JP6291666B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a cable fixing structure for an electrical connector.

  Cables (shielded wires, etc.) used as high-voltage and high-current wires cover the outside of the core wire, which is covered with the insulation, with an external conductor (braid) to block electrical noise such as electromagnetic waves and static electricity. In addition, the outer side is covered with an outer skin (sheath). Conventionally, a special electrical connector has been used to connect the outer conductor of such a cable to the metal case of the device. In addition, as a technique regarding such an electrical connector, the technique etc. which are described in patent document 1 (Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 11-126656) are mentioned, for example.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-126656

  However, the conventional electrical connector has a problem that the number of parts is large, the configuration is complicated, and it takes time to assemble, and the shielding property is not sufficient. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to simplify the configuration, reduce the number of parts, facilitate assembly, and improve workability and connection reliability in an electrical connector used for a cable having an external conductor. It is to provide a technology that can be used.

  The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

  Of the inventions disclosed in the present application, the outline of typical ones will be briefly described as follows. That is, the electrical connector according to the present invention includes a cylindrical metal shell, a clamp fitting that is accommodated inside the shell, and that fixes the outer conductor of the cable by caulking, and is attached to a groove inside the shell. A ring-shaped elastic fixture that restricts movement of the clamp, and the clamp fitting is located on the opposite side of the first contact piece, the first tongue-like contact piece that contacts the shell, and the elastic fixture, The clamp fitting is fixed in the shell by the urging force of the elastic fixture.

Of the inventions disclosed in the present application, effects obtained by typical ones will be briefly described as follows.
(1) The configuration is simple, the number of parts is small, and the cost can be reduced.
(2) The configuration is simple, the assembly work is easy, and workability is improved.
(3) With a simple configuration, the outer conductor of the cable can be reliably shielded, and the connection reliability is improved.

It is a perspective view showing the whole electric connector composition (state after an assembly) by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled side view which shows the whole structure (state before an assembly) of the electrical connector by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the shape of the clamp metal fitting of the electrical connector by one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the state before crimping of a cable outer conductor, (b) shows the state after crimping of a cable outer conductor. . It is a figure which shows the shape before the assembly of the ring-shaped elastic fixing tool of the electrical connector by one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a top view. In the electrical connector by one Embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the state in the middle of attaching a ring-shaped elastic fixing tool, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is sectional drawing (a cable is not shown in figure). In the electrical connector by one Embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the state after attaching a ring-shaped elastic fixing tool, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is sectional drawing (a cable is not shown in figure). .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire configuration (an assembled state) of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded side view showing the overall configuration (state before assembly) of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the configuration of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment is an electrical connector for connecting a cable (for example, a battery, an inverter, a motor, etc. (not shown)) used for, for example, a high-voltage / high-current power line, A substantially cylindrical metal shell 10, a clamp fitting 20 accommodated in a cavity inside the shell 10, and a ring-shaped elastic fixture 30 attached to a groove inside the front (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the shell 10. The waterproof unit 40 is attached to the back of the shell 10 (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cable extension direction), and the rubber waterproof ring 44 is attached to the outer periphery of the shell 10.

  The cable 50 fixed to the electrical connector 1 is, for example, a shielded electric wire, and includes a core wire 51, an inner skin 52 that insulates the core wire 51, a braided outer conductor 53 that covers the outside of the inner skin 52, and an outer skin that insulates the outer conductor 53. (Sheath) 54 and the like. The cable 50 has a configuration in which an outer conductor 53 covers the outer side of the core wire 51 insulated with the inner skin 52 and further covers the outer side with an outer skin 54 in order to block electrical noise such as electromagnetic waves and static electricity. Yes. At the end of the cable 50, the inner skin 52 and the outer skin 54 are peeled off step by step, and the core wire 51 and the outer conductor 53 are exposed.

  The exposed braided outer conductor 53 is folded on the outer skin 54, and a conductive tape 55 such as a copper material for preventing pull-out is wound on the outer conductor 54, and is clamped and fixed by the clamp fitting 20. The By using the conductive tape 55, the braid of the outer conductor 53 is bundled, the clamp fitting 20 bites into the conductive tape 55, and the cable 50 is difficult to pull out from the clamp fitting 20. In the present embodiment, the conductive tape 55 is used to bundle the outer conductor 53. However, the outer conductor 53 may be directly crimped and fixed by the clamp fitting 20 without using the conductive tape. . The external conductor 53 is grounded via a conductive tape 55, the clamp fitting 20, and the shell 10 to a metal case (not shown) of a device (for example, a device such as a battery or a motor).

  A metal terminal 56 is connected to the core wire 51, and the core wire 51 is connected to a power supply terminal or the like (not shown) of the device via the terminal 56. In addition, although the round terminal is illustrated as an example as the terminal 56, it is not limited to this, A terminal of what kind of shape may be sufficient. The terminal 56 is not limited to the power supply terminal of the device, and may be connected to a terminal such as a signal line.

  The metal shell 10 is made of a metal such as aluminum or zinc, and is integrally formed by die casting or the like. A flange 11 is integrally formed on a part of the outer periphery of the shell 10, and a screw hole 12 for attaching the shell 10 to a metal case of the device is drilled in the flange 11. By directly attaching the flange 11 to the metal case of the device through a screw through the screw hole 12, the shell 10 is grounded to the metal case of the device. Further, a waterproof rubber waterproof ring (O-ring) 44 is fitted in a groove on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the shell 10 in a portion in contact with the metal case.

  The waterproof unit 40 includes a rubber gasket 41, a resin washer 42, a metal fastening ring 43, and the like. A male screw is cut on the outer periphery of the waterproof unit mounting portion 17 of the shell 10, and a female screw is cut on the inner periphery of the tightening ring 43. By tightening the tightening ring 43 by rotating, the gasket 41 and the washer 42 are provided. Press fit into the shell 10. Thereby, the waterproofness of an electrical connector is maintained.

  Next, an assembly process (harness process) of the electrical connector 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the waterproof ring 44 is attached to the shell 10. Next, the cable 50 is passed through the tightening ring 43, the washer 42, the gasket 41, and the shell 10. Next, the outer skin 54 of the cable 50 is peeled off, and then the braided outer conductor 53 is folded back, and a conductive tape 55 is wound thereon to bundle the outer conductor 53. Next, the inner skin 52 is peeled off, the core wire 51 is exposed, and the terminal 56 is crimped. Next, the clamp metal fitting 20 is put on the conductive tape 55, the clamp metal fitting 20 is crimped, and the outer conductor 53 is fixed by crimping. At this time, the clamp fitting 20 is positioned so as to be a predetermined distance from the terminal 56. Next, the clamp fitting 20 to which the outer conductor 53 is fixed by crimping is assembled in the shell 10. At this time, the first contact piece 22 of the clamp fitting 20 comes into contact with the inner wall of the shell 10. Next, the ring-shaped elastic fixture 30 is fitted into the groove in the shell 10, and the clamp fitting 20 and the cable 50 are fixed in the shell 10. At this time, the second contact piece 23 of the clamp fitting 20 comes into contact with the lower portion (contact portion 31) of the elastic fixture 30. Next, the fastening ring 43 is rotated and tightened at the waterproof unit mounting portion 17 to compress the gasket 41 and the washer 42.

  As described above, the electrical connector according to this embodiment has a simple configuration, a small number of parts, and easy assembly. Therefore, low cost and improved workability can be achieved.

  3A and 3B are perspective views showing the shape of the clamp for the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a state before caulking the outer conductor of the cable, and FIG. 3B is after caulking the outer conductor of the cable. Shows the state. The clamp fitting 20 is for fixing the outer conductor (braid) 53 of the cable 50 by caulking. As shown in FIG. 3, the clamp fitting 20 is located on the opposite side of the crimp portion 21 at the tip portion, the tongue-shaped first contact piece 22 that contacts the inner wall of the shell 10, and the first contact piece 22, The tongue-shaped second contact piece 23 that comes into contact with the elastic fixture 30, the tongue-shaped restriction piece 24 for restricting upward movement (preventing lifting), the bent portion 25 that bends when crimped, and the like. The

  At the time of caulking, the bent portion 25 between the caulking portion 21 and the regulating piece 24 is bent. Thus, the springback is reduced by deforming the clamp fitting 20 so as to be angular rather than deforming it with a curved surface. The clamp fitting 20 is manufactured by punching a relatively hard plate material such as stainless steel. The clamp fitting 20 is fixed in the shell 10 by the urging force of the elastic fixture 30. The clamp fitting 20 is electrically connected to the shell 10 via the first contact piece 22 or the second contact piece 23.

  4A and 4B are views showing a shape of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention before the ring-shaped elastic fixing device is assembled. FIG. 4A is a perspective view, FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG. It is. FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing a state in the middle of attaching the ring-shaped elastic fixture in the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A is a perspective view, and FIG. Not shown). 6A and 6B are views showing a state after attaching the ring-shaped elastic fixture in the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 6A is a perspective view, and FIG. Not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ring-shaped elastic fixture 30 has a curved shape before being attached to the shell 10. The elastic fixture 30 regulates the movement of the clamp fitting 20 in the cable axial direction by its urging force when attached. By fitting the curved elastic fixing tool 30 into the elastic fixing tool fixing groove 15 in the shell 10, the contact portion 31 of the elastic fixing tool 30 comes into contact with the second contact piece 23 of the clamp fitting 20. A biasing force is generated with respect to the contact piece 23 in the cable extension direction (for example, in the right direction in FIGS. 2, 6B, and 7B).

  The shape of the elastic fixture 30 is not limited to this, and any shape may be used as long as an urging force acts upon attachment. For example, a plate spring, a disc spring, or a coil spring may be used. The cross-sectional shape of the elastic fixture 30 is not limited to a circle, and may be a rectangle, a trapezoid, an ellipse, or the like. Further, in this embodiment, the elastic fixing tool 30 is bent and fitted into a linear groove of the shell 10 to generate a biasing force. Conversely, the elastic fixing tool 30 is fitted. The groove of the shell 10 may be curved to generate an urging force.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a positioning groove 13 for positioning the clamp fitting 20 is formed inside the shell 10. When the clamp fitting 20 is inserted, the first contact piece 22, the second contact piece 23, and the restriction piece 24 move along the positioning groove 13, and the first contact piece 22 comes into contact with the inner wall of the shell 10. It stops, and the clamp metal fitting 20 is assembled in a regular position.

  A restriction protrusion 14 is provided inside the shell 10, and a restriction piece 24 of the clamp fitting 20 engages with the restriction protrusion 14, so that the clamp fitting 20 extends in a direction perpendicular to the cable extension direction (upward direction in FIG. 5). The movement is regulated.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a guide surface 16 for inserting a protruding elastic fixture having a unidirectional slope (taper) is provided in front of the groove 15 for fixing the elastic fixture inside the shell 10. When the elastic fixture 30 is fitted into the groove 15, the elastic fixture 30 contracts and moves along the guide surface 16, climbs over the mountain of the guide surface 16, and expands and is fixed when fitted into the groove 15. . As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic fixture 30 has a curved shape before being fitted into the groove 15. After the elastic fixture 30 is fitted in the groove 15, the contact portion 31 of the elastic fixture 30 comes into contact with the second contact piece 23 of the clamp fitting 20 as shown in FIG. 30 bends less (closer to a straight line). Therefore, since the elastic fixture 30 tries to return to the original curved shape, the force that the contact portion 31 tries to move to the right in FIG. A biasing force is applied to the piece 23. As a result, the clamp fitting 20 (and hence the cable 50) is securely fixed to the shell 10.

  Further, since the first contact piece 22 of the clamp fitting 20 reliably contacts the inner wall of the shell 10 and the second contact piece 23 reliably contacts the elastic fixture 30, the clamp fitting 20, the shell 10, and the elastic fixing The outer conductor 53 of the cable 50 is reliably shielded through the tool 30.

  Further, as described above, the electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment has a simple configuration and a small number of parts, so that assembly work is easy, and workability is improved at low cost.

  As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the elastic fixing tool 30 has a curved shape to generate an urging force. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the second contact piece 23 of the clamp fitting 20 is not limited thereto. As long as the cable can be biased in the cable extension direction (right direction), other forms may be used.

  The present invention can be used for various electrical connectors in which an outer conductor of a cable is grounded to a metal case of a device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrical connector 10 Shell 11 Flange 12 Screw hole 13 Positioning groove 14 Control protrusion 15 Elastic fixing fixture fixing groove 16 Elastic fixing tool insertion guide surface 17 Waterproof unit attachment portion 20 Clamp metal fitting 21 Fastening portion 22 First contact Piece 23 Second contact piece 24 Restriction piece 25 Bending portion 30 Elastic fixture 31 Abutting portion 40 Waterproof unit 41 Gasket 42 Washer 43 Tightening ring 44 Waterproof ring 50 Cable 51 Core wire 52 Endothelial 53 Outer conductor 54 Outer skin 55 Conductive tape 56 Terminal

Claims (6)

A cylindrical metal shell,
A clamp fitting that is housed inside the shell and that fastens and fixes the outer conductor of the cable,
A ring-shaped elastic fixture that is attached to an inner groove of the shell and restricts movement of the clamp fitting;
The clamp fitting includes a tongue-shaped first contact piece that contacts the shell, and a tongue-shaped second contact piece that is located on the opposite side of the first contact piece and contacts the elastic fixture. Have
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the clamp fitting is fixed in the shell by an urging force of the elastic fixture.   2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic fixing member is configured such that a biasing force acts on the second contact piece in an extension direction of the cable.   The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic fixture has a curved shape before being attached to the shell. The clamp fitting has a tongue-shaped restriction piece,
The shell has a regulation protrusion on its inside,
The said control piece engages with the said control protrusion, and it is comprised so that the movement of the said clamp metal fitting in the direction perpendicular | vertical to the extension direction of the said cable may be controlled. Electrical connector.   The external connector of the said cable is an electrical connector of any one of Claims 1-4 fixed to the said clamp metal fitting via a conductive tape.   The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the clamp fitting is electrically connected to the shell via the first contact piece or the second contact piece.

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