JP4677318B2 - Shield connector and method of manufacturing shield connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a shield connector and a method for manufacturing a shield connector, and more particularly to a shield connector and a method for manufacturing the shield connector that are preferably used in electronic / electrical devices such as automobiles.

  Conventionally, electric wires wired to electronic and electrical equipment such as automobiles are shielded with a shield layer such as a braid around the outer periphery of the core wire covered with an insulation coating to shield electromagnetic waves from inside and outside the electronic and electrical equipment and wires. A shielded wire having a structure in which the outer periphery is covered with an outer sheath is often used.

  When a terminal is connected to the tip of such a shielded wire and the terminal is inserted and attached to the connector housing, the shield layer of the shielded wire is peeled off in order to ensure connection workability. Then, since the shield effect of the peeled portion is lowered, it is necessary to shield the peeled portion again.

  Here, in order to shield this peeled portion again, some connector housings are provided with a cylindrical shield shell in advance. This is usually a structure in which a shield shell is arranged up to the tip of the connector housing. Further, it is often used because the number of steps can be reduced in the assembly process.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 9, a shield shell 54 is provided in a connector housing 52, and a conductive member 56 for establishing a conductive connection with the shield shell 54 is a shield layer 62 a of the shielded electric wire 62. A shielded connector 50 attached to is disclosed.

  The conductive member 56 is composed of an inner cylinder 58 and an outer attachment 60, and the inner cylinder 58 is inserted inside the shield layer 62a of the shielded electric wire 62 so as to sandwich the shield layer 62a. Is mounted on the outside. Further, a flange portion 58a that is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the shield shell 54 is provided at one end of the inner cylinder 58, and the flange portion 58a abuts on the retainer 64, whereby the connector housing 52 of the shielded electric wire 62 is provided. It is also designed to prevent it from coming off.

JP-A-11-283696

  However, in Patent Document 1, since the connector housing 52 having the shield shell 54 therein and the shielded electric wire 62 having the shield layer 62a are used, shield members such as the shield shell 54 and the shield layer 62a are provided in the connector housing 52. The structure to hold is complicated and the number of parts is also increasing. Further, since a dedicated connector housing 52 including the shield shell 54 is prepared, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased. Furthermore, in order to connect the shield layer 62a of the shielded electric wire 62 to the shield shell 54, the shield layer 62a has to be exposed, so that there is a problem that the operation becomes more complicated as the number of electric wires increases. .

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a shield connector and a method for manufacturing the shield connector that can be manufactured at a low cost while simplifying the shield structure.

In order to solve the above problems, the shield connector according to the present invention is such that the rear end of the shield shell having a locking portion at the front end is covered with the braided tube, and the outer periphery of the overlapping portion of the braided tube with the shield shell is formed by the ring member A shield member that is caulked, and a connector member in which a terminal connected to the tip of an electric wire is inserted and mounted in a cavity of a connector housing having an engaging portion with which the engaging portion is engaged on an outer peripheral surface. The connector housing is provided with a lock portion extending from the rear toward the front, and an opening opening from the rear to the front is provided at the base of the lock portion at the rear end portion of the connector housing. The shield shell is provided with two cutouts that are cut open halfway toward the rear, and between the two cutouts. Is formed so that it can be inserted into the opening of the connector housing, the electric wire of the connector member is passed through the shield member, and the connector housing is accommodated in the shield shell from the rear thereof. In this case, a portion between the two cutout portions of the shield shell is inserted into the opening of the connector housing, and the engagement portion and the engagement portion are engaged with each other so that the outer periphery of the connector member is The gist is that the shield member is covered and fixed.

  In this case, it is desirable that the shield shell is formed to have a length that overlaps at least the shield shell of the shield connector on the other side.

On the other hand, in the shield connector manufacturing method according to the present invention, a shield shell having a locking portion at the front end is provided with two notches so as to be opened halfway toward the rear, and the rear end of the shield shell is provided. A connector housing which is covered with a braided tube, and a ring member is caulked on the outer periphery of an overlapping portion of the braided tube with the shield shell, and an engaging portion on the outer peripheral surface is engaged with the engaging portion. A locking portion is provided so as to extend from the rear to the front, and an opening is provided at the base of the locking portion at the rear end of the connector housing so as to open from the rear to the front. a step of connecting the terminals, making the terminal insertion mounting to the connector member into the cavity of the connector housing, the shield member A step of passing the electric wire, the housing the connector housing from behind into the shield shell, this time, by inserting the part between the two notch portions of the shield shell in the opening of the connector housing, further And a step of attaching the shield member so as to cover the connector member by engaging the locking portion and the engaging portion .

  According to the shield connector of the present invention, a connector member is formed using a general-purpose connector housing that does not include a shield shell and a general-purpose automobile wire that does not have a shield layer, and these are formed as a shield shell having a simple structure. Since the shield structure is formed by covering with a shield member composed of a braided tube, the shield structure can be further simplified.

  In addition, the member for connecting the shield shell and the braided tube is a ring member with a simple structure, and there is no need for a special part for locking the shield shell to the connector housing. Since no housing is required, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  And when this shield connector is fitted to the shield connector of the other party, if the shield shell has a length that overlaps at least the shield shell of the shield connector of the other party, the electric wire can be covered without wastefully covering the connector. It can be set as the structure which shields all.

  On the other hand, according to the manufacturing method of the shielded connector according to the present invention, since the shielded electric wire is not used, in order to connect the shield layer of the shielded electric wire to the shield shell, the shielded electric wire is peeled off and the shield layer is exposed. No complicated work is required. And a shield connector and a connector member are made separately, and a shield connector can be easily formed by combining these later.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In addition, in the members such as the shield connector 10, the connection direction with the mating shield connector will be described first.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a shield connector according to the present invention. The shield connector 10 according to this embodiment includes a shield member 12 and a connector member 14. The shield member 12 includes a shield shell 16, a ring member 18, and a braided tube 20, and the connector member 14 includes an electric wire 22 and a connector housing 24.

  The shield shell 16, the ring member 18 and the braided tube 20 of the shield member 12 cover the periphery of the electric wire and electromagnetically shield it. These are then formed from a metallic material so that they conduct electricity when connected. For example, the shield shell 16 and the ring member 18 are preferably formed by bending a metal plate material into a hollow shape and opening the front and rear thereof. The braided tube 20 may be formed by forming a braided wire formed by knitting fine metal wires into a cylindrical shape.

  As shown in the figure, the shield shell 16 is formed in a rectangular tube shape and is hollow. And the latching | locking part 16a processed so that it might become convex inside is provided in the both sides of the front end (one end). The upper two corners are provided with a notch 16b that is cut open halfway toward the rear, and a projection 16c that protrudes forward is provided between the two notches 16b. .

  On the other hand, the rear end portion (the other end) 16d is a connection portion that is covered with the braided tube 20. After covering the shield shell with the braided tube 20, the ring member 18 is disposed on the outer periphery of the overlapping portion of the shield shell 16 and the braided tube 20, and caulked so that the shield shell 16 and the braided tube 20 are electrically connected. The shield member 12 is connected.

  The electric wire 22 of the connector member 14 is not a shielded electric wire having a structure in which the outer periphery of a core wire whose conductor is covered with an insulating coating is covered with a shield layer such as a braid and the outer periphery is covered with an outer sheath, and is a general-purpose automobile having no shield layer. Electrical wires are used. A terminal 22a is connected to the tip, and this terminal 22a has a so-called female terminal shape and is connected to a male terminal of the shield connector on the other side. The electric wire 22 may be a signal line or a power line. When the electric wire 22 is a power supply line, the shield member 12 is particularly preferably used for the purpose of shielding electromagnetic waves generated from the power supply line.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the connector housing 24 is provided with a lock portion 24 a extending from the rear toward the front at the top. When the connector housing 24 is viewed from the rear, as shown in FIG. 3B, an opening 24c is provided below the lock portion 24a from the rear end 24b to the root. Moreover, the cavity 24d for inserting the terminal 22a of the electric wire 22 is provided in the inside.

  A front holder 26 for guiding the mating terminal so that the mating terminal is correctly inserted into the terminal 22a when the mating shield connector is fitted is attached to the front outer side. The front holder 26 also holds a waterproof rubber stopper (not shown) used when the connector is waterproofed between the connector housing.

  Therefore, a concave portion 24e is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing 24 from the front end portion to the center, and the concave portion 24e is dropped into the rail 24f through which the notch portion 26a formed in the front holder 26 passes or the opening portion 26b. A claw piece 24g to be inserted is provided. Thereby, the front holder 26 is attached and fixed to the connector housing 24. The rear portion of the recess 24e is a stepped portion, and this stepped portion becomes an engaging portion 24h.

  The shield shell 16 accommodates the connector housing 24 in a hollow shape. When the connector housing 24 is accommodated in the shield shell 16, the projection direction 16 c is inserted into the opening 24 b so as to be accommodated. The rear end portion 24b of the lock portion 24a comes into contact with the notch portion 16b and is positioned. Then, by engaging the locking portion 16a and the engaging portion 24h, the shield member 12 is locked and fixed so as to cover the outer periphery of the connector member 14, and the shield connector 10 shown in FIG. 2 is obtained. At this time, when the shield connector 10 is fitted to the mating shield connector, the locking portion 16a side of the shield shell 16 overlaps with the shield shell of the mating shield connector, and is thus electrically connected. .

  These locking portions 16a and engaging portions 24h can be formed by providing concave portions or convex portions on the surfaces of the shield shell 16 and the connector housing 24. A convex portion may be provided on the shield shell 16 side, and a concave portion may be provided on the connector housing 24 side, or vice versa.

  The connector housing 24 may be a connector housing that is normally used, and does not have to be a connector housing dedicated to the shield connector 10. In this case, the engaging portion 24h that locks the locking portion 16a of the shield shell 16 may use a stepped portion that is originally provided, or may be processed into a normal connector housing to form the engaging portion. It may be provided.

  By setting it as the shield connector 10 of such a structure, a shield structure can be simplified in a connector. Further, the member for connecting the shield shell 16 and the braided tube 20 is a ring member 18 having a simple structure, and no special parts for locking and fixing the shield shell 16 to the connector housing 24 are required. Since a dedicated connector housing that encloses is not required, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a fitting state with the mating shield connector 30. The shield connector 10 according to the present embodiment is a so-called female connector, and is electrically connected by fitting with a mating male connector. The mating shield connector 30 has a terminal 32 connected to the end of an unillustrated electric wire and is inserted and mounted in a connector housing 34. A shield shell 36 is provided in the connector housing 34 so as to cover the outside of the terminal 32. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (b), when the mating shield connector 30 is fitted to the shield connector 10, the mating shield connector 30 enters under the lock portion 24a of the connector housing 24, and its tip is the lock portion. Positioned in contact with the root of 24a. At this time, since the shield shell 16 of the shield connector 10 has a length that overlaps with the shield shell 36 on the other side, the connector can be configured to shield all the electric wires.

  Even if the shield shell 16 is not formed so as to completely cover the connector housing 24, if there is a portion A that overlaps with the mating shield shell 36 in the fitted state, the shield shell 16 is connected to the connector housing 24. It is possible to shield all the wires without covering them in vain. The shield member 16 and the counterpart shield shell 36 come into contact with each other in the overlapping portion A, whereby the shield members are electrically connected.

  Next, an embodiment of a shield connector manufacturing method according to the present invention will be described. Since the shield connector 10 is composed of the shield member 12 and the connector member 14, the shield connector 10 will be described separately for each member manufacturing process.

  First, the manufacturing process of the shield member 12 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5A, first, the shield shell 16, the braided tube 20, and the ring member 18 are prepared. Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the end portion of the braided tube 20 is expanded so as to cover the outside of the shield shell 16, and the braided tube 20 is put on the shield shell 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the ring member 18 is passed through the braided tube 20 and the shield shell 16 and disposed at the end of the shield shell 16 outside the braided tube 20, and then fixed by crimping. 16 and the braided tube 20 are electrically connected. In this way, the shield member 12 is completed.

  Next, the manufacturing process of the connector member 14 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6A, first, a connector housing 24 and an electric wire 22 are prepared. The electric wire 22 has a terminal 22a attached to its tip in advance, and is prepared in size and number according to its application. The connector housing 24 may be in a state in which the front holder 26 is attached or in a state in which it is not attached. Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the terminal 22a of the electric wire 22 is inserted and attached to the cavity 24d of the connector housing 24, whereby the connector member 14 is completed.

  And the shield connector 10 is manufactured using the shield member 12 and the connector member 14 which were manufactured at the above-mentioned two processes. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, the electric wire 22 of the connector member 14 is passed through the shield member 12 from the shield shell 16 side of the shield member 12. After that, as shown in FIG. 7B, the connector housing 24 is accommodated in the shield shell 16, and the locking portion 16a of the shield shell 16 and the engaging portion 24h of the connector housing 24 are engaged with each other. The shield member 12 is locked and fixed to the outer side of 14. In this way, the shield connector 10 is completed.

  Moreover, since a connector is normally attached to the both ends of an electric wire when forming a harness, the manufacturing method of the shield connector 42 with which the connector was attached to the both ends of an electric wire is demonstrated using FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, first, one end of a predetermined length of the electric wire 22 having a terminal 22a connected to the tip is inserted and attached to the connector housing 24, and the other has a connector member 38 having the terminal 22a, and the connector housing 24. Prepare. The connector housing 24 may be in a state where the front holder 26 is attached, or may be in a state where it is not attached.

  And the shield member 40 to which the shield shell 16 was fixed by the ring member 18 at both ends of the braided tube 20 having the same length as the electric wire 22 is prepared. The braided tube 20 is preferably shrunk in advance and expanded in order to facilitate passage of the electric wires 22 later.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the terminal side of the connector member 38 is passed through the shield member 38 from one shield shell 16 side, and the electric wire 22 is taken out from the other shield shell 16 side. After the electric wire 22 is taken out from the other shield shell 16 side, the terminal 22 a is inserted into the cavity 24 d of the connector housing 24.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8 (c), the braided tube 20 that has been shrunk in advance is pulled in the direction of the arrow (to the outside), so that the length of the connector member 38 and the length of the shield member 40 are the same. adjust. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8D, the shield shells 42 are completed by locking and fixing the shield shells 16 to the connector housings 24 at both ends.

  According to such a shield connector manufacturing method, since a shielded wire is not used, in order to connect the shield layer of the shielded wire to the shield shell, the shielded wire is peeled off and the shield layer is exposed. Work is no longer necessary. And a shield connector and a connector member are made separately, and a shield connector can be easily formed by combining these later.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described in detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment at all, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, in the drawing, the shield shell 16 and the ring member 18 are shown in the shape of a rectangular tube because this is matched with the shape of the connector housing 24. You can also Further, the number of the electric wires 22 is not limited to the number shown in the figure, and can be appropriately determined according to the application.

  Further, in FIG. 8, the connector housing 24 is attached to one end of the electric wire 22, and the connector member 38 having the terminal 22a is made at the other end, and this is passed through the shield member 40. After passing the electric wire 22 having it through the shield member 40, the connector housings 24 may be attached to both ends thereof, and then locked to the shield shell 16 respectively.

  The shield connector according to the present invention can be used as a shield connector for electric wires wired to electronic / electrical equipment such as automobiles.

It is a disassembled perspective view showing one Embodiment of the shield connector which concerns on this invention. It is a completion perspective view of the shield connector concerning the present invention. 3 is an enlarged view of a connector housing 24. FIG. It is a figure explaining a fitting state with the other party's shield connector. It is a figure showing an example of the manufacturing process of a shield member. It is a figure showing an example of the manufacturing process of a connector member. It is a figure showing an example of the manufacturing process of the shielded connector which concerns on this invention. It is a figure showing the manufacturing process of the shield connector by which the connector member was attached to the both ends of an electric wire. It is a figure showing an example of the conventional shield connector comprised from the shielded electric wire and the connector housing which equipped the shield shell in the inside.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Shield connector 12 Shield member 14 Connector member 16 Shield shell 16a Locking part 16d Rear end part 18 Ring member 20 Braided tube 22 Electric wire 22a Terminal 24 Connector housing 24h Engagement part

Claims (3)

A shield member in which a rear end of a shield shell having a locking portion at a front end is covered with a braided tube, and an outer periphery of an overlapping portion of the braided tube with the shield shell is caulked by a ring member;
A connector member in which a terminal connected to the tip of an electric wire is inserted and attached in a cavity of a connector housing having an engaging portion with which the engaging portion is engaged on an outer peripheral surface;
The connector housing is provided with a lock portion extending from the rear toward the front, and at the base of the lock portion at the rear end portion of the connector housing, an opening opening from the rear to the front is provided,
The shield shell is provided with two cutouts that are cut open partway toward the rear, and a portion between the two cutouts is formed so that it can be inserted into the opening of the connector housing.
An electric wire of the connector member is passed through the shield member,
The connector housing is accommodated in the shield shell from behind, and at this time, a portion between the two notches of the shield shell is inserted into the opening of the connector housing, and further, the locking portion and the engagement portion are inserted. A shield connector, wherein the shield member is locked and fixed so as to cover an outer periphery of the connector member by engaging with a joint portion.   The shield connector according to claim 1, wherein the shield shell is formed to have a length that overlaps at least the shield shell of the shield connector on the other side. A shield shell having a locking portion at the front end is provided with two notches so as to be opened halfway toward the rear , the rear end of the shield shell is covered with a braided tube, and the shield shell of the braided tube A process of making a shield member by crimping a ring member on the outer periphery of the overlapping portion,
The connector housing having an engaging portion with which the engaging portion is engaged on the outer peripheral surface is provided with a lock portion extending from the rear to the front, and the base of the lock portion at the rear end portion of the connector housing in a step of its rear an opening so as to open forward from, and connect the terminals to the tip of the wire, making the terminal insertion mounting to the connector member into the cavity of the connector housing,
Passing the electric wire through the shield member;
The connector housing is accommodated in the shield shell from behind, and at this time, a portion between the two cutout portions of the shield shell is inserted into the opening of the connector housing, and the locking portion and the engagement portion are further inserted. Attaching the shield member so as to cover the connector member by engaging a joint portion ;
A method for manufacturing a shielded connector, comprising:

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