JP3293414B2 - Connection structure between electrical connection devices - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure for connecting a plurality of electrical connection devices for electrically connecting one of a plurality of connection lines and another of a plurality of connection lines to each other in parallel. That is, the present invention relates to a connection structure between electrical connection devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one type of an electrical connection device, a connector housing having a plurality of insertion holes arranged in parallel inside a frame, and a connector housing provided at a distal end of each first connection line from one end of the connector housing. A first connector having a plurality of female connection terminals inserted and fixed in each insertion hole, a connector housing having a plurality of insertion holes arranged in parallel inside the frame, and a tip end of each second connection line. A second connector provided with a plurality of male connection terminals inserted into and fixed to the respective insertion holes from one end of the connector housing, and these two connectors are connected at the other end of each of the connector housings. Mating with each other,
There is an electrical connection device for electrically connecting the male connection terminals and the female connection terminals to each other.

[0003] The electrical connection device of this type is used by being attached to an appropriate attachment member. The attachment to the attachment member is performed as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b).
The hook 2a of the cassette clamp 2 mounted on the mounting member 3 is hooked into a mounting hole 3a provided in the mounting member 3.

[0004]

In the electrical connection device 1 of this type, a plurality of the electrical connection devices 1 may be mounted on the mounting member 3 in parallel. In order to mount the cassette clamps 2 on the mounting member 3, a number of mounting holes 3 a corresponding to the number of the electrical connection devices 1 are formed, and the cassette clamps 2 mounted on the respective electrical connection devices 1 are locked in these mounting holes 3 a. Means for locking the parts 2a are employed.

As described above, in order to mount the plurality of electrical connection devices 1 on the mounting member 3, the number of the cassette clamps 2 corresponding to the cassette clamps 2 attached to each of the electrical connection devices 1 is determined. The mounting holes 3a must be formed at corresponding positions. In addition, when the attachment site of the attachment member 3 is regulated, a desired number of the electrical connection devices 1 are provided.
May not be able to be installed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve these problems which occur when a plurality of such electrical connection devices 1 are mounted on the mounting member 3.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a connector housing having a plurality of insertion holes arranged in parallel within a frame,
And a first connector having a plurality of female connection terminals provided at the distal end of each first connection line and inserted into and fixed to each of the insertion holes from one end of the connector housing;
A connector housing having a plurality of insertion holes arranged in parallel inside the frame, and a plurality of male dies provided at the distal end of each second connection line and inserted into each of the insertion holes from one end side of the connector housing and fixed. A second connector provided with a connection terminal; these two connectors are fitted to each other at the other end of each of the connector housings so that the male connection terminals and the female connection terminals are electrically connected to each other; This is a connection structure of electrical connection devices that connects a first electrical connection device to be connected and a second electrical connection device having the same configuration as the first electrical connection device in parallel with each other.

[0008] Thus, the connecting structure of the present invention comprises the first
The female connection terminal is provided with a first engagement means on one of the outer portions of both connectors constituting the electrical connection device, and as a second engagement means for engaging with the first engagement means. Alternatively, a connector having a leg portion to which a male connection terminal is attached is employed, and the connection terminal having the second engagement means attached to the leg portion is connected to both connectors constituting the second electrical connection device. And the electric connection devices are connected in parallel by engaging the engaging means with each other and fixing the electric connection devices in parallel.

When the connecting structure of the present invention is adopted, fixing means for fixing to the mounting member is provided only in one of the two electric connection devices.

[0010]

In the connection structure according to the present invention, the first electrical connection device is provided with the first engagement means at a predetermined position, and the second electrical connection device is provided with the second engagement means. The engagement means is attached by inserting the connection terminal attached to the leg of the second engagement means into an arbitrary insertion hole of the connector constituting the same device. In this case, if the second engagement means is attached to the second electrical connection device while being engaged with the first engagement means, the first and second electrical connection devices can be connected in parallel with each other. If the second engagement means is connected to the second electrical connection device before the second engagement means is engaged with the first engagement means, the second engagement means and the first engagement means are connected to the first electrical connection device. The first and second electrical connection devices are connected to each other in parallel by engaging the engagement means with each other.

Therefore, in order to mount the first and second electrical connection devices to the mounting member, only one fixing means for the mounting portion needs to be provided in any one of the electrical connection devices. May be provided with one mounting hole corresponding to the fixing means on the electrical connection device side.

In the connection structure, since a plurality of electric connection devices are connected to each other in parallel,
The mounting portion for the mounting member only needs to be large enough to mount only one device, and a plurality of electrical connection devices can be mounted on the mounting member whose mounting portion is restricted without any trouble. Is possible.

In particular, in the connection structure, when the second engagement means is attached to the electrical connection device, the connection terminal attached to the leg portion of the second engagement means has a connector constituting the same. Since the second engagement means is inserted into an arbitrary one of the many insertion holes, the second engagement means can be attached to any part of the connector. For this reason, even when the space in which the attachment member is arranged is limited in size and shape, a plurality of electrical connection devices can be arranged without difficulty.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connecting structure according to the present invention; FIG. FIG. In this connection structure, the two electric connection devices 10 and 20 have the same configuration, and the connection mechanism 3
0 are connected in parallel with each other. Accordingly, in the following, the same components and the same components of the first electrical connection device 10 and the second electrical connection device 20 will be described with the same reference numerals in the 10s and 20s.

The first electrical connection device 10 and the second electrical connection device 20 correspond to the first and second electrical connection devices in the present invention. As shown in FIGS. The electrical connection device 10 includes a first connector 10a and a second connector 10b, and the second electrical connection device 20 similarly includes a first connector 20a and a second connector 20b. Each first connector 10
a and 20a are first connector housings 11 and 21;
A plurality of female connection terminals 12 and 22 are provided, and each second connector 10 b and 20 b is connected to the second connector housing 1.
3 and 23 and a large number of male connection terminals 14 and 24.

The connector housings 11 and 21 constituting the first connectors 10a and 20a are made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rectangular housings 11a and 21a have a predetermined length. Partitioned by the partition walls 11b and 21b, the partition walls 11 are provided inside the frame bodies 11a and 21a.
b, 21b, a large number of insertion holes 11c, 21
c is formed. Also, the second connectors 10b, 2
The connector housings 13 and 23 constituting the connector housing 0b are also made of synthetic resin, and are rectangular and have a predetermined length.
The inside of 23a is partitioned by partition walls 13b, 23b, and the partition walls 13b, 23b are inside the frame bodies 13a, 23a.
A large number of insertion holes 13c and 23c are formed, and a rectangular accommodation chamber 1 is opened at the other end.
3d and 23d are formed.

Each of the housing chambers 13d and 23d is formed to have a size in which the connector housings 11 and 21 of the first connectors 10a and 20a are fitted.
Lock holes 13e, 23e are formed in the side walls forming the accommodation chambers 13d, 23d of FIG. Each hook hole 13
When the connector housings 11 and 21 are fitted into the housing chambers 13d and 23d, the locking projections 11d and 21d provided on the outer peripheral walls of the connector housings 11 and 21 are locked. , And both connector housings 21 and 23 are fixed to each other.

The female connection terminals 12 and 22 are made of metal, and as shown in FIGS.
Gripping pieces 12b provided in three stages in the longitudinal direction of 2a, 22a,
22b, 12c, 22c, 12d, and 22d, the first and second gripping pieces 12b, 22b, 12c, and 22c are attached to the connection lines 31a and 32a by caulking, and the third gripping piece 12d at the lower end is provided. , 22d are formed on the cylindrical connecting portions 12e, 22e.

The bent pieces 12f and 22f are located in the cylindrical connecting portions 12e and 22e and function as spring members.
The female connection terminals 12 and 22 attached to the tips of the connection wires 31a and 32a are inserted into the insertion holes 11c and 21c of the connector housings 11 and 21, respectively, and
a, the insertion hole 1 is formed by the hook holes 12g, 22g provided in the 22a.
1c is fixed by being hooked on a hooking projection provided on the inner wall of the inner wall 1c.
Open to the other end.

The male connection terminals 14 and 24 are made of metal, and as shown in FIGS.
4a, gripping pieces 14b provided in two stages in the longitudinal direction of 24a,
By crimping 24b14c, 24c, connection line 31 is formed.
b, 32b. Also, the plate portion 14
a and 24a are provided in three stages with hanging pieces 14d, 24d and 14
e, 24e, 14f, and 24f are formed, and the distal ends of the plate portions 14a, 24a are formed on the blade-shaped connection protrusions 14g, 24g in a folded state.

The male connection terminals 14 and 24 attached to the ends of the connection wires 31b and 32b are inserted into the insertion holes 13c and 23c of the connector housings 13 and 23, respectively, and provided on the plate portions 14a and 24a. Hanging pieces 14d, 24
d, 14e, 24e, 14f, 24f, the insertion hole 13
c, 23c are fixed by being hooked to respective hooks provided on the inner wall of the inner wall, and the connection protrusions 14g, 24g are inserted into the insertion holes 13c, 23c.
It projects into the accommodation chambers 13d and 23d through the other end of 23c.

To connect the plurality of connection lines 31a, 31b, 32a, 32b to each other in each of the electrical connection devices 10, 20, the first connector 10a, 20a and the second connector
The connectors 10b and 20b are fitted to each other at their other ends.

Thus, the first connectors 10a, 20
The other end sides of the connector housings 11 and 21a are the connector housings 13 of the second connectors 10b and 20b.
23 are inserted into the accommodation rooms 13d and 23d,
Each male connection terminal 14 of the second connector 10b, 20b,
24 of the first connector 1
0a, 20a are inserted into the cylindrical connecting portions 12e, 22e of the female connecting terminals 12, 22, respectively.
Bent pieces 12f, 22f and fourth gripping pieces 12d, 22
and d. As a result, the female connection terminals 12, 22 and the male connection terminals 14, 24 are connected to each other, and the connection lines 31a, 32a and the connection lines 31 are connected.
b and 32b are electrically connected.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the connecting mechanism 30 includes a first engaging member 31 and a second engaging member 32.
It consists of. These two engaging members 31 and 32 correspond to the first and second engaging means of the present invention.
The engagement member 31 is integrally formed on the outer surface of the connector housing 13 that constitutes the second connector 10b of the first electrical connection device 10. On the other hand, the second engagement member 32 is formed independently of each of the electrical connection devices 10 and 20.

The first engaging member 31 is a rectangular bottomed cylindrical body 31a having an open end at the other end. The outer wall has a pair of grooves 31b and 31c arranged in parallel with each other.
The groove 31d is also provided at the center between the two grooves 31b and 31c.
It has. Both side grooves 31b and 31c are cylindrical bodies 31a.
, And the central groove 31d is interrupted halfway.

The second engaging member 32 is provided with a main body 3 having a U-shaped cross section.
Outer flanges 32b and 32c are provided at each end of the main body 32a.
d and a leg 32e at the center of one end of the main body 32a.
It has. The leg 32e is bent in a U-shape,
The main body 32a extends once from the one end of the main body 32a by a predetermined length, and then bends and extends rearward. The male connection terminal 24 is attached to the tip of the leg 32e in the same manner as the attachment to the connection line 31b.

The second engaging member 32 is connected to the second electrical connection device 2.
The connector terminal 23 is attached to the connector housing 23 constituting the second connector 20b of the connector housing 23.
3c, it is fixed in the connector housing 23 by being inserted into an arbitrary insertion hole 23c. Second engagement member 3
2, each leg of the main body 32 a is inserted into each side groove 31 b, 31 c of the first engaging member 31, so that each outward flange 32 b, 32 c is hooked on the cylindrical body 31 a, and The part 32d is fitted in the central groove part 32e to prevent slipping. The second engagement member 32 is engaged with the first engagement member 31 while the connector housing 13
You may make it attach to.

The two electrical connection devices 1 connected in this way
Reference numerals 0 and 20 are attached to an appropriate attachment member 41 shown in FIG. In this case, a conventionally known cassette clamp 42 is mounted on the outer wall of the frame 23a of the connector housing 23 that constitutes the second connector 20b of the second electrical connection device 20, and a hook 42a of the cassette clamp 42 is provided.
Is inserted into a mounting hole 41 a provided in the mounting member 41 and latched, whereby the mounting member 41 is mounted on a predetermined portion. FIGS. 7A and 7B show two examples of the connection state of the electrical connection devices 10 and 20 in this case.

As described above, in the connection structure, the first engagement member 31 is attached to the outer wall of the connector housing 13 of the second connector 10b of the first electrical connection device 10.
And the second electrical connection device 20 is provided with the second engagement member 32 and the second connector 2 constituting the device 20.
The connection terminal 24 attached to the leg 32e of the second engagement member 32 is inserted and attached to an arbitrary insertion hole 23c of the connector housing 23 at 0b.

In this case, if the second engagement member 32 is attached to the connector housing 24 of the second electrical connection device 20 in a state where the second engagement member 32 is engaged with the first engagement member 31, the first and second electrical connections are made. The connection devices 10 and 20 are connected in parallel with each other, and if the second engagement member 32 is attached to the connector housing 24 of the second electrical connection device 20 before engaging the first engagement member 31, Second engaging member 3 attached to device 20
By engaging the second engagement member 31 with the first engagement member 31,
The second electric connection devices 10 and 20 are connected in parallel with each other.

Therefore, the first and second electric connection devices 1
In order to attach 0, 20 to the attachment member 41, the attachment portion 4
7, the cassette clamp 42 is connected to the second electrical connection device 20 side as shown in FIG.
It may be provided on any of the electrical connection device 10 sides, and the mounting member 41 may be provided with one mounting hole 41a corresponding to the cassette clamp 42 on the electrical connection device side.

Further, according to the connection structure, only one attachment site is required for the plurality of electrical connection devices 10 and 20 to the attachment member 41. Therefore, a plurality of attachment members for which the attachment site is restricted are provided. The electrical connection device can be mounted without any trouble. In particular, in the connection structure, when the second engagement member 32 is attached to the second electrical connection device 20, the connection terminal 24 attached to the leg 32 e of the second engagement member 32 constitutes the device 20. Since the second connector 20b is inserted into an arbitrary one of the many insertion holes 23c of the connector housing 23 of the connector housing 23, the second engagement member 32 can be attached to an arbitrary part of the connector housing 23. . For this reason,
Even when the space in which the attachment member 41 is arranged is limited in size and shape, a plurality of electrical connection devices can be arranged without difficulty.

In the above-described embodiment, the first engagement member 31 is provided on the first electrical connection device 10 side.
An example in which the second engagement member 32 is attached to the second electrical connection device 20 is shown, but on the contrary, the first engagement member 31
Can be provided on the second electrical connection device 20 side, and the second engagement member 32 can be attached to the first electrical connection device 10 side. In both of these embodiments, , Each engaging member 31, 32 is connected to the first connector 1.
It goes without saying that the connector housings 0a and 20a can be fixed or attached to the connector housings 11 and 21.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two electrical connection devices that are connected by adopting a connection structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connecting portion in the electrical connection device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing each connector housing of the electrical connection device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the electrical connection device is connected to connection lines of male and female connection terminals (a) and (b).

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a connection state of the connection terminals.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a second engagement member that constitutes a coupling mechanism of the electrical connection device, and a male connection terminal attached to the engagement member.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing two examples (a) and (b) of a connection state of the electrical connection devices connected by the connection structure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory views showing a conventional attachment state of the electrical connection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20 ... electrical connection device, 10a, 20a ... first connector, 10b, 20b ... second connector, 11, 12
1, 13, 23: Connector housing, 11c, 21
c, 13c, 23c: insertion hole, 12, 22, female connection terminal, 14, 24: male connection terminal, 30: coupling mechanism, 31
... first engagement member, 32 ... second engagement member, 32e ... leg,
41: mounting member, 41a: mounting hole, 42: cassette clamp.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-75409 (JP, A) JP-A-4-206178 (JP, A) JP-A-7-245155 (JP, A) JP-A 64-64 15512 (JP, A) JP-A 2-133877 (JP, U) JP-A 50-87493 (JP, U) JP-A 1-148675 (JP, U) JP-A 5-31141 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/514 H01R 13/73

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector housing having a plurality of insertion holes arranged in parallel inside a frame, and provided at a tip end of each first connection line, inserted into each of the insertion holes from one end side of the connector housing and fixed. A first connector provided with a plurality of female connection terminals, a connector housing having a plurality of insertion holes arranged in parallel inside the frame, and a connector housing provided at a distal end of each second connection line from one end of the connector housing. A second connector having a plurality of male connection terminals inserted and fixed in the respective insertion holes; these two connectors are fitted to each other at the other end side of each of the connector housings, and A first electrical connection device for electrically connecting the mold connection terminal and each female connection terminal to each other, and a second electrical connection device having the same configuration as the first electrical connection device. A connection structure for connecting the electric connection devices connected in parallel with each other, wherein a first engagement means is provided on an outer portion of any one of the two connectors constituting the first electric connection device, and As the second engaging means for engaging with the engaging means, an engaging means having a leg to which the female connection terminal or the male connection terminal is attached is adopted.
The connecting terminal having the engaging means attached to the leg portion is inserted into one of the insertion holes of both connectors constituting the second electrical connection device and fixed, and these two engaging means are engaged with each other. A connection structure between the electric connection devices, wherein the two electric connection devices are connected in parallel. 2. A connection structure according to claim 1, wherein only one of said two electrical connection devices is provided with a fixing means for fixing to an attachment member. Connection structure.