JP3275945B2 - 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 which performs reliable waterproofing by compressing an O-ring or directly contacting a covering portion of an electric wire.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 16 and 17 show a basic conventional waterproof connector. In this waterproof connector 61, a waterproof rubber plug 63 is inserted into a covering portion of the electric wire 62, and a distal end portion 63 a of the waterproof rubber plug 63 is fixedly fastened to the electric wire 62 with a rear crimping piece 65 of a terminal 64. The conductor portion 62 a is connected to the front crimping piece 66 of the terminal 64, and the terminal 64 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 68 of the connector housing 67 and locked by the flexible locking lance 69. The waterproof rubber stopper 63 prevents water or the like from entering the terminal housing chamber 68 from the outside.

[0003]

However, in the above structure, when a lateral stress (tensile force) is applied to the electric wire 62 as shown in FIG. 18, the rubber plug 63 is eccentric,
There is a concern that a gap 70 is formed between the housing 67 and water and water enters the inside. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, when the crimping position (65) of the terminal 64 is shifted, there is a concern that the waterproofness may vary. Further, there is a problem that the insertion force when the waterproof plug 63 is inserted into the accommodation room 68 is large, and the workability of inserting the terminal is poor, and that the waterproofness in a severe environment such as high-pressure washing of a vehicle is poor. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a waterproof connector that can reliably perform waterproofing even when stress is applied to an electric wire or in a severe environment such as high-pressure washing.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, as a first means, an annular seal member attached to an outer periphery of an electric wire, and the annular seal member is inserted into an electric wire insertion hole of a connector housing. A waterproofing member disposed at an opening edge and having a compression member having an electric wire insertion hole with respect to the annular seal member, wherein the compression member presses the annular seal member toward the connector housing; A guide groove is provided on the end face of the electric wire insertion hole on the opening side, and an engagement ridge for the guide groove is provided on the compression member. It is also possible to form a tapered surface for sealing member sealing at the opening edge of the wire insertion hole of the connector housing and the opening edge of the wire insertion hole of the compression member. It is also effective to extend the guide groove and the engaging ridge to the tapered surfaces of the electric wire insertion holes. Further, a screw portion is provided in the connector housing, and a rotatable fixing portion having a screw portion engageable with the screw portion.
It is also possible to the compression member with wood is pressed against the said connector housing side. Further, it is also possible to provide an alignment mark on the connector housing and the fixing member for obtaining an optimum crushing allowance of the annular seal member. Further, the present invention provides, as a second means, an electric wire holding member in which a terminal insertion hole and an electric wire fitting hole smaller in diameter than the terminal insertion hole are formed so as to face the end face of the connector housing on the terminal insertion hole opening side. , wherein while rotating the electric wire holding member
By joining to the end surface , the electric wire is moved from the terminal insertion hole into the electric wire fitting hole, and the peripheral surface of the electric wire fitting hole and the end are connected.
Adopt a waterproof connector that is in close contact with the peripheral surface of the child insertion hole . By screwing a fixing member separate from the electric wire holding member to the connector housing , the electric wire holding member can be joined to the end face while rotating. Further, it is also possible to temporarily lock the wire holding member in which a plurality of key-shaped holes formed by the terminal insertion holes and the wire fitting holes are formed rotationally symmetrically to the connector housing.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. In the first means, the annular seal member is compressed between the housing and the compression member to close the opening of each wire insertion hole. By screwing the fixing member to the housing side, the compression member is pressed against the housing side, and the seal member is compressed. In addition, the protrusion is engaged with the guide groove, so that the compression member is positioned and prevented from rotating. The guide ridge at the opening edge crushes the annular sealing member to enhance the adhesion. Further, the degree of compression of the seal member is made constant by the alignment mark. In the second means, the electric wire in the terminal insertion hole moves into the electric wire fitting hole and comes into close contact with the electric wire by rotating the electric wire holding member. The portion of the wire fitting hole that does not adhere to the inner peripheral surface adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the terminal insertion hole of the housing. Thereby, the communication between the terminal insertion hole and the terminal insertion hole is interrupted by the electric wire, and the terminal is waterproofed.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a waterproof connector according to the present invention. The waterproof connector 1 has a connector housing 4 made of synthetic resin having a plurality of electric wire insertion holes (terminal insertion holes) 2 at a rear end and an O-ring contact portion 3 formed at an opening edge of the electric wire insertion hole 2. A rubber O-ring 6 as an annular seal member fitted around the outer periphery of the terminal-attached electric wire 5; and a synthetic resin O-ring compression member 8 joined to the rear end (7) of the housing.
And an annular fixing member (fixing cap) 9 made of synthetic resin, which is screwed to the rear end of the housing and presses and fixes the compression member 8 against the rear end of the housing.

The connector housing 4 is of a male type having a cylindrical shape, and a short cylindrical boss portion 7 having a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the housing is formed at the rear portion of the housing.
The four wire insertion holes 2 are provided in the boss portion 7 at equal intervals of 90 °. The insertion hole 2 continues to a terminal accommodating chamber 10 in the connector housing 4. An annular tapered surface 3 which is the O-ring close contact portion is formed on the periphery of the insertion hole 2.

On the rear end face 11 of the boss 7, a V-shaped guide groove 12 extending from each of the insertion holes 2 is formed. The guide groove 12 extends orthogonally at the center of the insertion hole 2 and reaches the outer periphery 13 of the boss 7. A male screw 14 for screwing a fixing member is formed on the outer periphery 13 of the boss 7. Further, in front of the boss 7, on the outer periphery 15 of the connector housing 4, there is formed or provided an alignment mark 16 for indicating a rotation end point of the fixing member 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, a terminal 17 with an electric wire is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 10 of the connector housing 4 through the insertion hole 2.
Step 1 between terminals by flexible locking lance 18 of housing 4
9 is locked. The O-ring 6 is provided at the rear portion of the terminal 17 so as to be fitted to the insulating coating portion 5 a of the electric wire 5. With the terminal 17 inserted, the O-ring 6 is located outside the rear of the housing 4. One O-ring 6 is provided for each of the plurality of electric wires with terminals 5 inserted into the housing 4.

The O-ring compressing member 8 facing the rear end face 11 of the boss 7 has a disk shape with substantially the same diameter as the boss 7, and the wire is inserted into the same position corresponding to the insertion hole 2 on the housing 4 side. It has a hole 20. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an engagement ridge 22 having a V-shaped cross section with respect to the guide groove 12 is formed on the front end face 21 of the compression member 8. The engaging ridges 22 are provided in the cross direction through the centers of the respective insertion holes 20 similarly to the guide grooves 12. An annular tapered surface (O-ring contact portion) 23 for pressing against the O-ring 6 is formed around the front end surface 21 at the periphery of the insertion hole 20.

The engagement ridge 22 is formed to extend to the tapered surface 23, and as shown in FIG. 5, has an effect of crushing the O-ring 6 to improve the sealing property. Also, the ridge 22
The compression member 8 is fitted to the guide groove 12 to position the compression member 8 on the housing-side boss portion 7 to center the compression member 8 and to fix the compression member 8 immovably in the rotation direction. Since the grooves 12 and the ridges 22 are formed symmetrically in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the four equally arranged insertion holes 20, the positioning of the compression member 8 with respect to the housing 4 can be easily performed without distinction in the upper, lower, left and right directions, and The centering is reliably performed by the engagement between the mold groove 12 and the V-shaped ridge 22.

At the rear end of the compression member 8, the insertion hole 2 is provided.
A circular convex wall portion 24 including 0 is formed. The convex wall portion 24 is engaged with the inner hole 25 of the fixing cap 9 to center the compression member 8 and the cap 9. The fixing cap 9 is composed of a cylindrical wall 26 and a flange-shaped stop wall 27 projecting inward from the rear end of the cylindrical wall 26. The inner wall of the cylindrical wall 26 has the housing A female screw 28 is formed for the male screw 14 on the fourth side.

An alignment mark 29 for the housing-side mark 16 is formed or provided on a part of the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall 26. Two alignment marks 1
The screw-in length and the dimensions of each part are set so that the O-ring 6 is compressed to the optimum allowance by aligning the positions of 6, 29. As shown in FIG. 2, an accommodation portion 30 for the compression member 8 is formed inside the cylindrical wall 26.

FIG. 6 shows an assembled state of the waterproof connector 1. Fixing cap 9 on housing boss 7
, The compression member 8 comes into contact with the rear end face 11 of the boss portion 7, the O-ring 6 is pushed by the tapered surfaces 3 and 23, and is crushed into a tapered cross section. The inner diameter portion 6a is strongly adhered. As shown in FIG. 5, the ridge 22 having a V-shaped cross section of the compression member 8 is
2 to prevent the rotation of the compression member 8 during the rotation of the cap, and further crush the O-ring 6 to enhance the adhesion.
By tightening the cap 9, the plurality of electric wires 5 are simultaneously and uniformly sealed by the respective O-rings 6 in the plurality of electric wire insertion holes 2.

In the above structure, only one of the insertion hole 2 of the housing 4 and the insertion hole 20 of the compression member 8 is provided with a tapered portion 3 (23) for O-ring close contact.
The other may remain straight. As shown in FIG. 7, a cylindrical pressing portion 31 for the O-ring 6 is protruded from the periphery of the opening of the insertion hole 20 'of the compression member 8', and the O-ring 6 is forcibly crushed by the pressing portion 31. It is also possible to increase the adhesion. Further, the formation of the V-shaped ridges 22 and the grooves 12 is not limited to the cross direction. If only the positioning and prevention of rotation of the compression member 8 are to be performed, the protrusions (not shown) and the protrusions A combination of the engagement holes is also possible. Further, the compression member 8 and the cap 9 can be integrally formed. That is, the compression member 8 of FIG.
A cylindrical wall (fixed portion) having a female screw portion (not shown) may be rotatably provided on the outer peripheral portion.

According to the above embodiment, the waterproofing of the plurality of electric wires with terminals 5 can be performed simultaneously by tightening the cap 9, and the waterproofness is obtained by obtaining a stronger O-ring adhesion than the conventional rubber stopper. Can be enhanced. Further, since there is no rubber stopper inserted, the terminal insertion force is low, and the terminal insertion into the housing 4 is easy. Further, since the O-ring 6 is protected by the compression member 8, there is no adverse effect such as stepping stones.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the waterproof connector according to the present invention. This waterproof connector 35 is
A connector housing 37 made of a synthetic resin having a plurality of terminal insertion holes 36 formed in the rear end portion in substantially the same manner as in the embodiment;
Opposite to the plurality of terminal insertion holes 36, a synthetic resin material having a key-shaped hole 40 in which a large-diameter terminal insertion hole 38 and a small-diameter electric wire fitting long hole (electric wire fitting hole) 39 are integrally connected. And a fixing member (fixing cap) 45 for joining and fixing the electric wire holding member 41 to the rear portion (boss portion 44) of the housing with the same screw means 42 and 43 as in the previous example.

As in the previous example, the terminal insertion hole 36 is formed in the boss 44.
The male screw portion 42 is formed, and the opening of the insertion hole 36 is located on the rear end face 53 of the boss portion 44. At the center of the boss 44, a temporary locking hole 46 for the electric wire holding member 41 is provided. At the center of the front end face 47 of the electric wire holding member 41, an engaging projection 48 for the temporary locking hole 46 is formed so as to protrude as shown in FIGS. The engagement projection 48 includes a shaft 49 that projects straight, and a spherical portion 50 provided at the tip of the shaft 49. The outer diameter of the spherical portion 50 is formed slightly larger than the inner diameter of the temporary locking hole 46.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the wire holding member 41 is temporarily locked to the connector housing 37, and FIG.
2, the spherical portion 50 of the engaging projection 48 penetrates through the temporary locking hole 46 of the boss portion 44 and engages with the hole front end 46a. Thus, the wire holding member 41 is rotatably held with respect to the housing 37.

8 and 9, the key-shaped holes 40 of the electric wire holding member 41 are formed in four equally distributed and rotationally symmetric shapes, similarly to the terminal insertion holes 36 on the housing 37 side. Each large-diameter terminal insertion hole 36 is screwed when turning the cap (clockwise).
A small-diameter (small width) wire fitting long hole 39 formed on the rotation leading side corresponding to the direction is formed on the tail side after the rotation.

The terminal insertion hole 38 is set to have an inner diameter that allows the terminal to be inserted, and the wire fitting long hole 39 is equal to or preferably slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the insulating coating of the electric wire 51 (FIG. 13). Set to the inner diameter or inner width dimension. That is, the electric wire 51 can be tightly inserted (press-fitted) into the long hole 39.
In addition, it is not necessary to be a long hole, and a groove (hole) having a depth approximately equal to the diameter of the electric wire may be used. Also, cap 45
Is a left-handed screw, the key-shaped hole 40 in FIG. 9 is formed in a shape inverted by 180 °.

In a state where the wire holding member 41 is temporarily locked or the cap 45 is lightly initially screwed into the housing boss portion 44 in FIG. 11, the wire 51 with the terminal is held in the inner hole 52 of the cap 45 as shown in FIG. The housing 3 passes through the large-diameter terminal insertion hole 38 of the member 41 and the terminal insertion hole 36 of the boss 44.
7 is inserted. By rotating the cap 45 in the tightening direction, the wire holding member 41
The electric wire 51 located in the terminal insertion hole 38 moves into the electric wire fitting long hole 39 as shown in FIG. Then, in a state where the cap 45 is completely tightened, as shown in FIG.
The portion which is in close contact with 9a but not in contact with the peripheral surface 39a is tightly attached to the peripheral surface 36a of the terminal insertion hole 36 of the housing 37. Thereby, communication between the terminal insertion hole 38 of the electric wire holding member 41 and the terminal insertion hole 36 of the housing 37 is interrupted, and waterproofing is performed.

The electric wire holding member 41 and the cap 45 can be formed integrally. In this case, the cap portion (45) is fixed to the electric wire holding member 41 completely integrally. Further, the electric wire holding member 41 can be formed of an elastic member such as rubber.

The sealing member according to the second actual施例is unnecessary, assembling steps and parts costs of the seal member is reduced.
In addition, since there is no sealing member, even if stress such as tensile force acts on the electric wire 51, the electric wire 51 is not affected at all, and the sealing performance is maintained. In addition, the electric wire 51 is reliably positioned by the electric wire fitting hole 39 of the electric wire holding member 41. Further, since the terminal can be inserted into the housing 37 via the cap 45 and the wire holding member 41, the insertion operation is easy.

[0026]

As described above , according to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention , the annular sealing member having a higher degree of compression than the conventional waterproof rubber stopper is tightly waterproofed, so that high-pressure cleaning is performed. Even under harsh environments such as waterproofing. Further, the annular seal member is crushed by the engagement ridge, whereby the adhesion is further improved,
Sufficient sealing performance is ensured even when the wire is pulled in the lateral direction. In addition, the movement amount of the compression member, that is, the degree of compression of the seal member is made constant by the alignment mark, and the variation in waterproofness is eliminated. Further, the sealing member is protected from flying stones and the like by the compression member.

According to the invention of claims 6 to 8,
Wire tightly fit within the wire fitting hole while Konekutahauji
The wire holding member is in close contact with the peripheral surface of the
Connect to the end face of the connector housing
As a result , sufficient waterproof performance can be obtained without using a sealing member.
Since there is no change in the sealing property under high pressure washing or severe environment of high and low temperature, stable waterproofness is exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of a waterproof connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the waterproof connector in which terminals are inserted.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an O-ring compression member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the compression member.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where an O-ring is compressed.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an assembled state of the waterproof connector.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of the compression structure of the O-ring.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of the waterproof connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing an electric wire support member.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing an electric wire support member.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a state where the wire support member is temporarily locked to the housing.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the temporary locking means.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a state where the electric wire is positioned in a terminal insertion hole of the electric wire support member.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a state where the electric wire has been moved into the electric wire fitting hole.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing a state in which the electric wires are in close contact with each other.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional waterproof connector.

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the terminal is inserted and locked in the housing.

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where a rubber stopper is eccentric.

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a caulking position of a rubber stopper is shifted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,35 Waterproof connector 2,20 Electric wire insertion hole 3,23 Tapered surface 4,37 Connector housing 5,51 Electric wire 6 O-ring (annular seal member) 8 Compression member 9 Fixing member 12 Guide groove 14,28 Screw portion 16 , 29 Alignment mark 22 Engagement ridge 38 Terminal insertion hole 39 Electric wire fitting hole 40 Key-shaped hole 41 Electric wire holding member 9, 45 Fixing cap

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

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An annular seal member is attached to an outer periphery of an electric wire,
The annular seal member is disposed at the opening edge of the electric wire insertion hole of the connector housing, and a compression member having an electric wire insertion hole is disposed with respect to the annular seal member, and the compression member is used to connect the annular seal member to the connector. A waterproof connector for pressing against a housing, wherein a guide groove is provided on an end surface of the connector housing on an opening side of an electric wire insertion hole, and an engagement ridge for the guide groove is provided on the compression member. . 2. The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein a tapered surface for sealing member sealing is formed at an opening edge of the wire insertion hole of the connector housing and an opening edge of the wire insertion hole of the compression member. . 3. The waterproof connector according to claim 2, wherein the guide groove and the engaging ridge according to claim 1 are formed to extend to a tapered surface of each of the electric wire insertion holes. Wherein the threaded portion is provided on the connector housing, rotatable solid having a threadable threaded portion to the threaded portion
Any one of claims 1 to 3, the compression member in titration, member, characterized in that it is pressed against to the connector housing side
Prevention connector according to. 5. The connector housing and the fixing part.
In the wood, the waterproof connector according to claim 4, characterized in that a positioning mark for optimum squeeze of the annular seal member. 6. A wire holding member in which a terminal insertion hole and a wire fitting hole having a smaller diameter than the terminal insertion hole are formed so as to be opposed to an end face of the connector housing on the terminal insertion hole opening side, and the wire holding member is turned. by joining the end surface while moving, to move the wire from the terminal insertion hole to the power line fitting hole
And close contact with the peripheral surface of the wire fitting hole and the peripheral surface of the terminal insertion hole.
A waterproof connector characterized by the following: 7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein a fixing member separate from the electric wire holding member is screwed into the connector housing so that the electric wire holding member is joined to the end face while rotating. The waterproof connector described. 8. The electric wire holding member in which a plurality of key-shaped holes formed of the terminal insertion holes and the electric wire fitting holes are formed in a rotationally symmetric manner is temporarily locked to the connector housing in a rotatable manner. Item 8. The waterproof connector according to item 6 or 7.