JP2020038813A - Connector and device composite - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of suppressing an oil which flows to a fitting end face with a mating connector, from being diffused to the periphery and a device composite to which such a connector is applied.SOLUTION: An AT connector 100 (connector) comprises an AT-side housing 110 (housing) to be fixed to an AT case 11 (oil encapsulation case), and a female terminal 120. In the AT-side housing 110 (housing), an oil introduction port 115a is opened on a fitting end face 112a, and an oil discharge port 115b is opened toward the inside of the AT case 11 (oil encapsulation case). An oil release hole 115 is provided for guiding and discharging an oil from the oil introduction port 115a to the oil discharge port 115b in a case where the oil runs down the female terminal 120 and flows to the fitting end face 112a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector for electrically connecting an internal device of an oil-filled case to an external device, and a device complex to which such a connector is applied.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an automatic transmission of a vehicle, in many cases, oil for lubricating a transmission is sealed in an oil-filled case together with internal devices such as a transmission and various sensors. The automatic transmission is connected to an external device such as a control device and receives its operation control. Then, a connector fixed to an oil-filled case to connect an internal device of the automatic transmission to an external device has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-225377 A

  Here, in the connector as described above, the oil may flow to the fitting end face with the mating connector along the terminal accommodated in the housing. If such oil diffuses to the surroundings when the mating connector is detached, there is a concern about the effect on peripheral devices and the effect on the connector seal waterproofing when the connector is re-engaged. Is done.

  Therefore, the present invention pays attention to the above problem, and a connector capable of suppressing the diffusion of oil flowing to the mating end face with the mating connector to the surroundings, and such a connector are applied. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device complex.

  In order to solve the above problem, a connector according to the present invention is a connector for electrically connecting an internal device housed together with oil to an oil-filled case provided with an opening to an external device, And a housing fixed to the oil-filled case by closing the opening in a state where the oil-filled case is partially protruded from the housing.The housing is housed in the housing so that the housing can be connected from a fitting end face located outside the oil-filled case. The housing has an oil inlet opening at the fitting end face and an oil outlet opening toward the inside of the oil-filled case. When oil flows to the fitting end surface, an oil escape hole is provided for guiding the oil from the oil inlet to the oil outlet and discharging the oil. It is characterized in that is.

  Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the device complex of the present invention includes a first device having an oil-filled case for accommodating an internal device together with oil, and an external device for the internal device in the first device. A second device, wherein the internal device is electrically connected to the second device via the connector of the present invention described above.

  According to the connector and device composite of the present invention, the oil that has flowed to the mating end face of the connector is returned to the inside of the oil-filled case via the oil escape hole, and thus such oil diffuses around the oil. Can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an AT / ECU complex according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector connection structure shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the connector connection structure shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a fitting end face of the AT connector shown in FIG. 2 with an ECU connector.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an AT / ECU complex according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  The AT / ECU complex 30 (device complex) includes an automatic transmission (AT: Automatic Transmission) 10 (first device) of a vehicle, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 20 (second device) as a control device, It has. The AT 10 has an AT case 11 (oil-enclosed case) in which oil for lubricating the transmission is sealed together with internal devices such as the transmission and various sensors. The AT 10 and the ECU 20 are electrically connected to each other by the connector connection structure 1. The connector connection structure 1 includes an AT connector 100 (connector) and an ECU connector 200. The AT connector 100 is fixed to the AT case 11, and the ECU connector 200 is fixed to the ECU case 21 and connected to the AT connector 100. In the present embodiment, the ECU connector 200 is connected to the AT connector 100 by bringing the ECU case 21 to which the ECU connector 200 is fixed to the AT case 11 in the connection direction D11 in the drawing. This connection is detachable.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector connection structure shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the connector connection structure shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a fitting end face of the AT connector shown in FIG. 2 with an ECU connector.

  The AT connector 100 is provided at an end of an electric wire 130 from an internal device of the AT case 11 and is fixed to the AT case 11. The AT case 11 is provided with an opening 11a, and the AT connector 100 is fixed so as to penetrate and close the opening 11a in a state where a fitting convex portion 112 described later projects from the opening 11a. On the other hand, the ECU connector 200 is connected to a circuit board built in the ECU 20 and is fixed to an ECU case 21 of the ECU 20. The ECU case 21 is also provided with an opening 21a, and the ECU connector 200 is fixed so as to penetrate and close the opening 21a.

  Here, in the exploded perspective view of the connector connection structure 1 in FIG. 2, the AT connector 100 is shown inserted from the inside of the AT case 11 into the opening 11a and attached thereto for easy viewing. However, in practice, as shown in FIG. 3, the AT connector 100 is inserted into the opening 11a from outside the AT case 11 and attached. The AT connector 100 is provided with a flange 114 for ensuring waterproofness by a third sealing material 150 described later. In mounting the AT connector 100, the AT connector 100 is inserted from the outside of the AT case 11 into the opening 11a and mounted such that the flange 114 comes into contact with the outer surface around the opening 11a in the AT case 11. On the other hand, as shown in both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the ECU connector 200 is inserted into the opening 21a from the inside of the ECU case 21 and attached.

  In the AT connector 100, a plurality of female terminals 120, each of which is crimped to an end of the electric wire 130, are accommodated in a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 111 provided in an AT side housing 110 fixed to the AT case 11 of the AT 10. Female connector. The AT-side housing 110 is provided with a fitting protrusion 112 that is a part of the AT connector 100 that enters the ECU connector 200. The end face of the fitting projection 112 on the ECU connector 200 side is a fitting end face 112a with the ECU connector 200. A terminal insertion opening 112b for the female terminal 120 is opened in the fitting end surface 112a in communication with the terminal accommodating chamber 111.

  In the AT side housing 110, the above-mentioned fitting protrusion 112 projects outside from the opening 11 a of the AT case 11, and the other portion 113 enters the AT case 11 in a state where it is waterproofed by the third sealing material 150. A flange 114 is provided for ensuring the performance. Then, the AT connector 100 is inserted into the opening 11a from outside the AT case 11, and the flange 114 comes into contact with the periphery of the opening 11a.

  The ECU connector 200 is a male connector in which a plurality of male terminals 220 each having a pin shape and being connectable to the female terminal 120 in the connection direction D11 are accommodated in the ECU housing 210. The ECU housing 210 can be fitted to the AT housing 110 in the connection direction D11 and is fixed to the ECU case 21. The ECU housing 210 is provided with a fitting recess 211 that can be fitted with the fitting protrusion 112 of the AT connector 100. A pin-shaped male terminal 220 is attached through the bottom wall 213 of the fitting recess 211. The connection end of the male terminal 220 protrudes from the bottom surface 213a of the bottom wall 213 facing the inside of the fitting recess 211. The opposite side of the male terminal 220 from the connection end is soldered to a circuit board (not shown) inside the ECU 20. When the fitting protrusion 112 of the AT connector 100 enters the fitting recess 211 of the ECU connector 200, the connection end of the male terminal 220 enters from the terminal insertion opening 112b of the fitting end surface 112a of the fitting protrusion 112. To the female terminal 120.

  The ECU side housing 210 is provided with a fixing flange 214 for fixing the bottomed cylindrical portion 212 to the ECU case 21 in a state where the bottomed cylindrical portion 212 is accommodated inside the opening 21a. The bottomed cylindrical portion 212 is a hood provided with a fitting recess 211. Then, the ECU connector 200 is inserted into the opening 21a from inside the ECU case 21 so that the fixing flange 214 is in contact with the periphery of the opening 21a in the ECU case 21 on the case inner surface side, and the fixing flange 214 is fixed to the periphery. Further, a waterproof rib 215 is provided upright on the fixed flange 214 over the entire circumference in order to enhance waterproofness inside the ECU 20. A groove 21b into which the waterproof rib 215 is fitted is formed around the opening 21a inside the ECU case 21. The sealing adhesive 216 is filled between the waterproof rib 215 fitted into the groove 21b and the inner surface of the groove 21b, so that the waterproof property at this location is ensured.

  Here, in the connector connection structure 1 of the present embodiment, a first sealing material 230, a second sealing material 140, a third sealing material 150, and a fourth sealing material 240 described below are provided. .

  The first sealing material 230 is a resin-made ring-shaped packing that is sandwiched between the peripheral edge of the fitting end surface 112a of the fitting projection 112 and the bottom surface 213a of the fitting recess 211 to seal between them. The second sealing material 140 is disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the fitting convex portion 112 and the inner peripheral surface of the fitting concave portion 211, and is a resin-made ring-shaped packing that seals between them. The third sealing material 150 is a resin gasket that seals between the AT connector 100 and the AT case 11. The fourth sealing material 240 is a resin filler that seals the space between the ECU-side housing 210 and the male terminal 220 in the ECU connector 200.

  First, the first sealing material 230 functions as follows. In this embodiment, the AT connector 100 is a female connector in which a female terminal 120 is accommodated in a hollow terminal accommodating chamber 111. For this reason, there is a possibility that the oil in the AT case 11 flows along the female terminal 120 to the fitting end surface 112a as shown by the arrow D13. The first sealing material 230 functions to stop the oil flowing to the fitting end surface 112a from progressing from the fitting end surface 112a to the outer peripheral side.

  As shown by arrow D14, the second sealing material 140 advances water or the like entering from outside between the fitting projection 112 of the AT connector 100 and the fitting recess 211 of the ECU connector 200. It works to block the water.

  The third sealing material 150 is sandwiched between the flange 114 and the AT case 11 and is crushed, and exhibits the following waterproofness by sealing between the two. That is, as shown by the arrow D <b> 15, the third encapsulant 150 moves between the inner periphery of the opening 11 a of the AT case 11 and the AT connector 100 from inside the AT case 11. It works to block the water.

  The fourth sealing material 240 functions as follows. In the present embodiment, as described above, part of the oil flowing through the female terminal 120 to the fitting end surface 112a is further transmitted through the male terminal 220 as shown by the arrow D16 to the ECU. It may flow into the inside of the connector 200. The fourth sealing material 240 has a function of blocking the progress of the oil flowing along the male terminal 220 in this manner.

  Here, in the present embodiment, an oil escape hole 115 for guiding the oil O11 flowing through the female terminal 120 to the fitting end surface 112a to the inside of the AT case 11 and discharging the oil O11 into the AT side housing 110. Is provided. The oil escape hole 115 has an oil introduction port 115a opened on the fitting end surface 112a and an oil discharge port 115b opened inside the AT case 11. The oil O11 flowing to the fitting end surface 112a flows into the oil inlet 115a, travels along the inner surface of the oil escape hole 115, and is discharged to the oil outlet 115b.

  In the oil escape hole 115, an oil outlet 115b is smaller than the oil inlet 115a. A part 115c on the oil outlet 115b side is formed in a tapered shape tapering toward the oil outlet 115b. In the present embodiment, the oil escape hole 115 is a square hole, and the tapered shape described above is such that one of the four inner surfaces of the square hole is inclined toward the oil discharge port 115b and inward of the square hole. It is formed by the protruding inclined surface 115d. On a short edge of the inclined surface 115d on the oil discharge port 115b side, a rib 115e is provided to stand up toward the inside of the AT case 11 to block oil from entering the oil discharge port 115b. .

  In the present embodiment, the AT connector 100 is provided with an electric wire guide 160 for guiding the electric wire 130 in a predetermined guide direction D17 to the AT side housing 110. The electric wire guide 160 is attached to a portion 113 of the AT side housing 110 located inside the AT case 11, and guides the electric wire 130 extending from an end of the female terminal 120 opposite to the connection end in the guiding direction. Guide to D17.

  The oil discharge hole 115b is opened at a position where the oil release hole 115 is offset to the side opposite to the guide direction D17. The rib 115e is provided at an edge of the oil discharge port 115b in the guide direction D17.

  According to the AT connector 100 and the AT / ECU complex 30 of the present embodiment described above, the oil that has flowed to the fitting end surface 112a of the AT connector 100 with the ECU connector 200 passes through the oil escape hole 115. It is returned inside the AT case 11. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the diffusion of the oil on the fitting end surface 112a to the periphery when the ECU connector 200 is separated from the AT connector 100 or the like.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in the oil escape hole 115, the oil outlet 115b is smaller than the oil inlet 115a. Thus, intrusion of oil from the oil outlet 115b into the oil escape hole 115 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the oil escape hole 115 is formed such that a portion 115c on the oil outlet 115b side is tapered toward the oil outlet 115b. This facilitates the flow of the oil O11 flowing into the oil release hole 115 toward the oil discharge port 115b, thereby suppressing the oil O11 from remaining inside the oil release hole 115 and further moving the oil O11 toward the inside of the AT case 11. Can be returned well.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the wire guide 160 that guides the wire 130 in the predetermined guide direction D17 is attached to the AT-side housing 110, and the oil escape hole 115 is biased to the opposite side to the guide direction D17. An oil outlet 115b is open at the position. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the oil scattered on the electric wire 130 inside the AT case 11 from entering the oil escape hole 115 from the oil outlet 115b.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a rib 115e is provided on the edge of the oil discharge port 115b so as to be erected toward the inside of the AT case 11 to block oil from entering the oil discharge port 115b. By providing the rib 115e, it is possible to further suppress the entry of oil from the oil outlet 115b into the oil escape hole 115.

  The embodiment described above merely shows a typical embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the configuration of the connector and device composite of the present invention is provided even by such a modification, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the AT connector 100 for electrically connecting internal devices such as various sensors in the AT 10 of the vehicle to the ECU 20 is illustrated as an example of the connector according to the present invention. However, the connector according to the present invention is not limited to these, and does not matter the specific mode as long as it is a connector for electrically connecting the internal device of the oil-sealed case to the external device.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the square oil release hole 115 is illustrated as an example of the oil release hole according to the present invention, but the oil release hole according to the present invention is not limited to this. The oil escape hole according to the present invention may have a round hole shape as long as the oil introduction port is opened at the fitting end face and the oil discharge port is opened toward the inside of the oil enclosure case. The shape of the hole can be arbitrarily set.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the oil release hole according to the present invention, the oil release hole 115 in which a part 115c on the oil discharge port 115b side is formed in a tapered shape is illustrated. However, the oil escape hole according to the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a tapered shape over the entire length from the oil inlet to the oil outlet.

  In the above-described embodiment, the AT / ECU complex 30 in which the AT 10 and the ECU 20 are connected is illustrated as an example of the device complex according to the present invention. However, the device complex according to the present invention is not limited to this. The device complex according to the present invention does not matter the specific mode of each device as long as the first device having an oil-filled case and the second device as an external device are electrically connected. .

1 Connector connection structure 10 AT (first device)
11 AT case (oil-filled case)
11a, 21a opening 20 ECU (external equipment, second device)
21 ECU case 21b Groove 30 AT / ECU complex (device complex)
100 AT connector (connector)
110 AT side housing 111 Terminal accommodating chamber 112 Fitting protrusion 112a Fitting end face 112b Terminal insertion port 113 part 114 Flange 115 Oil escape hole 115a Oil introduction port 115b Oil discharge port 115c Part 115d Inclined surface 115e Rib 120 Female terminal 130 Electric wire 140 Second sealant 150 Third sealant 160 Electric wire guide 200 ECU connector 210 ECU side housing 211 Fitting concave part 212 Bottom cylindrical part 213 Bottom wall 213a Bottom surface 214 Fixed flange 215 Waterproof rib 216 Seal adhesive 220 Male terminal 230 First sealing material 240 Fourth sealing material D11 Connection direction D13, D14, D15, D16 Arrow D17 Guide direction O11 Oil

Claims (6)

A connector for electrically connecting an internal device housed with oil in an oil-filled case provided with an opening to an external device,
A housing that is fixed to the oil-filled case by closing the opening in a state where a part thereof protrudes from the opening,
A female terminal housed in the housing so as to be connectable from the fitting end face located outside the oil-filled case in the housing,
In the housing, an oil introduction port is opened at the fitting end face and an oil discharge port is opened toward the inside of the oil sealed case, and the oil flows to the fitting end face via the female terminal. A connector provided with an oil escape hole for guiding the oil from the oil inlet to the oil outlet when the oil comes.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the oil outlet is smaller in the oil outlet than the oil inlet.   3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the oil escape hole on the oil outlet side is formed in a tapered shape tapered toward the oil outlet. 3. A wire guide portion attached to a portion of the housing located inside the oil-filled case and guiding a wire extending from an end of the female terminal opposite to a connection end in a predetermined guide direction. Prepare,
The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the oil discharge hole is opened at a position of the oil escape hole that is offset toward a side opposite to the guide direction.   A rib is provided at an edge of the oil discharge port so as to stand upright toward the inside of the oil-filled case to block oil from entering the oil discharge port. 5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein A first device having an oil-filled case for housing internal equipment together with oil;
A second device as an external device with respect to the internal device in the first device,
A device complex, wherein the internal device is electrically connected to the second device via the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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