JP2015133275A - waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the vibration resistance performance without changing a shape of a connector housing.SOLUTION: A waterproof connector 10 is configured to comprise: a waterproof rubber ring 80; a female housing 40 having a main body part 41 fitted with the rubber ring 80, and in which a lock arm 43 is formed at an outer periphery of the main body part 41; a male housing 24 having a hood part 22 into which the main body part 41 can fit, and locking the main body part 41 and the hood part 22 in a fitting state by making a lock protrusion 23 formed on an outer peripheral surface of the hood part 22 be locked with the lock arm 43; a front member 70 attached at a front side of the rubber ring 80 in the main body part 41 to prevent frontward drop-off of the rubber ring 80; and an elastic member 90 attached to a front end part of the front member 70 and elastically abutting on a deep surface 22B of the hood part 22.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector that suppresses rattling between connectors.

  Conventionally, a waterproof connector described in Patent Document 1 is known as a technique for preventing sliding in a fitting direction between terminals after fitting. The waterproof connector includes a male connector housing and a female connector housing that can be fitted to each other. A rising rear wall is erected along the outer peripheral wall of the male connector housing, and a waterproof wall is provided to face the outer peripheral wall from the tip. A waterproof packing is mounted in a space surrounded by the outer peripheral wall of the male connector housing, the rising rear wall, and the waterproof wall.

  When the sleeve of the female connector housing is inserted into the space of the male connector housing, the packing is compressed, and the distal end of the locking arm provided on the male connector housing and the locking projection formed on the female connector housing are engaged. As a result, the male and female connector housings are locked in the fitted state. In the packing, a projecting portion having an end portion of the packing that is extended to form an annular ridge is formed. The protrusion is formed so as to be able to be pressed against the rear wall of the male connector housing and the front end surface of the sleeve portion of the female connector housing when fitted. Thereby, rattling between the male and female connector housings is suppressed.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-50113

  However, the clearance between the mating surfaces of the mating surfaces is set between the mating surfaces (surfaces facing the mating direction) of the male and female connector housings because a clearance considering the dimensional tolerance associated with resin molding is set. I have to tolerate it. If the clearance is not set between the fitting surfaces, the fitting surfaces may come into contact with each other before the locking arm is engaged with the locking projection, and there is a possibility that the locking cannot be performed. In addition, in order to use a specially shaped packing, it is necessary to change the shape of the male and female connector housings, and it is necessary to apply for and approve design changes.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above situation, and an object thereof is to improve vibration resistance performance without changing the shape of a connector housing.

  The waterproof connector according to the present invention includes a waterproof rubber ring, a first connector housing having a main body portion into which the rubber ring is fitted, and a lock arm formed on the outer periphery of the main body portion. A second connector housing having a hood portion that can be fitted, and locking the main body portion and the hood portion in a fitted state by engaging a lock protrusion and a lock arm formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion; A front member that is attached to the front side of the rubber ring in the main body portion to prevent the rubber ring from being pulled forward, and an elastic member that is attached to the front end portion of the front member and elastically contacts the back surface of the hood portion It is characterized by having a configuration provided with.

  According to such a configuration, the main body portion of the first connector housing is locked in a state in which the lock arm and the lock protrusion are engaged with the hood portion of the second connector housing. Here, although a predetermined clearance is provided between the back surface of the hood portion and the front surface of the front member in order to securely engage the lock arm and the lock protrusion, the elastic member disposed in this clearance Since it contacts the inner surface of the hood portion, vibration resistance can be improved without rattling in the fitting direction. In addition, since the elastic member is attached to the front member, the shape of the first connector housing is not changed.

The following configuration is preferable as an embodiment of the present invention.
The elastic member may be configured to elastically contact the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion.
According to such a configuration, vibration resistance can be improved by eliminating shakiness in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction in addition to the fitting direction.

The elastic member may be a plate spring made of a metal material, and may include a pair of locking pieces that are locked to the front end portion of the front member in the fitting direction.
According to such a configuration, the durability performance of the elastic member can be enhanced.

The elastic member is a seal ring made of a rubber material, and may be configured to be fitted to a mounting portion provided around the front end portion of the front member.
According to such a configuration, rattling in the fitting direction and the radial direction (direction orthogonal to the fitting direction) can be eliminated by the elastic member.

  According to the present invention, vibration resistance can be improved without changing the shape of the connector housing.

Sectional drawing of the waterproof connector which showed the state before making the main-body part fit in a food | hood part in Embodiment 1. FIG. Cross-sectional view of a waterproof connector showing a state after the main body is fitted into the hood Sectional drawing which expanded and showed the state which attached the leaf spring to the front member Sectional drawing of the waterproof connector which showed the state before fitting a main-body part in a food | hood part in Embodiment 2. FIG. Cross-sectional view of a waterproof connector showing a state after the main body is fitted into the hood

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1 to 3. The waterproof connector 10 according to the present embodiment includes a male connector 20 and a female connector 30 that can be fitted to each other. Hereinafter, the fitting direction of the male and female connectors 20 and 30 will be referred to as the front-rear direction, and the side to be fitted with the mating connector will be described as the front side.

  The male connector 20 has a male housing 24 made of synthetic resin, and the male housing 24 is configured as a part of the device E as shown in FIG. The male housing 24 is formed with a hood portion 22 that protrudes forward from the device E and opens forward. A lock projection 23 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion 22. The lock projection 23 has an inclined surface 23A having a gentle upward slope toward the rear, a horizontal surface 23B from the rear edge of the inclined surface 23A to the rear, and a vertical downward from the rear edge of the horizontal surface 23B. And a vertical surface 23C. A male terminal 21 is provided on the inner wall 22A of the hood portion 22 so as to protrude forward. The inner surface of the rear wall 22A is a rear surface 22B orthogonal to the fitting direction.

  The female connector 30 has a female housing 40 made of synthetic resin. The female housing 40 includes a main body portion 41 that accommodates a female terminal 50 therein, and a fitting tube portion 42 formed on the outer periphery of the main body portion 41. And a lock arm 43 formed on the upper surface of the main body 41. The lock arm 43 has a lock hole 43A. When the lock projection 23 is fitted into the lock hole 43A, the inner wall of the lock hole 43A and the vertical surface 23C of the lock projection 23 are locked in the front-rear direction. The part 41 and the hood part 22 are locked in the fitted state.

  The female terminal 50 includes a terminal connection portion 51 connected to the male terminal 21, a wire barrel portion 52 formed behind the terminal connection portion 51, and an insulation barrel portion formed behind the wire barrel portion 52. 53. The wire barrel portion 52 is crimped to the core wire W1 of the electric wire W. Further, the insulation barrel portion 53 is pressure-bonded to the sheath W2 of the electric wire W through the rubber plug 54.

  Inside the main body 41, a terminal accommodating hole 41A and a rubber plug accommodating hole 41B are formed. The terminal accommodating hole 41A and the rubber plug accommodating hole 41B communicate with each other and penetrate in the front-rear direction. A rubber plug 54 is accommodated in the rubber plug accommodation hole 41 </ b> B, and the rubber plug 54 prevents water from entering the main body 41. Further, a lance 44 is formed in the terminal accommodating hole 41 </ b> A, and the female terminal 50 is held in the main body 41 by the lance 44 engaging with the terminal connection portion 51 of the female terminal 50 from the rear.

  A retainer 60 is mounted in the main body 41. A part of the retainer 60 protrudes into the terminal accommodating hole 41 </ b> A, and this protruding portion is locked to the rear end of the terminal connection portion 51 of the female terminal 50 from the rear. Thereby, the female terminal 50 is held in the main body 41 in a state of being double-locked by the lance 44 and the retainer 60.

  A rubber ring 80 is fitted on the rear end side of the outer peripheral surface of the main body 41. This rubber ring 80 is mainly for waterproofing, but it is also possible to prevent rattling in the radial direction (direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction) between the male and female connectors 20, 30. As a material of such a rubber ring 80, silicone rubber impregnated with oil is mainly used.

  The rubber ring 80 has a plurality of inner peripheral lips 81 and a plurality of outer peripheral lips 82. When the male and female connectors 20 and 30 are fitted together, the inner peripheral lip 81 is formed as shown in FIG. The outer peripheral lip 82 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 22 </ b> C of the hood portion 22. Thereby, the space between the hood portion 22 and the main body portion 41 is sealed by the rubber ring 80.

  A front member 70 is attached to the front end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the main body 41. The front member 70 includes a front wall portion 71 and a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 72 that extends rearward from the periphery of the front wall portion 71. The peripheral wall portion 72 is arranged on the front side of the rubber ring 80 and prevents the rubber ring 80 fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 41 from coming off to the front.

  The front wall portion 71 is disposed on the front side of the main body portion 41, and the peripheral wall portion 72 is disposed along the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 41. A pair of upper and lower holding projections 73 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 72, and a pair of upper and lower holding recesses 45 that are engaged with the holding projection 73 in the front-rear direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 41. . Each holding projection 73 is fitted into each holding recess 45 and locked, so that the front member 70 is locked in a state where it is attached to the front end portion of the main body 41.

  The front wall 71 is formed with a recess for receiving the front end of the female terminal 50, and this recess constitutes a part of the terminal receiving hole 41A. A terminal insertion hole 74 through which the male terminal 21 is inserted is formed in the front wall portion 71, and the male terminal 21 can enter the terminal accommodating hole 41 </ b> A from the terminal insertion hole 74. Then, the male terminal 21 is engaged with the terminal connection portion 51 of the female terminal 50, so that the male and female terminals 21 and 50 are connected so as to be conductive.

  An elastic member 90 is attached to the front end portion of the front member 70. The elastic member 90 of this embodiment is a leaf spring made of a metal material, and a pair of locking pieces 91 are provided at both ends thereof. On the other hand, a pair of upper and lower introduction grooves 75 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the front wall portion 71 of the front member 70 as shown in FIG. A pair of upper and lower locking recesses 76 that are locked to the pair of upper and lower locking pieces 91 are formed in the rear end portions of the introduction grooves 75. The arrangement of the introduction groove 75 and the locking recess 76 is set so that the male terminal 21 does not interfere with the elastic member 90 when the male and female connectors 20 and 30 are fitted.

  When the elastic member 90 is mounted on the front wall 71 of the front member 70, the locking piece 91 moves rearward along the introduction groove 75, and when the elastic member 90 reaches the normal mounting position, the locking piece 91 fits in the locking recess 76 vigorously and locks in the front-rear direction. As a result, the elastic member 90 is locked in a state where it is mounted on the front wall portion 71 of the front member 70.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vibration absorbing portion 92 is formed between a pair of upper and lower locking pieces 91 in the elastic member 90. The vibration absorbing portion 92 includes a first contact portion 93 that extends in the vertical direction, and a pair of upper and lower second contact portions 94 that are arranged on both upper and lower sides of the first contact portion 93 to form an arc shape. . The first contact portion 93 is disposed at a position away from the front wall portion 71 of the front member 70 to the front. Further, the pair of upper and lower second contact portions 94 has a shape that protrudes to both the upper and lower sides than the front wall portion 71 of the front member 70. Accordingly, when the male and female connectors 20 and 30 are fitted together, as shown in FIG. 2, the first contact portion 93 of the vibration absorbing portion 92 is in surface contact with the back surface 22 </ b> B of the hood portion 22 in the front-rear direction. The pair of upper and lower second contact portions 94 contact the inner peripheral surface 22C of the hood portion 22 in the vertical direction. Thereby, rattling between the male and female connectors 20 and 30 in both the front-rear direction and the vertical direction can be eliminated, and vibration resistance can be improved.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be described subsequently. When the male and female connectors 20 and 30 are fitted to each other, the main body portion 41 to which the front member 70 is attached is fitted to the inner peripheral side of the hood portion 22, and at the same time, the fitting cylinder is attached to the outer peripheral side of the hood portion 22. The part 42 is fitted. The male terminal 21 of the male connector 20 enters the terminal accommodating hole 41 </ b> A through the terminal insertion hole 74 and is fitted and electrically connected to the terminal connection portion 51 of the female terminal 50. Further, by fitting the male and female connectors 20 and 30, the lock projection 23 of the male housing 24 bends the lock arm 43 of the female housing 40 upward, and then engages with the inner wall of the lock hole 43A in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the male and female housings 24 and 40 are locked in the fitted state.

  When the male and female housings 24 and 40 are fitted, the main body portion 41 is fitted into the hood portion 22 up to the rear portion thereof, and the outer peripheral lip 82 of the attached rubber ring 80 is attached to the inner peripheral surface 22C of the hood portion 22. The inner peripheral lip 81 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the main body 41, thereby preventing water from entering the main body 41 from the outside. At the same time, the back surface 22B of the hood portion 22 contacts the first and second housings 24, 40 by pressing the first contact portion 93 of the elastic member 90 in the front-rear direction and slightly bending it. Reduces rattling in the direction. Further, the inner peripheral surface 22C of the hood portion 22 contacts the second contact portion 94 of the elastic member 90 in a vertically bent state by pressing in the vertical direction, so that the vertical direction between the male and female housings 24, 40 is increased. Reduce rattling.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the lock arm 43 and the lock projection 23 are locked to lock the main body portion 41 of the female housing 40 into a state where the main body portion 41 is fitted in the hood portion 22 of the male housing 24. Here, although a predetermined clearance is provided between the rear surface 22B of the hood portion 22 and the front surface of the front member 70 in order to ensure that the lock arm 43 and the lock projection 23 are locked, Since the arranged elastic member 90 is brought into contact with the inner surface 22B of the hood portion 22, it is possible to improve vibration resistance performance by eliminating rattling in the fitting direction. Further, since the elastic member 90 is attached to the front member 70, the shape of the female housing 40 is not changed.

The elastic member 90 may be configured to elastically contact the inner peripheral surface 22C of the hood portion 22.
According to such a configuration, vibration resistance can be improved by eliminating shakiness in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction in addition to the fitting direction.

The elastic member 90 is a leaf spring made of a metal material, and may be configured to include a pair of locking pieces 91 that are locked to the front end portion (front wall portion 71) of the front member 70 in the fitting direction.
According to such a configuration, the durability performance of the elastic member 90 can be enhanced.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The waterproof connector 110 according to the present embodiment is obtained by changing the elastic member 90 of the waterproof connector 10 according to the first embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment. The elastic member 190 of this embodiment is a seal ring made of a rubber material. Further, since the configuration, operation, and effect common to the first embodiment are duplicated, description thereof is omitted.

  The waterproof connector 110 includes a male connector 20 and a female connector 130 that can be fitted to each other. A front wall portion 171 is formed at the front end portion of the front member 170 of the female connector 130, and a mounting portion 177 to which the elastic member 190 is attached is recessed on the entire outer periphery of the front wall portion 171. ing. The mounting portion 177 opens to the front of the front wall portion 171. When the elastic member 190 is mounted on the mounting portion 177, the abutting portion 193 formed at the front end portion of the elastic member 190 is the front wall portion 171. It is arranged so as to protrude forward from the front surface.

  The elastic member 190 has a plurality of inner peripheral lips 195 and a plurality of outer peripheral lips 196, and when the male and female connectors 20 and 130 are fitted together, as shown in FIG. The outer peripheral lip 196 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 22 </ b> C of the hood portion 22. Further, the abutting portion 193 of the elastic member 90 abuts against the inner surface 22B of the hood portion 22 and elastically contacts. Thereby, the elastic member 90 is compressed in both the front-rear direction and the radial direction (the direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction), and can reduce rattling between the male and female housings 24, 40 in the front-rear direction and the radial direction. .

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the elastic member 190 is a seal ring made of a rubber material, and is fitted to the mounting portion 177 provided around the front end portion (front wall portion 171) of the front member 170. Since the configuration is adopted, rattling in the front-rear direction and the radial direction (direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction) can be eliminated by the elastic member 190.

<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, the seal member made of a leaf spring and a rubber material is exemplified as the elastic member. However, according to the present invention, a coil spring or the like may be used.

  (2) Although the elastic member also prevents rattling in a direction other than the front-rear direction in the above embodiment, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent only rattling in the front-rear direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,110 ... Waterproof connector 22 ... Hood part 22B ... Back surface 22C ... Inner peripheral surface 23 ... Locking protrusion 24 ... Male housing (2nd connector housing)
30, 130 ... Female connector 40 ... Female housing (first connector housing)
41 ... Main body 43 ... Lock arm 70, 170 ... Front member 71, 171 ... Front wall (front end)
80 ... Rubber ring 90, 190 ... Elastic member 91 ... Locking piece 177 ... Mounting part

Claims (4)

A rubber ring for waterproofing,
A first connector housing having a body portion to which the rubber ring is fitted, and a lock arm formed on the outer periphery of the body portion;
The main body portion has a hood portion that can be fitted inside, and the main body portion and the hood portion are brought into a fitted state by locking the lock projection formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion and the lock arm. A second connector housing for locking;
A front member that is attached to the front side of the rubber ring in the main body portion and prevents the rubber ring from slipping forward;
A waterproof connector provided with an elastic member attached to a front end portion of the front member and elastically abutting against a back surface of the hood portion.   The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member elastically abuts against an inner peripheral surface of the hood portion.   The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring made of a metal material, and includes a pair of locking pieces that are locked to a front end portion of the front member in a fitting direction. .   The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a seal ring made of a rubber material, and is fitted into a mounting portion that is provided around the front end portion of the front member.

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