JP2017112086A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize further downsizing in an electric connector comprising a contact that is fixed to a mating conductive member.SOLUTION: A first connector 4 comprises contacts 13a and 13b and a housing 14. A first contact part 21 of each of the contacts 13a and 13b is configured to be turned in a crossover direction C1 that crosses a predetermined axial direction L1, and brought into contact with a corresponding crimp terminal 8. The housing 14 includes: head housing parts 53a and 53b for housing the first contact part 21 therein; and an opening 42 for tool which is formed to be turned in the crossover direction C1. The opening 42 for tool is configured in such a manner that a fixing tool 45 for fixing the crimp terminal 8 to the first contact part 21 can pass.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector including a contact configured to fix a mating conductive member such as a crimp terminal.

  The contact of the electrical connector may be fixed to the crimp terminal (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  The connector device described in Patent Document 1 has an L-shaped female terminal held by a housing (first base). One end portion of the female terminal has a fitting portion to be inserted into the male terminal. A nut is provided on the other end portion of the female terminal. The nut fixes the crimp terminal by cooperation with a male screw member screwed to the nut.

  The terminal block described in Patent Document 2 has a terminal fitting that extends in a predetermined direction and has an L-shaped tip. A female thread portion is formed at the tip of the terminal fitting. The female screw portion fixes the crimp terminal to the tip end portion of the terminal fitting by screw coupling with the male screw member.

  The L-shaped connector described in Patent Document 3 has a cylindrical terminal fitting. One end of the cylindrical portion of the terminal fitting is closed, and the male screw shaft projects coaxially with the cylindrical portion from the closed portion. The crimp terminal is fixed to the terminal fitting by the cooperation of the male screw shaft and a nut screwed to the male screw shaft.

JP 7-226249 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-121064 JP 2014-107127 A

  There is a demand for further miniaturization of electrical connectors. However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the female terminal is formed in an L shape and is wide. Further, in the configuration described in Patent Document 2, the terminal fitting is formed in an L shape and is wide. Furthermore, in the configuration described in Patent Document 3, the external thread portion extends coaxially with the terminal fitting, and the total length tends to be long.

  Moreover, contacts, such as a terminal metal fitting, are normally accommodated in a housing. Then, in a state where the contact is accommodated in the housing, an operation of fixing a mating conductive member such as a crimp terminal to the contact is performed. In the configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the screw member for fixing the crimp terminal to the contact is directed in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the contact. For this reason, a space for arranging a tool such as a screwdriver for fixing the screw member to the contact is required along the axial direction of the contact. Therefore, a long space is required in the contact axial direction.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has an object to achieve further downsizing in an electrical connector having a contact fixed to a mating conductive member and to make a space necessary for mounting the electrical connector thinner. To do.

  (1) In order to solve the above-described problem, an electrical connector according to an aspect of the present invention is a contact configured to face a predetermined mating conductive member in a crossing direction that intersects a predetermined axial direction. A contact portion extending along the axial direction, a housing portion for housing the contact portion, and a tool opening formed to face the intersecting direction, wherein the counterpart conductive member is A housing having a tool opening through which a fixing tool for fixing to the contact portion can pass.

  According to this configuration, the contact extends along the predetermined axial direction. Thereby, the width of the contact (the length in the direction crossing the axial direction) can be reduced. Further, the contact portion faces the direction intersecting the axial direction. For this reason, in a state where the counterpart conductive member is fixed to the contact, the amount of the counterpart conductive member protruding in the axial direction from the contact can be reduced. Therefore, the entire length of the contact and the counterpart conductive member can be further shortened. Further, the housing is formed with a tool opening through which a fixing tool for fixing the mating conductive member to the contact portion can be directed in the crossing direction. Thereby, it is not necessary to perform the fixing work with the fixed tool in a state where the fixed tool extends in the axial direction, and the space necessary for mounting the electrical connector can be made thinner. As described above, in the electrical connector having the contact fixed to the counterpart conductive member, it is possible to further reduce the size and to further reduce the space required for mounting the electrical connector.

  (2) Preferably, the electrical connector is configured to be electrically connected to the second electrical connector by being coupled to a predetermined second electrical connector, and the contact includes the contact portion. A second contact portion provided integrally with a single material for contacting a contact of the second electrical connector;

  According to this configuration, the number of parts of the electrical connector can be reduced. In addition, since the contact can be formed in a straight line, there is a case where bending or the like may not be performed on the base material of the contact when the contact is formed. In this case, the labor of manufacturing the electrical connector can be reduced through reduction of the contact processing steps.

  (3) Preferably, the electrical connector further includes a fixing member that fixes the mating conductive member to the contact portion, and the fixing member is configured to be able to pass through the tool opening.

  According to this configuration, by using the fixing member, the coupling strength between the counterpart conductive member and the contact can be further increased. Further, the fixing member can reach the fixing portion between the counterpart conductive member and the contact portion through the tool opening. Thereby, for example, after the counterpart conductive member is placed along the contact portion, an operation of fixing the counterpart conductive member and the contact portion using the fixing member can be performed. Further, there is no need to provide a dedicated opening for inserting the fixing member into the housing. Therefore, further miniaturization of the housing can be realized.

  (4) More preferably, the fixing member includes a screw member that fastens the contact of the electrical connector to the mating conductive member.

  According to this configuration, the mating conductive member can be fixed to the contact by a simple operation of screwing the screw member to the contact or the like. Further, the screw member extends in an intersecting direction intersecting the axial direction of the contact. For this reason, it is not necessary to form a long female screw hole extending along the axial direction in the contact. Therefore, the total length of the contact can be further shortened. Thereby, further miniaturization of the electrical connector can be realized.

  (5) Preferably, the housing has an insertion opening that is open toward at least one of the longitudinal direction and the axial direction of the mating conductive member and allows the mating conductive member to pass therethrough. Yes.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to easily insert the mating conductive member into the housing through the insertion opening.

  (6) Preferably, the housing has an insertion opening that is opened toward each of the axial direction and a direction orthogonal to the axial direction and allows the counterpart conductive member to pass therethrough. At least one of a first cover and a second cover for closing the opening for use, and the first cover includes a conductive flexible member connected to the counterpart conductive member and extending in the orthogonal direction. The insertion opening is configured to be closed while allowing the housing to pass from the inside to the outside, and the second cover is connected to the counterpart conductive member and extends along the axial direction. The insertion opening is closed while allowing the conductive flexible member to pass from the inside to the outside of the housing.

  According to this configuration, in the case of a layout in which the flexible member extends from the housing in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the insertion opening of the housing can be closed using the first cover. Further, in the case of a layout in which the flexible member extends from the housing along the axial direction, the insertion opening of the housing can be closed using the second cover. With such a configuration, in the case where a plurality of orientations of the flexible member extending from the insertion opening can be set, it is possible to cope with one housing. Thereby, the versatility of a housing can be made higher.

  According to the present invention, in the electrical connector having contacts fixed to the mating conductive member, it is possible to realize further miniaturization and to further reduce the space required for mounting the electrical connector.

It is a perspective view of a connection device. It is a disassembled perspective view of a connection device. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a part by the side of the 1st connector among connection devices. It is a bottom view of a connection device. It is sectional drawing which follows the VV line of FIG. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows a part of 1st connector. It is a top view which decomposes | disassembles and shows a part of 1st connector. It is a bottom view of the 1st connector. It is sectional drawing which follows the IX-IX line of FIG. It is a side view of the 1st connector. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a part by the side of the 2nd connector among connection devices. It is a perspective view shown about the principal part of the modification of this invention. It is a top view shown about the principal part of another modification of this invention. It is a perspective view shown about the principal part of another modification of this invention. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the principal part of another modification of this invention. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector including the second cover shown in FIG. 15. (A) And (b) is a perspective view of the 1st connector shown in Drawing 15, respectively, and shows the state where the 2nd cover was attached to the housing. It is a top view of the 1st connector shown in FIG. 15, and has shown the state to which the 1st cable was connected.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention can be widely applied to various uses as an electrical connector.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connection device 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connection device 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the connection device 1 on the first connector 4 side. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the connection device 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the first connector 4. FIG. 7 is an exploded plan view showing a part of the first connector 4. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the first connector 4. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. FIG. 10 is a side view of the first connector 4. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the connection device 1 on the second connector 5 side.

  With reference to FIGS. 1-3, in this embodiment, the connection apparatus 1 is provided as a connection apparatus for large currents. The connection device 1 is provided, for example, for electrically connecting a drive motor and a battery in a moving body such as an automobile or a train. In addition, the connection apparatus 1 may be used not only as a use of a mobile body but as another connection apparatus for large currents, and may be used as a connection apparatus for small currents.

  The connecting device 1 includes a fixing plate 2, first cables 3a and 3b, a first connector 4 as a male electrical connector, a second connector 5 as a female electrical connector, and second cables 6a and 6b. have.

  The connection device 1 has a configuration in which the first connector 4 is attached to the fixed plate 2, and the first connector 4 and the second connector 5 are configured to be detachable. 2 The connector 5 is electrically connected. The first connector 4 is electrically and mechanically connected to the first cables 3a and 3b. The second connector 5 is electrically and mechanically connected to the second cables 6a and 6b.

  The fixed plate 2 is formed of a metal plate, for example. The fixing plate 2 is formed with an insertion hole 2a and female screw portions 2b and 2b. The insertion hole 2a is provided as a portion into which a housing 14 described later of the first connector 4 is inserted. The insertion hole 2 a is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the portion of the housing 14 of the first connector 4 that is fitted into the insertion hole 2 a.

  Female thread portions 2b and 2b are formed around the insertion hole 2a. Each female screw part 2b is provided in order to fix the housing 14 of the 1st connector 4, For example, a pair is provided so that the insertion hole 2a may be pinched | interposed. The first connector 4 fixed to the fixing plate 2 is connected to the pair of first cables 3a and 3b.

  Each of the first cables 3 a and 3 b has a covered electric wire 7 and a crimp terminal (mating side conductive member) 8 fixed to one end of the covered electric wire 7.

  The covered electric wire 7 has a cylindrical covering portion 9 made of an insulating material and an electric wire 10 covered with the covering portion 9. One end portion of the electric wire 10 is exposed from one end portion of the covering portion 9. A crimp terminal 8 is fixed to one end of the electric wire 10. The crimp terminal 8 is an integrally molded product formed using a conductive member such as a metal plate.

  The crimp terminal 8 includes a caulking portion 11 and a tongue piece portion 12 extending from the caulking portion 11. The caulking portion 11 has a pair of caulking pieces extending from a pair of edges of the base plate of the caulking portion 11. These caulking piece portions sandwich one end portion of the electric wire 10 in cooperation with the base plate, so that the one end portion of the electric wire 10 is caulked and fixed to the caulking portion 11. The tongue piece portion 12 is a flat plate portion extending from the base plate of the caulking portion 11. The tongue piece portion 12 has a rectangular base end portion extending from the base plate and a semicircular tip portion. A through-hole portion 12 a is formed at the tip side portion of the tongue piece portion 12. The tongue pieces 12 of the first cables 3 a and 3 b having the above-described configuration are fixed to corresponding contacts 13 a and 13 b (details will be described later) of the first connector 4.

  1 to 3 and 7, the first connector 4 forms a connector unit in cooperation with the second connector 5, and is coupled to the second connector 5, whereby the first connector 4 4 and the second connector 5 are configured to be electrically connected. The second connector 5 is supported by the fixed plate 2 via the first connector 4. The first connector 4 is formed in a symmetric shape in the width direction Y1 of the first connector 4.

  In the present embodiment, the length direction X1 of the first connector 4 and the second connector 5 is simply referred to as “length direction X1”. In addition, the width direction Y1 orthogonal to the length direction X1 of the first connector 4 and the second connector 5 is simply referred to as “width direction Y1”. Further, the thickness direction Z1 orthogonal to both the length direction X1 and the width direction Y1 of the first connector 4 and the second connector 5 is simply referred to as “thickness direction Z1”. The thickness direction Z1 is also a facing direction in which the first connector 4 and the second connector 5 face each other.

  The first connector 4 includes contacts 13a and 13b, a housing 14, a cover 15, and fixing members 16a and 16b.

  In the present embodiment, the first connector 4 constitutes a two-pole electrical connector having two contacts 13a and 13b. These contacts 13a and 13b are arranged side by side in the width direction Y1.

  Each contact 13a, 13b is a conductive member having conductivity, and is electrically connected to the tongue 12 of the corresponding first cable 3a, 3b and the corresponding contact 73a, 73b (details will be described later) of the second connector 5. Connected to each other. Each contact 13a, 13b is provided as a processed body (forged body, cutting body) in which at least one of forging and cutting is formed on a rod-shaped metal member, for example.

  In the present embodiment, each of the contacts 13a and 13b has a configuration in which a cap member is attached to the tip of an integrally molded product that is integrally formed using a single material. Each contact 13a, 13b is formed in a pin shape in which the diameter on one end side is set larger than the diameter on the other end side. Each contact 13a, 13b extends straight along a predetermined axial direction L1. In the present embodiment, the axial direction L1 is along the thickness direction Z1.

  The contacts 13 a and 13 b are connected to the head 20 including the head main body 18 and the head end 19, the first contact portion 21 provided on the head main body 18, the male pin portion 22, and the male pin portion 22. And a second contact portion 23 provided.

  The head portion 20 is provided as a portion to which the tongue piece portion 12 of the crimp terminal 8 in the corresponding first cable 3a, 3b is fixed. More specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the head main body 18 has a portion including a part of the cylindrical surface at both ends in the length direction X1, and a pair of these cylindrical surface-shaped portions orthogonal to the width direction Y1. It is formed in a shape connected by flat surfaces.

  In other words, the head body 18 is formed in an oval shape when viewed from the thickness direction Z1 (in the state shown in FIG. 7). In the thickness direction Z <b> 1, the total length of the head body 18 is set longer than the total length of the head end portion 19. With the above configuration, one of the pair of side surfaces facing the width direction Y <b> 1 of the head body 18 of each head 20 forms the first contact portion 21 (contact portion).

  The first contact portion 21 of each contact 13a, 13b faces the intersecting direction C1 intersecting the axial direction L1 (in this embodiment, the width direction Y1 orthogonal to the axial direction L1), and the corresponding first cable 3a, It is comprised so that it may contact with the crimp terminal 8 of 3b. The first contact portion 21 of each contact 13a, 13b faces the outside of the first connector 4 in the width direction Y1. That is, the first contact portion 21 of the contact 13a and the first contact portion 21 of the contact 13b are arranged in opposite directions along the width direction Y1.

  The head body 18 is formed with a through hole that penetrates the head body 18 in the width direction Y1. A female screw portion 18a is formed in the through-hole portion. The first contact portions 21 of the respective contacts 13a and 13b are arranged so that the tongue pieces 12 of the crimp terminals 8 of the corresponding first cables 3a and 3b are in surface contact.

  Furthermore, the male screw portions of the fixing members 16a and 16b formed using the male screw member pass through the corresponding washer 25 and the through hole portion 12a of the tongue piece portion 12 of the corresponding first cable 3a and 3b. , And are screwed to the female thread portions 18a and 18a of the corresponding contacts 13a and 13b.

  With the above configuration, the tongue piece portion 12 of the crimp terminal 8 of each first cable 3a, 3b is fixed to the first contact portion 21 of the corresponding contact 13a, 13b by the corresponding fixing member 16a, 16b. The contacts 13a and 13b are electrically connected. That is, each fixing member 16a, 16b constitutes a screw member that fastens each contact 13a, 13b to the corresponding crimp terminal 8. The heads of the fixing members 16a and 16b face the outside of the first connector 4 along the width direction Y1.

  A head end 19 is formed at one end of the head main body 18 of the contacts 13a, 13b having the above-described configuration. The head end portion 19 is provided as a portion extending from the head main body 18 toward the male pin portion 22. Of the head end portion 19, a portion adjacent to the male pin portion 22 is formed in a taper shape with a diameter that decreases toward the male pin portion 22 side by cutting or the like. Of the head end portion 19, a groove portion 24 is formed in an intermediate portion in the axial direction L1. The groove portion 24 is an annular groove portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head end portion 19, and is fitted to an annular convex portion 53 f formed in the housing 14 so as to face the groove portion 24. As a result, the contacts 13 a and 13 b are fixed to the housing 14.

  Each male pin portion 22 is provided as a portion that is electrically connected to contacts 73 a and 73 b of the second connector 5 by fitting to a female pin portion 82 (described later) of the second connector 5. Each male pin portion 22 is formed in a columnar shape, and extends straight from the head end portion 19 along the axial direction L1. In the present embodiment, the total length of the male pin portion 22 is set longer than the total length of the head 20.

  In the present embodiment, the distal end portion of the male pin portion 22 is configured by a cap member formed in a smooth shape by being formed in a hemispherical shape, and is smoothly inserted into the female pin portion 82 of the second connector 5. Is possible. The outer peripheral portion of the male pin portion 22 has a second contact portion 23 for contacting the corresponding contacts 73 a and 73 b of the second connector 5. The second contact portion 23 is formed in a cylindrical shape by being a part of the male pin portion 22.

  The contacts 13 a and 13 b having the above-described configuration are accommodated in the housing 14.

  3 to 10, the housing 14 is formed using an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The housing 14 is an integrally molded product that is integrally formed of a single member by injection molding or the like. The housing 14 is provided as a part that accommodates the contacts 13a and 13b and also accommodates one end of the first cables 3a and 3b (the crimp terminal 8 and one end of the covered electric wire 7). Moreover, the housing 14 is provided as a part which accommodates the fixing members 16a and 16b and the washers 25 and 25 for the fixing members 16a and 16b.

  The housing 14 includes a first peripheral wall portion 31, a second peripheral wall portion 32, a flange portion 33, a contact accommodating portion 34 that accommodates the contacts 13 a and 13 b including the first contact portion 21, and a fitting recess 35 for the cover. And have.

  The first peripheral wall portion 31 is provided as a portion surrounding the contact housing portion 34. Moreover, the 1st surrounding wall part 31 is provided as a part surrounding the one end part of each 1st cable 3a, 3b. The first peripheral wall portion 31 is formed around a central axis (not shown) extending along the thickness direction Z1. The first peripheral wall portion 31 extends from the flange portion 33 along the thickness direction Z1.

  The first peripheral wall portion 31 has a distal end portion 31 a in the thickness direction Z <b> 1 opened to the outside of the housing 14, and forms a part of the insertion opening 36. The insertion opening 36 is opened to face at least one of the longitudinal direction (length direction X1) of the crimp terminal 8 and the axial direction L1. In the present embodiment, the insertion opening 36 is opened toward both the longitudinal direction of the crimp terminal 8 and the axial direction L1. In other words, the insertion opening 36 is opened toward each of the axial direction L1 and the direction orthogonal to the axial direction L1 (in the present embodiment, the length direction X1). This insertion opening 36 is provided to allow the crimp terminals 8 of the first cables 3a and 3b and the like (portions of the first cable 3 accommodated in the housing 14) to pass therethrough.

  The first peripheral wall portion 31 includes a front wall 37, a rear wall 38, and a pair of side walls 39 and 40.

  The front wall 37 and the rear wall 38 are spaced apart from each other in the length direction X1, and are arranged substantially parallel to the width direction Y1. Through holes 41 and 41 through which the first cables 3a and 3b pass are formed in the front wall 37.

  The through-hole portions 41 and 41 are formed in a shape that is recessed from the front end portion side of the front wall 37 toward the flange portion 33 side, and the covered electric wires 7 of the corresponding first cables 3a and 3b pass therethrough. Accordingly, the first cables 3a and 3b extend from the outside of the housing 14 to the inside of the housing 14 through the corresponding through holes 41 and 41, respectively. Each through hole 41 is open to the tip 31 a side of the first peripheral wall 31. Each through hole 41 forms an insertion opening 36 in cooperation with the tip 31 a of the first peripheral wall 31.

  The rear wall 38 is provided as a wall portion that closes the space in the first peripheral wall portion 31 from one side in the length direction X1. One end portion of the rear wall 38 and one end portion of the front wall 37 in the width direction Y1 are connected by one side wall 39, and the other end portion of the rear wall 38 in the width direction Y1 and the other end of the front wall 37 are connected. The ends are connected by the other side wall 40. The pair of side walls 39, 40 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction Y1, and are arranged substantially in parallel along the length direction X1.

  Each side wall 39, 40 has a tool opening 42, a lock piece 43, and a guide piece 44.

  Each tool opening 42 is an opening formed to face the width direction Y1 (crossing direction C1), and is used to fix each crimp terminal 8 to the first contact portion 21 of the corresponding contact 13a, 13b. It is an opening through which the fixed tool 45 (in this embodiment, a Phillips screwdriver) can pass. Each tool opening 42 is open to the distal end portion 31a of the first peripheral wall portion 31 among the corresponding side walls 39, 40, and is formed in a shape that is recessed from the distal end portion 31a toward the flange portion 33 side. Yes. In this embodiment, each tool opening 42 forms a rectangular opening when viewed from the width direction Y1. Each tool opening 42 does not have to be open to the tip 31a of the corresponding side wall 39, 40.

  Each tool opening 42 is disposed near the rear wall 38 of the front wall 37 and the rear wall 38. Each tool opening 42 is formed in a size that allows the corresponding fixing members 16a and 16b to pass from the outside of the housing 14 to the inside of the housing 14 along the width direction Y1. That is, when viewed in the width direction Y1, the size of the opening formed by each tool opening 42 is formed such that it can pass through the heads of the corresponding fixing members 16a and 16b. Further, in the present embodiment, each tool opening 42 is opened to the front end portion 31a of the corresponding side wall 39, 40 along the thickness direction Z1. Thereby, each fixing member 16a, 16b can also pass the tool opening 42 along the thickness direction Z1.

  In the present embodiment, each tool opening 42 is formed in the pair of side walls 39 and 40 arranged in the width direction Y <b> 1 in the housing 14. The head of one fixing member 16a is arranged between the first contact portion 21 of the contact 13a and one side wall 39. The head of the other fixing member 16b is disposed between the first contact portion 21 of the contact 13b and the other side wall 40. With such an arrangement, the heads of the fixing members 16a and 16b are not arranged between the pair of contacts 13a and 13b. As a result, the substantial creepage distance between the contacts 13a and 13b can be further increased. A lock piece 43 is provided adjacent to each tool opening 42.

  The lock piece 43 is a small piece formed on the outer surface of each of the side walls 39, 40 and is configured to be coupled to a lock claw 58 described later of the cover 15. In this embodiment, each lock piece part 43 is arrange | positioned in the position advanced from the corresponding tool opening part 42 to the front wall 37 side along the thickness direction Z1. A pair of guide pieces 44 are provided so as to sandwich the lock piece portion 43 in the length direction X1.

  The pair of guide pieces 44 are small pieces formed on the outer side surfaces of the side walls 39 and 40 and are arranged so as to sandwich the lock claw portion 58 of the cover 15. Each pair of guide pieces 44 is formed in a shape extending along the displacement direction (thickness direction Z1) of the cover 15 when the cover 15 is attached to the housing 14. In the first peripheral wall portion 31, a cover fitting recess 35 is formed at a location adjacent to the front wall 37.

  The fitting recess 35 is provided as a portion that fits into a fitting protrusion 61 (described later) of the cover 15. The fitting recess 35 is formed in a rectangular tube shape at the approximate center of the first peripheral wall portion 31 in the width direction Y1 and extends along the thickness direction Z1. A flange portion 33 is disposed at the proximal end portion of the first peripheral wall portion 31 having the above-described configuration.

  The flange portion 33 is formed as a portion of the housing 14 that is fixed to the fixing plate 2. The flange portion 33 is a plate-like portion that extends from the base end portion of the first peripheral wall portion 31 and the base end portion of the second peripheral wall portion 32 in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction Z1. In the present embodiment, the flange portion 33 has a substantially hexagonal outer peripheral portion. The first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14 is inserted into the insertion hole portion 2 a of the fixed plate 2. In addition, one side surface of the flange portion 33 extends along one side surface of the fixing plate 2. And the insertion hole part 33a is formed in the location which opposes each internal thread part 2b of the fixing plate 2 among the flange parts 33, respectively.

  And the fixing members 46 and 46 which are the screw members for fixing the flange part 33 and the fixing plate 2 penetrate the corresponding washers 47 and 47 and the corresponding insertion holes 33a and 33a, and the fixing plate Two corresponding female thread portions 2b, 2b are screwed together. Thereby, the flange portion 33 is fixed to the fixing plate 2. The second peripheral wall portion 32 extends from the flange portion 33 along the direction opposite to the direction in which the first peripheral wall portion 31 extends from the flange portion 33.

  The second peripheral wall portion 32 is provided as a portion surrounding the contact accommodating portion 34. The second peripheral wall portion 32 is formed around an axis (not shown) extending along the thickness direction Z1. As viewed from the thickness direction Z1, the second peripheral wall portion 32 has a substantially rectangular outer shape. Further, the second peripheral wall portion 32 is disposed closer to the rear wall 38 of the front wall 37 and the rear wall 38 of the first peripheral wall portion 31.

  The second peripheral wall portion 32 has one end in the thickness direction Z <b> 1 (the end far from the flange portion 33) opened to the outside of the housing 14 to form a connection opening 48. The connection opening 48 is an opening into which a part of the second connector 5 is inserted.

  The contact accommodating part 34 is arrange | positioned so that it may be enclosed by the 1st surrounding wall part 31 and the 2nd surrounding wall part 32 which have said structure. The contact accommodating part 34 is provided as a part for accommodating the contacts 13a and 13b. In the present embodiment, the contact accommodating portion 34 is disposed closer to the rear wall 38 of the front wall 37 and the rear wall 38 of the first peripheral wall portion 31. The contact accommodating portion 34 is formed so as to penetrate the housing 14 along the thickness direction Z1.

  The contact accommodating portion 34 has a first block portion 51 that accommodates the heads 20 of the contacts 13a and 13b, and a second block portion 52 that accommodates the male pin portions 22 of the contacts 13a and 13b. .

  Most of the first block portion 51 is surrounded by the first peripheral wall portion 31. Further, the remaining part of the first block portion 51 is surrounded by the second peripheral wall portion 32. The first block portion 51 is disposed approximately at the center between the pair of side walls 39 and 40 of the first peripheral wall portion 31 in the width direction Y1.

  The first block portion 51 has head accommodating portions 53a and 53b.

  Each head accommodating portion 53a, 53b is configured to accommodate the head 20 of the corresponding contact 13a, 13b. The head receiving portions 53a and 53b are arranged in a pair so as to be aligned in the width direction Y1, and the heads 20 of the corresponding contacts 13a and 13b are arranged along the thickness direction Z1 on the distal end portion 31a side of the first peripheral wall portion 31. It is comprised so that it may be inserted from. Each head accommodating portion 53a, 53b is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the head 20 of the corresponding contact 13.

  More specifically, each head accommodating part 53a, 53b is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape in plan view of the head body 18 in plan view (as viewed from the thickness direction Z1). In the present embodiment, each head accommodating portion 53a, 53b has both end portions in the length direction X1 formed in a substantially semicircular shape in plan view (the state shown in FIG. 7), and both end portions in the width direction Y1. Are formed in a straight line extending along the length direction X1.

  The total length of each head accommodating portion 53a, 53b in the thickness direction Z1 is formed substantially the same as the total length of the head 20 of the corresponding contact 13a, 13b. And as mentioned above, the convex part 53f fitted to the groove part 24 is formed in the intermediate part of each head accommodating part 53a, 53b. In addition, through holes 53c through which the male pin portions 22 are passed are formed on the bottom surfaces of the head accommodating portions 53a and 53b. Further, the bottom surfaces of the head receiving portions 53a and 53b include receiving portions 53d that can receive the head end portions 19 of the corresponding contacts 13a and 13b. The head 20 of each contact 13a, 13b is accommodated in the housing 14 so as not to protrude from the first peripheral wall 31 in the thickness direction Z1 by being accommodated in the corresponding head accommodating portion 53a, 53b.

  Each head accommodating part 53a, 53b is open | released at the front-end | tip part 31a side of the 1st surrounding wall part 31 along the thickness direction Z1. In addition, each head accommodating portion 53a, 53b has a fixing opening 53e at a location on the opposite side to the location where the pair of head accommodating portions 53a, 53b face each other in the width direction Y1. The fixing opening 53e is an opening provided to fix the contacts 13a, 13b and the crimp terminals 8 of the first cables 3a, 3b corresponding to each other. The fixing opening 53e is formed to expose the corresponding contacts 13a and 13b to the outside of the housing 14 in the width direction Y1.

  In the present embodiment, each fixing opening 53e is formed in a streak shape extending in the thickness direction Z1, and the first contact portion 21 of the corresponding contact 13a, 13b is placed outside the first block portion 51 in the width direction Y1. It is exposed to. Each fixing opening 53e is aligned with the corresponding tool opening 42 in the width direction Y1. Thereby, in a state where the cover 15 is not attached to the housing 14, each fixing opening 53 e can be visually recognized from the outside of the housing 14 through the corresponding tool opening 42.

  A second block portion 52 is provided so as to line up with the first block portion 51 having the above-described configuration in the thickness direction Z1. Most of the second block portion 52 is surrounded by the second peripheral wall portion 32. Further, the remaining part of the second block portion 52 is surrounded by the first peripheral wall portion 31.

  The outer peripheral portion of the second block portion 52 is formed in an asymmetric shape in the length direction X1. Specifically, a convex portion is formed on one side portion in the length direction X1 of the outer peripheral portion of the second block portion 52, and a concave portion is formed on the other side portion in the length direction X1. . Further, the second block portion 52 is disposed near one end portion of the second peripheral wall portion 32 in the length direction X1. Thereby, it can prevent that the 1st connector 4 and the 2nd connector 5 are combined in the state where the direction of fitting with the 1st connector 4 and the 2nd connector 5 was mistaken. The distal end portion of the second block portion 52 protrudes from the distal end portion of the second peripheral wall portion 32.

  The second block portion 52 has pin accommodating portions 54a and 54b.

  Each pin accommodating part 54a, 54b is provided as a part for accommodating the male pin part 22 of the corresponding contact 13a, 13b. Each pin accommodating part 54a, 54b accommodates the corresponding male pin part 22. Each pin accommodating part 54a, 54b forms a substantially cylindrical space. Each pin accommodating part 54a, 54b is continuous with the corresponding through-hole part 53c of the first block part 51 coaxially.

  A cover 15 is attached to the housing 14 having the above configuration.

  1 to 3, the cover 15 is provided as a first cover for closing the insertion opening 36. The cover 15 is formed using an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The housing 14 is an integrally molded product that is integrally formed of a single member by injection molding or the like. The cover 15 is provided to cover the space surrounded by the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14. The cover 15 prevents the workers' bodies and dust from coming into contact with the contacts 13a and 13b through which a large current flows.

  The cover 15 includes a top wall 55, a pair of side walls 56, 56, a pair of lock claw portions 58, 58, an end wall 60, and a fitting convex portion 61.

  The top wall 55 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape and covers the tip end portion 31 a of the first peripheral wall portion 31. A pair of side walls 56, 56 extend from both ends of the top wall 55 in the width direction Y1. The pair of side walls 56 and 56 are wall portions that extend along the pair of side walls 39 and 40 of the first peripheral wall portion 31 and extend substantially orthogonal to the width direction Y1. The pair of side walls 56, 56 closes the corresponding tool opening 42. Thus, each tool opening 42 is closed by the corresponding side wall 56 in a state where the cover 15 is mounted on the housing 14. A pair of lock claw portions 58 and 58 are provided adjacent to the pair of side walls 56 and 56.

  The pair of lock claws 58, 58 are provided for locking the cover 15 to the housing 14. Each lock claw portion 58 is formed in a U shape extending from the top wall 55 along the thickness direction Z1. Each lock claw portion 58 extends along the housing 14 so as to be sandwiched between a pair of corresponding guide pieces 44, 44 of the housing 14. Further, the distal end portion of each lock claw portion 58 is received by the corresponding lock piece portion 43 of the housing 14.

  The end wall 60 of the cover 15 is provided as a wall portion that is arranged along the inner surface of the rear wall 38 of the first peripheral wall portion 31. The end wall 60 extends from the top wall 55 in a direction orthogonal to the length direction X1. The fitting convex part 61 is arrange | positioned in the location spaced apart from the end wall 60 in the length direction X1. The fitting convex portion 61 is, for example, a square cylindrical member that protrudes from the top wall 55 toward the fitting concave portion 35 side. The fitting convex part 61 is arrange | positioned so that the fitting concave part 35 of the housing 14 may be fitted. The cover 15 is formed so that the through holes 41 and 41 of the housing 14 are not blocked. As a result, the cover 15 is a flexible member connected to the crimp terminal 8 and is a conductive member extending in the length direction X1 orthogonal to the axial direction L1. The insertion opening 36 is blocked while allowing passage from the inside to the outside.

  The above is the schematic configuration of the first cables 3 a and 3 b and the first connector 4. Next, schematic configurations of the second cables 6a and 6b and the second connector 5 will be described. The second cables 6a, 6b and the second connector 5 have substantially the same configuration as the corresponding first cables 3a, 3b and the first connector 4, respectively. Therefore, the detailed description of the second cables 6a and 6b and the second connector 5 is partially omitted.

  With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 11, each of the second cables 6 a and 6 b includes a covered electric wire 67 and a crimp terminal 68 fixed to one end of the covered electric wire 67. .

  The covered electric wire 67 has a cylindrical covering portion 69 made of an insulating material and an electric wire 70 covered with the covering portion 69. One end portion of the electric wire 70 is exposed from one end of the covering portion 69. A crimp terminal 68 is fixed to one end of the electric wire 70. The crimp terminal 68 is a member having the same configuration as the crimp terminal 8.

  The crimp terminal 68 includes a caulking portion 71 and a tongue piece portion 72 extending from the caulking portion 71. One end of the electric wire 70 is caulked and fixed to the caulking portion 71. The tongue pieces 72 of the second cables 6 a and 6 b having the above-described configuration are fixed to the contacts 73 a and 73 b of the second connector 5.

  The second connector 5 is formed in a symmetric shape in the width direction Y1 of the second connector 5.

  The second connector 5 includes contacts 73a and 73b, a housing 74, a cover 75, and fixing members 76a and 76b.

  In the present embodiment, the second connector 5 constitutes a two-pole electrical connector having two contacts 73a and 73b. These contacts 73a and 73b are arranged side by side in the width direction Y1.

  Each contact 73a, 73b is a conductive member having conductivity, and can be electrically connected to the tongue piece 72 of the corresponding second cable 6a, 6b and the corresponding contact 13a, 13b of the first connector 4. It is configured. Each contact 73a, 73b is formed in a pin shape. Each contact 73a, 73b extends straight along a predetermined axial direction L1.

  Each contact 73a, 73b has a head portion 80 and a female pin portion 82.

  The head 80 is provided as a part to which the tongue piece 72 of the crimp terminal 68 of the corresponding second cable 6a, 6b is fixed. A side surface of the head 80 facing the outside in the width direction Y1 of the second connector 5 is formed as a flat surface.

  The heads 80 of the contacts 73a and 73b are configured to come into contact with the corresponding crimp terminals 68. Further, the head 80 is formed with a through-hole portion that penetrates the head 80 in the width direction Y1, and a female screw portion is formed in the through-hole portion. The head portions 80 of the contacts 73a and 73b are arranged so that the tongue piece portions 72 of the corresponding crimp terminals 68 are in surface contact. In this state, the male screw portions of the fixing members 76a and 76b formed using the male screw member penetrate the corresponding washer 85 and the corresponding tongue piece 72, and further, the female screw portions of the corresponding contacts 73a and 73b. It is screwed to.

  With the above-described configuration, the tongue piece 72 of each crimp terminal 68 is fixed to the corresponding contacts 73a and 73b by the corresponding fixing members 76a and 76b and is electrically connected to the contacts 73a and 73b. From the head 80, a female pin portion 82 extends in the axial direction L1.

  The female pin portion 82 is provided as a portion that is electrically connected to the contacts 13 a and 13 b by fitting into the male pin portions 22 of the corresponding contacts 13 a and 13 b of the first connector 4. The female pin portion 82 is formed in a cylindrical shape.

  The male pin portion 22 of the corresponding contact 13a, 13b is inserted into the female pin portion 82. A contact member 82 a is provided at a location surrounding the male pin portion 22 in the female pin portion 82. The contact member 82a has a pair of cylindrical portions disposed at both ends, and a plurality of elongated strip-shaped portions connecting the pair of cylindrical portions are disposed along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion. In each belt-like portion, the intermediate portion is located on the radially inner side of the cylindrical portion as compared with both end portions, and is in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the corresponding contacts 73a and 73b. With the above configuration, the female pin portion 82 forms a multi-contact. Thereby, each contact 73a, 73b contacts the 2nd contact part 23 of the male pin part 22 of corresponding contact 13a, 13b. Thereby, each contact 13a, 13b and the corresponding contact 73a, 73b are electrically connected. The contacts 73 a and 73 b having the above configuration are accommodated in the housing 74.

  The housing 74 is formed using an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 74 is an integrally molded product that is integrally formed of a single member by injection molding or the like. The housing 74 is provided as a part that accommodates the contacts 73 a and 73 b and also accommodates one end of the second cables 6 a and 6 b (the crimp terminal 68 and one end of the covered electric wire 67). Further, the housing 74 is provided as a part that accommodates the fixing members 76 a and 76 b and the washers 85 and 85.

  The housing 14 includes a first peripheral wall portion 91, a second peripheral wall portion 92, and a contact accommodating portion 93.

  The first peripheral wall portion 91 is provided as a portion surrounding the contact housing portion 93. Moreover, the 1st surrounding wall part 91 is provided as a part surrounding the said one end part of each 2nd cable 6a, 6b. The first peripheral wall portion 91 is formed around a central axis (not shown) extending along the thickness direction Z1.

  In the first peripheral wall portion 91, a through-hole portion for allowing the second cables 6a and 6b to pass therethrough is formed on one side wall in the length direction X1. Thus, the second cables 6a and 6b extend from the outside of the housing 74 to the inside of the housing 74 along the length direction X1. A second peripheral wall portion 92 extends from the first peripheral wall portion 91 having the above configuration.

  The second peripheral wall portion 92 is provided as a portion surrounding the contact housing portion 93. Further, the second peripheral wall portion 32 is provided as a portion inserted between the second peripheral wall portion 32 of the first connector 4 and the second block portion 52. The second peripheral wall portion 92 is formed around an axis (not shown) extending along the thickness direction Z1. The shape of the outer peripheral portion of the second peripheral wall portion 92 is formed in a shape that follows the shape of the inner peripheral portion of the second peripheral wall portion 32 of the first connector 4. The shape of the inner peripheral portion of the second peripheral wall portion 92 is formed in a shape that follows the shape of the outer peripheral portion of the second block portion 52 of the first connector 4.

  The contact accommodating portion 93 is disposed so as to be surrounded by the first peripheral wall portion 91 and the second peripheral wall portion 92 having the above-described configuration. The contact accommodating portion 93 is provided as a portion for accommodating the contacts 73a and 73b. The contact accommodating portion 93 is formed with a pair of accommodating hole portions 113 and 113 which are a pair of through hole portions penetrating the housing 74 along the thickness direction Z1. The accommodation hole portions 113 and 13 extend along the thickness direction Z1 so as to be surrounded by the first peripheral wall portion 91 and the second peripheral wall portion 92, respectively. Corresponding contacts 73a and 73b are accommodated in the accommodating holes 113 and 113, respectively.

  Among the receiving hole portions 113 and 113, for fixing at a portion surrounded by the first peripheral wall portion 91 at a portion on the opposite side of the width direction Y1 from the opposite portion of the pair of receiving hole portions 113 and 113. An opening 114 is formed. Each fixing opening 114 is an opening provided to fix the contacts 73a and 73b and the corresponding crimp terminals 68 of the second cables 6a and 6b to each other. Each fixing opening 114, 114 is formed to expose the corresponding contact 73a, 73b to the outside of the housing 14 in the width direction Y1. In this embodiment, each fixing opening 114, 114 is formed in a streak shape extending in the thickness direction Z1.

  Of the contact accommodating portion 93, the outer peripheral portion of the portion surrounded by the second peripheral wall portion 92 is formed in a shape along the shape of the inner peripheral portion of the second block portion 52 of the first connector 4. It is fitted to the periphery. A cover 75 is attached to the housing 74 having the above configuration.

  The cover 75 is formed using an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The cover 75 is an integrally molded product that is integrally formed of a single member by injection molding or the like. The cover 75 is provided to cover the space surrounded by the first peripheral wall portion 91 of the housing 74. By this cover 75, it is suppressed that an operator's body, dust, etc. contact the contacts 73a and 73b through which a large current flows. The cover 75 has the same configuration as the cover 15 of the first connector 4, and is configured to be detachable from the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 74.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the contacts 13a and 13b extend along the predetermined axial direction L1. Thereby, the width | variety (length of the direction which cross | intersects the thickness direction Z1) of each contact 13a, 13b can be made small. Further, the first contact portion 21 of each contact 13a, 13b faces the intersecting direction C1 intersecting the axial direction L1. For this reason, in the state where the crimp terminals 8 corresponding to the contacts 13a and 13b are fixed, the amount of the crimp terminals 8 protruding from the corresponding contacts 13a and 13b in the axial direction L1 can be reduced. Therefore, the total length of the contacts 13a and 13b and the crimp terminals 8 as a whole can be further shortened. Further, the housing 14 is formed with tool openings 42 and 42 that can pass through a fixing tool 45 for fixing the crimp terminal 8 to the first contact portion 21 so as to face the intersecting direction C1. Thereby, it is not necessary to perform the fixing work with the fixed tool 45 in a state where the fixed tool 45 extends in the axial direction L1, and the space necessary for mounting the first connector 4 can be made thinner. As described above, in the first connector 4 having the contacts 13 a and 13 b fixed to the crimp terminal 8, the size can be further reduced and the space necessary for mounting the first connector 4 can be made thinner.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the width of the tongue piece 12 of the crimp terminal 8 (the length in the thickness direction Z <b> 1) is set larger than the outer diameter of the covered electric wire 7. According to this configuration, the size of the first connector 4 can be made constant regardless of the outer diameter of the covered wire 7 (the amount of allowable current of the wire 10). Thereby, the versatility of the 1st connector 4 can be made higher. The width of the tongue piece 12 of the crimp terminal 8 may be smaller than the outer diameter of the covered electric wire 7. Further, the outer diameter of the covered electric wire 7 and the allowable current do not necessarily have a proportional relationship.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, the 1st contact part 21 and the 2nd contact part 23 of contact 13a, 13b are formed with the single component. Therefore, the number of parts of the first connector 4 can be further reduced. Moreover, since each contact 13a, 13b can be formed in a straight line, it is not necessary to bend the base material of each contact 13a, 13b when forming each contact 13a, 13b. In this case, the labor for manufacturing the first connector 4 can be reduced through a reduction in the processing steps of the contacts 13a and 13b.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, each of the fixing members 16 a and 16 b is configured to be able to pass through the corresponding tool openings 42 and 42 of the housing 14. According to this configuration, by using the fixing members 16a and 16b, the bonding strength between the crimp terminals 8 and 8 and the corresponding contacts 13a and 13b can be further increased. Further, each of the fixing members 16a and 16b can reach the fixing location between the corresponding crimping terminals 8 and 8 and the corresponding first contact portions 21 and 21 through the tool opening 42. Thus, for example, after the crimp terminals 8 corresponding to the first contact portions 21 are aligned, the fixing members 16a and 16b are used to fix the crimp terminals 8 and the first contact portions 21. it can. Further, there is no need to provide a dedicated opening for inserting the fixing members 16a and 16b into the housing 14. Therefore, further downsizing of the housing 14 can be realized.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the fixing members 16a and 16b are screw members that fasten the contacts 13a and 13b to the corresponding crimp terminals 8 and 8, respectively. According to this configuration, each crimp terminal 8 can be fixed to the corresponding contact 13a, 13b by a simple operation of screwing the screw member to the female screw portion 18a of the corresponding contact 13a, 13b. Each fixing member 16a, 16b extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction L1 of the corresponding contact 13a, 13b. For this reason, it is not necessary to form the long female screw hole extended along the axial direction L1 in each contact 13a, 13b. Therefore, the total length of the contacts 13a and 13b can be further shortened. Thereby, further size reduction of the 1st connector 4 is realizable.

  According to the present embodiment, the housing 14 is opened facing both the length direction X1 which is the longitudinal direction of the crimp terminal 8 (first cables 3a, 3b) and the axial direction L1, and the crimp terminals 8, 8 are opened. It has the insertion opening part 36 which can let pass. According to this configuration, the crimp terminals 8 of the first cables 3 a and 3 b can be easily inserted into the housing 14 through the insertion opening 36.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the cover 15 for closing the insertion opening 36 of the housing 14 is the covered electric wire 7 connected to the crimp terminal 8, and the covered electric wire 7 extending in the length direction X <b> 1 is connected to the housing 14. The insertion opening 36 is closed while allowing passage from the inside to the outside. According to this configuration, in the layout in which the covered electric wire 7 extends from the housing 14 in the length direction X1 orthogonal to the axial direction L1, the insertion opening 36 of the housing 14 can be closed using the cover 15.

[Modification]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to the said embodiment, A various change is possible as long as it described in the claim. For example, the following modifications may be made. In the following description, configurations different from those of the above-described embodiment will be mainly described, and components similar to those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the fixing members 16a and 16b corresponding to the female screw portions 18a and 18a formed on the contacts 13a and 13b are formed has been described. However, this need not be the case. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, nuts 118, 118 for fixing the crimp terminals 8, 8 to the corresponding contacts 13a, 13b may be used. In this case, the holes of the contacts 13a and 13b into which the screw shafts of the corresponding fixing members 16a and 16b are inserted are not screw-coupled to the fixing members 16a and 16b. Instead, each fixing member 16a, 16b is screwed to a corresponding nut 118,118. Accordingly, the crimp terminals 8 and 8 are fastened to the first contact portions 21 and 21 of the corresponding contacts 13a and 13b by the cooperation of the fixing members 16a and 16b and the corresponding nuts 118 and 118, respectively. The nuts 118 and 118 are accommodated in nut accommodating portions 119 and 119 formed in the first block portion 51. The nut accommodating portions 119 and 119 are disposed between the head accommodating portions 53 a and 53 b in the first block portion 51. A partition plate 120 is disposed between the nut housing portions 119 and 119.

  (2) Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the crimp terminals 8 and 8 corresponding to the contacts 13a and 13b may be fixed by one fixing member 16A and one nut 118. In this case, the fixing member 16A is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, thereby preventing a short circuit at the contacts 13a and 13b. In this case, the screw shaft of the fixing member 16A passes through both of the through holes formed in the heads 20 of the two contacts 13a and 13b. The head of the fixing member 16A is received by the first contact portion 21 of the one contact 13a via the washer 25 and the crimp terminal 8. Further, the nut 118 is received by the first contact portion 21 of the other contact 13 b via the washer 25 and the crimp terminal 8.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the contacts 13a, 13b and the corresponding crimp terminals 8, 8 are fixed using the fixing members 16a, 16b has been described as an example. However, this need not be the case. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, without using the fixing members 16a, 16b, the contacts 13a, corresponding to the corresponding crimp terminals 8A, 8A of the first cables 3a, 3b, for example, by bonding using welding or the like. 13b may be fixed to each other. In this case, for example, the spot welding rod-shaped fixing tool 45A is passed through the corresponding crimping terminal 8A through the corresponding tool opening 42. And using this fixing tool 45A, each crimp terminal 8A is fixed to the corresponding contacts 13a and 13b by spot welding, for example.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the contacts 13a and 13b have been described by taking the form formed by cutting as an example. However, this need not be the case. For example, the contact may be formed by pressing a metal plate.

  (5) Further, the number of poles of each of the connectors 4 and 5 may be 1 or 3 or more.

  (6) Further, in the above-described embodiment and modification examples, the embodiment in which the cover 15 is used for the first connector 4 has been described. However, this need not be the case. For example, referring to FIG. 15 which is an exploded perspective view showing the main part of still another modified example of the present invention, a second cover 121 for closing the insertion opening 36 is used instead of the cover 15. May be.

  16 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector 4B including the second cover 121 shown in FIG. FIGS. 17A and 17B are perspective views of the first connector 4 </ b> B, respectively, showing a state where the second cover 121 is attached to the housing 14. FIG. 18 is a plan view of the first connector 4B to which the first cables 3a and 3b are connected.

  With reference to FIGS. 15 to 18, in the present embodiment, the first cables 3 a and 3 b respectively extend from the insertion opening 36 of the housing 14 along the axial direction L <b> 1. More specifically, the crimp terminals 8 and 8 of the first cables 3a and 3b are fixed to the first contact portions 21 of the corresponding contacts 13a and 13b using the corresponding fixing members 16a and 16b. The covered electric wire 7 extends along the axial direction L1 at a location surrounded by the housing 14 and the second cover 121.

  The second cover 121 is connected to the crimp terminal 8 (mating side conductive member) and is connected to the inside of the housing 14 with the covered electric wire 7 (conductive electric wire 10), which is a flexible member extending along the axial direction L1. The insertion opening 36 is configured to be closed while allowing the insertion to pass outward.

  The second cover 121 is configured to be detachable from the housing 14. The second cover 121 is formed using an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The second cover 121 is provided to close the insertion opening 36 of the housing 14 (the space surrounded by the first peripheral wall portion 31). By the second cover 121, the contact of the worker's body and dust etc. with the contacts 13a and 13b through which a large current flows is suppressed.

  The second cover 121 is formed by combining the first divided body 122 and the second divided body 123 so as to be separable from each other. Each of the first divided body 122 and the second divided body 123 is an integrally molded product formed by injection molding or the like. The 1st division body 122 and the 2nd division body 123 are arrange | positioned facing the direction (this embodiment length direction X1) orthogonal to the axial direction L1.

  The first divided body 122 and the second divided body 123 are each formed in a block shape. The entire second cover 121 is also formed in a block shape.

  The second cover 121 has a proximal end side portion 124 surrounding the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 4 and a distal end side portion 125 continuous with the proximal end side portion 124. The base end side portion 124 is formed in a substantially quadrangular prism shape. The distal end side portion 125 is formed in a tapered shape, and the outer shape in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction L1 is reduced as the distance from the housing 14 along the axial direction L1 is increased.

  As a configuration for fixing the first divided body 122 and the second divided body 123 to each other, a positioning portion 126 and a fixing mechanism 127 are provided.

  The positioning part 126 is a part for aligning the first divided body 122 and the second divided body 123 disposed on the distal end side part 125 of the second cover 121. The positioning portion 126 has a fitting convex portion 128 formed in the first divided body 122 and a fitting concave portion 129 formed in the second divided body 123. The fitting convex portion 128 and the fitting concave portion 129 are formed in facing portions 131 and 132 where the first divided body 122 and the second divided body 123 face each other.

  The fitting convex portion 128 is formed in a protruding shape protruding from the facing portion 131, and is formed in a quadrangular prism shape in the present embodiment. The fitting concave portion 129 is a hollow portion formed in the facing portion 132, and is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the fitting convex portion 128 (in this embodiment, a quadrangular prism-shaped depression). When the fitting convex portion 128 and the fitting concave portion 129 are fitted, the positions of the first divided body 122 and the second divided body 123 in the distal end side portion 125 are defined.

  The fixing mechanism 127 includes a pair of lock piece portions 133 a and 133 b provided in the first divided body 122 and a pair of lock receiving portions 134 a and 134 b provided in the second divided body 123. In the present embodiment, the pair of lock piece portions 133a and 133b are spaced apart in the width direction Y1. Each lock piece part 133a, 133b is a cantilevered arm part extending toward the second divided body 123 side along the length direction X1, and has flexibility. A claw portion is formed at the tip of each lock piece portion 133a, 133b. On the other hand, the pair of lock receiving portions 134a and 134b are disposed at locations where the tip ends of the corresponding lock piece portions 133a and 133b are coupled. In the present embodiment, the pair of lock receiving portions 134a and 134b are arranged separately in the width direction Y1.

  Each of the lock receiving portions 134a and 134b is formed at one end of the second divided body 123 in the length direction X1, and the distal end portion of the corresponding lock piece portion 133a and 133b can be inserted. And after the 1st division body 122 and the 2nd division body 123 face each other on both sides of the 1st surrounding wall part 31 of the housing 14, the front-end | tip of corresponding lock piece part 133a, 133b is set to each lock receiving part 134a, 134b. By engaging the claw portions, the first divided body 122 and the second divided body 123 are fixed to each other. In addition, the lock receiving portions 134 a and 134 b are exposed to the outside of the second divided body 123 through open hole portions 137 a and 137 b formed in the second divided body 123. Thereby, an operator can remove the claw part of each lock piece part 133a, 133b from the edge of corresponding lock receiving part 134a, 134b with an elongate tool. Thereby, the 1st division body 122 and the 2nd division body 123 can be isolate | separated from each other. In addition, the 1st division body 122 and the 2nd division body 123 should just be mutually couple | bonded, and are not limited to said coupling | bonding aspect.

  As described above, the second cover 121 has the proximal end side portion 124 adjacent to the housing 14 and the distal end side portion 125 continuous to the proximal end side portion 124.

  The proximal end side portion 124 is provided as a portion that covers the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14 and is coupled to the first peripheral wall portion 31.

  The proximal end side portion 124 includes a peripheral wall portion 135 and a top wall portion 136.

  The peripheral wall portion 135 is provided as a portion surrounding the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14. The peripheral wall portion 135 includes a first side wall 141 and a second side wall 142 as a pair of side walls facing the width direction Y1, and a third side wall 143 and a fourth side wall 144 as a pair of side walls facing the length direction X1. It is out.

  The first side wall 141 includes one wall portion 145 a and one lock piece portion 133 a formed in the first divided body 122, and the other wall portion 146 a formed in the second divided body 123.

  One wall portion 145 a and one lock piece portion 133 a are portions adjacent to the outer surface of the side wall 39 of the first peripheral wall portion 31. One wall part 145a is arrange | positioned at the base end part of the 2nd cover 121, and is extended in the length direction X1. A cutout portion 147a is formed in one wall portion 145a at a location facing the second divided body 123, and one lock piece portion 133a is disposed in the cutout portion 147a. Thus, one lock piece part 133a also serves as a part of the first side wall 141.

  The other wall portion 146a is configured to cover the front end side portion of the outer side surface of the side wall 39 of the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14 in cooperation with the one wall portion 145a and the one lock piece portion 133a. Yes. The other wall portion 146a is arranged to face the one wall portion 145a in the length direction X1, and is abutted against each other. One lock piece portion 133a extends along the inner side surface of one wall portion 145a, and is coupled to the aforementioned one lock receiving portion 134a provided on the inner side surface of the other wall portion 146a. ing. A second side wall 142 is provided symmetrically with the first side wall 141 having the above-described configuration in the width direction Y1.

  The second side wall 142 includes one wall portion 145 b and the other lock piece portion 133 b formed in the first divided body 122, and the other wall portion 146 b formed in the second divided body 123.

  One wall portion 145 b and the other lock piece portion 133 b are portions adjacent to the outer surface of the side wall 40 of the first peripheral wall portion 31. One wall part 145b is arrange | positioned at the base end part of the 2nd cover 121, and is extended in the length direction X1. A cutout portion 147b is formed in one wall portion 145b at a position facing the second divided body 123, and the other lock piece portion 133b is disposed in the cutout portion 147b. In this manner, the other lock piece portion 133 b also serves as a part of the second side wall 142.

  The other wall portion 146b is configured to cover the front end side portion of the outer side surface of the side wall 40 of the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14 in cooperation with the one wall portion 145b and the other lock piece portion 133b. Yes. The other wall portion 146b is disposed to face the one wall portion 145b in the length direction X1, and is abutted against each other. The other lock piece portion 133b extends along the inner side surface of the other wall portion 146b, and is coupled to the other lock receiving portion 134b provided on the inner side surface of the other wall portion 146b. ing.

  The first side wall 141 and the second side wall 142 are further provided with a retaining portion 148 that restricts the separation from the housing 14. The retaining portion 148 includes a first receiving portion 151 formed at the base end portion of the second cover 121 in the first side wall 141 and a first end portion formed at the base end portion of the second cover 121 in the second side wall 142. 2 receiving portions 152. The first receiving portion 151 is a protruding portion formed in one wall portion 145 a and the other wall portion 146 a of the first side wall 141 and extending in the length direction X <b> 1, and is formed on the inner side surface of the first side wall 141. . The second receiving portion 152 is a protruding portion formed in one wall portion 145 b and the other wall portion 146 b of the second side wall 142 and extending in the length direction X 1, and is formed on the inner surface of the second side wall 142. ing.

  The first receiving portion 151 is disposed so as to be received by guide pieces 44, 44 formed on the outer surface of the side wall 39 of the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14. Similarly, the second receiving portion 152 is disposed so as to be received by guide pieces 44, 44 formed on the outer surface of the side wall 40 of the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14. As a result, when receiving a load so that the second cover 121 is removed from the housing 14, the first receiving portion 151 and the second receiving portion 152 are caught by the corresponding guides 44 and 44. As a result, the second cover 121 is prevented from coming off the housing 14.

  The third side wall 143 is formed in the first divided body 122 and connects one end of the first side wall 141 and one end of the second side wall 142. The third side wall 143 is disposed so as to cover the front wall 37 of the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14 from the outer surface side of the front wall 37. The third side wall 143 is formed in the first peripheral wall portion 31 and covers the through holes 41 and 41 through which the first cables 3a and 3b pass, and these through holes 41 and 41 are outside the housing 14. Is not visible.

  In the present embodiment, the third side wall 143 is formed with a line-shaped notch 150 that is open toward the base end of the second cover 121. The notch 150 is fitted to a streak-shaped protrusion 156 formed on the outer surface of the front wall 37. Thereby, more accurate positioning of the second cover 121 with respect to the housing 14 is realized.

  The fourth side wall 144 is formed in the second divided body 123 and connects the other end of the first side wall 141 and the other end of the second side wall 142. The fourth side wall 144 is disposed so as to cover the rear wall 38 of the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14 from the outer surface side of the rear wall 38. The fourth side wall 144 has a rib guard 153 formed at the tip of the second cover 121. The rib guard 153 is formed in a shape that avoids contact with the reinforcing rib 154 formed on the outer surface of the rear wall 38 of the housing 14. The top wall 136 is adjacent to the peripheral wall 135 having the above-described configuration on the distal end side of the second cover 121.

  The top wall 136 is provided as a portion that covers the insertion opening 36 from one side in the axial direction L1. The ceiling wall part 136 is formed in the 1st division body 122 and the 2nd division body 123, and is formed in the planar shape substantially orthogonal to the thickness direction Z1 in this embodiment. The top wall portion 136 is adjacent to the distal end side portion 125 of the second cover 121.

  Through holes 155 a and 155 b are formed in the distal end side portion 125 of the second cover 121. The through holes 155a and 155b are provided so that the covered electric wires 7 and 7 extending from the crimp terminals 8 and 8 along the axial direction L1 extend from the inside of the second cover 121 to the outside. The through-hole portions 155a and 155b are arranged so as to sandwich the fitting convex portion 128 and the fitting concave portion 129, and are arranged symmetrically in the width direction Y1 in this embodiment.

  Each through-hole portion 155a, 155b has a cylindrical shape by combining a semicircular cross-sectional portion formed in the first divided body 122 and a semicircular cross-sectional portion formed in the second divided body 123 with each other. The space is formed. And the corresponding covered electric wires 7 and 7 are passed through this cylindrical space. The diameter of each through-hole part 155a, 155b is set more than the diameter of each covered electric wire 7,7.

  With the above configuration, the outer peripheral portion of the first peripheral wall portion 31 of the housing 14 is surrounded by the first to fourth side walls 141 to 144. Moreover, the front-end | tip part of the 1st surrounding wall part 31 is covered with the top wall part 136 (the top wall part 136 and the front end side part 125). Thereby, the second cover 121 covers the insertion opening 36.

  According to this modification, the second cover 121 for closing the insertion opening 36 of the housing 14 is connected to the crimp terminal 8 and extends the covered electric wire 7 extending along the axial direction L1 from the inside of the housing 14 to the outside. The insertion opening 36 is closed while allowing the passage. According to this configuration, in the layout in which the covered electric wire 7 extends from the housing 14 along the axial direction L <b> 1, the insertion opening 36 of the housing 14 can be closed using the second cover 121.

  In the above-described embodiment and modification, the form in which any one of the cover 15 and the second cover 121 is provided has been described. However, this need not be the case. For example, in the connection device 1, both the cover 15 and the second cover 121 may be provided, and these covers 15 and 121 may be used alternatively. With such a configuration, when a plurality of directions of the covered electric wire 7 extending from the insertion opening 36 can be set, it is possible to cope with one housing 14. Thereby, the versatility of the housing 14 can be made higher.

  The present invention can be widely applied as an electrical connector.

4 First connector (electrical connector)
5 Second connector (second electrical connector)
8,8A Crimp terminal (mating side conductive member)
10 Electric wire (flexible member)
13a, 13b Contacts 14 Housing 15 Cover (first cover)
16, 16A fixing member 21 1st contact part (contact part)
23 2nd contact part 34 Contact accommodating part (accommodating part)
36 Opening for insertion 42 Opening for tool 45 Fixed tool 73a, 73b Contact of second electrical connector 121 Second cover C1 Crossing direction L1 Axial direction X1 Length direction (direction orthogonal to the axial direction)

Claims (6)

A contact portion which is configured to face a predetermined crossing direction intersecting with a predetermined axial direction and to contact a predetermined mating conductive member; and a contact extending along the axial direction;
An accommodation portion that accommodates the contact portion, and a tool opening that is formed so as to face the intersecting direction and that can pass a fixing tool for fixing the mating conductive member to the contact portion. A housing having an opening,
An electrical connector comprising: The electrical connector according to claim 1,
The electrical connector is configured to be electrically connected to the second electrical connector by being coupled to a predetermined second electrical connector,
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact includes a second contact portion that is integrally provided with the contact portion and made of a single material and that contacts the contact of the second electrical connector. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2,
A fixing member for fixing the counterpart conductive member to the contact portion;
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is configured to be able to pass through the tool opening. The electrical connector according to claim 3,
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member includes a screw member for fastening the contact of the connector to the mating conductive member. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The housing has an insertion opening that is open toward at least one of the longitudinal direction and the axial direction of the mating conductive member and allows the mating conductive member to pass therethrough. , Electrical connector. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The housing has an insertion opening that is opened toward each of the axial direction and a direction orthogonal to the axial direction and allows the counterpart conductive member to pass therethrough,
Further comprising at least one of a first cover and a second cover for closing the insertion opening;
The first cover closes the insertion opening while allowing the conductive flexible member connected to the mating conductive member and extending in the orthogonal direction to pass from the inside to the outside of the housing. Is configured to be possible
The second cover closes the insertion opening while allowing a conductive flexible member connected to the mating conductive member and extending along the axial direction to pass from the inside to the outside of the housing. An electrical connector characterized by being configured to be

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