JP2014146492A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent thermal deformation accompanying temperature rise at a connector.SOLUTION: A connector 10 at least a part of which is formed of a flame retardant material or a nonflammable material, comprises: terminal metal fittings 21A and 21B; and a connector housing 11 having an elastic deformable deformation part. At least a part with the exception of the deformation part 18, of the connector housing 11 includes a flame retardant part formed of the flame retardant material or the nonflammable material. The deformation part 18 is formed of a material having a higher elasticity compared with the flame retardant part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  As the in-vehicle power supply becomes higher in voltage, countermeasures against heat generation in the connector and countermeasures against thermal deformation associated therewith are desired. As an example, in Patent Document 1 below, a portion related to the mating connector is formed of a flame retardant resin, thereby preventing thermal deformation of the housing due to short circuit between terminals and heat generation due to water intrusion. A connector is disclosed.

JP 2002-203635 A

  However, in the connector, the part where heat generation and accompanying thermal deformation are a concern is not necessarily limited to the part related to the coupling.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to form the entire connector housing with a flame retardant resin, but many flame retardant resins have poor elasticity, and the area where the flame retardant resin is formed is extended to a portion with elastic deformation. Was not easy.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector that reliably prevents thermal deformation caused by a rapid temperature rise without impairing the elastic function that the connector should maintain. And

The connector of the present invention
At least a part of the connector is formed of a flame retardant material or a non-flammable material,
Terminal fittings,
A connector housing having an elastically deformable deformation portion;
Of the connector housing, at least a portion excluding the deformable portion includes a flame retardant portion formed of the flame retardant material or a non-flammable material, and the deformable portion is a material having higher elasticity than the flame retardant portion. It is formed by these.

  According to the present invention, in the connector housing, the molding material is selectively used for the elastically deformable deformable portion and other portions. In other words, the deformed part can be molded with ordinary synthetic resin to exhibit good elasticity, and the other parts can be molded with flame-retardant or non-flammable materials as necessary. It is protected from the heat deformation accompanying.

Side sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment. Similarly, cross-sectional view of the connector The figure which expanded and showed the latching part of a capacitor accommodation member similarly

  A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(1) The connector of the present invention
It is preferable that the flame retardant portion is provided in a portion of the connector housing that is exposed on the outer surface.
According to this configuration, since the flame retardant portion is provided in a portion exposed on the outer surface of the connector housing, thermal deformation of the connector housing can be prevented even when heat is received from the outside of the connector.

(2) The connector of the present invention
The deforming portion is preferably arranged in a state of being concealed inside the connector housing.
According to this configuration, since the deformed portion having poor flame retardance is covered with the flame retardant portion and concealed inside the connector housing, the influence of heat from the outside of the connector is difficult to reach the deformed portion. Can be realized.

(3) The connector of the present invention
It is preferable that the connector housing is provided with a heating element accommodation chamber in which a heating element is accommodated, and the heating element accommodation chamber constitutes at least the flame retardant portion.
According to this configuration, in the connector provided with the heating element accommodation chamber in which the heating element is accommodated, the heating element accommodation chamber is configured by the flame retardant portion, whereby the heating element accommodation chamber is heated by the heat generation of the heating element. Deformation can be prevented.

(4) The connector of the present invention
It is preferable that the heating element is a capacitor.
According to this configuration, it is possible to take measures against thermal deformation accompanying heat generation in the connector incorporating the capacitor.

Next, a first embodiment in which the connector of the present invention is embodied will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Example 1>
The joint connector 10 with built-in noise filter of the present embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as a connector 10) includes first and second bus bar terminals (terminal fittings) 21A and 21B, a noise removing capacitor (heating element) 30, The connector housing 11 is provided. In the following description, in the front-rear direction, the right side in FIG. 1 is the front side and the left side is the rear side.

  The first and second bus bar terminals 21A and 21B are formed by punching a metal conductive plate such as a copper alloy and performing bending or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the first and second bus bar terminals 21 </ b> A and 21 </ b> B are arranged in two stages in the height direction of the connector housing 11. The first bus bar terminal 21A is on the upper side, and the second bus bar terminal 21B is on the lower side. The first bus bar terminal 21A is on the positive side, and the second bus bar terminal 21B is on the negative side (ground side).

  The first bus bar terminal 21A includes four terminal portions 22, a strip-like connecting portion 23 that connects them, and a first extending portion 24A. The positive lead wire 31A of the capacitor 30 is the first extending portion 24A. It is connected at the tip. The second bus bar terminal 21B includes four terminal portions 22, a belt-like connecting portion 23 that connects them, and a second extending portion 24B. The negative lead wire 31B of the capacitor 30 is the second extending portion 24B. It is connected at the tip.

  The strip-shaped connecting portion 23 is a strip-shaped metal plate that is long in the width direction. The terminal portion 22 protrudes from one side edge of the belt-like connecting portion 23 at a predetermined pitch, and is formed in a tab shape. The terminal portion 22 is connected when a terminal fitting (not shown) held by a counterpart connector (not shown) is fitted to the counterpart connector. Further, in the belt-like connecting portion 23, both extending portions 24A and 24B are formed to extend from an edge opposite to the terminal portion 22.

  The first extending portion 24A of the first bus bar terminal 21A is flat with no step in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, the second extending portion 24B of the second bus bar terminal 21B is long to be aligned with the same height as the first extending portion 24A in order to connect to the negative electrode lead wire 31B as shown in FIG. It is bent at a right angle twice in the middle of the direction.

  The capacitor 30 is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, and includes a capacitor body 32 having a cylindrical shape and a pair of lead wires 31A and 31B having positive and negative electrodes led forward from the front end face thereof.

  The connector housing 11 includes a housing body 11B formed in a substantially box shape that opens upward and forward, a lid member 16 that closes the upper opening, a capacitor housing member 15 that is assembled to the housing body 11B and opens backward, and a capacitor The cover member 19 includes four members 19 that block the rear surface of the housing member 15. The connector housing 11 in the combined state accommodates a connecting portion that accommodates a connecting portion of the rectangular tube-shaped hood portion 12 that can be fitted to the mating connector, and both the bus bar terminals 21A and 21B and the lead wires 31A and 31B of the capacitor 30. The section 13 and the capacitor housing chamber 17 are provided in a partitioned manner.

  On the partition wall 14 that partitions the hood portion 12 and the connection site accommodating portion 13, the band-like connecting portions 23 of both bus bar terminals 21 </ b> A and 21 </ b> B are embedded and held and fixed by insert molding. The terminal portions 22 of both bus bar terminals 21A and 21B protrude into the hood portion 12, and the extended portions 24A and 24B of both bus bar terminals 21A and 21B protrude into the connection portion accommodating portion 13.

  A pair of insertion holes 11 </ b> H are opened in the rear wall of the connection site accommodating portion 13. Moreover, the upper surface of the connection site | part accommodating part 13 is opened over the length of the front-back direction from the rear wall of the connection site | part accommodation part 13 to the partition wall 14, and closure of an opening part is carried out by the separate cover member 16. Is possible.

  The capacitor housing member 15 is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape that opens rearward. A capacitor housing chamber 17 capable of housing the capacitor 30 from behind is formed inside. The front wall of the capacitor housing chamber 17 can be stopped in front of the capacitor body 32. In addition, the opening on the rear surface of the capacitor housing chamber 17 is closed by a lid body 19 with an elastic body 41. The elastic body 41 is formed of a cushioning material. When the lid 19 is mounted on the capacitor housing member 15, the capacitor body 32 is pressed against the front wall of the capacitor housing chamber 17 while compressing the elastic body 41. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of lead wire insertion holes 17H are opened in the front wall of the capacitor housing chamber 17, and a pair of locking portions 18 are directed forward across the lead wire insertion holes 17H. Projecting. The lead wire insertion hole 17 can communicate with the insertion hole 11H when the capacitor housing member 15 is assembled to the housing body 11B. Both the locking portions 18 are allowed to be elastically deformed in a direction approaching each other. The capacitor housing member 15 passes through the insertion hole 11H formed in the rear wall of the housing main body 11B while undergoing such elastic deformation, returns after the passage, and engages with the rear wall from the inner surface side. Make sure to keep it from coming off.

  By the way, the connector housing 11 of the present embodiment, except for the both locking portions 18, has a flame retardant resin that has increased flame retardancy by adding a halogen compound or antimony oxide using polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) as a base material. It is made of material. On the other hand, both locking portions 18 are formed of PBT. That is, both locking portions 18 are composed of a substrate portion 18A and a claw portion 18B projecting in a hook shape at the tip thereof, and these are integrally formed of a PBT material. Both locking portions 18 are integrally formed with the capacitor housing member 15 by two-color molding. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the board portion 18 </ b> A of both locking portions 18 is formed with a retaining portion 18 </ b> C having a bulging portion at the tip, and is against the end portion of the front wall of the capacitor housing member 15. Physical retention is planned.

  Next, an example of the assembly procedure of the connector will be described. First, the capacitor housing member 15 with the lid 19 removed is attached to the housing body 11B with the lid member 16 removed. In that case, both the locking portions 18 pass through the housing body 11B while being bent and deformed, and after passing, the claw portions 18B are hooked on the hole edges of the insertion holes 11H. Thereby, the capacitor | condenser accommodating member 15 is mounted | worn with the housing main body 11B. Thereafter, the capacitor 30 is inserted into the capacitor housing chamber 17 from the rear with the lead wires 31A and 31B as the front side. Then, the rear side opening of the capacitor housing chamber 17 is closed by the lid 19 while the capacitor body 32 is brought into contact with the front wall of the capacitor housing chamber 17. Thus, the capacitor 30 is accommodated in the capacitor accommodating chamber 17 by the lid body 19 in a compressed state without rattling, and both the lead wires 31A and 31B of the capacitor 30 pass through the lead wire insertion hole 17H and It protrudes into the connection site | part accommodating part 13 through both the latching | locking parts 18. FIG.

  On the other hand, both extension parts 24A and 24B of the first and second bus bar terminals 21A and 21B integrated in advance by insert molding are located in the connection site accommodating part 13. Then, after the capacitor 30 is accommodated, both lead wires 31A and 31B corresponding to the positive and negative electrodes of the capacitor 30 are installed on the tips of the extension portions 24A and 24B. Next, a connection operation (soldering operation) is performed on the extension portions 24A and 24B corresponding to the lead wires 31A and 31B through the upper surface opening of the housing body 11B.

  When the connection work between the lead wires 31A and 31B and the bus bar terminals 21A and 21B is completed in this way, the upper surface opening of the housing body 11B is closed by the lid member 16. Thereby, the assembly work of the connector 10 is completed.

  Next, the function and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  According to the present embodiment, the connector housing 11 is molded by using different molding materials for the locking portion 18 that requires elasticity and other parts, and the locking portion 18 is formed of a normal synthetic resin, Other parts are molded from a flame retardant resin. Therefore, the connector 10 is protected from thermal deformation accompanying rapid temperature rise while exhibiting good elasticity.

  Moreover, the latching | locking part 18 is distribute | arranged in the state concealed inside the connector housing 11, and the outer periphery is covered with the flame-retardant resin. Therefore, even if heat is received from the outside, it is possible to realize a situation in which the influence of heat hardly reaches the locking portion 18. Even if the locking portion 18 is thermally deformed and the locking function is lost, the capacitor 30 and the bus bar terminals 21A and 21B are connected by soldering. Therefore, the capacitor 30 is not detached from the connector 10 and the function as the connector 10 is not impaired.

  In addition, since the capacitor housing chamber 17 in which the capacitor 30 is housed is formed of a flame retardant resin, the capacitor housing chamber 17 does not undergo thermal deformation even if the capacitor 30 that is a heat source suddenly generates heat.

  As mentioned above, according to this invention, the connector 10 which prevented the thermal deformation accompanying a temperature rise can be provided, without impairing the elastic function which should be maintained by using a flame-retardant resin and a normal synthetic resin properly.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, PBT is used as the base material of the flame retardant resin, but other synthetic resins may be used as the base material.
(2) In the above embodiment, halogen compounds and antimony oxide are used as additives for the flame retardant resin, but fibers such as carbon and glass, metal powder such as iron and copper, and the like may be added.
(3) In the above embodiment, the connector housings other than the locking portions are all formed of the flame retardant resin, but only the portion exposed to the outer surface of the connector housing may be formed of the flame retardant resin.
(4) In the above embodiment, an aluminum electrolytic capacitor is used as the capacitor, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a film capacitor or a ceramic capacitor may be used.
(5) Although the capacitor is used as the heating element in the above embodiment, a passive element other than the capacitor, an active element, a battery, or the like may be used.
(6) In the above embodiment, the heating element is built in the connector. However, the invention is not limited to this.
(7) In the above embodiment, the bus bar terminal is used as the terminal fitting, but a male terminal fitting other than the female terminal fitting or the bus bar terminal may be used.
(8) In the above embodiment, the bus bar terminal and the lead wire of the capacitor are connected by soldering. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be connected using resistance welding or laser welding.
(9) In the above embodiment, the lid member and the lid are provided separately from the connector housing. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be integrated.
(10) In the above embodiment, the deforming portion is concealed in the connector housing. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be exposed outside the connector housing.

10 ... Joint connector with noise filter (connector)
11 ... Connector housing 17 ... Capacitor accommodation room (heating element accommodation room)
18 ... Locking part (deformation part)
21A, 21B ... First and second bus bar terminals (terminal fittings)
30: Capacitor (heating element)

Claims (5)

At least a part of the connector is formed of a flame retardant material or a non-flammable material,
Terminal fittings,
A connector housing having an elastically deformable deformation portion;
Of the connector housing, at least a portion excluding the deformable portion includes a flame retardant portion formed of the flame retardant material or a non-flammable material, and the deformable portion has higher elasticity than the flame retardant portion. A connector made of a material.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the flame retardant portion is provided in a portion of the connector housing that is exposed to the outer surface.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion is arranged in a state of being concealed inside the connector housing.   The said connector housing is provided with the heat generating body accommodation chamber in which a heat generating body is accommodated, The said heat generating body accommodation chamber comprises at least the said flame retardant part. The connector according to any one of the above.   The connector according to claim 4, wherein the heating element is a capacitor.

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