JP2021168285A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector achieving improvement of assembly workability.SOLUTION: A connector includes a terminal holding unit 31 into which a female terminal 2 is inserted and a holder 6 attached to the terminal holding unit 31. The terminal holding unit 31 includes a plurality of terminal housing chambers 30 and a lance 35 extended in an insertion direction of the female terminal 2 to lock the female terminal 2. The holder 6 has a cylindrical holder body 61 externally inserted into the terminal holding unit 31 and a plurality of sliding members 7 respectively entering into the plurality of terminal housing chambers 30 in a direction opposed to the insertion direction of the female terminal 2. Each of the plurality of sliding members is formed so as to be individually slid into the holding body. When the lance 35 is in a locking state of locking the female terminal 2, slide of the sliding member 7 is permitted, and when the lance 35 is in a bent non-locking state, the sliding member 7 is abutted on the lance 35 and the slide of the sliding member 7 is regulated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, a connector housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, a female terminal fitting accommodated in each terminal accommodating chamber, and a front member attached to the connector housing to fix the female terminal fitting accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber. And, a connector having the above has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the conventional connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the female terminal fitting is housed in the terminal accommodating chamber, the front end of the female terminal fitting is brought closer to the rear end of the terminal accommodating chamber and is moved forward. Will be inserted.

The terminal accommodating chamber is composed of a space continuous in the front-rear direction between the upper wall and the lower wall. The terminal accommodating chamber is provided with a cantilever-shaped flexible locking piece having a base end continuous with the upper wall and extending forward to lock the terminals.

The front member is slidably provided at a temporary locking position and a main locking position of the connector housing. Further, the front member is provided with a restraint piece which is formed so as to extend rearward and restrains the lance.

In such a conventional connector, when the front member is in the temporary locking position of the connector housing, the female terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber, and the female terminal fitting is locked by the lance at an appropriate position. Further, when the front member is further slid from the temporary locking position and the front member is in the main locking position of the connector housing, the restraint piece overlaps the lance and restrains the lance, so that the terminal is double locked. It becomes a state.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-099071

However, in a conventional connector, when the front member is in the temporary locking position of the connector housing, if any of the female terminal fittings is in the midway insertion position before the proper position, the lance will be The front member is not slid from the temporary locking position to the main locking position due to the lance interfering with the bent state. In this case, the operator detects that one of the female terminal fittings is in the halfway insertion position by restricting the sliding of the front member from the temporary locking position to the main locking position. It was not easy to grasp whether the female terminal fitting was in the middle insertion position. Therefore, when the slide of the front member from the temporary locking position to the main locking position is restricted, the operator needs to review the insertion positions of all the female terminal fittings, resulting in poor assembly workability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector with improved assembly workability.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is a connector including a housing having a terminal holding portion into which terminals are inserted and a holder attached to the terminal holding portion. The terminal holding portion includes a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers and a lance formed extending in the insertion direction of the terminals to lock the terminals, and the holder is externally inserted into the terminal holding portion. It has a tubular holder body and a plurality of slide members that are inserted into each of the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the terminals, and each of the plurality of slide members is the holder body. The slide member is allowed to slide when the lance is in the locked state in which the terminal is locked and is provided so as to be slidable individually with respect to the holder body. , The slide member overlaps with the lance to regulate the bending of the lance, and when the lance is in a bent and unlocked state, the slide member comes into contact with the lance to slide the slide member. Is a connector characterized by being regulated.

The invention according to claim 2 is configured such that the slide member engages with the holder body at a position where the slide member regulates the deflection of the lance in the invention according to claim 1. It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 3 includes a tubular packing that is externally inserted into the terminal holding portion in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, and the holder body is located on the insertion direction side of the packing. Therefore, the movement of the packing in the insertion direction side is restricted.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of slide members is connected to the holder body via a hinge, and is individually slidable with respect to the holder body, and the lance locks the terminals. In the locked state, the slide member is allowed to slide, and the slide member overlaps the lance to regulate the deflection of the lance, and when the lance is in the bent and unlocked state, the slide member is lanced. The slide of the slide member is restricted by abutting against. That is, when the terminal is in the midway insertion position of the terminal accommodating chamber, the slide of the slide member is restricted, so that the operator detects that the terminal is in the midway insertion position. Further, since a plurality of slide members are configured to be slidable individually with respect to the holder body, it is possible to easily identify which terminal is in the midway insertion position, so that the assembly workability can be improved. Can be done.

It is a perspective view which shows the connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the housing which comprises the said connector. It is a perspective view which shows the holder which comprises the said connector. It is a figure which shows the main part of the holder in an enlarged manner. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the slide member is in a protruding position. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the slide member is in a pushing position, and the slide member is engaged with a holder body. It is a figure for demonstrating the assembling procedure of the connector, and is the perspective view which shows the connector when the slide member constituting the holder is in a protruding position. It is a figure which shows the post-process of FIG. 6, and is the cross-sectional view which shows the state in which the terminal is inserted. It is a figure which shows the post-process of FIG. 7, and is the perspective view which shows the connector when one of the slide members is in a pushing position. It is a front view which shows the connector shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the line II-II in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the completed state of the connector. It is sectional drawing of the connector shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the action effect of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-14. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the connector 1 of the present embodiment includes an electric wire 11, a female terminal fitting 2 as a terminal in the claim (hereinafter referred to as a female terminal 2, see FIG. 7), and the female. It includes a housing 3 having a terminal holding portion 31 into which the terminal 2 is inserted, and a packing 5 (see FIG. 7) and a holder 6 attached to the terminal holding portion 31. In the present embodiment, the direction in which the female terminal 2 is inserted is described as "forward (X1 direction)", the opposite direction is described as "rear (X2 direction)", and the two directions substantially orthogonal to the X direction are respectively. The Y direction and the Z direction. Of the Y directions, one of the Y directions may be referred to as "upward" and the other of the Y directions may be referred to as "downward".

As shown in FIG. 7, the female terminal 2 is composed of an electric contact portion 21 made of a conductive metal and electrically contacted with a male tab terminal (not shown), and an electric wire connecting portion connected to the electric wire 11. 22 and. The electrical contact portion 21 is formed in a square cylinder shape about the X direction. A terminal locking portion 20 that is locked to a lance 35 described later of the terminal holding portion 31 is provided at the rear end edge of the electrical contact portion 21. Such a female terminal 2 is inserted so that the front end of the electrical contact portion 21 is brought close to the rear end of the terminal accommodating chamber 30. Further, when the female terminal 2 reaches an appropriate position in the terminal accommodating chamber 30, the lance 35 of the terminal holding portion 31 is configured to lock the terminal locking portion 20.

The housing 3 is made of, for example, an insulating resin. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 3 has a terminal holding portion 31 having six (plural) terminal accommodating chambers 30 and a cylindrical partner surrounding the terminal holding portion 31 (not shown). A hood portion 36 that receives the housing and a lock arm portion 4 for maintaining a fitted state with the mating housing (not shown) are integrally provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal holding portion 31 includes a pair of wall portions 32, 33 facing in the vertical direction and a partition wall 34 partitioning between the pair of wall portions 32, 33, and the pair of wall portions 32. , 33 are configured to have six terminal accommodating chambers 30 formed by being partitioned in the Z direction by a partition wall 34. Each terminal accommodating chamber 30 is formed so as to extend in the X direction, and six terminal accommodating chambers 30 are provided side by side in the Z direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, of the pair of wall portions 32, 33, the upper wall portion 32 is provided with a lance 35 for locking the female terminal 2. The lance 35 is provided for each terminal accommodating chamber 30, and is formed in a natural state so as to extend diagonally downward as it advances toward the front (X1 direction) of each terminal accommodating chamber 30. When the female terminal 2 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 30, the lance 35 comes into contact with the lance 35, the lance 35 is temporarily bent, and the insertion proceeds further, so that the female terminal 2 reaches an appropriate position. At that time, the lance 35 is restored to lock the terminal locking portion 20 of the female terminal 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the lance 35 is in a state where the terminal locking portion 20 of the female terminal 2 is locked (locked state), and the slide member 7 described later of the holder 6 is attached to the lance 35 and the upper wall. By entering the approach space S between the portions 32, the deflection of the lance 35 is regulated. The so-called female terminal 2 is in a double-locked state. As shown in FIG. 10, in the double-locked state of the female terminal 2, the female terminal 2 is held in the connector 1 by locking the lance 35 and restricting the bending of the lance 35 by the approach portion 72 described later of the slide member 7. The force is improved, and even if the electric wire 11 is pulled backward (in the X2 direction), it is difficult to pull it out.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hood portion 36 is composed of a hood peripheral wall 36A continuous with the terminal holding portion 31. A part of the hood peripheral wall 36A is cut out in the hood portion 36 to expose the lock arm portion 4 described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lock arm portion 4 is continuous with a pair of lock arms 41 and 41 extending forward from the upper wall portion 32 and continuously with the front side of the pair of lock arms 41 and 41. It includes a pair of connecting arms 42, 42 extending rearward, and an operating portion 43 provided at the rear end of the pair of connecting arms 42, 42. In such a lock arm portion 4, when the housing 3 and the mating housing (not shown) are fitted, the lock (not shown) of the lock arm 41 engages with the locked (not shown) of the mating housing. It is configured to fit. Further, the engagement between the lock of the lock arm 41 and the locked portion of the mating housing is released by pressing the operation unit 43 and bending the lock arm 41 via the connecting arm 42. ..

As shown in FIG. 2, the packing 5 is formed in a tubular shape that can be extrapolated to the terminal holding portion 31. The packing 5 is mounted on the packing mounting portion 37 located at the intermediate portion in the X direction of the terminal holding portion 31.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the holder 6 includes a holder main body 61 and six (plural) slide members 7 connected to the holder main body 61 via a hinge 62. Each slide member 7 slides to a protruding position (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) protruding forward (X1 direction) from the holder body 61 and a pushing position rearward (X2 direction) from the protruding position. It is provided as possible. The hinge 62 is deformably provided and naturally positions each slide member 7 in a protruding position.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, the holder body 61 includes a tubular extrapolated portion 63 that is extrapolated to the terminal holding portion 31, and a partition wall 64 that partitions the internal space of the extrapolated portion 63 in the Z direction. , An engaged portion 65 (shown in FIG. 4) that is engaged with an engaging projection 73 described later of the slide member 7.

The extrapolated portion 63 is extrapolated to the terminal holding portion 31 and is engaged with the terminal holding portion 31 by an engaging means (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a holding portion 66 is provided in a portion including the rear end of the extrapolation portion 63. The peripheral wall 66A constituting the holding portion 66 is formed so as to be thicker than the other portions. In the holding portion 66, with the extrapolated portion 63 extrapolated to the terminal holding portion 31, the rear end surface 6a of the holding portion 66 and the front end surface 5a of the packing 5 are arranged so as to face each other over the entire circumference. It is configured. Such an extrapolation portion 63 prevents the packing 5 from coming off (falling off) forward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the partition wall 64 is provided only at the front end portion of the extrapolation portion 63, and is provided on the front side of the partition wall 34 of the terminal holding portion 31. The partition wall 64 partitions the internal space of the extrapolation portion 63 so as to correspond to each terminal accommodating chamber 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the engaged portion 65 engages with the engaging projection 73 described later of the slide member 7 when the slide member 7 is in the pushing position, and the slide member 7 is held in the pushing position. It is configured to. As shown in FIGS. It has a holder orthogonal plane 6B orthogonal to the direction (X direction). When the engaging protrusion 73 is engaged with the engaged portion 65, the slide member 7 is slid from the protruding position to the pushing position, and the sliding inclination of the engaging protrusion 73 is described later on the holder inclined surface 6A. The surface 73A abuts, the slide inclined surface 73A is slid on the holder inclined surface 6A, and the slide orthogonal surface 73B faces the rear side (X2 direction) of the holder orthogonal surface 6B, so that the engaged portion 65 is engaged. The engaging projection 73 is engaged.

As shown in FIG. 3B, each slide member 7 enters the approach space S of the terminal accommodating chamber 30 in succession to the front wall 71 facing the opening on the front side of each terminal accommodating chamber 30 and the front wall 71. A plate-shaped approach portion 72 and an engaging protrusion 73 that engages with the engaged portion 65 of the holder body 61 are provided. The front wall 71 is formed with an insertion hole 71a through which a male tab terminal (not shown) is inserted. The approach portion 72 is formed so as to extend rearward (in the X2 direction), and when the slide member 7 is in the pushing position, it enters the approach space S of the terminal accommodating chamber 30 and overlaps with the lance 35 to bend the lance 35. To regulate. Engagement protrusions 73 are provided on the outer surfaces of the front wall 71 in the Z direction. The engaging protrusions 73 are located on the slide inclined surface 73A that inclines in the Z direction toward the front (X1 direction) and on the front side of the slide inclined surface 73A, and are orthogonal to the slide orthogonal to the front-rear direction (X direction). It has a surface 73B and.

Next, the procedure for assembling the connector will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 14.

First, an annular waterproof plug 11C is externally inserted into the covering portion 11B of the electric wire 11 in advance, and the core wire 11A of the electric wire 11 and the covering portion 11B are connected to the electric wire connecting portion 22 of the female terminal 2 by crimping. Next, the packing 5 is externally inserted into the terminal holding portion 31, and the packing 5 is mounted on the packing mounting portion 37 of the terminal holding portion 31.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the extrapolation portion 63 is extrapolated to the front end portion of the terminal holding portion 31, and the extrapolation portion 63 is engaged with the terminal holding portion 31 by an engaging means (not shown). , The holder body 61 is attached to the terminal holding portion 31. At this time, all the slide members 7 are positioned at the protruding positions.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the front end of the female terminal 2 is inserted close to the rear end of each terminal accommodating chamber 30 of the terminal holding portion 31. As the insertion progresses, the front end of the female terminal 2 comes into contact with the lance 35 and bends the lance 35. When the female terminal 2 reaches an appropriate position in the terminal accommodating chamber 30 as the insertion further progresses, the lance 35 restores to the natural state and locks the terminal locking portion 20 of the female terminal 2. In this way, the female terminal 2 is accommodated at an appropriate position in the terminal accommodating chamber 30.

By repeating this work, all the female terminals 2 are accommodated in the proper positions of the terminal accommodating chamber 30. Here, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, only one female terminal 2 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 30, and after accommodating the female terminal 2 in an appropriate position of the terminal accommodating chamber 30, the female terminal 2 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 30. The slide member 7A (7) corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber 30 is slid from the protruding position to the pushing position.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the slide member 7A has the entry portion 72 of the slide member 7A entering the approach space S of the terminal accommodating chamber 30 rearward (in the X2 direction) and overlapping the lance 35 at the pushing position. , Regulate the deflection of the lance 35. At substantially the same time, the engaging projection 73 of the slide member 7 engages with the engaged portion 65 of the holder body 61 (see FIG. 5). As a result, the slide member 7 is held in the pushed position. By repeating this operation, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, all the slide members 7 are positioned at the pushing positions. By positioning all the slide members 7 in the pushing position in this way, the operator grasps that all the female terminals 2 are in the proper positions of the terminal accommodating chamber 30. In this way, the connector 1 is assembled.

Here, for example, when the female terminal 2 is in the midway insertion position (before the proper position) of the terminal accommodating chamber 30, the lance 35 is in contact with the female terminal 2 and remains bent (unlocked). State). In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, even if the slide member 7 is pushed in from the protruding position, the rear end surface 72a of the approaching portion 72 comes into contact with the free end 35a of the lance 35, so that the slide member 7 is pushed from the protruding position. Does not slide to the pushed position. That is, when the lance 35 is in a bent and unlocked state, the slide of the slide member 7 is restricted.

Since the slide member 7 is in the protruding position in this way, the operator can visually identify the female terminal 2 in the intermediate insertion position from the plurality of female terminals 2. Since the operator can identify the female terminal 2 at the midway insertion position, the connector 1 can be completed by inserting the female terminal 2 at the midway insertion position to an appropriate position. As a result, it is not necessary to review the insertion positions of all the female terminals 2 as in the prior art, so that the assembly workability can be improved.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the female terminal 2 (terminal) is in the midway insertion position of the terminal accommodating chamber 30, the slide of the slide member 7 is restricted, so that the operator can insert the female terminal 2 halfway. Detects that it is in position. Further, since the plurality of slide members 7 are individually slidable with respect to the holder body 61, it is possible to easily identify which female terminal 2 is in the midway insertion position, so that the assembly workability is improved. It can be improved.

Further, the slide member 7 is configured to engage with the holder body 61 at a position (pushing position) where the slide member 7 regulates the bending of the lance 35. According to this, since the state in which the slide member 7 is in the pushed-in position is continued, it is possible to easily identify which female terminal 2 is in the proper position.

Further, a cylindrical packing 5 to be externally inserted into the terminal holding portion 31 is provided, and the holder main body 61 is located on the insertion direction side (X1 direction) of the packing 5 to restrict the movement of the packing 5 in the insertion direction side. .. According to this, the packing 5 is prevented from falling off from the terminal holding portion 31. As a result, even when the packing 5 is attached to the terminal holding portion 31 and the housing 3 to which the packing 5 is attached is handled by transportation or the like with the holder 6 attached, the packing 5 is prevented from falling off. Therefore, convenience is improved.

In addition, the best configuration, method, and the like for carrying out the present invention are disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention is particularly illustrated and described primarily with respect to a particular embodiment, it does not deviate from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention and has a shape relative to the embodiments described above. , Materials, quantities, and other detailed configurations can be modified by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the description that limits the shape, material, etc. disclosed above is merely an example for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, those shapes, materials, etc. The description by the name of the member which removes a part or all of the limitation such as is included in the present invention.

1 Connector 2 Female terminal (terminal)
3 Housing 5 Packing 6 Holder 7 Multiple slide members 30 Multiple terminal storage chambers 31 Terminal holding parts 35 Lance 61 Holder body 62 Hinge

Claims (3)

A connector including a housing having a terminal holding portion into which a terminal is inserted and a holder attached to the terminal holding portion.
The terminal holding portion includes a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers and a lance formed extending in the insertion direction of the terminals to lock the terminals.
The holder has a cylindrical holder body that is externally inserted into the terminal holding portion, and a plurality of slide members that are inserted into each of the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the terminals.
Each of the plurality of slide members is connected to the holder body via a hinge, and is individually slidable with respect to the holder body.
When the lance is in the locked state in which the terminals are locked, the slide member is allowed to slide, and the slide member overlaps the lance to regulate the deflection of the lance.
A connector characterized in that when the lance is in a bent and unlocked state, the slide member comes into contact with the lance to restrict the slide of the slide member. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the slide member is configured to engage with the holder body at a position where the slide member regulates the deflection of the lance. A cylindrical packing that is externally inserted into the terminal holding portion is provided.
The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder body is located on the insertion direction side of the packing and restricts the movement of the packing toward the insertion direction.

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