JP2015084288A - Connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector assembly which achieves downsizing of a connector.SOLUTION: A connector assembly 1, with which a stack electrode 80 is connected, includes: a connector 10 including a terminal 20, which contacts with an electrode plate 81, and a connector body 30 holding the terminal; and a printed wiring board 60 where the terminal is connected by a connection part 63. The connector body includes: a housing member 40 including a slit 44, into which the electrode plate is inserted, and an insertion hole 45 communicating with the slit 44 and with which the terminal is inserted, the housing member holding the printed wiring board; and a cover member 50 which is attached to the housing member and covers at least the connection part. The housing member includes engagement protrusions 481, 482. The cover member includes engagement pieces 521 and 522 which protrude toward the housing member side and engage with the engagement protrusions. The printed wiring board has opening parts 624 into which the engagement pieces are respectively inserted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector assembly to which stacked electrodes are connected.

  A connector that connects a stack electrode of a fuel cell and a flexible printed circuit board is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-192384 A

  The above-mentioned stacked electrode is configured by laminating a large number of electrode plates at intervals. On the other hand, one connector is connected to a predetermined number of electrode plates. Therefore, a plurality of connectors are connected to the stack electrode of the fuel cell, and the plurality of connectors are arranged in close contact with each other. Therefore, if the size of each connector along the stacking direction is large, there is a problem that the entire stacked electrode is enlarged along the stacking direction.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a connector assembly capable of miniaturizing the connector.

  [1] A connector assembly according to the present invention is a connector assembly to which a stacked electrode composed of a plurality of electrode plates stacked with a space therebetween is connected, and is a terminal in contact with the electrode plate A connector body that holds the terminal, and a wiring board to which the terminal is connected at a connection portion, the connector body including an insertion groove into which the electrode plate is inserted, and the insertion An insertion hole that communicates with the groove and into which the terminal is inserted, a housing member that holds the wiring board, and a cover member that covers the housing member and covers at least the connection portion. The housing member has a locking projection, and the cover member has a locking piece that protrudes toward the housing member side and locks to the locking projection, , And having an opening in which the locking piece is inserted.

  [2] In the above invention, the locking protrusion may be provided on a surface of the housing member that is substantially parallel to the stacking direction of the electrode plates.

  [3] In the above invention, the terminal is substantially upright with respect to the main surface of the wiring board, and the wiring board is substantially orthogonal to the stacking direction of the electrode plates in plan view. You may derive | lead-out from the said connector main body along a direction.

  According to the present invention, since the locking piece can be locked to the locking projection through the opening of the wiring board, the size of the connector in the electrode plate stacking direction can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector assembly in an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which stacked electrodes are connected. FIG. 2A is a front view of the connector assembly shown in FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIB-IIB in FIG. 2A. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIC-IIC in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector assembly in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a plan view of a housing member in the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVB-IVB in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the printed wiring board according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VB-VB in FIG. 5A. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a state in which a printed wiring board is attached to a housing member in the embodiment of the present invention. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIB-VIB in FIG. 6A. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector assembly in a state in which stacked electrodes are connected, and FIGS. 2A to 2C are a front view and a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly in the present embodiment.

  The connector assembly 1 in this embodiment includes a connector 10 and two printed wiring boards 60 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 2C, and prints the stacked electrode 80 via the connector 10. It is electrically connected to the wiring board 60.

The stack electrode 80 in the present embodiment is a stack electrode used for monitoring the voltage of a fuel cell, for example. The stacked electrode 80 is composed of a plurality of electrode plates 81 that are stacked with a space therebetween. A plurality of electrode plates 81 are, for example, distance between centers of the electrode plate 81 is disposed such that the pitch P _1.

  In this example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2B, and 2C, one connector assembly 1 is connected to eight electrode plates 81. Accordingly, although not particularly illustrated, a plurality of connector assemblies 1 are connected to a large number of electrode plates 81 constituting the stacked electrode 80, and the plurality of connector assemblies 1 are arranged in close contact with each other. ing. The number of electrode plates 81 connected to one connector assembly 1 is not particularly limited.

  3 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector assembly in the present embodiment, FIGS. 4A to 4B are a plan view and a sectional view of the housing member in the present embodiment, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are plane views of the printed wiring board in the present embodiment. It is a figure and sectional drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 10 includes eight terminals 20 that are in contact with the electrode plates 81 and a connector body 30 that holds the terminals 20.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the terminal 20 includes a main body portion 21, contact pieces 221 and 222, and a connection protrusion 23. The terminal 20 is formed by processing a plate material made of a conductive material such as a metal material, and the main body 21, the contact pieces 221 and 222, and the connection protrusion 23 are integrally formed. .

  The pair of contact pieces 221 and 222 face each other and project downward from the main body portion 21 (−Z direction). The terminal 20 is brought into electrical contact with the electrode plate 81 by sandwiching the electrode plate 81 between the contact pieces 221 and 222 using the spring property of the contact pieces 221 and 222.

  On the other hand, the connection protrusion 23 protrudes from the main body 21 in the direction opposite to the contact pieces 221 and 222 (+ Z direction). By soldering the connection protrusions 23 to the printed wiring board 60, the terminals 20 are electrically connected to the printed wiring board 60.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connector main body 30 has a housing member 40 and a cover member 50.

  The housing member 40 is made of an electrically insulating material such as a resin material. The housing member 40 in the present embodiment has an overall shape in which two box-like bodies 411 and 412 each having a substantially box shape are shifted from each other and arranged between the two box-like bodies 411 and 412. A step 413 is formed. Although not particularly illustrated, when the plurality of connectors 10 are brought into close contact with each other, the step 413 of the housing member 40 of one connector 10 enters the step 413 of the housing member 40 of the other connector 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, two first protrusions 421 and 422 and four second protrusions 431 to 434 are provided on the upper surface 40 a of the housing member 40. When two printed wiring boards are attached to the housing member 40, one printed wiring board 60 is positioned by the three protrusions 421, 431 to 432, and the other printed wiring board by the other three protrusions 422, 433 to 434. The wiring board 60 is positioned (see FIG. 6A).

  The housing member 40 is formed with a slit 44 and an insertion hole 45. The slit 44 in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of the insertion groove in the present invention, and the insertion hole 45 in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of the insertion hole in the present invention.

  The slit 44 is opened in the lower surface 40 b of the housing member 40 and can receive the convex portion 82 of the electrode plate 81. On the other hand, the insertion hole 45 penetrates the housing member 40 from the upper surface 40a to the lower surface 40b, and has an inner diameter into which the terminal 20 can be inserted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 4B, the slit 44 and the insertion hole 45 communicate with each other, and when the convex portion 82 of the electrode plate 81 is inserted into the slit 44, the convex portion 82 is inserted. The contact pieces 221 and 222 of the terminal 20 accommodated in the hole 45 are sandwiched.

The housing member 40 is formed with eight slits 44 for receiving the eight electrode plates 81 as described above. Slit 44 of the eight is the distance between the centers of the slits 44 is mutually disposed in parallel to such a pitch P _2, the pitch P ₂ of the slit 44, the pitch P ₁ and substantially electrode plate 81 (P ₂ = P ₁ ).

  The two slits 44 positioned on the outermost side of the housing member 40 are partially exposed to the outside due to the step 43 of the housing member 40, and are formed on the front surface 40 c and the back surface 40 d of the housing member 40. Recesses 441 are respectively formed (see FIG. 2B).

  In addition, a pair of locking pieces 461 and 462 projecting downward (−Z direction) are provided at the lower portion of the housing member 40. The engaging pieces 461 and 462 are adapted to be engaged with an opening 83 formed in the convex portion 82 of the electrode plate 81 when the convex portion 82 of the electrode plate 81 is inserted into the slit 44 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A).

Eight insertion holes 45 are also formed in the housing member 40 so as to correspond to the eight slits 44. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 4A, four insertion holes 45 are formed in each of the two box-like bodies 411 and 412, and the insertion holes 45 provided in one box-like body 411 are formed. And the insertion hole 45 provided in the other box-like body 412 is arranged so as to be shifted by an amount corresponding to one pitch P ₂ of the slit 44. Further, in accordance with the shape of a wiring pattern 61 (described later) of the printed wiring board 60, the four central insertion holes 45 are disposed on the inner side than the outer four insertion holes 45.

  Further, a locking groove 471 extending downward (−Z direction) from the upper surface 40 a of the housing member 40 is formed on one side surface 40 e of the housing member 40. A locking projection 481 is erected.

  Similarly, a locking groove 472 extending downward (in the −Z direction) from the upper surface 40 a of the housing member 40 is formed on the other side surface 40 f of the housing member 40. A stop projection 482 is provided upright.

  The locking protrusions 481 and 482 of the housing member 40 correspond to an example of the locking protrusion in the present invention. Further, the side surfaces 40e and 40f of the housing member 40 are substantially parallel to the stacking direction (± Y direction) of the electrode plates 81, and in the insertion / extraction direction (± Z direction) of the electrode plates 81 with respect to the connector 10. The planes are substantially parallel to each other.

  The cover member 50 is also made of, for example, a material having electrical insulation properties such as a resin material. As shown in FIG. 3, two box-like bodies 511 and 512 each having a substantially box shape are arranged with being shifted from each other. A step 513 is formed between the left and right box-like bodies 511 and 512. Although not particularly illustrated, when the plurality of connectors 10 are brought into close contact with each other, the step 513 of the cover member 50 of one connector 10 enters the step 513 of the cover member 50 of the other connector 10.

  Further, the cover member 50 of the present embodiment has a pair of locking pieces 521 and 522 that protrude from the respective box-like bodies 511 and 512 toward the housing member 40 side. The locking pieces 521 and 522 in the present embodiment correspond to an example of the locking pieces in the present invention.

  One locking piece 521 corresponds to one locking groove 471 provided in the housing member 40. When the cover member 50 is attached to the housing member 40, the locking claw 531 (see FIG. 7) provided at the tip of the locking piece 521 is locked to the locking protrusion 481 standing in the locking groove 471. To do.

  Similarly, the other locking piece 522 also corresponds to the other locking groove 472 provided in the housing member 40. When the cover member 50 is attached to the housing member 40, the locking claw 532 (see FIG. 7) provided at the tip of the locking piece 522 is locked to the locking protrusion 482 provided upright in the locking groove 472. To do.

  The printed wiring board 60 is a flexible printed wiring board having four wiring patterns 61 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. A flexible flat cable may be used as the printed wiring board 60 instead of the flexible printed wiring board. Alternatively, a membrane substrate including a base material made of PET or PEN may be used as the printed wiring board 60.

  A first through hole 621 and a pair of notches 622 and 623 that respectively penetrate the base material 62 are formed at the end of the printed wiring board 60. The first protrusion 421 (or 422) of the housing member 40 is inserted into the first through hole 621, and the second protrusions 431 and 432 (or 433 and 433) of the housing member 40 are inserted into the pair of notches 622 and 623, respectively. 434) is inserted.

  Further, an opening 624 that penetrates the base material 62 is formed at a position away from the end of the printed wiring board 60, and the wiring pattern 61 is formed on the base material 62 so as to avoid the opening 624. Is provided. The opening 624 has a size capable of inserting the locking piece 521 (or 522) of the cover member 50 described above. The opening 624 in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of the opening in the present invention.

  Further, a second through hole 625 is formed at the tip of each wiring pattern 61. The second through hole 625 has a size capable of inserting the connection protrusion 23 of the terminal 20. By inserting and soldering the connection protrusions 23 into the through holes 625, the connection portions 63 are formed, and the terminals 20 and the wiring patterns 61 are electrically connected.

  The connector assembly 1 described above is assembled as follows. 6A to 6B are a plan view and a sectional view showing a state in which the wiring board is attached to the housing member in the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the connector assembly in the present embodiment.

  That is, first, the terminals 20 are inserted into the second through holes 625 of the printed wiring board 60 and soldered to prepare two printed wiring boards 60 to which the four terminals 20 are respectively connected. Next, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the eight terminals 20 are respectively inserted into the insertion holes 45 of the housing member 40, and the two printed wiring boards 60 are placed on the upper surface 40 a of the housing member 40.

  At this time, one printed wiring board 60 is positioned with respect to the housing member 40 by the three protrusions 421, 431 to 432, and the other printed wiring board 60 is attached to the housing member 40 by the other three protrusions 422, 433 to 434. Positioned against.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the cover member 50 is attached to the housing member 40 by covering the printed wiring board 60. At this time, after the locking pieces 521 and 522 of the cover member 50 are passed through the openings 63 of the printed wiring board 60, the locking pieces 521 and 522 are locked to the locking protrusions 481 and 482, respectively. Accordingly, the printed wiring board 60 is held between the housing member 40 and the cover member 50, and the connection portion 63 between the terminal 20 and the printed wiring board 60 is protected by the housing member 40 and the cover member 50.

  In the connector assembly 1 assembled as described above, the printed wiring board 60 is substantially orthogonal to the stacking direction (± Y direction) of the electrode plates 81 and the insertion / extraction direction of the electrode plate 81 with respect to the connector 10. It is derived from the connector 10 along a direction (± X direction) substantially orthogonal to (± Z direction).

  When the stacked electrode 80 is connected to the connector assembly 1, the convex portions 82 of the eight electrode plates 81 are inserted into the slits 44 of the housing member 40 of the connector 10, respectively, and the contact piece 221 of the terminal 20. , 222 is sandwiched between the convex portions 82. Accordingly, the electrode plate 81 is electrically connected to the printed wiring board 60 via the connector 10. At this time, the locking pieces 461 and 462 of the housing member 40 are locked to the openings 83 of the convex portions 82 of the electrode plate 81, thereby preventing the electrode plate 81 from coming off from the connector 10.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the opening 624 is formed in the printed wiring board 60, and the locking pieces 521 and 522 of the cover member 50 are connected to the locking protrusions 481 of the housing member 40 through the opening 624. 482 is locked.

  Accordingly, the locking projections 481 and 482 can be provided on the side surfaces 40e and 40f of the housing member 40, and the thickness of the front surface 40c and the back surface 40d of the housing member 40 can be reduced. The size of the connector 10 in the direction (± Y direction) can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, since the locking protrusions 481 and 482 are provided not on the front surface 40c or the back surface 40d of the housing member 40 but on the side surfaces 40e and 40f of the housing member 40, the ± Y direction of the printed wiring board 60 is provided. The width along the line can be widened.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the locking protrusions 481 and 482 are provided on the side surfaces 40e and 40f of the housing member 40, the cover member 50 can be detached from the housing member 40 even when the connectors 10 are in close contact with each other. Therefore, the maintenance workability of the connector 10 is excellent.

  The embodiment described above is described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector assembly 10 ... Connector 20 ... Terminal 30 ... Connector main body 40 ... Housing member
40e, 40f ... side face 44 ... slit 45 ... insertion hole 471, 472 ... locking groove 481, 482 ... locking projection 50 ... cover member 521, 522 ... locking piece
531, 532 ... Claw 60 ... Printed wiring board 624 ... Opening 63 ... Connection part 80 ... Stacked electrode 81 ... Electrode plate

Claims (3)

A connector assembly to which stacked electrodes composed of a plurality of electrode plates stacked at intervals are connected,
A connector having a terminal in contact with the electrode plate, and a connector body holding the terminal;
A wiring board to which the terminal is connected at a connection portion;
The connector body is
A housing member that holds the wiring board, and has an insertion groove into which the electrode plate is inserted, an insertion hole that communicates with the insertion groove and into which the terminal is inserted,
A cover member that covers the housing member and covers at least the connection portion;
The housing member has a locking projection;
The cover member protrudes toward the housing member side and has a locking piece that locks to the locking protrusion.
The wiring board has an opening into which the locking piece is inserted. The connector assembly according to claim 1, comprising:
The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking protrusion is provided on a surface of the housing member substantially parallel to the stacking direction of the electrode plates. The connector assembly according to claim 1 or 2,
The terminal is substantially upright with respect to the main surface of the wiring board;
The connector assembly, wherein the wiring board is led out from the connector body along a direction substantially orthogonal to the stacking direction of the electrode plates in plan view.

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