JP5883245B2 - Connector device for automatic transmission and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic transmission connector device that electrically connects an automatic transmission and a manufacturing method thereof, and in particular, a resin disposed in a state of penetrating a transmission partition wall that divides the inside and outside of the automatic transmission. It relates to a connector case made of metal.

[Conventional technology]
In the automatic transmission, electrical functional parts (such as solenoid valves, sensors, and electronic control devices) are mounted. Therefore, the automatic transmission is equipped with an automatic transmission connector device as means for electrically connecting the inside and outside of the automatic transmission (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The automatic transmission connector device of Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the code | symbol used for a prior art attaches | subjects the same code | symbol to the same function thing as "the form for inventing" and "Example" which are mentioned later.

The automatic transmission connector device 1 shown in FIG.
An insulating and resin connector case 3 disposed in a state penetrating the transmission partition;
A conductive metal terminal terminal 4 provided in the connector case 3 and electrically conducting inside and outside of the automatic transmission;
It is configured with.

[Problems of the prior art]
When the connector case 3 is resin-molded with a mold, a weld (resin joint) is generated on the opposite side of the gate position (molten resin inlet).
Since this weld is formed on the opposite side of the gate position due to the delay of the molten resin flow, it is formed no matter where the gate position is provided.
In particular, when the gate position is provided in the inner arrangement portion 6 (the portion disposed in the automatic transmission in the connector case 3), the outer exposed portion 5 (in the connector case 3 in the automatic transmission) from the delay of the molten resin flow. A clear weld is generated in a portion exposed to the outside).

When a load such as a cooling / heating cycle is repeatedly applied to the resin molded product on which the weld is formed, a crack may occur at the weld position.
For this reason, when a load such as a cooling / heating cycle is repeatedly applied to the connector case 3, a crack may occur in the weld of the connector case 3. Then, the malfunction which a seal breakage generate | occur | produces in the seal part 7 (site | part which seals the inside and outside of an automatic transmission in the connector case 3) by a crack will generate | occur | produce.

JP 09-161866 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector device for an automatic transmission that can prevent seal breakage caused by welds in a seal portion and an outer exposed portion of a connector case, and a manufacturing method thereof. On offer.

[Means of Claims 1 and 5]
In the connector device for an automatic transmission according to the first aspect and the manufacturing method according to the fifth aspect, the gate position for pouring the resin into the molding die for molding the connector case is provided in the inner arrangement portion of the connector case. Further, an annular thin portion having a small radial thickness (high flow resistance) is provided in the inner arrangement portion between the gate position and the seal portion, and “gate position” or “between the thin portion and the gate position”. An annular first thick portion having a larger radial thickness than the thin portion (small flow resistance) is provided.

As a result, the molten resin injected from the gate position first has a low flow resistance due to the fact that the annular thin wall portion acts as a large flow resistance and the annular first wall thickness portion has a small flow resistance. One thick part is filled in an annular shape.
Subsequently, the molten resin (annularly filled resin) filled in the first thick part flows through the thin part having a large flow resistance, and maintains the annular state in the first thick part and the outer part. Fill the exposed area.

As described above, since the molten resin fills the seal portion and the outer exposed portion while maintaining the annular state, it is difficult to form a weld at the seal portion and the outer exposed portion.
As a result, even when a load such as a cooling / heating cycle is repeatedly applied to the connector case, it is possible to avoid the problem that cracks occur in the seal portion and the outer exposed portion, and prevent the seal from being broken due to the weld. The reliability of the connector device for use can be improved.

[Means of claim 2]
The inner arrangement portion of claim 2 is provided with an annular second thick portion between the thin portion and the seal portion.
By providing the second thick part, the molten resin that has passed through the thin part flows in an annular manner at the second thick part having a low flow resistance. It can arrange more circularly in 2 thick part.
For this reason, it is possible to make it more difficult to form welds in the seal portion and the outer exposed portion, and it is possible to further improve the reliability of the automatic transmission connector device.

[Means of claim 3]
At least a thin portion of the connector case according to claim 3 is covered with a secondary molding resin for molding at least a part of the connector case.
By covering and molding the thin portion with the secondary molding resin, it is possible to prevent the strength of the thin portion from being lowered. For this reason, a thin part can be provided without worrying about insufficient strength after secondary molding, and the weld position can be optimized.

[Means of claim 4]
The secondary molding resin according to claim 4 is provided by the same resin material as that of the connector case.
As a result, the integrity of the connector case and the secondary molding resin can be improved, and even if a load such as a cooling cycle is applied over a long period of time, the generation of a gap due to a difference in thermal expansion is suppressed. The reliability of the connector device can be increased.

(A) It is sectional drawing of a connector case, (b) It is principal part sectional drawing of an inner side arrangement | positioning part (Example). It is principal part sectional drawing of the automatic transmission which shows the example of mounting of the connector apparatus for automatic transmissions (Example). It is sectional drawing of the connector apparatus for automatic transmissions (conventional example).

[Description of Embodiments] [Mode for carrying out the invention] will be described with reference to the drawings.
The automatic transmission connector device 1 includes:
An insulating resin-made connector case 3 disposed in a state of penetrating the transmission partition wall 2 that divides the inside and outside of the automatic transmission;
A conductive terminal terminal 4 provided in the connector case 3 and electrically conducting inside and outside of the automatic transmission;
It comprises.

Here, of the connector case 3,
A portion exposed to the outside of the automatic transmission is exposed to the outer exposed portion 5;
A cylindrical portion arranged inside the automatic transmission is connected to the inner arrangement portion 6;
A portion that is provided between the outer exposed portion 5 and the inner arrangement portion 6 and seals the inside and outside of the automatic transmission is a seal portion 7,
It is defined as

In the connector case 3, a gate position A for pouring the resin into the mold during molding is provided in the inner arrangement portion 6 having a substantially cylindrical shape.
Furthermore, the inner arrangement portion 6 is
An annular thin portion α (a portion that functions as an annular throttle with respect to the molten resin) is provided between the gate position A and the seal portion 7 and has a thin radial thickness (high flow resistance ).
-Annular first thick part β (positively molten resin in the annular direction ) with a “gate position” or “between the thin part and the gate position” having a radial thickness larger than the thin part α (small flow resistance) To make it easier to flow)
-Annular second thick part γ (a part in which the molten resin is made to flow positively in the annular direction ) between the thin part α and the seal part 7 is thicker in the radial direction than the thin part α (small flow resistance ). Is provided.
The second thick part γ is preferably present, but may be omitted.

  Specific examples (examples) of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following examples show specific examples, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the examples. In the following examples, the same reference numerals as those in the “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION” denote related items.

A specific example of the automatic transmission connector device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The automatic transmission connector device 1 is provided integrally with a wiring unit 11 (electrical functional component) mounted inside the automatic transmission, and electrically connects the inside and the outside of the automatic transmission. To do.

The wiring unit 11 is a collective unit that is equipped with an electronic control unit (such as a TCU) for an automatic transmission and also functions as an internal connector that electrically connects a plurality of solenoid valves and sensors. As shown in FIG. 2, it is fixed to a valve body 12 (oil circuit body) for hydraulic control using a fastening member such as a screw.
The resin body 13 (corresponding to the secondary molding resin) constituting the wiring unit 11 molds a part of the automatic transmission connector device 1 so that the automatic transmission connector device 1 is integrated with the wiring unit 11. It is what is done.

The automatic transmission connector device 1 includes:
An insulating and resin connector case 3 (connector housing) disposed in a state of penetrating the transmission partition wall 2 that divides the inside and outside of the automatic transmission;
A conductive metal terminal terminal 4 provided in the connector case 3 and electrically conducting inside and outside of the automatic transmission;
It comprises.

  As an example, a plurality of terminal terminals 4 are mounted in the connector case 3. A specific example of assembling the terminal terminal 4 in this embodiment will be described. The plurality of terminal terminals 4 are first assembled to a resin terminal base 14. In this state, the connector case 3 is assembled. In this state, the resin body 13 is molded. In this way, the plurality of terminal terminals 4 are firmly fixed to the connector case 3 and the resin body 13.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, a part of the automatic transmission connector device 1 integrated with the wiring unit 11 is changed in a state in which the wiring unit 11 is assembled to the valve body 12 for hydraulic control. It is exposed outside the automatic transmission through a through hole 2 a formed in the machine partition wall 2.
For this reason, a sealing material 15 is provided between the automatic transmission connector device 1 and the transmission partition wall 2 to close the gap between the automatic transmission connector device 1 and the transmission partition wall 2.

  Of course, the sealing material 15 shown in this embodiment is not limited, but as a specific example, it is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 2b formed in the transmission partition wall 2 outside the through hole 2a. This is a rubber packing of a different-diameter cylindrical shape provided with a large-diameter cylindrical portion arranged in close contact with and a small-diameter cylindrical portion arranged in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the connector case 3. In this embodiment, an annular fitting 16 (for example, a fitting exhibiting the shape of a hose fixing band) is used as means for bringing the small diameter cylindrical portion of the sealing material 15 (rubber packing) into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the connector case 3.

Next, the connector case 3 used for the automatic transmission connector device 1 will be described.
Connector case 3
A portion exposed to the outside of the automatic transmission,
A portion disposed inside the automatic transmission,
A portion sealed by the sealing material 15 described above,
Is provided.

Although the connector shape and the terminal shape are not limited, as a specific example, the automatic transmission connector device 1 of this embodiment has a connection shape to a mating connector (not shown), and the terminal terminal 4 has a male shape. The connector case 3 has a female shape.
For this reason, an outer cylindrical portion for forming a female shape is provided at a portion of the connector case 3 exposed to the outside of the automatic transmission.
The bottom portion of the outer cylindrical portion is filled with a sealing agent 17 such as silicon after the terminal terminal 4 is assembled, and sufficiently seals the portion through which the terminal terminal 4 is disposed. It is provided as follows.

Moreover, the inner cylinder part for incorporating the terminal pedestal 14 described above into the inside of the automatic transmission in the connector case 3 is provided.
On the other hand, at the portion sealed by the sealing material 15 in the terminal, a part of the inner cylindrical portion for incorporating the end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 2) of the terminal base 14 into the inside, the inner cylindrical portion and the outer side described above. A partition wall that partitions the tube portion is provided.

Thus, the connector case 3 of this embodiment is composed of the outer cylindrical portion, the inner cylindrical portion, and the partition wall, and is integrally provided with resin.
Here, of the connector case 3,
A portion exposed outside the automatic transmission is the outer exposed portion 5;
-The side portion to be placed inside the automatic transmission is the inner placement portion 6,
A portion provided between the outer exposed portion 5 and the inner placement portion 6 and sealed by the sealing material 15 is a seal portion 7;
It is defined as

The connector case 3 is a resin molded product formed by injecting molten resin into the mold. In the connector case 3 of this embodiment, a gate position A for pouring resin into the mold during molding is provided in the inner arrangement portion 6.
As a specific example of the gate position A, in this embodiment, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, the gate position A is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first thick portion β described later.

In the inner arrangement portion 6 of this embodiment,
(I) A thin-walled portion α provided in an annular shape between the gate position A and the seal portion 7 and having a radial thickness smaller than the average thickness of the inner cylinder portion (or the thickness Ta of the inner cylinder portion in the seal portion 7). When,
(Ii) A first wall which is provided in an annular shape on the gate position A side from the thin wall portion α and whose thickness in the radial direction is thicker than the average wall thickness of the inner tube portion (or the wall thickness Ta of the inner tube portion in the seal portion 7) Thick part β,
(Iii) A second wall which is provided in an annular shape between the thin wall portion α and the seal portion 7 and whose thickness in the radial direction is greater than the average wall thickness of the inner tube portion (or the wall thickness Ta of the inner tube portion in the seal portion 7). Thick part γ,
Is provided.

(I) The thin portion α functions as an annular throttle with respect to the flow of the molten resin injected from the gate position A, and the “diameter thickness Tb” of the thin portion α so as to function as a throttle. And “width Lb in the cylinder length direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1)” are set.
(Ii) The first thick part β positively causes the molten resin injected from the gate position A to flow in the annular direction, and the “thickness part β of the first thick part β so as to reduce the flow resistance in the annular direction. The “diameter thickness Tc” and the “cylinder length direction width Lc” are set.
(Iii) The second thick part γ positively causes the molten resin that has passed through the thin part α to flow in the annular direction, and, like the first thick part β, the flow resistance decreases in the annular direction. The “diameter direction thickness Td” and the “cylinder length direction width Ld” of the second thick part γ are set.
Each numerical value is set in accordance with the fluidity (material, temperature, etc.) of the molten resin used for molding.

Next, the manufacturing process of the connector case 3 will be described.
As described above, the connector case 3 is molded by injecting a molten resin into the molding die of the connector case 3.
This molten resin is injected from the gate position A into the mold.

(I) The molten resin injected from the gate position A acts as a large resistance portion with respect to the resin that flows when the annular thin portion α melts, and the flow resistance of the first thick portion β that forms the annular shape. Is small (easy to flow), and first flows along the first thick part β having a small flow resistance. As a result, the first thick part β is preferentially annularly filled.
(Ii) The molten resin filled with the first thick part β (resin filled with the first thick part β) flows through the thin part α having a large flow resistance, and the ring in the first thick part β. It flows toward the seal portion 7 while maintaining the state.
(Iii) The molten resin that has passed through the thin-walled portion α flows along the second thick-walled portion γ that has a small flow resistance. As a result, the second thick part γ is preferentially annularly filled.
(Iv) The molten resin filled with the second thick part γ (resin filled with the second thick part γ) fills the seal part 7 while maintaining the annular state.
(V) Furthermore, the molten resin filled in the seal portion 7 fills the outer exposed portion 5 while maintaining the annular state.

(Effect 1 of an Example)
In this embodiment, as described above, when the connector case 3 is molded, since the molten resin flows in an annular shape preferentially in the first thick portion β, the seal portion 7 and the outer exposed portion are formed by the molten resin that maintains the annular state. 5 can be filled.
In this way, it is difficult to form welds in the seal portion 7 and the outer exposed portion 5 by filling the seal portion 7 and the outer exposed portion 5 while the molten resin maintains an annular state.
Thereby, even if a load such as a cooling / heating cycle is repeatedly applied to the connector case 3 after being mounted on the vehicle, it is possible to avoid a problem that the seal portion 7 and the outer exposed portion 5 are cracked. As a result, seal breakage due to welds can be prevented over a long period of time, and the reliability of the automatic transmission connector device 1 can be improved.

(Effect 2 of Example)
In this embodiment, as described above, the second thick portion γ having a small flow resistance is provided between the thin portion α and the seal portion 7, and the molten resin that has passed through the thin portion α is in the second thick portion γ. Furthermore, since it flows in an annular shape, the resin flowing toward the seal portion 7 and the outer exposed portion 5 can be arranged more annularly in the second thick portion γ.
For this reason, in this embodiment, it is possible to make it harder to form a weld in the seal portion 7 and the outer exposed portion 5, and the reliability of the automatic transmission connector device 1 can be further increased.

(Effect 3 of Example)
As described above, the connector case 3 of this embodiment is molded on the resin body 13 so that the connector case 3 is firmly fixed to the resin body 13.
The resin body 13 is provided so as to mold at least the thin portion α when the connector case 3 is molded. That is, at least the thin part α of the connector case 3 is covered with the resin body 13 corresponding to the secondary molding resin.

Thus, by molding the thin portion α with the resin body 13, it is possible to prevent a mechanical strength decrease in the thin portion α.
As a specific example, when a lateral force is applied to the automatic transmission connector device 1, it is possible to prevent the thin-walled portion α from being damaged, and the automatic transmission connector device 1 has a sufficient bending strength. Can be secured. For this reason, the thin part α can be provided in the connector case 3 without worrying about insufficient strength after the secondary molding for molding the resin body 13. In other words, the weld position can be optimized without worrying about insufficient strength after the secondary molding.

(Effect 4 of Example)
As described above, the connector case 3 of this embodiment is molded on the resin body 13 so that the connector case 3 is firmly fixed to the resin body 13.
In this embodiment, the connector case 3 (primary molding resin) and the resin body 13 (secondary molding resin) are provided by the same resin material in this embodiment.
The resin material is not limited, but as a specific example, in this embodiment, the connector case 3 and the resin body 13 are provided by a nylon resin (for example, a polyamide resin). Thus, by providing the connector case 3 and the resin body 13 with the same resin material, the integrity of the connector case 3 and the resin body 13 can be improved, and a load such as a cooling / heating cycle is applied over a long period of time. However, since the generation of a gap due to the difference in thermal expansion is suppressed, the reliability of the automatic transmission connector device 1 can be improved.

(Effect 5 of Example)
In this embodiment, the terminal base 14 molded in the resin body 13 together with the connector case 3 is also provided with the same resin material as the connector case 3 and the resin body 13 (for example, nylon resin such as polyamide resin). Yes.
For this reason, in this embodiment, the integrity of the connector case 3, the resin body 13, and the terminal base 14 can be improved, and a gap due to a difference in thermal expansion is generated even when a load such as a cooling cycle is applied over a long period of time. Therefore, the reliability of the automatic transmission connector device 1 can be increased.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the first thick part β is provided at the gate position A has been described. However, the first thick part β may be provided between the thin part α and the gate position A.

In the above embodiment, the “diameter direction thickness Tb” and the “cylinder length direction width Lb” of the thin portion α are set to be constant, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
In particular,
-Changing the "radial thickness Tb" of the thin portion α in the circumferential direction,
-By changing the "width Lb in the cylinder length direction" of the thin portion α in the circumferential direction,
The annular formation of the molten resin may be controlled.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the “thickness Tc in the radial direction” and the “width Lc in the cylinder length direction” of the first thick part β are provided constant, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
In particular,
-Changing the "radial thickness Tc" of the first thick part β in the circumferential direction,
-“Cylinder length direction width Lc” of the first thick part β is changed in the circumferential direction,
The annular formation of the molten resin may be controlled.

In the above embodiment, the “diameter thickness Td” and the “cylinder length direction width Ld” of the second thick part γ are set to be constant, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
In particular,
-Changing the "radial thickness Td" of the second thick part γ in the circumferential direction,
-Change the "width Ld in the cylinder length direction" of the second thick part γ in the circumferential direction,
The annular formation of the molten resin may be controlled.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the second thick part γ is provided between the thin part α and the seal part 7 for the purpose of more reliably forming the molten resin filling the seal part 7 and the outer exposed part 5 in an annular shape has been shown. However, the second thick part γ may be eliminated.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the thin portion α and the first thick portion β are provided one by one is shown, but a plurality of thin portions α and the first thick portion β may be alternately provided. In this way, by providing a plurality of thin portions α and first thick portions β alternately, the molten resin filling the seal portion 7 and the outer exposed portion 5 can be more reliably formed into an annular shape.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector apparatus for automatic transmissions 2 Transmission partition 3 Connector case 4 Terminal terminal 5 Outer exposed part 6 Inner arrangement part 7 Seal part 13 Resin body (secondary molding resin)
A Gate position α Thin part β First thick part γ Second thick part

Claims (5)

An insulating and resin connector case (3) disposed in a state of penetrating a transmission partition wall (2) partitioning the inside and outside of the automatic transmission, and the automatic transmission provided in the connector case (3) In an automatic transmission connector device (1) comprising a conductive terminal terminal (4) electrically conducting inside and outside,
Of the connector case (3),
A portion exposed outside the automatic transmission is an outer exposed portion (5),
A cylindrical portion disposed inside the automatic transmission, the inner disposed portion (6),
A portion that is provided between the outer exposed portion (5) and the inner arrangement portion (6) and seals the inside and outside of the automatic transmission is defined as a seal portion (7), and
When the position where the resin is poured into the mold when molding the connector case (3) is defined as the gate position (A) ,
The gate position (A) is provided in the inner arrangement portion (6),
The inner placement portion (6)
A thin-walled portion (α) that is annularly provided between the gate position (A) and the seal portion (7) and has a small radial thickness;
A first thickness that is annularly provided at the gate position (A), or annularly provided between the thin wall portion (α) and the gate position (A), and whose radial thickness is thicker than the thin wall portion (α). Part (β),
A connector device for an automatic transmission, comprising: In the automatic transmission connector device (1) according to claim 1,
The inner placement portion (6)
An automatic transmission connector device comprising a second thick portion (γ) that is annularly provided between the thin portion (α) and the seal portion (7) and has a large radial thickness. In the automatic transmission connector device (1) according to claim 1 or 2,
The connector for an automatic transmission, wherein at least the thin portion (α) of the connector case (3) is covered with a secondary molding resin (13) for molding at least a part of the connector case (3). apparatus. In the automatic transmission connector device (1) according to claim 3,
The secondary transmission resin (13) is provided with the same resin material as the connector case (3), and the connector device for an automatic transmission. A method for manufacturing a connector device for an automatic transmission for manufacturing the connector case (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The molten resin injected into the mold from the gate position (A) fills the first thick part (β) having a low flow resistance in an annular shape, and the annular part in the first thick part (β). A method for manufacturing a connector device for an automatic transmission, comprising filling the seal portion (7) and the outer exposed portion (5) while maintaining the state.

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