JP2024109299A - Module insertion aid and module insertion structure - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a module insertion aid and a module insertion structure that can facilitate the insertion of a module. [Solution] A module insertion aid (10) is detachable from a module (60) provided at the terminal portion of a cable (100), and is used when inserting the module (60) into an insertion hole (81) of a connector housing (80). The module insertion aid (10) has an opening (15) capable of receiving the module (60). The opening (15) has opposing faces (14) that face each other, and is shaped so that the module (60) can be press-fitted and sandwiched between the opposing faces (14). [Selected Figure] Figure 6

Description

This disclosure relates to a module insertion aid and a module insertion structure.

When attaching a module attached to the end of a cable to a connector housing, the module is inserted into the insertion hole of the connector housing while being held by hand. However, it is difficult to hold a small module by hand, and it is also difficult to handle the cable. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a connector fitting tool, such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, as a tool to assist in inserting the module.

JP 2012-209081 A

However, the conventional connector fitting tool disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like have a problem in that they are not suitable as a tool for assisting the insertion of a module.
Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a module insertion aid and a module insertion structure that make it possible to easily perform the module insertion work.

The module insertion aid of the present disclosure is a module insertion aid that can be attached to and detached from a module provided at the terminal portion of a cable, and has an opening that can receive the module, and the opening has a shape that allows the module to be pressed and sandwiched between opposing surfaces that face each other.

The module insertion structure of the present disclosure is a module insertion structure including the module insertion aid, the module, and a connector housing having an insertion hole, in which the module is inserted into the connector housing by moving from a half-insertion position where it is inserted into the insertion hole to a regular insertion position where it is inserted deeper into the insertion hole than the half-insertion position, and the module insertion aid presses and clamps the module between the opposing surfaces until the module reaches the half-insertion position, and is configured to be removable from the module when the module is temporarily held in the connector housing at the half-insertion position.

The present disclosure provides a module insertion aid and a module insertion structure that can facilitate the insertion of a module.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a module insertion aid according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cable is passed through a through hole of the connector housing. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a module insertion aid is attached to the module from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the module insertion aid is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 3 so that the lead-out portion of the cable is supported by the bending fulcrum portion. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a module has been inserted into an insertion hole of a connector housing from the state shown in FIG. 4 and the module is temporarily held in a half-inserted position relative to the connector housing. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the module insertion aid has been removed from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view of the module insertion aid in the state shown in FIG. 5 with a part of the aid broken away.

[Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
The module insertion aid of the present disclosure includes:
(1) A module insertion aid that can be attached to and detached from a module provided at the terminal portion of a cable, the aid having an opening capable of receiving the module, the opening having a shape that allows the module to be pressed and sandwiched between opposing surfaces facing each other.

For example, in the case of a small module, it is difficult to pick up the module by hand, and it is not easy to move the module to a position where it can be inserted into the insertion hole of the connector housing.
In contrast, with the above-described configuration, the module can be easily moved to the above-described insertable position together with the module insertion aid while being press-fitted and sandwiched between the opposing surfaces of the opening. Also, the module insertion aid can be detached from the module and the module can be easily pushed in to reach the correct insertion position.

(2) In the above (1), it is preferable that the opening has a defining portion on the opposing surface that defines the mounting position of the module in the opening.

With the above configuration, the regulating portion can prevent the module from shifting position relative to the module insertion aid when the module is sandwiched between the opposing surfaces of the opening.

(3) In the above (1) or (2), it is preferable that the device has a base portion having a grippable shape and a pair of fork portions protruding from the base portion opposite each other, the opening portion is defined by the pair of fork portions and the base portion, and the opposing surface is formed on the inner surface of the pair of fork portions.

According to the above configuration, when inserting the module, the base part, which has a high degree of freedom in shape, can be grasped, making the module insertion aid easy to use. In addition, for example, the pair of fork parts can be elastically deformed, making it easy to press the module into the space between the opposing surfaces of the pair of fork parts.

(4) In the above (3), it is preferable that the base has a guide portion protruding from one side from which the pair of fork portions protrude, the guide portion being capable of facing the cable, and that one of the pair of fork portions, which is farther away from the guide portion, has a bending fulcrum portion at one end adjacent to the cable pull-out surface of the module, capable of supporting the pull-out portion of the cable in a bent state.

When inserting a module into an insertion hole in a connector housing, the orientation of the module may be changed by rotating the module insertion aid. In this case, the portion of the cable pulled out from the cable pull-out surface may bend and interfere with the outer surface of the module, which may cause a malfunction of the module.
In contrast, with the above-described configuration, the pull-out portion of the cable is supported in a bent state by the bending fulcrum portion at one end of one of the forks, thereby preventing the pull-out portion of the cable from interfering with the outer surface of the module.
In addition, the direction of rotation of the module insertion aid can be regulated to the side where the guide part moves away from the cable, which prevents the module insertion aid from being rotated in the wrong direction, thereby ensuring that the lead-out portion of the cable is properly supported by the bending fulcrum part of one of the forks.

(5) In the above (4), it is preferable that the length from the one end to the other end of one of the forks is longer than the same length of the other fork.

The above configuration allows one fork part to be visually and tactilely distinguished from the other fork part, so the worker can recognize one fork part and correctly attach the module insertion aid to the module.

(6) A module insertion structure comprising a module insertion aid described in any one of (1) to (5) above, the module, and a connector housing having an insertion hole, in which the module is inserted into the connector housing by moving from a half-insertion position where the module is inserted into the insertion hole to a normal insertion position where the module is inserted deeper into the insertion hole than the half-insertion position, and the module insertion aid presses and clamps the module between the opposing surfaces until the module reaches the half-insertion position, and is configured to be removable from the module when the module is temporarily held in the connector housing at the half-insertion position.

According to the above configuration, the module insertion aid can be removed from the module while the module is temporarily held in a half-inserted position relative to the connector housing. This eliminates the need for special work to remove the module insertion aid from the module, resulting in excellent workability. In addition, by pushing the module further into the insertion hole after removing the module insertion aid from the module, the module can be easily placed in the correct insertion position.

[Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure]
Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

<Embodiment 1>
The module insertion aid 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is configured as a tool that aids in the task of inserting a module 60 into an insertion hole 81 of a connector housing 80. In the following description, the up-down direction and the left-right direction are based on the up-down direction and the left-right direction in Fig. 7, respectively. Regarding the front-rear direction, the front side of the paper in Fig. 7 is the front side. The references for these directions are for convenience, and the upper side and the lower side do not necessarily coincide with the upper side and the lower side in the direction of gravity. In each figure, the front side, the right side, and the upper side are indicated by arrows X, Y, and Z, respectively.

(Module, connector housing)
2, the module 60 is provided at the terminal portion of the cable 100. The module 60 has a module housing 61 made of synthetic resin and a plurality of metal terminals (not shown).

The module housing 61 is in the shape of a square block, and has groove-shaped defined portions 62 extending in the front-rear direction on the left and right side surfaces. Each terminal is housed inside the module housing 61. Each terminal is connected to the end portion of an electric wire 110 such as a coated electric wire. The electric wire 110 connected to each terminal is pulled out from a cable pull-out surface 63 on the top surface of the module housing 61, and is surrounded by a sheath 120 made of insulating resin outside the module 60. The cable 100 is a concept that includes the electric wire 110 and the sheath 120.

The connector housing 80 is made of synthetic resin and has an insertion hole 81 that extends in the vertical direction and an open hole 82 that extends in the left-right direction and opens on the top surface of the connector housing 80. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper and lower ends of the insertion hole 81 open on the top and bottom surfaces of the connector housing 80, respectively. The module 60 is inserted into the insertion hole 81 from the top side of the connector housing 80. As shown in FIG. 2, the cable 100 is inserted through the open hole 82. A mating connector (not shown) that mates with the module 60 is mated with the connector housing 80 from the bottom side.

The right end of the open hole 82 opens into the right side surface of the connector housing 80. The left end of the open hole 82 intersects with and communicates with the insertion hole 81. The connector housing 80 has a through portion 83 at the right end of the connector housing 80 that completely surrounds the right end of the open hole 82. The module 60 can pass through the through portion 83 from the right side of the connector housing 80 to the upper side of the connector housing 80.

(Module insertion aid)
The module insertion aid 10 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and has a base 11 in the form of a rectangular block that is long in the vertical direction. The left and right side surfaces of the base 11 are arranged without any steps in the vertical and front-to-rear directions. The top and bottom surfaces of the base 11 are arranged without any steps in the horizontal and front-to-rear directions. As shown in FIG. 7 , the left and right upper corners, which are the intersections between the left and right side surfaces and the top surface of the base 11, are chamfered in a tapered shape. The front and back surfaces of the base 11 are arranged flat in the vertical and front-to-rear directions. In short, the base 11 is formed in a shape and size suitable for an operator to hold in his or her hand.

As shown in FIG. 1, the module insertion aid 10 has two fork sections 12, 13 that protrude forward from the lower end of the front surface of the base 11. The fork sections 12, 13 are plate-shaped and are arranged in pairs at both the left and right ends of the front surface of the base 11. As shown in FIG. 7, the inner plate surfaces of the fork sections 12, 13 are configured as opposing surfaces 14 that face each other parallel to each other in the left-right direction. The module insertion aid 10 receives the module 60 in an opening 15 defined by the opposing surfaces 14 of the fork sections 12, 13 and the front surface of the base 11. The opening 15 is open forward and up-down in the module insertion aid 10.

Before the module insertion aid 10 is attached to the module 60, the distance between the opposing surfaces 14 of the fork parts 12 and 13 is slightly smaller than the distance between the left and right side surfaces at the upper end of the module housing 61. For example, the pair of fork parts 12 and 13 can be elastically deformed to change the distance between the opposing surfaces 14. When the module 60 is received in the module insertion aid 10, the upper end of the module housing 61 is held in a pressed-in state between the opposing surfaces 14 of the fork parts 12 and 13 at the opening 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the fork parts 12 and 13 have rib-shaped defining parts 16 protruding from the opposing surfaces 14 and extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the defining parts 16 are fitted into the defined parts 62 of the module housing 61.

As shown in FIG. 7, of the two fork portions 12, 13, the fork portion 12 located on the right side is formed to be longer in the vertical direction than the other fork portion 13 located on the left side. As shown in FIG. 5, the front-to-rear dimension of the one fork portion 12 is greater than the front-to-rear dimension of the pull-out portion 111 of each electric wire 110 pulled out from the cable pull-out surface 63 of the module housing 61.

The right side of one fork portion 12 (the side opposite the opposing surface 14) is continuous without any steps with the right side of the base 11, and the left side of the other fork portion 13 (the side opposite the opposing surface 14) is continuous without any steps with the left side of the base 11. The lower end surfaces of both fork portions 12, 13 are continuous without any steps with the lower end surface of the base 11.

The upper front corners, which are the intersections between the front end faces and the top end faces of both fork sections 12, 13, are chamfered into a curved shape. The top end face of one fork section 12 is disposed above the top end face of the other fork section 13 and along the front-to-rear direction. This top end face of one fork section 12 is configured as a bending fulcrum section 17 that supports the pull-out portions 111 of each electric wire 110 pulled out from the cable pull-out surface 63 of the module housing 61 in a bent state when the module 60 is inserted into the insertion hole 81 of the connector housing 80.

As shown in FIG. 1, the module insertion aid 10 may have a guide portion 18 that protrudes from one surface from which the pair of fork portions 12, 13 protrude. For example, the guide portion 18 protrudes forward from the left end of the front surface of the base portion 11. The guide portion 18 is plate-shaped and is formed so as to extend longer in the up-down direction than both fork portions 12, 13. The left-right thickness of the guide portion 18 is greater than the left-right thickness of both fork portions 12, 13.

The guide portion 18 is arranged above the other fork portion 13 and aligned vertically with the other fork portion 13. The lower end surface of the guide portion 18 is arranged with a gap between it and the upper end surface of the other fork portion 13. The upper end surface of the guide portion 18 is continuous with the upper end surface of the base portion 11 without any steps. The left side surface of the guide portion 18 is continuous with the left side surface of the base portion 11 without any steps. The upper left corner, which is the intersection of the left side surface and the upper end surface of the guide portion 18, is chamfered in a tapered shape and is continuous with the corresponding upper left corner of the base portion 11 without any steps.

The right side surface of the guide portion 18 intersects with the front surface of the base portion 11 at a right angle and is disposed without any step along the vertical and front-to-rear directions. The module insertion aid 10 has a guide space 19 to the right of the right side surface of the guide portion 18 and to the left of one of the fork portions 12, through which the cable 100 can be passed from the front. The guide space 19 communicates with the opening 15 at the lower end of the module insertion aid 10. The guide portion 18 can face the cable 100 disposed in the guide space 19.

(Module Insertion Method and Insertion Structure)
As shown in FIG. 2 , prior to attaching the module insertion aid 10 to the module 60, the worker passes the module 60 provided at the end of the cable 100 through the passage portion 83 from the right side of the connector housing 80, and pulls it out upward through the open hole 82 of the connector housing 80.

Next, while holding the base 11, the worker attaches the module insertion aid 10 to the module 60 from the rear as shown in FIG. 3. At this time, the worker attaches the module insertion aid 10 to the module 60 in a horizontal position in which the long side of the base 11 faces the left-right direction or in a direction inclined from the left-right direction. Specifically, the worker inserts the module 60 into the opening 15 with the guide part 18 on the upper side away from the connector housing 80 and one fork part 12 on the lower side close to the connector housing 80, and inserts the cable 100 extending from the module 60 into the guide space 19. The defining part 16 fits into the corresponding defined part 62, so that the module insertion aid 10 is slid and attached to the module 60 along the defined part 62. The fork parts 12 and 13 are elastically deformed and spread apart from each other, and the rear end of the module housing 61 is pressed in between the opposing surfaces 14. This holds the module 60 in the opening 15 of the module insertion aid 10 in a state where it is prevented from falling out. The worker can hold the module insertion aid 10 from the base 11 to the guide portion 18.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the worker rotates the module insertion aid 10 from horizontal to vertical, and positions the lower end of the module 60 above the insertion hole 81 of the connector housing 80. The module 60 is converted from horizontal to vertical together with the module insertion aid 10. As the module 60 changes its position, the cable 100 supports the pull-out portion 111 in a bent state at the bending fulcrum portion 17 of one of the forks 12, and is routed in a mountain shape with the pull-out portion 111 as the apex between the cable pull-out surface 63 and the through portion 83. That is, as the module 60 changes its position, the cable 100 is bent with the bending fulcrum portion 17 as the fulcrum. The portion of the cable 100 between the cable pull-out surface 63 and the through portion 83 is maintained in a mountain shape bent upward by the bending fulcrum portion 17.

Next, the operator pulls down the module insertion aid 10 while holding the base 11, and inserts the lower end of the module 60 into the insertion hole 81 of the connector housing 80 as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the lower end faces of both fork parts 12 and 13 hit the upper surface of the connector housing 80, and the pulling down operation of the module insertion aid 10 is stopped. The module 60 is pressed against the inner surface of the insertion hole 81 of the connector housing 80 by the reaction force from the cable 100 arranged in the above-mentioned mountain shape, and is temporarily held in a half-inserted position relative to the connector housing 80. In this state, the module insertion aid 10 is slid backward and is removed from the module 60 as shown in FIG. 6. Since the module 60 is temporarily held in a half-inserted position relative to the connector housing 80, the operator can easily remove the module insertion aid 10 from the module 60 by simply pulling the base 11 backward. As shown in FIG. 7, when the module 60 is in the half-inserted position, the pull-out portion 111 of the cable 100 remains supported by the bending fulcrum portion 17 of one of the forks 12, preventing the pull-out portion 111 of the cable 100 from interfering with the outer surface of the module 60.

After the module insertion aid 10 is removed, the module 60 is pushed in and inserted deeply into the insertion hole 81 of the connector housing 80. The module 60 is locked into a locking portion (not shown) and is finally locked into the correct insertion position relative to the connector housing 80.

As described above, according to this embodiment 1, the worker can easily move the module 60, together with the module insertion aid 10, to a position where it can be inserted into the insertion hole 81 of the connector housing 80 while it is pressed and sandwiched between the opposing surfaces 14 of the fork portions 12, 13 of the opening 15. In addition, with the module 60 temporarily held in a half-inserted position relative to the connector housing 80, the module insertion aid 10 can be easily detached from the module 60. Therefore, by using the module insertion aid 10 according to this embodiment 1, it is possible to easily perform the insertion work of the module 60.

In addition, the module insertion aid 10 has a regulating portion 16 on the opposing surfaces 14 of the fork portions 12 and 13 that dictates the mounting position of the module 60 in the opening 15, so that the module 60 sandwiched between the opposing surfaces 14 of the fork portions 12 and 13 can be prevented from shifting position relative to the module insertion aid 10.

In the case of this embodiment 1, when inserting the module 60, the base 11, which has a high degree of freedom in shape, can be grasped, so the module insertion aid 10 has excellent operability. In addition, the elastic deformation of both fork parts 12, 13 makes it easy to press the module 60 into the space between the opposing surfaces 14 of both fork parts 12, 13.

Furthermore, when the module insertion aid 10 is rotated to change the orientation of the module 60, the pull-out portion 111 of the cable 100 is supported in a bent state by the bending fulcrum portion 17 of one of the forks 12, so that it is possible to avoid a situation in which the pull-out portion 111 of the cable 100 interferes with the outer surface of the module 60, causing a malfunction in the module 60. In addition, since the rotation direction of the module insertion aid 10 can be set to the side in which the guide portion 18 moves away from the cable 100, it is possible to prevent the module insertion aid 10 from being rotated in the wrong direction, and it is possible to properly realize a state in which the pull-out portion 111 of the cable 100 is supported by the bending fulcrum portion 17 of one of the forks 12.

Furthermore, since the vertical length of one fork portion 12 is longer than the vertical length of the other fork portion 13, the one fork portion 12 and the other fork portion 13 can be visually and tactilely distinguished from each other. This allows the worker to recognize the one fork portion 12 and correctly attach the module insertion aid 10 to the module 60 so that the cable 100 is routed in the guide space 19.

[Other embodiments of the present disclosure]
The first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.
In the first embodiment, the module insertion aid is made of synthetic resin. In contrast to this, in other embodiments, the module insertion aid may be made of metal.
In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the determining portion is provided in a protruding manner on the surface facing the opening of the module insertion support tool, and the determined portion is provided in a recessed manner on the outer surface of the module housing. In contrast, according to another embodiment, the determining portion is provided in a recessed manner on the surface facing the opening of the module insertion support tool, and the determined portion is provided in a protruding manner on the outer surface of the module housing.
In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, a gap is formed between the other fork portion and the guide portion in the module insertion assisting tool. In contrast to this, according to another embodiment, in the module insertion assisting tool, the other fork portion and the guide portion may be formed integrally and continuously.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 module insertion aid 11 base 12 one fork portion 13 other fork portion 14 opposing surface 15 opening 16 regulating portion 17 bending fulcrum portion 18 guide portion 19 guide space 60 module 61 module housing 62 regulated portion 63 cable pull-out surface 80 connector housing 81 insertion hole 82 open hole 83 through portion 100 cable 110 electric wire 111 pull-out portion 120 sheath

Claims (6)

A module insertion aid that can be attached to and detached from a module provided at an end portion of a cable,
an opening capable of receiving the module;
The opening has a shape that allows the module to be press-fitted and sandwiched between opposing surfaces of the module insertion aid. The module insertion aid according to claim 1, wherein the opening has a defining portion on the opposing surface that defines the mounting position of the module in the opening. a graspable base;
A pair of fork portions protruding opposite each other from the base portion,
The opening is defined by the pair of fork portions and the base portion,
The module insertion aid according to claim 1 , wherein the opposing surfaces are formed on inner surfaces of the pair of fork portions. the base portion has a guide portion protruding from one surface from which the pair of fork portions protrude, the guide portion being capable of facing the cable,
4. The module insertion aid according to claim 3, wherein one of the pair of fork portions that is farther from the guide portion has a bending fulcrum portion at one end adjacent to the cable pull-out surface of the module, capable of supporting the pull-out portion of the cable in a bent state. The module insertion aid according to claim 4, wherein the length from one end to the other end of one of the forks is longer than the same length of the other fork. A module insertion aid according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
The module;
A module insertion structure comprising: a connector housing having an insertion hole,
the module is inserted into the connector housing by moving from a half-inserted position where the module is inserted into the insertion hole to a regular insertion position where the module is inserted deeper into the insertion hole than the half-inserted position,
The module insertion aid is configured to press and clamp the module between the opposing surfaces until the module reaches the half-inserted position, and to be removable from the module when the module is temporarily held in the connector housing at the half-inserted position.

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