JP3804827B2 - Lever type connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lever-type connector.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is a lever type connector disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-36774. This is, for example, a female connector that rotatably supports a lever, a male connector that is provided with a cam pin that engages with the cam groove of the lever, and that both connectors are shallowly engaged to engage the cam pin with the cam groove, When the lever is rotated in this state, the two connectors are drawn together by the cam action by the engagement of the cam groove and the cam pin, so that the fitting state is reached.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case where connectors are fitted using levers as described above, since a certain amount of operating force is required for the lever turning operation, the operator completely turns the lever to the proper fitting position. However, there is a concern that the rotation operation may be terminated halfway with the half-fitted state.
In this case, if the pivot position of the lever is far from the normal fitting position, it can be easily determined by visual observation. However, if the lever remains at the position immediately before the normal fitting position, It is difficult to visually determine whether or not it has been rotated to the fitting position.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lever-type connector that can easily confirm that the lever is fitted in the proper fitting position.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for achieving the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that one connector has a shaft portion having a groove portion on the tip end surface thereof, and the groove portion is narrowed with respect to the shaft portion so as to reduce the shaft. The lever is rotatably mounted by penetrating into the hole while being elastically deformed in a direction in which the diameter of the portion narrows, and by rotating the lever from the initial position to the fitting position, the lever and the other connector The lever is mounted with a detection member that is movable in the direction toward the shaft portion, and the detection member is provided with a restriction protrusion. A portion is formed, and when the lever reaches the fitting position, the detection member can move to a position where the restricting convex portion enters the groove portion .
[0005]
A second aspect of the present invention is the lever-type connector according to the first aspect, wherein the lever is provided with a guide groove for guiding the restricting convex portion of the detection member to the groove portion of the shaft portion, and the lever When the position reaches the fitting position, the groove portion and the guide groove are arranged in a straight line and are continuous .
[0006]
A third aspect of the present invention is the lever-type connector according to the second aspect, wherein the detection member and the lever have a standby position engagement portion for holding the detection member at a position away from the shaft portion. It is characterized by being formed .
[0007]
A fourth aspect of the present invention is the lever-type connector according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the detection member and the lever hold the state where the restricting convex portion enters the groove portion. to have a feature where the detection position engaging portion for are formed.
[0009]
[Action and effect of the invention]
According to the first aspect of the invention, if the lever has not reached the fitting position, the restricting convex portion of the detection member cannot enter the groove portion of the shaft portion, so that the detection member is directed toward the shaft portion. It cannot be moved even if it is moved. Therefore, it is detected that the lever has not reached the mating position and both the connectors are in the half mating state. On the other hand, if the lever is rotated to the fitting position, the restricting convex portion of the detection member can enter the groove portion of the shaft portion, so that the detection member can be moved in the direction toward the shaft portion. it can. Thus, it is detected that both connectors are properly fitted.
That is, there is an effect that the turning position of the lever can be easily determined based on whether or not the detection member can move in the direction toward the shaft portion.
Further, when the lever is assembled to the shaft portion provided in one connector, the diameter of the tip of the shaft portion is narrowed by narrowing the groove portion formed so as to be engageable with the restricting convex portion of the detection member. Since it can be elastically deformed in the direction, the tip of the shaft portion can be easily penetrated into the hole of the lever, and there is an effect that the assembling work is facilitated.
[0011]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the lever reaches the fitting position, the regulating convex portion of the detection member is guided by the guide groove while being in the groove portion of the shaft portion that is continuously aligned with the guide groove. The detection member can be quickly and reliably moved in the direction toward the shaft portion.
[0012]
According to the invention of claim 3 , since the detection member is engaged with the lever by the standby position engagement portion when the detection member is at a position away from the shaft portion, the position relative to the lever is stably held. . That is, it is reliably prevented that the rotation operation is hindered by the detection member during the rotation operation of the lever.
[0013]
According to the invention of claim 4 , when both the connectors are fitted and the restricting convex portion of the detecting member enters the groove portion of the shaft portion, the detecting member is engaged with the lever by the detecting position engaging portion. Thus, the position of the detection member with respect to the lever is double-locked. That is, even when a force in the direction of releasing the fitting is applied to the lever by mistake, there is an effect of reliably preventing the fitting from being released.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The lever-type connector shown in this embodiment includes male and female connectors 10 and 20 that can be fitted to and detached from each other, a lever 40 that is assembled to the female connector 10, and a lever 40 that is attached to the lever 40 to detect the rotation state of the lever 40. It is comprised from the detection member 50 for. In the following description, the mating surface side of both connectors 10 and 20 is the front, the left and right descriptions are based on FIGS. 1 to 7, and the upper and lower descriptions are perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. 1 to 7. The direction will be described as a reference.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the male connector 20 has a square-tube-shaped hood portion 21 that opens forward and can be fitted into the female connector 10, and a plurality of terminals 22 project from the hood portion 21. It has become the composition. A substantially cylindrical cam pin 23 is erected on the upper and lower outer surfaces of the horizontally long portion of the hood portion 21.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the female connector 10 includes a housing 11 that houses a plurality of terminal fittings (not shown) that can be electrically connected to the terminals 22 of the male connector 20, and covers the housing 11 from behind. And a cover 30 to be attached. The housing 11 includes a terminal accommodating portion 12 having a plurality of cavities (not shown) into which each terminal fitting can be inserted from the rear, and an outer cylindrical portion 13 surrounding the periphery of the terminal accommodating portion 12 in a state of protruding forward. The hood part 21 of the male connector 20 can be fitted from the front between the terminal accommodating part 12 and the outer cylinder part 13.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cover 30 is formed in a substantially box shape whose front and right sides are open, and includes a peripheral wall 31 including three walls surrounding the upper and lower surfaces and the left side of the rear portion of the housing 11, and a peripheral wall It is comprised from the rear wall 32 which connects the rear end of 31. FIG. On the left side of the upper and lower surfaces of the peripheral wall 31, there is formed a slide portion 33 that can lock the holding protrusion 14 formed on the rear left side of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing 11. Is planned. Further, holding projections 15 and 16 formed on the rear upper and lower surfaces of the housing 11 are brought into contact with notches 34 and 35 formed on the right and left sides of the upper and lower surfaces of the peripheral wall 31, respectively. The direction cover 30 is held. In the cover 30, the electric wire led out from the rear surface side of the housing 11 is bent and can be pulled out through the opening on the right side of the cover 30. Note that the left side of the rear end portion of the cover 30 is a relief portion 36 cut out in an inclined manner, and the lever 40 can be released as will be described later.
[0018]
Further, a substantially cylindrical shaft portion 37 for pivotally supporting the lever 40 is erected at the central portion on the upper and lower outer surfaces of the horizontally long portion of the peripheral wall 31. As shown in FIG. 9, the shaft portion 37 has a tip portion bulged from the base side to form a large diameter portion 37 </ b> A, and a groove portion 38 extending in the front-rear direction is formed on the tip surface.
[0019]
On the other hand, the lever 40 is formed in a substantially portal shape by connecting the end portions of a pair of upper and lower plate-like arm portions 41, 41 by an operation portion 42, and is substantially at the center position of both arm portions 41, 41. By fitting the respective hole portions 43 formed in the shaft portion 36 to the cover portion 36, the cover 30 is supported so as to be rotatable in parallel with the width direction. Further, a cam groove 44 that can be engaged with the cam pin 23 of the male connector 20 is formed on the opposite side of the arm portion 41 from the operation portion 42 with the hole 43 interposed therebetween. An engagement groove 44 a for engaging the cam pin 23 of the male connector 20 in the cam groove 44 is formed on the inner surface side at the end portion on the middle front side. Further, the periphery of the hole 43 is recessed inward from the peripheral region to form a locking recess 43A (see FIG. 9), and the large-diameter portion 37A of the shaft portion 37 is locked to prevent it from coming off. Furthermore, a guide groove 45 extends radially from a part of the locking recess 43 </ b> A toward the end of the arm portion 41. The guide groove 45 is formed to be aligned with the groove portion 38 of the shaft portion 37 when the lever 40 reaches the fitting position. In addition, holding recesses 46 and 46 are formed on both sides of the guide groove 45 so as to be recessed from the periphery to the inside, and from the outer end portion sandwiching the guide groove 45 of the holding recesses 46 and 46, L Holding pieces 47 and 47 are formed so as to be cut and raised in a letter shape, and cover the holding recesses 46 and 46. Note that a standby position holding hole 48 and a detection position holding hole 49 for engaging an engagement protrusion 56 of a detection member 50 described later along the longitudinal direction on one upper surface of the holding pieces 47, 47. And are drilled.
[0020]
The lever 40 penetrates the hole 43 by elastically deforming the tip of the shaft portion 37 in the direction of narrowing the diameter by narrowing the groove 38, and locks the large-diameter portion 37A in the locking recess 43A. Thus, the connector 10 is attached to the female connector 10 (see FIG. 9), and the initial position (FIG. 4) where the operating portion 42 abuts against the rear wall 32 of the cover 30 and the operating portion 42 is positioned within the relief portion 36 of the cover 30. Between the fitting position (FIG. 6), the shaft portion 37 can be turned as a fulcrum.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the detection member 50 is a substantially home-base type plate-like member having a slightly smaller width than between the holding pieces 47, 47, and the lever is arranged along the center line on the lower surface side thereof. Guide ribs 51 (corresponding to the restricting convex portions of the present invention) for being fitted into the 40 guide grooves 45 are provided. Further, both left and right end portions sandwiching the guide rib 51 are formed so as to be recessed toward the lower surface side in FIG. 3, and serve as a held portion 52 sandwiched between the holding recess 46 and the holding piece 47 of the lever 40. . Further, the held portion 52 on one side is notched at one end portion of the lower surface, and a notch 54 is inserted in parallel with the guide rib 51 from the end edge portion of the notched portion 53, so that the cantilever is elastically deformed. Possible elastic pieces 55 are formed. Further, an engagement protrusion 56 for engaging with the above-described standby position holding hole 48 or the detection position holding hole 49 of the lever 40 is provided on the upper surface of the distal end portion of the elastic piece 55.
[0022]
In this detection member 50, the engaging projection 56 is engaged with the standby position holding hole 48 until the lever 40 reaches the fitting position from the initial position (see FIG. 4) (see FIGS. 5 and 6). As a result, it is stably held at the standby position. When the turning operation of the lever 40 is completed and the lever 40 reaches the fitting position, the engagement between the engaging protrusion 56 and the standby position holding hole 48 is released, and the guide rib 51 is moved along the guide groove 45. The shaft is moved to the shaft portion 37 side to enter the groove portion 38 of the shaft portion 37, and the engagement protrusion 56 is engaged with the detection position holding hole 49 to lock the detection portion (see FIG. 7). .
[0023]
The present embodiment has the above-described structure, and the operation thereof will be described subsequently. In order to assemble the lever 40 to the female connector 10, first, the lever 40 is attached to the cover 30 so as to be sandwiched and held at the initial position (see FIG. 1). At this time, since the groove portion 38 is formed at the tip of the shaft portion 37 of the cover 30, the shaft portion 37 is elastically deformed in a direction in which the diameter is narrowed by narrowing the groove portion 38, so that the shaft portion 37 is placed in the hole 43 of the lever 40. Can be easily penetrated. Further, the detection member 50 is placed in the standby position by engaging the engaging protrusion 56 with the standby position holding hole 48.
[0024]
Subsequently, the connectors 10 and 20 are engaged. First, the hood portion 21 of the male connector 20 is lightly fitted to the female connector 10, and the cam pin 23 enters the cam groove 44 from the engagement groove 44 a of the lever 40 as shown in FIG. 4. From this state, the operation unit 42 is operated to be displaced substantially to the left side, and the lever 40 is rotated to the fitting position side. As the lever 40 rotates, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the cam pin 23 moves in the cam groove 44 so that the cam action is exerted, so that the male connector 20 is pulled to the female connector 10 side.
[0025]
In this turning process, the groove portion 38 of the shaft portion 37 and the guide groove 45 of the lever 40 are in a position shifted from a straight line. Therefore, for example, even when the lever 40 is just before reaching the fitting position, even when the operator mistakes that the lever 40 has reached the fitting position and tries to move the detection member 50, the guide rib 51 of the detection member 50 is Since it cannot enter into the groove part 38 of the shaft part 37 but hits the side surface of the shaft part 37 and the movement of the detection member 50 is restricted, it is detected that the connectors 10 and 20 are half-fitted. (See FIG. 8 (a)).
[0026]
When the lever 40 reaches the fitting position, the cam pin 23 is arranged at the rear end of the cam groove 44 as shown in FIG. Thereby, both the connectors 10 and 20 are fitted to the normal depth. At this time, the guide groove 45 of the lever 40 is disposed at a position aligned with the groove portion 38 of the shaft portion 37, and the guide rib 51 of the detection member 50 is allowed to enter the groove portion 38.
[0027]
When the lever 40 has been turned, the operation of moving the detection member 50 is performed. The engaging protrusion 56 of the detection member 50 is pressed to release the engagement with the standby position holding hole 48, and the detection member 50 is moved to the shaft portion 37 side. Then, the guide rib 51 enters the groove portion 38 of the shaft portion 37 arranged in a straight line while being guided by the guide groove 45 and eventually reaches the detection position. At this time, the engagement protrusion 56 of the detection member 50 is engaged and locked in the detection position holding hole 49 of the lever 40 (see FIG. 8B).
[0028]
Thus, when the detection member 50 can move to the detection position, the lever 40 is rotated to the fitting position, and it is detected that both the connectors 10 and 20 are properly fitted. At this time, the operator can easily confirm the vertical position of the detection member 50 visually from behind. Further, at this detection position, as described above, the engagement protrusion 56 of the detection member 50 and the detection position holding hole 49 of the lever 40 are in the engaged state. Even when a force for rotating from the combined position to the initial position is applied, the lever 40 is rotated by restricting the backward movement of the detection member 50 to the standby position, that is, the unlocking of the guide rib 51 and the groove 38. Dynamic movement is regulated twice. Thereby, both the connectors 10 and 20 can be firmly hold | maintained in a regular fitting state. In order to remove both the connectors 10 and 20, the engagement protrusion 56 of the detection member 50 is pressed to release the engagement with the detection position holding hole 49, and the detection member 50 is moved from the detection position to the standby position. After the movement, both the connectors 10 and 20 are detached by turning the lever 40 from the fitting position to the initial position side.
[0029]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, until the lever 40 reaches the fitting position, the movement is restricted by the guide rib 51 of the detection member 50 abutting against the side surface of the shaft portion 37, and the lever 40 is in the fitting position. Is reached, the guide rib 51 of the detection member 50 is arranged at a position aligned with the groove portion 38 of the shaft portion 37 and is allowed to move into the groove portion. Therefore, the rotation position of the lever 40 can be easily determined depending on whether or not the detection member 50 can be moved from the standby position to the detection position, thereby detecting the fitting state of the connectors 10 and 20. be able to.
[0030]
Moreover, when the lever 40 is assembled to the connector 10, the width of the groove portion 38 of the shaft portion 37 can be narrowed so that the tip of the shaft portion 37 can be elastically deformed in a direction in which the diameter is narrowed. Assembling work becomes easier.
[0031]
Further, when the detection member 50 is arranged at the standby position or the detection position, the detection member 50 is engaged with the holding hole of the lever 40 and is stably held, so that the rotation operation of the lever may be hindered. In addition, the fitting of the connectors 10 and 20 can be stably held by locking the lever 40 at the fitting position.
[0032]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments 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 detection convex member (guide rib) is formed on the detection member and the groove portion is formed on the shaft portion. On the contrary, the groove portion is formed on the detection member and the shaft portion is formed on the shaft portion. It is good also as a structure which forms a control convex part.
(2) In the above embodiment, the restricting convex portion is configured as a rib. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be a simple rod-shaped convex portion.
(3) The present invention can be applied to a case where the lever is not attached to the cover but is attached to the housing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a lever-type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cover. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a detection member. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a process in which both connectors are engaged by rotating the lever. FIG. 6 is a state in which both the connectors are engaged with the lever reaching the mating position. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the state in which the detection member is moved to the detection position. FIG. 8A is a diagram in a case where the detection member is moved to the detection position before the lever reaches the fitting position. (B) Partial enlarged cross-sectional view when the detection member is moved to the detection position when the lever has reached the fitting position. FIG. 9 is a part of the fitting portion of the shaft and lever. Enlarged exploded perspective view [Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Female connector 20 ... Male connector 23 ... Cam pin (cam action)
37 ... Shaft 38 ... Groove 40 ... Lever 44 ... Cam groove (cam action)
46 ... guide groove 48 ... standby position holding hole (standby position engaging portion)
49 ... Detection position holding hole (detection position engaging portion)
50 ... detection member 51 ... guide rib (regulation convex part)
56 ... engaging protrusion (standby position and detection position engaging portion)

Claims (4)

One connector is provided with a shaft portion having a groove portion on the tip surface, and the groove portion is narrowed with respect to the shaft portion so as to be elastically deformed in a direction in which the diameter of the shaft portion is narrowed and penetrated into the hole. The lever is rotatably mounted by the lever, and the lever is pivoted from the initial position to the mating position so that a cam action is exerted between the lever and the other connector so that the two connectors are fitted. ,
The lever is mounted with a detection member that is movable in a direction toward the shaft portion, and a restriction convex portion is formed on the detection member, and when the lever reaches the fitting position, the restriction member is formed. The lever-type connector, wherein the detection member is movable to a position where a convex portion enters the groove .   The lever is formed with a guide groove for guiding the regulating convex portion of the detection member to the groove portion of the shaft portion, and when the lever reaches the fitting position, the groove portion and the guide groove are aligned. The lever-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the lever-type connector is continuous in a line.   The lever according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection member and the lever are formed with a standby position engaging portion for holding the detection member at a position away from the shaft portion. Type connector. The said sensing member and the lever, one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that detection position engaging portion for holding a state where the restriction projection enters into the groove portion is formed The lever type connector described in 1.

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