JP2014044858A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of preventing a relative rotary motion of a terminal metal fitting to a housing accommodating the terminal metal fitting when an electric wire connected to the terminal metal fitting is bent or rotated.SOLUTION: A connector is provided with a rotation regulation member composed of a hollow cylindrical elastic body formed to be tightly adhered to an outer wall of at least a part of a terminal metal fitting or to an outer periphery of an electric wire adjacent to a barrel part of the terminal metal fitting, and to be tightly adhered to an inner wall of a housing. The inner wall at a position where the rotation regulation member of the housing is adhered and the outer wall of the rotation regulation member are formed so that a cross section vertical in an axial direction of the electric wire is in a shape other than a circle.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector in which a terminal fitting is accommodated in a housing.

  A connector in which a terminal fitting electrically connected to a mating terminal fitting is housed in a housing is known. However, when this type of connector is used for electric wiring inside a vehicle, the vibration of the vehicle, etc. For this reason, when the terminal fitting rattles in the housing, the contact with the mating terminal fitting may be vibrated and the contact resistance of the contact may increase. In order to prevent this, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a contact piece is formed on the terminal fitting, and the contact piece presses the inner wall of the terminal receiving hole of the housing from the inside.

  Moreover, in patent document 2, it is aimed at damping | damping transmission of the vibration from an electric wire to a terminal metal fitting by providing the connector with the rubber stopper which has a vibration damping member formed as a part of housing, and a damping part. .

JP 2006-100234 A JP 2011-129296 A

  In electrical wiring in vehicles, due to the necessity of routing electric wires in a limited space, various types of electric wires connected to the terminal fittings are inserted at the rear end of the terminal fittings with the terminal fittings inserted into the housing. Often it is bent or rotated in any direction. Then, torque is transmitted from the electric wire to the terminal fitting, and the terminal fitting may rotate around the electric wire axis.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional general connector 30 by taking a female connector as an example. The female terminal fitting 34 accommodated in the housing 31 has a connecting portion 32 for holding the male terminal fitting M in a front portion and a barrel portion 33 to which a wire W is caulked and connected at the rear portion. . When the electric wire W connected to the barrel portion 33 is bent or rotated at the rear end portion of the barrel portion 33, the torque is transmitted to the female terminal fitting 34, and the female terminal fitting 34 is transferred to the housing 31. It will rotate relative to it.

  When the terminal fitting 34 rotates inside the housing 31 due to the bending or rotation of the electric wire W, the terminal fitting 34 rotates relative to the mating male terminal fitting M. Then, at the contact 32a between the two terminal fittings, the contact area intended at the time of design cannot be obtained, and the contact resistance may become unstable or increase.

  Further, as in the connector 40 shown in FIG. 4, a rubber plug 45 that prevents water from entering may be provided at the rear portion of the barrel portion 43 of the terminal fitting 44 in some cases. The rubber plug 45 has a substantially cylindrical shape, the inner wall is in close contact with the electric wire W, and the outer wall is in close contact with the inner wall of the housing 41 of the connector 40, but the electric wire W is bent at the rear end portion of the rubber plug 45. Alternatively, when rotated, the rubber plug 45 may also rotate together. As a result, the terminal fitting 44 rotates in the housing 41, and rotation also occurs at the contact point with the male terminal fitting M.

  Thus, in addition to the rattling caused by the propagation of vibrations of the vehicle or the like, the contact resistance at the contact point is also increased by the rotation of the terminal fitting due to the bending and rotation of the electric wire. However, the rotational movement of the terminal fitting in the housing is prevented depending on the mechanism for preventing the rattling of the terminal fitting or the mechanism for preventing the transmission of vibration from the electric wire as described in the above-mentioned patent document. Not.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that when the electric wire connected to the terminal fitting is bent or rotated, the terminal fitting rotates relative to the housing that houses the terminal fitting. It is to provide a prevented connector.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a connector according to the present invention accommodates a terminal fitting having a connection portion electrically connected to a counterpart terminal fitting and a barrel portion to which an electric wire is connected, and the terminal fitting. A rotation restricting member made of a hollow cylindrical elastic body formed in close contact with the outer wall of the electric wire adjacent to the housing and at least a part of the outer wall or the barrel portion of the terminal fitting and the inner wall of the housing; And the outer wall of the portion where the rotation restricting member of the housing is in close contact and the outer wall of the rotation restricting member are formed such that the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the electric wire has a shape other than circular. Is the gist.

  Here, it is preferable that an inner wall of the housing where the rotation restricting member is in close contact and an outer wall of the rotation restricting member are formed so that a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the electric wire is rectangular.

  And the said rotation control member is good to be closely_contact | adhered and provided in the outer wall of the said connection part of the location in which the said contact part in which the connection part electrically contacts with the other party terminal metal fitting is formed.

  Here, it is preferable that the outer wall of the connecting portion and the inner wall of the rotation restricting member where the contact is formed are formed so that a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the electric wire is rectangular. .

  Alternatively, the rotation restricting member may be provided in close contact with the outer periphery of the electric wire adjacent to the barrel portion.

  In the connector according to the invention, the rotation restricting member is formed between the terminal fitting or the electric wire and the housing in close contact with each other, and the inner wall of the housing and the outer wall of the rotation restricting member are arranged in the axial direction of the electric wire. The vertical cross section is formed to have a shape other than a circle. Furthermore, since the rotation restricting member is made of an elastic body, adhesion between the rotation restricting member and the housing and between the rotation restricting member and the terminal fitting or the electric wire is enhanced. These effects prevent the terminal fitting from rotating inside the housing when the electric wire is bent or rotated at the rear end of the barrel portion of the terminal fitting for the purpose of handling the electric wire. Along with this, at the contact point, the terminal fitting is prevented from rotating relative to the mating terminal fitting, and instability and increase of the contact resistance value due to such rotation are prevented.

  Here, if the inner wall of the housing and the outer wall of the rotation restricting member where the rotation restricting member is in close contact are formed so that the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the electric wire is rectangular, the shape of the housing And the rotation restricting member are well regulated, so that the rotation of the terminal fitting with respect to the housing is more effectively prevented.

  Then, if the rotation restricting member is provided so as to cover the outer wall of the connection portion where the contact is formed, the connection portion is firmly rotated relative to the housing at the location where the contact is formed. Therefore, the relative rotation of the contacts with respect to the mating terminal fitting is effectively prevented.

  Here, if the outer wall of the connecting portion where the contact is formed and the inner wall of the rotation restricting member are formed so that the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the electric wire is rectangular, the effect of the shape Thus, the rotation between the rotation regulating member and the terminal fitting is well regulated. Thereby, rotation of the terminal metal fitting with respect to a housing, especially the location in which the contact was formed is prevented more effectively.

  Alternatively, when the rotation restricting member is formed in close contact with the outer periphery of the electric wire adjacent to the barrel portion, the rotation restricting member simultaneously functions as a waterproof plug that prevents water from entering the housing. .

It is a schematic diagram which shows the connector concerning 1st embodiment of this invention, (a) is a fragmentary sectional view, (b) is AA sectional drawing of (a). It is a schematic diagram which shows the connector concerning 2nd embodiment of this invention, (a) is a fragmentary sectional view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a). It is a schematic diagram which shows the conventional connector, (a) is a fragmentary sectional view, (b) is the figure (CC sectional drawing) which looked at the connector rear end part. It is a schematic diagram which shows another conventional connector, (a) is a fragmentary sectional view, (b) is the figure (DD sectional drawing) which looked at the connector rear end part.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a connector 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In each figure, the direction in which the male terminal fitting M, which is the counterpart terminal fitting, is located, that is, the left side of the figure is the front, and the direction in which the electric wire W is connected is the rear. Also, the vertical direction in the figure is the vertical direction.

  The connector 10 is a female connector, and includes a terminal fitting 4 and a housing 1 that accommodates the terminal fitting 4. The housing 1 has a substantially rectangular tube shape, and a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction (the axial direction of the electric wire W) is formed in a rectangular shape on both the outer wall surface and the inner wall surface.

  At the front part of the terminal fitting 4, a connection portion 2 is formed which is electrically connected to the male terminal fitting M of the male connector which is a mating terminal fitting. The connecting portion 2 has a substantially rectangular tube-like structure, and a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the outer wall (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a cross section) is formed in a rectangular shape. An elastic contact piece 2b that is folded back inward and has elasticity is integrally formed on the lower surface of the hollow portion of the rectangular tube of the connection portion 2. The elastic contact piece 2 b applies an upward force to the tab-shaped male terminal fitting M inserted into the connection portion 2. An inner facing contact surface 2c is formed on the upper surface of the hollow portion of the rectangular tube of the connecting portion 2 at a location facing the elastic contact piece 2b, and the male terminal fitting M is pressed against the inner facing contact surface 2c by the elastic contact piece 2b. As a result, the male terminal fitting M is pinched and held between the elastic contact piece 2b and the inner facing contact surface 2c. The contact point between the elastic contact piece 2b and the internal facing contact surface 2c and the male terminal fitting M is a contact 2a that realizes electrical contact between both terminals.

  Although not shown, the male connector may also have a housing that accommodates the male terminal fitting M. In that case, the housing 1 of the female connector 10 and the housing of the male connector are locked together.

  A barrel portion 3 to which the electric wire W is connected is provided at the rear portion of the terminal fitting 4. The front portion of the barrel portion 3 is a wire barrel 3a for caulking and fixing the outer periphery of the bare wire conductor Wc exposed by peeling off the insulating coating Wi. In addition, an insulation barrel 3b for caulking and fixing the outer periphery of the insulation coating Wi of the electric wire W is integrally formed behind the wire barrel 3a. The wire W and the terminal fitting 4 are electrically connected by the wire barrel 3a, and the wire W is firmly fixed to the terminal fitting 4 by the action of the wire barrel 3a and the insulation barrel 3b.

  A rotation restricting member 5 made of an elastic body is formed between the connection portion 2 of the terminal fitting 4 and the housing 1 so as to surround the entire outer periphery of the connection portion 2 including the portion where the contact 2a is formed. The rotation restricting member 5 has a hollow rectangular tube shape, and both the outer wall surface and the inner wall surface are formed in a rectangular cross section. The inner wall surface of the rotation restricting member 5 has substantially the same shape and dimensions as the outer wall surface of the connection portion 2 of the terminal fitting 4, and the outer wall surface of the rotation restricting member 5 has substantially the same shape and dimension as the inner wall surface of the housing 1. Have The rotation regulating member 5 has an inner wall surface that is in close contact with the outer wall surface of the terminal fitting 4 and an outer wall surface that is in close contact with the inner wall surface of the housing 1. In FIG. 1 and subsequent FIG. 2, for the sake of easy viewing, a space is provided in the close contact portion, but in actuality, it is assumed that the contact is made without a space.

  Since the rotation restricting member 5 having a rectangular cross section is formed in close contact with both the housing 1 and the terminal fitting 4, when the electric wire W is routed in a limited space, the rear side of the insulation barrel 3 b is used. Even when the electric wire W is bent or rotated in various directions, the terminal metal fitting 4 is prevented from rotating with respect to the housing 1 by the torque. This prevents the terminal fitting 4 of the female connector 10 and the terminal fitting M of the male connector from rotating relative to each other at the contact 2a. When such relative rotation occurs in the contact 2a, the contact area between the two terminal fittings intended in the design stage may not be ensured, which may cause instability or increase in contact resistance. Further, when such relative rotation at the contact point 2a is repeated, the contact point 2a is worn, which may cause an increase in contact resistance. The presence of the rotation restricting member 5 prevents the contact resistance from destabilizing and increasing at the contact 2a due to these factors.

  The rotation restricting member 5 is formed of an elastic body. The restriction of the rotation of the terminal fitting 4 within the housing 1 due to the effect of the shape of the rotation restricting member 5 as described above is more effectively exhibited by the elasticity of the rotation restricting member 5. The rotation restricting member 5 is in close contact with the housing 1 and the terminal fitting 4 due to its elastic effect, absorbs bending and rotation torque applied to the electric wire W by elastic deformation, and acts as a kind of cushioning material. It is.

  Further, the inner diameter of the rotation restricting member 5 (distance between the opposed inner wall surfaces) is the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the terminal fitting 4 (distance between the opposed outer wall surfaces), and the rotation restriction is formed. If the outer diameter of the member 5 is formed to be the same as or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the housing 1 and is inserted between the terminal fitting 4 and the housing 1 while being elastically deformed, the rotation restricting member 5 is further increased. The effect of the rotation regulation by is enhanced.

  As long as the rotation restricting member 5 is in close contact with both the housing 1 and the terminal fitting 4, the rotation restricting member 5 can be formed on any part of the terminal fitting 4 in the front-rear direction of the terminal fitting 4. Helps prevent rotation. However, in view of increasing contact resistance and suppressing destabilization, it is the contact 2a that must be prevented from rotating most. In the present embodiment, the rotation restricting member 5 is provided so as to cover the entire outer periphery of the portion where the contact 2a is formed, so that the rotation restricting member 5 is provided on the outer periphery of the terminal fitting 4 at other positions. The location of the contact 2a can be effectively protected from rotation.

  As described above, the rotation restricting member 5 functions to restrict the rotation of the terminal fitting 4 with respect to the housing 1. However, due to the adhesion to the housing 1 and the terminal fitting 4, only the rotational movement of the terminal fitting 4 with respect to the housing 1 is possible. In addition, translational movement (that is, rattling of the terminal fitting 4) can also be suppressed. In the case where the translational motion is not sufficiently suppressed by the rotation restricting member 5, a known mechanism for preventing rattling as described in, for example, Patent Document 1 may be further provided.

  As a method of inserting the rotation restricting member 5 made of an elastic body between the terminal fitting 4 and the housing 1, for example, a predetermined portion of the terminal fitting 4 to which the electric wire W is connected is covered with the cylindrical rotation restricting member 5. Just attach it in advance. Then, the terminal fitting 4 to which the rotation restricting member 5 is attached may be inserted into the housing 1 from the rear of the housing 1.

  In the above embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes of the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface of the rotation restricting member 5 and the outer wall surface of the terminal fitting 4 and the inner wall surface of the housing 1 are in a rectangular shape. However, these cross-sectional shapes are not necessarily rectangular.

  In order to enjoy the effect of preventing the rotation of the terminal fitting 4 in the housing 1 by the rotation restricting member 5, the outer wall surface of the rotation restricting member 5 and the inner wall surface of the housing 1 may not be rectangular, but a cross section other than circular. It must have a shape. Even if the outer wall surface of the rotation restricting member 5 and the inner wall surface of the housing 1 have substantially the same shape and dimensions and are in close contact with each other, if the cross-section is circular, rotational torque is applied from the electric wire W. When this is done, there is a possibility that rotation will occur between the housing 1 and the rotation restricting member 5. Then, the terminal fitting 4 rotates with respect to the housing 1, and the female terminal fitting 4 may rotate with respect to the male terminal fitting M at the contact 2a.

  On the other hand, if the cross-sectional shapes of the inner wall surface of the rotation restricting member 5 and the outer wall surface of the terminal fitting 4 are also shapes other than a circle represented by a rectangle as described above, the rotation of the terminal fitting 4 is similarly prevented. Although the function is effectively exhibited, these cross-sectional shapes may be circular. Since the rotation restricting member 5 has a cylindrical shape formed of an elastic body, it exerts an inward force on the terminal fitting 4 inserted therein. Therefore, the rotation restricting member 5 is firmly attached to the terminal fitting 4. If this adhesion force is sufficiently large, even if the cross-sectional shape of the inner wall surface of the rotation restricting member 5 and the outer wall surface of the terminal fitting 4 is circular, the rotation restricting member 5 and the terminal fitting 4 inserted therein The rotation between the members can be sufficiently prevented.

  Thus, even when the cross-sectional shape of the inner wall surface of the rotation restricting member and the outer wall surface of the member inserted therein is circular, the rotation of the member inserted into the rotation restricting member can be prevented. Thus, the connector 20 according to the second embodiment shown below is provided with a rotation restricting member on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire.

  FIG. 2 shows a connector 20 according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment, the rotation restricting member 25 is provided between the contact 2a and the housing 1. However, in the connector 20 according to the second embodiment, the rotation restricting member 25 is located immediately behind the insulation barrel 3b. It is formed on the outer periphery of the electric wire W connected to the terminal fitting 4 at the rear.

  The rotation restricting member 25 is formed in a circular shape having a cross-sectional shape of the inner wall surface that is substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the electric wire W, and a cross-sectional shape of the outer wall surface that is substantially the same shape and size as the cross-sectional shape of the housing 21. Is formed. An inner wall surface is formed so that at least a portion of the housing 21 where the rotation restricting member 25 is inserted has substantially the same shape and size as the outer wall surface of the rotation restricting member 25.

  Except for these points, the connector 20 is formed in the same manner as the connector 10 of the first embodiment. Corresponding members are given corresponding reference numerals.

  Also in this embodiment, the rotation restricting member 25 is formed of an elastic body. The cross-sectional shapes of the outer wall surface of the rotation restricting member 25 and the inner wall surface of the housing 21 do not necessarily have to be a rectangle as long as the shape is other than a circle. If the inner diameter of the rotation restricting member 25 is the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire W, and the outer diameter of the rotation restricting member 25 is equal to or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the housing 21. The rotation restricting member 25 is excellent in adhesion with the electric wire W and the housing 21.

  As described above, the rotation restricting member 25 is provided in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W immediately behind the insulation barrel 3 b and the inner wall surface of the housing 21, so that the electric wire W is behind the rotation restricting member 25. Even if the wire is bent or rotated at the position, the portion where the rotation restricting member 25 exists and the electric wire W positioned in front of the member are not bent or rotated. That is, the rotation restricting member 25 absorbs and blocks the bending and rotation of the electric wire W. Thereby, the relative rotational movement between the male terminal fitting M and the female terminal fitting 4 at the contact 2a is prevented.

  An adhesive layer may be further formed between the electric wire W and the rotation restricting member 25. Then, the rotation of the terminal fitting 4 is more firmly prevented.

  If the rotation restricting member 25 is formed in close contact with the housing 21 and the electric wire W and also in close contact with the rear end surface of the barrel portion 3 of the terminal fitting 4, the rotation restricting member 25 is a terminal in the housing 21. In addition to having the function of preventing the metal fitting 4 from rotating, it also functions as a waterproof plug (rubber plug) that prevents water from entering the terminal metal fitting 4. In this embodiment, the rotation restricting member 25 is formed at a position away from the contact 2a of the terminal fitting 4, and the connector 10 of the first embodiment is superior in the efficiency of preventing the rotation of the contact 2a. However, when the connector is required to be waterproof, the connector 20 according to the second embodiment may be employed.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. In particular, the structure of the housing and the terminal fitting is not limited to that shown in the above embodiment as long as the rotation regulating member can be properly arranged.

  In the embodiments, the female connector has been described as an example. However, the configuration in which the same restricting member is provided can be applied to the male connector. In particular, as in the second embodiment described above, the configuration in which the rotation restricting member is provided behind the barrel portion can be applied to the male connector as it is.

10, 20 (female type) connector 1, 21 housing 2 connection part 2a contact point 3 barrel part 3a wire barrel 3b insulation barrel 4 (female type) terminal fitting 5, 25 rotation regulating member M male terminal fitting W electric wire

Claims (5)

  A terminal fitting having a connecting portion electrically connected to the mating terminal fitting, a barrel portion to which an electric wire is connected, a housing accommodating the terminal fitting, an outer wall of at least a part of the terminal fitting or the barrel portion A rotation restricting member made of a hollow cylindrical elastic body formed in close contact with the outer periphery of the electric wire adjacent to the housing and in close contact with the inner wall of the housing, wherein the rotation restricting member of the housing is in close contact The connector is characterized in that the inner wall of the part and the outer wall of the rotation restricting member are formed such that a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the electric wire has a shape other than a circle.   The inner wall of the portion of the housing where the rotation restricting member is in close contact and the outer wall of the rotation restricting member are formed so that a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the electric wire is rectangular. The connector according to 1.   2. The rotation restricting member is provided in close contact with an outer wall of the connection portion where a contact point where the connection portion is in electrical contact with a mating terminal metal fitting is formed. 2. The connector according to 2.   4. The outer wall of the connecting portion and the inner wall of the rotation restricting member at a location where the contact is formed are formed so that a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the electric wire is rectangular. Connector described in. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the rotation restricting member is provided in close contact with an outer periphery of the electric wire adjacent to the barrel portion.

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