JP4317483B2 - Connector for equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector for equipment.

  As a connector for equipment for connecting an electric wire from the outside to equipment such as a motor of an electric vehicle, there is one described in Patent Document 1. This is because a terminal block is provided in a case that accommodates a device (for example, a stator of a motor), a connection terminal is disposed on the terminal block, and a device-side terminal is connected to a lead wire derived from the device. The side terminal is fixed to the connection terminal with a bolt, and the wire side terminal connected to the electric wire (for example, power cable) is fixed to the connection terminal with the bolt, so that the device side terminal and the wire side terminal are connected to the connection terminal. It has a structure to connect through.

Thus, the connection between the electric wire side terminal and the device side terminal is performed by bolting, but in order to enable this bolting operation, the case is provided with a cover for opening the terminal block to the outside, After the bolts are tightened, the terminal block is covered with a cover so as to cover the terminal connection portion.
JP-A-8-37752

  In the conventional connector for equipment, when connecting or disconnecting an electric wire to or from the equipment, it is necessary to perform a troublesome work of tightening or loosening a bolt and an operation of attaching or removing the cover to or from the terminal block. The workability when connecting / disconnecting wires for maintenance, etc. is not good. Moreover, since the connection terminal is used in addition to the electric wire side terminal and the equipment side terminal, there is a problem that the number of parts is large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to improve workability when connecting / disconnecting an electric wire to / from an apparatus and to reduce the number of parts.

As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a device-side terminal is fixed to an internal wire led out from a device housed in a case, and the device-side terminal is held in a device-side housing, The device side housing is mounted facing the mounting hole formed in the case, and the electric wire side terminal is fixed to an external electric wire routed outside the case, the electric wire side terminal is held in the electric wire side housing, The wire side housing is connected to and detached from the device side terminal by fitting and detaching the wire side housing with respect to the device side housing, and the device side terminal is a male terminal having a tab at the tip. The device-side housing has a hood portion surrounding the tab, the hood portion is fitted along the inner periphery of the mounting hole, and the electric wire-side housing is fitted in the hood portion. A seal ring of the hood portion is attached to the outer periphery of the hood portion, and is closely attached to the inner periphery of the mounting hole. The outer periphery of the electric wire side housing is attached to the inner periphery of the hood portion. A close seal ring of the electric wire side housing is attached, and the inner periphery of the hood portion is forward with respect to the seal ring of the hood portion in the fitting direction of the device side housing and the electric wire side housing. In the shifted area, a widened portion is formed in which a range extending from the front end of the hood portion to a position ahead of the seal ring of the hood portion is cut out over the entire circumference. It is characterized in that the seal ring of the electric wire side housing is in close contact with the peripheral surface .

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the apparatus of claim 1, a barrel portion is formed on the device side terminal, and the internal electric wire is connected to the barrel portion by crimping.

<Invention of Claim 1>
The connection and disconnection of the external wires to the internal wires of the equipment are performed by directly fitting or releasing the equipment side terminals connected to the internal wires and the wire side terminals fixed to the external wires. This eliminates the need for troublesome work such as tightening or loosening the bolts, or attaching / detaching the cover to / from the terminal block. In addition, since there is no need for connecting means interposed between the equipment side terminal and the electric wire side terminal, the number of parts can be reduced.
Further, by fitting the hood portion of the device-side housing along the inner periphery of the mounting hole, deviation of the posture and position of the device-side housing with respect to the case is prevented.

<Invention of Claim 2>
When the device side terminal and the internal wire are connected by soldering, there is a concern that the soldered part may crack when the internal wire is shaken due to vibration. Since the connection with the electric wire is performed by pressure bonding, there is no possibility of cracking and the contact reliability of the connection portion is good.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The device connector according to the first embodiment supplies electric power to the motor 10 with respect to three (a plurality of) internal wires 12 connected to the stator 11 of the motor 10 (device which is a constituent element of the present invention). This is for connecting / disconnecting the external electric wire 30 as a power cable. The motor 10 has a stator 11 and a rotor (not shown) housed in a case 13 having a shielding function made of metal (for example, made of aluminum die cast). The case 13 is formed with a laterally long oval or elliptical mounting hole 14 that penetrates the outside of the case 13 to communicate with the inside.

  Device-side terminals 15 are connected to the terminal portions of the internal electric wires 12, respectively. The device-side terminal 15 is a male terminal that is formed by bending a metal plate material, and a front end portion of the device-side terminal 15 is a tab 16 that has a flat plate shape elongated in the front-rear direction. At the rear end portion of the device-side terminal 15, a barrel portion 17 having an open barrel shape in which caulking pieces 17 b are raised from the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 17 a is formed. The core wire 12a exposed by removing the insulating coating 12b is fixed to be conductive by crimping. When crimping, the caulking pieces 17b are caulked so that the caulking pieces 17b are wound around the core wire 12a placed on the bottom plate 17a. By the caulking, the cabling 12a and the barrel portion 17 are firmly fixed. A square tube portion 18 is formed between the front end of the barrel portion 17 and the rear end of the tab 16, and a lance hole 19 is formed in the bottom wall of the square tube portion 18.

  The device side terminal 15 is held in the device side housing 20. The device-side housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and is formed by integrally forming a terminal holding portion 21 in which three left and right cavities 22 are formed and a hood portion 23 extending forward from the terminal holding portion 21. is there. A lance 24 is formed in the cavity 22 so as to extend forward in a cantilevered manner along the lower wall thereof, and a retaining protrusion 24 a is formed on the upper surface of the lance 24. A device-side terminal 15 is inserted into each cavity 22 from the rear, and the device-side terminal 15 that has been properly inserted is retained by retaining a retaining protrusion 24 a of the lance 24 in the lance hole 19 of the rectangular tube portion 18. Has been. In the normal insertion state, the tab 16 protrudes forward from the terminal holding portion 21, that is, into the hood portion 23, and the tab 16 is surrounded by the hood portion 23. Further, the internal electric wire 12 is led backward from the rear end surface of the terminal holding body 21, and a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the cavity 22 and the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 12 b of the internal electric wire 12 is formed in the inner electric wire. 12 is sealed with a waterproof rubber stopper 49 fitted on the outer periphery of the rubber seal.

  The hood portion 23 is fitted to the inner periphery of the mounting hole 14 in a state where backlash (displacement) in the vertical and horizontal directions (direction perpendicular to the fitting / removing direction of the housings 20 and 40) is restricted. It has become so. A circumferential groove 25 is formed on the outer periphery of the hood portion 23, and a waterproof seal ring 26 is attached to the groove 25. In addition, a diameter-expanded portion 27 is formed on the inner periphery of the hood portion 23 in such a manner that a range extending from the front end to a position ahead of the outer peripheral seal ring 26 is cut out over the entire periphery. In the fitting direction of both the housings 20, 40 (that is, the penetration direction of the mounting hole 14), the enlarged diameter portion 27 is formed in a region shifted forward with respect to the outer seal ring 26 (groove 25) of the hood portion 23. A seal ring 46 of the electric wire side housing 40 to be described later is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion 27. The rear end portion of the enlarged diameter portion 27 has a step shape, and this step portion serves as a stopper 28. A flange 29 is formed at a position behind the seal ring 26 on the outer periphery of the hood portion 23.

  The device-side housing 20 is fixed to the case 13 by fixing means (not shown) such as bolt tightening. In the fixed state, the flange 29 of the hood portion 23 is locked to the inner wall surface of the case 13, whereby the device-side housing 20 is stopped in front, and a region (seal ring 26) in front of the flange 29 in the hood portion 23 is attached. It is accommodated (fitted) in the hole 14. Further, the front end of the hood portion 23 is located behind the opening of the mounting hole 14 on the outer wall surface of the case 13, that is, inside the mounting hole 14. And the space which accommodates the flange 47 of the electric wire side housing 40 mentioned later is ensured in the front-end part of the attachment hole 14. As shown in FIG. In a correctly fixed state, the seal ring 26 on the outer periphery of the hood portion 23 is in close contact with the inner periphery of the mounting hole 14, and the seal ring 26 seals the gap between the outer periphery of the hood portion 23 and the inner periphery of the mounting hole 14. ing.

  The external electric wire 30 is derived from an inverter device (not shown) and functions as a power cable, and is routed outside the case 13 of the motor 10. The three external electric wires 30 are collectively shielded by being collectively surrounded by a cylindrical shield member 31 made of a braided wire obtained by braiding metal fine wires in a mesh shape. A shield shell 32 having a metal cylindrical shape is fixed to the terminal portion of the shield member 31 so as to be conductive by caulking. The shield shell 32 has a horizontally long oval shape or an oval shape so as to correspond to the mounting hole 14, and a flange 33 is formed on the front end edge of the shield shell 32 so as to protrude outward over the entire circumference. Further, attachment portions 34 through which bolt holes (not shown) are penetrated are formed at both left and right end portions of the flange 33.

  A wire-side terminal 35 is connected to the terminal portion of each external wire 30. The electric wire side terminal 35 is formed by bending a metal plate material, and is a female terminal whose front end portion is a rectangular tube portion 36 for inserting the tab 16 of the device side terminal 15 from the front. A thin elastic contact piece 37 made of a separate part is accommodated in the rectangular tube portion 36, and a lance hole 38 is formed in the bottom wall of the rectangular tube portion 36. At the rear end portion of the electric wire side terminal 35, a barrel portion 39 having an open barrel shape in which caulking pieces 39 b are raised from both the left and right edges of the bottom plate 39 a is formed. The core wire 30a exposed by removing the insulating coating 30b is fixed to be conductive by crimping. When crimping, the caulking pieces 39b are caulked so that the caulking pieces 39b are wound around the core wire 30a placed on the bottom plate 39a, and the cabling is firmly fixed to the core wire 30a and the barrel portion 39.

  The electric wire side terminal 35 is held in the electric wire side housing 40. The electric wire side housing 40 is made of synthetic resin, and three left and right cavities 41 are formed therein. A lance 42 is formed in the cavity 41 so as to extend forward in a cantilevered manner along its lower wall, and a retaining protrusion 42 a is formed on the upper surface of the lance 42. A wire-side terminal 35 is inserted into each cavity 42 from the rear, and the normally-inserted wire-side terminal 35 is secured by locking the retaining projection 42 a of the lance 42 in the lance hole 38 of the rectangular tube portion 36. Has been. Further, the external electric wire 30 is led out from the rear end surface of the electric wire side housing 40, and in the rear end portion of the cavity 41, a gap between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 30 b of the outer electric wire 30 is an external electric wire. 30 is sealed by a waterproof rubber plug 43 fitted on the outside.

  A pair of front and rear ribs 44, 45 are formed on the outer periphery of the electric wire side housing 40, and a waterproof seal ring 46 is attached to a circumferential recess formed between the ribs 44, 45. Has been. In addition, a circumferential flange 47 is formed at a position behind the ribs 44 and 45 on the outer periphery of the electric wire side housing 40. The shield shell 32 described above is fitted to the rear end portion of the electric wire side housing 40, and the flange 33 of the shield shell 32 can be brought into contact with the flange 47 of the electric wire side housing 40 from the rear. .

  The electric wire side housing 40 is fitted into the device side housing 20 fixed to the case 13 in advance. When fitting, the electric wire side housing 40 is inserted into the mounting hole 14 from the outside of the case 13. The inserted electric wire side housing 40 is fitted into the hood portion 23, and the tab 16 is inserted into the rectangular tube portion 36 of the electric wire side terminal 35 and elastically contacted with the elastic contact piece 37. Thereby, the apparatus side terminal 15 and the electric wire side terminal 35 are connected so that conduction | electrical_connection is possible.

  When both housings 20 and 40 are properly fitted, the flange 47 of the electric wire side housing 40 is fitted into the mounting hole 14 and comes into contact with the front end surface of the hood portion 23, and the front rib 44 is the hood portion. The electric wire side housing 40 is stopped in front by the abutting action. Further, the flange 33 of the shield shell 32 abuts on the outer wall surface of the case 13, and a bolt 48 passed through the bolt hole of the attachment portion 34 is screwed into an internal screw hole (not shown) of the case 13 and tightened. The shield shell 32 is fixed to the outer wall surface of the case 13 so as to be conductive. Thereby, the shield member 31 and the case 13 having a shield function are connected to each other through the shield shell 32 so as to be conductive, and the conductive path configured by the external electric wire 30, the electric wire side terminal 35, the device side terminal 15, and the internal electric wire 12. Are all shielded.

  Further, when the flange 33 of the shield shell 32 comes into contact with the flange 47 of the electric wire side housing 40 from the rear side, the electric wire side housing 40 is displaced rearward (disengaged from the case 13) with respect to the case 13. Is done. Thereby, the electric wire side housing 40 is fixed to the case 13 and is locked in a fitted state with the device side housing 20.

  In addition, the seal ring 46 of the electric wire side housing 40 is in close contact with the inner periphery of the enlarged diameter portion 27 of the hood portion 23 over the entire circumference, so that a gap between the outer periphery of the electric wire side housing 40 and the inner periphery of the hood portion 23 ( The fitting portions of both housings 20 and 40 are sealed. Further, since the outer periphery of the flange 47 is in contact with the inner periphery of the mounting hole 14 over the entire periphery, backlash (displacement) of the electric wire side housing 40 in the vertical and horizontal directions is restricted. Performance is uniform over the entire circumference.

  When the external electric wire 30 is removed from the motor 10, the shield shell 32 is removed from the case 13, and the electric wire side terminal 35 may be detached from the device side terminal 15 by pulling the electric wire side housing 40 to the outside of the case 13.

  As described above, the device connector according to the present embodiment has the device-side housing 20 that holds the device-side terminal 15 fixed to the internal wire 12 led out from the stator 11 housed in the case 13 and holds the device-side terminal 15 in the case. The electric wire side terminal 35 fixed to the external electric wire 30 arranged outside the case 13 and being attached to the outside of the case 13 is held by the electric wire side housing 40, and the electric wire side housing 40 is fixed to the device side housing 20. The electric wire side terminal 35 is connected to and detached from the device side terminal 15 by fitting / disconnecting.

  As described above, the connection and disconnection of the external electric wire 30 with respect to the internal electric wire 12 of the device are performed by directly fitting or disconnecting the device side terminal 15 connected to the internal electric wire 12 and the electric wire side terminal 35 fixed to the external electric wire 30. Since this is done, it is not necessary to perform the troublesome work of tightening or loosening bolts and the work of attaching / detaching the cover to / from the terminal block as in the prior art, and the workability is good. And since the connection means interposed between the apparatus side terminal 15 and the electric wire side terminal 35 is unnecessary, the number of parts can also be reduced.

  In addition, when the device-side terminal 15 and the internal electric wire 12 are connected by soldering, there is a concern that a crack may occur in the soldered portion when the internal electric wire 12 is shaken due to vibration. Since the device side terminal 15 and the internal electric wire 12 are connected by pressure bonding, there is no possibility of cracking at the connection portion, and the contact reliability of the connection portion is high.

  Further, since the hood portion 23 surrounding the tab 16 is formed in the device-side housing 20 and the hood portion 23 is fitted along the inner periphery of the mounting hole 14, the posture and position of the device-side housing 20 with respect to the case 13. Is prevented from being displaced and is positioned in the correct posture and position.

  Further, when the seal ring 26 of the hood portion 23 is disposed at the same position as the seal ring 46 of the electric wire side housing 40 in the fitting direction of both the housings 20 and 40, the two seal rings 26 and 46 connect the hood portion 23. Since they are arranged so as to be spaced apart and arranged in the radial direction, the outer diameter of the hood portion 23, that is, the entire device-side housing 20 is increased in diameter. However, in the present embodiment, the seal ring 26 of the hood portion 23 is disposed at a position separated from the seal ring 46 of the electric wire side housing 40 in the fitting direction of the two housings 20, 40. 25 and the inner periphery of the front end side region where the seal ring 26 is not disposed are cut away to reduce the wall thickness, thereby forming the enlarged diameter portion 27. The enlarged diameter portion 27 is provided with the seal ring 46 of the electric wire side housing 40. The housing structure could be realized. As a result, the seal ring 26 positioned on the outer peripheral side of the hood portion 23 and the seal ring 46 positioned on the inner peripheral side can be approached in the radial direction, and the device-side housing 20 can be reduced in size. Yes.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the internal electric wire is fixed to the device side terminal by crimping. However, according to the present invention, the internal electric wire may be connected to the press contact blade provided on the device side terminal by press contact. The internal electric wires may be connected by welding and soldering.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the external electric wire is fixed to the electric wire side terminal by crimping. However, according to the present invention, the external electric wire may be connected to the press contact blade provided on the electric wire side terminal by press contact. You may connect an external electric wire by welding or soldering.

( 3 ) In the above embodiment, the device-side terminal inserted into the device-side housing is secured by the lance formed on the device-side housing. However, according to the present invention, the metal lance formed on the device-side terminal is placed inside the device-side housing. It may be prevented from being removed by being locked to the locking portion.

( 4 ) In the above embodiment, the wire-side terminal inserted into the wire-side housing is secured by the lance formed on the wire-side housing. However, according to the present invention, the metal lance formed on the wire-side terminal is It may be prevented from being removed by being locked to the locking portion.

( 5 ) In the above embodiment, the device-side terminal is inserted into the cavity formed in the device-side housing as means for holding the device-side terminal in the device-side housing. When molding the housing, the device-side terminal may be embedded in the device-side housing by insert molding.

( 6 ) In the above embodiment, as a means for holding the electric wire side terminal in the electric wire side housing, the electric wire side terminal is inserted into the cavity formed in the electric wire side housing. When the housing is molded, the wire-side terminal may be embedded in the wire-side housing by insert molding.

( 7 ) Although the case where the device is a motor has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to devices other than the motor (for example, an inverter device).

( 8 ) In the above embodiment, the case where the shield function is provided has been described. However, according to the present invention, the present invention can also be applied to a device connector having no shield function.

( 9 ) In the above embodiment, a plurality of external wires are collectively shielded by being surrounded by a shield member. However, according to the present invention, each external wire may be individually shielded, and the external wires are shielded. It is good.

( 10 ) In the above embodiment, the shield shell is fixed to the case by bolting as means for fixing the electric wire side housing to the case. However, according to the present invention, the lock arm and the lock are attached to the electric wire side housing and the equipment side housing. A lock mechanism including a locking means such as a protrusion may be provided, and the two housings may be locked in a fitted state by the lock mechanism.

( 11 ) In the above embodiment, a plurality of device side terminals are held in one device side housing. However, according to the present invention, one device side terminal may be held in one device side housing.

( 12 ) In the above embodiment, a plurality of wire side terminals are held in one wire side housing. However, according to the present invention, one wire side terminal may be held in one wire side housing.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state which connected the apparatus side terminal and the electric wire side terminal in Embodiment 1 Horizontal sectional view of the device side terminal and wire side terminal connected Longitudinal sectional view of device side housing attached to case Longitudinal section of wire side housing

Explanation of symbols

11 ... Stator (equipment)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Internal wire 13 ... Case 14 ... Mounting hole 15 ... Equipment side terminal 16 ... Tab 17 ... Barrel part 20 ... Equipment side housing 23 ... Hood part 30 ... External electric wire 35 ... Electric wire side terminal 40 ... Electric wire side housing

Claims (2)

The device side terminal is fixed to the internal electric wire led out from the device housed in the case,
Holding the device side terminal in the device side housing;
Attaching the device side housing facing the mounting hole formed in the case,
The electric wire side terminal is fixed to the external electric wire routed outside the case,
Holding the wire side terminal in the wire side housing;
By fitting and detaching the electric wire side housing with respect to the equipment side housing, the electric wire side terminal is connected to and detached from the equipment side terminal .
The device-side terminal is a male terminal having a tab at the tip, the device-side housing has a hood portion surrounding the tab, and the hood portion is fitted along the inner periphery of the mounting hole, The wire side housing is configured to be fitted in the hood part,
On the outer periphery of the hood portion, a seal ring of the hood portion is attached, which is in close contact with the inner periphery of the mounting hole,
A seal ring of the electric wire side housing is attached to the outer periphery of the electric wire side housing, and is in close contact with the inner periphery of the hood portion.
On the inner periphery of the hood portion, in the fitting direction of the device-side housing and the electric wire-side housing, the region of the hood portion is shifted from the front end of the hood portion in a region shifted forward with respect to the seal ring of the hood portion. A diameter-enlarged portion is formed by cutting out a range extending in front of the seal ring over the entire circumference, and the seal ring of the electric wire side housing is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the enlarged-diameter portion. A connector for equipment characterized by being. The device connector according to claim 1, wherein a barrel portion is formed on the device-side terminal, and the internal electric wire is connected to the barrel portion by crimping.

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