JP2017054585A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress damage or fitting of a retainer at a temporary lock position.SOLUTION: A connector 10 includes a housing 20 in which a cavity 21 capable of housing a terminal fitting and a retainer insertion path 30 continuous from the outer surface 20A to the cavity 21 are formed, and a retainer 50 attached to the retainer insertion path 30. The retainer 50 can be locked for the housing 20 at a temporary lock position allowing insertion of the terminal fitting to a normal position in the rear of the cavity 21, and a main lock position for preventing the terminal fitting, that has reached the normal position by being pushed in farther rearward of the retainer insertion path 30 from the temporary lock position, from coming off. At the temporary lock position, the retainer 50 is locked in a state not projecting from the outer surface 20A of the housing 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a connector.

  In the connector, a retainer separate from the housing may be used to securely lock the terminal fitting to the housing. For example, in the case of a connector provided with a retainer disclosed in JP-A-8-227750 (Patent Document 1 below), the retainer mounted in the cavity that crosses the terminal accommodating chamber provided in the housing is in the temporary locking position. And is held in a locked state with respect to the housing. And the retainer which was in the state which protruded from the housing in the temporary latching position moves to a final latching position, and prevents removal of a terminal metal fitting. Further, if it is detected that the retainer is in a protruding state (temporary locking position) because the retainer cannot move from the temporary locking position to the final locking position due to the half-insertion of the terminal fitting, You can confirm half-insertion of the terminal fitting.

JP-A-8-227750

  However, in the configuration of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-227750 (the above-mentioned Patent Document 1), the retainer is temporarily held at the temporary locking position with respect to the housing at the connector shipping source, and is transported to the assembly site. Is conveyed with the retainer protruding from the housing surface. In such a state, there is a possibility that the retainer may be damaged by interference with other connectors, or the retainer may be fitted into the main locking position, and therefore, it is necessary to transport the retainer portion with a dedicated tray. Therefore, since it takes time to use a dedicated tray or to arrange it on the dedicated tray, the transportation cost becomes high.

  The connector disclosed in the present specification includes a cavity that can accommodate a terminal fitting, a housing that forms a retainer insertion path that continues from the outer surface to the cavity, and a retainer that is attached to the retainer insertion path. A temporary locking position that allows insertion of the terminal fitting into the normal position behind the cavity with respect to the housing, and the normal position reached by being further pushed into the retainer insertion path from the temporary locking position. A connector that can be locked at a final locking position for preventing the terminal fitting from being detached, and at the temporary locking position, the retainer is locked so as not to protrude from the outer surface of the housing. .

  According to such a configuration, the retainer does not protrude from the outer surface of the housing at the temporary locking position, and it is possible to suppress the retainer from being fitted into the main locking position or being damaged during connector transportation. Therefore, it can be transported by a normal transport method instead of a dedicated tray, and the cost can be reduced.

  Conventionally, the retainer pushes the retainer into the full locking position after inserting the terminal fitting into the proper position, while the retainer prevents the terminal fitting from being pulled out, while the retainer is pushed into the full locking position when the terminal fitting is half inserted. And the retainer remains in the temporarily locked position. That is, half insertion of the terminal fitting can be detected by confirming the retaining position of the retainer. Also in the connector disclosed in the present specification, the height position of the retainer in the retainer insertion direction with respect to the main housing position and the temporary locking position is different, so by detecting the height position of the retainer with respect to the housing, It can serve as a semi-insertion detection of the retainer terminal fitting.

As an embodiment of the connector disclosed in this specification, the following configuration may be adopted.
The housing is provided with a jig insertion passage that is parallel to the cavity and into which a detection jig can be inserted, and the retainer is provided in the jig insertion passage at the temporary locking position. It is good also as a structure provided with the protrusion for jig | tool which protrudes and contact | abuts to the said detection jig | tool inserted in the said jig | tool insertion path.
According to such a configuration, the detection jig can be inserted into the jig insertion passage at the final locking position, while the detection jig abuts on the jig protrusion of the retainer at the temporary locking position. It can be confirmed that the retainer is in the temporary locking position. Therefore, even if the retainer does not protrude outside at the temporary locking position, the locking position of the retainer can be easily confirmed.

  According to the connector disclosed in this specification, the retainer can be prevented from being damaged or fitted at the temporary locking position.

The perspective view of the connector in which the retainer in Embodiment 1 exists in a temporary latching position. Side view Sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. Perspective view of the connector with the retainer in the fully locked position Side view Sectional drawing in the VI-VI cross section in FIG. The front view of the connector in which the retainer in Embodiment 2 exists in a temporary latching position Sectional drawing in the VIII-VIII cross section in FIG. Sectional drawing in the position equivalent to FIG. 3 in Embodiment 2. Front view of the connector with the retainer in the fully locked position Sectional drawing in the XI-XI cross section in FIG. Sectional drawing in the position equivalent to FIG. 6 in Embodiment 2. Perspective view of the connector with the retainer in the fully locked position

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.
As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 according to the first embodiment includes a female housing 20 and a retainer 50 attached to the housing 20. In the following description, with respect to the vertical direction, the side on which the retainer insertion path 30 is open is the lower side with reference to FIG. Further, the fitting direction (left side in FIG. 2) with the mating connector is defined as the front, and the detaching direction is defined as the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, the housing 20 is made of synthetic resin and has a horizontally long form in the left-right direction. The housing 20 is formed with a plurality of cavities 21 that can accommodate female terminal fittings. The cavity 21 is a through-hole that opens in the front-rear direction, and a terminal fitting can be inserted from the rear, and a mating terminal fitting accommodated in the mating connector can enter from the front. Cavities 21 having different sizes are mixed in the housing 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a lance 23 that primarily locks the terminal fitting is provided on the lower surface of each cavity 21 so as to bend downward and be deformable. The lance 23 is adapted to be locked to a locked portion provided in a rectangular tube-like connecting portion connected to the mating terminal fitting of the terminal fitting. As shown in FIG. 1, a lance jig insertion hole 25 is provided in front of each cavity 21 (a portion in which a terminal fitting connection portion is accommodated). The lance jig insertion hole 25 communicates with the cavity 21 so that a jig for unlocking the lance 23 can be inserted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a retainer insertion path 30 into which the retainer 50 can be inserted is formed at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the housing 20. More specifically, the retainer insertion path 30 intersects the insertion direction of the terminal fitting slightly behind the position where the lance 23 is formed and slightly behind the rear end of the connecting portion of the terminal fitting inserted into the cavity 21. It is formed across the direction (vertical direction). The retainer insertion path 30 is open to the lower surface 20 </ b> A (an example of “outer surface”) of the housing 20, and communicates with each cavity 21. An arm portion insertion hole 31 into which a locking arm portion 60 of the retainer 50 described later can be inserted is provided from both ends in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the retainer insertion path 30 to the rear. The arm portion insertion hole 31 communicates with the retainer insertion path 30 and is formed upward from the lower surface 20 </ b> A of the housing 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a temporary locking protrusion 35 and a main locking protrusion 37 are provided on the inner wall 33 of the arm insertion hole 31 of the housing 20. Further, the temporary locking projection 35 and the final locking projection 37 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the housing 10 at the rear from the position where the temporary locking projection 35 and the final locking projection 37 are provided. Is formed so as to communicate with the arm portion insertion hole 31. The punched hole 39 also serves as a space for the locking arm portion 60 described later to bend.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the retainer 50 is made of synthetic resin like the housing 20 and has a horizontally long shape in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, when the retainer 50 is in the temporary locking position, the terminal insertion portions 51 into which the terminal fittings can be inserted are formed in a plurality of stages. In addition, terminal locking portions 53 are provided so as to protrude upward from the lower inner wall of each terminal insertion portion 51. These terminal locking portions 53 lock the rear ends of the connection portions of the terminal fittings in a state where the retainer 50 is locked at the final locking position.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a locking arm portion 60 is provided on the rear side from both ends in the left-right direction of the retainer 50. A flexible arm portion 63 protrudes upward from the base end portion 61 of the locking arm portion 60. A locking claw 65 projects from the distal end of the arm portion 63 toward the inside (the temporary locking projection 35 and the main locking projection 37 side).

  When the retainer 50 is inserted into the retainer insertion path 30 of the housing 20, the arm portion 63 that is in contact with the temporary locking projection 35 is bent outward (toward the punched hole 39), gets over the temporary locking projection 35, and returns elastically. Thus, the locking claw 65 engages with the temporary locking projection 35. In this temporary locking position, as shown in FIG. 3, since each terminal locking portion 53 is not projecting into each cavity 21, the terminal fitting can be inserted into the back normal position. . In the temporary locking position, as shown in FIG. 1, the position of the lower surface 50 </ b> A of the retainer 50 and the position of the lower surface 20 </ b> A of the housing 20 are flush with each other, and the retainer 50 does not protrude from the lower surface 20 </ b> A of the housing 20. Yes.

  With the retainer 50 in the temporary locking position, the connector 10 is transported from the manufacturing process to the assembly process. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, since the retainer 50 does not protrude from the lower surface 20A of the housing 20, there is no possibility that the retainer 50 interferes with other connectors. Therefore, the connector 10 can be transported in a simple packing form such as bagging, and the transport cost can be reduced.

  In the connector 10 that has been transported to the assembling process, the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity 21 from the rear of the housing 20 and accommodated in the back (front) regular position. When all the terminal fittings are accommodated in the regular positions in the cavity 21, the retainer 50 is pushed inward (upward), and the retainer 50 moves to the final locking position. At this time, the arm 63 is bent outward (on the side of the punched hole 39), gets over the main locking projection 37, and returns elastically, whereby the locking claw 65 is engaged with the main locking projection 37. When the retainer 50 moves to the final locking position, as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal locking portion 53 protrudes into the cavity 21 and is positioned behind the connecting portion of the terminal metal, thereby preventing the terminal metal from coming off. .

  In a state where the retainer 50 is moved to the full locking position, half-insertion detection of the terminal fitting is performed. In the final locking position, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower surface 50 </ b> A of the retainer 50 is located at the back side (upper side) of the lower surface 20 </ b> A of the housing 20. By detecting the position of the lower surface 50A of the retainer 50 with a height sensor or the like, it is confirmed that the retainer 50 is in the final locking position. When the retainer 50 is not in the height position at the final locking position, it can be seen that the terminal locking portion 53 of the retainer 50 and the terminal metal fitting are in a state of interference (the terminal metal fitting is in a half-inserted state). It is possible to detect half insertion of a metal fitting.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the retainer 50 does not protrude from the outer surface (lower surface 20A) of the housing 20 in the temporary locking position, and the retainer 50 is fitted in the final locking position when the connector 10 is transported. It is possible to suppress dripping or damage. Therefore, the connector 10 can be transported by a normal transport method instead of the dedicated tray, and the transport cost can be reduced.

  Conventionally, the retainer pushes the retainer into the full locking position after inserting the terminal fitting into the proper position, while the retainer prevents the terminal fitting from being pulled out, while the retainer is pushed into the full locking position when the terminal fitting is half inserted. And the retainer remains in the temporarily locked position. That is, half insertion of the terminal fitting can be detected by confirming the retaining position of the retainer. Also in the connector 10 of the first embodiment, since the height position of the retainer 50 in the retainer insertion direction with respect to the housing 20 is different between the main locking position and the temporary locking position, the retainer 50 is detected by detecting the height of the retainer 50. It can serve as half insertion detection of 50 terminal fittings.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the connector 110 of the second embodiment, the method for checking the locked state of the retainer 150 is different from that of the first embodiment. In addition, about the member and site | part which have the same function as Embodiment 1, description is abbreviate | omitted or simplified by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 13, the housing 120 of the connector 110 is formed with a jig insertion passage 127 through which a detection jig J for detecting half insertion of the terminal fitting can be inserted. The jig insertion passage 127 is formed in a groove shape at a position where one cavity 21 and the lance jig insertion hole 25 are arranged so as to be parallel to the axis of the other cavity 21. The jig insertion passage 127 is substantially the same as the width of the cavity 21, and opens in the lower surface 120 </ b> A of the housing 120 and penetrates in the front-rear direction. The jig insertion path 127 communicates with the retainer insertion path 30 (see FIG. 8).

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the retainer 150 includes a terminal insertion part 51, a terminal locking part 53, a retainer jig insertion path 155, a jig projection 157, and a locking arm part 60. The retainer jig insertion path 155 has a groove shape that is substantially the same shape as the jig insertion path 127 of the housing 120, has the same width as the jig insertion path 127, opens in the lower surface 150 </ b> A, and penetrates in the front-rear direction. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a jig projection 157 is provided on the inner wall upper portion of the retainer jig insertion path 155. The jig projection 157 is provided in the front-rear direction of the retainer 150 at substantially the same position as the terminal locking part 53 on the retainer 150, and the thickness in the front-rear direction is substantially the same as that of the terminal locking part 53 on the retainer 150. It is the same. Further, the width of the jig projection 157 is substantially the same as the width of the jig insertion path 127 and the retainer jig insertion path 155, and the height thereof corresponds to the detection jig J at the temporary locking position. The height is such that it does not come into contact with the detection jig J at the final locking position.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the detection jig J for detecting the half insertion of the terminal fitting has a cross-sectional shape slightly smaller than the width and height of the jig insertion passage 127, and has a rod shape. Yes. The detection jig J can be slid into the jig insertion path 127 and the retainer jig insertion path 155.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, a terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity 21 from the rear of the housing 120 in the connector 110 that has been transported to the assembly process. When all the terminal fittings are inserted into the regular positions in the cavity 21, the retainer 150 is pushed inward (upward), and the retainer 150 moves to the final locking position. When the retainer 150 moves to the main locking position, the terminal locking portion 53 protrudes into the cavity 21 and is positioned behind the connecting portion of the terminal metal, thereby preventing the terminal metal from coming off. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the jig projection 157 protruding into the jig insertion path 127 and the retainer jig insertion path 155 in the temporary locking position is caused by the movement of the retainer 150 to the final locking position. It moves upward and does not protrude into the jig insertion path 127 and the retainer jig insertion path 155.

  In this way, half-insertion detection of the terminal fitting is performed with the retainer 150 moved to the full locking position. In this locking position, as shown in FIG. 11, since the half-insertion detection jig J can be inserted into the jig insertion path 127 and the retainer jig insertion path 155, the detection jig J Can be slid into the specified position. In such a case, it can be confirmed that the retainer 150 has moved to the final locking position, and it can be confirmed that the terminal fitting is not in the half-inserted state.

  On the other hand, when the terminal locking portion 53 of the retainer 150 interferes with the terminal fitting (the terminal fitting is in a half-inserted state), the retainer 150 remains in the temporary locking position. As shown, a jig projection 157 protrudes into the jig insertion path 127 and the retainer jig insertion path 155. Therefore, when the detection jig J is inserted into the jig insertion passage 127, the jig 150 abuts against the jig projection 157 and cannot be inserted to the specified position, so that it can be confirmed that the retainer 150 is in the temporary locking position. . In this way, half insertion of the terminal fitting can be detected.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the detection jig J can be inserted into the jig insertion path 127 and the retainer jig insertion path 155 in the final locking position, while the detection jig is in the temporary locking position. Since J abuts against the jig projection 157 of the retainer 150, it can be confirmed that the retainer 150 is in the temporary locking position. Therefore, even if the retainer 150 does not protrude outside at the temporary locking position, the locking position of the retainer 150 can be easily confirmed.

<Other embodiments>
The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the first and second embodiments described with reference to the above description and the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope.
(1) In the first and second embodiments, the lower surfaces 50A and 150A of the retainers 50 and 150 are flush with the lower surfaces 20A and 120A of the housings 20 and 120. However, the lower surface of the retainer is deeper than the lower surface of the housing. It may be on the side (upper).

  (2) In the first and second embodiments, the temporary locking projection 35 and the final locking projection 37 are provided on the housings 20 and 120 side, and the locking claw 65 is provided on the retainer side. May be. Moreover, the structure latched by the temporary latching position and this latching position may be another known structure.

  (3) In the first and second embodiments, the retainer insertion path 30 is opened on the lower surfaces 20A and 120A of the housings 20 and 120, but may be opened on the side surfaces in the left-right direction.

  (4) In the second embodiment, the jig insertion passage 127 and the retainer jig insertion passage 155 have a groove shape with a lower surface opening, but may have a hole shape with the lower surface closed. Moreover, it does not need to penetrate in the front-back direction.

10, 110 ... Connector 20, 120 ... Housing 20A, 120A ... Lower surface (outer surface)
21 ... Cavity 127 ... Jig insertion path 30 ... Retainer insertion path 50, 150 ... Retainer 50A ... Lower surface 155 ... Retainer jig insertion path 157 ... Jig projection 60 ... Locking arm J ... Detection jig

Claims (2)

A cavity in which a terminal fitting can be accommodated, a housing in which a retainer insertion path connected to the cavity is formed from the outer surface, and a retainer mounted on the retainer insertion path,
The retainer is inserted into the housing at a temporary locking position that allows the terminal fitting to be inserted into the normal position at the back of the cavity, and is further pushed into the retainer insertion path from the temporary locking position. It is a connector that can be locked at the final locking position for retaining the terminal fitting that has reached the position,
In the temporary locking position, the connector is locked so that the retainer is not projected from the outer surface of the housing. The housing is provided with a jig insertion passage that is parallel to the cavity and into which a detection jig can be inserted,
The retainer is provided with a jig protrusion that protrudes into the jig insertion path and abuts on the detection jig inserted into the jig insertion path at the temporary locking position. The connector according to 1.

Images