JP5995146B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a connector including a housing in which a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers are formed and female terminal fittings individually accommodated in the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers. As a means for preventing a short circuit between conductive paths constituted by female terminal fittings, this connector forms an extension wall in a partition wall that partitions adjacent terminal accommodating chambers, and forms a recess in a retainer attached to the housing, By inserting an extension wall into this recess, the creeping distance between adjacent terminal accommodating chambers is increased.

JP 2008-130111 A

The above connector does not have a waterproof function. Therefore, when immersed in a liquid containing an electrolyte such as seawater in a state of being fitted to the mating connector, the conductive paths are short-circuited via the liquid. When the conductive paths are short-circuited, the entire connector including the conductive paths is overheated, which causes problems such as deformation of the synthetic resin housing.
This invention is completed based on the above situations, Comprising: It aims at eliminating a short circuit state, when it overheats resulting from the short circuit between electrically conductive paths.

The connector of the present invention
A first housing whose front surface is a first mating surface;
A plurality of first terminal fittings housed in the first housing;
A second housing that is fitted to the first housing with the second fitting surface facing the first fitting surface;
In the state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted to each other and attached to the second housing, the plurality of through the fitting gaps between the first fitting surface and the second fitting surface. A plurality of second terminal fittings individually connected to the first terminal fittings;
It has a feature in that it comprises a photo-curing resin having a melting point lower than that of the first housing and the second housing, and includes a filler that flows and fills the fitting gap when melted.

  The conductive paths constituted by the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting in the connected state are short-circuited via the electrolyte existing in the fitting gap between the first fitting surface and the second fitting surface, and become overheated. Then, the filler made of the photocurable resin melts and starts to flow. The molten filler flows into the fitting gap and eliminates the electrolytic solution that has become a short-circuit path. Thereby, the short circuit state between conductive paths is eliminated.

Sectional drawing showing the state where the connector of Example 1 was immersed in seawater Partial enlarged sectional view showing a state in which seawater remains in the fitting gap and the terminal fittings are short-circuited Partial enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the melted filler is filled in the fitting gap and the short circuit is eliminated XX sectional view of FIG. YY sectional view of FIG.

  (1) In the connector according to the present invention, a square tube portion having a shape penetrating in the front-rear direction as a connecting means with the second terminal fitting is formed at a front end portion of the first terminal fitting. The front end part of the electric wire may be connected to the crimping part formed at the end part, and the filler may surround the front end part of the crimping part and the electric wire. According to this structure, the filler in a molten state can reach the fitting gap by passing through the rectangular tube portion in the penetration form.

  (2) In the connector of the present invention, the first housing has a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating the first terminal fitting, and the filler surrounds the outer periphery of the first terminal fitting, The form which can be fitted in the inner wall of the said terminal storage chamber may be sufficient. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress or prevent the first terminal fitting from rattling in the terminal accommodating chamber by fitting the filler to the inner wall of the terminal accommodating chamber.

  (3) In the connector of the present invention, the filler may be made of an ultraviolet curable resin. According to this configuration, the photocurable resin can be effectively cured in a short time with ultraviolet rays having a higher light energy density than visible light.

<Example 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector A according to the first embodiment includes a first housing 10, a plurality of first terminal fittings 20, a second housing 30, a plurality of second terminal fittings 35, and a filler 44. .

<First housing 10>
The first housing 10 is made of synthetic resin and has a block shape as a whole. The front surface of the first housing 10 is a substantially flat first fitting surface 11. The first housing 10 is used with the first fitting surface 11 facing downward. A plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 12 are formed in the first housing 10 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1). Adjacent terminal accommodating chambers 12 are partitioned in a liquid-tight manner by partition walls 13. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cross-sectional shape of the terminal accommodating chamber 12 cut at right angles to the front-rear direction is substantially rectangular.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a front wall 14 is provided at the front end portion of the terminal accommodating chamber 12, and the front wall 14 is arranged so as to communicate with the first fitting surface 11 from the terminal accommodating chamber 12. A tab insertion port 15 having a shape penetrating in the direction is formed. The opening area of the tab insertion port 15 in the first fitting surface 11 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the terminal accommodating chamber 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear end portion of the terminal accommodating chamber 12 opens as a terminal insertion port 16. The opening area of the terminal insertion port 16 is the same as the cross-sectional area of the terminal accommodating chamber 12.

  A lance 17 is formed at the front end of each terminal accommodating chamber 12 so as to extend forward in a cantilevered manner along its inner wall surface. The first terminal fitting 20 inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 12 is prevented from being pulled out by the locking action of the lance 17. As shown in FIG. 1, the first housing 10 is formed with an attachment hole 18 that opens to the outer side surface thereof and communicates with all the terminal accommodating chambers 12. A retainer 19 is assembled to the mounting hole 18 from the side. The assembled retainer 19 is engaged with a temporary locking position (not shown) that allows the first terminal fitting 20 to be inserted into and removed from the terminal receiving chamber 12 and the first terminal fitting 20 inserted into the terminal receiving chamber 12. The first terminal fitting 20 is selectively held at any one of the main locking positions (see FIG. 1) for retaining the first terminal fitting 20.

<First terminal fitting 20>
The first terminal fitting 20 is a female terminal that is formed into an elongated shape in the front-rear direction as a whole by bending a predetermined-shaped metal plate. As shown in FIG. 1, a square tube portion 21 having a shape penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed at the front end portion of the first terminal fitting 20. The cross-sectional shape of the rectangular tube portion 21 is substantially rectangular. The long side dimension of the rectangular tube part 21 is slightly smaller than the long side dimension of the cross-sectional shape of the terminal accommodating chamber 12, and the short side dimension of the square tube part 21 is the short side dimension of the cross-sectional shape of the terminal accommodating chamber 12. It is a slightly smaller dimension. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an elastic contact piece 22 that is elastically deformable is accommodated in the rectangular tube portion 21 as a contact means with the second terminal fitting 35. Further, the square tube portion 21 is formed with a locking hole 23 that opens to the outer surface thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an open barrel-shaped crimping portion 24 is formed at the rear end portion of the first terminal fitting 20. The crimping part 24 includes a wire barrel part 25 disposed on the front side and an insulation barrel part 26 disposed on the rear side. The insulation barrel portion 26 is located at the rear end portion of the first terminal fitting 20. A front end portion of the electric wire 27 is fixed to the crimping portion 24 so as to be conductive.

<Wire 27>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the electric wire 27 has a known form in which the outer periphery of the conductor 28 is surrounded by an insulating coating 29 over the entire periphery. The conductor 28 is made of a well-known stranded wire in which a plurality of strands (not shown) made of aluminum or copper are twisted together. The cross-sectional shape cut at right angles to the axis of the conductor 28 is substantially circular. The insulating coating 29 is made of a synthetic resin material having flexibility. The cross-sectional shape cut at right angles to the axis of the insulating coating 29 is an annular shape concentric with the conductor 28, and the inner periphery of the insulating coating 29 is in close contact with the outer periphery of the conductor 28. The outer diameter dimension of the electric wire 27 is smaller than the short side dimension of the cross-sectional shape of the rectangular tube portion 21 and the short side dimension of the cross-sectional shape of the terminal accommodating chamber 12.

  At the front end of the electric wire 27, the insulating coating 29 is removed and the conductor 28 is exposed. The conductor 28 exposed in front of the insulating coating 29 is fixed to the wire barrel portion 25 by caulking so as to be conductive. Further, a front end portion of a region of the electric wire 27 in which the conductor 28 is surrounded by the insulating coating 29 is fixed by being caulked to the insulation barrel portion 26. The crimping | compression-bonding of the front-end part of this electric wire 27 and the 1st terminal metal fitting 20 is performed using a known applicator (automatic machine).

  The first terminal fitting 20 crimped to the front end portion of the electric wire 27 as described above is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 12 from the rear of the first housing 10 with the retainer 19 held in the temporary locking position. . In the state where the insertion is completed, the entire first terminal fitting 20 and the front end portion of the electric wire 27 are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 12. A region behind the rear end of the first terminal fitting 20 in the front end portion of the electric wire 27 is also accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 12. The first terminal fitting 20 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 12 is prevented from being pulled out by engaging the locking hole 23 with the lance 17. After the first terminal fitting 20 is inserted, when the retainer 19 is moved from the temporary locking position to the final locking position, the retainer 19 is locked to the rear end edge of the rectangular tube portion 21, and the locking action causes the first The terminal fitting 20 is securely removed.

<Second housing 30>
The second housing 30 is made of synthetic resin. The second housing 30 is integrally formed with a terminal holding portion 31 and a hood portion 32 extending in a rectangular tube shape forward (upward in FIG. 1) from the outer peripheral edge of the terminal holding portion 31 to the entire circumference. It is. The front surface of the terminal holding portion 31 (that is, the back end surface of the hood portion 32) is a substantially flat second fitting surface 33. The second housing 30 is used with the second fitting surface 33 facing upward.

<Second terminal fitting 35>
The terminal holding part 31 holds a plurality of second terminal fittings 35. The second terminal fitting 35 is a male terminal that is formed into an elongated shape in the front-rear direction as a whole by bending a predetermined-shaped metal plate. An elongated tab 36 is formed at the front end of the second terminal fitting 35. The plurality of tabs 36 are arranged corresponding to the first terminal fitting 20, penetrate the terminal holding portion 31 with almost no gap, protrude forward from the second fitting surface 33, and are surrounded by the hood portion 32.

<Description of fitting state of both housings 10, 30>
When fitting the first housing 10 and the second housing 30, the first housing 10 is accommodated so as to be dropped from above into the hood portion 32 of the second housing 30. In a state where both the housings 10 and 30 are properly fitted, the tab 36 passes through the tab insertion port 15 and is inserted into the rectangular tube portion 21 of the first terminal fitting 20, and the tab 36 is inserted into the rectangular tube portion 21. On the other hand, the elastic contact piece 22 comes into elastic contact. As a result, the plurality of first terminal fittings 20 and the plurality of second terminal fittings 35 are connected in a one-to-one manner so as to be electrically conductive. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connected terminal fittings 20 and 35 constitute an independent conductive path 40.

  Further, in a state where both the housings 10 and 30 are fitted, the smooth fitting operation of both the housings 10 and 30 is ensured between the outer peripheral surface of the first housing 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 32. A circumferential clearance 41 is secured. The circumferential clearance 41 is open to the external space of the connector A at the front end edge of the hood portion 32. In addition, a fitting gap 42 is secured between the downward first fitting surface 11 and the upward second fitting surface 33 in consideration of the dimensional tolerances of the housings 10 and 30. The outer peripheral edge of the fitting gap 42 communicates with the peripheral gap 41. Therefore, the fitting gap 42 communicates with the outside of the connector A through the peripheral gap 41. The tabs 36 of the plurality of second terminal fittings 35 are arranged so as to penetrate the fitting gap 42.

<Solution problem of the first embodiment>
Since the connector A of the first embodiment does not have a waterproof function, the fitting gap 42 communicates with the outside of the connector A when both the housings 10 and 30 are fitted. Therefore, when the connector A is immersed in the seawater S (that is, the electrolytic solution) in a state where both the housings 10 and 30 are fitted, the seawater S is fitted through the circumferential clearance 41 as shown in FIG. It enters into the joint gap 42. A short circuit occurs between the conductive paths 40 via the seawater S. When the conductive path 40 is short-circuited, the entire connector A including the terminal fittings 20 and 35 and the housings 10 and 30 is overheated, so that the synthetic resin housings 10 and 30 may be deformed or may catch fire. Is done. The connector A of the first embodiment is provided with a filler 44 on the first housing 10 side as a means for eliminating the short-circuit state when overheated due to a short circuit between the conductive paths 40.

<Filler 44>
The filler 44 is made of a photocurable resin having electrical insulation. The filler 44 is integrated with the first terminal fitting 20 and the front end of the electric wire 27 so as to be tightly enclosed. The forming range of the filler 44 in the front-rear direction is from the substantially center position in the front-rear direction of the wire barrel part 25 (that is, a position slightly behind the retainer 19) to the rear end of the insulation barrel part 26 (first terminal fitting 20 This is a region extending to a position slightly rearward of the rear end) (a position forward of the opening of the rear end of the terminal accommodating chamber 12).

  The dimension of the cross section of the crimping part 24 to which the electric wire 27 is crimped is smaller than that of the rectangular tube part 21. That is, the dimension of the crimping part 24 in the long side direction of the terminal accommodating chamber 12 is smaller than the long side dimension of the rectangular tube part 21, and the dimension of the crimping part 24 in the short side direction of the terminal accommodating chamber 12 is It is smaller than the short side dimension. And the long side direction dimension of the wire barrel part 25 is smaller than the long side direction dimension of the insulation barrel part 26, and the short side direction dimension of the wire barrel part 25 is smaller than the short side direction dimension of the insulation barrel part 26. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, at the rear ends of the terminal accommodating chamber 12 and the first terminal fitting 20, between the outer surface of the crimping portion 24 and the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 12, and the outer surface of the electric wire 27 and the terminal accommodating. A relatively large dead space 43 is vacated between the inner surface of the chamber 12.

  This dead space 43 causes the first terminal fitting 20 to tilt in the terminal accommodating chamber 12 or to be loose. In the first embodiment, paying attention to this point, the filler 44 is disposed in such a form as to fill the dead space 43. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cross-sectional shape of the outer periphery of the filler 44 is substantially rectangular as with the terminal accommodating chamber 12. Then, the outer surface of the filler 44 is in a form facing the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 12 with a slight gap, or in a form of light contact so as not to cause a large frictional resistance. Therefore, the rear end portion of the first terminal fitting 20 is not greatly displaced in the front, rear, left and right within the terminal accommodating chamber 12.

<Photocurable resin>
The photocurable resin that is the material of the filler 44 includes a monomer, an oligomer, a photopolymerization initiator (photoinitiator), and various additives. The photocurable resin is cured by light energy when irradiated with light in a liquid state. When heated in a cured state, it can melt and flow. As the additive, a material having a specific gravity greater than that of seawater S and a melting point lower than that of both housings 10 and 30 is selected. However, the melting point of the photocurable resin is higher than the highest temperature assumed in the normal use environment of the connector A. In addition, the photocurable resin is roughly classified into an ultraviolet curable resin and a visible light curable resin. In the first embodiment, an ultraviolet curable resin is used as the material of the filler 44.

  The reason why an ultraviolet curable resin is used as the material of the filler 44 is as follows. The crimping process of the electric wire 27 and the first terminal fitting 20 is automated by an applicator. By using an automatic machine (not shown) provided with a photo-curing facility on the applicator, the crimping process is continued. It is possible to automate the photocuring process for forming the filler 44. Since the crimping process is performed in a short time, it is desirable to shorten the time required for the photocuring process in order to continuously and automatically process both processes. The curing time of the photocurable resin is shorter as the density of received light energy is higher. Ultraviolet light has a higher density of light energy than visible light. Therefore, an ultraviolet curable resin having a shorter curing time than a visible light curable resin was used.

<Manufacturing process in automatic machine>
The connection process of the 1st terminal metal fitting 20 and the electric wire 27 by an automatic machine (illustration omitted) and the photocuring process for forming the filler 44 are demonstrated. In the connecting step, first, the insulation coating 29 on the front end portion of the electric wire 27 is removed to peel off the front end portion of the conductor 28. After stripping, the first terminal fitting 20 is supplied to a predetermined crimping position and placed on the anvil, and then the exposed conductor 28 of the electric wire 27 is set on the wire barrel portion 25 and the electric wire 27 The front end portion of the region where the insulating coating 29 is formed is set on the insulation barrel portion 26. As the crimper descends, the crimping portion 24 is crimped so as to surround the electric wire 27, and the electric wire 27 and the first terminal fitting 20 are connected.

  In the photocuring process, the first terminal fitting 20 and the electric wires 27 are supplied to a mold (not shown) and set in a state of being positioned in the length direction. Next, a liquid photocurable resin (ultraviolet curable resin) is injected into the mold, and then the liquid photocurable resin in the mold is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. The photocurable resin is cured by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays, and the molding is performed in a state where the filler 44 is fixed to the outer periphery of the crimping portion 24 and the outer periphery of the front end portion of the electric wire 27.

<Operation and Effect of Example 1>
The connector A of the first embodiment includes a first housing 10 whose front surface is the first fitting surface 11, a plurality of first terminal fittings 20 accommodated in the first housing 10, and a second fitting surface. It has the 2nd housing 30 fitted to the 1st housing 10 in the state where 33 was made to oppose the 1st fitting surface 11, and the 2nd terminal metal fitting 35 attached to the 2nd housing 30. In a state in which both housings 10 and 30 are fitted, the tabs 36 of the plurality of second terminal fittings 35 penetrate the fitting gaps 42 between the fitting surfaces 11 and 33 and are individually provided to the plurality of first terminal fittings 20. Connected to. Further, the connector A is made of a photocurable resin having a melting point lower than that of the housings 10 and 30, and includes a filler 44 that flows and fills the fitting gap 42 when melted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when both the connectors A are fitted, the peripheral gap 41 and the fitting gap 42 are immersed in the seawater S, and then the connector A is pulled up from the seawater S, as shown in FIG. 2. A part of the seawater S remains in the fitting gap 42 due to surface tension. The seawater S remaining in the fitting gap 42 serves as a short-circuit path for short-circuiting the tabs 36 (conductive paths 40) that penetrate the fitting gap 42. When the conductive paths 40 are short-circuited via the seawater S in the fitting gap 42, the entire connector A including both the housings 10, 30, both terminal fittings 20, 35, and the filler 44 is overheated.

  When the temperature of the superheated state reaches the melting point of the filler 44, the filler 44 melts. The molten filler 44 passes through the gap between the outer surface of the first terminal fitting 20 and the inner surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 12, the inside of the rectangular tube portion 21, etc., and further between the tab insertion port 15 and the tab 36 according to gravity. It passes through the gap or the like, reaches the fitting gap 42, and comes into contact with the seawater S. Since the filler 44 has a specific gravity greater than that of the seawater S, the filler 44 moves the seawater S to the peripheral side of the fitting gap 42. As shown in FIG. 3, the seawater S remaining in the fitting gap 42 is all discharged to the peripheral gap 41 and the fitting gap 42 is filled with only the filler 44. Since the filler 44 has electrical insulation, the conductive paths 40 are not short-circuited in the fitting gap 42. Thus, since the molten filler 44 flows into the fitting gap 42 and eliminates the seawater S that has become a short circuit path, the short circuit state between the conductive paths 40 is eliminated.

  In addition, the connector A of the first embodiment is formed with a rectangular tube portion 21 in a form penetrating in the front-rear direction as a connecting means with the second terminal fitting 35 at the front end portion of the first terminal fitting 20. The front end portion of the electric wire 27 is connected to the crimp portion 24 formed at the rear end portion of the terminal fitting 20, and the filler 44 surrounds the crimp portion 24 and the front end portion of the electric wire 27. According to this configuration, the filler 44 in the molten state can surely reach the fitting gap 42 by passing through the rectangular tube portion 21 in the penetrating form.

  In the connector A of the first embodiment, the first housing 10 has the terminal accommodating chamber 12 for accommodating the first terminal fitting 20, and the filler 44 surrounds the outer periphery of the first terminal fitting 20. In addition, it can be fitted to the inner wall of the terminal accommodating chamber 12. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress or prevent the first terminal fitting 20 from rattling in the terminal accommodating chamber 12 by fitting the filler 44 to the inner wall of the terminal accommodating chamber 12.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the filler is disposed inside the first housing. However, the filler may be disposed outside the first housing.
(2) In the above embodiment, the filler is provided so as to contact the first terminal fitting and the electric wire. However, the filler may be provided in a form that contacts the first terminal fitting but does not contact the electric wire. However, it may be provided in a form that contacts the electric wire but does not contact the first terminal fitting.
(3) In the above embodiment, the filler is provided in an integrated state with the first terminal fitting, but the filler may be provided in an integrated state with the first housing.
(4) In the above embodiment, since the first housing is disposed above the second housing, the filler is provided only on the first housing side, but the filler is in a positional relationship between the first housing and the second housing. Depending on the arrangement form, it may be provided in both the first housing and the second housing, or may be provided only in the second housing.
(5) In the above embodiment, the first housing is disposed above the second housing. However, in the present invention, when the first housing is disposed below the second housing, the first housing and the second housing are substantially arranged. It can also be applied to the case where they are arranged at the same height.
(6) In the above embodiment, the filler material is an ultraviolet curable resin, but the filler material may be a visible light curable resin.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS A ... Connector 10 ... 1st housing 11 ... 1st fitting surface 12 ... Terminal accommodating chamber 20 ... 1st terminal metal fitting 21 ... Square tube part 24 ... Crimp part 27 ... Electric wire 30 ... 2nd housing 33 ... 2nd fitting surface 35 ... 2nd terminal metal fitting 42 ... Fitting gap 44 ... Filler

Claims (4)

A first housing whose front surface is a first mating surface;
A plurality of first terminal fittings housed in the first housing;
A second housing that is fitted to the first housing with the second fitting surface facing the first fitting surface;
In the state where the first housing and the second housing are fitted to each other and attached to the second housing, the plurality of through the fitting gaps between the first fitting surface and the second fitting surface. A plurality of second terminal fittings individually connected to the first terminal fittings;
A connector comprising: a photo-curing resin having a melting point lower than those of the first housing and the second housing, and a filler that flows and fills the fitting gap when melted.   In the front end portion of the first terminal metal fitting, a rectangular tube portion in a form penetrating in the front-rear direction as a connection means with the second terminal metal fitting is formed, and the crimping portion formed at the rear end portion of the first terminal metal fitting, The connector according to claim 1, wherein a front end portion of the electric wire is connected, and the filler surrounds the crimp portion and the front end portion of the electric wire.   The first housing has a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating the first terminal fitting, and the filler surrounds the outer periphery of the first terminal fitting and is fitted to the inner wall of the terminal accommodating chamber. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector is in a possible form.   The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the filler is made of an ultraviolet curable resin.

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