JP2595402C

JP2595402C -

Info

Publication number: JP2595402C
Authority: JP
Original assignee: Yazaki Corp
Current assignee: Yazaki Corp
Publication date: 1998-11-18

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】【０００１】【産業上の利用分野】本発明は、主として自動車用ワイヤハーネスの接続に用いられるコネクタの結
合装置に関する。【０００２】【従来の技術】図７ないし図９において、ａは雄コネクタ、ｂは雌コネクタであり、それぞれ
端子金具を内蔵していて、両コネクタａ，ｂの嵌合時に接続されるようになって
いる（実開昭５２−１３３９９３号）。雄コネクタａの外面には嵌合操作レバーｃが軸ｄにより回動可能に枢着されて
おり、その前端部には駆動溝ｅが形成され、後部には操作部ｆが設けられ、操作
部ｆの端には本係止用突起ｇが設けられている。嵌合操作レバーｃの嵌合操作完
了時に、本係止用突起ｇが雄コネクタａの本係止用係合部ｇ′に係合する。一方、雌コネクタｂの外面において、嵌合操作レバーｃに対向する位置に被駆
動ビンｈが突設されている。【０００３】上記構造において、雄コネクタａと雌コネクタｂは直ちに相互の端子金具ｉ，ｉ′が浅く結合する状態にあり、この状態で嵌合操作レバーｃを回動することに
より、駆動溝ｅの嵌合側溝壁ｅ₁が被駆動ピンｈに係合し、該レバーｃの回動に
つれて溝壁ｅ₁がピンｈを引き寄せるので、図８，９の如くに雌、雄コネクタａ
，ｂが嵌合し、嵌合終了時には、本係止用突起ｇが本係止用係合部ｇ′をのり越
えて、係合およびロックされる。【０００４】しかし、図８のようにロック直前の嵌合途中で嵌合操作レバーｃの回動操作を
やめてしまう場合が生じるが、一見しただけではロックの確認がしにくいため、
この状態で放置され、やがて自動車の走行時の振動により嵌合がゆるみ接触不良
を起すおそれがある。回動操作を途中でやめるのは、嵌合最終近くで前記端子金具ｉ，ｉ′の接触抵
抗が最大値に達し、これに加えて本係止用突起ｇが本係止用係合部ｇ′を乗り越
える抵抗が重なるために大きな力を要し、作業者が完全嵌合と感違いするのが主
因である。そして、一旦図８の状態で操作をやめると、嵌合操作レバーｃには、
重力ｗによるモーメントが働き、逆戻りしようとするが、端子金具ｉ，ｉ′の接
触抵抗によって、雌、雄のコネクタａ，ｂが動かず、しかも被駆動ピンｈが駆動
溝ｅの嵌合側溝壁ｅ₁と離脱側溝壁ｅ₂との両側に密接しているため、嵌合操作レ
バーｃが前記の状態で放置される。【０００５】【発明が解決しようとする課題】本発明は上記した点に着目してなされたものであり、嵌合操作レバーの回動操
作がコネクタの完全嵌合およびロック前に中断または放置された場合に、これを
外部から容易に判断することができ、以て不完全嵌合を未然に防止できるように
したものである。【０００６】【課題を解決するための手段】上記の課題を達成するため、本発明においては、相互に嵌合される一対のコネ
クタの一方において、前端部に駆動溝を有する嵌合操作レバーを回動可能に軸支
して設け、他方のコネクタにおいて該駆動溝と係合する被駆動ビンを該駆動溝と直交して設け、該嵌合操作レバーの回動により該被駆動ピンを該駆動溝の嵌合側
溝壁または離脱側溝壁と係合させて該一対のコネクタの嵌合およぴ離脱を行わせ
るコネクタの結合装置において、該駆動溝の離脱側溝壁と被駆動ピンとの間に、
前記一対のコネクタの不完全嵌合時において、該嵌合操作レバーが逆回動して傾
き得る遊びを設けたことを特徴とする。【０００７】【作用】一対のコネクタが不完全嵌合のとき、すなわち嵌合操作レバーがロックされて
いないときには、その駆動溝の離脱側溝壁と被駆動ピンとの間に遊びがあるため
に該レバーが逆戻りして、本来のロック位置から大きく離れるので、判断が容易
であり、不完全嵌合のまま放置されるのを回避することができる。【０００８】【実施例】図１において、Ａは雌コネクタ、Ｂは雄コネクタであり、それぞれ端子金具Ｃ
，Ｄを内藏し、雌コネクタＡはパネルＰの取付口ｐに嵌着されて、ねじ締めなど
の既知の手段で固定されている。雌コネクタＡの上半部には鍔部１を介して雄コネクタＢを受承する套体部２が
形成され、鍔部１に立設した耳片３にはピン軸４により嵌合操作レバー５の一方
が回動可能に軸支されて、套体部２の外壁面２ａの平行な面内で起倒できるよう
になっている。【０００９】嵌合操作レバー５の一方には、該レバー５の倒伏時において上方に開口する駆
動溝６が設けられ、他方には操作部７が設けられ、該操作部７の先端部には撮８
が膨出形成されると共に中間部にロック穴９が設けられている。なお、嵌合操作
レバー５は、套体部２の両側に設けると共に上記撮８を図示しない連結片により
二股状に連結して枢着することが推奨される。【００１０】雄コネクタＢは、前記套体部２に嵌合されるコネクタ本体部Ｂ₁の外周に防塵
用のフード１０を有し、該フード１０の外側面に前記駆動溝６と係合する被駆動ピン１１を突設すると共に、フード１０とコネクタ本体部Ｂ₁間に形成した膨出
壁部１２にロック爪１３が突設してある。【００１１】被駆動ピン１１と係合する駆動溝６の両側の溝壁の一方は嵌合側溝壁６ａとし
て作用し、他方が離脱側溝壁６ｂとして作用するものであり、通常、両溝壁６ａ
，６ｂ間の溝巾を被駆動ピン１１の外径と略等しくして整合するように形成する
が、本発明では図２に示すように被駆動ピン１１と離脱側溝壁６ｂとの間に遊び
Ｇが存在するように形成される。図１，図２において、符号６ｂ′は従来公知技
術に従った場合の離脱側溝壁の曲線を示す。遊びＧの実際的寸法は、後述するよ
うに、嵌合操作レバー５のロック位置（または姿勢）から１０°〜４５°の範囲
で逆方向に倒動できるようにするのが好ましい。【００１２】雌、雄コネクタＡ，Ｂを嵌合すると、雄コネクタＢの被駆動ピン１１が嵌合操
作レバー５の駆動溝６の入口部に入る（図２）。この状態から嵌合操作レバー５
を矢線Ｑ方向に回動すると、駆動溝６の嵌合側溝壁６ａが被駆動ピン１１と係合
して雄コネクタＢを引き寄せ、雌、雄コネクタＡ，Ｂの嵌合が該レバー５の挺子
作用により小さい力で行われる（図３）。そこで、嵌合操作レバー５の一側縁が
ロック爪１３に当接した図３の状態からさらに矢線方向Ｑに回動すると、雌、雄
コネクタＡ，Ｂの嵌合が完結して端子金具Ｃ，Ｄが完全に接続され、同時にロッ
ク爪１３がロック穴９と係合して該レバー５すなわち雌、雄コネクタＡ，Ｂもロ
ックされる（図４）。【００１３】雌、雄コネクタＡ，Ｂの嵌合およびロックが完全に達成される前、例えば図３
の状態で嵌合操作レバー５の回動操作を止めると、レバー５には重力が作用し、
しかもその溝６における離脱側溝壁６ｂと被駆動ピン１１との間の前記遊びＧが
あるから、レバー５は図５のように自重により前記と逆方向（矢線Ｑ′）に回動
して傾き、該ピン１１に離脱側溝壁６ｂが衝合した時点で停止する。その結果、
嵌合操作レバー５は、そのロック位置から図５のように大きく開き、雌、雄コネ
クタＡ，Ｂの不完全な嵌合とロック状態が一見してわかる。従って、作業者に完全嵌合を促し、一方点検時における判別もきわめて容易であり、不良品の発生を
未然に防止することができる。【００１４】雌、雄コネクタＡ，Ｂを引離す際には、嵌合操作レバー５を図２ないし図４と
逆方向に回動すればよく、前記ロックが解除され、駆動溝６の離脱側溝壁６ｂが
被駆動ピン１１を押し出す。なお、雌、雄コネクタＡ，Ｂの不完全嵌合時におけ
る嵌合操作レバー５の逆回動を確実に行わせるためには、撮８の膨出形成により
この部分の重量を大きくし、レバー５に大きなモーメントが作用するようにすれ
ばよい。また、自重による逆回動のほか、嵌合操作レバー５と雌コネクタＡとの
間に該レバー５を逆回動方向に付勢するばねを介装するようにしてもよい。【００１５】図６は本発明の第２実施例を示し、雄コネクタＢ′の前記フード１０を省き、
コネクタ本体部Ｂ₁′に直接被駆動ピン１１′を突設し、一方、雌コネクタＡ′
は前記鍔部１および耳片３を省いて、套体部２に支軸４′を突設して嵌合操作レ
バー５を軸支することにより回動可能に設けると共に、套体部２に被駆動ピン１
１′に対する案内溝１４を嵌合方向に沿って設けたものである。他の構成部材は
図１の場合と同じである。【００１６】【発明の効果】以上説明したように、本発明によれば、雌、雄コネクタの完全嵌合前に嵌合操
作レバーの回動操作をやめると、該レバーが逆戻りするので、不完全嵌合状態を
一見して判断することができ、その状態で放置される不良品の発生を未然に防止
することができる。Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector connecting device mainly used for connecting a wire harness for an automobile. 2. Description of the Related Art In FIGS. 7 to 9, a is a male connector and b is a female connector, each of which incorporates terminal fittings so that they are connected when the connectors a and b are fitted together. (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 52-133993). A fitting operation lever c is pivotally mounted on the outer surface of the male connector a so as to be rotatable about a shaft d. A driving groove e is formed at a front end portion of the male connector a, and an operation portion f is provided at a rear portion. At the end of f, a projection g for final locking is provided. When the fitting operation of the fitting operation lever c is completed, the final locking projection g is engaged with the final locking engaging portion g 'of the male connector a. On the other hand, a driven bin h protrudes from the outer surface of the female connector b at a position facing the fitting operation lever c. In the above structure, the male connector a and the female connector b are in a state where the terminal fittings i and i 'are immediately and shallowly coupled to each other, and by rotating the fitting operation lever c in this state, the drive groove e is formed. fitting groove wall e ₁ is engaged with the driven pin h of, the groove walls e ₁ as rotation of the lever c pull the pin h, females as in FIGS. 8 and 9, the male connector a
, B are fitted, and at the end of the fitting, the final locking projection g extends beyond the final locking engaging portion g 'and is engaged and locked. However, as shown in FIG. 8, there is a case where the turning operation of the fitting operation lever c is stopped during the fitting just before the lock, but it is difficult to confirm the lock at a glance.
If left in this state, there is a possibility that the fitting will loosen due to the vibration of the automobile during traveling, causing poor contact. The reason why the rotation operation is stopped halfway is that the contact resistance of the terminal fittings i and i 'reaches a maximum value near the end of the fitting, and in addition to this, the final locking projection g becomes the final locking engaging portion g. The main reason is that a great force is required due to the overlap of the resistances over ', and the operator mistakenly thinks that they are completely fitted. Then, once the operation is stopped in the state of FIG.
The moment due to gravity w acts and tries to return, but due to the contact resistance of the terminal fittings i and i ', the female and male connectors a and b do not move, and the driven pin h is connected to the driving groove e on the fitting side groove wall. due to the close contact with both sides of the e ₁ and the detachable groove wall e _2, fitting lever c it is left in the state. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the rotation operation of a fitting operation lever is interrupted or left unattended before complete fitting and locking of a connector. In this case, this can be easily determined from the outside, so that incomplete fitting can be prevented. In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a fitting operation lever having a driving groove at a front end portion of one of a pair of connectors fitted to each other is provided. A driven bin is provided rotatably on the other connector and is engaged with the drive groove at the other connector at right angles to the drive groove, and the driven pin is driven by the rotation of the fitting operation lever. Groove mating side
In a connector coupling device for engaging and disengaging a pair of connectors by engaging with a groove wall or a detachment-side groove wall, a connector includes a detachment-side groove wall of the drive groove and a driven pin.
When the pair of connectors are incompletely fitted, the fitting operation lever is rotated backward and tilted.
And characterized in that a play that may come. When the pair of connectors are incompletely fitted, that is, when the fitting operation lever is not locked, there is play between the release-side groove wall of the drive groove and the driven pin, so that there is play. Is reversed and greatly separated from the original lock position, so that the determination is easy and it is possible to avoid being left incompletely fitted. In FIG. 1, A is a female connector and B is a male connector.
, D, and the female connector A is fitted into the mounting opening p of the panel P, and is fixed by a known means such as screwing. A sleeve 2 for receiving the male connector B via the flange 1 is formed in the upper half of the female connector A, and a lug 3 erected on the flange 1 is fitted with an operating lever by a pin shaft 4. One of the members 5 is rotatably supported so that it can be turned upside down in a plane parallel to the outer wall surface 2a of the body portion 2. One of the fitting operation levers 5 is provided with a drive groove 6 that opens upward when the lever 5 is folded down, and the other is provided with an operation unit 7. Shooting 8
And a lock hole 9 is provided at an intermediate portion. Note that it is recommended that the fitting operation lever 5 be provided on both sides of the sleeve 2 and be connected in a bifurcated manner with the photographing piece 8 by a connecting piece (not shown) for pivotal attachment. The male connector B has a dustproof hood 10 on the outer periphery of the connector body B ₁ fitted to the sleeve 2, and engages with the drive groove 6 on the outer surface of the hood 10. while projecting the driven pin 11, the locking pawl 13 in the bulging wall portions 12 formed between the hood 10 and the connector main body B ₁ is are projected. One of the groove walls on both sides of the drive groove 6 that engages with the driven pin 11 functions as a fitting-side groove wall 6a, and the other functions as a detachment-side groove wall 6b.
, 6b are formed so as to be aligned with the outer diameter of the driven pin 11 substantially equal to the outer diameter of the driven pin 11, but in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a play between the driven pin 11 and the separation-side groove wall 6b. G is formed to be present. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 6b 'indicates a curve of the detachment side groove wall in the case of the conventional technique. It is preferable that the actual size of the play G is such that it can be tilted in the opposite direction within a range of 10 ° to 45 ° from the lock position (or posture) of the fitting operation lever 5 as described later. When the female and male connectors A and B are fitted, the driven pin 11 of the male connector B enters the entrance of the drive groove 6 of the fitting operation lever 5 (FIG. 2). From this state, the fitting operation lever 5
Is rotated in the direction of arrow Q, the fitting-side groove wall 6a of the drive groove 6 engages with the driven pin 11 to draw the male connector B, and the fitting of the female and male connectors A, B It is performed with less force on the roller action (FIG. 3). Then, when the one side edge of the fitting operation lever 5 is further rotated in the arrow direction Q from the state of FIG. 3 in which the locking claw 13 abuts, the fitting of the female and male connectors A and B is completed and the terminal fitting is completed. C and D are completely connected, and at the same time, the lock claw 13 is engaged with the lock hole 9 to lock the lever 5, ie, the female and male connectors A and B (FIG. 4). Before the mating and locking of the female and male connectors A and B are completely achieved, for example, FIG.
When the rotation operation of the fitting operation lever 5 is stopped in the state of, gravity acts on the lever 5,
In addition, since there is the play G between the release-side groove wall 6b and the driven pin 11 in the groove 6, the lever 5 is rotated by its own weight in the opposite direction (arrow Q ') as shown in FIG. It tilts and stops when the release side groove wall 6b abuts on the pin 11. as a result,
The fitting operation lever 5 is widely opened from its locked position as shown in FIG. 5, and the incomplete fitting and locked state of the female and male connectors A and B can be seen at a glance. Therefore, it is possible to prompt the operator to completely fit, and it is very easy to make a determination at the time of inspection, thereby preventing the occurrence of defective products. When the female and male connectors A and B are separated from each other, the fitting operation lever 5 may be rotated in a direction opposite to that shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and the lock is released, and the release groove of the drive groove 6 is released. The wall 6b pushes out the driven pin 11. In order to surely perform the reverse rotation of the fitting operation lever 5 when the female and male connectors A and B are incompletely fitted, the weight of this portion is increased by forming the bulge of the photographing 8 and the lever is increased. It is sufficient that a large moment acts on 5. In addition to the reverse rotation by its own weight, a spring may be interposed between the fitting operation lever 5 and the female connector A to bias the lever 5 in the reverse rotation direction. FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the hood 10 of the male connector B ′ is omitted.
Projecting the 'direct driven pin 11 in the' connector body B _1, whereas, the female connector A '
Is provided so as to be rotatable by omitting the flange portion 1 and the ear piece 3 and projecting a support shaft 4 ′ from the mantle portion 2 to support the fitting operation lever 5. Driven pin 1
The guide groove 14 for 1 'is provided along the fitting direction. Other components are the same as those in FIG. As described above, according to the present invention, if the turning operation of the fitting operation lever is stopped before the female and male connectors are completely fitted, the lever will return backward, so The state of complete fitting can be determined at a glance, and the occurrence of defective products left in that state can be prevented.

【図面の簡単な説明】【図１】本発明にかかる一対のコネクタの分離状態を示す要部断面側面図である。【図２】同上の嵌合直前状態の側面図である。【図３】同上の完全嵌合およびロック直前状態の側面図である。【図４】同上の完全嵌合およびロック状態の側面図である。【図５】図３で嵌合操作を中断した状態の側面図である。【図６】本発明の他の実施例にかかる一対のコネクタの分離状態を示す側面図である。【図７】従来例について、一対のコネクタの分離状態を示す側面図である。【図８】同上の完全嵌合およびロック直前状態の側面図である。【図９】同上の完全嵌合およびロック状態の側面図である。【符号の説明】Ａ，Ａ′ 雌コネクタＢ，Ｂ′ 雄コネクタ４ピン軸４′ 支軸５嵌合操作レバー６駆動溝６ｂ離脱側溝壁９ロック穴１１，１１′ 被駆動ピン１３ロック爪１４案内溝[Brief description of the drawings] FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part showing a separated state of a pair of connectors according to the present invention. FIG. 2 It is a side view in the state just before fitting same as the above. FIG. 3 It is a side view of a state just before the same complete fitting and lock. FIG. 4 FIG. 2 is a side view of the same fully fitted and locked state. FIG. 5 FIG. 4 is a side view of the state where the fitting operation is interrupted in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a separated state of a pair of connectors according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 It is a side view which shows the separation state of a pair of connectors about a prior art example. FIG. 8 It is a side view of a state just before the same complete fitting and lock. FIG. 9 FIG. 2 is a side view of the same fully fitted and locked state. [Explanation of symbols] A, A 'female connector B, B 'male connector 4 pin shaft 4 'spindle 5 Mating operation lever 6 Drive groove 6b Separation side groove wall 9 Lock hole 11, 11 'driven pin 13 Lock Claw 14 Guide groove

Claims

In one of a pair of connectors to be fitted with each other, a fitting operation lever having a driving groove at a front end portion is provided so as to be coaxially movable, and the other connector has A driven bin engaged with the drive groove is provided orthogonal to the drive groove, and the driven pin is engaged with a fitting-side groove wall or a detachment-side groove wall of the drive groove by rotation of the fitting operation lever.
In the connector coupling device for performing the engagement and disengagement of the pair of connectors, the incomplete engagement of the pair of connectors between the disengagement side groove wall of the drive groove and the driven pin. A connector coupling device provided with a play in which an operation lever can rotate and tilt in a reverse direction.