JP3415063B2 - Lamp socket - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lamp socket, and more particularly to a lamp socket used for a vehicle headlamp using a discharge type lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, discharge type lamps, that is, high-intensity discharge lamps (HID lamps) have been used as headlamps for automobiles. A high-voltage power supply is used to light this high-intensity discharge lamp (hereinafter, simply referred to as a lamp). Therefore, if the lamp and the lamp socket that accepts this lamp (hereinafter simply referred to as the socket) are not completely fitted together, in other words, if the electrical connection between the lamp and the socket is incomplete, discharge will occur between the terminals of the socket. May occur and the spark may fly. This spark damages the housing of the socket, the insulating seal member and the like and impairs the function of the socket. Therefore, various measures have been taken to prevent the spark from occurring. As an example of the prior art, the socket disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-50436 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the socket, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the socket.

As shown in FIG. 7, this socket 200
Has a fitting recess 202 into which a lamp plug 250 (FIG. 8) is inserted and fixed, a center terminal 204 serving as a high-voltage side terminal is arranged at the center thereof, and a low-voltage side external portion is provided around the center terminal 204. The terminal 210 and the check terminal 220 are arranged apart from each other. When the lamp plug 250 is fully seated in the mating recess 202, the center terminal of the plug 250 contacts the center terminal 204 of the socket 200.

A contact portion (not shown) located around the plug electrically contacts the external terminal 210 and the check terminal 220 of the socket 200. As a result, the external terminal 210 and the check terminal 220 are short-circuited. By checking this short circuit, it is determined that the lamp plug 250 and the socket 200 are completely fitted. After that, the terminals 204 and 21 before the plug 250 is fitted so that the voltage is applied.
Discharge at the zero position is prevented.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the socket 200 has a cylindrical center terminal mounting portion 212 protruding from the center of the fitting recess 202, and the above-mentioned center terminal 204 is mounted on the center terminal mounting portion 212. It is arranged. Also, the fitting recess 20
Although the external terminal 210 is arranged inside 2, the contact portion 214 of this external terminal 210 projects inward. An insulating seal member 230 is arranged on the outer periphery of the center terminal mounting portion 212 so as to be in close contact with the center terminal mounting portion 212. At this time, the tip end 204a of the center terminal 204, the top end 212a of the center terminal mounting portion 212, and the front end 230a of the insulating seal member have substantially the same height.

When the plug 250 of the counterpart lamp is completely fitted in the socket 200, the plug 250 is placed at the position shown by the phantom line in FIG. At this time, the inclined peripheral surface 250b on the inner side of the plug 250 is pressed and brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface 230b of the insulating seal member 230 having a shape complementary to the peripheral surface 250b. I try not to create a gap.

As another conventional example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-230
A vehicle headlight device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 557 is known. The socket of this device is usually provided with a spring biased switch to open the contacts. When the lamp and socket are fully mated, the switch is configured to be pressed against the spring force by the inserted lamp to close the contacts and power the socket.

[0008]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-5043
In the case of the conventional example disclosed in No. 6, if the plug 250 is not completely fitted, the plug 250 and the insulating seal member 23
No contact is made with 0 and voids are generated. If a voltage is applied in this state, the central terminal 204 passes through the above-mentioned gap.
A discharge is generated in the path from the external terminal 210 to the external terminal 210. At this time, the discharge is generated by the center terminal mounting portion 212 and the insulating seal member 23.
The upper part of 0 will be damaged. In the case of this conventional example, it is necessary to provide the check terminal 220 in addition to the external terminal 210 in order to prevent discharge, and there is a problem that the number of parts increases.

Further, in the case of the conventional example disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-230557, since the switch mechanism is provided in the socket, there arises a problem that the number of parts increases, the socket becomes large and the structure becomes complicated.

In any of the conventional examples, in order to avoid the problem of discharge, power is supplied after detecting complete fitting. Therefore, since an additional detection mechanism is provided, the cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lamp socket which prevents damage (damage) to the socket even if discharge occurs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized and inexpensive lamp socket having a simple structure which does not cause a problem due to electric discharge without a detection mechanism for detecting complete fitting.

[0013]

The lamp socket of the present invention has a low voltage side terminal near the outer wall of the lamp receiving recess and surrounds the high voltage side terminal located approximately in the center of the lamp receiving recess. It is characterized in that the top end of the provided protruding wall is set at a position higher than the front end of the insulating member arranged around the protruding wall and lower than the tip of the high-voltage side terminal.

Further, the tip of the high-voltage side terminal of the lamp socket can be set as a projecting piece provided apart from the contact portion connected to the high-voltage side electrode of the discharge lamp.

Further, in the lamp socket of the present invention, the tip of the protruding piece of the high voltage side terminal is made wide, and the distance to the low voltage side terminal is close to at least one side of the tip. You can

Further, the insulating sealing member has a contact surface with which the edge of the outer peripheral wall provided around the high-voltage side electrode of the discharge lamp abuts when the discharge lamp is received in the lamp receiving recess. Can be configured to.

It is preferable that the projecting piece is curved outward in the vicinity of the top end.

A lip extending toward the radial center of the insulating seal member is provided in the vicinity of the front end of the insulating seal member arranged around the projecting wall, and the lip is locked to the step portion provided on the projecting wall. It is desirable to configure it.

[0019]

In the lamp socket of the present invention, the low voltage side terminal is provided in the vicinity of the outer wall of the lamp receiving recess, and the projecting wall provided so as to surround the high voltage side terminal located substantially in the center of the lamp receiving recess. Since the top end of the high voltage side terminal is set higher than the front end of the insulating member arranged around the projecting wall and lower than the tip of the high voltage side terminal, the high voltage side terminal moves toward the low voltage side terminal. Even if an electric discharge is generated toward the outside, the top of the projecting wall and the front end of the insulating seal member are not exposed to the electric discharge and therefore are not damaged. Further, even if the discharging direction moves downward, the top end of the projecting wall and the front end of the sealing member become lower in this order, so that damage can be avoided even in this case. Therefore, even if there is no detection mechanism, the socket can be prevented from being damaged by discharge, and a small-sized and inexpensive lamp socket having a simple structure can be obtained.

Further, when the tip of the high-voltage side terminal of the lamp socket of the present invention is set to a protrusion provided apart from the contact portion connected to the high-voltage side electrode of the discharge type lamp, It is possible to easily and surely manage the position of the tip of the protrusion. That is, even if the lamp is fitted, its position is not affected, and the position can be optimally set by separating from the contact portion. In addition, the influence of discharge does not affect the contact piece.

Further, in the lamp socket of the present invention, when the tip of the protruding piece of the high voltage side terminal is wide, and the distance to the low voltage side terminal is close to at least one side of this tip, Since the discharge is generated at a position further away from the projecting wall and the insulating seal member, there is an effect that it is further less likely to be damaged.

Further, the insulating seal member has a contact surface with which the edge of the outer peripheral wall provided around the high voltage side electrode of the discharge type lamp contacts when the discharge type lamp is received in the lamp receiving recess. In such a case, since a long sealing surface along the insertion / extraction direction of the lamp is not required between the discharge type lamp, the front end of the sealing member can be lowered to set the sealing member further away from the discharge position. Has the effect.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a lamp socket (hereinafter simply referred to as a socket) 1 of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the socket of the present invention as seen from the rear of the socket, and is shown together with a plug of a discharge type lamp (hereinafter, simply referred to as a lamp). For the lamp, omit the light source part and plug 1.
Indicated at 50.

The plug 150 is located at one end of a glass bulb (light bulb) of a light source (not shown). A circular flange 154 is formed on the light bulb side of the cylindrical main body 152 of the plug 150, and a fitting portion 156 having a smaller diameter than the main body 152 is formed on the opposite side, that is, the socket 1 side, via a step 166. . The fitting portion 156 has a cylindrical shape and has a recess 158 that is open to the outside. In the center of the recess 158, a pin terminal (high-voltage side electrode) 160 on the high-voltage side is arranged. On the surface of the main body 152, a pair of engaging pins 162 for holding the lamp are provided to project laterally in opposite directions.
Further, an electrode 157 on the low voltage side is formed in an annular shape on the main body 152.

The socket 1 is fixed to the main housing 2 by covering the main housing 2, a cover housing 10 combined with the rear portion 8 of the main housing 2, the combined main housing 2 and cover housing 10 from the rear portion. The shield cover 20 is provided. The main housing 2 and the cover housing 10 are made of insulating resin, and the shield cover 20 is formed by punching and bending a metal plate material.

The main housing 2 has a mating surface 4 having a laterally extending flange 6 and a rear portion 8 which is open rearward. The main housing 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape having a flat portion 12 on one side surface side, and an extension portion 14 integrally projects laterally at a substantially central portion of the flat portion 12. An electric wire W is provided in the extension portion 14.
Two parallel electric wire receiving grooves (hereinafter, simply referred to as receiving grooves) 16a and 16b having a U-shaped cross section are formed for receiving 1 and W2. These receiving grooves 16a, 16b extend into the main housing 2. The receiving groove 16a has a narrow width so as to receive the small-diameter electric wire W1 for low voltage, and the receiving groove 16b has a wide width so as to receive the large-diameter electric wire W2 for high voltage. Further, latch protrusions 18 are formed on the side walls 22 and 22 of the extension portion, respectively.

The rear portion 8 of the main housing 2 is provided with a U-shaped engagement groove 24 when viewed from the rear and walls 26 and 28 that define the engagement groove 24. In this engaging groove 24,
Ribs (FIG. 5) of the cover housing 10 described later are fitted to position the cover housing 10. A terminal for high voltage (high-voltage side terminal) 4 is provided at substantially the center of the rear part 8.
A terminal receiving portion 30 that receives 0 is defined. The illustrated position of the terminal 40 indicates the position before being received by the terminal receiving portion 30. An electric wire W2 is connected to the terminal 40, and when the terminal 40 is housed in the terminal receiving portion 30, the electric wire W2 is
It is arranged in the aforementioned receiving groove 16b. Details of the configuration of the terminal 40 will be described later.

In the vicinity of the outer wall 3 of the main housing 2, a terminal receiving portion 32 for receiving a low voltage terminal (first terminal on the low voltage side) 50 is defined. The terminal 50 is a tab-shaped terminal, and is engaged and electrically connected to a female terminal (second terminal on the low voltage side) 170 that is press-fitted and fixed to the main housing 2 in advance. Female terminal 170 when the lamp and socket 1 are mated
And the electrode 157 described above are electrically connected. The terminal 50 is connected to the electric wire W1, and the terminal 50 is connected to the terminal receiving portion 32.
When seated inside, the wire W1 is placed in the receiving groove 16a.

The cover housing 10 is the main housing 2
The outer shape of the front end 11 of the cover housing 10 is arranged so as to abut the outer circumference of the rear portion 8 of the main housing 2. The cover housing 10 also includes an extension 34 to cover the extension 14 of the main housing 2.
Is extended. Engagement walls 36, 36 arranged outside the side wall 22 of the extension portion 14 are formed at both ends of the extension portion 34. A latch shoulder (not shown) is formed inside the engagement walls 36, 36, and the latch shoulder is used for the cover housing 10.
When mounting the main housing 2 on the
Is configured to be engaged with and fixed. The cover housing 10 is also configured to engage with the main housing 2 in a concavo-convex manner by an engaging portion (not shown) on the opposite side of the extension portion 34.

Receiving grooves 16a and 16b are formed on the inner surface of the extension portion 34.
Ribs 38a and 38b, which are respectively disposed inside and regulate the movement of the electric wires W1 and W2, are provided in a protruding manner. When the cover housing 10 is mounted on the rear portion 8 of the main housing 2, the rear portion 8 of the main housing 2 is protected from the outside.

After that, the shield cover 20 is assembled by the cover housing 10 and the main housing 2, that is, a sub-assembly 60.
Crowned on. Electromagnetic noise is shielded by this shield cover 20. The shield cover 20 is a subassembly 60.
And has an outer shape that covers the main housing 2 and is substantially similar to the main housing 2. The rear end 40 of the shield cover 20 is a flat surface, and a side wall 44 is formed around it. A holding portion 46 is formed at a position corresponding to the extension portion 14 of the main housing 2.

The holding portion 46 includes a flat portion 48 extending from the rear end 42 and side walls 52, 52 bent at right angles from both sides thereof.
Further, it has pressing pieces 54, 54 extending from each side wall 52. The pressing pieces 54, 54 usually extend in the same direction as the side wall 52 and when crowned to the subassembly 60, the extensions 14, 34.
And then bent as shown to fasten and fix the extensions 14, 34 together. Thereby, the socket 1 is integrally assembled.

An insulating seal member (hereinafter, simply referred to as a seal member) 80 is disposed in the main housing 2. The seal member 80 is molded of an insulating material such as rubber, has an annular outer shape, and has a hole 82 penetrating therethrough in the center. Details of the mounting state of the insulating seal member will be described later.

Next, the structure of the terminal 40 will be described. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the terminal 40 on the high voltage side together with the carrier 56. The terminal 40 is formed by punching and bending from a single metal plate, and the main body 62 is connected to the carrier 56 via a connecting portion 58. Terminal 40 is finally line 75a
And is cut from the carrier 56. Body 62
Forms a part of a curved and substantially tubular shape, and the connecting portion 58
On the opposite side, a U-shaped insulating barrel 64 for connecting to the jacket of the electric wire W2 is projected. This insulation barrel 64
Fixes the jacket after receiving the jacket and crimping on the jacket.

A supporting piece 7 is laterally provided on one side edge 66 of the main body 62.
2 extends, and a rectangular frame 75 is formed from the end edges 74 on both sides of the support piece 72. The frame 75 extending from the edges 74, 74 terminates at a seam 73. Frame 75
Further, contact pieces (contact portions) 68, 68 extend in opposite directions on both sides of the support piece 72 in the direction away from the main body 62 in substantially the same plane as the frame body 75.

The protrusion 70 is located between the contact pieces 68.
Are extended in the same direction as the contact piece 68 at an angle of approximately 90 ° with the contact piece 68. The contact piece 68 is shorter than the protruding piece 70, and the tip end portion is curved inward to form a contact point 68a with the pin terminal 160 on the lamp side. Lamp side pin terminal 160
Is inserted between these contacts 68a, 68a and elastically contacted to make an electrical connection. The tip portion of the projecting piece 70 is formed wide, and is formed in a wide portion 76 that expands outward. The wide portion 76 has a linear tip 77 and a lateral edge 7.
6a and 76b.

On the other side edge of the main body 62, an electric wire W
A conductor barrel 78 is provided so as to press and crimp a second core wire (not shown) to fix the conductor wire 78, and to electrically connect the core wire.
In the figure, the conductor barrel 78 is in an expanded state,
When connecting to the core wire, it is wound around the core wire and crimped as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the seal member 80. The seal member 80 has an annular base portion 84, a reduced diameter portion 88 formed thereon via a step portion 86, and a tubular portion 92 having a smaller diameter than the reduced diameter portion 88 via a step portion (contact surface) 90. Has been formed. The hole 82 has a smooth inner surface 82a corresponding to the base portion 84 and the reduced diameter portion 88, and an uneven inner surface 82b corresponding to the tubular portion 92 and having an annular bulging portion 94a formed therein. The outer surface 92a of the tubular portion 92 has an annular bulging portion 94b at a position corresponding to the annular bulging portion 94a, and further has an annular bulging portion 94c at the front end of the tubular portion 92. In addition, the front end 96 of the tubular portion 92
An annular lip 98 is provided on the inside of the projection. These actions will be described later.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the socket 1 as seen from the fitting surface 4 side. A fitting concave portion (lamp receiving concave portion) 100 having an approximately circular opening is formed in the fitting surface 4. A cylindrical projection wall 102 is provided in the fitting recess 100 from a bottom surface 110 (FIG. 5) of the fitting recess 100. The terminal 40 is arranged inside the protruding wall 102, and the seal member 80 is arranged outside the protruding wall 102 so as to surround the protruding wall 102.
An annular wall 104 is provided on the outside of the projecting wall 102 so as to surround the projecting wall 102 and the seal member 80 from the bottom surface 110.

On the fitting surface 4 side of the main housing 2,
Two pairs of opposing slots 106 are arranged. These slots 106 extend further laterally inward,
When the lamp-side engagement pin 162 is inserted and relatively rotated in the insertion direction, the engagement pin 162 moves laterally and is locked. Two pairs are provided so that either pair may be used. A terminal 170 engaged with the terminal 50 is arranged at a position separated from the terminal 40. The terminal 170 is a pair of arms (low-voltage side electrodes) 10
8, the arm 108 extends on both sides along the circumferential direction of the fitting recess 100, and is bent so as to approach the terminal 40. The tip 112 of each arm 108
The a and 112b are further bent outward. Plug 1
When 50 is fitted, the electrode 157 of the plug 150 and the tip portions 112a and 112b thereof come into contact with each other to establish an electrical connection.

In FIG. 4, the projecting piece 70 of the terminal 40 is located on the left side, so that the end edge 76a of the wide portion 76 and the arm 1 are arranged.
08 is closer to the tip portion (one side) 112a than the distance between the edge 76b and the tip portion 112b. Therefore, when a discharge is generated between the terminal 40 and the terminal 170, it is likely to occur between the end edge 76a and the tip 112a.

Next, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, lines 5-5 and 6 in FIG.
Cross-sectional views along line -6 are shown respectively. However, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plug 150 on the lamp side, which is not shown in FIG. 4, is shown by a virtual line. As shown in FIG. 5, in the center of the bottom surface 110 of the fitting recess 100 of the housing 2, the above-mentioned protruding wall 102 is provided.
Is projected. Since the step portion 116 is formed on the outside of the protruding wall 102 near the top end 102a, the top end 102
a is narrow. The terminal mounting portion 114 penetrating into the protruding wall 102 communicates with the terminal receiving portion 30 of the rear portion 8 of the main housing 2 described above, and the terminal 40 inserted from the terminal receiving portion 30 is arranged in the terminal mounting portion 114. It is supposed to be done. In FIG. 5, the contact piece 68 of the terminal 40 receives the pin terminal (high-voltage side electrode) 160 of the lamp and is in electrical contact therewith.

The seal member 80 has a hole 8 as shown in FIG.
The projecting wall 102 is received in the inside 2 and is mounted on the bottom surface 110 so as to be in close contact with the projecting wall 102. At this time, the insulating seal member 8
The lip 98 of 0 is locked to the step 116 of the protruding wall 102. The front end 96 of the seal member 80 is the top end 10 of the protruding wall 102.
It is located below 2a in the height direction.

When the lamp plug 150 is inserted from the mating surface 4 side as shown in FIG. 5, the step 166 of the main body 152 is inserted.
Is located on the annular wall 104, and the tip (end edge) 156a of the fitting portion (outer peripheral wall) 156 abuts and presses the stepped portion 90 of the seal member 80. At the same time, the tubular portion 92 of the seal member 80 also contacts the inner surface of the fitting portion 156. At this time, the annular bulging portions 94b and 94c of the seal member 80 are not fitted to the fitting portion 15
The sealability is improved by making contact with the inner surface of 6.

However, since the seal between the seal member 80 and the fitting portion 156 is mainly performed by the contact between the tip end 156a and the step portion 90 in a pressed state, the height of the tubular portion 92 is lower than that of the top portion 102a. Also has a sufficient sealing effect. In the figure, in the engagement groove 24 of the rear portion 8 of the main housing 2,
The ribs 118 of the cover housing 10 are shown inserted and engaged as described above. The rib 118 lengthens the surface distance between the terminals 40 and 50 on the high voltage side and the low voltage side. Since the rib 118 has a bifurcated cross section, the adhesion to the engaging groove 24 is improved.

As shown in FIG. 6, the terminal 40 is held between the housing 2 and the cover housing 10.
It should be noted that the wide portion 76 of the projecting piece 70 of the terminal 40 projects upward from the top end 102a of the projecting wall 102 and is curved and expanded leftward in the drawing. Now plug 15
When 0 is imperfectly inserted in the housing 2 or when a voltage is applied before the plug 150 is inserted, a discharge is generated between the wide portion 76 of the projecting piece 70 and the arm 108 of the terminal 170. Can occur. Although the arm 108 is only partially shown in FIG. 6, the tip 112 of the arm 108 is shown.
Since a is close to the wide portion 76a as described above, it can be guaranteed that the discharge is generated only between the two positions.

Discharge occurs from the wide portion 76 to the left in FIG. At this time, the top end 102a of the top end 102a of the projecting wall 102
Since it is low, it will be out of the discharge path and will not be damaged by discharge. Further, since the front end 96 of the seal member 80 is lower than the top end 102a of the projecting wall 102, even if the discharge is directed slightly downward, it is not exposed to the discharge and damage can be avoided.
Further, the narrow top end 102a of the protruding wall 102 is also effective in avoiding downward discharge.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lamp socket according to the present invention which is disassembled and seen from the rear side, and is shown together with a plug of a discharge lamp.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a terminal on the high voltage side used in the lamp socket of the present invention together with a carrier.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an insulating sealing member used in the lamp socket of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lamp socket of FIG. 1 viewed from the mating surface side.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp socket taken along line 5-5 of FIG.

6 is a sectional view of the lamp socket taken along line 6-6 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional lamp socket.

8 is a sectional view of the lamp socket of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 lamp socket 2 Main housing 3 outer wall 40 High voltage side terminal 50 Low voltage side first terminal 68 Contact part 70 Projection 77 Tip 80 Insulation seal member 90 Contact surface 96 front end 100 Lamp receiving recess 102 Jetty wall 102a top 112a One side 156a edge 170 Low voltage side second terminal

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 33/46

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A lamp having a high voltage side terminal located substantially in the center of a lamp receiving recess formed in a substantially cylindrical housing and a low voltage side terminal located near an outer wall of the lamp receiving recess. A lamp socket for receiving a discharge-type lamp, wherein a projecting wall is provided so as to surround the high-voltage side terminal at substantially the center of the receiving recess, and an insulating sealing member is mounted around the projecting wall. The top end is set at a position higher than the front end of the insulating seal member and lower than the ends of the high voltage side terminals. 2. The tip of the high-voltage side terminal is set to a projecting piece provided apart from a contact portion connected to the high-voltage side electrode of the discharge lamp. The indicated lamp socket. 3. The lamp socket according to claim 2, wherein a tip portion of the projecting piece is wide, and a distance from the low voltage side terminal is close to at least one side of the tip portion. 4. An end of an outer peripheral wall provided around the high-voltage side electrode of the discharge-type lamp abuts when the insulating seal member receives the discharge-type lamp in the lamp-receiving recess. The lamp socket according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the lamp socket has a contact surface.