displaced upward with a connection portion with the rod 56 as a center.

On the other hand, the rubber plug 40 is provided with eight auxiliary insertion holes 45 penetrating the front and rear surfaces through which the second locking portion 55 can be inserted. As shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary insertion hole 45 is formed at each upper position with a small interval between the insertion holes 42 described above, and the rubber plug 40 is in close contact with the rear surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31. At this time, it corresponds to the ceiling surface of the entrance 35 </ b> A which is the rear end of each cavity 35.
The auxiliary insertion hole 45 is also a circular hole having a slightly larger diameter than the rod 56 of the second locking portion 55, and its inner peripheral surface is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rod 56 and is watertight between both surfaces. Three inner circumferential lips 46 for keeping the shape are provided.

Each second locking portion 55 protruding from the front surface of the holder 50 is inserted into the corresponding auxiliary insertion hole 45 of the rubber plug 40 from the rear, and is pushed in until the front surface of the holder 50 contacts the rear surface of the rubber plug 40. The entire length of the rod 56 in the second locking portion 55 is fitted in the auxiliary insertion hole 45 in a watertight manner, and the head 57 projects forward from the front opening of the auxiliary insertion hole 45 to elastically move upward. Arranged as possible.
Further, the head portion 57 of the second locking portion 55 protruding from the front surface of the rubber plug 40 is allowed to enter the ceiling portion of the inlet 35A of each cavity 35 of the female housing 30, and elastically displaced upward. Relief recesses 37 are formed to allow the above.

Then, the effect | action of this embodiment is demonstrated. When assembling the waterproof connector, first, a rubber ring 34 for inter-housing sealing is fitted on the outer periphery of the base end portion of the terminal accommodating portion 31, and then the rubber ring 34 is also retained on the front surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31. The front wall member 33 is fitted.
On the other hand, the rubber plug 40 is attached to the front surface of the holder 50. That is, the rubber plug 40 is pushed toward the front surface of the holder 50 while the second locking portion 55 protruding from the front surface of the holder 50 is inserted into the auxiliary insertion hole 45. When the rubber plug 40 is pressed against the front surface of the holder 50, the entire length of the rod 56 in the second locking portion 55 is fitted in the auxiliary insertion hole 45 in a watertight manner, and the head 57 is placed in front of the auxiliary insertion hole 45. The rubber plug 40 is integrally mounted on the front surface of the holder 50 in a form protruding so as to be elastically displaceable upward.

The rubber plug 40 and the holder 50 that are integrally assembled in this manner are inserted into the accommodation chamber 39 formed on the rear surface of the terminal accommodation portion 31 in the female housing 30 from the rear. When the rubber plug 40 is pushed in until it hits the back surface of the storage chamber 39, that is, the rear surface of the terminal storage portion 31, the lock projection 53 of the cylindrical portion 52 of the holder 50 is connected to the peripheral wall 38 of the storage chamber 39 as shown in FIG. The holder 50 is locked in the retaining state by being fitted in the lock hole 38 </ b> A, and the front surface of the rubber plug 40 is held in close contact with the rear surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31.
At this time, the head portion 57 of the second locking portion 55 protruding from the front surface of the rubber plug 40 enters the escape recess 37 formed on the ceiling surface of the inlet 35 </ b> A of the corresponding cavity 35.

When the female housing 30 side is assembled in this way, the female terminal 20 connected to the electric wire 10 is inserted into each cavity 35 of the female housing 30. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, the female terminal 20 is inserted into the introduction hole 51 of the holder 50 from the rear, and then pushed in while increasing the diameter of the insertion hole 42 of the rubber plug 40. Inserted.
The female terminal 20 is first pushed in while the head 57 of the second locking portion 55 is released and elastically displaced upward in the recess 37, and the lance 36 as the first locking portion is inserted into the terminal connection portion 21 in the final stage. It rides on the first locked portion 25 on the upper surface and elastically moves upward, and the head 57 of the second locking portion 55 rides on the upper surface of the insulation barrel 23 and is pushed in while being elastically displaced upward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the female terminal 20 is pushed to a normal position where it hits the back surface of the front wall member 33, the first locked portion 25 of the female terminal 20 passes through the lance 36, so that the lance 36 moves backward. Displacement and primary locking to the rear surface of the first locked portion 25, together with the insulation barrel 23 of the female terminal 20 passing through the head 57 of the second locking portion 55, the head 57 is It is displaced backward and is secondarily locked to the rear surface of the rear barrel piece 23B, which is the second locked portion, and the female terminal 20 is double-locked and accommodated in the cavity 35. On the other hand, the electric wire 10 is inserted into the insertion hole 42 of the rubber plug 40 in a watertight manner. When all the female terminals 20 have been inserted into the cavity 35 described above, the assembly of the waterproof connector of the present embodiment is completed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the retainer function that is secondarily locked to the female terminal 20 is performed by the second locking portion 55 that is integrally formed with the holder 50, and therefore a retainer is provided. The number of parts can be reduced and the space for installing the retainer is not required, and the female housing 30 can be downsized.

Since the second locked portion locked to the second locking portion 55 is covered by the existing insulation barrel 23 (barrel piece 23B) provided on the female terminal 20, the structure of the female terminal 20 is changed. Is unnecessary.
By providing the relief recess 37 on the ceiling surface of the entrance 35A of the cavity 35, it is possible to allow the head 57 of the second locking portion 55 to enter and elastically move without changing the size of the cross section of the cavity 35. Accordingly, the female housing 30 can be prevented from being enlarged in the radial direction.

<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 insulation barrel of the female terminal may be of a type in which a pair of barrel pieces are overlapped and caulked, and this type can take a larger allowance for the second locking portion. .
(2) The second locked portion locked to the second locking portion may be separately provided on the rear side of the female terminal, and such a component is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(3) The entire entrance of the cavity may have a large cross-sectional shape so as to allow entry of the head of the second locking portion and elastic displacement by, for example, increasing the pitch between the cavities of the female housing.
(4) The procedure for assembling the waterproof connector is not limited to the one illustrated in the above embodiment, and may be changed as appropriate, for example, after the rubber plug is housed alone in the housing chamber of the female housing, and then the holder is mounted again. To get.
(5) The present invention can be similarly applied to a male waterproof connector in which a male terminal is accommodated in a cavity of a male housing and sealed with a batch rubber plug.

10 ... Electric wire 20 ... Female terminal (terminal fitting)
23 ... Insulation barrel 23B ... Rear barrel piece (second locked portion)
25 ... First locked portion 30 ... Female housing (housing)
31 ... Terminal accommodating portion 35 ... Cavity 35A ... Entrance of (cavity 35) 36 ... Lance (first locking portion)
37 ... Escape recessed part 39 ... Accommodating chamber 40 ... Rubber stopper 42 ... Insertion hole 45 ... Auxiliary insertion hole 50 ... Holder 55 ... Second locking part 56 ... Rod 57 ... Head

Claims (4)

A housing having a cavity into which a terminal fitting connected to the end of the electric wire is inserted from the rear;
A first locking portion that is provided in the cavity and elastically locked to the first locked portion of the terminal fitting to prevent it from coming off;
A batch type rubber stopper provided with an insertion hole which is arranged on the rear surface of the housing and through which the terminal fitting and the electric wire can be inserted;
A holder that can be assembled to the housing on the rear surface side of the rubber plug to hold the rubber plug in close contact with the rear surface of the housing;
Is provided,
A rubber plug is inserted into the front surface of the holder in a watertight manner so as to face the cavity and is elastically locked to a second locked portion on the rear side of the terminal fitting to prevent the second stopper from coming off. A waterproof connector, wherein a locking portion is formed to protrude. The terminal fitting is fixed to a terminal of the electric wire by caulking a barrel provided on the terminal fitting, and the barrel serves as the second locked portion. Waterproof connector. An auxiliary insertion hole is formed through the front and rear surfaces of the rubber plug, while the second locking portion of the holder is connected to the terminal fitting at the tip of a rod that is watertightly fitted into the auxiliary insertion hole. The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein a head that is locked to the second locked portion is provided in a shape that can be elastically displaced. The waterproof connector according to claim 3, wherein an escape recess is formed on the peripheral surface of the cavity to allow the second locking portion to be displaced when the head is displaced.

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