JP5081659B2 - Lever type connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lever-type connector in which a male / female connector housing can be fitted with a small force by a lever turning operation.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the field of connectors that require a high fitting force such as a multipolar connector, a lever-type connector having a lever for assisting the fitting force has been used.

  The lever-type connector is configured such that a lever having a cam groove is rotatably mounted on one connector housing (for example, a female connector housing) to be fitted to each other, and the other connector housing (for example, a male connector housing) An engagement pin that engages with the cam groove is provided, and the two housings are initially fitted with the lever positioned on the rotation start end side, whereby the engagement pin enters the inlet of the cam groove, and in this state the lever By rotating the lever, the engagement pin is moved relative to the guide of the cam groove, so that the two housings are fully fitted with a small force while utilizing the lever action of the lever. .

  An example of a conventional lever-type connector described in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a female connector with a lever attached, FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state in which the male connector and the female connector are opposed to each other, and FIG. It is a principal part top view which shows a state.

  As shown in FIG. 9, this lever-type connector has a pair of male and female connectors 600 and 700 that are fitted together. Each of the connectors 600 and 700 accommodates a large number of terminals (not shown) in the connector housings 601 and 701, and the connector housings 601 and 701 are fitted to each other at the distal ends in the connector fitting direction. Male and female hoods 602 and 702 are provided. That is, the female connector housing 601 is provided with a female hood 602, and the male connector housing 701 is provided with a male hood 702 fitted to the inner periphery of the female hood 602.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a lever 620 for performing a connector fitting operation is attached to the female connector housing 601. The lever 620 includes a pair of lever side plates 621 and 621 that are opposed to each other so as to sandwich both outer surfaces of the female connector housing 601 and have a rotation hole 624 serving as a rotation fulcrum at each one end, and the pair of levers. The side plates 621 and 621 have a substantially U-shape including a rotation operation unit 622 that connects the other ends of the side plates 621 and 621.

  A cam groove 630 is formed around the rotation hole 624 of the lever side plate 621. The cam groove 630 is formed to have a curved shape in which the distance from the center (rotation center) of the rotation hole 624 gradually decreases from the inlet 631 toward the back end.

  On the outer surface of the female connector housing 601, a rotation pin 610 that is rotatably fitted in the rotation hole 624 is projected, and by fitting the rotation hole 624 to the rotation pin 610, A lever 620 is mounted between the start end position and the end position so as to be rotatable within a predetermined angle range around the rotation pin 610.

  An engaging pin 710 that engages with the cam groove 630 of the lever 620 protrudes from the outer surface of the mating male connector housing 701. The engaging pin 710 has a flange portion 711 having a diameter larger than the width of the cam groove 630 at the tip, and a body portion 712 up to the flange portion 711 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a constant diameter from the root to the tip. Has been.

  A lever lock portion 650 is projected from the rear end of the female connector housing 601 to which the lever 620 is attached. The lever lock portion 650 engages with the lock protrusion 651 of the rotation operation portion 622 of the lever 620 that has been rotated when the connector housings 601 and 701 are fitted together, thereby locking the lever 620 at the rotation end position. It has a lock portion 652 to be used.

  The lock projection 651 of the lever 620 is provided in the center of the rotation operation unit 622. On both sides of the lock projection 651, when the lock projection 651 of the lever 620 is engaged with the lever lock unit 650, the lever lock unit 650 side is provided. Is provided with a backlash preventing projection 653 that bends the central portion of the rotation operation portion 622 in a convex shape toward the female connector housing 601.

  When this lever-type connector is fitted, the lever 620 is positioned at the starting position, and the female connector housing 601 and the male connector housing 701 are initially fitted, so that the engaging pin 710 enters the inlet 631 of the cam groove 630. Make it. In this state, the rotation operation unit 622 is grasped and the lever 620 is rotated toward the end position. Then, the engaging pin 710 relatively moves from the inlet 631 toward the back end of the cam groove 630, and the cam action between the cam groove 630 and the engaging pin 710 during the relative movement causes the female connector housing 601 to The male connector housing 701 is fitted.

When the lever 620 is rotated to the end position, the rotation operation unit 622 of the lever 620 is locked to the lever lock unit 650. At this time, the backlash prevention protrusion 653 provided on the rotation operation unit 62 abuts against the contact surface 654 on the lever lock unit 650 side, so that the central portion of the rotation operation unit 622 is bent convexly toward the female connector housing 601 side. Therefore, the lock protrusion 651 and the lock portion 652 are engaged with each other with a spring property, and the lever 620 is locked to the lever lock portion 650 in a state in which the play is prevented.
JP 2003-36927 A

  By the way, in the above-described conventional lever-type connector, the rotation operation portion 622 of the lever 620 is provided with the backlash prevention protrusion 653 to prevent the backlash of the lever 620. However, the connector has a small area of the backlash prevention protrusion 653. It is impossible to accept all external forces applied to the, and there is a possibility that it will not be able to sufficiently prevent backlash.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a lever-type connector that can more reliably prevent backlash.

The lever-type connector according to the first aspect of the present invention is such that a lever is pivotally supported by one connector housing of a pair of connector housings fitted to each other, and the lever is provided on both outer sides of the one connector housing. It is substantially U-shaped, and includes a pair of lever side plates that are opposed to each other so as to sandwich the side surface and have a rotation fulcrum portion on one end side, and a rotation operation portion that connects the other ends of the pair of lever side plates. The pair of lever side plates are provided with a cam groove having a curved shape in which the distance from the rotation fulcrum portion gradually decreases, and the engaging pins engaging with the cam groove protrude on both outer side surfaces of the other connector housing. The engaging pin is inserted from the inlet of the cam groove, and the lever is rotated in this state to move the engaging pin relatively toward the back end of the cam groove, thereby Connector housing In the lever-type connector to the fitting, the width of the cam groove, from the inlet as well as to be smaller as it goes to the rear end, the outer periphery of the engaging pin, the tip portion which slides with the cam groove The pair of lever side plates is gradually formed according to the relationship between the diameter of the engaging pin and the width of the cam groove of the lever as the lever is rotated. It is characterized by being drawn inward .

  The invention of claim 2 is the lever-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the one connector housing to which the lever is attached has a female hood at the tip end in the connector fitting direction. The other connector housing is a male connector housing having a male hood fitted to the inner periphery of the female hood at the tip end in the connector fitting direction.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the width of the cam groove of the lever is formed so as to decrease from the inlet toward the back end, and the outer periphery of the mating connector side engaging pin that engages with the cam groove is Since the taper is formed in a tapered shape with a diameter increasing from the base of the front side portion that slides with the cam groove to the tip, when the engagement pin is engaged with the cam groove inlet, A large-diameter portion on the distal end side of the engagement pin can be engaged with the wide portion. Accordingly, the distance between the lever side plates is kept wide. And the lever is rotating from this state, when the relative movement of the engagement pin toward the back end of the cam groove, by the width of the cam groove becomes gradually narrower, outer diameter of the engaging pin to engage As the engagement pin moves toward the back end of the cam groove, the position on the engagement pin side that engages with the cam groove moves from the tip side to the root side. . The lever side plate having the cam groove is gradually pulled inward by the movement of the position of the engagement pin engaged with the cam groove in the axial direction, and the interval between the lever side plates is gradually narrowed. In the final stage, both lever side plates are pressed against the outer surface of one of the connector housings, thereby preventing lever backlash.

That is, according to rotate the lever, the relationship between the width of the cam groove of the engaging pin diameter and the lever, than it has to retract gradually inside a pair of levers side plates, it is possible to shaking prevention lever . In this case, since almost the entire surface of the pair of lever side plates can be pressed against the outer surface of the connector housing, it is possible to reliably prevent the lever from rattling regardless of the magnitude of the external force.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the lever side plate gradually deforms inward in accordance with the lever turning operation, whereby the female hood of the female connector housing is pressed against the male hood of the male connector housing. Play between female hoods is prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The lever-type connector of this embodiment is an improvement of the lever-type connector shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the description of the overlapping parts is simplified.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state before mating of a lever-type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state when the lever-type connector is completely mated, and FIG. FIG. 3A is a configuration diagram exaggerating the shape of the joint pin, FIG. 3A is a plan view showing the schematic configuration of the engagement pins on both sides, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of the portion taken along the arrow IIIb in FIG. FIGS. 4 and 4 are plan views showing changes in the engagement position between the engagement pin and the cam groove depending on the rotation position of the lever. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state where the lever is at the start position and the lever side plate is not pressed against the connector housing. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state when the lever is in the terminal position and the lever side plate is pressed against the connector housing, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a change in the distance between the lever side plates. FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram showing a state when the interval between the lever side plates is wide, FIG. (B) the figure 7 shown FIG, 6 a relationship between lever and the female housing showing a state where the distance between the lever plate is narrowed is a sectional view showing the relationship between the lever and the male and female connector housings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this lever-type connector has a pair of male and female connectors 100 and 200 that are fitted together. Each of the connectors 100 and 200 contains a large number of terminals (not shown) inside the connector housings 101 and 201. The connectors housings 101 and 201 are fitted with each other at the distal ends in the connector fitting direction. Male and female hoods 102 and 202 are provided. That is, the female connector housing 101 is provided with a female hood 102, and the male connector housing 201 is provided with a male hood 202 that is fitted to the inner periphery of the female hood 102. Note that insertion grooves 103 for receiving engagement pins 210 described later are formed on both side walls of the female hood 102 from the front end to the rear.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a lever 120 for performing a connector fitting operation is attached to the female connector housing 101. The lever 120 is disposed so as to face both outer surfaces of the female connector housing 101 and has a pair of lever side plates 121 and 121 each having a rotation hole 124 serving as a rotation fulcrum at each one end, and the pair of levers. The side plates 121 and 121 have a substantially U-shape including a rotation operation unit 122 that connects the other ends of the side plates 121 and 121.

  A cam groove 130 is formed around the rotation hole 124 of the lever side plate 121. As shown in FIG. 1, the cam groove 130 is formed to have a curved shape in which the distance from the center (rotation center) of the rotation hole 124 gradually decreases from the inlet 131 toward the back end.

  On the outer surface of the female connector housing 101, a rotation pin 110 that is rotatably fitted in the rotation hole 124 is projected, and by fitting the rotation hole 124 to the rotation pin 110, The lever 120 is mounted so as to be rotatable within a predetermined angle range around the rotation pin 110 between the start end position and the end position.

  Further, an engaging pin 210 that engages with the cam groove 130 of the lever 120 projects from the outer surface of the mating male connector housing 201. The engaging pin 210 has a flange portion 211 having a diameter larger than the width of the cam groove 130 at the tip, and a body portion 212 up to the flange portion 211 is formed in a tapered shape.

  In this case, the cam groove 130 is formed so that the groove width decreases from the inlet 131 toward the back end 132. That is, if the groove widths at each position from the entrance 131 to the back end 132 are o, p, q, r, s, and t, then o> p> q> r> s> t.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the front side portion 212a (the portion on the front side of the portion overlapping the wall thickness of the female hood 102) that slides with the cam groove 130 of the body portion 212 of the engaging pin 210 is from the root to the tip. It is formed in a tapered shape so that the diameter increases as it goes to. Here, the taper is determined such that the smallest diameter on the base side of the tapered portion is t, and the largest diameter on the tip side is o, and the groove widths o, p of the cam groove 130 from t to o. , Q, r, s, and t.

  When this lever type connector is fitted, as shown in FIG. 1, the lever 120 is positioned at the starting position, and the female connector housing 101 and the male connector housing 201 are initially fitted, whereby the inlet 131 of the cam groove 130 is obtained. The body 212 of the engaging pin 210 is inserted along the arrow Y direction. In this state, the rotation operation unit 122 is grasped and the lever 120 is rotated in the arrow A direction toward the end position. Then, the engaging pin 210 relatively moves from the inlet 131 toward the back end of the cam groove 130, and the cam action between the cam groove 130 and the engaging pin 210 during the relative movement causes the female connector housing 101 and The male connector housing 201 is fitted. 6 and 7 show this state.

  At this time, the width of the cam groove 130 of the lever 120 is formed so as to decrease from the inlet 131 to the back end 132, and the outer periphery of the mating connector-side engagement pin 210 that engages with the cam groove 130 is the root. 4, the diameter of the cam groove 130 is increased when the engagement pin 21 is engaged with the inlet 131 of the cam groove 130, as shown in FIG. 4A. A portion having a large diameter (portion having a diameter o) on the distal end side of the engagement pin 210 can be engaged with a portion having a wider width (portion having a groove width o). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5A, the distance between the lever side plates 121 is kept at a wide distance D1.

When the lever 120 is rotated from this state and the engagement pin 210 is relatively moved toward the back end 132 of the cam groove 130, the cam groove 130 is gradually reduced in width so that it can be engaged therewith. The outer diameter of the mating pin 210 is limited to be smaller and the position of the engaging pin 210 that engages with the cam groove 130 is increased as the engaging pin 210 moves toward the inner end 132 of the cam groove 130. The taper moves from the tip side to the root side. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the lever side plate 121 having the cam groove 130 is gradually drawn inward by the movement of the position of the engagement pin 210 in the axial direction that engages with the cam groove 130, The distance between the lever side plates 121 and 121 is reduced, and as shown in an exaggerated manner in FIG. 4B, the distance between the lever side plates 121 and 121 becomes D2 (where D1> D2).

  In the final stage, both lever side plates 121 are pressed against the outer surface of the female hood 102 of the female connector housing 101 as shown by an arrow P, thereby preventing the lever 120 from rattling. Further, as the lever side plate 121 is gradually deformed inward according to the turning operation of the lever 120, the female hood 102 of the female connector housing 101 is pressed against the male hood 202 of the male connector housing 201. Backlash between the female hoods 102 is also prevented.

  In other words, as the lever 120 is rotated, the lever side plate 121 can be gradually pulled inward depending on the relationship between the diameter of the engaging pin 210 and the width of the cam groove 130 of the lever 120, thereby the lever 120 and the male and female hoods. 102 and 202 can be prevented from being loose. In this case, since almost the entire surface of the lever side plate 121 can be pressed against the outer surface of the female connector housing 101, it is possible to reliably prevent backlash regardless of the magnitude of the external force.

It is a side view which shows the state before the fitting of the lever-type connector of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state at the time of completion of fitting of the lever type connector. It is the block diagram which exaggeratedly shows the shape of the engaging pin by the side of a male connector, (a) is a top view which shows schematic structure of the engaging pin of both sides, (b) is an enlarged view of the IIIb arrow part of (a). It is. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a change in the engagement position between the engagement pin and the cam groove depending on the rotation position of the lever, and (a) is a view showing a state when the lever is at the start position and the lever side plate is not pressed against the connector housing; (B) is a figure which shows a state when a lever is in a termination | terminus position and the lever side board is pressed on the connector housing. It is a top view which shows the change of the space | interval of a lever side plate, (a) is a figure which shows a state when the space | interval of a lever side plate is wide, (b) is a figure which shows a state when the space | interval of a lever side plate becomes narrow. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between a lever and a female housing. It is sectional drawing which shows the relationship between a lever and a male and female connector housing. It is a perspective view which shows the structure by the side of the female connector of the conventional lever type connector. It is a side view which shows the state which is trying to fit the female connector and male connector of the lever type connector mutually. It is a top view of the principal part which shows the state of the rattle prevention means of the lever at the time of male and female connector fitting of the connector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Female connector 101 Female connector housing 102 Female hood 120 Lever 121 Lever side plate 122 Rotation operation part 124 Rotation hole (rotation fulcrum part)
130 Cam groove 131 Inlet 132 Back end 200 Male connector 201 Male connector housing 202 Male hood 210 Engagement pin
212a The front part that slides with the cam groove

Claims (2)

A lever is pivotally supported by one connector housing of a pair of connector housings fitted to each other, and the levers are arranged to face each other so as to sandwich both outer surfaces of the one connector housing. A pair of lever side plates having a pivot fulcrum portion on the side and a rotation operation portion that connects the other ends of the pair of lever side plates are substantially U-shaped. A cam groove having a curved shape in which the distance from the fulcrum portion gradually decreases is provided. Engagement pins that engage with the cam groove are provided on both outer side surfaces of the other connector housing, and the engagement pin extends from the inlet of the cam groove. In the lever-type connector in which the two connector housings are fitted by moving the engaging pin relative to the inner end of the cam groove by rotating the lever in this state. ,
The cam groove is formed to have a width that decreases from the entrance toward the back end, and the outer diameter of the engagement pin increases from the base of the front side portion that slides with the cam groove to the tip. The pair of lever side plates is gradually pulled inward according to the relationship between the diameter of the engaging pin and the width of the cam groove of the lever as the lever is rotated. Features a lever type connector. The lever-type connector according to claim 1,
The one connector housing to which the lever is attached is a female connector housing having a female hood at the tip end in the connector fitting direction, and the other connector housing is at the tip end in the connector fitting direction. A lever-type connector comprising a male connector housing having a male hood fitted to the inner periphery.

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