JP5990129B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector that fits between both housing portions to electrically connect terminals.

  Various types of connectors of this type have been conventionally proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). One conventional example of such a connector is shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, a connector 50 is attached to the cylinder head 70 of the engine and is used to take out an output of a built-in fuel pressure sensor element (not shown). The connector 50 includes a wire harness side connector part 51 and a sensor side connector part 60.

  The wire harness side connector part 51 has a housing part 52. A first terminal 53 is disposed inside one end side of the housing portion 52, and an external terminal 54 is disposed inside the other end side. The first terminal 53 and the external terminal 54 are connected by an electric wire W accommodated in the housing portion 52.

  The sensor-side connector 60 includes a sensor main body 61 in which a sensor element (not shown) is disposed, and a housing 63 that is fixed to the sensor main body 61 and in which a second terminal 62 is disposed. Have. A screw part 61 a is formed on the outer periphery of the sensor body 61. The sensor-side connector portion 60 is attached to the cylinder head 70 by screwing the sensor main body portion 61 into the screw hole 70 a of the cylinder head 70.

  Next, the fitting operation of the connector 50 will be described. A head cover 71 is mounted on the cylinder head 70. First, the sensor side connector part 60 is inserted from the hole 71 a of the head cover 71, and the sensor side connector part 60 is attached to the cylinder head 70. Next, the wire harness side connector part 51 is inserted from the hole 71 a of the head cover 71 and assembled to the sensor side connector part 60.

JP 2000-182702 A

  However, since the sensor side connector portion 60 is screwed into the screw hole 70a of the cylinder head 70, the rotational position (direction) of the housing portion 63 of the sensor side connector portion 60 is not constant, and in addition, the wire harness side connector When the part 51 is assembled, the housing part 63 of the sensor-side connector part 60 is located at the back of the hole 71 a of the head cover 71. Therefore, the housing part 63 of the sensor-side connector part 60 cannot be clearly recognized visually, and the housing part 52 of the wire harness-side connector part 51 is in a proper fitting rotation position with respect to the housing part 63 of the sensor-side connector part 60. There is a problem that it is difficult to align and the fitting workability is poor.

  In the connector described above, when the fitting of the first connector portion on the wire harness side is released from the second connector portion on the sensor side, the electric wire in the first connector portion remains twisted. In addition, excessive twisting may occur in the electric wire due to re-fitting of the connector. The twist of the electric wire is not preferable because it causes stress on the electric wire.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to easily perform the fitting operation between the housing parts without knowing the fitting opening direction of the mating housing part, and to detach the connector. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can prevent twisting of an electric wire as much as possible.

  The present invention includes a first connector portion having a first housing portion in which a first terminal is disposed, and a second connector portion having a second housing portion in which a second terminal is disposed, and the first connector portion includes: A third housing part rotatably provided in the first housing part, wherein the third housing part is provided with an external connector fitting part in which a third terminal is arranged, and between the third terminal and the first terminal; Are connected by an electric wire, and the first housing part rotates with respect to the third housing part when the first housing part has a different fitting direction with the second housing part. In the connector fitting completion state, the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other, and the third housing part rotates integrally with the first housing part, and By means of axial movement An inner cylindrical body that is axially movable relative to the first housing part, and the first housing part is moved to a position before fitting by the axial movement relative to the inner cylindrical body. It moves between a pressing position that presses the inner cylinder, and is biased by a biasing means toward the pre-fitting position with respect to the third housing part, and the third housing part and the inner cylinder are A guide rotating rail means is provided for rotating the inner cylindrical body following the rotation of the first housing part with respect to the third housing part by a pressing force from the first housing part. It is a connector.

  The axial movement means includes a first protrusion provided on one of the first housing part and the inner cylinder, and a movement in a predetermined range in the axial direction of the first protrusion. The first projecting portion is positioned at a pre-fitting position by receiving the urging force of the urging means in contact with one end of the long hole, and the first housing portion is a connector. When an external force is received from the second housing part during fitting, the first protrusion moves against the urging force of the urging means to the other end, and the first protrusion is the long hole. The first housing part and the inner cylindrical body are integrated with each other by the guide rotation rail means and moved in the axial direction by the pressing force. May be.

  The guide rotation rail means includes a second protrusion provided on one of the third housing part and the inner cylinder, and the second protrusion on the other side, and a predetermined rotation angle. It may be configured with a guide rail groove set only in this range.

  In the initial position of the guide rail groove, the second protrusion may be provided such that the inner cylinder is non-rotatable with respect to the third housing part.

  One of the first housing part and the second housing part is provided with a guide rib, and the other is provided with a guide rib before the first terminal and the second terminal start to contact each other. In any rotation position, the first housing part is provided with a rotation direction guide part that guides the guide rib so that the first housing part and the second housing part are in a proper fitting rotation position. Includes a configuration that rotates when the fitting direction of the second housing portion is different from that of the second housing portion and is fitted to the second housing portion.

  According to the present invention, at the time of connector fitting, when the first housing part located at the pre-fitting position receives a pressing force from the second housing part, the first housing part resists the urging force of the urging means. When the first housing part and the second housing part move in the axial direction from the pre-fitting position to the pressing position and the first housing part and the second housing part have different fitting directions, the first housing part and the inner cylinder are guided and rotated with respect to the third housing part. It rotates by a rail means and faces a regular fitting rotation position. The axial movement strokes of the first housing part and the inner cylinder differ depending on the rotation angle until the normal fitting rotation position is reached. The movement in the direction is allowed by the axial movement means and the urging force of the urging means acts, so that the first housing part is fitted to the second housing part with a constant fitting stroke of the first connector part. Further, when the connector is released, when the pressing force from the second housing part to the first housing part is released, the first housing part moves in the axial direction to the pre-fitting position by the urging force of the urging means. The inner cylinder is pressed, the first housing part and the inner cylinder are guided by the guide rotation rail means, the rotation direction of the first housing part returns to the initial position, and the twist of the electric wire is eliminated. Therefore, even if the fitting opening direction of the second housing portion is not known, the fitting operation between the housing portions can be easily performed, and twisting of the electric wire can be prevented as much as possible when the connector is detached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of the present invention before the connector is fitted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of the present invention when the connector is fitted. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the embodiment of the present invention before the connector is fitted. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a first housing part and a main part of an inner cylinder in a state where the first protrusion is located on one end side of the elongated hole (the first housing part is a position before fitting). A front view and (b) are A1-A1 line sectional views of (a). 1A and 1B show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a side view of a first housing portion, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A2-A2 of FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a front view of a guide rotation rail means in which a second protrusion is located at an initial position, (b) is a sectional view taken along line BB in (a), (c) is The front view of the induction | guidance | derivation rotation rail means in which a 2nd protrusion is located in a spiral rail part, (d) is CC sectional view taken on the line. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view of a guide rotation rail means in which the second protrusion is located at the initial position, (b) is a position where the second protrusion has moved from the rotation start position to the spiral groove. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view of a guide rotation rail means in a state in which a second protrusion moves in a spiral groove, and (b) is a position where the second protrusion is located at a final end position of the spiral groove. It is a perspective view of the induction | guidance | derivation rotation rail means to do. It is a perspective view before fitting of the connector of a prior art example.

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

  1 to 8 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the connector A incorporates a combustion pressure sensor, and is attached to, for example, an engine head. The connector A includes a wire harness side connector portion 1 that is a first connector and a sensor side connector portion 30 that is a second connector.

  The wire harness side connector part 1 has a first housing part 2 incorporating a first terminal (not shown), a third housing part 10, and an inner cylinder 5 disposed in the third housing part 10. .

  The third housing part 10 includes an external connector fitting part 11 having a third terminal (not shown), a mounting flange part 12 and an outer cylinder 13. The external connector fitting portion 11 and the mounting flange portion 12 are an integral member. The external connector fitting part 11 is a direction different from the fitting direction of the first housing part 2 and the obliquely upward direction is the fitting direction. The external connector fitting portion 11 is fitted with an external connector (not shown) of the vehicle body side wire harness. The outer cylinder 13 is fixed to the lower end portion of the mounting flange portion 12. The lower surface of the outer cylinder 13 is open.

  The third terminal and the first terminal are connected by an electric wire W routed inside the outer cylinder 13 and the inner cylinder 5. The electric wire W is routed with an extra length that can be twisted.

  The inner cylinder 5 is disposed in the outer cylinder 13 of the third housing part 10. The inner cylinder 5 is provided integrally with the first housing part 2 so as to rotate about the axis and to be movable in the axial direction relative to the first housing part 2 by the axial movement means 4.

  The lower part of the first housing part 2 is exposed from the lower end of the outer cylinder 13. The first housing portion 2 is urged toward the pre-fitting position (direction protruding from the outer cylinder 13) by the spring force of the spring 14 that is an urging means accommodated in the outer cylinder 13.

  The axial movement means 4 includes a first protrusion 3 provided at the upper end of the first housing part 2 and a long hole 8 provided in the inner cylinder 5 and into which the first protrusion 3 is inserted. ing. The long hole 8 extends along the axial direction of the inner cylinder 5. The first protrusion 3 can move in the axial direction within the range of the long hole 8. As a result, the first housing portion 2 and the inner cylinder 5 can move relative to each other within the dimension of the long hole 8.

  The first housing portion 2 and the inner cylindrical body 5 are prevented from rotating relative to each other by the first protrusion 3 and the long hole 8, and thereby rotate integrally. The first housing part 2 is located at a position (pre-fitting position) where the first protrusion 3 abuts against one end face (lower end face) of the long hole 8 by the spring force of the spring 14 in a state before the connector fitting. At this position, the inner cylinder 5 is biased downward (initial position side) by the spring force of the spring 14. When the first housing portion 2 receives a pressing force above the second housing portion 31 when the connector is fitted, the first protrusion 3 is against the other end surface (upper end surface) of the long hole 8 against the spring force of the spring 14. It moves to the pressing position where it abuts. In this pressing position, the inner cylinder 5 is biased upward (to the side of the final end of the spiral groove 22b) by the spring force of the spring 14.

  The outer cylindrical body 13 and the inner cylindrical body 5 of the third housing part 10 are provided with induction rotating rail means 20. The guide rotation rail means 20 includes a second protrusion 21 provided on the outer cylinder 13 and a guide rail groove 22 provided on the inner cylinder 5. The second cylinder portion 21 protrudes inward from the inner surface of the outer cylinder body 13. The 2nd protrusion 21 is formed so that it can displace to the outer side by the elastic deformation of the location enclosed by the slits s on either side. The guide rail groove 22 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 5. The guide rail groove 22 has a straight groove portion 22a extending in the axial direction, and left and right spiral groove portions 22b branching left and right from the lower end of the straight groove portion 22a and extending in a spiral shape in the left-right direction.

  As for the 2nd protrusion 21, the uppermost part position of the straight groove part 22a is an initial position. At the initial position of the second protrusion 21, rotation is prevented by the second protrusion 21 and the straight groove 22 a even if a rotational force is applied to the first housing part 2. The initial position is a position where the electric wire W connecting the first terminal of the first housing part 2 and the third terminal of the third housing part 10 is not twisted. The branch position from the straight groove portion 22a to the left and right spiral groove portions 22b is the rotation start position. A temporary locking projection 23 is provided between the initial position and the rotation start position. That is, the 2nd protrusion 21 located in an initial position is at the time of connector fitting, and can move to a rotation start position by getting over the temporary latching protrusion 23. FIG. The second protrusion 21 positioned at the rotation start position is in the connector fitting release operation, and can move to the initial position by getting over the temporary locking protrusion 23. Each of the left and right spiral groove portions 22b has a rotation angle of 180 degrees, and is set to a rotation range of 360 degrees as a total.

  On the outer periphery on the lower end side of the first housing part 2, a guide rail surface 6 that is a rotation direction guide part is formed. The guide rail surface 6 is a circumferential rail surface that has the highest proper fitting rotation position with respect to the second housing portion 31 described below and gradually decreases as the rotation angle gradually increases from the fitting rotation position. The guide rail surface 6 guides the guide rib 32 described below to an appropriate fitting rotation position before the contact between the first terminal and the second terminal starts.

  The inclination angle of the guide rail surface 6 is set to be the same as or slightly larger than the inclination angle of the spiral groove 22b.

  A straight guide groove 7 is formed on the outer periphery of the first housing portion 2 so as to open at the highest position of the guide rail surface 6 and extend vertically upward.

  The sensor side connector part 30 has a second housing part 31. The second housing part 31 incorporates a sensor element on the lower end side. A screw portion (not shown) is formed on the outer periphery of the lower end portion of the second housing portion 31. By screwing this screw portion into a screw hole of a cylinder head (not shown), the sensor-side connector portion 30 is attached to the cylinder head. The second housing part 31 has a cylindrical shape and has an upper surface opened. In the 2nd housing part 31, the 2nd terminal (not shown) is arrange | positioned so that an upper surface may be faced. The second terminal is for taking out an output from the sensor element.

  On the inner surface of the second housing portion 31, a guide rib 32 is projected. When the leading end of the guide rib 32 comes into contact with the guide rail surface 6, the guide rib 32 is positioned at the highest height of the guide rail surface 6 before the first terminal and the second terminal are brought into contact with each other. 1st housing part 2 rotates so that it may move to, and the 1st housing part 2 and the 2nd housing part 31 will move to a regular fitting rotation position. After that, the guide rib 32 enters the guide groove 7 to start contact between the first terminal and the second terminal, and the first terminal and the second terminal are in the fitting completion position where the guide rib 32 enters the depth of the guide groove 7. Is in proper contact.

  In the above configuration, a head cover 33 is mounted on the cylinder head 34 as shown in FIG. A hole 33a is formed in the head cover 33 at the mounting position of the sensor side connector portion 30, and the sensor side connector portion 30 is screwed to the cylinder head 34 through the hole 33a. And the wire harness side connector part 1 is fitted from the hole 33a of the head cover 33. FIG.

  Here, the wire harness side connector portion 1 is located at a pre-fitting position where the first housing portion 2 is in contact with the lowermost end of the long hole 8 by the spring force of the spring 14 and the second protrusion. The portion 21 is located at the initial position in a state where it receives the spring force of the spring 14 via the inner cylinder (the solid line position in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the position in FIGS. 7A and 7B, FIG. 8 (a) position). Thereby, the electric wire W is not twisted before the fitting operation. Moreover, since the forward / reverse rotation between the first housing part 2 and the third housing part 10 is prevented, it is possible to prevent the electric wire W from being twisted.

  Next, the fitting operation | work of the wire harness side connector part 1 is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the direction (rotational position) of the external connector fitting portion 11 is set to a desired direction, and the wire harness side connector portion 1 is placed in the second housing portion 31 of the sensor side connector portion 30 through the hole 33a of the head cover 33. Insert into. Then, except for the case where the first housing part 2 is inserted into the second housing part 31 at the normal fitting rotation position, the guide rib of the second housing part 31 can be provided at any position on the guide rail surface 6 of the first housing part 2. 32 abuts.

  When the fitting is further advanced from this state, the first housing portion 2 receives a reaction force from the guide rib 32. The first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5 cannot rotate because the second protrusion 21 is located at the initial position, and only the movement in the axial direction is allowed. The housing part 2 resists the spring force of the spring 14 and the first protrusion 3 moves to the upper end face side of the long hole 8 (the phantom line position in FIGS. 5A and 5B).

  When the first protrusion 3 moves to a pressing position where it abuts against the upper end surface of the long hole 8, and the fitting is further advanced from this state, the first housing part 2 presses the inner cylinder 5 upward, and the second protrusion 21 moves over the temporary locking protrusion 23 and moves to the rotation start position (position shown in FIG. 8B). If the 2nd protrusion 21 moves to a rotation start position, the 1st housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5 will become rotatable integrally. Then, the guide rib 32 moves while rotating so as to move to the uppermost position of the guide rail surface 6, and thereby the rotation directions of the first housing portion 2 and the inner cylinder 5 are determined. And the 1st housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5 rotate because the guide rib 32 moves the guide rail surface 6, and the 2nd protrusion 21 moves along the spiral groove part 22b of the guide rail groove | channel 22 ( FIG. 9 (a) state). When the guide rib 32 rotates to the rotational position located at the uppermost position of the guide rail surface 6, the first housing portion 2 and the second housing portion 31 are in the proper fitting rotation direction. Since the left and right maximum rotation positions of the first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5 are 180 degree rotation positions shown in FIG. 9B, the first housing part 2 and the second housing part 31 are always properly fitted. It is guaranteed to rotate to the direction of rotation.

  Thereafter, when the fitting of the first housing part 2 is further advanced, the guide rib 32 enters the straight guide groove 7 and the first housing part 2 is fitted to the second housing part 31 as shown in FIG. Inserted to completion position. In the process in which the guide rib 32 advances through the straight guide groove 7, the first terminal and the second terminal start to be connected, and the fitting complete position is an appropriate connection position (see FIG. 2). This completes it.

  In the above operation process, the axial direction of the first housing part 2 and the inner cylindrical body 5 depends on the rotation angle until the first housing part 2 is directed to the normal fitting rotation position with respect to the second housing part 31. Although the movement stroke is different, the axial movement of the first housing part 2 is allowed by the axial movement means 4 and the spring force of the spring 14 is applied after the first housing part 2 is directed to the normal fitting rotation position. The first housing part 2 is fitted to the second housing part 31 at a constant fitting stroke of the harness side connector part 1 (the position of FIG. 2 where the insertion tip of the outer cylinder 13 abuts the lower end of the second housing part 31). To do.

  To release the connector fitting, an external force is applied in a direction in which the third housing part 10 is separated from the sensor-side connector part 30. Then, the pressing force from the second housing part 31 to the first housing part 2 is gradually released, and the first housing part 2 has its first protrusion 3 at the bottom of the long hole 8 by the spring force of the spring 14. After returning to the position where it abuts against the end face, a downward spring force acts on the inner cylinder 5 via the first protrusion 3. The second protrusion 21 moves to the rotation start position side along the spiral groove 22b by this spring force, that is, moves in the axial direction while the inner cylinder 5 rotates, and then gets over the temporary locking protrusion 23. To return to the initial position. Thereby, the 1st housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5 return to the initial rotation position.

  In addition, when the first housing part 2 is inserted into the second housing part 31 at the normal fitting rotation position, no rotational force acts on the first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5, so that the second protrusion The part 21 is displaced from the fitting start position to the rotation starting position, and the connector fitting between the first housing part 2 and the second housing part 31 is performed at this rotation starting position. At the time of releasing the connector fitting, no rotational force acts on the first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5, so the second protrusion 21 is merely displaced from the rotation start position to the fitting start position.

  As described above, the third housing part 10 rotates integrally with the first housing part 2 and is axially movable relative to the first housing part 2 by the axial movement means 4. An inner cylinder 5 is provided, and the first housing part 2 moves between a pre-fitting position and a pressing position for pressing the inner cylinder 5 by movement in the axial direction relative to the inner cylinder 5. The third housing part 10 is biased by a spring 14 toward the pre-fitting position with respect to the third housing part 10, and the third housing part 10 and the inner cylindrical body 5 are pressed against each other by the pressing force from the first housing part 2. The guide rotating rail means 20 is provided for rotating the inner cylinder 5 following the rotation of the first housing part 2 with respect to 10. Therefore, when the connector is fitted, when the first housing part 2 located at the pre-fitting position receives a pressing force from the second housing part 31, the first housing part 2 is fitted against the spring force of the spring 14. When the first housing part 2 and the second housing part 31 are moved in the axial direction from the front position to the pressing position and the fitting directions of the first housing part 2 and the second housing part 31 are different, the first housing part 2 and the inner cylindrical body 5 are moved relative to the third housing part 10. Then, it is rotated by the guide rotation rail means 20 and is directed to the normal fitting rotation position. The axial movement strokes of the first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5 are different depending on the rotation angle until the normal fitting rotation position is reached, but after the first housing part 2 is directed to the normal fitting rotation position, 2 is allowed to move in the axial direction and the spring force of the spring 14 is applied, so that the first housing portion 2 is moved to the second housing with a constant fitting stroke of the wire harness side connector portion 1. It fits into the part 31. Further, when the connector fitting is released, if the pressing force from the second housing part 31 to the first housing part 2 is released, the first housing part 2 moves in the axial direction to the pre-fitting position by the spring force of the spring 14. Then, the inner cylinder 5 is pressed, the first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5 are guided by the guide rotation rail means 20, the rotation direction of the first housing part 2 returns to the initial position, and the twist of the electric wire W is eliminated. Is done. As described above, even if the fitting opening direction of the second housing portion 31 is not known, the fitting operation between the housing portions 2 and 31 can be easily performed, and twisting of the electric wire W can be prevented as much as possible when the connector is detached.

  In the connector fitting state, the first housing part 2 is urged in the fitting direction to the second housing part 31 by the spring force of the spring 14, so that the vibration resistance and the electrical contact property are improved.

  The axial movement means 4 is provided in the first protrusion 3 provided in the first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5, and a long hole 8 that allows movement of the first protrusion 3 in a predetermined stroke in the axial direction. It consists of and. Accordingly, the relative axial movement of the first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5 can be reliably performed while ensuring the integral rotation of the first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5. In addition, the long hole 8 may be provided in the first housing portion 2 and the first protrusion 3 may be provided in the inner cylinder 5.

  The guide rotation rail means 20 is provided on the second protrusion 21 provided on the third housing portion 10 and the inner cylinder 5, and the second protrusion 21 moves and is set only within a predetermined rotation angle range. The guide rail groove 22 is formed. Accordingly, since the first housing part 2 and the inner cylinder 5 are guided by the guide rotation rail means 20 and rotate, the first housing part 2 can be rotated reliably and smoothly. Further, since the rotation can be limited only to the range of the rotation angle necessary for connector fitting, excessive twisting of the electric wire W can be reliably prevented. Alternatively, the guide rail groove 22 may be provided in the third housing part 10 and the second protrusion 21 may be provided in the inner cylinder 5.

  When the first housing part 2 is fitted to the second housing part 31 in a different fitting direction, the second protrusion 21 is guided by the guide rail groove 22 and the fitting completion position from the fitting start position. When the first housing part is fitted and detached from the second housing part, the second protrusion 21 is guided by the guide rail groove 22 and moved from the fitting completion position to the fitting start position. Therefore, since the twist of the electric wire W is eliminated when the connector is fitted and removed, the unnecessary twist of the electric wire W can be prevented also in this respect.

  When the second protrusion 21 is in the initial position of the guide rail groove 22, the inner cylinder 5 is provided so as not to rotate with respect to the third housing part 10. Therefore, in the state before the mating operation (when the connector is unmated), even if a rotational force is applied to the first housing portion 2, it cannot be rotated with respect to the third housing portion 10. it can.

(Modifications of each embodiment, etc.)
In the first and second embodiments, the guide rail surface 6 is provided in the first housing part 2 of the wire harness side connector part 1 and the guide rib 32 is provided in the second housing part 31 of the sensor side connector part 30. Conversely, the guide rib 32 may be provided in the first housing part 2 of the wire harness side connector part 1, and the guide rail surface 6 may be provided in the second housing part 31 of the sensor side connector part 30.

  In the embodiment, the connector A integrally has a combustion pressure sensor element (not shown) and is attached to the cylinder head of the engine, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connector of the present invention can be applied regardless of the presence or absence of a sensor element, and it is needless to say that a connector having components other than the sensor element as an integral part can also be applied. The connector of the present invention is effective when the mating housing part is not clearly seen by visual observation, but can be used even when the mating housing part is visible. That is, the fitting operation can be easily performed without considering the direction (rotational position) of the counterpart housing portion.

A connector W electric wire 1 wire harness side connector (first connector)
2 First housing part 5 Inner cylinder 6 Guide rail surface (rotation direction guide part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 3rd housing part 20 Guide rotation rail means 21 1st protrusion 22 Guide rail groove | channel 30 Sensor side connector part (2nd connector part)
31 Second housing part 32 Guide rib

Claims (5)

A first connector portion having a first housing portion on which a first terminal is disposed; and a second connector portion having a second housing portion on which a second terminal is disposed, wherein the first connector portion includes the first housing portion. A third housing part rotatably provided, and the third housing part is provided with an external connector fitting part in which a third terminal is arranged, and the third terminal and the first terminal are connected by an electric wire. And
When the fitting direction of the first housing part differs from that of the second housing part, the first housing part rotates with respect to the third housing part and fits into the second housing part, and the connector fitting is completed. In the state, the connector is connected between the first terminal and the second terminal,
An inner cylindrical body that rotates integrally with the first housing part and is movable in the axial direction relative to the first housing part by an axial movement means is provided in the third housing part,
The first housing part moves between a pre-fitting position and a pressing position that presses the inner cylinder by axial movement relative to the inner cylinder, and the third housing part On the other hand, it is urged by the urging means to the position before mating,
The third housing part and the inner cylinder are guided to rotate the inner cylinder following the rotation of the first housing part with respect to the third housing part by a pressing force from the first housing part. A connector characterized in that rail means are provided. The connector according to claim 1,
The axial movement means includes a first protrusion provided on one of the first housing part and the inner cylinder, and a movement in a predetermined range in the axial direction of the first protrusion. It consists of a long hole to allow,
The first protrusion is positioned at a pre-fitting position by receiving the urging force of the urging means in contact with one end of the elongated hole, and the first housing part is more than the second housing part when the connector is fitted. When receiving an external force, the first protrusion moves against the urging force of the urging means to the other end in the long hole, and the first protrusion abuts against the other end of the long hole. The connector is characterized in that the first housing part and the inner cylindrical body are integrated with each other by the pressing force and are rotated and moved in the axial direction by the guide rotation rail means. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The guide rotation rail means includes a second protrusion provided on one of the third housing part and the inner cylinder, and the second protrusion on the other side, and a predetermined rotation angle. And a guide rail groove set only in the range of the connector. The connector according to claim 3,
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner cylindrical body is provided so as not to rotate with respect to the third housing portion when the second projecting portion is in an initial position of the guide rail groove. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
One of the first housing part and the second housing part is provided with a guide rib, and the other is provided with a guide rib before the first terminal and the second terminal start to contact each other. In any rotation position, the first housing part is provided with a rotation direction guide part that guides the guide rib so that the first housing part and the second housing part are in a proper fitting rotation position. When the fitting direction with the second housing part is different, the connector rotates to fit into the second housing part.

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