JP3922180B2

JP3922180B2 - Joint connector

Info

Publication number: JP3922180B2
Application number: JP2002377615A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 利一櫻井; 雅康藤井
Original assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-26
Filing date: 2002-12-26
Publication date: 2007-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-26
Also published as: JP2004207157A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、ジョイントコネクタに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、ジョイントコネクタの一例として、特許文献１に記載されたものがある。これは、図１８に示すように、コネクタハウジング１の内部に横幅方向に並んで設けられた複数のキャビティ２にそれぞれ端子金具３を収容し、コネクタハウジング１の上面の取付溝４から複数のキャビティ２を横切るように帯板状のバスバー５を挿入した構成となっている。バスバー５は、端子金具３に形成した受け溝６に嵌入され、もって端子金具３同士がバスバー５を介して短絡される。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開平９−３０６６１７号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記のジョイントコネクタでは、バスバー５が単体で取り扱われるために、バスバー５をコネクタハウジング１の取付溝４に差し込んだり、メンテナンス等に際して取付溝４から抜き出したりする作業がやりづらいという問題があった。これに対し、バスバーを合成樹脂製の保持部材に保持させておき、バスバーの抜き差しは、この保持部材をコネクタハウジングに組み付けたり、外したりすることで行うような構成が考えられる。しかしながら、単に保持部材を設けただけでは、コネクタの大型化を招くことになってしまう。
本発明は、上記事情に鑑みてなされたもので、その目的は、バスバーの抜き差しの作業性を高めつつ大型化を回避することの可能なジョイントコネクタを提供するところにある。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の課題を解決するための請求項１の発明に係るジョイントコネクタは、前部に接続部を設けた端子金具と、この端子金具が後方から挿入される複数のキャビティが横幅方向に並んで形成され、かつそのキャビティの高さ方向の内壁に前記端子金具に弾性的に係止可能なランスが形成されたコネクタハウジングと、複数のタブ片が並列して形成され、各タブ片を前記端子金具の接続部に高さ方向から接触させることで端子金具同士を短絡させるバスバーとを備えたジョイントコネクタであって、前記バスバーを保持する合成樹脂製の保持部材が設けられるとともに、前記コネクタハウジングには、前記ランスの前方位置に前記保持部材を収容した状態で組み付け可能な組付凹部が形成されており、前記コネクタハウジングの前面には、前記キャビティ内へ導通検査用治具を挿入させるための検知孔が開口される一方、前記保持部材は、前記コネクタハウジングに対して、前記バスバーのタブ片が前記端子金具の接続部に対し正規の接触状態となる本係止位置と非接触状態となる仮係止位置とに保持可能とされるとともに、前記検知孔の前側に配されて前記仮係止位置にて前記検知孔を開放状態とする前面壁を備えており、かつこの前面壁には、前記本係止位置にて前記検知孔に整合して前記導通検査用治具を差し込み可能とする治具挿通孔が開口されているところに特徴を有する。
【０００６】
請求項２の発明は、請求項１に記載のものにおいて、前記接続部には前記タブ片の差し込み方向に沿って片持ち状に延びた弾性接触片が前記タブ片に対して弾性的に接触可能に形成されているところに特徴を有する。
【０００７】
請求項３の発明は、請求項１又は請求項２に記載のものにおいて、前記接続部は、前後方向に沿った筒状をなすとともに、その高さ方向の壁面には前記タブ片を差し込み可能な差込孔が開口しており、前記タブ片が前記差込孔の孔縁部に係止することで前記端子金具が抜け止め状態とされるようにしたところに特徴を有する。
【００１１】
【発明の作用および効果】
請求項１の発明によれば、バスバーを保持する保持部材を設けて、バスバーの抜き差しを保持部材を介して行うようにしたため、作業性が高められる。また、その保持部材をデッドスペースとなるランスの前方位置に設けた組付凹部に収容するようにしたため、コネクタの大型化を回避できる。また、保持部材を仮係止位置にした状態と本係止位置にした状態との両方で導通検査を行うことができる。
【００１２】
請求項２の発明によれば、端子金具の弾性接触片がタブ片に対して弾性的に接触するので良好な接触状態を確保できるとともに、タブ片が弾性接触片の延び方向に沿って差し込まれるため、タブ片との当接によって弾性接触片を傷めるおそれが少ない。
【００１３】
請求項３の発明によれば、バスバーによって端子金具が抜け止めされるため、抜け止めのための専用部材を設けずに済み、部品点数を低減することができる。
【００１７】
【発明の実施の形態】
次に本発明の一実施形態について図１から図１６を参照して説明する。
本実施形態のジョイントコネクタは、図１に示すように、雌端子金具１０と、雌端子金具１０が収容されるコネクタハウジング２０（以下、ハウジングという）と、雌端子金具１０同士を短絡するバスバー３０と、バスバー３０を保持する保持部材４０とを備えて構成されている。なお、以下の説明において、前後方向については図１の左側を前方とし、上下方向については図１を基準とする。
【００１８】
雌端子金具１０は、導電性の金属板をプレスによって所定形状に打ち抜いた後、曲げ加工を施すことで形成されており、図１から図４に示すように、後部に電線Ｗの端末が圧着されるバレル部１１を備え、前部にバスバー３０のタブ片３３，３５と接続される接続部１２を備えている。バレル部１１は、底壁の左右側縁から上方に突出した一対の片よりなるインシュレーションバレル１１Ａとその先端側に配され同様に上方に突出した一対の片よりなるワイヤバレル１１Ｂを備えてなり、インシュレーションバレル１１Ａには電線Ｗの被覆部分がかしめられ、ワイヤバレル１１Ｂにはその電線Ｗの被覆端末から剥き出された芯線部分がかしめられるようになっている。
【００１９】
接続部１２は、天井面が二重に折り重なるようにして前後方向に長い角筒状に形成されている。接続部１２の上壁１２Ａ（本発明の「高さ方向の壁面」に相当）には、図３の左端からハウジング２０のキャビティ２１への挿入動作の安定等に機能するスタビライザ１３が上方に立ち上げて形成されている。また、接続部１２の上壁１２Ａには、前後方向のほぼ中央でかつ図４の右寄り位置に、バスバー３０のタブ片３３，３５を差し込み可能な長方形の差込孔１４が開口されている。接続部１２の内部には、図４の左側壁の上端から舌片状に延出した弾性接触片１５が下向きに折り返すように形成されており、その先端部が上方から見て差込孔１４の奥側に張り出した形態となっている。また、接続部１２における図４の右側壁には、この弾性接触片１５に対向した位置に、上下方向に延びた前後一対の挟持突起１６が内側へ叩き出して形成されている。そして、バスバー３０のタブ片３３，３５が差込孔１４に上方から挿入されると、弾性接触片１５が撓み変形して、その復元弾力によりタブ片３３，３５が弾性接触片１５の先端と挟持突起１６との間で挟持されることにより、両者１０，３０間の接続が取られるようになっている。また、接続部１２における図４の左側壁下部からは、弾性接触片１５が過剰に撓まされることを規制する過度撓み規制片１７が、弾性接触片１５の先端側へ向けて突出して形成されている。さらに、接続部１２の前面には、図３に示すように、上壁１２Ａの前端から延出された突き当て壁１８が設けられており、この突き当て壁１８によって弾性接触片１５の前方が覆われ、また、この突き当て壁１８に対して導通検査用治具Ｊの先端が突き当てられるようになっている。
【００２０】
ハウジング２０は、合成樹脂製であって、図１及び図５から図７に示すように、全体として偏平な箱形をなし、その内部には前後に細長いキャビティ２１が横幅方向に図示５つ並んで形成されている。各キャビティ２１は、後端側が端子金具を挿入するための端子挿入孔２２として大きく開口しており、前端側には前止まり壁２３が設けられ、その上部に導通検査用治具Ｊをキャビティ２１内に挿入するための検知孔２４が溝状の開口して形成されている。各キャビティ２１の内壁上面には、前後方向の中程から前方へ片持ち状に延出したランス２５が形成されている。このランス２５は、上下方向に撓み変形可能とされるとともに、その先端部が雌端子金具１０の接続部１２の後縁に係止することで雌端子金具１０が抜け止めされるようになっている。なお、ランス２５の上方には撓み空間Ｓが設けられ、さらにその上方をハウジング２０の上面壁２０Ａが覆った形態となっているため、ハウジング２０全体としては、キャビティ２１下側の下面壁２０Ｂよりも、キャビティ２１上側の上面壁２０Ａの方が肉厚となっている。
【００２１】
ハウジング２０の前部には、保持部材４０を組み付けるための組付凹部２６が形成されている。この組付凹部２６は、より詳細には、ハウジング２０の前面及び左右両側面の略前半部分を下辺部を残して所定の厚み寸法切除した形態の外周部２６Ａと、各キャビティ２１の前端部、ランス２５よりも前方部分の上方を切除した形態の本体収容部２６Ｂとから構成されている。組付凹部２６の外周部２６Ａに面したハウジング２０の左右両側面には、その下部領域に本係止突起２７が前後に３つ並んで形成され、その上部領域に後側の２つの本係止突起２７と対応して仮係止突起２８が２つ並んで形成されている。本係止突起２７及び仮係止突起２８は、ともに上側にテーパ状の斜面が形成されており、また、仮係止突起２８の方が本係止突起２７よりも突出寸法が大きくされている。また、ハウジング２０の左右両側面には、組付凹部２６における外周部２６Ａの後端で、かつ高さ方向の略中央位置にストッパ２９が突設されている。
【００２２】
バスバー３０は、導電性の金属板をプレスによって所定形状に打ち抜いた後、曲げ加工を施すことで形成されている（後に詳述する）。バスバー３０は、図８及び図９に示すように、横長帯板状の基部３１を備え、その基部３１の後縁側から後方（図８の下側）へ図示３つの延出部３２が所定ピッチで並んで延設されている。各延出部３２における図８の右側縁からは、第１タブ片３３が下向きに突設されている。また、基部３１の前縁側には、隣り合う延出部３２の中央に対応した位置から折返し部３４が延出され、その先端が基部３１の後方側へ折り返されている。折返し部３４の先端における図８の右側縁からは、第２タブ片３５が下向きに突設されている。第１タブ片３３と第２タブ片３５とは、ともに平板状で幅寸法が互いに等しく、基部３１からの突出寸法も互いに等しくされており、互いに平行で、第１タブ片３３と第２タブ片３５とが一定ピッチ（第１タブ片３３のピッチの半分）で厚み方向に交互に並んで設けられている。各タブ片３３，３５の先端には、幅方向の両端に先細り状にテーパ部３６が形成されている。また、基部３１の前縁側には、各延出部３２と対応した位置ごとに、先端部が幅方向に張り出した形状の圧入突起３７が突設されている。
【００２３】
保持部材４０は、図５から図７及び図１０等に示すように、横長厚板状の本体部４１と、本体部４１の前端から下方に延出した前面壁４２と、本体部４１及び前面壁４２の左右両側端から後方へ延出した一対の側面壁４３とを備えて構成されている。本体部４１の後面には圧入溝４４が形成されており、ここにバスバー３０を緊密に嵌め込むとともに、バスバー３０の圧入突起３７を圧入溝４４の奥部の壁面に食い込ませることで、バスバー３０が各タブ片３３，３５を本体部４１の下方に突出させた状態で保持されるようになっている。前面壁４２及び側面壁４３は、それぞれタブ片３３，３５の突出端を前方及び側方から覆っており、そのためタブ片３３，３５が異物と干渉することが回避されている。
【００２４】
側面壁４３には、３つの係止孔４５Ａ，４５Ｂが前後に並んで形成されており、そのうち後側の２つの係止孔４５Ａは、側面壁４３の高さ方向の全幅近くにわたって形成されて本係止突起２７及び仮係止突起２８が係合可能とされ、前側の係止孔４５Ｂは、側面壁４３の下半分の領域のみに設けられて本係止突起２７が係合可能とされている。保持部材４０は、ハウジング２０を左右に跨ぐようにして、組付凹部２６に対し上方から組み付けられ、組み付け状態では両側面壁４３の外面がハウジング２０の外側面とほぼ面一となり、前面壁４２の前面がハウジング２０前端の下辺部分の前面とほぼ面一となる。保持部材４０のハウジング２０に対する保持位置として、以下に述べるように、最終組み付け位置である本係止位置と、本係止位置よりも上側に位置する仮係止位置と、本係止位置と仮係止位置との中間に位置する押し込み規制位置との３つが規定されている。
【００２５】
仮係止位置においては、図１及び図７に示すように、係止孔４５Ａ内に仮係止突起２８が係合するとともに、側面壁４３の下端に仮係止突起２８が係合することで、保持部材４０がハウジング２０の上面より上側に突出した状態で保持される。この位置では、バスバー３０のタブ片３３，３５の先端は、キャビティ２１内の雌端子金具１０の接続部１２の上壁１２Ａよりも上方に離間した状態となる。また、この仮係止位置では、検知孔２４が前面壁４２の下方奥側に開放した状態となる。
【００２６】
本係止位置においては、図１５及び図１６に示すように、後側の係止孔４５Ａ内に本係止突起２７及び仮係止突起２８の両方が係合し、前側の係止孔４５Ｂ内に仮係止突起２８が係合する。このとき、保持部材４０の前面壁４２及び側面壁４３が組付凹部２６の外周部２６Ａの、本体部４１が本体収容部２６Ｂのほぼ全領域を埋めるような形態で収容され、保持部材４０の上面がハウジング２０の上面とほぼ面一状態となる。また、バスバー３０の各タブ片３３，３５は、キャビティ２１内に突出して、雌端子金具１０の接続部１２の差込孔１４内に差し込まれて正規の接触状態となる。また、保持部材４０の前面壁４２には、導通検査用治具Ｊを挿通可能な長方形の治具挿通孔４６が各キャビティ２１に対応して開口されており、本係止位置においてこの治具挿通孔４６と検知孔２４が整合するようになっている。
【００２７】
側面壁４３の後端縁には、中央よりやや下端寄り位置に、ストッパ２９に係合可能なリブ４７が突設されている。リブ４７とストッパ２９とは、保持部材４０が仮係止位置から本係止位置へ変位される途中の押し込み規制位置にて係合して、保持部材４０の本係止位置への押し込みが一時的に規制されるようになっている。この押し込み規制位置においては、タブ片３３，３５の先端がキャビティ２１内の雌端子金具１０の接続部１２の上面位置とほぼ同じ高さ（正確には僅かに下側）に位置するため、雌端子金具１０が正規の深さ位置まで挿入されていない半挿入状態の場合に、タブ片３３，３５の先端が接続部１２の上面に接触し得るような設定となっている。また、押し込み規制位置の保持部材４０を下方に押圧すると、リブ４７の周辺部位が僅かに撓み変形してリブ４７がストッパ２９を乗り越えるようになっている。
【００２８】
バスバー３０の製造は次のようにして行われる。まず、長尺の金属板材がプレスにより打ち抜かれ、図１１に示すように、長尺帯状をなすキャリア５０の側縁に展開状態のバスバー３０を多数連ねたものが形成される。キャリア５０には、円形の位置決め孔５１が長さ方向に沿って所定ピッチ（延出部３２と同一ピッチ）で形成されており、キャリア５０の一側縁には、各位置決め孔５１に対応した位置ごとに細長い連結部５３が延設されている。バスバー３０の基部３１は、キャリア５０と平行に配されており、基部３１のキャリア５０側の縁部から延出した各延出部３２の先端がそれぞれ連結部５３の先端に連結されている。各延出部３２における図１１の右側縁からは、第１タブ片３３が基部３１と平行に隣りの延出部３２に至る長さまで延びて形成されている。また、基部３１のキャリア５０と反対側の縁部からは、隣り合う圧入突起３７間に折返し部３４が延出して設けられ、その折返し部３４の先端部の側縁から基部３１と平行方向（第１タブ片３３の延び方向と同じ方向）に延びて、第１タブ片３３よりほぼ板厚一枚分長さが短い第２タブ片３５が形成されている。また、各連結部５３には、キャリア５０と平行（第１タブ片３３の延び方向と反対向き）に隣りの連結部５３付近まで延びた変形防止片５４が形成されている。この変形防止片５４は、タブ片３３，３５よりもやや長くされ、その先端部が図１１の紙面手前側へ約９０度に曲げられることで保護部５４Ａが形成されている。
【００２９】
上記バスバー３０は、第１タブ片３３が直角（図１１中、紙面の手前側）に曲げ起こされ、第２タブ片３５が折返し部３４に対し直角（第１タブ片３３と逆方向、図１１中、紙面の奥側）に曲げ起こされた後、折返し部３４が基端付近でキャリア５０側へ折り返される。その結果、折返し部３４の先端の第２タブ片３５が基部３１のキャリア５０側にて、隣り合う第１タブ片３３の中間位置に配され、両タブ片３３，３５がその厚み方向に一定ピッチ（第１タブ片３３のピッチの半分）で交互に並ぶ。このように、バスバー３０に第１タブ片のみを設けた場合に比べて、隣り合うタブ片３３，３５間のピッチを半分にすることができるため、その分相手のハウジング２０のキャビティ２１間のピッチを狭めて小型化を図ることができる。また、各変形防止片５４が、図８に二点鎖線で示すように、タブ片３３，３５と同じ側へ直角に曲げ起こされる。なお、図１１において、上記のバスバー３０に隣接するバスバー３０Ａについては、例えば第１タブ片３３が２本、第２タブ片３５が３本というように、タブ片３３，３５がバスバー３０のものと互い違いの構成のものが形成される（詳細には示さない）が、類似した形状であるため、このものもバスバー３０と同一部品として扱われる。
【００３０】
上記のようにして曲げ工程を終えたバスバー３０は、リールに巻き付けられた状態で、キャリア５０からバスバー３０を切り離す工程や、バスバー３０を保持部材４０に組み付ける等の作業現場へ輸送される。バスバー３０をリールに巻き付ける際には、図１２に示すように、バスバー３０の内周側となる面に長尺帯状の層間紙５５が宛われ、この層間紙５５とバスバー３０とが一緒にリールに巻き付けられる。このように層間紙５５を介装することで、バスバー３０がその内周側に隣接するバスバー３０に接触することが阻止され、バスバー３０同士の干渉に起因する傷付きや絡み、破損などが防止される。このとき、バスバー３０からは、変形防止片５４がタブ片３３，３５よりも高く突出して、その先端に層間紙５５が接触するため、層間紙５５がタブ片３３，３５に干渉することが防止され、従ってタブ片３３，３５の変形が防止される。また、変形防止片５４の先端を曲げて保護部５４Ａを形成したため、変形防止片５４の先端が層間紙５５を突き破ることが防止されている。その後、連結部５３を分断することでバスバー３０がキャリア５０から切り離される。
【００３１】
組み付けに際しては、まずバスバー３０が保持部材４０の圧入溝４４に圧入される。そして、この保持部材４０がハウジング２０を左右に跨ぐようにして組付凹部２６へ上方から押し込まれる。すると、左右両側面壁４３が仮係止突起２８に当接して互いに開き方向に撓み変形しつつ仮係止突起２８に乗り上げる。さらに、保持部材４０が押し込まれると、両側面壁４３が互いに内側へ復元変形するとともに仮係止突起２８が係止孔４５Ａ内に係合して、保持部材４０が仮係止位置に保持される。
この状態から、雌端子金具１０がハウジング２０の各キャビティ２１内に後方から挿入され、ランス２５が接続部１２の上壁１２Ａに当接して上方に撓み変形した後、雌端子金具１０が正規の深さ位置まで挿入されると、ランス２５が復元変形して接続部１２の後端に係止し、これにより雌端子金具１０が抜け止め状態となる（図１及び図７参照）。
【００３２】
雌端子金具１０が挿入された後、各雌端子金具１０が正規のキャビティ２１に収容されているか否か等を検査するための導通検査が行われる場合には、導通検査用治具Ｊの先端が検知孔２４を通してキャビティ２１内に差し込まれ、接続部１２に当てられる。このとき、導通検査用治具Ｊの先端が接続部１２の前面の突き当て壁１８に当てられるようにしたため、弾性接触片１５が突かれて変形するような事態を防ぐことができる。なお、雌端子金具１０は、一つの工程にて全てのものがハウジング２０に装着されるのではなく、いくつかの工程に分けて装着される場合があり、そのような場合には、導通検査が各工程の終わりごとに行われることがある。そこで、本実施形態では、上述のように保持部材４０を仮係止位置とした状態と、後述のように保持部材４０を本係止位置にした状態との両方で導通検査を行うことができるようにしている。
【００３３】
全ての雌端子金具１０がキャビティ２１に装着された後、保持部材４０が下方に押し下げられる。すると、左右の側面壁４３が本係止突起２７に当接して互いに開き方向に撓み変形しつつ本係止突起２７に乗り上げる。ここで、全ての雌端子金具１０が正規の深さ位置まで挿入されていた場合には、保持部材４０は、ハウジング２０との間の摩擦力のみを受けつつ円滑に押し込み規制位置へと変位される。そこで、図１３に示すように、ストッパ２９がリブ４７に突き当たることで、保持部材４０が押し込み規制位置に係止される。このときのタブ片３３，３５の先端は、差込孔１４の入口付近に位置して接続部１２とは非接触の状態である。
【００３４】
これに対し、いずれかの雌端子金具１０が半挿入状態（正確には、雌端子金具１０の後端が端子挿入孔２２より内側に隠れる程度挿入され、かつ雌端子金具１０の前端が前止まり壁２３に至らない状態）であった場合には、保持部材４０が押し込み規制位置に至る直前にタブ片３３，３５の先端が接続部１２の上壁１２Ａに当接する。そして、保持部材４０は、タブ片３３，３５や接続部１２をごく僅かに撓み変形させつつ押し込み規制位置に至り、ストッパ２９がリブ４７に突き当たることで押し込み規制位置に係止される（図１４参照）。そのため、作業者は、保持部材４０が押し込み規制位置に至るより前に、タブ片３３，３５が接続部１２に接触するときの当接感を得て、半挿入状態の雌端子金具１０が存在することを知ることができる。ここで、仮にストッパ２９とリブ４７による押し込みの規制がなく、保持部材４０が仮係止位置から本係止位置へ直に変位される構成であった場合には、タブ片３３，３５の先端を半挿入状態の雌端子金具１０の接続部１２に強く突き当ててしまい、タブ片３３，３５を大きく変形させるおそれがある。しかし、本実施形態の構成では、タブ片３３，３５の先端が半挿入状態の雌端子金具１０にごく軽く接触する程度で止められるため、タブ片３３，３５の変形はないか、あったとしても使用に支障はない程ごく僅かで済む。上記のようにして、半挿入状態の雌端子金具１０が存在することが判明した場合には、保持部材４０が仮係止位置に引き戻され、雌端子金具１０の挿入がやり直された後、再び保持部材４０が押し込み規制位置へ押し込まれる。
【００３５】
全ての雌端子金具１０が正常に挿入されたことが判明した場合には、保持部材４０が圧入用の治具等によって押し込み規制位置よりもさらに押し下げられる。すると、各タブ片３３，３５が差込孔１４の奥側へと進入して、弾性接触片１５を撓み変形させつつ弾性接触片１５と挟持突起１６との間に挟み込まれる。このとき、タブ片３３，３５は弾性接触片１５の延び方向に沿って差し込まれるため、タブ片３３，３５との当接によって弾性接触片１５を傷めるおそれが少ない。なお、タブ片３３，３５の進入位置と雌端子金具１０の深さ位置との間に微少なずれがあった場合には、タブ片３３，３５が差込孔１４内に進入する際に、テーパ部３６が差込孔１４の孔縁部に摺接することで雌端子金具１０の位置が前後に矯正される。そして、保持部材４０が本係止位置に至ると、両側面壁４３が互いに内側に復元変形するとともに、各本係止突起２７が係止孔４５Ａ，４５Ｂ内に係合する（図１５，図１６参照）。これにより、バスバー３０を保持した保持部材４０が組付凹部２６に収容され、ハウジング２０及び保持部材４０の外形がほぼ直方体形状となる。この状態では、雌端子金具１０同士がバスバー３０を介して短絡される。また、バスバー３０が差込孔１４の孔縁に係止することで、雌端子金具１０が二重に抜け止めされた状態となる。
【００３６】
この状態で雌端子金具１０に対し導通検査が行われる場合には、導通検査用治具Ｊの先端が前方から治具挿通孔４６と検知孔２４とを通してキャビティ２１内に差し込まれ、接続部１２の突き当て壁１８に当てられる。
また、メンテナンス等の際に、雌端子金具１０をキャビティ２１より抜き出す場合には、保持部材４０を本係止位置より仮係止位置へ引き戻し、治具を用いてランス２５を撓み変形させて雌端子金具１０との係合を外せば、雌端子金具１０を抜き出すことができる。
【００３７】
以上説明したように本実施形態によれば、バスバー３０を保持する保持部材４０を設けて、バスバー３０の抜き差しを保持部材４０を介して行うようにしたため、作業性が高められる。また、その保持部材４０をデッドスペースとなるランス２５の前方位置に設けた組付凹部２６に収容するようにしたため、コネクタの大型化を回避できる。
また、雌端子金具１０の弾性接触片１５がタブ片３３，３５に対して弾性的に接触するので良好な接触状態を確保できるとともに、タブ片３３，３５が弾性接触片１５の延び方向に沿って差し込まれるため、タブ片３３，３５との当接によって弾性接触片１５を傷めるおそれが少ない。
また、バスバー３０によって雌端子金具１０が抜け止めされるため、抜け止めのための専用部材を設けずに済み、部品点数を低減することができる。
【００３８】
さらに、保持部材４０を仮係止位置にした状態と本係止位置にした状態との両方で導通検査を行うことができる。
また、保持部材４０を仮係止位置から押し込み規制位置へ変位する途中で、タブ片３３，３５が半挿入状態の雌端子金具１０に当接した場合には、その当接感によって、半挿入状態の雌端子金具１０が存在することを知ることができる。また、タブ片３３，３５が雌端子金具１０に当接した直後に、保持部材４０が押し込み規制位置に係止されるため、タブ片３３，３５の変形を防ぐことができる。また、導通検査用治具Ｊの先端が弾性接触片１５の前方を覆った突き当て壁１８に当てられるようにしたため、治具Ｊによって弾性接触片１５が突かれて変形するような事態を防ぐことができる。
【００３９】
本発明は上記記述及び図面によって説明した実施形態に限定されるものではなく、例えば次のような実施態様も本発明の技術的範囲に含まれ、さらに、下記以外にも要旨を逸脱しない範囲内で種々変更して実施することができる。
（１）キャビティの個数や配列は、上記に記載のものに限らず、例えば図１７に示すように、コネクタハウジング６０に上下対称に２段のキャビティ２１を設けるとともに、各キャビティ２１のランス２５の前方位置に上方又は下方に開放した組付凹部６１を設けてそれぞれにバスバー３０を保持した保持部材４０が組み付けられるような構成としても良い。
（２）バスバーは、端子金具の短絡パターンに応じて一つの保持部材に複数個に分かれたものを組み付けるようにしても良く、一つのバスバーが有するタブ片の本数も２本以上の任意の本数に設定できる。
（３）バスバーは、インサート成形によって保持部材と一体化させるようにしても良い。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本実施形態において保持部材を仮係止位置に組み付けた状態の縦断面図
【図２】端子金具の平面図
【図３】端子金具の正面図
【図４】端子金具の正断面図
【図５】ハウジング及び保持部材の平面図
【図６】ハウジング及び保持部材の正面図
【図７】保持部材を仮係止位置に組み付けた状態の側面図
【図８】バスバーの底面図
【図９】バスバーの側面図
【図１０】保持部材の背面図
【図１１】バスバーの展開状態を示す平面図
【図１２】バスバーをリール巻きにした状態を示す側面図
【図１３】保持部材が押し込み規制位置にあるときの側面図
【図１４】タブ片が半挿入状態の端子金具に当接した状態を示す縦断面図
【図１５】保持部材を本係止位置に組み付けた状態を示す側面図
【図１６】その縦断面図
【図１７】他の実施形態を示す縦断面図
【図１８】従来のジョイントコネクタを示す縦断面図
【符号の説明】
１０…雌端子金具（端子金具）
１２…接続部
１２Ａ…上壁（接続部の高さ方向の壁面）
１４…差込孔
１５…弾性接触片
１８…突き当て壁
２０…コネクタハウジング
２１…キャビティ
２４…検知孔
２５…ランス
２６…組付凹部
２９…ストッパ
３０…バスバー
３３，３５…タブ片
４０…保持部材
４２…前面壁
４６…治具挿通孔
Ｊ…導通検査用治具[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a joint connector.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an example of a joint connector, there is one described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 18, the terminal fittings 3 are accommodated in the plurality of cavities 2 provided in the connector housing 1 so as to be arranged in the lateral width direction, and the plurality of cavities are formed from the mounting grooves 4 on the upper surface of the connector housing 1. In this configuration, a strip-like bus bar 5 is inserted so as to cross 2. The bus bar 5 is fitted into the receiving groove 6 formed in the terminal fitting 3, and the terminal fittings 3 are short-circuited via the bus bar 5.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-306617
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above joint connector, since the bus bar 5 is handled alone, there is a problem that it is difficult to insert the bus bar 5 into the mounting groove 4 of the connector housing 1 or to pull out the bus bar 5 from the mounting groove 4 for maintenance or the like. On the other hand, a configuration is conceivable in which the bus bar is held by a synthetic resin holding member and the bus bar is inserted and removed by assembling or removing the holding member from the connector housing. However, simply providing the holding member leads to an increase in the size of the connector.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a joint connector capable of avoiding an increase in size while improving workability for inserting and removing a bus bar.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A joint connector according to the invention of claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is formed such that a terminal fitting provided with a connecting portion at a front portion and a plurality of cavities into which the terminal fitting is inserted from the rear are arranged in the lateral width direction. And a connector housing in which a lance that can be elastically locked to the terminal fitting is formed on the inner wall in the height direction of the cavity, and a plurality of tab pieces are formed in parallel, and each tab piece is connected to the terminal fitting. A joint connector provided with a bus bar that short-circuits the terminal fittings by contacting the connection portion from the height direction, and a holding member made of a synthetic resin that holds the bus bar is provided, and the connector housing An assembly recess that can be assembled in a state in which the holding member is accommodated is formed at a front position of the lance.In addition, a detection hole for inserting a continuity inspection jig into the cavity is opened on the front surface of the connector housing, while the holding member has a tab piece of the bus bar with respect to the connector housing. The terminal fitting can be held at a regular locking position that is in a normal contact state and a temporary locking position that is in a non-contact state, and is disposed on the front side of the detection hole and is temporarily locked. A front wall which opens the detection hole at a position, and the continuity inspection jig can be inserted into the front wall in alignment with the detection hole at the main locking position. Jig insertion hole is openedHowever, it has characteristics.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, an elastic contact piece extending in a cantilever manner along the insertion direction of the tab piece elastically contacts the tab piece at the connection portion. It is characterized in that it can be formed.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion has a cylindrical shape along the front-rear direction, and the tab piece can be inserted into a wall surface in the height direction. The insertion hole is open, and the tab piece is locked to the hole edge of the insertion hole so that the terminal fitting is prevented from coming off.
[0011]
Operation and effect of the invention
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the holding member that holds the bus bar is provided and the bus bar is inserted and removed through the holding member, the workability is improved. Further, since the holding member is accommodated in the assembly recess provided at the front position of the lance that becomes a dead space, an increase in size of the connector can be avoided.Further, the continuity test can be performed in both the state in which the holding member is in the temporary locking position and the state in which the holding member is in the final locking position.
[0012]
According to the invention of claim 2, since the elastic contact piece of the terminal fitting elastically contacts the tab piece, a good contact state can be secured and the tab piece is inserted along the extending direction of the elastic contact piece. Therefore, there is little possibility that an elastic contact piece will be damaged by contact | abutting with a tab piece.
[0013]
According to the invention of claim 3, since the terminal fitting is prevented from being detached by the bus bar, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated member for retaining, and the number of parts can be reduced.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the joint connector of the present embodiment includes a female terminal fitting 10, a connector housing 20 (hereinafter referred to as a housing) in which the female terminal fitting 10 is accommodated, and a bus bar 30 that short-circuits the female terminal fitting 10. And a holding member 40 that holds the bus bar 30. In the following description, with respect to the front-rear direction, the left side of FIG. 1 is the front, and the vertical direction is based on FIG.
[0018]
The female terminal fitting 10 is formed by punching a conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape by a press and then bending it. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the end of the electric wire W is crimped to the rear part. And a connecting portion 12 connected to the tab pieces 33 and 35 of the bus bar 30 at the front. The barrel portion 11 includes an insulation barrel 11A composed of a pair of pieces projecting upward from the left and right side edges of the bottom wall, and a wire barrel 11B composed of a pair of pieces which are arranged on the front end side and similarly project upward. The insulation barrel 11A is caulked with a covered portion of the electric wire W, and the wire barrel 11B is caulked with a core wire portion exposed from the covered end of the electric wire W.
[0019]
The connecting portion 12 is formed in a rectangular tube shape that is long in the front-rear direction so that the ceiling surface is double-folded. On the upper wall 12A of the connecting portion 12 (corresponding to the “wall in the height direction” of the present invention), a stabilizer 13 that functions to stabilize the insertion operation from the left end of FIG. It is formed by raising. In addition, a rectangular insertion hole 14 into which the tab pieces 33 and 35 of the bus bar 30 can be inserted is opened in the upper wall 12A of the connecting portion 12 at a substantially central position in the front-rear direction and on the right side in FIG. An elastic contact piece 15 extending in the shape of a tongue from the upper end of the left side wall in FIG. 4 is formed inside the connection portion 12 so as to be folded downward, and its tip portion is viewed from above as an insertion hole 14. It is in the form of projecting to the back side of. Also, a pair of front and rear clamping protrusions 16 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the right side wall of FIG. When the tab pieces 33, 35 of the bus bar 30 are inserted into the insertion hole 14 from above, the elastic contact piece 15 is bent and deformed, and the tab pieces 33, 35 are brought into contact with the tip of the elastic contact piece 15 by the restoring elasticity. By being sandwiched between the sandwiching protrusions 16, the connection between both the members 10 and 30 is established. Further, an over-deflection restricting piece 17 for restricting the elastic contact piece 15 from being bent excessively is formed protruding from the lower portion of the left side wall of FIG. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an abutting wall 18 extending from the front end of the upper wall 12 A is provided on the front surface of the connecting portion 12, and the front of the elastic contact piece 15 is provided by the abutting wall 18. The tip of the continuity inspection jig J is abutted against the abutting wall 18.
[0020]
The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin and has a flat box shape as a whole as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 7, and five elongated cavities 21 are arranged in the width direction in the front and rear in the inside thereof. It is formed with. Each cavity 21 has a large opening as a terminal insertion hole 22 for inserting a terminal fitting on the rear end side, a front stop wall 23 is provided on the front end side, and a continuity inspection jig J is provided above the cavity 21. A detection hole 24 for insertion into the groove is formed as a groove-shaped opening. On the upper surface of the inner wall of each cavity 21 is formed a lance 25 that cantilevered from the middle in the front-rear direction to the front. The lance 25 can be bent and deformed in the vertical direction, and the front end of the lance 25 is engaged with the rear edge of the connecting portion 12 of the female terminal fitting 10 so that the female terminal fitting 10 is prevented from coming off. Yes. In addition, since the bending space S is provided above the lance 25 and the upper surface wall 20A of the housing 20 is further covered above, the housing 20 as a whole is lower than the lower surface wall 20B below the cavity 21. In addition, the upper wall 20A on the upper side of the cavity 21 is thicker.
[0021]
An assembly recess 26 for assembling the holding member 40 is formed in the front portion of the housing 20. More specifically, the assembling concave portion 26 includes an outer peripheral portion 26A in which the front portion of the housing 20 and the substantially front half portions of the left and right side surfaces thereof are cut off with a predetermined thickness dimension leaving the lower side portion, and the front end portions of the cavities 21; It is comprised from the main body accommodating part 26B of the form which excised the upper part of the front part rather than the lance 25. FIG. On the left and right side surfaces of the housing 20 facing the outer peripheral portion 26A of the assembly recess 26, three main locking projections 27 are formed in the front and rear in the lower region, and the two rear main members are formed in the upper region. Two temporary locking projections 28 are formed side by side corresponding to the locking projection 27. Both the main locking projections 27 and the temporary locking projections 28 are formed with tapered slopes on the upper side, and the temporary locking projections 28 have a larger projecting dimension than the main locking projections 27. . Further, on both left and right side surfaces of the housing 20, a stopper 29 protrudes from the rear end of the outer peripheral portion 26 A in the assembly recess 26 and at a substantially central position in the height direction.
[0022]
The bus bar 30 is formed by punching a conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape by a press and then bending (detailed later). As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bus bar 30 includes a horizontally long strip-like base portion 31, and three extending portions 32 shown in the drawing from the rear edge side of the base portion 31 to the rear side (lower side in FIG. 8) have a predetermined pitch. It is extended side by side. A first tab piece 33 protrudes downward from the right edge of FIG. Further, on the front edge side of the base portion 31, the folded portion 34 extends from a position corresponding to the center of the adjacent extending portions 32, and the tip thereof is folded back to the rear side of the base portion 31. A second tab piece 35 projects downward from the right edge of FIG. 8 at the tip of the folded portion 34. The first tab piece 33 and the second tab piece 35 are both flat, have the same width dimension, and have the same protruding dimension from the base 31, and are parallel to each other, the first tab piece 33 and the second tab piece. The pieces 35 are alternately arranged at a constant pitch (half the pitch of the first tab pieces 33) in the thickness direction. At the tip of each tab piece 33, 35, a tapered portion 36 is formed in a tapered shape at both ends in the width direction. Further, on the front edge side of the base portion 31, a press-fitting protrusion 37 having a shape in which a tip end portion projects in the width direction is projected at each position corresponding to each extending portion 32.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 and 10, the holding member 40 includes a horizontally long and thick plate-like main body 41, a front wall 42 extending downward from the front end of the main body 41, and the main body 41 and the front surface. The wall 42 includes a pair of side walls 43 extending rearward from the left and right ends of the wall 42. A press-fitting groove 44 is formed on the rear surface of the main body 41, and the bus bar 30 is closely fitted therein, and the press-fitting protrusion 37 of the bus bar 30 is bitten into the wall surface at the back of the press-fitting groove 44, thereby However, the tab pieces 33 and 35 are held in a state of projecting downward from the main body 41. The front wall 42 and the side wall 43 respectively cover the protruding ends of the tab pieces 33 and 35 from the front and the side, so that the tab pieces 33 and 35 are prevented from interfering with foreign matter.
[0024]
The side wall 43 is formed with three locking holes 45A and 45B arranged side by side, and the rear two locking holes 45A are formed over the entire width of the side wall 43 in the height direction. The main locking projection 27 and the temporary locking projection 28 can be engaged, and the front locking hole 45B is provided only in the lower half region of the side wall 43 so that the main locking projection 27 can be engaged. ing. The holding member 40 is assembled to the assembling recess 26 from above so as to straddle the housing 20 from side to side. In the assembled state, the outer surface of the side wall 43 is substantially flush with the outer surface of the housing 20, and the front wall 42 The front surface is substantially flush with the front surface of the lower side portion of the front end of the housing 20. As described below, the holding position of the holding member 40 with respect to the housing 20 is as follows: a final locking position, which is the final assembly position, a temporary locking position positioned above the final locking position, a final locking position, and a temporary locking position. Three indentation restricting positions located in the middle of the locking position are defined.
[0025]
In the temporary locking position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the temporary locking protrusion 28 is engaged in the locking hole 45 A and the temporary locking protrusion 28 is engaged with the lower end of the side wall 43. Thus, the holding member 40 is held in a state of protruding upward from the upper surface of the housing 20. At this position, the tips of the tab pieces 33, 35 of the bus bar 30 are in a state of being separated above the upper wall 12 A of the connection portion 12 of the female terminal fitting 10 in the cavity 21. Further, at this temporary locking position, the detection hole 24 is opened to the lower back side of the front wall 42.
[0026]
In the final locking position, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, both the main locking projections 27 and the temporary locking projections 28 are engaged in the rear locking holes 45A, and the front locking holes 45B are engaged. The temporary locking projections 28 are engaged with each other. At this time, the front wall 42 and the side wall 43 of the holding member 40 are accommodated in such a form that the main body 41 fills almost the entire region of the outer peripheral portion 26A of the assembly recess 26 and the main body accommodating portion 26B. The upper surface is substantially flush with the upper surface of the housing 20. Further, the tab pieces 33 and 35 of the bus bar 30 protrude into the cavity 21 and are inserted into the insertion holes 14 of the connection portion 12 of the female terminal fitting 10 to be in a normal contact state. Further, a rectangular jig insertion hole 46 through which the continuity inspection jig J can be inserted is opened in the front wall 42 of the holding member 40 corresponding to each cavity 21, and this jig is located at the final locking position. The insertion hole 46 and the detection hole 24 are aligned.
[0027]
At the rear end edge of the side wall 43, a rib 47 that can be engaged with the stopper 29 protrudes from a position slightly closer to the lower end than the center. The rib 47 and the stopper 29 are engaged at a push restricting position in the middle of the holding member 40 being displaced from the temporary locking position to the final locking position, and the pressing of the holding member 40 to the final locking position is temporarily performed. Are becoming regulated. In this push-in restricting position, since the tips of the tab pieces 33 and 35 are located at substantially the same height (precisely slightly below) as the upper surface position of the connection portion 12 of the female terminal fitting 10 in the cavity 21, The setting is such that the tips of the tab pieces 33 and 35 can come into contact with the upper surface of the connection portion 12 when the terminal fitting 10 is in a half-insertion state where the terminal fitting 10 is not inserted to the normal depth position. Further, when the holding member 40 at the push-in restriction position is pressed downward, the peripheral portion of the rib 47 is slightly bent and deformed so that the rib 47 gets over the stopper 29.
[0028]
The manufacture of the bus bar 30 is performed as follows. First, a long metal plate material is punched out by a press, and as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of unfolded bus bars 30 are formed on the side edge of the carrier 50 having a long belt shape. A circular positioning hole 51 is formed in the carrier 50 at a predetermined pitch (the same pitch as the extending portion 32) along the length direction, and one side edge of the carrier 50 corresponds to each positioning hole 51. An elongated connecting portion 53 is extended for each position. The base 31 of the bus bar 30 is arranged in parallel with the carrier 50, and the tips of the extended portions 32 extending from the edge of the base 31 on the carrier 50 side are connected to the tips of the connecting portions 53. A first tab piece 33 is formed so as to extend from the right edge of FIG. 11 in each extending portion 32 to a length reaching the adjacent extending portion 32 in parallel with the base portion 31. Further, from the edge of the base 31 opposite to the carrier 50, a folded portion 34 is provided to extend between the adjacent press-fitting protrusions 37, and from the side edge of the tip of the folded portion 34 in a direction parallel to the base 31 ( A second tab piece 35 that extends in the same direction as the extending direction of the first tab piece 33 and is shorter than the first tab piece 33 by approximately one sheet thickness is formed. Each connecting portion 53 is formed with a deformation preventing piece 54 extending to the vicinity of the adjacent connecting portion 53 in parallel with the carrier 50 (opposite to the extending direction of the first tab piece 33). The deformation preventing piece 54 is slightly longer than the tab pieces 33 and 35, and the protective portion 54A is formed by bending the front end portion of the deformation preventing piece 54 to the front side in FIG.
[0029]
In the bus bar 30, the first tab piece 33 is bent at a right angle (in FIG. 11, the front side of the sheet), and the second tab piece 35 is perpendicular to the folded portion 34 (in the direction opposite to the first tab piece 33, FIG. 11, the folded portion 34 is folded back toward the carrier 50 near the base end. As a result, the second tab piece 35 at the tip of the folded portion 34 is arranged at the intermediate position between the adjacent first tab pieces 33 on the carrier 50 side of the base portion 31, and both the tab pieces 33, 35 are constant in the thickness direction. They are arranged alternately at a pitch (half the pitch of the first tab pieces 33). Thus, compared with the case where only the first tab piece is provided on the bus bar 30, the pitch between the adjacent tab pieces 33 and 35 can be halved, and accordingly, between the cavities 21 of the counterpart housing 20. It is possible to reduce the size by narrowing the pitch. Further, each deformation preventing piece 54 is bent up at a right angle to the same side as the tab pieces 33 and 35 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In FIG. 11, for the bus bar 30 A adjacent to the bus bar 30, the tab pieces 33 and 35 are those of the bus bar 30, for example, two first tab pieces 33 and three second tab pieces 35. Although they are formed in a staggered configuration (not shown in detail), they are also treated as the same parts as the bus bar 30 because they have similar shapes.
[0030]
The bus bar 30 that has finished the bending process as described above is transported to a work site such as a process of separating the bus bar 30 from the carrier 50 or a process of assembling the bus bar 30 to the holding member 40 while being wound around the reel. When the bus bar 30 is wound around the reel, as shown in FIG. 12, a long strip of interlayer paper 55 is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the bus bar 30, and the interlayer paper 55 and the bus bar 30 are reeled together. Wrapped around. By interposing the interlayer paper 55 in this way, the bus bar 30 is prevented from coming into contact with the bus bar 30 adjacent to the inner periphery thereof, and scratches, entanglements, breakage, etc. caused by interference between the bus bars 30 are prevented. Is done. At this time, since the deformation preventing piece 54 protrudes higher than the tab pieces 33 and 35 from the bus bar 30 and the interlayer paper 55 comes into contact with the tip thereof, the interlayer paper 55 is prevented from interfering with the tab pieces 33 and 35. Therefore, the deformation of the tab pieces 33 and 35 is prevented. Further, since the protection portion 54 A is formed by bending the tip of the deformation preventing piece 54, the tip of the deformation preventing piece 54 is prevented from breaking through the interlayer paper 55. Thereafter, the bus bar 30 is separated from the carrier 50 by dividing the connecting portion 53.
[0031]
In assembly, the bus bar 30 is first press-fitted into the press-fitting groove 44 of the holding member 40. Then, the holding member 40 is pushed into the assembly recess 26 from above so as to straddle the housing 20 from side to side. Then, the left and right side walls 43 abut against the temporary locking protrusions 28 and ride on the temporary locking protrusions 28 while being bent and deformed in the opening direction. Further, when the holding member 40 is pushed in, both side walls 43 are restored and deformed inward and the temporary locking projections 28 are engaged in the locking holes 45A, whereby the holding member 40 is held in the temporary locking position. .
From this state, the female terminal fitting 10 is inserted into the respective cavities 21 of the housing 20 from the rear, and the lance 25 is brought into contact with the upper wall 12A of the connecting portion 12 to bend and deform upward. When inserted to the depth position, the lance 25 is restored and deformed and locked to the rear end of the connecting portion 12, whereby the female terminal fitting 10 is prevented from coming off (see FIGS. 1 and 7).
[0032]
When a continuity test for inspecting whether or not each female terminal metal fitting 10 is accommodated in a regular cavity 21 is performed after the female terminal metal fitting 10 is inserted, the tip of the continuity inspection jig J Is inserted into the cavity 21 through the detection hole 24 and applied to the connection portion 12. At this time, since the tip of the continuity inspection jig J is brought into contact with the abutting wall 18 on the front surface of the connecting portion 12, it is possible to prevent the elastic contact piece 15 from being struck and deformed. It should be noted that the female terminal fitting 10 may not be attached to the housing 20 in one process, but may be attached in several processes. In such a case, a continuity test is performed. May be performed at the end of each step. Therefore, in this embodiment, the continuity test can be performed both in the state where the holding member 40 is in the temporary locking position as described above and in the state where the holding member 40 is in the main locking position as described later. I am doing so.
[0033]
After all the female terminal fittings 10 are mounted in the cavity 21, the holding member 40 is pushed down. Then, the left and right side walls 43 come into contact with the main locking projections 27 and ride on the main locking projections 27 while being bent and deformed in the opening direction. Here, when all the female terminal fittings 10 have been inserted to the proper depth position, the holding member 40 is smoothly displaced to the push-in restriction position while receiving only the frictional force with the housing 20. The Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, when the stopper 29 abuts against the rib 47, the holding member 40 is locked at the push-in restricting position. At this time, the tips of the tab pieces 33 and 35 are located in the vicinity of the inlet of the insertion hole 14 and are not in contact with the connecting portion 12.
[0034]
On the other hand, one of the female terminal fittings 10 is in a half-inserted state (exactly, it is inserted so that the rear end of the female terminal fitting 10 is hidden inside the terminal insertion hole 22, and the front end of the female terminal fitting 10 is stopped in front. When the holding member 40 does not reach the push-in restricting position, the tips of the tab pieces 33 and 35 come into contact with the upper wall 12A of the connection portion 12. The holding member 40 reaches the push-in restriction position while slightly deforming and deforming the tab pieces 33 and 35 and the connection portion 12, and is locked at the push-in restriction position when the stopper 29 hits the rib 47 (FIG. 14). reference). Therefore, the operator obtains a feeling of contact when the tab pieces 33 and 35 come into contact with the connection portion 12 before the holding member 40 reaches the push-in restriction position, and the half-inserted female terminal fitting 10 exists. You can know what to do. Here, if there is no restriction of pushing by the stopper 29 and the rib 47 and the holding member 40 is directly displaced from the temporary locking position to the main locking position, the tips of the tab pieces 33 and 35 are arranged. Is strongly abutted against the connection portion 12 of the female terminal fitting 10 in the half-inserted state, and the tab pieces 33 and 35 may be greatly deformed. However, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the tab pieces 33 and 35 are stopped to such an extent that the tip ends of the tab pieces 33 and 35 come into very light contact with the female terminal fitting 10 in the half-inserted state. However, there is very little so as not to hinder the use. As described above, when it is found that the female terminal fitting 10 in the half insertion state exists, the holding member 40 is pulled back to the temporary locking position, and the insertion of the female terminal fitting 10 is performed again. The holding member 40 is pushed into the push-in restriction position.
[0035]
When it is found that all the female terminal fittings 10 are normally inserted, the holding member 40 is further pushed down from the push-in restriction position by a press-fitting jig or the like. Then, each tab piece 33, 35 enters the back side of the insertion hole 14, and is sandwiched between the elastic contact piece 15 and the holding protrusion 16 while bending and deforming the elastic contact piece 15. At this time, since the tab pieces 33 and 35 are inserted along the extending direction of the elastic contact piece 15, there is little possibility of damaging the elastic contact piece 15 due to contact with the tab pieces 33 and 35. In addition, when there is a slight deviation between the entry position of the tab pieces 33 and 35 and the depth position of the female terminal fitting 10, when the tab pieces 33 and 35 enter the insertion hole 14, The position of the female terminal fitting 10 is corrected back and forth by the taper portion 36 being in sliding contact with the hole edge of the insertion hole 14. When the holding member 40 reaches the final locking position, the side wall 43 is restored and deformed inward and the main locking projections 27 are engaged in the locking holes 45A and 45B (FIGS. 15 and 16). reference). Thereby, the holding member 40 holding the bus bar 30 is accommodated in the assembly recess 26, and the outer shape of the housing 20 and the holding member 40 is substantially a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In this state, the female terminal fittings 10 are short-circuited via the bus bar 30. In addition, the bus bar 30 is locked to the hole edge of the insertion hole 14, so that the female terminal fitting 10 is prevented from coming off twice.
[0036]
When the continuity test is performed on the female terminal fitting 10 in this state, the tip of the continuity test jig J is inserted into the cavity 21 from the front through the jig insertion hole 46 and the detection hole 24, and the connection portion 12. It is applied to the butting wall 18.
Further, when the female terminal fitting 10 is pulled out from the cavity 21 during maintenance or the like, the holding member 40 is pulled back from the final locking position to the temporary locking position, and the lance 25 is bent and deformed using a jig, so that the female If the engagement with the terminal fitting 10 is released, the female terminal fitting 10 can be extracted.
[0037]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the holding member 40 that holds the bus bar 30 is provided and the bus bar 30 is inserted and removed through the holding member 40, workability is improved. Further, since the holding member 40 is accommodated in the assembly recess 26 provided at the front position of the lance 25 that becomes a dead space, an increase in size of the connector can be avoided.
Further, since the elastic contact piece 15 of the female terminal fitting 10 is in elastic contact with the tab pieces 33 and 35, a good contact state can be secured, and the tab pieces 33 and 35 extend along the extending direction of the elastic contact piece 15. Therefore, the elastic contact piece 15 is less likely to be damaged by contact with the tab pieces 33 and 35.
Further, since the female terminal fitting 10 is prevented from being removed by the bus bar 30, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated member for preventing the removal, and the number of parts can be reduced.
[0038]
Furthermore, the continuity test can be performed both in the state where the holding member 40 is in the temporary locking position and in the state where the holding member 40 is in the final locking position.
Further, when the tab pieces 33 and 35 come into contact with the female terminal fitting 10 in the half-inserted state while the holding member 40 is displaced from the temporary locking position to the push-in restricting position, the half-insertion is caused by the contact feeling. It can be known that the female terminal fitting 10 in the state exists. Further, immediately after the tab pieces 33 and 35 abut on the female terminal fitting 10, the holding member 40 is locked at the push-in restricting position, so that the tab pieces 33 and 35 can be prevented from being deformed. In addition, since the tip of the continuity inspection jig J is brought into contact with the abutting wall 18 covering the front of the elastic contact piece 15, the situation where the elastic contact piece 15 is struck by the jig J and deformed is prevented. be able to.
[0039]
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) The number and arrangement of the cavities are not limited to those described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the connector housing 60 is provided with two cavities 21 symmetrically in the vertical direction, and the lances 25 of the cavities 21 are arranged. It is good also as a structure where the holding | maintenance member 40 which hold | maintained the bus-bar 30 in each is provided and the assembly recessed part 61 open | released upward or downward in the front position is attached.
(2) The bus bar may be assembled into one holding member according to the short-circuit pattern of the terminal fitting, and the number of tab pieces of one bus bar may be any number of two or more. Can be set.
(3) The bus bar may be integrated with the holding member by insert molding.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a holding member is assembled at a temporary locking position in the present embodiment.
[Fig. 2] Plan view of terminal fittings
[Fig.3] Front view of terminal fitting
[Fig.4] Front section of terminal fitting
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a housing and a holding member.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a housing and a holding member.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which the holding member is assembled to the temporary locking position.
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the bus bar.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the bus bar.
FIG. 10 is a rear view of the holding member.
FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a developed state of the bus bar.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing a state in which a bus bar is wound around a reel.
FIG. 13 is a side view when the holding member is in a push-in restricting position.
FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where a tab piece is in contact with a terminal fitting in a half-inserted state.
FIG. 15 is a side view showing a state in which the holding member is assembled at the final locking position.
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.
FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional joint connector.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Female terminal fitting (terminal fitting)
12 ... connection part
12A ... Upper wall (wall surface in the height direction of the connecting portion)
14 ... insertion hole
15 ... elastic contact piece
18 ... Butting wall
20 ... Connector housing
21 ... cavity
24. Detection hole
25 ... Lance
26 ... Assembly recess
29 ... Stopper
30 ... Bus bar
33, 35 ... Tab pieces
40 ... Holding member
42 ... Front wall
46 ... Jig insertion hole
J ... Continuity test jig

Claims

A terminal fitting provided with a connecting portion at the front,
A connector housing in which a plurality of cavities into which the terminal fittings are inserted from the rear are formed side by side in the width direction, and a lance that can be elastically locked to the terminal fittings is formed on the inner wall in the height direction of the cavities; ,
A joint connector comprising a plurality of tab pieces formed in parallel, and a bus bar that short-circuits the terminal fittings by bringing each tab piece into contact with the connection portion of the terminal fitting from the height direction,
A holding member made of a synthetic resin for holding the bus bar is provided, and the connector housing is formed with an assembly recess that can be assembled in a state in which the holding member is accommodated at a front position of the lance .
On the front surface of the connector housing, a detection hole for inserting a continuity inspection jig into the cavity is opened, while the holding member is connected to the connector housing and the tab piece of the bus bar is connected to the terminal. It can be held at a regular locking position that is in a normal contact state with a connection portion of the metal fitting and a temporary locking position that is in a non-contact state, and is disposed on the front side of the detection hole so as to be in the temporary locking position. A front wall that opens the detection hole, and a jig that allows the continuity inspection jig to be inserted into the front wall in alignment with the detection hole at the main locking position. A joint connector having an insertion hole .

The elastic contact piece extended in the cantilever shape along the insertion direction of the tab piece is formed in the connection part so that elastic contact with the tab piece is possible. Joint connector.

The connection portion has a cylindrical shape along the front-rear direction, and an insertion hole into which the tab piece can be inserted is opened on a wall surface in the height direction, and the tab piece is a hole of the insertion hole. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminal fitting is prevented from being detached by being engaged with an edge portion.