JP2023101986A - Waterproof plug and connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a waterproof plug and connector that make it possible to hold sealing properties.SOLUTION: In a waterproof plug 1 that includes a body 3 formed in a cylindrical shape and a seal part 5 that protrudes to the outside from the outer surface of the body 3 and is formed continuously in the circumferential direction, a plurality of protruding parts 7 that protrudes from the outer surface of the body 3 and are arranged spaced apart in the circumferential direction on an end part 11 side of the length direction of the body 3 than the seal part 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to waterproof plugs and connectors.

Conventionally, waterproof plugs are known that include a main body formed in a cylindrical shape and a cavity lip as a sealing part that protrudes outward from the outer periphery of the main body and is continuously formed in the circumferential direction (see Patent Document 1). In this waterproof plug, a cavity rib that protrudes from the outer surface of the main body and is continuously formed in the circumferential direction is provided on the lengthwise end side of the main body from the cavity lip. Such waterproof plugs are applied to connectors.

The connector includes a housing in which a terminal accommodating chamber having an opening is formed, a terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber, an electric wire electrically connected to the terminal and drawn out from the opening of the terminal accommodating chamber, and a waterproof plug. In such a connector, the waterproof plug has a main body portion in which the electric wire is inserted in close contact, and the cavity lip and the cavity rib are accommodated in the terminal accommodation chamber in close contact.

The protruding end of the cavity rib of the waterproof plug is located inside the protruding end of the cavity lip. In such a waterproof plug, when the waterproof plug is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber, the cavity rib is not pressed more strongly against the terminal accommodating chamber than the cavity lip. As a result, the resistance when the waterproof plug is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber can be reduced, the elongation of the waterproof plug can be prevented, and the deterioration of the sealing performance can be prevented.

JP 2010-55933 A

By the way, in the waterproof plug as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the portion located on the end side in the length direction of the body portion from the seal portion is formed continuously in the circumferential direction. In such a waterproof plug, for example, when the electric wire is bent, the longitudinal end side of the main body bends following the electric wire. At this time, the seal portion located on the bending direction side of the electric wire is deformed so as to bulge outward due to the bending of the end portion side in the length direction of the main body, and the adhesion with the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber is enhanced.

However, the sealing portion located on the opposite side of the bending direction of the electric wire is elongated and deformed due to the bending of the end portion side in the length direction of the main body portion, and the adhesion to the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber is reduced. Therefore, there is a possibility that a gap is formed between the sealing portion and the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber, and the sealing performance may be deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof plug and a connector that can maintain sealing performance.

The waterproof plug according to the present embodiment includes a main body portion formed in a cylindrical shape, and a seal portion that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the main body portion and is continuously formed in the circumferential direction.

The connector according to the present embodiment includes a housing having a terminal receiving chamber having an opening formed therein, a terminal received in the terminal receiving chamber, an electric wire electrically connected to the terminal and drawn out from the opening of the terminal receiving chamber, and the waterproof plug having the electric wire inserted through the inside of the main body and the seal portion being closely attached to the terminal receiving chamber, and the protrusion of the waterproof plug is arranged on the opening side of the terminal receiving chamber.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the waterproof plug and connector which can maintain a sealing property can be provided.

It is a perspective view of the waterproof plug which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view when the waterproof plug which concerns on this embodiment is assembled|attached to a terminal and an electric wire. It is a perspective view when a part of housing of the connector which concerns on this embodiment is made into a cross section. It is a side view when making a cross section a part of housing of the connector which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a front view of a connector according to this embodiment; FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. 5;

The waterproof plug and connector according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation, and may differ from the actual ratios.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, a connector 101 according to this embodiment can be mated with a mating connector (not shown). By fitting the connector 101 with a mating connector, the terminals 105 housed in the housing 103 are electrically connected to mating terminals (not shown) housed in the mating connector. The connector 101 includes a housing 103 , terminals 105 , electric wires 107 and a waterproof plug 1 .

As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the housing 103 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 103 is formed in the shape of a housing that can be fitted with a mating connector. A terminal accommodating chamber 109 capable of accommodating the terminal 105 is provided inside the housing 103 .

The terminal accommodating chamber 109 extends along the fitting direction of the connector 101 and the mating connector. An opening 111 through which the terminal 105 can be inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 109 is formed at one end in the length direction of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 . A locking lance 113 is provided inside the terminal accommodating chamber 109 so as to be elastically deformable. The locking lance 113 engages with the terminal 105 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 109 through the opening 111 to prevent the terminal 105 from coming out of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 .

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, terminals 105 are made of a conductive material. The terminal 105 is, for example, a female terminal having a box-shaped connection portion 115 extending along the fitting direction of the connector 101 and the mating connector. A wire connecting portion 117 is provided on the terminal 105 on the side opposite to the connecting portion 115 . The wire connecting portion 117 has a core wire crimping portion 119 consisting of a pair of crimping pieces and a covering crimping portion 121 consisting of a pair of crimping pieces. A wire connecting portion 117 of the terminal 105 is electrically connected to an end portion of the wire 107 drawn out of the housing 103 through the opening 111 of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the electric wire 107 is electrically connected to, for example, a power source, equipment, and the like. The electric wire 107 is composed of, for example, a covered electric wire in which the outer periphery of a plurality of core wires is covered with an insulating coating. The end portion of the electric wire 107 is subjected to a terminal treatment in which the insulating coating is stripped by a predetermined length and a plurality of core wires are exposed. A plurality of core wires exposed from the insulation coating of the wire 107 are crimped to the core wire crimping portion 119 of the wire connection portion 117 to electrically connect the wire 107 and the terminal 105 . The insulation coating of the electric wire 107 is crimped to the crimping portion 121 of the electric wire connection portion 117 to fix the terminal 105 to the terminal portion of the electric wire 107 . A waterproof plug 1 is arranged in close contact with the outer circumference of the electric wire 107 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the waterproof plug 1 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The waterproof plug 1 includes a body portion 3, a seal portion 5, and a plurality of protrusions 7. - 特許庁

The body portion 3 is formed in a circular tubular shape. The inner diameter of the main body portion 3 is formed constant throughout the lengthwise direction, and is set to be equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire 107 . A mounting portion 9 having a smaller outer diameter than the other portions is provided on one side in the length direction of the main body portion 3 . The outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 107 is tightly inserted into the inside of the body portion 3 , and the waterproof plug 1 is attached to the electric wire 107 . The waterproof plug 1 attached to the electric wire 107 is fixed to the terminal 105 together with the electric wire 107 by crimping the outer circumference of the attaching portion 9 to the covering crimping portion 121 of the electric wire connecting portion 117 .

The seal portion 5 protrudes outward from the outer surface of the body portion 3 at the central portion in the length direction of the body portion 3 and is continuously formed in the circumferential direction. The seal portions 5 are arranged in a plurality of rows (here, two rows) along the length direction of the main body portion 3 . The outer diameter of the seal portion 5 is set larger than the inner diameter of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 . When the terminal 105 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 109 through the opening 111 , the seal portion 5 is in close contact with the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 . The inside of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 is sealed by the close contact between the seal portion 5 and the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 .

Here, the electric wire 107 pulled out of the housing 103 from the opening 111 of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 may be bent to correspond to the wiring route, for example. In the waterproof plug 1, the portion arranged on the side of the opening 111 of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 is the main body portion 3 formed in a cylindrical shape by one member continuous in the circumferential direction. In the conventional waterproof plug, a lip portion that is in close contact with the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 on the side of the opening 111 is formed continuously in the circumferential direction of the body portion 3 .

In a waterproof plug in which nothing is provided on the outer surface of the main body part 3 or in a conventional waterproof plug, when the electric wire 107 is bent at a portion located in the opening 111 of the terminal housing chamber 109, the main body part 3 is also deformed following the bending of the electric wire 107. In the deformation of the body portion 3 , the side opposite to the bending direction of the electric wire 107 is deformed so as to extend in the length direction of the body portion 3 . At this time, the sealing portion 5 is deformed so that the side opposite to the bending direction of the electric wire 107 is separated from the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 by following the deformation of the main body portion 3 . For this reason, there is a possibility that a gap is formed between the side of the seal portion 5 opposite to the bending direction of the electric wire 107 and the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 109, and the sealing performance is deteriorated. Therefore, in the waterproof plug 1 , a plurality of protrusions 7 are provided closer to the end 11 in the length direction of the main body 3 than the seal 5 .

The plurality of protrusions 7 are provided between the longitudinal ends 11 of the main body 3 and the seal portion 5 in the length direction of the main body 3 . The plurality of protrusions 7 protrude outward from the outer surface of the main body 3 and extend along the length direction of the main body 3 . The plurality of protrusions 7 are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the body portion 3 . The plurality of protrusions 7 are set at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the body portion 3 . The protrusion height of the protrusion 7 is set lower than the protrusion height of the seal portion 5 . In other words, the protruding end of the protrusion 7 is arranged at a position lower than the protruding end of the seal portion 5 .

When the terminals 105 are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 109 through the openings 111, the plurality of projections 7 are in close contact with the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chambers 109 on the opening 111 side. At this time, since the protrusion height of the protrusion 7 is set lower than the protrusion height of the seal part 5, the biasing force applied to the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 by the protrusion 7 is weaker than the biasing force of the seal part 5, and the insertion force of the waterproof plug 1 can be reduced. Therefore, deformation of the waterproof plug 1 extending in the longitudinal direction due to insertion of the waterproof plug 1 into the terminal accommodating chamber 109 can be suppressed. In addition, the assembling property of the waterproof plug 1 to the terminal accommodating chamber 109 can be improved. Due to the close contact between the plurality of protrusions 7 and the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 109, the plurality of protrusions 7 are elastically deformed so as to expand in the circumferential direction, the outer surface of the main body 3 and the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 approach each other, and the inside of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 is sealed.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, when the wire 107 is bent, the plurality of protrusions 7 are elastically deformed such that the protrusions 7 positioned in the bending direction of the wire 107 are crushed by the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 109. At this time, the protrusion 7 located on the side opposite to the bending direction of the electric wire 107 restores from the state of urging the inner surface of the terminal receiving chamber 109 by the elastic deformation of the protrusion 7 located in the bending direction of the electric wire 107 . Due to the restoration of the protrusion 7 , the end portion 11 side of the body portion 3 located on the side opposite to the bending direction of the electric wire 107 is not deformed so as to extend in the length direction of the body portion 3 . For this reason, the seal portion 5 located on the opposite side of the bending direction of the electric wire 107 is also not deformed so as to extend in the length direction of the main body portion 3 . Therefore, even if the electric wire 107 is bent, a gap is not formed between the sealing portion 5 and the inner surface of the terminal receiving chamber 109, and the sealing performance can be maintained.

A plurality of such projections 7 extend along the length direction of the body portion 3 . Therefore, the protrusion 7 can receive the bending of the electric wire 107 in a wide range, and the influence of the bending of the electric wire 107 on the sealing portion 5 can be stably suppressed, and the sealing performance can be maintained. In addition, the plurality of protrusions 7 are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the body portion 3 . For this reason, the plurality of protrusions 7 can evenly correspond to all bending directions of the electric wire 107, and can maintain the sealing performance.

Here, the longitudinal end portion 11 of the body portion 3 is positioned outside the housing 103 including the position of the end face 123 where the opening 111 of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 of the housing 103 is formed. In this embodiment, the end portion 11 of the main body portion 3 is arranged so as to be slightly exposed to the outside of the housing 103 from the end surface 123 of the housing 103 . The outside of the housing 103, including the position of the end face 123 of the housing 103, refers to the area outside the housing 103 from the end face 123 of the housing 103, and the end 11 of the main body 3 may be arranged flush with the end face 123 of the housing 103.

By locating the end portion 11 of the main body portion 3 outside the housing 103 including the position of the end surface 123 of the housing 103, the opening 111 of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 does not form a space in which water or the like accumulates. Therefore, water or the like can be prevented from entering the terminal accommodating chamber 109 through the opening 111 due to the bending of the electric wire 107, and the sealing performance can be maintained.

Such a waterproof plug 1 includes a main body portion 3 formed in a cylindrical shape, and a seal portion 5 protruding outward from the outer surface of the main body portion 3 and continuously formed in the circumferential direction. A plurality of protrusions 7 protruding from the outer surface of the body portion 3 and spaced apart in the circumferential direction are provided on the end portion 11 side of the body portion 3 in the length direction from the seal portion 5 .

Since the plurality of protrusions 7 protrude from the outer surface of the body portion 3 , the protrusions 7 are brought into contact with the member with which the seal portion 5 contacts without the body portion 3 coming into contact with the member. Since the plurality of projections 7 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction, when the end portion 11 side of the main body portion 3 attempts to move radially outward at a portion of the circumferential direction, the projections 7 located at a portion of the circumferential direction are strongly abutted against the member. At this time, the protrusions 7 positioned at a part in the circumferential direction are elastically deformed so as to be crushed, and the protrusions 7 positioned at other parts in the circumferential direction are restored from the elastically deformed state of contact with the member. Due to the restoration of the projections 7, the main body 3 positioned at other circumferential portions is not deformed such that it extends in the length direction. Therefore, the seal portion 5 is not deformed such that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the body portion 3 , and a gap is not formed between the member with which the seal portion 5 abuts and the seal portion 5 .

Therefore, in such a waterproof plug 1, a gap is not formed between the member with which the seal portion 5 abuts and the seal portion 5, and the sealing performance can be maintained.

Moreover, the plurality of protrusions 7 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. For this reason, it is possible to evenly cope with deformation at all positions in the circumferential direction of the plurality of protrusions 7, and to maintain the sealing performance.

Furthermore, the protrusion 7 extends along the length direction of the body portion 3 . Therefore, the protrusion 7 can cope with the deformation force applied to the main body 3 in a wide range along the length direction of the main body 3 .

Moreover, the protrusion height of the protrusion 7 is set lower than the protrusion height of the seal portion 5 . Therefore, it is possible to reduce the insertion force with respect to the member into which the waterproof plug 1 is inserted, and to suppress the deformation of the waterproof plug 1 due to insertion. In addition, it is possible to improve the assemblability of the waterproof plug 1 to the member.

Furthermore, the connector 101 includes a housing 103 in which a terminal accommodating chamber 109 having an opening 111 is formed, and terminals 105 that are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 109 . The connector 101 also includes electric wires 107 electrically connected to the terminals 105 and drawn out from the openings 111 of the terminal accommodating chambers 109 . Further, the connector 101 includes a waterproof plug 1 in which an electric wire 107 is inserted in close contact with the interior of the body portion 3 and a seal portion 5 is closely accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber 109 . The projection 7 of the waterproof plug 1 is arranged on the opening 111 side of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 .

Since the plurality of protrusions 7 protrude from the outer surface of the body portion 3 , the protrusions 7 are brought into contact with the terminal accommodating chambers 109 without the body portion 3 coming into contact therewith. Since the plurality of protrusions 7 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction, when the wire 107 is bent and the end 11 side of the main body 3 tries to move in the bending direction of the wire 107, the protrusion 7 located in the bending direction of the wire 107 in the circumferential direction strongly abuts the terminal accommodating chamber 109. At this time, the projections 7 located in the bending direction of the electric wire 107 are elastically deformed so as to be crushed, and the projections 7 located in other circumferential portions are restored from the elastically deformed state of contact with the terminal accommodating chamber 109. Due to the restoration of the projections 7, the main body 3 positioned at other circumferential portions is not deformed such that it extends in the length direction. Therefore, the seal portion 5 is not deformed such that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the body portion 3 , and no gap is formed between the terminal accommodating chamber 109 and the seal portion 5 .

Therefore, in such a connector 101, a gap is not formed between the terminal accommodating chamber 109 and the sealing portion 5, and the sealing performance can be maintained.

In addition, the lengthwise end 11 of the waterproof plug 1 is positioned outside the housing 103 including the position of the end face 123 where the opening 111 of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 of the housing 103 is formed. Therefore, the opening 111 of the terminal accommodating chamber 109 does not have a space in which water or the like accumulates. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water or the like from entering the terminal accommodating chamber 109 through the opening 111 due to the bending of the electric wire 107, and the sealing performance can be maintained.

Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

For example, the waterproof plug according to the present embodiment is inserted into the terminal housing chamber of the connector, but the waterproof plug is not limited to this, and can be applied to any structure such as being inserted into a through hole formed in the wall of a housing-like member.

Moreover, although the plurality of projections extend in the length direction of the main body, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be projections or the like that protrude from the outer surface of the main body. Also, the plurality of protrusions may be arranged along the length direction of the main body.

Furthermore, although the main body is formed in a cylindrical shape, the main body is not limited to this, and may be formed in a rectangular tubular shape or the like.

1 waterproof plug 3 main body 5 sealing portion 7 projection 11 end 101 connector 103 housing 105 terminal 107 electric wire 109 terminal housing chamber 111 opening 123 end face

Claims (6)

a main body formed in a cylindrical shape;
a seal portion projecting outward from the outer surface of the main body portion and continuously formed in the circumferential direction;
with
A waterproof plug provided with a plurality of projections protruding from the outer surface of the main body portion and spaced apart in the circumferential direction from the sealing portion to the end portion side in the length direction of the main body portion. The waterproof plug according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. The waterproof plug according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protrusion extends along the length direction of the main body. The waterproof plug according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protrusion height of the protrusion is set lower than the protrusion height of the seal portion. a housing in which a terminal receiving chamber having an opening is formed;
a terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodation chamber;
an electric wire electrically connected to the terminal and pulled out from the opening of the terminal receiving chamber;
5. The waterproof plug according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electric wire is inserted through the inside of the body portion in close contact, and the seal portion is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber in close contact;
with
The connector, wherein the protrusion of the waterproof plug is arranged on the opening side of the terminal accommodating chamber. 6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the longitudinal ends of the waterproof plug are positioned outside the housing including the positions of the end faces of the housing where the openings of the terminal accommodating chambers are formed.

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