JP5112981B2 - Joint connector and method of connecting terminals using the joint connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a joint connector for electrically connecting terminals formed at the end of an electric wire, and a method for connecting terminals using the joint connector.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a joint connector is known as means for electrically connecting terminals formed on terminals of electric wires branched from a vehicle-mounted wire harness. A general joint connector includes a male housing capable of holding a terminal of an electric wire, a connecting conductor having a fitting portion that can be fitted to the terminal, and a female housing provided with the connecting conductor. including.

  Such a joint connector has the following problems as described in Patent Document 1. That is, in the wire harness production line, it is difficult to confirm whether or not the terminal and the fitting portion are completely connected when the male housing is fitted into the female housing.

In order to solve the above problem, as shown in FIG. 5, the joint connector of Patent Document 1 is formed in a housing having a first opening and a second opening that open in opposite directions, and in the housing. A terminal accommodating chamber capable of holding a plurality of terminals inserted from one opening; a plurality of contact portions that can be respectively fitted to the terminals; and a plurality of insertion detection bars formed in pairs with the contact portions. Insertion detection when the contact portion is fitted to a terminal held in the terminal accommodating chamber, including a short-circuit fitting and a rubber plug formed integrally with the short-circuit fitting and closing the second opening of the housing A configuration is adopted in which the fitting state between the terminal and the contact portion is confirmed depending on whether or not the bar can enter the detection gap formed in the terminal accommodating chamber.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-27588

  In the joint connector of Patent Document 1, since the short-circuit metal fitting having the contact portion and the rubber plug for closing the second opening are integrally formed, the contact portion passes through the second opening and faces the terminal in the housing. The rubber plug closes the second opening of the housing simultaneously. For this reason, it is impossible to visually recognize whether or not the contact portion is fitted to the terminal, and an insertion detection bar is provided, but anxiety remains about the fitted state.

  In addition, since a configuration in which a plurality of contact portions are simultaneously fitted to the corresponding terminals is adopted, when the contact portions are fitted to the terminals, the rubber plug formed integrally with the short-circuit fitting is short-circuited. It is necessary to push the metal fitting into the second opening with a considerable force so that the metal fitting faces the terminal accommodating chamber. For this reason, workability | operativity of wire harness manufacture falls.

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention can surely confirm the fitting state between the male terminal and the female terminal at the time of manufacturing the wire harness, and can improve the workability of manufacturing the wire harness. It is an object of the present invention to provide a joint connector and a method for connecting terminals using the joint connector.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a joint connector according to the present invention is a joint connector that electrically connects terminals formed at ends of a plurality of electric wires, and the first opening into which the plurality of terminals are inserted. And a housing having a second opening that opens in a direction opposite to the first opening, and a plurality of fittings that are fixed in the housing and can be fitted to the respective terminals that are inserted from the first opening. A connection conductor having a joint portion, and a member different from the connection conductor and the housing are configured so that the second opening is closed after the terminal is fitted into the fitting portion. A plug member having a shape that can be attached to the housing, and the second opening has a shape through which the fitting state between the terminal and the fitting portion can be visually recognized. .

  Moreover, the connection method of the terminals using a joint connector based on this invention is a method of electrically connecting the terminals formed in the terminal of a some electric wire using a joint connector, The joint of the above-mentioned structure A step of preparing a connector, a step of inserting the terminal from the first opening of the joint connector and fitting the terminal into a fitting portion of a connecting conductor; and the fitting of the terminal through the second opening of the joint connector. Visually recognizing whether or not the fitting portion is fitted, and after visually recognizing that the terminal is fitted to the fitting portion, closing the second opening with a plug member.

  According to the joint connector and the connection method according to the present invention, it is possible to directly confirm visually whether or not the terminal and the fitting portion of the connecting conductor are fitted through the second opening. Thereby, electrical connection of terminals can be performed reliably. Further, since the connecting conductor and the plug member are configured as separate members, the second opening can be closed with the plug member after the fitting state is easily visually recognized through the second opening.

  Furthermore, since the configuration in which the terminals are fitted one by one to the fitting portion of the connecting conductor fixed inside the housing is adopted, the conventional configuration in which a plurality of fitting portions and the terminals are simultaneously fitted. As compared with the case, the force required to connect the connecting conductor and the terminal is small. Furthermore, after connecting the connecting conductor and the terminal, the plug member separated from the connecting conductor is attached to the second opening, so that the connecting conductor and the plug member are integrally formed, and In comparison, it is easy to close the second opening with the plug member. As a result, the workability of manufacturing the wire harness is improved.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first opening has a shape in which the terminal can be inserted into the first opening in close contact, and the plug member is mounted in close contact with the second opening. It is a waterproof plug.

  According to this configuration, since the terminal is inserted in close contact with the first opening and the waterproof plug is mounted in close contact with the second opening, moisture enters the housing from the first opening and the second opening. Can be prevented. Thereby, waterproofness can be given to a joint connector.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection conductor further protrudes to the outside through a portion between the first opening and the second opening in the housing and is connected to the ground. Part.

  According to this configuration, the ground connection portion allows the ground connection portion to project outside the housing from between the first opening and the second opening while enabling the joint connector according to the present invention to be used as a ground joint connector. Therefore, a sufficient space can be secured in front of the second opening to confirm the fitting between the terminal and the fitting portion of the connecting conductor through the second opening.

  In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection conductor is insert-molded in the housing such that the housing and the ground connection portion protruding outward from the housing are in close contact with each other.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent moisture from entering the inside of the housing from the through portion of the ground connection portion in the housing, and as a result, it is possible to improve the waterproofness of the joint connector.

  According to the joint connector according to the present invention and the method of connecting terminals using the joint connector, the fitting state between the male terminal and the female terminal can be reliably confirmed at the time of manufacturing the wire harness, and the wire It is possible to improve the workability of harness manufacturing.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a joint connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a plug member is removed. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the joint connector of FIG. 1, showing main components. The joint connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a connector used for electrically connecting terminals 51 formed at terminals of a plurality of electric wires 50 branched from, for example, a vehicle-mounted wire harness. The joint connector 1 includes a housing 3, a connection conductor 5 to which a terminal 51 of the electric wire 50 is connected, and a plug member 7 that closes one end of the housing 3 as main components. In addition, the terminal 51 of the electric wire 50 is formed in, for example, a box shape, and a female electric contact portion 53 connected to the connection conductor 5 and an electric wire crimping portion 55 to which the conductor wire of the electric wire 50 is crimped. It is a general thing to have.

  Specifically, the housing 3 is a resin-molded member made of an insulating material. On the inner wall of the housing 3, as shown in FIG. 3, a conductor holding portion 3 c and terminal housing portions 3 a located at the front and back thereof are provided. And the plug member accommodating portion 3 b are integrally formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 3. The terminal accommodating portion 3 a has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 15 in the illustrated example, which are arranged in parallel in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 3. Each terminal accommodating chamber 15 has a terminal insertion port 13 that opens to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the housing 3, and the terminal 51 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 15 through the terminal insertion port 13. In the present embodiment, these terminal insertion openings 13 constitute the first opening 9.

  In addition, each terminal accommodating chamber 15 includes a first chamber 14 in which a waterproof rubber plug 57 attached in the vicinity of the wire crimping portion 55 of the terminal 51 can be fitted in a close contact state, and the electric power of the terminal 51. The contact portion 53 includes the second chamber 16 connected to the connection conductor 5.

  The connection conductor 5 integrally includes a base portion 17 extending in the width direction of the housing 3 and a plurality of male fitting portions (for example, pin shapes) 18 protruding from the base portion 17 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 3. A plurality of grooves 12 corresponding to the respective second chambers 16 are formed in the conductor holding portion 3 c of the housing 3, and the fitting portions 18 are press-fitted into these grooves 12, respectively. Is held by the conductor holding portion 3c. After the terminals 51 are guided into the second chambers 16 of the corresponding terminal accommodating chambers 15, the female electrical contact portions 53 are fitted with the male fitting portions 18.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, a lance 19 is formed on the inner wall defining the second chamber 16 in the housing 3, and the female electrical contact portion 53 of the terminal 51 can be locked by the lance 19. An unillustrated locking piece having a simple shape is formed. Therefore, when the electrical contact portion 53 of the terminal 51 is inserted into the second chamber 16 of the terminal accommodating chamber 15 through the terminal insertion port 13, the lance 19 locks the locked piece. The electric contact portion 53 is held in the terminal accommodating chamber 15 in a state where the electric contact portion 53 is fitted to the fitting portion 18 of the connecting conductor 5.

  The plug member accommodating portion 3 b of the housing 3 has a second opening 11 that opens to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the housing 3, that is, opens in a direction opposite to the first opening 9. The second opening 11 is set to a shape through which the pin-shaped fitting portion 18 and the electric contact portion 53 of the terminal 51 can be visually confirmed through the second opening 11. ing.

  The plug member 7 is a separate member from the connection conductor 5 and the housing 3 and is, for example, a rubber plug used to close the second opening 11. The rubber plug has a shape that matches the shape of the second opening 11, and when inserted into the second opening 11, the rubber plug elastically deforms and surrounds the inner wall of the plug member accommodating portion 3 b surrounding the second opening 11. Close contact with. Thereby, it is possible to prevent moisture from entering the housing 3 from the second opening 11 side. Further, as described above, the waterproof rubber plug 57 of the electric wire 50 can prevent moisture from entering the housing 3 from the first opening 9 side. Thus, the joint connector 1 is waterproofed.

  Next, a method for electrically connecting the terminals 51 of the electric wire 50 with the joint connector 1 will be described. First, by inserting the terminal 51 into the terminal accommodating chamber 15 from the terminal insertion port 13 of the joint connector 1, the electrical contact portion 53 is fitted to the fitting portion 18 of the connecting conductor 5 in the second chamber 16, and The rubber plug 57 of the electric wire 50 is brought into close contact with the first chamber 14. Next, it is visually confirmed whether or not the electrical contact portion 53 is sufficiently fitted to the fitting portion 18 through the second opening 11 of the joint connector 1. Then, after confirming that the electrical contact portion 53 is fitted to the fitting portion 18, the second opening 11 is closed with the plug member 7. The visual confirmation of the fitted state may be performed after all the terminals 51 are inserted into the corresponding terminal accommodating chambers 15 or each time each terminal 51 is inserted into the corresponding terminal accommodating chamber 15. Also good.

  Thus, according to the joint connector 1 according to the first embodiment, whether or not the electrical contact portion 53 of the terminal 51 and the fitting portion 18 of the connecting conductor 5 are fitted through the second opening 11 is determined. Direct visual confirmation is possible. Thereby, the electrical connection between the terminals 51 can be reliably performed.

  Moreover, since the structure which fits the terminal 51 one by one with respect to the some fitting part 18 of the connection conductor 5 fixed inside the housing 3 is employ | adopted, the some fitting part 18, the terminal 51, Compared to the conventional configuration in which the two are simultaneously fitted, the force required to connect the connecting conductor 5 and the terminal 51 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the connecting conductor 5 and the plug member 7 are configured as separate members, it is easier to close the second opening 11 with the plug member 7 as compared with the conventional configuration in which they are integrally formed. Become. As a result, the workability of manufacturing the wire harness is improved.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a joint connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the joint connector of FIG. 5, showing its main components. The joint connector 20 is used as a ground joint connector by a ground connection portion 37 to be described later, and as its main components, a connection conductor 23 to which the housing 21 and the terminal 51 of the electric wire 50 are connected, and one end portion of the housing 21. And a plug member 25 for closing.

  Specifically, the housing 3 is a resin-molded member made of an insulating material, and a terminal housing portion 21a and a plug member housing portion 21b are provided on the inner wall of the housing 21 as shown in FIG. It is integrally formed along the direction. The terminal accommodating part 21a has the terminal accommodating chamber 30 arrange | positioned at the upper and lower 2 rows which consist of three each rows, for example. Each terminal accommodating chamber 30 extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21 and has a terminal insertion port 28 that opens to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21. The terminal 51 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 30 through the terminal insertion port 28. In the present embodiment, these terminal insertion openings 28 constitute the first opening 27.

  In addition, each terminal accommodating chamber 30 includes a first chamber 31 in which a waterproof rubber plug 57 attached in the vicinity of the electric wire crimping portion 55 of the terminal 51 is set in a close contact state, and the electric power of the terminal 51. The contact portion 53 includes a second chamber 32 connected to the connection conductor 23.

  The connection conductor 23 is a member that is fixed to the inner wall of the housing 21 and electrically connects the terminals 51. Specifically, an annular base 33 fixed to the inner wall of the housing 21 by, for example, insert molding, A plurality of male fitting portions (for example, pin shapes) 35 extending from the base portion 33 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21 and projecting into the second chamber 32 of each terminal accommodating chamber 30 are provided. After the terminals 51 are guided into the second chambers 32 of the corresponding terminal accommodating chambers 30, the female electrical contact portions 53 are engaged with the male fitting portions 35.

  The connection conductor 23 further includes a ground connection portion 37 that electrically connects the terminal 51 of the electric wire 50 to a predetermined ground location of the vehicle. The ground connection portion 37 extends from the base portion 33, penetrates the side wall 21 a between a first opening 27 in the housing 21 and a second opening 29 described later, and projects outside the housing 21. The ground connection portion 37 is a flat plate-like member that extends from the side wall 21 a of the housing 21 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21. The ground connection portion 37 is formed with a through hole 37a, and the ground connection portion 37 is grounded by inserting the bolt after the through hole 37a is aligned with the bolt hole formed in the grounding portion of the vehicle. Fixed in place. Further, since the connection conductor 23 is insert-molded in the housing 21, the ground connection portion 37 and the housing 21 are in close contact with each other at the through portion. Thereby, it can prevent that a water | moisture content permeates into the housing 21 from a penetration location.

  As shown in FIG. 7, for example, a lance 19 is formed on the inner wall that defines the second chamber 32 in the housing 21, and the electrical contact portion 53 of the terminal 51 passes through the terminal insertion port 28 in the second chamber 32. Since the lance 19 locks the locked piece of the electrical contact portion 53 when inserted into the terminal 51, the terminal 51 is in a state where the electrical contact portion 53 is fitted to the fitting portion 35 of the connecting conductor 23. It is held in the storage chamber 31.

  The plug member accommodating portion 21 b of the housing 21 has a second opening 28 that opens to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21, that is, opens in a direction opposite to the first opening 27. The second opening 29 is set to a shape through which the pin-shaped fitting portion 35 and the electrical contact portion 53 of the terminal 51 can be visually confirmed through the second opening 29. ing.

  The plug member 25 is a separate member from the connection conductor 23 and the housing 21 and is, for example, a rubber plug used to close the second opening 29. The rubber plug 25 has a shape that matches the shape of the second opening 29, and when inserted into the second opening 29, the rubber plug 25 is elastically deformed and is in close contact with the second opening 29. Thereby, it is possible to prevent moisture from entering the housing 21 from the second opening 29 side. Further, as described above, the waterproof rubber plug 57 of the electric wire 50 can prevent moisture from entering the housing 21 from the first opening 27 side. Thus, the joint connector 20 is waterproofed.

  Since the method of electrically connecting the terminal 51 of the electric wire 50 to the grounding location of the vehicle by the joint connector 20 is substantially the same as the connection method by the joint connector 1 of the first embodiment described above, description thereof is omitted. .

  The joint connector 20 of the second embodiment described above can be used as a ground joint connector by the ground connection portion 37, and the ground connection portion 37 extends from the side wall 21 c between the first opening 27 and the second opening 29. Since it protrudes to the outside of the housing 21, a sufficient space is secured in front of the second opening 29 to confirm the fitting between the terminal 51 and the fitting portion 35 of the connecting conductor 23 through the second opening 29. Can do. Thereby, the electrical connection to the vehicle ground location of the terminal 51 of the electric wire 50 can be performed reliably.

(Modification)
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modification of the joint connector. In the joint connector 1 of the first embodiment and the joint connector 20 of the second embodiment, the second openings 11 and 29 are closed using rubber plugs 7 and 25. However, in the joint connector 40 shown in FIG. Instead of the stopper, a cap-shaped stopper member 43 is used to close the second opening 44.

  Specifically, the joint connector 40 includes, as main components, the first opening 47 and the first opening 47 that are opened in opposite directions as the joint connector 1 of the first embodiment and the joint connector 20 of the second embodiment. A housing 41 having two openings 44, a connection conductor 42 that is fixed in the housing 41 and connected to the terminal 51 of the electric wire 50, and a plug member 43 that closes the second opening 44 of the housing 41 are included.

  The plug member 43 has a male screw 46 formed on the outer peripheral surface on one end side, and a female screw 45 into which the male screw 46 can be screwed is formed in the second opening 44. Similarly to the first and second embodiments, the second opening 44 determines whether or not the connection conductor 42 and the electrical contact portion 53 of the terminal 51 are sufficiently fitted through the second opening 44. The shape is set so as to be visually confirmed. Therefore, after confirming the fitting between the connecting conductor 42 and the electrical contact portion 53 of the terminal 51, the plug member 43 is screwed into the second opening 44. The second opening 44 can be closed. Thereby, moisture can be prevented from entering the housing 41 from the second opening 44, and the joint connector 40 can be waterproof.

Moreover, since the structure which obstruct | occludes the 2nd opening 44 with the simple structure of screwing the plug member 43 in the 2nd opening 44 is employ | adopted, workability | operativity of wire harness manufacture can be improved.

It is a perspective view of the joint connector concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention, and shows the state where a plug member was removed. It is a disassembled perspective view of the joint connector of FIG. 1, and has shown the main components. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the VV line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the VI-VI line of FIG. It is a perspective view of the joint connector which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the joint connector of FIG. 5 showing main components. It is sectional drawing of the joint connector of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of a joint connector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Joint connector 3 Housing 5 Connection conductor 7 Plug member 9 1st opening 11 2nd opening 15 Terminal accommodating chamber 18 Fitting part 50 Electric wire 51 Terminal

Claims (5)

A joint connector for electrically connecting terminals formed on the ends of a plurality of electric wires,
A housing having a first opening into which the plurality of terminals are inserted, and a second opening that opens in a direction opposite to the first opening;
A connecting conductor that is fixed in the housing and has a plurality of fitting portions that can be fitted to the respective terminals inserted from the first opening;
The connecting conductor and the housing are made of different members, and have a shape that can be mounted on the housing so as to close the second opening after the terminal is fitted into the fitting portion. A plug member;
With
The second opening is a joint connector having a shape through which the fitting state between the terminal and the fitting portion is visible through the second opening. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the first opening has a shape in which the terminal can be inserted into the first opening in a close contact state.
The plug member is a joint connector that is a waterproof plug that is attached to the second opening in close contact.   3. The joint connector according to claim 2, wherein the connection conductor further protrudes to the outside through a portion between the first opening and the second opening in the housing and is connected to the ground. Joint connector including parts.   4. The joint connector according to claim 3, wherein the connection conductor is insert-molded in the housing so that the housing and the ground connection portion projecting outside from the housing are in close contact with each other. A method of electrically connecting terminals formed on the ends of a plurality of electric wires using a joint connector,
Preparing a joint connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Inserting the terminal from the first opening of the joint connector and fitting the fitting into the fitting portion of the connecting conductor;
Visually recognizing whether or not the terminal is fitted to the fitting portion through the second opening of the joint connector;
After visually recognizing that the terminal is fitted in the fitting portion, the step of closing the second opening with a plug member;
With a connection method.

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