JP2022077602A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector that can reduce the deterioration of workability in attaching a shield shell.SOLUTION: A connector 10 includes: a plurality of terminals 20 which are electrically connected to respective mating terminals provided in a device and are arranged in parallel; a resin housing 40 which holds the plurality of terminals 20; and a metal shield shell 50 which covers the housing 40 and is fixed to a case 100 of the device. The housing 40 has a cylindrical part 42 with an opening 43 through which the plurality of terminals 20 are exposed, and first projections 46 which protrude from the cylindrical part 42 to an outer peripheral side of the cylindrical part 42. The shield shell 50 has: a surrounding part 52 which surrounds a circumference of the cylindrical part 42; recessed parts 54 which are provided at portions of the surrounding part 52 facing the first projections 46 and are engaged with the first projections 46; and stationary portions 55 which have through holes 56 into which bolts 130 used for fixing the shield shell 50 and the case 100 are inserted, and which is fixed to the case 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to connectors.

Patent Document 1 discloses a connector attached to a device such as an inverter. The connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of electric wires with terminals, a resin housing for holding the plurality of electric wires with terminals, and a metal shield shell that covers the housing and is fixed to the device.

The housing is provided with a tubular portion having an opening in which a plurality of terminals are exposed, a wire holding portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral wall of the tubular portion, and a section of the outer peripheral wall of the tubular portion where the electric wire holding portion is provided. It has a flange that projects outward from the part excluding.

A terminal fixing portion provided in the device is inserted into the opening of the tubular portion. The connector and the device are electrically connected by bolting the terminal and the terminal fixing portion.
The shield shell has a surrounding portion that surrounds the outer periphery of the tubular portion, and a fixing portion that protrudes from the surrounding portion and is fixed to the device.

The surrounding portion is provided with a convex portion that protrudes toward the flange of the housing. The contact of the convex portion with the flange prevents the housing from tilting with respect to the shield shell even when a load is applied to the electric wire with terminals.

The fixing portion is provided with a through hole into which a bolt is inserted. The shield shell is fixed to the device by screwing the bolt inserted into the through hole into the screw hole provided in the device.

International Publication No. 2018-186338

By the way, when fixing the shield shell to the device, the operator needs to visually align the through hole of the fixing portion with the screw hole of the device. Such alignment work may reduce workability when the shield shell is attached.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of suppressing a decrease in workability when a shield shell is attached.

The connector of the present disclosure includes a plurality of terminals electrically connected to and parallel to a mating terminal provided in the device, a resin housing holding the plurality of terminals, and a case of the device while covering the housing. A connector comprising a metal shield shell fixed to the housing, wherein the housing has a cylindrical portion having an opening through which the plurality of terminals are exposed, and the tubular portion to the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion. The shield shell has a protruding protrusion, and the shield shell is provided with a surrounding portion surrounding the outer periphery of the tubular portion, and a recess provided in the surrounding portion facing the protrusion and engaging with the protrusion. It has a through hole into which a bolt used for fixing the shield shell and the case is inserted, and has a fixing portion fixed to the case.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress a decrease in workability when the shield shell is attached.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the connector of one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

[Explanation of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
[1] The connector of the present disclosure covers a plurality of terminals electrically connected to and parallel to a mating terminal provided in an apparatus, a resin housing holding the plurality of terminals, and the housing. A connector comprising a metal shield shell fixed to a case of an apparatus, wherein the housing has a cylindrical portion having openings from which the plurality of terminals are exposed, and a tubular portion to the tubular portion. The shield shell has a protrusion protruding to the outer peripheral side, and the shield shell is provided in a surrounding portion surrounding the outer periphery of the tubular portion and a portion of the surrounding portion facing the protrusion and engages with the protrusion. It has a recess and a through hole into which a bolt used for fixing the shield shell and the case is inserted, and has a fixing portion fixed to the case.

According to the same configuration, the shield shell is positioned with respect to the housing by engaging the recess of the shield shell with the protrusion of the housing. As a result, the fixed portion of the shield shell is positioned with respect to the case of the device. Therefore, it becomes easy to insert a bolt into the through hole of the fixing portion to fix the shield shell to the case. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in workability when the shield shell is attached.

[2] When the protrusion is the first protrusion, the housing has a second protrusion that protrudes from the tubular portion toward the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion and extends in the axial direction of the tubular portion. Is preferable.

According to the same configuration, since the second protrusion extends in the axial direction of the tubular portion, the rigidity of the tubular portion is improved. As a result, for example, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of molding defects in the housing such as sink marks, so that the dimensional accuracy of the opening of the tubular portion can be improved.

[3] It is preferable that the surrounding portion extends in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of terminals are lined up, and the fixing portion is provided on both sides of the surrounding portion in the arrangement direction.
According to the same configuration, fixing portions are provided on both sides in the arrangement direction of the surrounding portions. Therefore, the shield shell is fixed to the case on both sides in the direction in which the surrounding portion extends. This makes it easier to secure the distance between the fixed portions. Therefore, the shield shell can be stably fixed to the case.

[4] The housing has a flange protruding from the tubular portion toward the surrounding portion, and the surrounding portion covers the flange from the side opposite to the case in the axial direction of the tubular portion. It is preferable to have.

According to the same configuration, the flange is covered by the surrounding portion from the side opposite to the case in the axial direction of the tubular portion. This facilitates positioning of the shield shell with respect to the housing in the axial direction. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress a decrease in workability when the shield shell is attached.

[5] It is preferable that the protrusion is connected to the flange and extends to the outer edge of the flange.
According to the same configuration, the strength of the flange can be improved by the protrusion.

[Details of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
Specific examples of the connectors of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, for convenience of explanation, a part of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified. In addition, the dimensional ratio of each part may differ in each drawing. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, and is indicated by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims. The term "orthogonal" in the present specification includes not only the case of being strictly orthogonal, but also the case of being substantially orthogonal within the range in which the action and effect in the present embodiment are exhibited.

(Configuration of connector 10)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 10 is electrically connected to a vehicle device such as a motor or an inverter. The connector 10 is attached to the case 100 of the device having the opening 101.

The connector 10 includes a plurality of terminals 20 in parallel, a housing 40 that holds the plurality of terminals 20, and a shield shell 50 that covers the housing 40. The connector 10 includes, for example, three terminals 20. An electric wire 30 is electrically connected to the terminal 20. The electric wire 30 is pulled out from the housing 40.

Hereinafter, the direction in which the plurality of terminals 20 are lined up is referred to as the X-axis direction, the direction in which the electric wire 30 drawn from the housing 40 extends is referred to as the Y-axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Is referred to as the Z-axis direction. The X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction are orthogonal to each other.

(Configuration of terminal 20)
As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 20 has a wire connecting portion 21 and a terminal connecting portion 22. The terminal 20 is a single component in which the electric wire connecting portion 21 and the terminal connecting portion 22 are integrally formed. The terminal 20 is made of a metal material such as copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or stainless steel.

The electric wire 30 is electrically connected to the electric wire connecting portion 21. Here, the electric wire 30 has a core wire 31 and an insulating coating 32 that covers the outer periphery of the core wire 31. The core wire 31 is exposed from the insulating coating 32 at the end of the electric wire 30. The core wire 31 exposed from the insulating coating 32 is electrically connected to the electric wire connecting portion 21.

The terminal connection portion 22 has, for example, a plate shape. The terminal connection portion 22 extends from the electric wire connection portion 21 in the Y-axis direction. The terminal connection portion 22 is provided with an insertion hole 23 that penetrates the terminal connection portion 22 in the Z-axis direction. The terminal connection portion 22 is electrically connected to the metal mating terminal 110 provided inside the opening 101 of the case 100 by a bolt 120 inserted into the insertion hole 23.

(Structure of housing 40)
As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 40 has a holding portion 41 for holding a plurality of terminals 20, a cylindrical portion 42 having a cylindrical shape, and a tubular portion 42 protruding from the tubular portion 42 toward the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion 42. It has a flange 45. The holding portion 41, the tubular portion 42, and the flange 45 are integrally provided. The housing 40 is made of, for example, a resin material.

As shown in FIG. 3, the holding portion 41 projects from the tubular portion 42 toward the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion 42 in the Y-axis direction. The holding portion 41 holds a connecting portion between the terminal connecting portion 22 and the electric wire 30. The plurality of terminals 20 connected to the electric wire 30 and the housing 40 are integrated by insert molding.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tubular portion 42 extends in the X-axis direction. The tubular portion 42 has an opening 43 penetrating in the Z-axis direction. The opening 43 has an oval shape that is long in the X-axis direction.

The terminal connection portion 22 at each of the terminals 20 is exposed from the opening 43. When viewed from the Z-axis direction, the entire insertion hole 23 of the terminal 20 overlaps the opening 43.
As shown in FIG. 1, an insertion portion 44 to be inserted into the opening 101 of the case 100 is provided at one end of the tubular portion 42 in the Z-axis direction. An annular sealing member 60 made of an elastic material such as rubber is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 44. The sealing member 60 seals between the insertion portion 44 and the opening 101 of the case 100.

The flange 45 projects from a portion of the tubular portion 42 adjacent to the insertion portion 44 in the Z-axis direction and excluding the holding portion 41. The flange 45 projects toward the surrounding portion 52 of the shield shell 50, which will be described later. The flange 45 is connected to the holding portion 41.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 40 has a plurality of first protrusions 46 protruding from the tubular portion 42 toward the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion 42, and a plurality of second protrusions 47. The housing 40 has three first protrusions 46 and six second protrusions 47. Both the first protrusion 46 and the second protrusion 47 have a plate shape.

The first protrusion 46 is provided at an end portion of the tubular portion 42 opposite to the holding portion 41 in the Y-axis direction and at both ends of the tubular portion 42 in the X-axis direction. The first protrusion 46 is connected to the flange 45.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first protrusion 46 extends to the outer edge 45a of the flange 45. The amount of protrusion of the first protrusion 46 from the tubular portion 42 is the same as the amount of protrusion of the flange 45 from the tubular portion 42.

The length of the first protrusion 46 in the Z-axis direction is smaller than the length of the tubular portion 42 from the flange 45 to the edge of the opening 43 in the Z-axis direction.
In the following description, the circumferential direction of the tubular portion 42 is simply referred to as the circumferential direction. The second protrusion 47 is provided on each side of one first protrusion 46 in the circumferential direction. Each of the first protrusions 46 and each of the second protrusions 47 are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The second protrusion 47 is connected to the flange 45.

The second protrusion 47 extends to a portion in the middle of the flange 45 in the projecting direction. Therefore, the amount of protrusion of the second protrusion 47 from the tubular portion 42 is smaller than the amount of protrusion of the first protrusion 46 from the tubular portion 42.

The second protrusion 47 extends to the edge of the opening 43 in the axial direction of the tubular portion 42, that is, in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the length of the second protrusion 47 in the Z-axis direction is the same as the length of the tubular portion 42 from the flange 45 to the edge of the opening 43 in the Z-axis direction. The second protrusion 47 is connected to the tubular portion 42 as a whole in the Z-axis direction.

(Structure of shield shell 50)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shield shell 50 includes a mounting portion 51 that covers a part of the holding portion 41 and to which a shield member (not shown) is attached, a surrounding portion 52 that surrounds the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 42, and a case. It has two fixing portions 55 fixed to 100. The mounting portion 51, the surrounding portion 52, and the fixing portion 55 are integrally provided. The shield shell 50 is made of a metal material such as an aluminum alloy.

The mounting portion 51 covers a portion of the holding portion 41 opposite to the case 100 in the Z-axis direction and a portion on both sides in the X-axis direction.
The surrounding portion 52 extends in the X-axis direction. The surrounding portion 52 has an opening 53 into which the tubular portion 42 is inserted. The opening 53 has an oval shape that is long in the X-axis direction. The opening 53 is larger than the outer diameter of the tubular portion 42.

The surrounding portion 52 has a peripheral wall 52a that surrounds the outer periphery of the tubular portion 42 and the flange 45, and a top wall 52b that projects from the peripheral wall 52a to the entire circumference of the peripheral wall 52a toward the inner peripheral side.
As shown in FIG. 4, the top wall 52b surrounds the outer periphery of a portion of the tubular portion 42 opposite to the insertion portion 44 with the flange 45 interposed therebetween. The top wall 52b covers the outer edge 45a of the flange 45 from the side opposite to the case 100 in the Z-axis direction. That is, when viewed from the Z-axis direction, the top wall 52b and the flange 45 overlap each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the surrounding portion 52 has three recesses 54 that engage with the tip of the first protrusion 46. Each of the recesses 54 is provided in a portion of the top wall 52b facing each of the first protrusions 46 in the protruding direction of the first protrusion 46. The recess 54 is recessed to the outer peripheral side of the outer edge 45a of the flange 45 in the projecting direction of the first protrusion 46. A gap is provided between the top wall 52b and the second protrusion 47.

The work of engaging the recess 54 with the first protrusion 46 can be performed on the housing 40 after the connection between the terminal 20 and the mating terminal 110, or before the connection between the terminal 20 and the mating terminal 110. It can also be implemented for the housing 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the shield shell 50 is fixed to the case 100, the top wall 52b of the surrounding portion 52 and the first protrusion 46 are flush with each other.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing portions 55 are provided on both sides of the surrounding portion 52 in the X-axis direction. The fixing portion 55 projects from the top wall 52b in the X-axis direction. The fixing portion 55 has a through hole 56 into which the bolt 130 is inserted. The shield shell 50 is fixed to the case 100 by screwing the bolt 130 inserted into the through hole 56 into the screw hole 102 provided in the case 100.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
The shield shell 50 is positioned with respect to the housing 40 by engaging the recess 54 of the shield shell 50 with the first protrusion 46 of the housing 40. As a result, the fixing portion 55 of the shield shell 50 is positioned with respect to the case 100 of the device.

The effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1) The connector 10 includes a plurality of terminals 20 in parallel, a resin housing 40 holding the plurality of terminals 20, and a metal shield shell 50 that covers the housing 40 and is fixed to the case 100 of the device. Be prepared. The housing 40 has a tubular portion 42 having an opening 43 from which a plurality of terminals 20 are exposed, and a first protrusion 46 protruding from the tubular portion 42 toward the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion 42. The shield shell 50 is provided with a surrounding portion 52 that surrounds the outer periphery of the tubular portion 42, a recess 54 that is provided in a portion of the surrounding portion 52 that faces the first protrusion 46 and engages with the first protrusion 46, and a bolt 130. It has a through hole 56 to be inserted, and has a fixing portion 55 fixed to the case 100.

According to such a configuration, since the above-mentioned action is obtained, it becomes easy to insert the bolt 130 into the through hole 56 of the fixing portion 55 and fix the shield shell 50 to the case 100. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in workability when the shield shell 50 is attached.

(2) The housing 40 has a second protrusion 47 that protrudes from the tubular portion 42 toward the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion 42 and extends in the Z-axis direction.
According to such a configuration, since the second protrusion 47 extends in the Z-axis direction, the rigidity of the tubular portion 42 is improved. As a result, for example, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of molding defects in the housing 40 such as sink marks, so that the dimensional accuracy of the opening 43 of the tubular portion 42 can be improved.

(3) The surrounding portion 52 extends in the X-axis direction. The fixing portions 55 are provided on both sides of the surrounding portion 52 in the X-axis direction.
According to such a configuration, the fixing portions 55 are provided on both sides of the surrounding portion 52 in the X-axis direction. Therefore, the shield shell 50 is fixed to the case 100 on both sides in the direction in which the surrounding portion 52 extends. This makes it easier to secure the distance between the fixed portions 55. Therefore, the shield shell 50 can be stably fixed to the case 100.

(4) The housing 40 has a flange 45 that projects from the tubular portion 42 toward the surrounding portion 52. The top wall 52b of the surrounding portion 52 covers the flange 45 from the side opposite to the case 100 in the Z-axis direction.

According to such a configuration, the flange 45 is covered by the top wall 52b of the surrounding portion 52 from the side opposite to the case 100 in the Z-axis direction. This facilitates positioning of the shield shell 50 with respect to the housing 40 in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress a decrease in workability when the shield shell 50 is attached.

(5) The first protrusion 46 is connected to the flange 45 and extends to the outer edge 45a of the flange 45.
According to such a configuration, the strength of the flange 45 can be improved by the first protrusion 46.

<Change example>
This embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.

The first protrusion 46 does not have to be connected to the flange 45. In this case, a gap is formed between the first protrusion 46 and the flange 45 in the Z-axis direction.
The first protrusion 46 does not have to extend to the outer edge 45a of the flange 45. That is, the first protrusion 46 may extend to a portion in the middle of the flange 45 in the projecting direction. In this case, the flange 45 projects toward the outer peripheral side of the first protrusion 46. Even with such a configuration, the strength of the flange 45 can be improved by the first protrusion 46.

The first protrusion 46 may extend toward the outer peripheral side of the outer edge 45a of the flange 45. Even with such a configuration, since the top wall 52b of the surrounding portion 52 covers the flange 45 in the Z-axis direction, the tubular portion 42 inserted into the opening 53 of the surrounding portion 52 may come out of the surrounding portion 52. It is suppressed. Thereby, in particular, in the work of attaching the shield shell 50 to the housing 40 before being attached to the case 100 in advance, the work can be preferably performed.

-The top wall 52b can be omitted from the surrounding portion 52. That is, the surrounding portion 52 does not have to cover the flange 45 in the Z-axis direction.
-The flange 45 can be omitted from the housing 40.

The shield shell 50 may have one fixing portion 55 or may have three or more fixing portions 55.
-The position where each of the fixing portions 55 is provided can be changed as appropriate. The fixed portion 55 may, for example, be one that protrudes only in one direction in the X-axis direction, or may be one that protrudes in the Y-axis direction.

-The number of the second protrusions 47 can be changed as appropriate.
The second protrusion 47 may protrude until it comes into contact with the top wall 52b of the surrounding portion 52. In this case, in addition to the first protrusion 46, the shield shell 50 and the housing 40 are positioned by the second protrusion 47.

The second protrusion 47 does not have to extend to the edge of the opening 43 in the Z-axis direction. That is, the length of the second protrusion 47 in the Z-axis direction may be smaller than the length of the tubular portion 42 from the flange 45 to the edge of the opening 43 in the Z-axis direction.

The second protrusion 47 can be omitted from the housing 40.
The length of the first protrusion 46 in the Z-axis direction may be the same as the length of the second protrusion 47 in the Z-axis direction. In this case, the first protrusion 46 protrudes from the top wall 52b of the surrounding portion 52.

-The number of the first protrusions 46 can be changed as appropriate.
-The opening 53 can be omitted from the shield shell 50. In this case, the shield shell 50 covers the opening 43 of the housing 40.

-The connector 10 of the present disclosure can also be applied to, for example, a connector having a male terminal inserted into a female terminal provided in a device.

10 Connector 20 Terminal 21 Wire connection part 22 Terminal connection part 23 Insertion hole 30 Wire 31 Core wire 32 Insulation coating 40 Housing 41 Holding part 42 Cylindrical part 43 Opening 44 Insertion part 45 Flange 45a Outer edge 46 First protrusion 47 Second protrusion 50 Shield Shell 51 Mounting part 52 Surrounding part 52a Peripheral wall 52b Top wall 53 Opening 54 Recess 55 Fixed part 56 Through hole 60 Sealing member 100 Case 101 Opening 102 Screw hole 110 Opposite terminal 120 Bolt 130 Bolt

Claims (5)

A plurality of terminals that are electrically connected and parallel to the mating terminals provided in the device, a resin housing that holds the plurality of terminals, and a metal that covers the housing and is fixed to the case of the device. A connector with a shield shell and
The housing is
A cylindrical portion having an opening in which the plurality of terminals are exposed,
It has a protrusion that protrudes from the tubular portion to the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion.
The shield shell is
The surrounding part that surrounds the outer circumference of the tubular part, and
A recess provided in a portion of the surrounding portion facing the protrusion and engaging with the protrusion, and a recess
It has a through hole into which a bolt used for fixing the shield shell and the case is inserted, and has a fixing portion fixed to the case.
connector. When the protrusion is the first protrusion,
The housing has a second protrusion that protrudes from the cylindrical portion toward the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion and extends in the axial direction of the tubular portion.
The connector according to claim 1. The surrounding portion extends in the arrangement direction in which the plurality of terminals are lined up.
The fixing portions are provided on both sides of the surrounding portion in the alignment direction.
The connector according to claim 1 or 2. The housing has a flange that projects from the tubular portion toward the surrounding portion.
The surrounding portion covers the flange from the side opposite to the case in the axial direction of the tubular portion.
The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The protrusion is connected to the flange and extends to the outer edge of the flange.
The connector according to claim 4.

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