JP6182430B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  Conventionally, as a connector, a housing having a terminal accommodating hole, a terminal inserted and accommodated from an opening on one end side of the terminal accommodating hole, and a terminal that is flexibly provided in the terminal accommodating hole and holds the terminal in the terminal accommodating hole One having a locking lance is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In this connector, the connecting portion of the terminal is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an engaged portion with which a locking lance is engaged is provided at the rear end portion in the insertion direction of the connecting portion into the terminal accommodating hole. The engaged portion is provided with a rotational direction posture control unit having four corners that contact the end of the locking lance and rotate the connecting portion by the restoring force of the locking lance.

  In such a connector, the connecting portion of the terminal is inserted from the opening of the terminal accommodating hole, and the locking lance is bent by the connecting portion. The bent locking lance is restored when it is located at the engaged portion of the connecting portion.

  At this time, when the terminal connection portion is not disposed at the normal position with respect to the terminal receiving hole, the end portion of the locking lance contacts the corner portion, and the connection portion is rotated by the restoring force of the locking lance. The connecting portion is arranged at a normal position of the terminal receiving hole.

JP 2012-69464 A

  However, in the connector as in Patent Document 1, since the connection portion of the terminal is rotated by the restoring force of the locking lance and the connection portion is arranged at the normal position of the terminal accommodating hole, the connection portion of the terminal is rotated. It is necessary to set the restoring force of the locking lance large.

  For this reason, when inserting the terminal connection portion into the terminal receiving hole, it is necessary to increase the force for bending the locking lance, increasing the insertion force of the terminal into the terminal receiving hole and reducing the assemblability. It was.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can improve the assembling property without increasing the insertion force of the terminal into the terminal accommodating hole.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a housing having a terminal accommodating hole, a terminal inserted and accommodated from an opening on one end side of the terminal accommodating hole, and a terminal that is flexibly provided in the terminal accommodating hole. A connector having a locking lance to be held in the terminal receiving hole, wherein the terminal has a connecting portion that is inserted from the opening of the terminal receiving hole and is formed in a regular polygonal cylindrical shape. An engagement portion to which the locking lance is engaged is provided on the entire circumference of the rear end portion in the insertion direction of the terminal housing hole, and the terminal is at least one of the outer circumferences of the connection portion Positioning with respect to the terminal accommodating hole is made by a flat surface coming into contact with the inner wall surface of the terminal accommodating hole, and the opening of the terminal accommodating hole is formed in a circular shape in which the connecting portion of the terminal can rotate, and the terminal accommodating hole Between the opening and the locking lance Is provided with a plurality of inclined surfaces that spirally contact the corners of the connection portion and rotate the connection portion in the insertion direction when the connection portion of the terminal is inserted. And

  In this connector, since the terminal is positioned with respect to the terminal receiving hole when at least one of the outer peripheral surfaces of the connecting portion formed in a regular polygonal cylinder abuts against the inner wall surface of the terminal receiving hole, The stop lance only needs to have a restoring force sufficient to engage with the engaged portion provided on the entire circumference of the rear end portion in the insertion direction of the connection portion into the terminal accommodating hole.

  Also, between the opening in the terminal receiving hole and the locking lance, when the terminal connection portion is inserted, a plurality of inclined surfaces that contact the corners of the connection portion and rotate the connection portion are in the insertion direction. Since the locking lance engages with the engaged portion, the terminal connection portion can be positioned with respect to the terminal receiving hole, and the locking lance can be restored by the restoring force of the locking lance. There is no need to rotate the connection.

  Therefore, in such a connector, since the restoring force of the locking lance does not increase, the assembling property can be improved without increasing the insertion force of the terminal into the terminal accommodating hole.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the connector according to claim 1, wherein the number of the inclined surfaces located in the vicinity of the locking lance is the same as the number of corners of the connecting portion of the terminal. To do.

  In this connector, the same number of inclined surfaces as the corners of the terminal connection portion are provided in the vicinity of the locking lance, so that before the terminal connection portion is engaged with the locking lance, All the flat surfaces on the outer periphery and the inclined surface come into contact with each other to complete the rotation of the connecting portion, so that the terminal can be reliably positioned with respect to the terminal accommodating hole.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a connector capable of improving the assembling property without increasing the insertion force of the terminal into the terminal accommodating hole.

It is a perspective view before inserting a terminal in the housing of the connector concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is sectional drawing of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) is the front view of the housing seen from the insertion port side of the terminal accommodation hole of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (B) is XX sectional drawing of Fig.3 (a). (A) is a perspective view of the housing of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (B) is the perspective view which made some cross sections the housing of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A)-(d) is a perspective view which shows arrangement | positioning of the connection part of a terminal when the terminal of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention is accommodated in the terminal accommodation hole. It is a schematic diagram which shows the inclined surface provided in the terminal accommodation hole of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the die used when shape | molding the terminal accommodation hole of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) is a perspective view before inserting a terminal in the housing of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (B) is a perspective view when it begins to insert a terminal in the housing of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) is the front view of the housing seen from the opening side of the terminal accommodation hole when it starts to insert a terminal in the housing of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (B) is the front view of the housing seen from the opening side of the terminal accommodation hole when a terminal is inserted in the housing of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The connector 1 according to the present embodiment can be flexed into the terminal housing hole 3, the housing 5 having the terminal housing hole 3, the terminal 9 inserted and accommodated from the opening 7 on one end side of the terminal housing hole 3. And a locking lance 11 that holds the terminal 9 in the terminal receiving hole 3.

  Further, the terminal 9 has a connecting portion 13 that is inserted from the opening 7 of the terminal receiving hole 3 and formed in a regular polygonal cylindrical shape, and the rear end portion of the connecting portion 13 in the insertion direction into the terminal receiving hole 3 Is provided with an engaged portion 15 with which the locking lance 11 is engaged.

  Furthermore, the terminal 9 is positioned with respect to the terminal accommodating hole 3 by at least one of the outer peripheral surfaces of the connecting portion 13 coming into contact with the inner wall surface of the terminal accommodating hole 3.

  The opening 7 of the terminal receiving hole 3 is formed in a circular shape in which the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 can rotate, and the connection of the terminal 9 is between the opening 7 in the terminal receiving hole 3 and the locking lance 11. When the portion 13 is inserted, a plurality of inclined surfaces 19 that contact the corner portion 17 of the connecting portion 13 and rotate the connecting portion 13 are provided spirally in the insertion direction.

  Further, the same number of inclined surfaces 19 located in the vicinity of the locking lance 11 as the corner portions 17 of the connection portion 13 of the terminal 9 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the housing 5 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, is formed in a housing shape, and has a terminal accommodating hole 3 therein.

  The terminal accommodating hole 3 is provided along the length direction of the housing 5, one end side is an opening 7 into which the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 can be inserted, and the other end side is accommodated in a mating housing (not shown). An insertion port 21 into which a tab-like connecting portion of a mated terminal (not shown) can be inserted.

  The opening 7 of the terminal accommodating hole 3 is formed in a circular shape having a larger diameter than the inner diameter of the terminal accommodating hole 3 on the insertion port 21 side so that the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 can rotate. The connection portion 13 of the terminal 9 is inserted into the opening 7, and the connection portion 13 of the terminal 9 is accommodated in the terminal accommodation hole 3.

  The terminal 9 is a female terminal having a connecting portion 13 made of a conductive material and formed in a regular quadrangular cylindrical shape. In addition, the terminal 9 is electrically connected by crimping a crimping portion 25 to a terminal portion of the electric wire 23 connected to a power source or a device.

  The connection portion 13 of the terminal 9 is provided with a pair of elastic pieces 27, 27. The pair of elastic pieces 27, 27 are formed of one member whose base end side is continuous from the wall portion of the connection portion 13, and whose free end side is bent toward the inside of the connection portion 13 so as to be bent in the connection portion 13. Is provided. The opposing portion on the free end side of the pair of elastic pieces 27, 27 serves as a contact portion that comes into contact with the tab-shaped connection portion of the mating terminal.

  In the connection portion 13 of the terminal 9, the tab-like connection portion of the mating terminal inserted from the insertion port 21 of the terminal accommodating hole 3 is inserted by fitting the housing 5 with the mating housing, and a pair of terminals 9 is inserted. When the contact portions of the elastic pieces 27 and 27 come into contact with the tab-shaped connecting portion, the terminal 9 and the mating terminal are electrically connected.

  Here, the tab-shaped connecting portion of the mating terminal is formed in a columnar shape or a regular quadrangular prism shape. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, the regular tetragonal cylindrical connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 has at least one plane of the outer periphery connected to the inner wall surface of the terminal accommodating hole 3 (here, the lower surface in the vertical direction). If it is accommodated in the terminal accommodating hole 3 in the abutted state, the pair of elastic pieces 27, 27 and the tab-shaped connecting portion of the mating terminal can be normally brought into contact with each other.

  Accordingly, the terminal 9 is positioned with respect to the terminal receiving hole 3 by at least one of the outer peripheral surfaces of the connecting portion 13 coming into contact with the inner wall surface of the terminal receiving hole 3.

  The rear end portion in the insertion direction of the connection portion 13 of the terminal 9 into the terminal accommodating hole 3 is a small diameter portion formed to be smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the connection portion 13, and the connection portion 13 located in the small diameter portion The entire periphery of the rear end surface is an engaged portion 15. A locking lance 11 provided in the terminal accommodating hole 3 is engaged with the engaged portion 15 to prevent the terminal 9 from coming out of the terminal accommodating hole 3.

  The locking lance 11 is formed of one member whose base end side is continuous from the lower inner wall of the terminal receiving hole 3, and whose free end side extends toward the upper inner wall of the terminal receiving hole 3. It can be bent in the height direction. On the free end side of the locking lance 11, an engaging portion 29 that is engaged with the engaged portion 15 of the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 is projected.

  The locking lance 11 is bent downward by coming into contact with the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 inserted from the opening 7 of the terminal accommodating hole 3, and the engaged portion 15 of the connecting portion 13 is engaged with the engaging portion. By being located at 29, it is restored upward, and the engaging portion 29 engages with the engaged portion 15 of the connecting portion 13 to prevent the terminal 9 from coming out of the terminal accommodating hole 3.

  In such a connector 1, when the opening 7 of the terminal receiving hole 3 is in the shape of a regular square like the connection portion 13 of the terminal 9, the terminal receiving hole 3 is inserted when the terminal 9 is inserted into the terminal receiving hole 3. Therefore, it is necessary to align the opening 7 and the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9, and the assembling property is lowered.

  Therefore, in the connector 1, the opening 7 of the terminal receiving hole 3 is formed in a circular shape having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the terminal receiving hole 3 on the insertion port 21 side so that the connection portion 13 of the terminal 9 can rotate. For this reason, when inserting the terminal 9 in the terminal accommodation hole 3, it is not necessary to align the opening 7 of the terminal accommodation hole 3 and the connection part 13 of the terminal 9, and an assembling property can be improved.

  A plurality of inclined surfaces 19 are provided in the terminal accommodating hole 3 located between the opening 7 and the locking lance 11. Each inclined surface 19 is inclined so as to be reduced in diameter from the opening 7 side toward the inner side of the terminal accommodating hole 3, and each inclined surface 19 is in the terminal accommodating hole 3 and the terminal accommodating hole 3 of the terminal 9. As shown by the arrows in FIG. 6, they are arranged in a spiral shape toward the insertion direction.

  Of the plurality of inclined surfaces 19, the inclined surfaces 19 positioned in the vicinity of the locking lance 11 are the same number as the corner portions 17 of the connection portion 13 of the terminal 9 (here, since there are four corner portions 17, four surfaces). ) And the end portions on the inner sides of the terminal accommodating holes 3 of the inclined surfaces 19 are arranged so as to have the shape of the terminal accommodating holes 3 (here, a regular square shape). The plurality of inclined surfaces 19 are formed by the punching die 31 of the terminal accommodating hole 3 as shown in FIG.

  When the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 is inserted from the opening 7 of the terminal accommodating hole 3, the plurality of inclined surfaces 19 are in contact with the corner portion 17 of the connecting portion 13 as shown in FIG. The connecting portion 13 is rotated as shown by the arrow in FIG.

  And since the inclined surface 19 located in the vicinity of the latching lance 11 is set to the same number as the corner | angular part 17 of the connection part 13 of the terminal 9, the connection part 13 of one of the terminals 9 shown in FIG. The engagement portion 29 of the locking lance 11 is engaged with the engaged portion 15 of the connection portion 13.

  By providing the plurality of inclined surfaces 19 in the terminal receiving hole 3 in this way, the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 inserted from the opening 7 can be aligned with the terminal receiving hole 3 without being aligned. The assembling property can be improved while ensuring the connection reliability between the terminal 9 and the mating terminal.

  In such a connector 1, the terminal 9 is positioned with respect to the terminal accommodation hole 3 by at least one of the outer surfaces of the connection portion 13 formed in a regular rectangular tube shape contacting the inner wall surface of the terminal accommodation hole 3. Therefore, the locking lance 11 only needs to have a restoring force sufficient to engage with the engaged portion 15 provided on the entire circumference of the rear end portion in the insertion direction of the connecting portion 13 into the terminal accommodating hole 3. .

  Further, when the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 is inserted between the opening 7 in the terminal accommodating hole 3 and the locking lance 11, the contact portion 13 abuts on the corner portion 17 of the connecting portion 13 and rotates. Since the plurality of inclined surfaces 19 are provided in a spiral shape in the insertion direction, the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 is connected to the terminal receiving hole 3 before the locking lance 11 is engaged with the engaged portion 15. Therefore, it is not necessary to rotate the connecting portion 13 by the restoring force of the locking lance 11.

  Therefore, in such a connector 1, since the restoring force of the locking lance 11 does not increase, the assembling property can be improved without increasing the insertion force of the terminal 9 into the terminal accommodating hole 3. .

  Further, since the same number of the inclined surfaces 19 located in the vicinity of the locking lance 11 as the corners 17 of the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 are provided, the connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 is engaged with the locking lance 11. Before, all the flat surfaces of the outer periphery of the connecting portion 13 and the inclined surface 19 come into contact with each other to complete the rotation of the connecting portion 13, and the terminal 9 can be reliably positioned with respect to the terminal receiving hole 3.

  In the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, the terminal connection portion has a regular square shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the terminal connection portion may have a regular polygonal shape that is equal to or greater than a square shape.

  Moreover, although the opening of the terminal accommodating hole is circular, it is only necessary that the connecting portion of the terminal is rotatable, and the circular shape in the present invention includes a perfect circular shape or a polygonal circular shape.

  Furthermore, in the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, a structure in which one terminal accommodating hole is provided for one housing is illustrated, but a plurality of terminal accommodating holes are provided for one housing. It may be.

  In such a multipolar connector, by applying the present invention, the insertion force of the terminals does not increase with respect to all the terminal accommodating holes, and the assemblability can be greatly improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector 3 ... Terminal accommodation hole 5 ... Housing 7 ... Opening 9 ... Terminal 11 ... Locking lance 13 ... Connection part 15 ... Engagement part 17 ... Corner | angular part 19 ... Inclined surface

Claims (2)

A housing having a terminal accommodating hole, a terminal inserted and accommodated from an opening on one end side of the terminal accommodating hole, and a latch that is provided in the terminal accommodating hole so as to be bent and holds the terminal in the terminal accommodating hole. A connector with a lance,
The terminal has a connecting portion that is inserted from the opening of the terminal receiving hole and is formed in a regular polygonal cylindrical shape, and the entire circumference of the rear end portion in the insertion direction of the connecting portion into the terminal receiving hole is An engaged portion with which the locking lance is engaged is provided,
The terminal is positioned with respect to the terminal receiving hole by contacting at least one plane of the outer periphery of the connecting portion with the inner wall surface of the terminal receiving hole,
The opening of the terminal receiving hole is formed in a circular shape in which the connecting portion of the terminal is rotatable, and the connecting portion of the terminal is inserted between the opening in the terminal receiving hole and the locking lance. A plurality of inclined surfaces that contact the corners of the connecting portion and rotate the connecting portion when spirally provided in the insertion direction. The connector according to claim 1,
The number of the inclined surfaces located in the vicinity of the locking lance is the same as the number of corners of the connecting portion of the terminal.

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