JP3755645B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector having a moving plate and a retainer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a connector provided with a moving plate and a retainer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-219235. This is because the hood part that protrudes forward is formed in the connector housing, the tab of the male terminal fitting inserted into the connector housing is protruded into the hood part, and the tab is inserted into the positioning hole of the moving plate that is movably provided in the hood part. The structure is such that the retainer is inserted into the connector housing and the terminal fitting is prevented from being pulled out by the retainer.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional connector is of a so-called side retainer type in which the retainer is assembled from the side surface side of the connector housing, but this type has the following problems.
Generally, in a connector provided with a retainer, the retainer is temporarily locked at a position where insertion / extraction of the terminal fitting with respect to the connector housing is allowed, and the temporarily locked connector is shipped to the terminal fitting assembly site. Then, at the assembly site, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing, and then the assembly is carried out by the procedure of pushing the retainer into the main locking position and removing the terminal fitting to regulate.
[0004]
In this case, if the retainer in the temporary locking position protrudes from the outer surface of the connector housing, the retainer may interfere with other members and be pushed into the final locking position during the transportation to the assembly site. is there. If it becomes like this, the extra effort of pulling back a retainer from a permanent locking position to a temporary locking position will be applied in an assembly site.
As a countermeasure, a retainer mounting hole that opens to the inner surface of the hood portion is formed in the connector housing, and the retainer is inserted into the retainer mounting hole from the front. If assembled from the front, even if the retainer protrudes from the back surface of the hood part in the temporarily locked state, the protruding retainer is surrounded by the hood part. There is no risk of being pushed into the final locking position by other members.
[0005]
However, in order to employ a structure in which the retainer is assembled to the inner surface of the hood portion, it is necessary to make a window hole in the moving plate for pushing the retainer into the retainer mounting hole. Therefore, when the mating connector is not fitted, foreign matter outside the hood portion may enter the space between the moving plate and the back surface of the hood portion through the window hole of the moving plate.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent foreign matter from entering the space between the moving plate and the back surface of the hood portion through the window hole of the moving plate.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of claim 1 is a connector housing having a hood portion into which a female connector is fitted, a male terminal fitting inserted into the connector housing and having a tab protruding into the hood portion, and the connector housing. A temporary locking position that allows insertion of the male terminal fitting away from the back surface of the hood portion, and a final locking position that enters the connector housing and prevents the inserted male terminal fitting from being removed. A moving plate in which a retainer to be assembled, a positioning hole for penetrating the tab, and a window hole corresponding to the retainer are formed, and the moving plate is separated from the inner surface of the hood portion in the hood portion together and is capable of holding the protruding end of the tab to the standby position to fit into the positioning hole while the female connector With the fitting, said has become a base end portion of the tub close to the inner surface of the receptacle adapted to move the fitting position for fitting into the positioning hole, the retainer is at the partial locking position In addition, when the moving plate is in the standby position, the window hole is closed by the retainer.
[0007]
[Action and effect of the invention]
[Invention of Claim 1]
When the moving plate is set to the standby position and the retainer is attached to the temporary locking position, the moving plate window hole is blocked by the retainer, so that foreign matter passes through the window hole and the moving plate and the rear surface of the hood portion. There is no risk of entering the space between.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[Embodiment 1]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector M of the present embodiment includes a connector housing 10, a male terminal fitting 20, a moving plate 30, and a retainer 40. In the following description, with respect to the front-rear direction, the left side of FIG. 1 is the front side, and the vertical direction is based on FIG.
[0009]
The connector housing 10 is made of synthetic resin, and a hood portion 11 protruding forward is formed on the outer periphery of the front end surface. A plurality of cavities 12 are formed in the connector housing 10. The cavity 12 is located substantially at the center in the height direction, is divided into two upper and lower stages, and is arranged in parallel in a plurality of chambers in each stage, and the male terminal fitting 20 inserted into each cavity 12 is made of resin. Disengagement is restricted by a double locking structure by the lance 13 and the retainer 40. Further, large-diameter cavities 14 are formed on the left and right sides of these two-stage cavities 12 rows. A terminal fitting (not shown) inserted into the large-diameter cavities 14 is primarily locked by a resin lance 15. Just keep it from falling off. In addition, on both the upper and lower sides of the cavity 12, housing recesses 16 for fitting a sub-connector (not shown) from the rear are formed.
[0010]
Now, the upper cavity 12 and the lower cavity 12 are vertically symmetric, and a resin lance 13 extending in a cantilevered manner forward is formed at the front end thereof. The upper-stage resin lance 13 is formed along the lower surface of the cavity 12, and the lower-stage resin lance 13 is formed along the upper surface of the cavity 12. The resin lance 13 is interposed between the upper and lower resin lances 13. A bending space 17 </ b> A for allowing the elastic bending of the connector housing 10 is formed so as to open at the front end surface of the connector housing 10. In the process in which the male terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the cavity 12 from the rear, the resin lance 13 is elastically bent toward the bending space 17A due to the interference with the male terminal fitting 20, and interference occurs when the male terminal fitting 20 is properly inserted. The resin lance 13 released and elastically returned to the free state is pulled out of the male terminal fitting 20 and locked in the restricted state. The inserted male terminal fitting 20 has a tab 21 at its front end protruding from the front end face of the connector housing 10 (the back face of the hood 11) into the hood 11.
[0011]
Now, the bending space 17A communicates with each other between the adjacent cavities 12, and has a slit shape elongated in the left-right direction as a whole. In this bending space 17A, when the resin lance 13 is in a free state in which it is not elastically bent, the removal restricting function portion 41 of the retainer 40 is fitted from the front without backlash. A pair of left and right guide holes 17B are formed on the left and right sides of the bending space 17A so as to communicate with the bending space 17A and open to the front end surface of the connector housing 10. The guide portion 42 of the retainer 40 can be fitted into the guide hole 17B without any vertical or horizontal play. As described above, the bending space 17 </ b> A and the pair of guide holes 17 </ b> B constitute a retainer mounting hole 17 that opens to the inner surface of the hood portion 11 in the connector housing 10. Further, on the inner side surface of the guide hole 17B, a projection-shaped temporary locking receiving portion 18A and a main locking receiving portion 18B are formed. The retaining portions 43 of the retainer 40 are latched to the receiving portions 18A and 18B, and the retainer 40 is held in the temporary locking position and the main locking position with respect to the connector housing 10 by the locking. ing.
[0012]
Next, the moving plate 30 will be described. The moving plate 30 is made of synthetic resin, and is used for positioning the tab 21 of the male terminal fitting 20 protruding into the hood portion 11 from the front end surface of the connector housing 10 (the back surface of the hood portion 11). A plate-like plate body 31 that is parallel to and has the same shape as the front end surface of the connector housing 10, and a guide that protrudes forward from the outer periphery of the plate body 31 and is slidable against the inner periphery of the hood portion 11. The cylindrical portion 32 is integrally formed. The plate body 31 has a positioning hole 33 for passing through the tab 21 of the male terminal fitting 20 inserted into the upper and lower two-stage cavities 12 and a male terminal fitting protruding from the sub-connector fitted in the receiving recess 16. A positioning hole 34 for penetrating a tab (not shown) and a positioning hole 35 for fitting a tab (not shown) of a male terminal fitting inserted into the large-diameter cavity 14 are formed.
[0013]
On the surface of the plate body 31 that faces the retainer 40 (retainer mounting hole 17), a window hole 36 that substantially aligns with the bending space 17A and the guide hole 17B of the connector housing 10 penetrates between the front and rear surfaces of the plate body 31. It is formed with. Further, the window hole 36 is set to have a shape and a size necessary for penetrating the retainer 40. The window holes 36 are arranged between rows of positioning holes 33 for penetrating the tabs 21 of the male terminal fittings 20 inserted in the upper and lower two-stage cavities 12. An escape portion 37 communicating with each positioning hole 33 is formed. A support portion 45 of the retainer 40 is passed through these relief portions 37. The window hole 36 is closed by a retainer 40 as will be described later.
[0014]
A seal member 38 is integrally provided on the guide tube portion 32 of the moving plate 30. The seal member 38 has an outer peripheral side seal portion 38A along the outer periphery of the rear end portion (end portion close to the plate body 31) of the guide tube portion 32, and an inner periphery in front of the outer peripheral side seal portion 38A. The seal portion 38B includes an inner peripheral side seal portion 38B, and both the seal portions 38A and 38B are connected to each other through a plurality of connecting holes 39 provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.
[0015]
In addition, cam pin receivers 32 </ b> A are formed on both upper and lower sides of the guide tube portion 32. Furthermore, a lever 50 is supported on the connector housing 10 so as to be able to rotate about the rotation shaft 32B. When the lever 50 is in the initial position (see FIGS. 1 to 3), the cam pin receiver 32A is inserted into the inlet of the cam groove 51, and the rear end of the cam pin receiver 32A comes into contact with the inner surface of the cam groove 51. Thus, the moving plate 30 is restricted from moving backward and is held at the standby position. In this standby position, the positioning hole 33 is fitted to the projecting end portion of the tab 21 to the hood portion 11. In the process of fitting with the female connector F, the cam pin Fa of the female connector F is fitted and integrated with the cam pin receiver 32A. When the lever 50 is rotated in this state, the cam pin Fa and the cam pin receiver 32A are By being engaged with the cam groove 51 in an integrated state, the cam groove 51 is pulled backward (in a direction approaching the back surface of the hood portion 11). That is, due to the cam action of the lever 50, the female connector F is integrated with the moving plate 30 and approaches the connector housing 10 to reach a fitted state. When both the connectors M and F are fitted, the moving plate 30 reaches the fitting position (see FIG. 4), and the positioning hole 33 is fitted to the base end portion of the tab 21. Thus, the moving plate 30 moves between the standby position and the fitting position.
[0016]
The retainer 40 is made of synthetic resin, and is formed at the left and right end portions of the removal restriction function portion 41 that has a horizontal plate shape that is long in the left-right direction, and extends from the plate surface long in the front-rear direction. The restriction function part 41 and a pair of guide parts 42 having a plate shape oriented substantially at right angles are integrally molded. The front end surface of the retainer 40 is substantially flush with both the slip-out restricting function portion 41 and the guide portion 42, but the rear end portion of the guide portion 42 is further rearward than the rear end of the slip-out restricting function portion 41 ( It protrudes in the direction of assembly with respect to the connector housing 10.
[0017]
A pair of front and rear locking portions 43 having a protruding shape are formed on the outer surface of the rear end portion of the guide portion 42 that protrudes beyond the drop-out restricting function portion 41. When the locking portion 43 is engaged with the temporary locking receiving portion 18A of the guide hole 17B so as to be sandwiched from both the front and rear sides, the retainer 40 is held at the temporary locking position with respect to the connector housing 10. When the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position, the drop-out restricting function portion 41 does not enter the bending space 17A. Therefore, the elastic deformation of the resin lance 13 into the bending space 17A is allowed, and the cavity 12 is not bent. The male terminal fitting 20 can be inserted and removed.
[0018]
Further, when the retainer 40 in the temporary locking position is pushed into the final locking position, the locking portion 43 is engaged with the main locking receiving portion 18B of the guide hole 17B so as to be sandwiched from both the front and rear sides. The connector housing 10 is held in the final locking position. In a state where the retainer 40 is in the final locking position, the removal restricting function portion 41 is fitted into the bending space 17A without backlash, thereby moving the resin lance 13 toward the bending space 17A (in the direction of disengaging from the male terminal fitting 20). The elastic bending of the male terminal fitting 20 is thereby prevented and the male terminal fitting 20 is pulled out.
[0019]
Further, regarding the distance from the back surface of the hood portion 11 when the moving plate 30 is in the standby position and the distance from the back surface of the hood portion 11 when the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position, the moving plate 30 is In the state in which the retainer 40 is in the standby position and the temporary locking position, the front end surface of the retainer 40 and the front surface of the plate body 31 of the moving plate 30 are flush with each other as shown in FIGS. The size is set so that the window hole 36 of the plate 30 is closed by the front end surface portion of the retainer 40.
[0020]
Further, the guide portion 42 has a leading portion 44 having a taper shape such that the vertical dimension gradually decreases toward the rear end side at the rear end portion (the end portion on the front side in the assembly direction with respect to the retainer mounting hole 17). Is formed. Furthermore, a support portion 45 that protrudes upward and downward is formed at the front end portion at a position corresponding to each cavity 12 (each resin lance 13) in the removal restricting function portion 41. The support portion 45 abuts against the front end portion of the male terminal fitting 20 in the cavity 12 from the side of the bending space 17A in a state where the retainer 40 is assembled at the final locking position. Inclination of the front end toward the bending space 17A is restricted, and the male terminal fitting 20 is maintained in a stable posture. The support portion 45 also functions as a stopper for restricting excessive pushing of the retainer 40 by abutting against the front end of the resin lance 13 when the retainer 40 is assembled at the final locking position.
[0021]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When assembling the connector M of the present embodiment, first, the moving plate 30 is accommodated in the hood portion 11 and separated forward from the front end surface (the back surface of the hood portion 11) of the connector housing 10 as shown in FIG. Hold at the standby position. Next, the retainer 40 is assembled and temporarily locked to the connector housing 10 while passing through the window hole 36 of the moving plate 30. At this time, the retainer 40 has the rear end portion of the guide portion 42 fitted into the guide hole 17B of the retainer mounting hole 17, and the locking portion 43 is engaged with the temporary locking receiving portion 18A so as to be temporarily locked. (See FIG. 1). At this time, the front end surface of the retainer 40 is positioned so as to be substantially flush with the front end surface of the plate body 31 of the moving plate 30, and the window hole 36 is closed by the retainer 40.
[0022]
From this state, the male terminal fitting 20 is inserted into each cavity 12 to be brought into a primary locking state by the resin lance 13, and the tip end portion of the tab 21 protruding from the front end surface of the connector housing 10 is inserted into the positioning hole 33 of the moving plate 30. Fit (see FIG. 2). Thereby, each tab 21 is positioned in a state in which the movement in the vertical and horizontal directions is restricted, and is prepared for fitting with each female terminal fitting (not shown) of the female connector F.
[0023]
When all the male terminal fittings 20 are inserted, the retainer 40 in the temporary locking position is pushed into the final locking position. At this time, the front end surface of the retainer 40 that is visible and substantially flush with the window hole 36 of the moving plate 30 may be pressed with a finger. When the retainer 40 is pushed into the final locking position, the removal restricting function portion 41 is fitted into the bending space 17A and restricts the resin lance 13 from being elastically bent in the direction of disengaging from the male terminal fitting 20. As a result, the male terminal fitting 20 is brought into the secondary locking state, and the male terminal fitting 20 is held in the double locking state by the primary locking by the resin lance 13 and the secondary locking by the retainer 40. From the cavity 12 is reliably regulated.
[0024]
Since the assembly of the connector M is completed as described above, the lever 50 is then rotated to fit the female connector F into the hood portion 11. In the process of fitting the female connector F, the female connector F and the moving plate 30 move together, and the tabs 21 positioned by the positioning holes 33 of the moving plate 30 are securely connected to the female terminal fittings of the female connector F. Mated and connected to
In the state in which the female connector F is fitted, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral side seal portion 38 </ b> A of the moving plate 30 is in close contact with the inner periphery of the hood portion 11, so that the space between the hood portion 11 and the moving plate 30 is watertight. The inner seal portion 38B of the moving plate 30 is in close contact with the outer periphery of the female connector F, so that the space between the moving plate 30 and the female connector F is sealed in a watertight state. The space between the hood portion 11 and the female connector F is sealed. Further, due to the sealing action by the sealing member 38, the retainer mounting hole 17 opened in the region inside the sealing member 38 on the front end surface of the connector housing 10 is also waterproofed.
[0025]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the window hole 36 is closed by the retainer 40 when the retainer 40 is in the temporary locking position and the moving plate 30 is in the standby position. There is no possibility that an external foreign object will enter the space between the plate body 31 of the moving plate 30 and the inner surface of the hood portion 11 through the window hole 36.
Further, since a window hole 36 is formed on the surface of the moving plate 30 facing the retainer 40 and the retainer 40 is exposed forward from the window hole 36, the retainer 40 is pushed in from the front of the moving plate 30 (temporary engagement). Pushing operation from the stop position to the final lock position). That is, the retainer 40 can be assembled to the connector housing 10 from the front.
[0026]
Further, since the window hole 36 of the moving plate 30 can penetrate the retainer 40 in the front-rear direction, the retainer 40 can be assembled after the moving plate 30 is attached to the hood portion 11. ing. In this embodiment, the moving plate 30 is assembled first, and then the retainer 40 is assembled. However, the retainer 40 may be assembled first, and then the moving plate 30 may be assembled.
[0027]
In addition, since the window hole 36 is formed in the moving plate 30, the retainer 40 can be assembled from the front. However, this requires forming an opening for attaching the retainer 40 to the outer surface of the connector housing 10. Means no. Further, the retainer mounting hole 17 is disposed in the inner surface of the hood portion 11 in the connector housing 10, that is, in a region surrounded by the inner periphery of the hood portion 11. Therefore, only by providing the seal member 38 between the inner periphery of the hood portion 11 and the outer periphery of the female connector F, the fitting portion with the female connector F can be waterproofed, and at the same time, the retainer mounting hole 17 can be submerged. Has also been prevented.
[0028]
In addition, since the retainer 40 is formed with a guide portion 42 that is inserted into the retainer mounting hole 17 prior to the removal restricting function portion 41 when assembled to the connector housing 10, the guide portion 42 is formed when the retainer 40 is assembled. By first inserting the retainer 40 into the retainer mounting hole 17, the retainer 40 is positioned with respect to the connector housing 10 and the posture is stabilized. Thereby, the retainer 40 can be assembled smoothly and reliably.
[0029]
In addition, since the guide portions 42 are arranged in pairs at both ends of the drop-out restricting function portion 41, the posture of the retainer 40 is less likely to be inclined as compared with the case where the guide portions 42 are formed only at one end portion.
In addition, since the leading portion 44 having a tapered shape is formed at the tip of the guide portion 42, the guide portion 42 can be easily inserted into the retainer mounting hole 17.
Further, since the locking portion 43 for holding the retainer 40 in the temporary locking position and the main locking position is formed in the guide portion 42, compared to the case where the locking portion is arranged at a position different from the guide portion 42. Thus, simplification and miniaturization of the shape of the retainer 40 as a whole are realized.
[0030]
[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the above embodiment, the entire retainer is exposed forward from the window hole of the moving plate. However, according to the present invention, only a part of the retainer may be exposed forward from the window hole. .
[0031]
(2) In the above embodiment, the example applied to the waterproof type connector has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a non-waterproof type connector.
(3) In the above embodiment, seal rings are provided around the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the moving plate as a waterproof means between the hood portion and the mating connector, but according to the present invention, the seal ring is attached to the inner periphery of the hood portion. The seal member may be directly attached to the outer periphery of the mating connector.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view showing a state where a retainer is temporarily locked. FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing a state where a retainer is temporarily locked and a terminal fitting is inserted. FIG. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing a state in which the mating connector is fitted. Fig. 5 is a front view of the connector housing. 7 is a front view of the moving plate. FIG. 9 is a front view of the retainer. FIG. 10 is a side view of the retainer. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the retainer. FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged horizontal sectional view showing a state where the retainer is removed. FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged horizontal sectional view showing a state where the retainer is temporarily locked. FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view showing a state where the retainer is fully locked. Horizontal section Description]
M ... Connector F ... Female connector 10 ... Connector housing 11 ... Hood part 20 ... Male terminal fitting 21 ... Tab 30 ... Moving plate 33 ... Positioning hole 36 ... Window hole 40 ... Retainer

Claims (1)

A connector housing having a hood portion into which a female connector is fitted;
A male terminal fitting inserted into the connector housing and projecting a tab into the hood,
A temporary locking position that allows insertion of the male terminal fitting away from the back surface of the hood portion with respect to the connector housing, and restricts the male terminal fitting that has been inserted into the connector housing and inserted. A retainer assembled to the main locking position;
A moving plate having a positioning hole for penetrating the tab and a window hole corresponding to the retainer ;
The moving plate is separated from the inner surface of the hood portion in the hood portion and can be held at a standby position where the protruding end of the tab is fitted into the positioning hole, and the female connector is fitted. Along with the back surface of the hood portion, it is possible to move to a fitting position for fitting the base end portion of the tab into the positioning hole ,
The connector, wherein the window hole is closed by the retainer when the retainer is in the temporary locking position and the moving plate is in the standby position.

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