JP4297303B2 - Connector connection structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector connection structure in which a pair of female and male connectors are fitted together using a cam mechanism.
[0002]
[Related background]
For example, in the connector connection structure described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-172651 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-26069, a slide frame that slides in a direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction is provided on the female connector, and the slide frame A cam groove is formed in an oblique direction, and a cam pin that can be fitted into the cam groove is provided on the mating male connector. At the time of connector fitting, first, the male connector is lightly fitted in correspondence with the female connector, and the cam pin is fitted into the cam groove, and the slide frame is slid while maintaining this state. Along with the slide operation, the cam pin moves in the cam groove, and the slide of the slide frame is converted into a movement in the fitting direction of the male connector, so that the connector is fitted. When the connector is separated, the slide frame is slid in the opposite direction, and the male connector is separated from the female connector by the action of the cam groove and the cam pin.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the connector connection structure described in the above-mentioned publication, when the connectors are fitted, two completely different operations are required, that is, the operation of making the male connector correspond to the female connector and the operation of sliding the slide frame. Therefore, there is a problem that not only can the fitting be performed quickly, but also when the fitting operation is performed in a narrow place where there is no excess space in the surroundings or in a place where the connector cannot be directly visually observed, the operation is very difficult.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a connector connection structure capable of quickly performing a connector fitting operation and easily performing the fitting operation even in a place where the connector cannot be visually observed or in a narrow place. is there.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a holding member having a first connector and a second connector that can be fitted to each other, and a lock portion that is fixed to a vehicle body and holds the first connector. And a guide member provided on the second connector side for guiding the holding member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the connector fitting direction, and a meter panel formed integrally with the second connector and fixing the second connector A regulating member that regulates the first connector guided together with the holding member at a position opposite to the second connector; and provided between the holding member and the first connector; And a cam mechanism for converting relative movement between the first connector regulated by the guide member and the holding member guided by the guide member into movement of the first connector in the fitting direction with respect to the second connector. .
[0006]
Therefore, when the holding member is aligned with the guide member and moved along the guide member, the first connector moves together with the holding member and is regulated by the regulating member at a position opposite to the second connector, and thereafter Only the holding member moves while being guided by the guide member. The relative movement between the first connector and the holding member at this time is converted into movement in the fitting direction of the first connector with respect to the second connector by the cam mechanism, and both the connectors are fitted. In this way, the connector can be fitted by one operation of aligning and moving the holding member along the guide member, and the connector is not directly visible or in a narrow place where there is no excess space around. However, the fitting operation can be executed.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first connector has a sliding contact protrusion, and when the meter panel is guided by the guide member, the restriction surface formed on the restriction member is the sliding contact protrusion of the first connector. The first connector comes into contact with the strip and opposes the second connector at a position where it can be fitted. In the invention of claim 3 , the cam mechanism is constituted by a cam groove formed in the holding member and a cam pin provided in the first connector and movably fitted in the cam groove. Accordingly, when the first connector and the holding member move relative to each other, the cam pin is moved along the cam groove, and the first connector is fitted to the second connector. In the invention of claim 4, the cam groove is provided with an insertion / removal groove connected to the cam groove for detaching the cam pin from the holding member. Thus, the first connector is separated from the vehicle body member together with the meter panel while being fitted to the second connector. Furthermore, in the invention of claim 5 , the cam groove is extended with respect to the moving stroke of the cam pin required for connector fitting. The cam pin may exceed the intended movement stroke in the cam groove when the connector is fitted due to mounting errors between the members, but the cam pin is extended, so the cam pin is located on the inner periphery of the cam groove. Interfering situations are avoided.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a connector connection structure for a vehicle will be described.
The connector of this embodiment is used for electrically connecting the meter panel to the vehicle body. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector connection structure of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state before the connector is fitted, and the lower right side of FIG. 1 and the upper side of FIG. Therefore, the following description will be described with reference to the front, rear, left and right of the vehicle. As shown in these drawings, the meter panel 1 is attached to the rear surface of a member 2 installed in the left-right direction of the vehicle body using screws (not shown). A holding member 3 in which a metal plate material is bent is disposed on the front surface of the member 2, and the holding member 3 is a pair of upper and lower fixing surfaces 3 a fixed to the member 2, and is perpendicular to both the fixing surfaces 3 a toward the front. A pair of bent upper and lower cam surfaces 3b and a connecting surface 3c for connecting the front ends of these cam surfaces 3b to each other are formed.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper and lower cam surfaces 3b are formed with a pair of left and right cam grooves 4 that extend diagonally to the left and front, and the rear ends of the cam grooves 4 are interposed via narrow narrow portions 5 respectively. It is continuous with the substantially circular lock portion 6. The front end of the left cam groove 4 opens leftward from the cam surface 3 b, and the front end of the right cam groove 4 intersects with the insertion / removal groove 7. The insertion / removal groove 7 is formed wider in the front-rear direction than the cam groove 4, the front end of the insertion / removal groove 7 extends slightly forward from the intersection with the cam groove 4, and the rear end is directed rearward from the cam surface 3b. Open.
[0010]
A female connector 10 as a first connector is disposed between the upper and lower cam surfaces 3b of the holding member 3 with the fitting port 10a side facing left and the wire harness 10b side facing right. ing. The left side of the rear surface of the female connector 10 is opened, and a male side connector 20 (to be described later) can be fitted from behind, and a pair of upper and lower sliding protrusions 11 are formed in the left and right direction on the right side of the rear surface. Yes. The female connector 10 has a rear surface exposed through the hole 2 a formed in the member 2, that is, on the meter panel 1 side. A pair of left and right cam pins 12 project from the upper and lower surfaces of the female connector 10, and each cam pin 12 is fitted into the upper and lower lock portions 6 of the holding member 3.
[0011]
The width of the cam groove 4 is set to be slightly wider than the outer diameter of the cam pin 12, and the width of the narrow portion 5 is set to be slightly narrower. Therefore, the cam pin 12 is held in the lock portion 6 and can freely move in the cam groove 4 through the narrow portion 5 with a slight resistance. Further, when the female connector 10 moves rearward with the left and right cam pins 12 positioned at the front end of the cam groove 4, the left cam pin 12 disengages directly from the cam groove 4 and the right cam pin 12 The female connector 10 is separated from the holding member 3 as a result of separation from the inside of the groove 4 through the insertion / removal groove 7 to the rear. In this embodiment, the cam groove 4 and the cam pin 12 constitute a cam mechanism.
[0012]
Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the stroke in the front-rear direction until the cam pin 12 moves from the lock portion 6 through the narrow portion 5 into the cam groove 4 is L1, and from the end point of the stroke L1, the cam groove 4 The front-rear stroke to the front end is L2, and the front-rear stroke from the end point of the stroke L2 to the front end of the insertion / removal groove 7 is L3. Guide holes 13 are formed on the left and right sides of the upper and lower fixing surfaces 3a of the holding member 3, respectively. These four guide holes 13 are located at the four corners of the holding member 3 and penetrate the member 2 of the vehicle body. Open to the rear.
[0013]
On the other hand, a male side connector 20 as a second connector is provided on the back surface (front side) of the meter panel 1, and the female side connector 10 is fitted to the male side connector 20 from the right side. ing. A total of four guide bars 21 as guide members are erected forward at the four corners centering on the male connector 20, and these guide bars 21 attach the meter panel 1 to the normal position of the member 2. When inserted, the member 2 is inserted into the guide hole 13.
[0014]
The male connector 20 is disposed in a posture in which the fitting port 20a side is directed to the right and the wire harness 20b side is directed to the left. The connector 20 is integrally formed on the back surface of the meter panel 1 as a restricting member. It is fixed. The connector base 22 is extended to the right (the fitting port 20a side of the male connector 20), and the upper and lower sides of the front surface of the connector base 22 are stepped, and a regulation surface 23 extending in the left-right direction is formed. Yes. The positions in the front-rear direction of these regulating surfaces 23 are set so as to oppose each other at a position where both the connectors 10 and 20 can be fitted when the sliding contact protrusion 11 of the female connector 10 is brought into contact therewith. .
[0015]
Next, in the connector connecting structure configured as described above, the fitting state of the connectors 10 and 20 when the meter panel 1 is attached to the member 2 of the vehicle body will be described.
Here, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the sliding contact ridge is in contact with the regulating surface, an explanatory view showing a state in which the cam pin is detached from the lock portion into the cam groove, and FIG. 5 is a state after the connector is fitted. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the meter panel is removed after the connector is fitted.
[0016]
Prior to mounting the meter panel 1, the female connector 10 is held in the holding member 3 on the member 2 side. First, the female connector 10 is fitted into the holding member 3, the upper and lower right cam pins 12 of the female connector 10 are inserted into the insertion / removal groove 7 from the rear to move to the cam groove 4, and the left cam pin 12 is moved. Insert into the cam groove 4 from the left. When the female connector 10 is translated backward in this state, each cam pin 12 moves in the cam groove 4 and fits into the lock portion 6 through the narrow portion 5, and the female connector 10 is attached to the holding member 3. Retained.
[0017]
Next, with the meter panel 1 corresponding to the normal position with respect to the member 2 of the vehicle body, as shown in FIG. 2, the guide bar 21 is inserted into the guide hole 13 on the member 2 side. At this time, since the cam pin 12 is fitted in the lock portion 6 as described above, the female connector 10 is held in the holding member 3 without causing rattling. Then, when the meter panel 1 is pressed forward, the meter panel 1 gradually moves forward while being guided by the guide bar 21, and the restricting surface 23 of the female connector 10 is slidably contacting the ridge 11 as shown in FIG. 3. The male connector 20 faces the female connector 10 at the time of contact with the female connector 10. Thereafter, the sliding contact protrusion 11 is pressed forward by the restriction surface 23 with both the connectors 10 and 20 facing each other, and the cam pin 12 sequentially moves forward according to the strokes L1 and L2.
[0018]
In the stroke L1, as shown in FIG. 4, the cam pin 12 is detached from the lock portion 6 through the narrow portion 5 into the cam groove 4, and in the subsequent stroke L2, the cam pin 12 moves along the cam groove 4. As described above, since the cam groove 4 extends obliquely to the left front, the female connector 10 moves while the sliding contact protrusion 11 is slid on the regulating surface 23 as the meter panel 1 moves forward. It moves to the left and is fitted to the male connector 20 at the end point of the stroke L2, as shown in FIG. When the meter panel 1 reaches the regular front and rear position, the meter panel 1 is fixed to the member 2 with screws (not shown) or the like, and a series of mounting operations is completed.
[0019]
Further, when it is necessary to remove the meter panel 1 during use of the vehicle, for example, when the illumination lamp in the meter panel 1 is replaced, the meter panel 1 is moved backward after the screws are removed. Pull out. A rearward force is applied to the female connector 10 via the male connector 20 integrated with the meter panel 1, and the left cam pin 12 is detached rearwardly directly from the cam groove 4 as shown in FIG. The cam pin 12 is detached rearward from the cam groove 4 through the insertion / removal groove 7. As a result, the female connector 10 can be separated from the holding member 3 while being fitted to the male connector 20, and the meter panel 1 can be removed. After that, the illumination lamp is replaced. Since the meter panel 1 is electrically connected to the vehicle body side via the wire harness 10b of the female connector 10, the lighting can be confirmed in this state. Install the meter panel 1. As in the above-described mounting operation, the mounting operation is performed simply by inserting the guide bar 21 into the guide hole 13 and pressing the meter panel 1 forward, and the left and right cam pins 12 move to the front end of the cam groove 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the female connector 10 is again held by the holding member 3, and then the work is completed when the meter panel 1 is fixed with screws or the like.
[0020]
As described above, in the connector connection structure of the present embodiment, the guide bar 21 of the meter panel 1 is aligned with the guide hole 13 on the member 2 side, and the meter panel 1 is pressed forward as it is. Simultaneously with the installation of the meter panel 1, the fitting of the connectors 10 and 20 can be completed very quickly. Moreover, the two connectors 10 and 20 at the time of fitting are guided to the mutually opposing positions where they can be naturally fitted by the guide of the guide bar 21, and then fitted together by the action of the cam groove 4. Therefore, even when the connectors 10 and 20 are hidden behind the meter panel 1 and cannot be seen and gripped as described above, they can be fitted very easily.
[0021]
On the other hand, the mounting position of the meter panel 1 in the front-rear direction deviates within the tolerance range allowed at the time of design, and accordingly, the position of the cam pin 12 does not coincide with the end point of the intended stroke L2. When the mounting position of the meter panel 1 is shifted rearward, the cam pin 12 is only positioned in front of the end point of the stroke L2. Conversely, when the mounting position of the meter panel 1 is shifted forward, the cam pin 12 is The end point of the stroke L2 will be passed. At this time, if the portion corresponding to the stroke L3 of the insertion / removal groove 7 is not set, the cam pin 12 interferes with the inner periphery of the cam groove 4 at the end of the stroke L2, and an excessive force is applied to the holding member 3 and the like. May cause troubles such as breakage. In the present embodiment, since the portion corresponding to the stroke L3 of the insertion / removal groove 7 functions as a relief as described above, no excessive force acts on the holding member 3 and the like, and troubles such as breakage are caused in advance. There is also an advantage that it can be prevented.
[0022]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in another connector connection structure will be described. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is the shape of the cam groove 4 and the like formed in the holding member 3, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the common part is omitted, and the difference will be described mainly.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state before the connector of the second embodiment is fitted, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state after the connector is fitted. As shown in these drawings, the cam surface 3b of the holding member 3 of the present embodiment is formed with cam grooves 4, a narrow portion 5 and a lock portion 6 on the left and right as in the first embodiment. The escape groove 30 is continuously formed at the front end of the cam groove 4, and the insertion / removal groove 7 of the first embodiment is abolished. Similar to the portion corresponding to the stroke L3 of the insertion / removal groove 7, the escape groove 30 extends from the front end of the cam groove 4 by the stroke L3. Since the lock portion 6, the cam groove 4, and the escape groove 30 are closed, the upper and lower cam surfaces 3 b of the holding member 3 can be held in order to hold the female connector 10 in the holding member 3. The cam pin 12 of the female connector 10 is fitted into the lock portion 6 or the cam groove 4 while being bent in directions away from each other.
[0023]
The procedure for attaching the meter panel 1 to the vehicle is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the cam pin in the cam groove 4 can be obtained simply by inserting the guide bar 21 into the guide hole 13 and pressing the meter panel 1 forward. The female connector 10 can be fitted to the male connector 20 with the movement of 12. Even when the mounting position of the meter panel 1 is shifted to the front side at the time of mounting, the cam pin 12 simply moves in the escape groove 30 (range of the stroke L3) past the end point of the stroke L2. There is no possibility that an excessive force is applied to the holding member 3 or the like by the cam pin 12, and troubles such as breakage of the holding member 3 can be prevented in advance.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the meter panel 1 is pulled out rearward to remove the meter panel 1, a backward force acts on the female connector 10 together with the male connector 20, and the cam pin 12 moves in the cam groove 4 in the direction opposite to that at the time of attachment. Therefore, the female connector 10 moves to the right and is separated from the male connector 20 at the starting point of the stroke L2, and the meter panel 1 can be removed. That is, in this embodiment, since the female connector 10 is separated from the male connector 20 and left on the holding member 3 side, the meter panel 1 is connected to the vehicle body side via the wire harness 10b as in the first embodiment. Without returning to the state before the attachment shown in FIG. Therefore, when it is necessary to repair the meter panel 1 outside the vehicle, there is an advantage that the meter panel 1 can be separated from the vehicle body and repaired outside the vehicle by the above-described extremely simple operation. .
[0025]
Although description of embodiment is finished above, the aspect of this invention is not limited to these embodiment. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the connection structure of the connectors 10 and 20 for electrically connecting the meter panel 1 to the vehicle body has been embodied. In addition to being applicable to various connection locations, the present invention can be embodied in a connector connection structure other than a vehicle, for example, for an aircraft.
[0026]
In each of the above embodiments, the female connector 10 is provided on the member 2 of the vehicle body, and the male connector 20 is provided on the meter panel 1 so that the connectors 10 and 20 are fitted simultaneously with the meter panel 1 being attached. Although configured, the connectors 10 and 20 may be configured separately from the member 2 and the meter panel 1 and independently. Even in this case, the guide bar 21 provided integrally with the male connector 20 is aligned with the guide hole 13 of the holding member 3 that holds the female connector 10, and the male connector 20 is simply pushed forward. By one operation, the connectors 10 and 20 can be fitted very quickly.
[0027]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the cam mechanism for moving the connectors 10 and 20 in the fitting direction is constituted by the cam groove 4 formed in the holding member 3 and the cam pin 12 fitted in the cam groove 4. The cam mechanism of the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be anything as long as it can convert the relative movement between the female connector 10 and the holding member 3 into movement in the connector fitting direction. Accordingly, an inclined surface having the same angle may be used in place of the cam groove 4. Even when the cam grooves 4 are used, it is not always necessary to use a pair of left and right, and a single cam groove 4 may be provided on the upper and lower cam surfaces 3b.
[0028]
In each of the above embodiments, guide holes 13 are provided at the four corners of the holding member 3, and a total of four guide bars 21 are erected on the meter panel 1 so as to correspond to the guide holes 13. However, the guide means of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of guide holes 13 and guide bars 21 may be increased or decreased.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the connector connection structure of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the connector can be fitted by one operation of aligning the holding member and moving it along the guide member. The fitting operation can be easily performed even in a place where the connector cannot be visually observed or a narrow place.
[0030]
According to the connector connection structure of the third aspect of the present invention, since the cam groove is extended to avoid the situation where the cam pin interferes with the inner periphery of the cam groove, the holding member or the like is damaged due to excessive force. Trouble can be prevented beforehand.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector connection structure according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state before the connector is fitted.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a sliding contact protrusion and a regulating surface are in contact with each other.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the cam pin is detached from the lock portion into the cam groove.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state after the connector is fitted.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the meter panel is removed after the connector is fitted.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state before the connector of the second embodiment is fitted.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state after the connector is fitted.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Holding member 4 Cam groove (cam mechanism)
10 Female connector (first connector)
12 Cam pin (cam mechanism)
20 Male connector (second connector)
21 Guide bar (guide member)
22 Connector base (regulating member)

Claims (5)

A first connector and a second connector which are matable with each other;
A holding member having a lock portion fixed to the vehicle body side and holding the first connector;
A guide member provided on the second connector side for guiding the holding member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the connector fitting direction;
A regulating member that is integrally formed with the meter panel and that regulates the first connector that is fixed and guided together with the holding member at a position opposite to the second connector;
Relative movement between the first connector provided between the holding member and the first connector and regulated by the regulating member and guided by the guiding member is performed by the second connector. And a cam mechanism for converting the movement of the first connector into the fitting direction of the connector. The first connector has a sliding contact protrusion, and when the meter panel is guided by the guide member, a restriction surface formed on the restriction member abuts on the sliding contact protrusion of the first connector. The connector connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the first connector opposes the second connector at a position where the first connector can be fitted. The cam mechanism includes a cam groove formed in the holding member, provided on said first connector, or claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a cam pin fitted movable in said cam groove The connector connection structure according to claim 2 . 4. The connector connection structure according to claim 3, wherein the cam groove includes an insertion / removal groove connected to the cam groove for detaching the cam pin from the holding member. 5. The connector connection structure according to claim 3 , wherein the cam groove is extended with respect to a movement stroke of the cam pin required for connector fitting.

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