JP2024041120A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a connector capable of suppressing rattle between components when the connector vibrates. [Solution] A connector (1) includes a terminal (4) connected to an end of an electric wire (W), a housing (2) having a terminal receiving chamber (24) that receives and holds the terminal (4) along an axial direction (X), and a spacer (3) that is assembled to the housing (2) in a state in which the terminal (4) is received in the terminal receiving chamber (24). The terminal (4) has a box portion (41) that is connected to a tab (100) of a mating terminal. The box portion (41) is formed by protruding from an end portion on the opposite side of the axial direction (X) from the tab (100) of the mating terminal and folding back in a direction intersecting the axial direction (X), and has a flexible piece (419) that is elastically deformable in the axial direction (X). In the above-mentioned received state, the spacer (3) abuts against the flexible piece (419) to restrict movement of the terminal (4) in the axial direction (X) relative to the housing (2). [Selected Figure] Fig. 2

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

As a conventional connector applied to a vehicle wire harness or the like, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connector having a plurality of terminals, each of which is inserted into a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers provided in a housing. has been done. This connector consists of a lance that is elastically deformable on the wall of the terminal housing chamber, and a spacer that is moved in a direction (attachment direction) that intersects the direction in which the terminal is inserted into the housing and is attached to the housing to prevent the terminal from coming off. It has

JP2016-76430A

By the way, in conventional connectors, when the terminals and spacers are assembled to the housing, gaps are created in the axial direction between the housing and the terminals and between the housing and the spacer, so when the connector vibrates, the members may rattle. There is a risk that abnormal noises may occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can suppress rattling between members when the connector vibrates.

In order to achieve the above object, a connector according to the present invention includes a housing having a terminal connected to an end of an electric wire, a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating and holding the terminal along the axial direction, and a spacer that is assembled to the housing in the accommodated state accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber, and the housing has a housing lance that protrudes toward the terminal accommodating chamber and locks the terminal in the accommodated state. The terminal has an electrical connection portion that is connected to a counterpart terminal, and the electrical connection portion protrudes from an end opposite to the counterpart terminal in the axial direction and extends in a direction intersecting the axial direction. The spacer has a flexible piece that is folded back and is elastically deformable in the axial direction, and in the housed state, the spacer contacts the flexible piece to restrict movement of the terminal with respect to the housing in the axial direction. , is characterized by.

According to the connector according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress rattling between members when the connector vibrates.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the connector. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the terminal viewed from the front side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal viewed from the rear side. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the flexible piece in the terminal. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the contact surface of the spacer. FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing how the spacer is attached to the housing. FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing a contact state between the flexible piece and the contact surface.

Embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. That is, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by those skilled in the art or are substantially the same, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes may be made without departing from the gist of the invention. I can do it.

[Embodiment]
The connector 1 according to this embodiment includes a housing 2, a terminal 4 to which an electric wire W is connected, and a spacer (side spacer) 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The connector 1 is, for example, a female connector in which a female terminal 4 is accommodated.

In the following description, the illustrated X direction is, for convenience, the axial direction of the connector 1 in this embodiment. For convenience, the illustrated Y direction is the width direction of the connector 1 in this embodiment, and is a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. For convenience, the illustrated Z direction is the height direction of the connector 1 in this embodiment, and is a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the width direction. In particular, among the X directions, the X1 direction is the first axis direction, and the X2 direction is the second axis direction. Also, among the Z directions, the Z1 direction is the mounting direction, and the Z2 direction is the removal direction. In addition, in the following description, unless otherwise specified, the directions will be described in a state where the connector 1 is connected to a mating connector (not shown) in an appropriate positional relationship. In addition, each of the above directions is "axial direction X", "first axial direction X1", "second axial direction X2", "width direction Y", "height direction Z", "installation direction Z1", "Removal direction Z2".

The housing 2 is injection molded from an insulating synthetic resin using a mold, and has a housing body 21 . The housing main body 21 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a rectangular cross section in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction X. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing main body 21 has an insertion space 26 in the middle in the axial direction X, into which the spacer 3 is mounted. The insertion space 26 opens toward the removal direction Z2 side of the housing body 21, is formed to penetrate in the width direction Y, and communicates with the outside.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 2 has a plurality of tab insertion holes 231 on the first axial direction X1 side of the housing body 21. The plurality of tab insertion holes 231 have the same shape. The tab insertion hole 231 penetrates in the second axial direction X2 from the front surface 212 of the front wall 23 located in the first axial direction X1, into which the tab 100 of the mating terminal (see FIG. 7) is inserted.

The housing main body 21 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 24 have the same shape. The terminal accommodating chamber 24 has a rectangular cross section in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction X, and is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The terminal accommodating chamber 24 accommodates and holds the terminal 4 along the axial direction X. The terminal accommodating chamber 24 is formed from a front wall 23 , an upper wall 243 , two opposing walls 242 , and a bottom wall 241 . The top wall 243 and the bottom wall 241 face each other in the height direction Z (see FIG. 1). The two opposing walls 242 face each other in the width direction Y. The bottom wall 241 has an elastically deformable lance (housing lance) 25. The lance 25 protrudes toward the terminal accommodating chamber 24 and locks the terminal 4 in the accommodated state in which the terminal 4 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 24 . The tab insertion hole 231 and the terminal accommodating chamber 24 are continuous spaces in the axial direction X. The terminal accommodating chamber 24 has an opening 244 in the rear surface 213 on the second axis direction X2 side. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in the height direction Z, the top wall 243 that partitions the terminal storage chamber 24 on the removal direction Z2 side is the same as the bottom wall 243 that partitions the terminal storage chamber 24 on the mounting direction Z1 side. It also serves as wall 241. A bending space 27 is provided on the removal direction Z2 side of the lance 25 so as to be adjacent to the lance 25. The bending space 27 is formed as a space extending from the lance 25 toward the first axis direction X1, penetrating the front wall 23 and reaching the front surface 212.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the terminal 4 is formed by punching or bending a conductive metal plate made of a metal material such as copper or copper alloy, and has a box portion 41 and a connecting portion 42. have. The box portion 41 and the connecting portion 42 are connected in the axial direction X and are integral. The terminal 4 is, for example, a female terminal that connects to the tab 100 of the mating terminal.

The box portion 41 has a rectangular cross section in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction X, and is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The box portion 41 constitutes an electrical connection portion that is connected to the tab 100 of the mating terminal. The box portion 41 includes a ceiling plate 414, a top plate 413, two opposing plates 412, and a bottom plate 411. The top plate 413 and the bottom plate 411 face each other in the height direction Z. The two facing plates 412 face each other in the width direction Y. The ceiling plate 414 is stacked on the removal direction Z2 side of the top plate 413 and faces the bottom plate 411. In the width direction Y, the ceiling plate 414 is connected to one of the two opposing plates 412, which is the other side in the width direction Y, on the removal direction Z2 side. In the width direction Y, the upper plate 413 is connected to the other opposing plate 412 on one side of the two opposing plates 412 in the width direction Y on the removal direction Z2 side. The bottom plate 411 is connected to the two opposing plates on the mounting direction Z1 side. As shown in FIG. 7, inside the box portion 41, an elastically deformable contact spring 411a is arranged which is folded back on the first axial direction X1 side of the bottom plate 411 and extends in the second axial direction X2.

The ceiling plate 414 has a front ceiling plate 415 located on the first axis direction It has a rear ceiling plate 416 located on the two-axis direction X2 side.

The front ceiling plate 415 is connected in the width direction Y to one of the two opposing plates 412 that is on the other side in the width direction Y. The rear ceiling plate 416 has a portion that protrudes in the width direction Y from the other of the two opposing plates 412, which is one side in the width direction U, toward the bottom plate 411 side. The other opposing plate 412 has a stabilizer 412z on the second axis direction X2 side that projects in the removal direction Z2 side.

The box portion 41 is formed by protruding from the end opposite to the tab 100 of the mating terminal in the axial direction X in the second axial direction X2 side and folded back in a direction intersecting the axial direction It has a bending piece 419 that can be elastically deformed in the direction X. The bending piece 419 can be formed by press working. The bending piece 419 is formed in a C-shape or a U-shape when the box portion 41 is viewed from the width direction Y. The flexible piece 419 has a base 419a on the first axis direction X1 side connected to the rear ceiling plate 416. The bending piece 419 has an end 419c on the mounting direction Z1 side connected to the base 419a via a curved part 419b, and has a cantilever shape that can be elastically deformed in the first axis direction X1. The bending piece 419 does not protrude further in the removal direction Z2 than the rear ceiling plate 416 in the height direction Z.

In the axial direction X, the connecting portion 42 has a core crimping piece 42a located on the first axial direction X1 side and a covering crimping piece 42b located on the second axial direction X2 side. The connecting portion 42 has a U-shaped cross section in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction X. When the electric wire W is connected to the connecting portion 42, the core wire is crimped by the core wire crimping piece 42a, and the covering is crimped by the covering crimping piece 42b (see FIG. 2). The core wire is formed from a metal material such as copper or copper alloy, aluminum or aluminum alloy.

The spacer 3 is inserted into the insertion space 26 of the housing body 21 when the terminal 4 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 24 and locks the terminal 4 in the terminal accommodating chamber 24 . The spacer 3 is inserted into the insertion space 26 from the removal direction Z2 side of the housing body 21 toward the attachment direction Z1. The spacer 3 is injection molded from an insulating synthetic resin using a metal mold, and includes a spacer body 31 and a pair of outer walls 32 .

The spacer main body 31 has a plurality of insertion holes 311 that communicate with the terminal accommodating chamber 24 in the axial direction X when the spacer 3 is inserted into the insertion space 26 (see FIGS. 1 and 6). The insertion hole 311 penetrates from the front surface 315 located on the first axial direction X1 side to the rear surface 316 located on the second axial direction X2 side. When the spacer 3 is inserted into the insertion space 26 , the terminal 4 inserted in the removal direction Z2 from among the plurality of terminals 4 inserted into the housing body 21 is inserted into the insertion hole 311 .

The spacer main body 31 has an upper wall 312, a plurality of side walls 313, and a lower wall 314. The upper wall 312 and the lower wall 314 face each other in the height direction Z. The plurality of side walls 313 face each other in the width direction Y. In the width direction Y, the upper wall 312 is connected to a plurality of side walls 313 on the removal direction Z2 side. The lower wall 314 is connected to the plurality of side walls 313 on the mounting direction Z1 side. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper wall 312 has an abutment surface 317 at the end of the upper wall surface 312a on the first axis direction X1 side.

The abutting surface 317 abuts against the flexible piece 419 of the terminal 4 in the axial direction X when the terminal 4 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 24 . The abutment surface 317 is a flat surface, but is inclined toward the mounting direction Z1 of the spacer 3 on the opposite side from the mating terminal in the axial direction X. The contact surface 317 is formed between the front surface 315 and the upper wall surface 312a, and continues from the front surface 315 toward the upper wall surface 312a along the second axis direction X2. A plurality of contact surfaces 317 are provided in the spacer body 31 in correspondence with the plurality of insertion holes 311 provided in the spacer body 31 . Each contact surface 317 is positioned toward one side in the width direction Y when viewed from the first axis direction is placed in the correct position.

Here, assembly of the connector 1 will be explained. Before the terminal 4 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 24, the spacer 3 is inserted into the insertion space 26 of the housing body 21 and temporarily locked by a temporary locking means (not shown). Next, insertion of the terminal 4 is started by inserting the terminal 4 toward the first axis direction X1 from the opening 244 of the terminal accommodating chamber 24 (see FIG. 2). During the insertion process of the terminal 4, the protrusion 417 of the terminal 4 slides on the lance 25 and elastically deforms the lance 25 toward the deflection space 27 on the removal direction Z2 side. When the terminal 4 is housed in a predetermined position in the terminal housing chamber 24, the protrusion 417 and the lance 25 stop sliding, and the lance 25 returns to its original state with restoring force. When the lance 25 returns to its original state, the lance 25 engages with the terminal 4. Finally, the spacer 3 is moved from the temporary locking position in the mounting direction Z1, and is permanently locked by a permanent locking means (not shown) (see FIG. 2). The terminal 4 is engaged at two points by the lance 25 and the spacer 3.

Next, the state of the flexible piece 419 of the terminal 4 and the contact surface 317 of the spacer 3 will be explained. In the temporary locking position of the spacer 3, the contact surface 317 does not contact the flexible piece 419 of the terminal 4 (see FIG. 7). When the spacer 3 moves from the temporary locking position P to the final locking position Q shown in FIG. , the bending piece 419 is bent in the first axial direction X1 (see FIG. 8). Thereby, the terminal 4 is pressed in the first axial direction X1 side. At the same time, the spacer 3 is pressed toward the second axis direction X2 by the reaction force of the elastic deformation of the flexible piece 419 against the contact surface 317. As a result, in the connector 1, when the terminal 4 and the spacer 3 are assembled to the housing 2, a gap S1 between the housing 2 and the terminal 4, a gap S2 between the housing 2 and the spacer 3, a gap S3 between the spacer 3 and the terminal 4, This eliminates the possibility of rattling between the members when the connector vibrates.

As described above, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the terminal 4 is formed by protruding from the end on the second axial direction X2 side and folded back in a direction intersecting the axial direction X, and is elastically deformable in the axial direction X. The spacer 3 has a flexible piece 419, and in the housed state, the spacer 3 comes into contact with the flexible piece 419 to restrict movement of the terminal 4 in the axial direction X with respect to the housing 2.

With the above configuration, in the connector 1, the spacer 3 is pressed in the second axial direction X2 side by the reaction force of the elastic deformation of the flexible piece 419 against the contact surface 317, so that the gap S1 between the housing 2 and the terminal 4, The gap S2 between the housing 2 and the spacer 3 and the gap S3 between the spacer 3 and the terminal 4 are eliminated, and rattling between the members when the connector vibrates can be suppressed. In addition, in the connector 1, the spacer 3 is pressed in the second axis direction X2 side by the reaction force of the elastic deformation of the flexible piece 419 against the contact surface 317, thereby suppressing rattling between the members when the connector vibrates. This makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of abnormal noise and at the same time improve the contact stability between the terminal 4 and the other terminal.

Further, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the contact surface 317 of the spacer 3 is inclined toward the second axis direction X2 toward the mounting direction Z1 of the spacer 3. As a result, when the spacer 3 moves from the temporary locking position P to the final locking position Q, the contact surface 317 abuts the flexible piece 419 and guides the flexible piece 419 in the removal direction Z2 side. becomes possible.

In the embodiment described above, the female connector 1 accommodates the female terminals 4, but it may also be a male connector that accommodates the male terminals. In this case, the male terminal will have a box section between the tab and the connection section.

1 Connector 2 Housing 3 Spacer 31 Spacer body 317 Contact surface 4 Terminal 41 Box part (electrical connection part)
419 Flexible piece 21 Housing body 24 Terminal accommodation chamber 25 Lance 26 Insertion space W Electric wire

Claims (2)

A terminal connected to the end of the wire,
a housing having a terminal accommodating chamber that accommodates and holds the terminal along the axial direction;
a spacer that is assembled to the housing in a housing state in which the terminal is housed in the terminal housing chamber;
The housing includes:
a housing lance that protrudes toward the terminal housing chamber and locks the terminal in the housed state;
The terminal is
It has an electrical connection part that is connected to a mating terminal,
The electrical connection is
a flexible piece that protrudes from an end opposite to the other terminal in the axial direction, is folded back in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and is elastically deformable in the axial direction;
The spacer is
in the accommodated state, abuts against the flexible piece to restrict movement of the terminal in the axial direction with respect to the housing;
A connector characterized by: The spacer is
having a contact surface that contacts the flexible piece in the axial direction in the accommodated state;
The contact surface is
tilting toward a mounting direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the spacer and opposite to the mating terminal in the axial direction;
The connector according to claim 1.

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