JP3507019B2 - Polar plug-in 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 plug-in connector, and more particularly to a polar plug-in connector which is used to prevent incorrect mating of a plurality of sets of connectors used at the same place at the same time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a connector for a multi-core cable for simultaneously connecting a plurality of signal wirings has been used as a polar connector for preventing a wrong fitting of a plurality of sets of connectors which are simultaneously used at the same place. Are known.

This type of connector has a plurality of pin contacts or socket contacts fixed in a predetermined arrangement that is not point-symmetrical in the male and female housings, respectively, and by fitting them together, One type of signal line connection is possible. When other signal wirings are connected at the same place using the same type of housing, a key that mates with both male and female housings that make a pair at the mating position of the pin contact and socket contact. Alternatively, a key groove is provided, and the phase of the key and the key groove is made different for each connector to prevent erroneous fitting.

That is, even in the case of a connector having an array of contacts that can be fitted to each other, unless the phases of the key and the key groove are matched, it is determined that they cannot be fitted to each other, and different signal lines are connected to each other. To prevent that.

On the other hand, such a polar connector is not known as a connector for connecting a cable for a large current. That is, since many wirings are used in the signal wiring cable, it is necessary to classify and connect these wirings into a plurality of wiring groups according to the purpose. Rather than using connectors, it is common to use the same type of connector for each wiring group, but for large current cables, the number is small, so multiple cables are used in the same place. Because it is rare to do. Therefore, for large current cables, depending on the connector color, label, etc.,
It was possible to sufficiently prevent erroneous fitting.

[0006]

However, even in the case of a large current cable, it is conceivable that a plurality of cables having different working voltages are connected at the same place. That is, in this case, the same type of connector can be used as long as the flowing current values are approximately the same, but since the working voltage is different, mis-fitting does not occur between multiple connector pairs that are connected to each other. Need to manage.

In the case of a multi-core cable, since the wiring has a fixed arrangement, it is possible to make the connector polar by simply providing a key and a key groove in the housing. In a cable, it is common to use a cylindrical pin that can rotate with each other in a connected state and a cylindrical socket into which the pin is fitted. There is an inconvenience that it is impossible to give polarity to.

[0008] It is also clear that erroneous mating can be prevented by using different connectors using different parts for a plurality of types of cables having different operating voltages. There are many types of
It is considered that the manufacturing and assembling of these parts are complicated and the cost is high.

Further, in order to reliably prevent erroneous connection of the high-current cable, it is necessary to make the connection between the pin contact and the socket contact of connectors having different polarities impossible.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is a pin made of a conductive material having a columnar contact portion, and the columnar contact portion attached to the pin. Of an insulative material having cylindrical portions arranged radially outward of the cylindrical portion and having at least one convex portion or an axially extending concave portion on an inner surface and an outer surface of the cylindrical portion, respectively. The pin cover and the pillar-shaped contact portion are fitted to each other to achieve an electrical connection between the pillar-shaped contact portion and a substantially cylindrical contact portion fitted inside the cylindrical portion of the pin cover, A socket made of a conductive material, having a convex portion or an axially extending concave portion that engages with a concave portion or a convex portion on the inner surface of the pin cover on the outer surface, and is attached to the socket, The cylindrical contact portion has a cylindrical portion that is arranged radially outward of the pin contact portion and has a cylindrical portion into which the cylindrical portion of the pin cover is fitted, and has an inner surface that engages with a concave portion or a convex portion of the pin cover. A polar plug-in connector is proposed, which comprises a socket cover made of an insulating material and having a convex portion or a concave portion extending in the axial direction.

In the above polar plug-in connector,
The cross section of the columnar contact portion may be substantially circular. Further, the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the pin cover may be provided with two convex portions or concave portions arranged at relative angular positions in the circumferential direction smaller than 180.

A positioning protrusion provided on one of the outer surface of the socket or the inner surface of the socket cover,
On the other hand, a plurality of positioning grooves may be further provided that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction and that engage the positioning protrusions. Further, the plurality of positioning grooves may be formed of a serration structure capable of engaging the positioning protrusions at a plurality of circumferential relative angular positions.

The positioning protrusion may be a pin inserted in a radial pin hole formed in the socket or the socket cover. further,
A plurality of the above-mentioned polar plug-in connectors are provided, and each pin cover is different in the relative angular position in the circumferential direction between the convex portions or the concave portions formed on the inner and outer surfaces thereof, and the relative positions in the circumferential direction between the socket and the socket cover. The angular position may be set according to the relative angular position in the circumferential direction between the projections or recesses on the inner and outer surfaces of each pin cover.

[0014]

According to the present invention, when the relative angles of the projections or recesses provided on the inner and outer surfaces of the pin cover match the relative angles of the projections or recesses provided on the outer surface of the socket and the inner surface of the socket cover, respectively. By combining the pin with the pin cover and the socket with the socket cover with each other, the pin and the socket are fitted to each other while inserting the socket between the pin cover and the socket cover, and Electrical connection can be achieved.

That is, by preparing a plurality of pin covers in which the relative angles of the convex portions and the concave portions provided on the inner and outer surfaces are different and adjusting the mounting angles of the sockets and the socket covers according to this, the same type of The connector can have a plurality of polarities, and a plurality of pairs of connectors capable of identifying a plurality of cables having different operating voltages can be configured.

In this case, if the cross-sectional shape of the columnar contact portion of the pin is made substantially circular, uniform and reliable electrical connection can be achieved with the cylindrical contact portion of the socket in all connectors having different polarities. It becomes possible.

In addition, on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the pin cover, 18
If two convex portions or concave portions arranged at relative angular positions in the circumferential direction smaller than 0 are provided, it is possible to identify the relative angular relationship between the convex portion or concave portion on the outer surface and the convex portion or concave portion on the inner surface. This facilitates the work of connecting the connector. That is, when an operator visually identifies a combination of a pin and a pin cover that can be fitted to a combination of a socket and a socket cover, the pin cover is related to the two convex portions or concave portions on the outer surface of the pin cover. It is possible to confirm the position of the convex portion or the concave portion on the inner surface of the, and it is possible to make the identification easier than in the case where there is only one convex portion or the concave portion.

If a positioning projection is provided on one of the outer surface of the socket or the inner surface of the socket cover, and a plurality of positioning grooves are provided on the other surface at intervals in the circumferential direction,
By changing the positioning groove that engages the positioning protrusion, it is possible to adjust the mounting relative angle between the two and to configure a plurality of types of polar connectors from the same part.

Further, if the plurality of positioning grooves have a serration structure, it is possible to construct connectors of different polarities corresponding to the pitch of the serration structure from the same part. Further, if the positioning protrusion is constituted by a pin that is inserted into a radial pin hole formed in the socket or the socket cover, the above operation can be achieved with an extremely simple configuration.

Furthermore, a plurality of the above-mentioned polar plug-in connectors are provided, and the respective pin covers are made different in the relative angular position in the circumferential direction between the convex portions or the concave portions formed on the inner and outer surfaces thereof, and the circumference of the socket and the socket cover. By setting the relative angular position of the direction in accordance with the relative angular position of the projections or recesses on the inner and outer surfaces of each pin cover in the circumferential direction, multiple types of different relative angular positions of the projections or recesses on the inner and outer surfaces It is possible to construct a polar plug-in connector set using other components as common components only by preparing the pin cover of.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A polar plug-in connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Polarity plug-in connector 1 according to the present embodiment
1 comprises a male connector 2 and a female connector 3, as shown in FIG.

The male connector 2 includes a pin 4 made of a conductive material and a pin cover 5 made of an insulating material.
The female connector 3 includes a socket 6 made of a conductive material and a socket cover 7 made of an insulating material. As shown in FIG. 2, the pin 4 has a substantially cylindrical contact portion 8 at one end and a connecting portion 9 for connecting to a cable (not shown) at the other end. In the figure, reference numeral 10 is a flange portion for determining an axial position with respect to the pin cover 5.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pin cover 5 has a cylindrical portion 11 at one end and a shoulder portion 12 against which the flange portion 10 of the pin 4 inserted from the other end is abutted. is doing. In the figure, reference numeral 13 is a male connector 2.
Is a ring-shaped fastening member for fastening the fastening member 13 to the female connector 3, and reference numeral 14 is a flange portion that abuts the fastening member 13 in the axial direction.

The cylindrical portion 11 of the pin cover 5 has a radial dimension which is arranged radially outward of the pin 4 when the pin 4 is housed therein, and the pin 4 inside. And the tip end 11a thereof is arranged so as to project further forward than the tip end 4a of the pin 4 accommodated therein in the fitting direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the outer surface 11b of the cylindrical portion 11 is provided with two keys 15 extending axially from the tip 11a of the cylindrical portion 11. These keys 15 are formed at a relative angle of, for example, 120 ° in the circumferential direction. In addition, the inner surface 1 of the cylindrical portion 11
The flat portion 16 is formed on the inner surface 1c by projecting inward one circumferential position on the inner surface of the cylinder.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pin 4 and the pin cover 5 are inserted until the flange portion 10 of the pin 4 abuts on the shoulder portion 12 of the pin cover 5, and then the flange portion 10 is inserted into the shoulder portion 12. By fastening the fixing member 17 which is fastened so as to be sandwiched between the pin cover 5 and the pin cover 5, the axial position and the circumferential position thereof are fixed.

Next, the socket 6 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, at one end, there is a cylindrical contact portion 18 into which the cylindrical contact portion 8 of the pin 4 is fitted,
The other end is provided with a connecting portion 19 for fixing wiring (not shown).

The cylindrical contact portion 18 has an inner diameter dimension capable of fitting the cylindrical contact portion 8 of the pin 4 and an outer diameter dimension capable of being fitted inside the pin cover 5. In addition, inside the cylindrical contact portion 18,
A contact piece 20 made of an elastic material is arranged, and when the cylindrical contact portion 8 is inserted into the cylindrical contact portion 18, the contact piece 20 is elastically deformed between the contact portions 8 and 18. Contact the surfaces of both contact parts 8 and 18 with a constant contact pressure,
8 is in a stable electrical connection state.

The outer surface 18a of the cylindrical contact portion 18 has a cylindrical outer surface 18a at one position in the circumferential direction.
A flat portion 21 formed by denting a inward in the radial direction is provided. As a result, the outer contour shape of the cross section of the cylindrical contact portion 18 is formed in a shape complementary to the inner contour shape of the cross section of the pin cover 5, and the cylindrical contact portion 18 has its outer surface. Flat part 21 of 18a
Can be fitted into the pin cover 5 only when it is aligned with the flat portion 16 on the inner surface of the pin cover 5.

At the center of the socket 6 in the longitudinal direction,
A pin hole 22 is provided penetrating the cylindrical contact portion 18 in the radial direction, and the spring pin 2 is provided in the pin hole 22.
3 is press-fitted. The spring pin 23 is fixed such that one end of the spring pin 23 is projected from the outer surface of the socket 6, and the projecting tip forms a positioning projection 24.

The connecting portion 19 is formed in a bolt shape having a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical contact portion 18. The socket cover 7 is fixed to the socket 6 by sandwiching an inner flange portion 26 of the socket cover 7 described later between the connection portion 19 and a shoulder portion 25 formed by a larger outer diameter of the cylindrical contact portion 18. A nut 27 for screwing is screwed.

The socket cover 7 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the cylindrical contact portion 18 of the socket 6 is housed inside, the radial dimension of the cylindrical contact portion 18 is arranged outwardly in the radial direction of the cylindrical contact portion 18, and It is a substantially cylindrical member having an axial length that completely accommodates the cylindrical contact portion 18. One end 7a of the socket cover 7 has a socket 6 housed inside.
Is configured so as to protrude forward of the tip 6a in the fitting direction, and the other end has an inner flange portion 26 that extends radially inward.

The socket cover 7 has an inner surface 7b.
Further, it has two key grooves 28 capable of accommodating the two keys 15 formed on the outer surface 11b of the cylindrical portion 11 of the pin cover 5. That is, these key grooves 28 are formed along the axial direction from the tip 7a of the socket cover 7 at a relative angle of 120 ° in the circumferential direction.

Further, ten positioning grooves 29 are formed on the inner side of the socket cover 7 at a relative angle of 36 ° in the circumferential direction, for example. This positioning groove 2
The groove width of 9 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the spring pin 23 constituting the positioning protrusion 24.
4 can be accommodated. further,
On the outer surface 7c of the socket cover 7, on the tip side thereof,
A male screw 30 for fastening the fastening member 13 attached to the pin cover 5 and a mounting flange 31 for fixing to an external structure (not shown) are provided.

The operation of the polar plug-in connector 1 according to this embodiment having the above structure will be described below. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, ten kinds of pin covers 5 having different relative angular positions of the key 15 on the outer surface 11b and the flat portion 16 of the inner surface 11c by 36 °, one kind of pin 4 and one socket, respectively. 6 and socket cover 7 and other parts are prepared.

In order to assemble the polar plug-in connector 1 of this embodiment, first, the pin 4 having the cable connected to the connecting portion 9 is inserted into the pin cover 5, and the pin cover 5 is inserted.
After the fastening member 13 is loosely fitted to the outside, the fixing member 17 is fastened and the flange portion 10 of the pin 4 is sandwiched between the shoulder portion 12 of the pin cover 5 to fix the pin 4 and the pin cover 5. To do.

Next, the spring pin 23 is press-fitted into the pin hole 22, and the socket 6 having the contact piece 20 therein is inserted into the socket cover 7. At that time, the relative angle between the key 15 and the flat portion 16 provided on the inner and outer surfaces 11b and 11c of the pin cover 5, and the relative angle between the flat portion 21 of the socket 6 and the key groove 28 of the socket cover 7. The positioning protrusion 24 constituted by the spring pin 23 is engaged with any one of the plurality of positioning grooves 29 so that the two coincide with each other (see FIG. 9). In this state, the nut 27 screwed into the connecting portion 19 is fastened to fix the socket 6 and the socket cover 7.

As a result, a pair of male connector 2 and female connector 3 are formed which can be fitted together to achieve an electrical connection between the pin 4 and the socket 6. Similarly, with respect to the other 9 types of pin covers 5, 9 pairs of male connectors 2 and female connectors 3 that are fitted to each other can be configured.
The polarities of the male connectors 2 are set so that they cannot be connected to the female connectors 3 other than the corresponding female connector 3.

To connect the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 thus constructed, the key 15 of the pin cover 5 and the flat portion 16 are inserted from the mating tip side of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3. Relative angular position and flat part 2 of socket 6
1 and the relative angular position between the key groove 28 of the socket cover 7 are visually confirmed, and the both are fitted. In this case,
In the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, since the two keys 15 of the pin cover 5 are provided at the relative angular positions other than 180 °, the relative angular position between the key 15 and the flat portion 16 and the flat portion 21 and the key groove. It is possible to easily determine whether or not the relative angular position with respect to 28 matches.

Then, the male connector 2 and the female connector 3
Can start the fitting only when the relative angular positions of the key 15 and the flat portion 16 and the flat portion 21 and the key groove 28 coincide with each other. The connection is completed by fastening the male screw 30 of the socket cover 7 as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the polar plug-in connector 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to construct a connector having a plurality of types of polarities even for a connector for a large current for connecting a single core cable. Therefore, even when a plurality of cables having different operating voltages are used at the same place at the same time, it is possible to reliably prevent the incorrect fitting.

In this case, according to the polar plug-in connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the parts other than the pin cover 5 can be shared by all kinds of polar plug-in connectors 1, so that the number of manufactured parts is reduced. The manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the number of parts to be managed can be reduced to facilitate the manufacturing work.

In this embodiment, the pin cover 5 of the male connector 2 and the socket cover 7 of the female connector 3 are also included.
Is configured so as to completely cover the pin 4 and the socket 6 and to have a tip in front of the tips 4a 1 and 6a in the fitting direction and to engage with each other.
And the key groove 28 and the flat portions 16 and 21 are their tips.
Since it is formed from 7a and 6a in the longitudinal direction,
When fitting the male connector 2 and the female connector 3, before the fitting of the pin 4 and the socket 6 is started, the key 15
Must be engaged with the keyway 28.

That is, according to this embodiment, unless the polarities of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are matched, the pins 4 and the socket 6 are not fitted, and therefore the connectors 1 having different polarities are erroneously fitted. It is not only possible to identify that the cables are different from each other, but also it is possible to reliably prevent accidentally connecting cables having different operating voltages.

In the polar plug-in connector 1 according to this embodiment, the most general cylindrical pin 4 is used, but it is not limited to this. Further, the outer surface 6b of the socket 6 is recessed to provide the flat portion 21 and the inner surface of the pin cover 5 is provided with the flat portion 16 to engage with the flat portion 21, but instead of this, the outer surface 6b of the socket 6 is provided with a key, A key groove may be provided on the inner surface of the pin cover 7. Similarly, although the key 15 is provided on the outer surface 11b of the pin cover 5 and the key groove 28 is provided on the inner surface of the socket cover 7, instead of this, the key groove is provided on the outer surface 11b of the pin cover 5 and the key is provided on the inner surface of the socket cover 7. It may be provided.

In addition, the key 15 extending along the axial direction
Instead of this, projections arranged near the tips of the outer surface 6b of the socket 6 and the inner and outer surfaces of the pin cover 5 or the socket cover 7 may be adopted. Further, although the two keys 15 are provided on the outer surface of the pin cover 5 , instead of this, one key or three or more keys may be arranged.

Further, although the spring pin 23 is used as the positioning projection 24 for positioning the socket 6 and the socket cover 7 in the circumferential direction, the present invention is not limited to this, and the projection is directly formed on the outer surface 6b of the socket 6. May be formed. Further, the positioning projection 24 is provided on the outer surface 6b of the socket 6 and the positioning groove 29 is provided on the inner surface of the socket cover 7. On the contrary, the positioning groove is provided on the outer surface 6b of the socket 6 and the positioning projection is provided on the inner surface of the socket cover 7. It goes without saying that it may be provided.

Although a plurality of positioning grooves 29 are formed on the inner surface of the socket cover 7, these positioning grooves 29 may be formed by a serration structure. Further, although the positioning projection 24 composed of one spring pin 23 is provided on the outer surface of the socket 6, instead of this, a plurality of positioning projections that simultaneously engage with the plurality of positioning grooves 29 may be provided.

In this embodiment, 10 types of pin covers 5 and 10 socket covers 7 having the positioning grooves 29 are used to form the 10 types of polar plug-in connectors 1. An arbitrary number of the in-connectors 1 can be configured according to the number of types of the in-connectors 1.

[0050]

According to the polar plug-in connector of the present invention, the columnar pin and the tubular socket are used as a connector for electrically connecting a single-core cable mainly for large currents, with a very simple structure. There is an effect that plural kinds of polarities can be given.

Also, by adjusting the relative angular position of the socket and the socket cover in accordance with the relative angular position of the convex portion and the concave portion of the inner and outer surfaces of the pin cover, the number of parts is small, and a plurality of types of polar plug-in connectors are used. Is effective.

[0052]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state before connection of a polar plug-in connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing pins of the polar plug-in connector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway vertical sectional view showing a pin cover of the polar plug-in connector of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the pin cover of FIG. 3, showing ten types of pin covers having different relative angular positions between a key and a flat surface.

5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the socket of the polar plug-in connector of FIG. 1 with a spring pin fixed.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the socket of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a socket cover of the polar plug-in connector of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the socket cover of FIG.

9 is a front view showing a positioning state of the socket of FIG. 5 and the socket cover of FIG. 7.

10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a completed connection state of the polar plug-in connector of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Polarity plug-in connector 4 pin 5 pin cover 6 socket 7 Socket cover 7b inner surface 8 Cylindrical contact part (contact part) 11 cylindrical part 11b exterior 11c inner surface 15 keys (projection) 16 Flat part (recessed part) 18 Cylindrical contact part (contact part) 18a outer surface 21 Flat part (concave part) 22 pin hole 23 Spring Pin (Pin) 24 Positioning protrusion 28 Keyway (recess) 29 Positioning groove

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/64-13/642

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pin having a columnar contact portion and made of a conductive material, and a cylindrical portion which is attached to the pin and is arranged radially outward of the columnar contact portion with a space therebetween. A pin cover made of an insulating material, which has at least one convex portion or an axially extending concave portion on the inner surface and the outer surface of the portion, and between the columnar contact portion by fitting the columnar contact portion. Has a substantially cylindrical contact portion that fits in the cylindrical portion of the pin cover and that has an outer surface with a convex portion or an axial direction that engages with a concave portion or a convex portion of the inner surface of the pin cover. A socket made of a conductive material, having a recess extending in the direction of the pin, and attached to the socket, spaced apart radially outward of the cylindrical contact portion, And having a cylindrical portion for fitting the cylindrical part of the bar, on its inner surface, a recess extending to the convex portion or the axial direction to engage the concave or convex portion of the outer surface of the pin cover, made of an insulating material A polar plug-in connector comprising a socket cover. 2. The polar plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the columnar contact portion has a substantially circular cross section. 3. The outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the pin cover is provided with 180
2. Two projections or recesses arranged at smaller relative angular positions in the circumferential direction are provided.
Alternatively, the polar plug-in connector according to claim 2. 4. A positioning projection provided on one of an outer surface of the socket or an inner surface of the socket cover, and a plurality of positioning grooves provided on the other at circumferentially spaced intervals for engaging the positioning projection. The polar plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the polar plug-in connector is provided. 5. The polar plug-in connector according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of positioning grooves have a serration structure capable of engaging the positioning protrusions at a plurality of relative angular positions in the circumferential direction. Wherein said positioning projection is one of the claims 4 or請<br/> Motomeko 5, characterized in that it consists of the socket or pin the inserted into the pin holes radially formed in the socket cover Polarized plug-in connector described in Crab. 7. A plurality of polar plug-in connectors according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each pin cover has a relative angle in a circumferential direction between a convex portion or a concave portion formed on its inner and outer surfaces. The position is different, and the relative angular position in the circumferential direction between the socket and the socket cover is set according to the relative angular position in the circumferential direction between the projections or recesses of the inner and outer surfaces of each pin cover. And a polar plug-in connector set.