JP2023054470A - waterproof connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a packing from coming off and falling off during the detachment work for releasing the mating of first and second connector housings, thereby improving the workability of maintenance.SOLUTION: A waterproof connector 1 includes a cylindrical packing 4 held in close contact with the inner periphery of a fitting cylinder portion 21 and a housing cylinder portion 31 in a state in which the housing cylinder portion 31 of a second connector housing 3 is fitted to the outer periphery of the fitting cylinder portion 21 of a first connector housing 2, and in the fitted state of the first and second connector housings 2 and 3, the packing 4 is assembled to the housing cylinder portion 31 of the second connector housing 3, a protruding portion 43 of the packing 4 is positioned below an operating portion 33 in the main body portion 32 provided in the second connector housing 3, and when an arm portion 35 of the operating portion 33 is swung to release the engagement of the first and second connector housings 2 and 3, a part 353 of the lower part of the operating portion 33 presses the protruding portion 43 of the packing 4 and uses it as a fulcrum.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a waterproof connector provided on a wire harness.

Automobiles are equipped with a wide variety of electronic devices, and wire harnesses are installed to transmit power, control signals, and the like to the electronic devices. A wire harness includes a plurality of electric wires and a waterproof connector, and is connected to an electronic device or another wire harness by fitting the waterproof connector to a waterproof connector of an electronic device or a waterproof connector of another wire harness. ing.

A waterproof connector used in such a wire harness has a male connector as a first connector housing and a female connector as a second connector housing. is performed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In order to prevent water or the like from entering the mating portion of the male connector and the female connector, the waterproof connector has a cylindrical packing interposed in the gap between the mating portions of the connectors. Waterproofness is ensured. The male and female connectors are injection-molded synthetic resin products with excellent insulating properties. Also, the packing is a molded product made of synthetic rubber or the like that is easily deformed elastically.

JP-A-7-288150

By the way, in the waterproof connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the locking projection provided on the packing attached to the male connector is locked by the locking piece of the rear holder mounted on the opposite side of the male connector. This prevents the packing from slipping out of position or coming off.

However, in such a waterproof connector, the direction in which the packing is attached to the male connector is the same as the direction in which the male connector and the female connector are engaged and disengaged. Therefore, especially when the male connector and the female connector are disengaged from each other, the frictional force generated between the female connector and the packing pulls the packing away from the male connector, causing the locking. In some cases, the protrusions were bent and deformed. As a result, it becomes difficult to maintain the state of engagement between the locking piece and the locking piece by the locking projection, and there is a risk that the locking piece and the locking projection will be disengaged and the packing will come off from the male connector. In such a case, it is necessary to assemble the packing to the male connector again before fitting the male connector and the female connector together, which causes a significant decrease in maintenance workability.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problems, and prevents the packing from coming off or falling off during the disengagement operation of disengaging the first connector housing and the second connector housing, thereby improving the workability of maintenance. The object is to provide a waterproof connector.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a waterproof connector according to the present invention includes a first connector housing having a fitting tubular portion, and a second connector housing having a housing tubular portion fitted to the outer periphery of the fitting tubular portion. , which is fitted to the housing cylinder portion and held tightly between the inner circumference of the fitting cylinder portion and the housing cylinder portion in a state where the first connector housing and the second connector housing are fitted together. and a tubular packing, wherein the first connector housing has a first locking portion provided on the outer periphery of the fitting tubular portion and engaged with the housing tubular portion. The second connector housing has a main body provided with a groove that communicates with the housing cylinder and accommodates a part of the packing, and an arm that is swingably provided on the main body. The arm portion has a second lock portion that engages with the first lock portion, and an operation portion that operates the second lock portion, and the second lock portion is arranged on the housing cylinder side. The lock portion and the operation portion arranged on the side opposite to the housing tube portion are connected, and the packing includes a main body seal portion fitted to the inner circumference of the fitting tube portion, and the main body seal portion. and a band-shaped protrusion extending outward along the central axis direction from the end opposite to the packing, and in the fitted state of the first connector housing and the second connector housing, the packing: The protruding portion is inserted into the groove portion of the main body portion of the second connector housing, and the arm portion of the main body portion of the second connector housing is assembled to the accommodating cylindrical portion of the second connector housing. The protruding portion of the packing inserted into the groove portion is positioned below the , and the arm portion is swung to release the engagement between the first connector housing and the second connector housing during a detachment operation, A part of the lower portion of the arm portion presses the projecting portion of the packing, and the arm portion swings around the pressed portion as a fulcrum.

According to the waterproof connector of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the packing from coming off and falling off during the disengagement operation of releasing the mating of the first connector housing and the second connector housing, thereby improving the workability of maintenance.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a waterproof connector according to an embodiment; FIG. It is an explanatory view showing the waterproof connector according to the embodiment as viewed from the first connector housing side. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing the second connector housing in the waterproof connector of FIG. 2 in the AA view, where (a) is a fitted state and (b) is a disengaged state; FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the waterproof connector of FIG. 2 in the BB view, where (a) is a fitted state and (b) is a disengaged state. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged main part of the waterproof connector of FIG. 4; FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the waterproof connector of FIG. 2 in a CC view;

A waterproof connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. In the following description, the vertical direction, which is the central axis direction of the waterproof connector 1 and is orthogonal to the axial direction in which the first and second connector housings are arranged, is defined as the up-down direction in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a waterproof connector 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the waterproof connector 1 according to this embodiment as viewed from the first connector housing 2 side. 3A and 3B are sectional views showing the second connector housing in the waterproof connector 1 of FIG. 4A and 4B are sectional views showing the waterproof connector 1 of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged main part M of the waterproof connector 1 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the waterproof connector 1 of FIG. 2 in the CC view.

As shown in FIG. 1, a waterproof connector 1 according to the present embodiment includes a male connector 2 as a first connector housing having a fitting tubular portion 21 communicating with a main body portion 20, and an outer circumference of the fitting tubular portion 21. A female connector 3 as a second connector housing having a receiving cylindrical portion 31 to be fitted, and a fitting cylinder fitted to the receiving cylindrical portion 31 in a state where the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are fitted. A cylindrical packing 4 tightly held between the inner periphery of the portion 21 and the housing cylindrical portion 31 is provided. The male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are injection-molded products of synthetic resin having excellent insulating properties. Also, the packing 4 is a molded product made of synthetic rubber or the like which is easily deformed elastically.

The male connector 2 is provided on the outer periphery of the fitting tubular portion 21, and engages with the accommodating tubular portion 31 of the female connector 3 (that is, engages with a second locking portion 34, which will be described later). It has a portion 22 . Further, the male connector 2 is provided with a guide convex portion 23 formed on the outer periphery of the fitting cylinder portion 21 so as to protrude along the central axis direction. A plurality of guide protrusions 23 may be provided on the outer periphery of the fitting tube portion 21 . Further, the body portion 20 of the male connector 2 is provided with a terminal accommodating portion 24 for accommodating an electric wire with a terminal (not shown) on the side opposite to the fitting cylinder portion 21 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the female connector 3 has a main body portion 32 provided with a groove portion 32a that communicates with a housing cylinder portion 31 and houses a portion of the packing 4, and a main body portion 32 that swings. and an arm portion 35 which can be provided. The arm portion 35 includes a second lock portion 34 that engages with the first lock portion 22 and an operation portion 33 that operates the second lock portion 34 . The operation portion 33 is located at the end of the arm portion 35 opposite to the housing cylinder portion 31 and is connected via the arm portion 35 to the second lock portion 34 disposed on the housing cylinder portion 31 side. there is

Specifically, the arm portion 35 connects the lock arm portion 351 that connects the main body portion 32 and the second lock portion 34 , the second lock portion 34 and the operation portion 33 , and allows the second lock portion 34 to swing. and an operation arm portion 352 for operating the lock arm portion 351 and the operation arm portion 352 are formed integrally to form a so-called Z structure.

Further, the female connector 3 is formed with a guide groove 31a that engages with the guide protrusion 23 provided on the outer periphery of the male connector 2 along the central axis direction. The guide groove portion 31a engages with the guide projection portion 23 to facilitate the positioning of the male connector 2 with respect to the female connector 3 and prevent the male connector 2 from slipping with respect to the female connector 3. ing.

Further, the body portion 32 of the female connector 3 is provided with a terminal accommodating portion 36 for accommodating an electric wire with a terminal (not shown) in the accommodating cylinder portion 31 . A female terminal 37 connected to an end of an electric wire through which a rubber plug (not shown) is inserted is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 36 of the female connector 3 and engaged with a lance 38 to be held.

The groove 32a of the main body 32 of the female connector 3 is provided with an engaging portion 32b for engaging and holding the packing 4 by engaging with the engaging projections 44 of the pair of projecting portions 43, 43 of the packing 4. .

The packing 4 includes a body seal portion 41 provided on one end side and fitted to the inner circumference of the fitting cylinder portion 21, a flange portion 42 provided on the other end side and fitted to the housing cylinder portion 31, have The flange portion 42 has a pair of belt-like projections 43, 43 extending outward from the other end of the packing 4 along the central axis direction. Each of the pair of projecting portions 43, 43 has an L-shape with a locking projection 44 projecting outward in a direction orthogonal to the central axis direction. The pair of protruding portions 43 , 43 are positioned below the arm portion 35 of the main body portion 32 of the female connector 3 in the state where the packing 4 is assembled to the housing cylinder portion 31 of the female connector 3 . When the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are engaged with each other, the packing 4 has a body seal portion 41 sandwiched between the male connector 2 and the packing 4 so that the male connector 2 and the packing 4 are tightened. fee is set.

In the mated state of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 , the lock arm portion 351 contributes to maintaining the mated state of the second lock portion 34 and the first lock portion 22 . and the first lock portion 22 are provided with a fixed engagement margin. By engaging the first locking portion 22 and the second locking portion 34, the mated state of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 is maintained. At this time, the packing 4 is assembled to the housing cylinder portion 31 of the female connector 3 , and the projecting portion 43 of the packing 4 is positioned below the arm portion 35 of the body portion 32 of the female connector 3 . A portion of the packing 4, that is, the locking portion 32b in the groove 32a that accommodates the protruding portion 43, and the locking projection 44 of the packing 4 are positioned below the arm portion 35 on the operating portion 33 side.

When the operating portion 33 is pressed downward in the direction of arrow F, the arm portion 35 moves the operating arm portion 352 of the arm portion 35 downward. Then, a portion of the lower portion of the operating arm portion 352 is brought into contact with the protruding portion 43 of the packing 4 positioned below the operating arm portion 352, and further pressed, whereby the operating arm portion 352, which is the pressed portion, is pressed. A part of the lower part of is made to function as a pressing fulcrum part 353 . In this manner, when the operation portion 33 is pressed downward, the operation arm portion 352 swings about the pressing fulcrum portion 353 and moves the second lock portion 34 upward, thereby moving the second lock portion 352 upward. The engagement state between 34 and the first lock portion 22 is released.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are in a mated state, when the operating portion 33 is pressed downward in the direction of arrow F, the arm portion 35 engages the second lock. The portion 34 is swung in the direction of releasing the engagement between the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 . That is, when the operating portion 33 is pressed downward during the disconnecting operation of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3, the pressing fulcrum portion 353, which is a part of the lower portion of the operating arm portion 352, moves downward. The pressing fulcrum portion 353 functions as a fulcrum by pressing the pair of protruding portions 43, 43 and the locking projection 44 of the packing 4, and swings the arm portion 35 upward. That is, when the operating portion 33 is pressed downward, the pressing fulcrum portion 353 contacts the pair of projecting portions 43 , 43 of the packing 4 . In this state, the pressing fulcrum portion 353 presses the pair of projecting portions 43, 43, so that the operation arm portion 352 is elastically deformed with the pressing fulcrum portion 353 serving as a fulcrum, thereby lifting the second locking portion 34 upward. . By disengaging the first locking portion 22 and the second locking portion 34 in this way, the mating state of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 is released, and the male connector 2 and the female connector are separated. 3 can be separated. Note that the fulcrum at the start of the pressing operation by the operating portion 33 (that is, the position of the operating arm portion 352 before the operating arm portion 352 and the protruding portion 43 abut against each other), the operating arm portion 352 and the protruding portion 43 (ie, the position of the operating arm portion 352 after the operating arm portion 352 and the protruding portion 43 come into contact with each other) is different.

During the detachment operation of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3, as shown in FIGS. The indicated position is pressed by the pressing fulcrum portion 353 of the operating arm portion 352 . As a result, the packing 4 is sandwiched between the pressing fulcrum portion 353 and the main body portion 32 of the female connector 3, and the holding force of the packing 4 with respect to the main body portion 32 of the female connector 3 is ensured. Therefore, when the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are separated from each other, even if a force G1 is applied to the packing 4 to pull it out of the female connector 3, the packing 4 will not come off from the female connector 3. can be prevented.

As described above, according to the waterproof connector 1 according to the present embodiment, when the packing 4 is assembled to the housing cylindrical portion 31 of the female connector 3, the pair of protruding portions 43, 43 are attached to the female connector. 3. When the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are separated from each other, the pair of protruding portions 43, 43 of the packing 4 is positioned below the arm portion 35 of the main body portion 32 of 3, and the pressing fulcrum portion 353 of the operating arm portion 352 pressed by As a result, the packing 4 is sandwiched between the pressing fulcrum portion 353 and the main body portion 32 of the female connector 3, and the holding force of the packing 4 with respect to the main body portion 32 of the female connector 3 is ensured. Even if a force G1 is applied to the packing 4 to pull it out of the female connector 3, the packing 4 can be prevented from slipping out of the female connector 3 and falling off, and maintenance workability can be improved.

The pair of protruding portions 43, 43 of the packing 4 has an L-shape with locking protrusions 44 protruding outward in a direction perpendicular to the central axis direction. The groove portion 32a is provided with a locking portion 32b that locks with the locking projection 44 and locks and holds the packing 4. As shown in FIG. Therefore, by locking the locking projection 44 of the packing 4 with the locking portion 32b of the body portion 32 of the female connector 3, the force applied to the packing 4 is applied to the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 when the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are separated. It can resist the force G1 that tries to pull it out of the female connector 3.

In addition, although the best configuration for carrying out the present invention has been disclosed in the above description, the present invention is not limited to this. Thus, although the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described primarily with respect to particular embodiments, it is possible to make modifications to such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. , shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations can be modified in various ways by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the descriptions that limit the shape, material, etc. disclosed above are exemplified to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention. The description by the name of the member that removes all or part of the limitation such as is included in the present invention.

For example, in the waterproof connector 1 according to the above embodiment, the first connector housing is the male connector 2 and the second connector housing is the female connector 3, but the present invention is limited to this. Alternatively, the first connector housing may be a female connector and the second connector housing may be a male connector.

1 waterproof connector 2 male connector (first connector housing)
20 Body Part 21 Fitting Cylinder Part 22 First Locking Part 23 Guide Protruding Part 24 Terminal Receiving Part 3 Female Connector (Second Connector Housing)
31 housing tube portion 31a guide groove portion 32 body portion 32a groove portion 32b lock portion 33 operation portion 34 second lock portion 35 arm portion 351 lock arm portion 352 operation arm portion 353 pressing fulcrum portion 4 packing 41 body seal portion 42 flange portion 43 protrusion Part 44 locking projection

Claims (2)

a first connector housing having a fitting tubular portion;
a second connector housing having an accommodating tube portion fitted to the outer circumference of the fitting tube portion;
It is fitted to the housing cylinder, and is tightly held between the inner periphery of the fitting cylinder and the housing cylinder when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are fitted together. A waterproof connector comprising a tubular packing,
The first connector housing is
Having a first lock portion provided on the outer periphery of the fitting cylinder portion and engaged with the housing cylinder portion,
The second connector housing is
a main body provided with a groove that communicates with the housing cylinder and houses a part of the packing;
and an arm portion that is swingably provided on the main body portion,
The arm portion
a second locking portion that engages with the first locking portion;
an operation unit for operating the second lock unit,
connecting the second locking portion arranged on the side of the tubular containing portion and the operating portion arranged on the side opposite to the tubular containing portion;
The packing is
a body seal portion fitted to the inner circumference of the fitting cylinder portion;
a band-shaped projecting portion extending outward along the central axis direction from the end opposite to the main body seal portion;
In a state where the first connector housing and the second connector housing are mated, the packing has the projection of the second connector housing inserted into the groove of the main body of the second connector housing. The projecting portion of the packing inserted into the groove portion is positioned below the arm portion of the main body portion of the second connector housing and is assembled to the housing cylinder portion,
During the disengagement operation of swinging the arm portion to release the engagement between the first connector housing and the second connector housing, a part of the lower portion of the arm portion presses the projecting portion of the packing, A waterproof connector in which the arm swings about the fulcrum. The pair of protrusions are
L-shaped with locking projections projecting outward in a direction perpendicular to the central axis direction,
2. The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein said groove portion of said body portion is provided with an engaging portion for engaging said engaging protrusion and engaging and holding said packing.

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