JP6227579B2 - Connector waterproof structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof structure for a connector.

  Conventionally, waterproof connectors for connecting electric wires are mounted on automobiles and the like. This type of waterproof connector is formed by fitting a cylindrical male housing in which a cavity for receiving a male terminal is formed into a cylindrical female housing in which a cavity for receiving a female terminal is formed. In this case, the annular waterproof rubber mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the male housing is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the female housing, thereby sealing the gap between the opening ends of the housing cavities facing each other ( For example, see Patent Document 1.)

JP 2013-51071 A

  However, this type of connector requires a space for accommodating a waterproof rubber in the gap between the male housing and the female housing, so that an increase in size of the connector becomes a problem. Also, for example, under high temperature conditions such as in summer, the thermally expanded waterproof rubber may jump out of the gaps between the housings. The internal waterproof rubber may be damaged, resulting in a decrease in waterproofness.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a problem, and makes it a subject to suppress the fall of the waterproofness of a connector when high pressure water is sprayed at the time of high pressure washing.

  In order to solve the above problems, the waterproof structure of the connector of the present invention engages a pair of housings having cavities in which terminals to be connected to each other are accommodated, and has a gap formed between the openings of the cavities facing each other. In the waterproof structure of the water-sealing connector, the pair of housings has an inner annular portion formed at the opening periphery of one cavity, an outer annular portion formed at the opening periphery of the other cavity, and the outer annular portion is an inner annular portion. An inner peripheral surface that is inclined so that the tip of the inner surface can come into contact is formed, and has a higher rigidity than the inner annular portion.

  According to this, when the pair of housings are engaged, the gap between the openings of the cavities facing each other can be sealed with water by contacting the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion. Accordingly, since the waterproof rubber for water sealing is not required, the connector can be miniaturized, and the waterproof property can be prevented from being lowered due to deterioration or damage of the waterproof rubber over time. In particular, since the inner annular portion is covered with a highly rigid outer annular portion, the contact of the high-pressure liquid can be suppressed during high-pressure cleaning. As a result, the inner annular portion can prevent deformation and damage due to high water pressure, so that the water tightness of the contact portion with the outer annular portion is ensured, and the deterioration of the waterproofness of the connector during high-pressure cleaning can be suppressed. it can.

  Specifically, for example, in one housing where the inner annular portion is formed, a cylindrical portion is formed that surrounds a portion where the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion abut and the other housing is inserted. , An arm piece that is cut out in the axial direction and extends forward in a cantilevered manner is provided, and the arm piece is formed to have a lock portion that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the other housing and locks the housing. Shall.

  According to this, since the outer annular portion is provided so as to extend in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the arm piece, the outer annular portion allows high pressure liquid entering the cylindrical portion from the notch portion formed along the arm piece. It can cut off efficiently and prevent the high pressure liquid from being sprayed onto the inner annular portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the fall of the waterproofness of a connector when high pressure water is sprayed at the time of high pressure washing | cleaning can be suppressed.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the connector of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the connector of Drawing 1 from the back side of a female connector. It is an external appearance perspective view of a male connector. It is a front view of the male housing which comprises the male connector of FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of a female connector. It is AA arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. It is an operation | movement figure before fitting of a male connector and a female connector.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a waterproof structure for a connector to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a waterproof specification connector mounted on an automobile, a motorcycle, or the like will be described as an example. However, the waterproof structure of the present invention can be applied to other than this type of connector.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 11 of this embodiment includes a male connector 13 and a female connector 15, and a male housing 17 of the male connector 13 and a female housing 19 of the female connector 15 are engaged with each other ( The male terminal 21 accommodated in the male housing 17 and the female terminal 23 accommodated in the female housing 19 are electrically connected. An electric wire 25 is connected to the male terminal 21, and an electric wire 27 is connected to the female terminal 23. The female housing 19 is locked to the male housing 17 in a state where one end side is fitted inside the male housing 17. In this embodiment, an example in which two terminals are accommodated in each connector will be described. However, the number of terminals accommodated is not limited to two. In the following description, the X direction in FIG. 1 is defined as the front-rear direction, the Y direction as the width direction, the Z direction as the height direction, the fitting direction of both connectors as the front, and the upper side of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the male connector 13 includes a male housing 17 formed in a cylindrical shape with an insulating synthetic resin, and a male terminal 21 accommodated in the male housing 17 from behind. . As shown in FIG. 6, the male housing 17 includes a cylindrical base 31 in which a male terminal accommodating chamber 29 (cavity) in which the male terminal 21 is accommodated, and an electric wire holding portion 33 that protrudes rearward from the base 31. A hood portion (tubular portion) 35 protruding forward along the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 31 is integrally formed. The hood portion 35 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an oval cross section perpendicular to the axial direction, and the female housing 19 is inserted therein.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a guide groove 37 extending in the axial direction is formed on the inner surface of the hood portion 35. The wall 39 that rises in a plate shape flush with the front end surface of the hood 35 has a pair of first cutouts 41 and a second cutout formed between the pair of first cutouts 41. Part 43 is provided.

  The male terminal accommodating chamber 29 divides and accommodates two male terminals 25 with a partition wall (not shown), and engages each male terminal 25 with a lance (not shown) extended into the male terminal accommodating chamber 29. It is held at the set position. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the male terminal accommodating chamber 29 communicates in the axial direction an opening end 47 that opens to the front end surface 45 of the base portion 31 and a through hole 49 that penetrates the electric wire holding portion 33 in the axial direction. Formed. The front end surface 45 of the base portion 31 is formed with a resin-made inner annular portion 51 that extends forward from the periphery of the opening end 47 in the axial direction. The inner annular portion 51 has an outer peripheral surface in which the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 31 is reduced in a stepped shape in the entire circumferential direction, is formed in an annular shape, and is surrounded by the hood portion 35.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the male housing 17 has a lock arm 53 that is cantilevered forward in the axial direction along the outer surfaces of the base portion 31 and the hood portion 35. The lock arm 53 includes two leg portions 57 respectively supported by a pair of wall portions 55 erected upward from both side surfaces in the width direction of the base portion 31, and a base end portion supported by being connected to the leg portions 57. 59 and an arm portion (arm piece) 61 extending in a cantilevered manner from the base end portion 59 by cutting out the hood portion 35 in the axial direction.

  The lock arm 53 is configured such that the front end portion of the arm portion 61 can be displaced upward from the horizontal direction with a base end portion 59 supported by the wall portion 55 as a fulcrum. As shown in FIG. 6, a lock portion 63 that protrudes downward is provided at the lower front end of the arm portion 61. As shown in FIG. 3, the wall portion 55 is formed so as to surround the lock arm 53 so as to be connected to the wall portion 39 of the hood portion 35 and rise upward in a frame shape, and is surrounded by the wall portions 39 and 55. An opening 64 is formed around the lock arm 53 by notching the outer wall of the hood 35 so as to face the inside from the outside of the male housing 17. The upper end surface of the lock arm 53 is set to the same height as the upper end surfaces of the wall portions 39 and 55 or lower than that.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the male terminal 21 is formed of a conductive metal plate or the like, and an electric wire connection portion 65 that crimps and connects the core wire of the electric wire 25 and a male tab 67 that is connected to the female terminal 23 are integrated. In preparation. The male tab 67 extends in the front-rear direction and is formed in a rod shape. The male tab 21 protrudes from the opening end 47 in a state where the male terminal 21 is held at the set position of the male terminal accommodating chamber 29, and from the front end of the male-side annular portion 51. Is also provided extending forward.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the female connector 15 has a female housing 19 formed in a cylindrical shape with an insulating synthetic resin, and female terminals 23 accommodated in the female housing 19 from the rear. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the outer peripheral surface of the female housing 19 is formed so that the cross section orthogonal to the axial direction is substantially similar to the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 35 of the male housing 17, and the female terminal 23 is inserted. The base portion 71 in which two female terminal accommodating chambers 69 (cavities) are formed and the electric wire holding portion 73 projecting rearward from the base portion 71 are integrally formed. The female terminal accommodation chamber 69 is formed by partitioning the two female terminals 23 with a partition wall (not shown), and engages each female terminal 23 with a lance (not shown) extended into the female terminal storage chamber 69. It is held at the set position.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the female terminal housing chamber 69 communicates in the axial direction with an opening end 77 that opens to the front end surface 75 of the base portion 71 and a through hole 79 that penetrates the electric wire holding portion 73 in the axial direction. Formed. The front end portion of the base portion 71 is formed having an outer annular portion 81 that contacts the inner annular portion 51 when the male and female housings are fitted, and a concave portion 83 in which the tip end portion of the inner annular portion 51 is accommodated. The recess 83 is formed so as to be surrounded by the inner peripheral surface 85 of the outer annular portion 81 and the front end surface 75 of the base 71.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the female housing 19 has a pair of protrusions 87 extending in the axial direction from the upper surface of the base 71, and a stepped portion 89 extending in the axial direction from the lower surface of the base 71 as shown in FIG. 6. Provided. The pair of protrusions 87 are provided substantially parallel to each other in the width direction, and are slidable along the inner peripheral surface of the male housing 17. A locking portion 91 that protrudes upward is provided inside the pair of protrusions 87. The locking portion 91 is provided with an inclined surface 93 that is inclined downward toward the front base 71, and pushes up the lock arm 53 of the male housing 17 along the inclined surface 93 when the two housings are fitted together. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the female terminal 23 is formed of a conductive metal plate or the like, and a rectangular tube into which a wire connecting portion 95 for crimping and connecting a core wire of the electric wire 27 and a male tab 67 of the male terminal 21 are inserted and connected. And an electric contact portion 97 in the form of a single piece. The electrical contact portion 97 is provided with a distal end portion at a position retracted from the opening end 77 of the base 71 by a set distance in a state where the female terminal 23 is held at the set position of the female terminal accommodating chamber 69.

  When the male housing 17 and the female housing 19 are fitted to each other, the connector 11 according to the present embodiment has an inner annular portion formed on the periphery of the opening end 47 of the male terminal accommodating chamber 29 as shown in FIGS. 51 and an outer annular portion 81 formed on the periphery of the opening end 77 of the female terminal accommodating chamber 69 are in contact with each other to seal the gap between the opening end 47 and the opening end 77 with water.

  The inner annular portion 51 is formed to have a relatively elastic thickness with a predetermined radial thickness over the axial direction. The axial length of the inner annular portion 51 is set to such a length that the distal end portion of the outer annular portion 81 does not contact the front end face 45 of the base portion 31 when the male housing 17 and the female housing 19 are fitted. Has been.

  The outer annular portion 81 has a wall thickness that increases from the distal end to the rear, and the outer peripheral surface 99 is flush with the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the female housing 19 (the distal end portion of the base 71) where the outer annular portion 81 is formed. And an inner peripheral surface 85 having an inclined surface that is tapered. The inner peripheral surface 85 is formed so that the front end portion of the inner annular portion 51 can contact the entire circumference when the male housing 17 and the female housing 19 are fitted. The outer annular portion 81 is formed to have at least higher rigidity than the inner annular portion 51 and has a strength that does not deform when pressed by the inner annular portion 51.

  In the present embodiment, when the male housing 17 and the female housing 19 are fitted, when the inside of the hood part 35 is viewed from the outside of the hood part 35 through the opening part 64, the position facing the opening part 64, that is, the field of view. The outer annular portion 81 is located in the range.

  Next, an example of operation | movement at the time of fitting both housings is demonstrated. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the male terminal 21 to which the electric wire 25 equipped with the rubber plug 101 is connected is accommodated together with the rubber plug 101 in the male terminal accommodating chamber 29 of the male housing 17. Further, the female terminal 23 to which the electric wire 27 fitted with the rubber plug 103 is connected is accommodated in the female terminal accommodating chamber 69 of the female housing 19 together with the rubber plug 103. In this state, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 8, the male housing 17 of the male connector 13 and the female housing 19 of the female connector 15 are brought close to each other.

  When the female housing 19 is inserted into the hood portion 35 of the male housing 17, the pair of protrusions 87 of the female housing 19 pass through the first cutout portions 41 of the male housing 17 and the female housing 19 is locked. The portion 91 passes through the second cutout portion 43 of the male housing 17. Further, the stepped portion 89 of the female housing 19 is guided along the guide groove 37 of the male housing 17.

  As the insertion of the female housing 19 proceeds, the lock arm 53 of the male housing 17 rides on the locking portion 91 along the inclined surface 93 of the locking portion 91 of the female housing 19, and the arm portion 61 bends and deforms upward. . Then, when the lock part 63 of the arm part 61 gets over the locking part 91, the arm part 61 returns elastically. Thereby, the latching | locking part 91 is latched by the lock part 63, and both housings are locked to a regular fitting position.

  At the same time, the tip of the inner annular portion 51 presses the inner circumferential surface 85 of the outer annular portion 81 over the entire circumference. At this time, the inner annular portion 51 is pushed back inward by elastic deformation because the rigidity of the outer annular portion 81 is high. However, since the restoring force of this elastic deformation presses the inner peripheral surface 85 of the outer annular portion 81, The side annular portion 51 and the female side annular portion 81 are in watertight contact over the entire circumference. As a result, the gap between the opening end 47 of the male terminal housing chamber 29 and the opening end 77 of the female terminal housing chamber 69 is sealed with water.

  By the way, in the connector 11 in which the male housing 17 and the female housing 19 are fitted in this way, the inside of the hood portion 35 is opened through an opening 64 formed so as to surround the arm portion 61. Therefore, for example, when the high pressure liquid for cleaning is sprayed on the connector 11 at the time of cleaning the vehicle or the like, the high pressure liquid enters the inside of the hood portion 35 through the opening 64 and the male side annular portion 51. And the female-side annular portion 81 comes into contact with the contacted portion. In this case, the relatively soft inner annular portion 51 may be deformed or damaged by contact with the high-pressure liquid, and as a result, a gap may be formed between the outer annular portion 81 and the waterproof property may be reduced. There is.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, when the male housing 17 and the female housing 19 are fitted, the outer annular portion 81 having a rigidity higher than that of the inner annular portion 51 is positioned outside the inner annular portion 51, The tip of the annular portion 51 is accommodated in a recess 83 formed inside the female housing 19. That is, the front end portion of the inner annular portion 51 is covered with the outer annular portion 81. Therefore, the high-pressure liquid that has entered the hood portion 35 does not contact the inner annular portion 51 even if it contacts the outer annular portion 81. Further, since the outer annular portion 81 has a predetermined rigidity, it does not deform even when the high-pressure liquid contacts it. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, deformation and damage of the inner annular portion 51 can be prevented even during high-pressure cleaning, so that the watertight state of the outer annular portion 51 and the inner annular portion 81 can be maintained, and the connector 11 It is possible to suppress a decrease in waterproofness.

  Moreover, since the opening part 64 of the hood part 35 is extended and formed ahead of the male housing 17 along an axial direction, the high pressure liquid sprayed on the site | part which the inner side annular part 51 and the outer side annular part 81 contact | abut is In addition to entering from the vertical direction with respect to the opening 64, there is a case where it enters obliquely from the front side of the male housing 17 as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. Therefore, for example, when the outer annular portion 81 is provided on the male housing 17 side opposite to the present embodiment and extends toward the female housing 19 side, the base of the inner annular portion 51 is located near the tip of the outer annular portion 81. Since the end-side exposed portion is positioned, the high-pressure liquid easily comes into contact with the exposed portion.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, the outer annular portion 81 is provided on the female housing 19 side and extends toward the male housing 17 side, so that the proximal end side exposure of the inner annular portion 51 is performed as shown in FIG. When viewed from the opening 64, the portion 105 is hidden by the outer annular portion 81. Therefore, even if the high-pressure liquid enters from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6, the high-pressure liquid does not come into contact with the exposed portion 105 of the inner annular portion 51, and the deterioration of the waterproof property of the connector 11 is more reliably suppressed. Can do.

  As described above, in the connector 11 of the present embodiment, since the inner annular portion 51 is covered with the outer annular portion 81, it is possible to suppress the high pressure liquid from contacting the inner annular portion 51. As a result, deformation or damage of the inner annular portion 51 can be prevented, so that the watertight state between the inner annular portion 51 and the outer annular portion 81 can be maintained even during high-pressure cleaning, and the waterproofness of the connector 11 can be maintained. Can be suppressed. Therefore, in the space sealed by the inner annular portion 51 and the outer annular portion 81, it is possible to prevent a short circuit between terminals, corrosion of the terminals, and the like, and to increase the electrical reliability of the connector 11.

  Further, in the connector 11 of the present embodiment, the inner annular portion 51 and the outer annular portion 81 are each formed of resin, and are in contact with each other to seal each terminal accommodating chamber, so that a waterproof rubber packing is provided. Etc. become unnecessary. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a decrease in waterproofness due to deterioration of the rubber packing over time, breakage of high-pressure water, and the like, and the waterproofness of the connector 11 can be maintained for a long time. In addition, since a space for providing rubber packing is not required, the connector 11 can be reduced in size, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  The inner annular portion 51 has elasticity (spring property) and is formed so as to press the outer annular portion 51 over the entire circumference. Even if the portions 51 and 81 vibrate in the axial direction, the outer annular portion 81 elastically deforms and absorbs vibration while maintaining a contact state with the inner annular portion 51. Thereby, the rattling of the male and female housings does not occur, and deterioration over time of the connector 11 due to vibration can be suppressed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with drawing, said embodiment is only the illustration of this invention, It can change and change within the range described in the claim. is there.

  For example, the outer annular portion 81 of the present embodiment is formed with a rigidity that does not deform even when high-pressure water comes into contact, but it is sufficient that the outer annular portion 81 has a rigidity higher than at least the inner annular portion 51. That is, when the male housing 17 and the female housing 19 are fitted, the inner annular portion 51 presses the inner peripheral surface 85 of the outer annular portion 81 outward, so that the high-pressure water contacts the outer annular portion 81. Even if the outer annular portion 81 is slightly deformed inward, the deformation direction is a direction in which the inner annular portion 51 is pressed, so that the contact state between the inner annular portion 51 and the outer annular portion 81 is ensured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Connector 13 Male connector 15 Female connector 17 Male housing 19 Female housing 21 Male terminal 23 Female terminal 29 Male terminal accommodation chamber (cavity)
35 Hood (Cylinder)
47 Open end (male housing)
51 Inner ring part 61 Arm part (arm piece)
63 Locking part 69 Female terminal housing (cavity)
77 Open end (female housing)
81 Outer ring part

Claims (1)

In a waterproof structure of a connector that engages a pair of housings having cavities in which terminals to be connected to each other are accommodated, and seals a gap formed between openings of the cavities facing each other,
In the pair of housings, an inner annular portion is formed on the opening periphery of one of the cavities, and an outer annular portion is formed on the opening periphery of the other of the cavities,
Said outer annular portion, said inner peripheral surface leading end of the inner annular portion is abuttable against tilting is formed, Ri Na is formed has a higher rigidity than the inner annular portion,
One of the housings in which the inner annular portion is formed is formed with a cylindrical portion that surrounds a portion where the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion abut, and into which the other housing is inserted,
The cylindrical portion is provided with an arm piece that is cut out in the axial direction and extends forward in a cantilevered manner. The arm piece engages with the outer peripheral surface of the other housing to lock the housing. waterproof structure of the connector, characterized in that it is formed having.

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