JP4636072B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector configured by combining an inner housing and an outer housing.

Patent Document 1 describes a connector configured by assembling an inner housing and an outer housing. The terminal housing chamber formed in the inner housing accommodates the rear part of the male terminal fitting with respect to the tab, and the tab protrudes forward of the inner housing. The outer housing has a hood portion protruding forward, and a fitting space for fitting the inner housing is formed at the back end portion of the hood portion. When assembling both housings, the inner housing is inserted into the hood portion from the front and is fitted into the fitting space. In the state where both housings are assembled, the tab is surrounded and protected by the hood portion.
JP 2004-139758 A

In the connector as described above, when the number of poles of the terminal is small and the inner housing is smaller than the hood portion, the fitting space behind the hood portion is also formed smaller than the hood portion. In this case, when the inner housing is assembled to the outer housing, a large clearance is provided between the outer periphery of the inner housing and the inner periphery of the hood portion. Since the fitting space into which the inner housing is fitted is located at the inner end of the injection nozzle and is difficult to see from the front, there is a concern that the inner housing cannot be fitted into the fitting space well.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the workability of assembling the inner housing and the outer housing.

As means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 includes an outer housing having a hood portion protruding forward, and a fitting space formed at the back end portion of the hood portion, and a terminal fitting. An inner housing that holds the terminal fitting, and a main lock that is locked to the inserted terminal fitting from a temporary locking position that allows the insertion of the terminal fitting while being attached to the inner housing. And a retainer capable of moving to a position, wherein the inner housing is inserted into the hood portion and fitted into the fitting space, and is assembled to the outer housing. , wherein the outer periphery of the inner housing, wherein in a form extending parallel to continuously and assembling direction of the inner housing relative to the receptacle, of the hood portion By sliding contact with the inner housing ribs to restrict to relative displacement in a direction intersecting with the assembling direction with respect to the hood portion is formed, it forms the retainer projecting from the outer periphery of the inner housing In the process of inserting the inner housing into the hood portion, a slidable contact surface is formed that is slidably contacted with the inner periphery of the hood portion, and the slidable contact surface is moved from the temporarily locked position of the retainer to the fully locked position. It is characterized in that it is parallel to the moving direction .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect , the inner housing has a block shape having two outer surfaces substantially parallel to each other, and the ribs are formed on the two outer surfaces of the inner housing. Of these, the retainer is formed on one of the outer surfaces, and the retainer protrudes from the other outer surface of the two outer surfaces of the inner housing.

A third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector described in claim 2, the inner circumferential surface of the hood portion, without an oval form had been chosen two semicircular surfaces by two flat surfaces parallel, said retainer The rib is not formed on the outer surface of the two outer surfaces of the inner housing on which the retainer protrudes, and the inner housing includes: It is characterized in that two ribs are formed in sliding contact with a semicircular arc region on the retainer protruding side of the semicircular arc surface and a quarter arc region on the opposite side to the retainer protruding side of the semicircular arc surface.

<Invention of Claim 1>
The inner housing inserted into the hood portion is positioned in the direction intersecting the assembly direction by sliding the ribs on the inner periphery of the hood portion, so that the inner housing is securely fitted in the fitting space.

Further, since the rib extends in parallel with the assembly direction of the inner housing with respect to the hood portion, the inner housing is prevented from being inclined with respect to the assembly direction.

Furthermore, since the inner housing is positioned using not only the ribs but also the retainer, the number of ribs formed in the inner housing can be reduced, and the outer peripheral shape of the inner housing can be simplified. .

<Invention of Claim 2 >
By confirming the positions of the rib and the retainer, the orientation of the inner housing can be easily determined, so that the operator can be prevented from inserting the inner housing into the hood portion in an incorrect direction.

<Invention of Claim 3 >
The inner peripheral surface of the hood has an oval shape in which two semicircular arc surfaces are connected by two parallel flat surfaces, and the retainer is in sliding contact with the flat surface. In the case where the rib is not formed on the outer surface on which the retainer protrudes, the inner housing and the retainer are flat with respect to the hood portion when the assembly tolerance between the inner housing and the retainer is large. There is a concern that rattling may occur in the orthogonal direction.
Therefore, in the present invention, the rib is slidably brought into contact with the semicircular arc region on the retainer projecting side and the semicircular arc region on the opposite side of the retainer projecting side. According to this configuration, the direction in which the two ribs come into contact with the two quarter arc regions constituting one semicircular arc surface is opposite to each other in the direction orthogonal to the flat surface. There is no possibility that the retainer will rattle in the direction perpendicular to the flat surface.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector of the present embodiment includes a connector housing 1 configured by assembling the outer housing 10 and the inner housing 20, a plurality of terminal fittings 50 attached to the connector housing 1, and a terminal fitting by being attached to the inner housing 20. A retainer 30 for retaining 50 is provided.

  The outer housing 10 is made of synthetic resin, and is formed by integrally forming a terminal housing portion 11 having a horizontally long block shape and a hood portion 12 protruding forward from the outer peripheral edge of the terminal housing portion 11. A plurality of rear cavities 13 elongated in the front-rear direction are formed in the terminal accommodating portion 11, and each rear cavity 13 has a shape penetrating the terminal accommodating portion 11. The outer housing 10 is formed with a fitting space 14 in a form in which a rear end surface of the hood portion 12 (a front end surface of the terminal accommodating portion 11) is recessed. The fitting space 14 is opened in a horizontally long rectangle on the back end face of the hood portion 12, and a part of the rear cavity 13 is opened on the back end face of the fitting space 14. The fitting space 14 is located at the center portion of the terminal accommodating portion 11 in the up-down direction, and is located at the center portion of the terminal accommodating portion 11 also in the left-right direction.

  The inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 12 is parallel to the pair of left and right semicircular arc surfaces 15, the horizontal first flat surface 17a smoothly connected to the upper ends of the pair of semicircular arc surfaces 15, and the first flat surface 17a. Thus, the second flat surface 17b is formed so as to be smoothly connected to the lower ends of the pair of semicircular arc surfaces 15. Each semicircular arc surface 15 includes a first quadrant arc region 16a (a quadrant arc region on the side opposite to the retainer protruding side, which is a constituent element of the present invention) constituting the upper half, and a second half constituting the lower half. It is comprised from the quarter arc area | region 16b (The quarter arc area | region of the retainer protrusion side which is the component of this invention). The distance between the flat surfaces 17a and 17b is larger than the vertical dimension of the fitting space 14, and the horizontal dimension of the flat surfaces 17a and 17b is larger than the horizontal dimension of the fitting space 14.

  The inner housing 20 is made of a synthetic resin, and is integrally formed with a housing main body 21 having a horizontally long block shape and a fitting portion 22 protruding rearward from the rear end surface of the housing main body 21 in a horizontally long block shape. It is. The vertical dimension of the fitting part 22 is smaller than that of the housing body 21, and the horizontal dimension of the fitting part 22 is also smaller than that of the housing body 21. The fitting portion 22 is positioned below the center of the housing main body 21 in the vertical direction, and the lower surface of the fitting portion 22 is positioned at substantially the same height as the lower surface of the housing main body 21. Further, the fitting portion 22 is located substantially at the center of the housing body 21 in the left-right direction.

  In the inner housing 20, a plurality of front cavities 23 penetrating in the front-rear direction are formed in an arrangement corresponding to the rear cavities 13. The front end of the front cavity 23 opens in the front end surface of the housing body 21 (inner housing 20). Further, the rear end of the front cavity 23 opens to the rear end surface of the housing body 21 or the rear end surface of the fitting portion 22 according to the formation position.

  Inside the inner housing 20, as a means for accommodating the retainer 30, an accommodating space 24 that opens in a slit shape that is stepped in the front-rear direction along the rear end surface of the housing body 21 is provided in all the front cavities 23. It is formed so as to communicate with. A pair of locking portions 25 projecting downward from two positions spaced apart in the left-right direction are provided at the front edge of the lower surface of the housing body 21 as means for holding the retainer 30 in an assembled state with respect to the inner housing 20. Is formed. The locking portion 25 has a shape in which a lower end portion protrudes rearward, and is bent into a substantially L shape when viewed from the side (a direction perpendicular to the assembly direction of the inner housing 20 with respect to the outer housing 10). . A locking projection 26 protruding in a triangular shape is formed on the upper surface of the rearward protruding portion of the locking portion 25. Further, both end portions of the lower surface of the housing body 21 are guide surfaces 27 that are parallel to the assembly direction of the inner housing 20 and the flat surface.

  A first rib 28a, a second rib 28b, and a third rib 28c are formed on the upper surface of the housing body 21 (the outer surface of the inner housing 20) so as to protrude upward. These first to third ribs 28a to 28c are all continuously extended from the rear end to the front end of the housing body 21 in the front-rear direction parallel to the assembly direction of the inner housing 20 with respect to the hood portion 12. It has become. The first to third ribs 28a to 28c are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, the first rib 28a is located near the left end of the housing body 21 when viewed from the front, and the second rib 28b is The third rib 28 c is located near the right end portion of the housing body 21. Moreover, the width dimension of the 1st rib 28a is larger than the 2nd rib 28b and the 3rd rib 28c, and the 2nd rib 28b and the 3rd rib 28c are substantially the same width. Further, the substantially left half region of the upper surface of the first rib 28 a has an arc shape with a downward slope toward the left and the same curvature as the semicircular arc surface 15.

  On the left and right side surfaces of the housing body 21 (outer surface of the inner housing 20), fourth to seventh ribs 28d to 28g are formed so as to protrude sideways. Each of the fourth to seventh ribs 28d to 28g extends continuously from the rear end to the front end of the housing body 21 in parallel with the assembly direction of the inner housing 20 with respect to the hood portion 12. Yes. The fourth rib 28d is located at the upper end portion of the left side surface of the housing body 21 when viewed from the front, the fifth rib 28e is located at the lower end portion of the left side surface of the housing body 21, and the sixth rib 28f is The seventh rib 28 g is located at the lower end portion of the right side surface of the housing body 21. The protruding end surfaces of the fourth to seventh ribs 28d to 28g are arc surfaces having the same curvature as the semicircular arc surface 15, respectively.

  The retainer 30 is made of synthetic resin, and has a lattice-shaped main body portion 31 that forms a plate shape perpendicular to the assembly direction of the inner housing 20, and a plate shape that extends forward from the lower end edge of the main body portion 31 in parallel with the assembly direction. The extension part 32 is formed integrally. A plurality of through holes 33 corresponding to the plurality of front cavities 23 are formed in the main body 31, and a retaining portion 34 that can be locked to the terminal fitting 50 is formed on the inner periphery of each through hole 33. ing. A pair of recesses 35 are formed on the front end surface of the plate-like extension portion 32 in a form in which positions close to the left and right ends thereof are recessed. A temporary locking groove 36 and a main locking groove 37 are formed side by side on the ceiling surface of each recess 35. Further, both left and right end portions of the upper surface of the plate-like extension portion 32 are guided surfaces 38 that are parallel to the assembly direction of the inner housing 20 and the flat surfaces 17a and 17b. Furthermore, an operation portion 39 that protrudes forward from a position adjacent to the concave portion 35 in the left-right direction is formed at both left and right ends of the plate-like extension portion 32. Furthermore, the lower surface of the plate-like extension portion 32 and the lower surface of the operation portion 39 are slidable contact surfaces 40. The left and right ends of the slidable contact surface 40 have an arc shape having the same curvature as that of the semicircular arc surface 15, and the region between the arcuate regions of the slidable contact surface 40 has a flat shape parallel to the second flat surface 17b. There is no.

  The terminal fitting 50 is generally elongated in the front-rear direction (a direction parallel to the assembly direction of the inner housing 20 with respect to the outer housing 10), and includes a box part 51, a tab 52 protruding forward from the box part 51, and a rear part of the box part 51. It is a well-known male type integrally formed with a crimping portion 53 connected to the end. An electric wire is connected to the crimping portion 53 so as to be conductive.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When assembling the connector, first, the retainer 30 is attached to the inner housing 20 so that the main body 31 is fitted into the accommodating space 24 from below. In the process of attaching, the upper wall constituting the recess 35 temporarily elastically deflects the locking portion 25 forward. The attached retainer 30 is held at the temporary locking position by the locking of the temporary locking groove 36 and the locking projection 26, and the relative movement in the left-right direction (the main locking position side) is restricted. In a state where the retainer 30 is in the temporary locking position, the main body 31 is fitted in the accommodation space 24, whereby the relative displacement and inclination of the retainer 30 in the front-rear direction with respect to the inner housing 20 are restricted. In addition, the guided surface 38 of the retainer 30 comes into contact with the guide surface 27 of the inner housing 20 from below, and the rearward protruding portion of the locking portion 25 of the inner housing 20 with respect to the upper surface wall of the recess 35 is from below. By locking, relative displacement in the vertical direction of the retainer 30 with respect to the inner housing 20 is restricted. Furthermore, the plate-like extension part 32 at the lower end of the retainer 30 is in a state of protruding downward from the lower surface of the housing body 21 of the inner housing 20.

  Next, the inner housing 20 in a state where the retainer 30 is held at the temporary locking position is assembled to the outer housing 10. In assembly, the inner housing 20 is inserted into the hood portion 12 from the front. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the upper surfaces (protruding end surfaces) of the first rib 28 a, the second rib 28 b, and the third rib 28 c face the first flat surface 17 a of the hood portion 12 from below. In a contact state, the left half region of the first rib 28a is in sliding contact with the upper end of the left first quarter arc region 16a from below. Further, the sliding contact surface 40 on the lower surface of the retainer 30 is in sliding contact with the second flat surface 17b from above in a surface contact state. Further, the protruding end surface of the fourth rib 28d is in sliding contact with the left first quarter arc region 16a in a surface contact state obliquely from the lower right, and the protruding end surface of the fifth rib 28e is in contact with the left second quarter arc region 16b. The projecting end surface of the sixth rib 28f is slidably contacted with the right first quarter arc region 16a in the surface contact state obliquely from the lower left, and the projecting end surface of the seventh rib 28g Sliding contact is performed in a surface contact state obliquely from the upper left with respect to the right second quarter arc region 16b. As described above, the first to seventh ribs 28 a to 28 g are in sliding contact with the inner periphery of the hood portion 12, so that the inner housing 20 restricts relative movement in the vertical and horizontal directions perpendicular to the assembly direction inside the hood portion 12. To be positioned.

  When the inner housing 20 is inserted into the interior of the hood portion 12, the fitting portion 22 is inserted into the fitting space 14. At this time, since the inner housing 20 is positioned in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the hood portion 12, the periphery of the fitting portion 22 interferes with the opening edge portion of the fitting space 14 on the back end surface of the hood portion 12. The fitting portion 22 is smoothly inserted into the fitting space 14. When the inner housing 20 reaches the proper assembly position, the rear surface of the housing body 21 comes into contact with the rear end surface of the hood portion 12 and is stopped in front, and is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the locking means or the fitting portion 22 (not shown). The inner housing 20 is held in an assembled state with respect to the outer housing 10 by friction with the inner peripheral surface of the joint space 14, and the connector housing 1 is configured.

  In a state where the inner housing 20 is assembled to the outer housing 10, the front cavity 23 and the rear cavity 13 corresponding to each other communicate with each other in the front-rear direction to form a space for accommodating the terminal fitting 50. Further, since the retainer 30 is held at the temporary locking position, the retaining portion 34 of the through hole 33 is in a position retracted to the outside (side) of the insertion region of the terminal fitting 50 in the front cavity 23. In this state, the terminal fitting 50 is inserted into each rear cavity 13 from the rear. When the terminal fitting 50 reaches the normal insertion position, as shown in FIG. 12, the tab 52 protrudes forward from the front end surface of the housing body 21 and is surrounded by the hood portion 12, and the box portion 51 is moved to the front portion. It will be in the state located in the cavity 23. FIG. The normally inserted terminal fitting 50 is brought into a retaining state by the primary locking action of the lance.

  After the insertion of all the terminal fittings 50 is completed, if a lateral pressing force is applied to the operation portion 39 of the retainer 30 held at the temporary locking position using a jig or the like, the retainer 30 The sliding contact surface 40 moves to the final locking position while being in sliding contact with the second flat surface 17b, and the retainer 30 is held at the final locking position by the locking action of the main locking groove 37 and the locking projection 26. . In a state in which the retainer 30 has moved to the main locking position, the retaining portion 34 of the retainer 30 advances into the front cavity 23 and is locked from the rear with respect to the side edge of the box portion 51 of the terminal fitting 50. Due to the secondary locking action of the retaining portion 34 to the box portion 51, the terminal fitting 50 is securely locked in the retaining state.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the first to seventh ribs 28 a to 28 g formed on the outer periphery of the inner housing 20 are brought into sliding contact with the inner periphery of the hood portion 12, so that the inner housing 20 is in contact with the hood portion 12. Since the relative displacement in the direction crossing the assembly direction is restricted and positioned, the fitting portion 22 of the inner housing 20 can be reliably fitted into the fitting space 14.

  Moreover, since the 1st-7th ribs 28a-28g are extended in parallel with the assembly direction of the inner housing 20 with respect to the food | hood part 12, it is prevented that the inner housing 20 becomes a diagonal attitude | position with respect to the assembly direction. Yes.

  Further, the outer surface of the retainer 30 attached to the inner housing 20 protrudes from the outer surface of the inner housing 20, and the outer surface (sliding contact surface 40) of the protruding portion of the retainer 30 from the inner housing 20 is the inner surface of the hood portion 12. It is made to slide on the circumference. Thus, since the inner housing 20 is positioned using not only the first to seventh ribs 28 a to 28 g but also the retainer 30, the number of ribs formed in the inner housing 20 can be reduced, and consequently the inner Simplification of the outer peripheral shape of the housing 20 is realized.

  The housing body 21 of the inner housing 20 has a block shape having two outer surfaces (an upper surface and a lower surface) that are substantially parallel to each other. 28c is formed, and the retainer 30 is disposed on the lower surface. Therefore, by confirming the positions of the first to third ribs 28a to 28c and the retainer 30, the vertical direction of the inner housing 20 can be easily determined. Therefore, there is no possibility that the operator inserts the inner housing 20 in an incorrect direction in which the inner housing 20 is turned upside down with respect to the hood portion 12.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 12 has an oval shape in which two left and right semicircular arc surfaces 15 are connected by two parallel upper and lower flat surfaces 17a and 17b, and the retainer 30 is on the lower side. The rib which contacts the hood part 12 is not formed in the lower outer surface which the retainer 30 protrudes among the upper and lower outer surfaces of the housing main body 21 in sliding contact with the second flat surface 17b. In such a configuration, when the assembly tolerance between the inner housing 20 and the retainer 30 is large and the protrusion dimension of the retainer 30 from the lower surface of the housing main body 21 is small, the inner housing 20 and the retainer 30 are separated from the hood portion 12. Therefore, there is a concern that the backlash in the vertical direction perpendicular to the flat surfaces 17a and 17b may occur.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the fourth to seventh ribs are respectively provided in the second quarter arc region 16b on the semicircular arc surface 15 on the protruding side of the retainer 30 and the first quarter arc region 16a on the opposite side to the protruding side of the retainer 30. 28d to 28g were brought into sliding contact. According to this configuration, two ribs (the fourth rib 28d and the fifth rib 28e, or the sixth rib 28f and the seventh rib 28g are formed with respect to the two quarter arc regions 16a and 16b constituting one semicircular arc surface 15. ) In the vertical direction perpendicular to the flat surfaces 17a and 17b, the inner housing 20 and the retainer 30 are rattled in the vertical direction with respect to the hood portion 12. There is no fear.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) The rib is not limited to a form extending in parallel with the assembly direction of the inner housing with respect to the hood portion from the front end to the rear end of the housing body, and may be formed only at the rear end portion of the housing body. Further, it may be formed only at the front end of the housing body (inner housing).
(2) The rib is not limited to a form continuous from the front end to the rear end of the housing body, and may be a form divided in the front-rear direction.
(3) You may form a rib also in the outer surface of the inner housing in which the retainer protrudes.
(4) The present invention can also be applied when the hood portion has a shape other than an oval shape.
(5) The rib may not be in sliding contact with the flat surface. In this case, the movement of the inner housing in the vertical and horizontal directions can be restricted by making the ribs slidably contact the four quadrant regions.

Front view of Embodiment 1 Front view showing the retainer attached to the inner housing Front view of inner housing Top view of inner housing Side view of inner housing Retainer front view Retainer top view Side view of retainer A longitudinal sectional view of the inner housing assembled to the outer housing BB sectional view of FIG. AA line sectional view of FIG. Horizontal sectional view showing the retainer attached to the inner housing at the temporary locking position Horizontal sectional view showing the retainer attached to the inner locking position at the main locking position

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Outer housing 12 ... Hood part 14 ... Fitting space 15 ... Semicircular arc surface 16b ... 2nd quarter arc area | region (quarter arc area | region of a retainer protrusion side)
16a ... 1st quarter arc area | region (quarter arc area | region on the opposite side to a retainer protrusion side)
17a ... 1st flat surface 17b ... 2nd flat surface 20 ... Inner housing 28a ... 1st rib 28b ... 2nd rib 28c ... 3rd rib 28d ... 4th rib 28e ... 5th rib 28f ... 6th rib 28g ... 7th Rib 30 ... Retainer 50 ... Terminal fitting

Claims (3)

An outer housing having a hood portion that protrudes forward, and a fitting space is formed at a rear end portion of the hood portion;
An inner housing for holding the terminal fittings ;
In a state of being attached to the inner housing, it is possible to move from a temporary locking position that allows insertion of the terminal fitting to a final locking position that locks the inserted terminal fitting in a retaining state. With a retainer,
In the connector in which the inner housing is assembled into the outer housing in a state of being inserted into the hood portion and fitted into the fitting space,
The outer periphery of the inner housing continuously extends in parallel with the assembly direction of the inner housing with respect to the hood portion, and the inner housing is slidably contacted with the inner periphery of the hood portion. Ribs that restrict relative displacement in the direction intersecting the assembly direction with respect to the part are formed,
The retainer is a form protruding from the outer periphery of the inner housing, and a sliding contact surface is formed that slides on the inner periphery of the hood portion in the process of inserting the inner housing into the hood portion.
The slidable contact surface is parallel to the moving direction from the temporary locking position of the retainer to the final locking position . The inner housing has a block shape having two outer surfaces substantially parallel to each other,
The rib is formed on one outer surface of the two outer surfaces of the inner housing;
The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the retainer protrudes from the other outer surface of the two outer surfaces of the inner housing . The inner peripheral surface of the hood portion has an oval shape in which two semicircular arc surfaces are connected by two parallel flat surfaces,
The retainer is in sliding contact with the flat surface;
Among the two outer surfaces of the inner housing, on the outer surface on the side from which the retainer protrudes, the rib is not formed.
The inner housing is formed with two ribs that are in sliding contact with a semicircular arc region on the semicircular arc surface on the retainer projecting side and a semicircular arc region on the semicircular arc surface opposite to the retainer projecting side. The connector according to claim 2 .

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