JP2024100330A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a connector that can accurately suppress rolling of an electric wire. [Solution] The connector 1 includes a main body 21 that holds a terminal portion 13b of an electric wire 10, a cover 22 that is attached to the main body 21 and disposed so as to sandwich the electric wire 10 between the main body 21 and the cover 22, and a bolt 4 that fastens the connector, the main body 21 having a flat first pressing surface 211b that contacts the peripheral surface of the electric wire 10, the cover 22 having a flat second pressing surface 221b that is formed on the opposite side of the first pressing surface 211b with respect to the electric wire 10 and that contacts the peripheral surface of the electric wire 10, and the bolt 4 is configured to press the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b against the electric wire 10 during fastening, thereby deforming the electric wire 10 into an elliptical shape. [Selected Figure] Fig. 5

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, a connector is known that is connected to a coated electric wire and holds the electric wire with a clamp body. The clamp body has multiple extensions arranged in the circumferential direction around the outer periphery of the electric wire, and holds the electric wire by pressing the outer surface of the electric wire with the multiple extensions.

JP 2020-202117 A

In the above-mentioned connector, it is difficult to suppress rolling of the electric wire. For example, when an external force is applied to the electric wire, the electric wire may roll, rotating around its axis. When the outer surface of the electric wire is lined up in the circumferential direction and pressed with multiple extensions, as in the above-mentioned connector, it is difficult to efficiently and accurately suppress rolling of the electric wire against the pressing force.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a connector that can effectively suppress the rolling of electric wires.

In other words, the connector according to the present invention comprises a first member that holds the terminal portion of the electric wire, a second member that is attached to the first member and disposed so as to sandwich the electric wire between the first member and the second member, and a fastening member that fastens the first member and the second member, the first member having a flat first pressing surface that contacts the peripheral surface of the electric wire, the second member having a flat second pressing surface that is formed on the opposite side of the first pressing surface with respect to the electric wire and that contacts the peripheral surface of the electric wire, and the fastening member is configured to press the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface against the electric wire when fastened, deforming the electric wire into an elliptical shape.

The connector of the present invention can effectively suppress the rolling of the electric wire.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cover in the connector of FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first receiving chamber in the connector of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first receiving chamber in the connector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second housing chamber in the connector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the first accommodating chamber and the second accommodating chamber in the connector according to the second embodiment.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiment include those that are easily replaceable by a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[Embodiment]
A connector according to a first embodiment will be described.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover of the connector. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the first storage chamber of the housing body, and Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber taken along line IV-IV in Figure 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 1 is a part that is attached to the end of an electric wire 10 and connects the electric wire 10 to an object to be connected. This connector 1 is used, for example, in vehicle wiring, and is connected to a mating connector provided on the object to be connected. The electric wire 10 is configured by covering a core wire 11 with a coating material 12, and has a circular cross section. The core wire 11 is made of a wire material made of a conductive metal such as copper. The coating material 12 covers the outer circumference of the core wire 11, and is made of an insulating resin or the like. For example, two electric wires 10 arranged in parallel are connected to the connector 1.

The connector 1 includes a housing 2. The housing 2 is a member that holds the electric wire 10, and has a main body 21 and a cover 22. The main body 21 is a first member that holds the end of the electric wire 10, and is formed in a block shape from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. A cylindrical portion 21a that protrudes toward the connection direction of the connector 1 (Z direction in FIG. 1) is formed in the center of the main body 21. The terminal portion 13b of the terminal fitting 13 that is connected to the electric wire 10 is arranged in the cylindrical portion 21a. Two electric wires 10 are inserted in parallel into the housing 2, and the terminal portion 13b of the electric wire 10 is held by the main body 21. The cover 22 is a second member that has a plate shape, and is attached to the back side of the main body 21. In other words, the cover 22 is attached to the back side of the main body 21, which is opposite to the connection direction.

A shield shell 3 is provided on the outside of the housing 2. The shield shell 3 is made of a conductive material such as metal and is provided to cover the housing 2. The provision of this shield shell 3 prevents electromagnetic noise from entering the inside of the housing 2 from the outside of the connector 1. The shield shell 3 is fixed to the housing 2 by bolts 4. The bolts 4 are attached near the insertion port of the electric wire 10, and for example, two bolts are attached with the electric wire 10 in between. The bolts 4 are attached in the connection direction of the connector 1, and tighten the shield member 31 and the housing 2 together and are screwed into the shield shell 3. The shield member 31 is a member that provides electromagnetic shielding near the insertion port of the electric wire 10, and is formed, for example, by bending a metal plate. In addition, a shield material (not shown) such as a braid formed in a cylindrical shape and covering the outside of the electric wire 10 is connected to the shield member 31. Details of the mounting structure of the bolts 4 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, a terminal fitting 13 is attached to the end of the electric wire 10. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 2 omits the illustration of the main body 21 and the like, and only illustrates the electric wire 10, the terminal fitting 13, and the cover 22. Also, FIG. 2 illustrates only one of the two electric wires 10. The terminal fitting 13 is formed of a conductive material such as metal, and is attached to the core wire 11 at the end of the electric wire 10 by crimping such as tightening. The terminal fitting 13 is attached to the end of the electric wire 10 in a direction perpendicular to the core wire 11. For example, the terminal fitting 13 has an attachment portion 13a and a terminal portion 13b, and the attachment portion 13a is attached to the core wire 11 at the end of the electric wire 10, and the terminal portion 13b is provided so as to protrude from the attachment portion 13a in a direction perpendicular to the core wire 11. By providing the terminal fitting 13 in this manner, the electric wire 10 can be arranged without bending it in the connection direction (Z direction in FIG. 2). However, when the electric wire 10 rolls around the axis A, the terminal fitting 13 wobbles and generates stress. For this reason, it is necessary to suppress the rolling of the electric wire 10.

The cover 22 is disposed so as to sandwich the electric wire 10 between the cover 22 and the main body 21, and is attached to the main body 21. For example, the electric wire 10 is routed along the rear side of the main body 21, and the cover 22 is attached so as to sandwich the electric wire 10 with the main body 21. The cover 22 is attached, for example, by hanging a plurality of hanging portions 22a formed on the outer edge of the cover 22 on the main body 21.

The cover 22 has a second storage chamber 221. The second storage chamber 221 is a portion for storing and holding the electric wire 10, and is provided, for example, near the insertion position of the electric wire 10 in the connector 1. The second storage chamber 221 is formed so as to cover a part of the outer periphery of the electric wire 10. For example, the second storage chamber 221 forms an arc-shaped arc surface 221a and a flat second pressing surface 221b. The arc surface 221a is a surface formed with a curvature according to the outer periphery of the electric wire 10. The second pressing surface 221b is a flat surface, and is formed, for example, in a direction facing the main body 21 and is a flat surface. The second pressing surface 221b may be a substantially flat surface, or may be a surface curved with a curvature smaller than that of the arc surface 221a. The second pressing surface 221b is formed, for example, at the center position of the inner surface of the second storage chamber 221, and the arc surfaces 221a are formed on both sides of the second pressing surface 221b. Two second storage chambers 221 are formed side by side, one for each of the two electric wires 10. In addition, a protrusion 221c is formed in the second storage chamber 221. The protrusion 221c protrudes from the inner surface of the second storage chamber 221 and is a member that restricts the movement of the electric wire 10 stored in the second storage chamber 221 in the direction of the axis A. Furthermore, a hooking claw 221d is formed in the second storage chamber 221. The hooking claw 221d is a portion for hooking onto the main body 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 21 has a first storage chamber 211. The first storage chamber 211 is a portion for storing and holding the electric wire 10, and is provided, for example, near the insertion position of the electric wire 10 in the connector 1. The first storage chamber 211 is formed so as to cover a part of the outer periphery of the electric wire 10. For example, the first storage chamber 211 forms an arc-shaped arc surface 211a and a flat first pressing surface 211b. The arc surface 211a is a surface with a curvature corresponding to the outer periphery of the electric wire 10 so as to store the electric wire 10. The first pressing surface 211b is a flat surface, and is, for example, a plane facing the second pressing surface 221b of the cover 22. The first pressing surface 211b may be a substantially flat surface, or may be a surface curved with a curvature smaller than that of the arc surface 211a. The first pressing surface 211b is formed, for example, at the center of the inner surface of the first storage chamber 211, with arc surfaces 211a formed on both sides of the first storage chamber 211. Two first storage chambers 211 are formed side by side, one for each of the two electric wires 10. The first storage chamber 211 is also formed with a protrusion 211c. The protrusion 211c protrudes from the inner surface of the first storage chamber 211 and is a member that restricts the movement of the electric wire 10 stored in the first storage chamber 211 in the direction of the axis A. The first storage chamber 211 is also formed with a latched portion 211d. The latched portion 211d is a portion for latching the latch claw 221d of the cover 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first storage chamber 211 and the second storage chamber 221 are provided with their inner surfaces facing each other. Therefore, the first storage chamber 211 and the second storage chamber 221 define a storage space for the electric wire 10. The first pressing surface 211b of the first storage chamber 211 and the second pressing surface 221b of the second storage chamber 221 are parallel to each other and face each other. Here, parallel includes substantially parallel. FIG. 4 shows the state before fastening with the bolt 4. The bolt 4 is a fastening member that fastens the main body 21 and the cover 22. In addition, the bolt 4 presses the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b against the electric wire 10 by fastening, and deforms the electric wire 10 into an elliptical shape. For example, the bolt 4 is inserted through the mounting hole 311 formed in the shield member 31 and the mounting hole 212 formed in the main body 21, and is inserted and screwed into the mounting hole 32 formed in the shield shell 3. The cover 22 is disposed between the main body 21 and the shield shell 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the main body 21 and the cover 22 are fastened together by fastening the main body 21 and the shield shell 3 with the bolt 4. At this time, the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b approach each other, and the electric wire 10 is pressed by the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b, and is deformed into an ellipse. Here, the term "ellipse" includes an almost ellipse, for example, an oval.

Next, we will explain the rolling suppression function of the connector 1 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electric wire 10 is held in the housing 2 and assembled in the connector 1. That is, the terminal fitting 13 is attached to the end of the electric wire 10, and the terminal fitting 13 is held in the cylindrical portion 21a of the main body 21. Then, the cover 22 is attached to the main body 21 so as to sandwich the electric wire 10. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the electric wire 10 is inserted between the first accommodating chamber 211 and the second accommodating chamber 221. Then, the shield member 31 is placed at the position of the insertion opening of the electric wire 10, and the shield shell 3 is attached so as to cover the housing 2. Then, the bolts 4 are used for fastening.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bolt 4 is screwed into the mounting hole 32, and the main body 21 and the shield shell 3 are fastened by the bolt 4. At this time, the cover 22 is disposed between the main body 21 and the shield shell 3, and therefore, when the bolt 4 is fastened, the main body 21 and the cover 22 approach each other, and the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b approach each other. As a result, the electric wire 10 is pressed by the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b, and the cross section of the electric wire 10 is deformed into an ellipse. The pressing of the electric wire 10 by the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b is performed using the axial force of the bolt 4, so that the electric wire 10 can be pressed strongly and the electric wire 10 can be sufficiently deformed.

When the cross section of the electric wire 10 is elliptical, the radii in the orthogonal radial directions are different, so the electric wire 10 is less likely to rotate around the axis A. Therefore, the connector 1 can accurately suppress the rolling of the electric wire 10. In addition, since the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b are supported by the axial force of the bolt 4, the deformation of the electric wire 10 can be continuously maintained. Therefore, the rolling of the electric wire 10 can be continuously suppressed.

In addition, a protrusion 211c is formed in the first storage chamber 211, and a protrusion 221c is formed in the second storage chamber 221. Therefore, by pressing the electric wire 10 between the first storage chamber 211 and the second storage chamber 221, the connector 1 can suppress movement of the electric wire 10 in the direction of the axis A by the protrusions 211c and 221c.

As described above, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the electric wire 10 is sandwiched and pressed by the flat first pressing surface 211b and the flat second pressing surface 221b. Therefore, the connector 1 can hold the electric wire 10 by deforming it into an elliptical shape using the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b. Therefore, the connector 1 can accurately suppress the rolling of the electric wire 10.

In addition, the connector 1 according to this embodiment can suppress the rolling of the electric wire 10, thereby reducing the wobble of the terminal fittings 13 and the load applied to the terminal fittings 13.

Next, we will explain the connector according to the second embodiment.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a first storage chamber in a connector according to a second embodiment, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second storage chamber in a connector according to a second embodiment. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber.

The connector 1A according to the second embodiment is configured in a manner similar to the connector 1 according to the first embodiment described above, but differs in that a first rib 211e is formed on the inner surface of the first storage chamber 211, and a second rib 221e is formed on the inner surface of the second storage chamber 221.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the main body 21 of the housing 2, a first rib 211e is formed in the first storage chamber 211. The first rib 211e protrudes from the inner surface of the first storage chamber 211 and extends along the direction of the axis A. The first rib 211e is provided protruding from the first pressing surface 211b, for example. By providing the first rib 211e protruding from the first pressing surface 211b, the first rib 211e can be reliably inserted into the electric wire 10. The protruding length of the first rib 211e is set to be shorter than the thickness of the coating material 12 of the electric wire 10, for example.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the cover 22 of the housing 2, the second accommodating chamber 221 is formed with a second rib 221e. The second rib 221e protrudes from the inner surface of the second accommodating chamber 221 and extends along the direction of the axis A. The second rib 221e is provided protruding from, for example, the second pressing surface 221b. By providing the second rib 221e protruding from the second pressing surface 221b, the second rib 221e can be reliably inserted into the electric wire 10. The protruding length of the second rib 221e is set to be shorter than, for example, the thickness of the coating material 12 of the electric wire 10.

Next, we will explain the rolling suppression function of the connector 1A according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the bolt 4 is screwed into the mounting hole 32 and the main body 21 and the shield shell 3 are fastened by the bolt 4, the first pressing surface 211b and the second pressing surface 221b press the electric wire 10, and the cross section of the electric wire 10 is deformed into an ellipse. In addition, the first rib 211e and the second rib 221e bite into the covering material 12 of the electric wire 10. Therefore, the cross section of the electric wire 10 becomes elliptical, making it difficult for the electric wire 10 to rotate around the axis A, and the bite of the first rib 211e and the second rib 221e makes it even more difficult for the electric wire 10 to rotate. Therefore, the connector 1A can more accurately suppress the rolling of the electric wire.

As described above, the connector 1A according to the second embodiment provides the same effects as the connector 1 according to the first embodiment described above, and the provision of the first rib 211e and the second rib 221e makes it possible to more accurately suppress the rolling of the electric wire.

Although the above is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, the above embodiment is merely an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the specifications of each configuration, shape, etc. (structure, type, direction, format, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be modified as appropriate.

For example, in the above embodiment, a connector that connects two electric wires 10 has been described, but the number of electric wires 10 to be connected may be one or three or more.

1 Connector 2 Housing 3 Shield shell 4 Bolt (fastening member)
10 Electric wire 13 Terminal metal fitting 13b Terminal portion 21 Main body (first member)
22 Cover (second member)
211b First pressing surface 211e First rib 221b Second pressing surface 221e Second rib A Axis

Claims (2)

A first member for holding a terminal portion of an electric wire;
a second member attached to the first member and disposed so as to sandwich the electric wire between the first member and a second member;
a fastening member for fastening the first member and the second member,
The first member has a flat first pressing surface that contacts a peripheral surface of the electric wire,
the second member has a flat second pressing surface that is formed on the opposite side of the first pressing surface with respect to the electric wire and abuts against a peripheral surface of the electric wire,
When fastening, the fastening member presses the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface against the electric wire to deform the electric wire into an elliptical shape.
connector. The first member has a first rib protruding from the first pressing surface and extending in a direction of an axis of the electric wire,
The second member has a second rib protruding from the second pressing surface and extending in the direction of the axis.
The connector of claim 1 .

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