JP2605118Y2 - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waterproof connector having a structure for preventing a liquid such as water or oil from entering an electrical connection portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Connectors are frequently used as means for connecting electric and electronic circuits to each other.
Waterproof connectors that prevent water from entering the electrical connection are also frequently used. As the waterproof connector, a waterproof plug provided with a seal rubber in which a plurality of cable insertion holes are formed, and a supporting member partially embedded in the seal rubber to support the seal rubber and mount it on the housing is used. A type in which a contact insertion hole of a housing is closed in a watertight manner is known (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-69373).

As another waterproof connector, a contact plug of a housing is provided by using a waterproof plug provided with a seal rubber crimped on a contact together with a cable for each cable and a support member for supporting the seal rubber. A type that closes the hole in a watertight manner is known (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-112275 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-187886).

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a waterproof connector provided with a seal rubber in which a plurality of cable insertion holes are formed side by side, a part of a support member that supports the seal rubber is embedded in the seal rubber. Therefore, the seal rubber and the support member cannot be separated. For this reason,
It is necessary to prepare a waterproof plug having a cable insertion hole having a diameter corresponding to this diameter for each cable having a different diameter. Also,
When the seal rubber has deteriorated and cannot perform the sealing function, it is necessary to replace the support member together with the seal rubber. Furthermore, since the support members are arranged so as to surround the entire cable insertion holes formed side by side, the support members are not arranged between the adjacent cable insertion holes. As a result, when the cable near the cable insertion hole is bent,
Since the seal rubber is deformed in response to the bending, a gap may be formed between the housing and the seal rubber, and the waterproof may be insufficient.

[0005] In the above-mentioned prior art, in a waterproof connector provided with a seal rubber which can be caulked to a contact together with a cable, the seal rubber may come off during use unless the seal rubber is caulked to the contact. Therefore, the caulking operation is indispensable, and the mounting process of the waterproof plug becomes complicated.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector that can be easily attached with a waterproof plug and that is sufficiently waterproof even if a cable is bent.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a waterproof connector according to the present invention has an insertion opening at a rear end side for inserting a contact to which a cable is connected, and is fitted in a watertight manner with a mating housing. watertight and c maggots <br/> ing the contact insertion holes are formed, the rear end side of the cable with the cable is inserted into the rear end having a fitting opening for coupling the front end winding comb seal member taken in, and the latch arms sandwiched between the pair of slits are formed, the housing engaging with the latch arm with surrounding the outer peripheral surface of said seal member for supporting said seal member in waterproof connector having a waterproof plug comprising a support member for the insertion opening near said housing
A contact surface facing the rear end side is formed,
The latch arm of the member engages with the housing.
By means of the latch arm and the housing
The portion of the seal member sandwiched between the contact surfaces is
Abuts on the contact surface while pressed against the contact surface by the arm
It is characterized by doing.

[0007]

In the waterproof connector of the present invention, the seal member water-tightly surrounds the cable inserted at the rear end side of the contact insertion hole, and the support member surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the seal member and engages with the housing by the latch arm. ing. Therefore,
In waterproofing the rear end side, it is not necessary to caulk the seal member to the contact, so that the waterproof plug can be attached to the housing by a simple operation.

Further, since the seal member is supported by the support member surrounding the outer peripheral surface, even if the cable is bent, no gap is formed between the cable and the seal member. For this reason, the waterproofing does not become insufficient due to the bending of the cable as in the related art. In addition, latch
The arm secures and seals the seal member in the housing
Both functions can be obtained at the same time.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a waterproof connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where two waterproof connectors are fitted. 2A and 2B show a waterproof plug attached to a cable. FIG. 2A is a plan view viewed from above in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a side view viewed from the contact side.
The waterproof connector 10 has a male housing 12, and the waterproof connector 100 has a female housing 112.

Contact insertion hole 1 of male housing 12
The female contact 18 to which the cable 16 is connected is inserted through the insertion opening 14 formed on the rear end side of the connector 3. The cable 16 includes a waterproof plug 2 including a seal rubber (seal member) 20 surrounding the cable 16 and a support (support member) 22 surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the seal rubber 20.
4 are attached in advance. The seal rubber 20 is formed from a rubber-like elastic material such as silicone rubber. The support body 22 is made of a hard resin, and has four latch arms 22b formed at a substantially equal interval on an outer periphery thereof, sandwiched between a pair of slits 22a extending in the insertion direction.

When the rear end of the waterproof plug 24 is pushed, the waterproof plug 24 is fitted into the insertion opening 14, and the support 22 is pressed toward the cable 16 by the inner wall of the insertion opening 14. The seal rubber 20 is pressed toward the cable 16. As a result, the cable 16 is surrounded by the sealing rubber 20 in a watertight manner. Further, when the waterproof plug 24 is inserted into the male housing 12, the four latch arms 22b are engaged with the engaging holes 12a formed at the corresponding positions of the male housing 12, whereby the waterproof plug 2
4 is secured. When the latch arm 22b is engaged with the male housing 12, the distal end of the latch arm 22b presses the seal rubber 20 forward, so that the distal end surface 20a of the seal rubber 20 comes into contact with the contact surface 12b of the male housing 12. As a result, the water or oil entering through the engagement hole 12a is hardly brought into contact with the two surfaces 12b, 2b.
0a and cannot enter inside.

A fitting opening 26 for fitting the female housing 112 is formed at the front end of the male housing 12 facing the insertion opening 14. An O-ring 28 is attached to the outer wall of the fitting opening 26. The O-ring 28 is fixed to the male housing 12 by an O-ring stopper member 30, whereby waterproofing is performed at a fitting portion between the two housings 12 and 112. When the two housings 12 and 112 are fitted, the female contact 18 and the male contact 118 are fitted, and the latch 120 of the female housing 112 and the engaging portion 32 of the male housing 12 are engaged. This allows the two housings 12, 1
12 are prevented from being separated from each other.

At the rear end of the female housing 112, similarly to the male housing 12, an insertion opening 114 and an engagement hole 1 are provided.
12a are formed. Also, the cable 116
The same waterproof plug 24 attached to the cable 16 is attached. The engagement of the engagement hole 112a and the latch arm 122b prevents the waterproof plug 24 from coming off. Incidentally, the engaging holes 12a and 112a may be recessed.

As described above, the waterproof connector of this embodiment is attached to the cable in advance, and can easily engage with the housing only by pushing forward. In addition, since the support member is arranged so as to surround the entire seal rubber surrounding the cable, there is no gap between the housing and the seal rubber even if the cable near the cable insertion hole is bent, and the waterproof plug is sufficiently waterproof. It is effective. further,
A waterproof plug having the same structure is attached to each cable, so that a plurality of cables can be similarly waterproofed.

Next, the detailed structure of the waterproof plug 24 will be described. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the waterproof plug. Waterproof stopper 24
Is composed of the seal rubber 20 and the support 22 as described above. On the inner wall 20a of the seal rubber 20,
Two ring-shaped convex portions 20b are formed. When the waterproof plug 24 is attached to the cable 16 and fitted into the insertion opening 14, the projection 20b is pressed more strongly by the cable than the inner wall 20a. As a result, the waterproof effect is greater than that of the inner wall 20a without the protrusion 20b. In addition, waterproof plug 2
Since the support 22 of No. 4 has a structure surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the seal rubber 20, the seal rubber 20 is removed by pushing the rear ends 20c of the seal rubber 20 closer to each other.
Can be easily replaced. For this reason, the seal rubber corresponding to the diameter of the cable can be easily attached to the support. When the waterproof plug 24 is fitted into the insertion opening 14, the seal rubber 20 is pressed from the cable 16 and the support 22 is pressed from the male housing 12. 20d is almost gone.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the waterproof plug. The waterproof plug 44 shown in FIG.
(See FIG. 3) is not formed, and the other parts are the same as the waterproof plug 24 (see FIG. 3). Since the rear end portion is not formed, the seal rubber can be easily removed, and the seal rubber 40 can be easily replaced as compared with the waterproof plug 24 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows another modification of the waterproof plug. FIG.
Is characterized in that a groove for receiving a convex portion 52a formed at the rear end of the support 52 is formed in the seal rubber 50, and the other portion is the waterproof plug 24 (FIG. 3).
Reference). The engagement between the seal rubber 50 and the support 52 is further improved by the projection 52a.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the waterproof connector. The waterproof connector 60 shown in FIG. 6 is characterized in that a ring-shaped projection 62b is formed on the contact surface 62a of the male housing 62, and the other parts are the same as the waterproof connector 10. When the waterproof plug 24 is fitted into the insertion opening 14, the protrusion 62b enters the seal rubber 20, so that the waterproof effect on the contact surface 62a is further improved.

[0019]

As described above, according to the waterproof connector of the present invention, the seal member water-tightly surrounds the cable inserted at the rear end side of the contact insertion hole, and the support member surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the seal member. Therefore, when the rear end side is waterproofed, it is not necessary to caulk the seal member to the contact. Therefore, the waterproof plug can be attached to the housing with a simple operation. Further, the seal member can be easily replaced according to the thickness of the cable. In addition, housing
Function of fixing the sealing member in the housing and enhancing the sealing performance
Are simultaneously obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a waterproof connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a waterproof plug attached to a cable.
(A) is a plan view viewed from above in FIG. 1, and (b) is a side view viewed from the contact side.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a waterproof plug of the waterproof connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the waterproof plug shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another modification of the waterproof plug shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified example of the waterproof connector shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 100 Waterproof connector 12 Male housing 12a Engagement hole 12b Contact surface 13 Contact insertion hole 14, 114 Insertion opening 16, 116 Cable 18 Female contact 20 Seal rubber 20a Tip surface 22 Support 22a Slit 22b Latch arm 24 Waterproof Plug 26 Mating opening 28 O-ring

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/52

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A contact insertion hole having an insertion opening at a rear end side for inserting a contact connected to a cable at a rear end side and having a fitting opening at a front end side for watertight fitting with a mating housing is formed. and housings have, the cable inserted state wound comb seal member takes the cable of said rear end watertight to said rear end, and a latch arm sandwiched between the pair of slits are formed and, waterproof connectors smell surrounding the outer peripheral surface and a waterproof plug comprising a support member that engages the housing in the latch arm with supporting the seal member of the seal member
In the vicinity of the insertion opening of the housing, the rear end side
A facing contact surface is formed, and the latch arm of the support member is engaged with the housing.
The latch arm and the housing
The portion of the seal member sandwiched between the contact surfaces of the
With the latch arm pressed against the contact surface, the contact
A waterproof connector characterized by contacting a surface.