JP6404601B2 - Locking structure between terminal fitting and connector housing - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a locking structure between a terminal fitting and a connector housing for locking the terminal fitting in a terminal accommodating chamber.

  Conventionally, the structure of the terminal housing and the connector housing that locks the terminal fitting in the terminal housing chamber of the connector housing is such that the terminal fitting is detached from the terminal housing chamber by contacting the tip of the free end to a part of the terminal fitting. There has been proposed one in which an elastic locking arm portion for preventing movement in the direction of detachment is provided in a cantilever shape in the terminal accommodating chamber (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The locking structure between the terminal fitting and the connector housing described in Patent Document 1 is a protrusion insertion groove that guides the locking protrusion toward the locking position around the base end of the lance (elastic locking arm). (Guide groove) is formed.

JP 2005-19282 A

  However, the locking structure between the terminal fitting and the connector housing described in Patent Document 1 supports the barrel portion (crimping portion), although the groove upper end surface of the guide groove portion supports the terminal fitting. Therefore, there is a problem that the barrel portion (crimping portion) is easily rattled in the direction of its own weight, and as a result, it is difficult to suppress rattling of the terminal fitting.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a locking structure between a terminal fitting and a connector housing that can easily guide the terminal fitting to a locking position and can prevent rattling of the terminal fitting. The purpose is to do.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the locking structure between the terminal fitting and the connector housing according to claim 1 of the present invention is a portion connected to the mating terminal, and the locking projection is provided on the bottom surface. The terminal for receiving the terminal fitting of the connector housing and the terminal projection of the connector housing provided with the projecting mating connection portion on the front end side and the crimping portion to be crimped to the terminal portion of the electric wire on the rear end side Elasticity that prevents the terminal fitting from moving away from the terminal accommodating chamber by providing a base end portion on the inner bottom surface of the accommodating chamber and abutting a distal end that is a free end to the locking projection. In the locking structure between the terminal fitting and the connector housing for locking the terminal fitting in the terminal accommodating chamber by the locking arm portion, the locking projection is provided on the inner bottom surface facing the bottom surface of the terminal fitting. Engaging Toward position are grooves formed in the connector housing side from the position where the crimping portion of the terminal fitting locking position so as to guide is disposed to said proximal end, and a groove upper end surface of the locking position It has a formed guide groove so as to reduce the gap between the crimping portion of the terminal fitting, wherein the guide groove includes a pair of guide walls erected at a possible spaced fitted between the locking projections Forms an inner surface of the groove, and the pair of guide walls extends from a terminal insertion opening serving as an inlet for inserting the terminal fitting into the terminal receiving chamber to both sides of the base end portion of the elastic locking arm portion. It is formed continuously so as to be connected, and is erected in the protruding direction of the elastic locking arm portion that protrudes upward from the inner bottom surface .

  In the locking structure between the terminal fitting and the connector housing according to claim 1 of the present invention, the terminal fitting is guided to the locking position by the locking projection being guided by the guide groove, and the locking Since the crimping portion of the terminal fitting at the position is adjusted so as to reduce the gap between the guide groove portion and the groove upper end surface, the crimping portion of the terminal fitting at the locking position is between the groove upper end surface and the groove. Therefore, the crimping portion is less likely to rattle in the direction of its own weight. As a result, it is easy to guide the terminal fitting to the locking position and to prevent the terminal fitting from rattling.

Locking structure between Claim terminal fitting and a connector housing according to one of the present invention, when inserting the terminal fitting into the terminal receiving chamber from said terminal insertion opening, the direction of the terminal fitting with the guide groove as a mark Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous attachment of the terminal fitting to the connector housing.

Locking structure between the terminal fitting and a connector housing according to claim 1 of the present invention, the pair of guide walls, since connected to both sides of the base end portion, to increase the rigidity of said proximal portion Can do.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a locking structure between a terminal fitting and a connector housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a perspective view of a terminal fitting that is crimped to an end portion of an electric wire, FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the terminal fitting viewed from below, and FIG. 2C is a front view of the terminal fitting. (D) is the sectional view on the AA line of the terminal metal fitting of (c). FIG. 3 is a front view of the connector housing. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector housing shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line B-B. FIG. 5 is a view of the elastic locking arm portion viewed obliquely from above by making the periphery of the elastic locking arm portion of the connector housing into a cross section. 6A is a front view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal fitting is being inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber, and FIG. 6B is a side view of the connector housing shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of the connector housing in a state where (a) is in the process of inserting the terminal fitting into the terminal accommodating chamber shown in FIG. 6 (a). 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the connector housing shown in FIG. 6B, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of the lower terminal accommodating chamber of FIG. FIG. 9 is an oblique cross-sectional view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal fitting is being inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber. 10A is a front view of the connector housing in which the terminal fitting is locked in the terminal accommodating chamber, and FIG. 10B is a side view of the connector housing shown in FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of the connector housing shown in FIG. 10A, and FIG. 11B is an enlarged view of one terminal accommodating chamber shown in FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the connector housing shown in FIG. 10B, and FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of one terminal accommodating chamber of FIG.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a locking structure between a terminal fitting and a connector housing according to the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a locking structure between a terminal fitting and a connector housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a perspective view of a terminal fitting crimped to the terminal portion of the electric wire W, FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the terminal fitting viewed from below, and FIG. 2C is a front view of the terminal fitting. And (d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the terminal fitting of (c).
In addition, in FIG. 2, (b)-(d) has shown the thing of the state which has not crimped | bonded the terminal metal fitting to the electric wire.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the connector housing. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector housing shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a view of the elastic locking arm portion viewed obliquely from above by making the periphery of the elastic locking arm portion of the connector housing into a cross section. 6A is a front view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal fitting is being inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber, and FIG. 6B is a side view of the connector housing shown in FIG.
In FIG. 6, the terminal fittings of the upper terminal receiving chamber are inserted as far as the rear side of the terminal receiving chamber as compared with the terminal fittings of the lower terminal receiving chamber.
FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the connector housing taken along the line C-C in a state in which terminal fittings are being inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber shown in FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the connector housing shown in FIG. 6B, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of the lower terminal accommodating chamber of FIG. FIG. 9 is an oblique cross-sectional view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal fitting is being inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber. 10A is a front view of the connector housing in which the terminal fitting is locked in the terminal accommodating chamber, and FIG. 10B is a side view of the connector housing shown in FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of the connector housing shown in FIG. 10A, and FIG. 11B is an enlarged view of one terminal accommodating chamber shown in FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the connector housing shown in FIG. 10B, and FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of one terminal accommodating chamber of FIG.
In addition, in FIG.7, FIG.9 and FIG.11, the terminal metal fitting has shown the thing of the state which is not attached to the electric wire.
Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, for convenience of explanation, front and rear and up and down directions are defined as shown in the figure.

  A locking structure 1 between a terminal fitting and a connector housing according to an embodiment of the present invention is a portion connected to a mating terminal, and is provided with a mating connection portion 11 having a locking projection 14 projecting from the bottom surface 10a on the front end side. In addition, the locking projection 15 of the terminal fitting 10 provided on the rear end side with the crimping portion 15 to be crimped to the terminal portion of the electric wire W, and the inner bottom surface 22c of the terminal accommodating chamber 22 for accommodating the terminal fitting 10 of the connector housing 20 are provided. And an elastic locking arm portion that prevents the terminal fitting 10 from moving away from the terminal accommodating chamber 22 by abutting the distal end serving as a free end to the locking projection 14. 25, the terminal fitting 10 is locked in the terminal accommodating chamber 22.

First, the terminal fitting 10 will be described.
The terminal fitting 10 is formed by molding a plate-like member made of a metal such as copper or a copper alloy by die pressing or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal fitting 10 includes a mating connection portion 11 that is connected to a connection partner (not shown) of the electric wire W, a crimping portion 15 that is crimped to a terminal portion of the electric wire W, a crimping portion 15, and a mating connection. And a connecting portion 17 connecting the portion 11.

  The mating connection portion 11 is configured such that the mating connection portion is brought into contact with an elastic contact piece 12d provided in a cylinder of the connection main body portion 12 having a rectangular tube shape. The counterpart connection portion 11 constitutes a female terminal to which a male terminal as a connection counterpart is connected.

The connection main body 12 forms a rectangular tube shape by a bottom wall 12a, a pair of side walls 12b, 12b standing on the bottom wall 12a, and a ceiling wall 12c.
The bottom wall 12 a has a locking opening 13 and a locking projection 14.

  The locking opening 13 is an opening formed so that the elastic locking arm 25 that has been elastically restored can enter the connection main body 12 for locking.

The locking projection 14 is a part formed so that a part of the opening inner edge surface 14 on the front side of the locking opening 13 protrudes downward.
By forming the cross section in a circular arc shape, the locking projection 14 can move smoothly while suppressing frictional resistance when moving to the locking position while sliding on the elastic locking arm 25. Yes.

  In addition, although the other party connection part 11 illustrated what comprises a female terminal, not only this but the other terminal structure may be sufficient if it becomes the structure which can be connected to a connection other party.

  The crimping portion 15 includes a conductor crimping portion 15a that crimps the exposed conductor portion W1 of the electric wire W, and a coating crimping portion 15b that crimps the insulating coating portion W2 of the electric wire W. An intermediate portion 16 is connected between the conductor crimping portion 15a and the coating crimping portion 15b.

Next, the connector housing 20 will be described.
The connector housing 20 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and has a housing body 21 that forms a rectangular parallelepiped block as a whole and constitutes a body portion of the connector housing 20.
The housing main body 21 is provided with a total of twelve terminal accommodating chambers 22 in six rows in the horizontal direction and two rows in the vertical direction so as to penetrate the housing main body 21 in the front-rear direction.
The number of terminal accommodating chambers 22 is not limited to twelve, but may be any other number as long as it is one or more.

  Each terminal accommodating chamber 22 is provided with a terminal insertion port 22a for inserting the terminal fitting 10 on the rear end surface, and a mating terminal insertion port for inserting a connection portion of the terminal to be connected to the terminal fitting 10 on the front end surface. 22b is provided.

  This terminal accommodating chamber 22 has a connection main body arrangement portion 23 where the connection main body portion 12 of the terminal fitting 10 is mainly arranged and a crimping portion arrangement portion 24 where the crimping portion 15 of the terminal fitting 10 is mainly arranged at the front end. A space is provided continuously from to the rear end.

The connection main body arrangement portion 23 is a portion in which the accommodation space of the terminal accommodation chamber 22 is formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the connection main body portion 12.
The crimping portion arrangement portion 24 is a portion formed corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the crimping portion 15 in which the accommodation space of the terminal accommodating chamber 22 is crimped to the electric wire W.
In this embodiment, the crimping portion arrangement portion 24 forms a space having a larger cross-sectional area than the connection main body arrangement portion 23.

The elastic locking arm portion 25 is provided in a cantilever shape in the terminal accommodating chamber 22 so as to be gently inclined upward from the base end portion 25a toward the distal end that is a free end.
The elastic locking arm portion 25 has a tip extending portion 25b.

  The distal end extending portion 25b is a portion for hooking a locking release jig (not shown) to release the locking state of the terminal fitting 10 and deflecting the elastic locking arm portion 25 in the locking release direction. It is.

Further, the connector housing 20 forms a jig insertion space 26 for inserting a not-shown jig for unlocking in order to release the locked state.
This jig insertion space 26 is a space connected to the terminal accommodation chamber 22 from the lower side of the terminal accommodation chamber 22, and forms a continuous space from the jig insertion opening 26 a formed at the front end of the connector housing 20 to the deflection space 27. Yes.

  When the terminal fitting 10 moves from the terminal insertion port 22a of the terminal accommodating chamber 22 to the engaging position of the terminal accommodating chamber 22, the flexible projection 27 is in sliding contact with the elastic locking arm 25 so that the elastic locking arm 25 is moved. This is a space for receiving the elastic locking arm portion 25 when it is bent and deformed from the neutral state in the locking release direction.

  Further, each terminal accommodating chamber 22 is provided on the inner bottom surface 22c of the terminal accommodating chamber 22 facing the bottom surface 10a of the terminal fitting 10, and the terminal fitting in the locking position so as to guide the locking projection 14 toward the locking position. 10 is a groove formed from the crimping part 15 to the base end part 25a of the elastic locking arm 25, and the groove upper end surface 30a is formed so as to reduce the gap with the crimping part 15 of the terminal fitting 10 at the locking position. A guide groove 30 is provided.

  The guide groove portion 30 is a groove formed continuously from the terminal insertion port 22 a serving as an inlet for inserting the terminal fitting 10 into the terminal accommodating chamber 22 to the base end portion 25 a of the elastic locking arm portion 25.

  More specifically, the guide groove portion 30 is a groove extending linearly from the terminal insertion opening 22a to the base end portion 25a of the elastic locking arm portion 25 located inside the terminal accommodating chamber 22. The guide groove portion 30 has a pair of guide walls 31, 31 erected with an interval so that the inner bottom surface 22 c of the terminal accommodating portion 22 is a groove bottom surface and the locking projection 14 can be fitted between the groove portions on the groove bottom surface. Inner side surfaces 30b and 30b are formed.

  The pair of guide walls 31, 31 are walls that extend linearly from the terminal insertion port 22 a to the base end portion 25 a of the elastic locking arm portion 25. Such a pair of guide walls 31, 31 are connected to both side portions of the base end portion 25 a to increase the rigidity of the base end portion 25 a.

Moreover, since the guide groove part 30 is formed from the terminal insertion port 22a used as the insertion port of the terminal metal fitting 10, when inserting the terminal metal fitting 10 into the terminal accommodating chamber 22 from the terminal insertion hole 22a, the latching protrusion part 14 is provided. When the terminal fitting 10 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 22, the proper orientation can be confirmed.
In other words, the guide groove 30 also functions as a mark for confirming the orientation of the terminal fitting 10.

Next, the operation of each part of the terminal metal fitting 10 and the connector housing 20 from when the terminal metal fitting 10 is inserted into the terminal insertion opening 22a until it is arranged at the locking position will be described.
First, when the terminal fitting 10 is started to be inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 22 from the terminal insertion port 22a so that the locking projection 14 is fitted into the guide groove 30, the connection main body 12 is connected to the connection main body arranging portion 23. Break into. As a result, the connection main body 12 is moved toward a predetermined locking position with a slight gap between the connection main body 12 and the inner wall surface of the connection main body arrangement portion 23.

  In this state, the backlash of the terminal fitting 10 is reduced, the locking projection 14 is difficult to be removed from the guide groove 30, and the terminal fitting 10 is more stably guided to the locking position by the guide groove 30. .

When the terminal fitting 10 further moves toward the inside of the terminal accommodating chamber 22, the tip of the terminal fitting 10 comes into sliding contact with the base end portion 25 a of the elastic locking arm portion 25.
As a result, the elastic locking arm portion 25 is elastically deformed toward the deflection space 27, and the terminal accommodating chamber 22 is extended from the distal end surface of the elastic locking arm portion 25 so that the locking projection portion 14 gets over the elastic locking arm portion 25. (See FIG. 7 and FIG. 9).

When the locking projection 14 moves from the distal end surface of the elastic locking arm 25 toward the inner side of the terminal accommodating chamber 22, the elastic locking arm 25 is elastically restored and the locking opening 13 of the terminal fitting 10 is restored. As a result, the terminal fitting 10 is locked in the terminal accommodating chamber 22 (see FIG. 11).
In this locking completion state, when the terminal fitting 10 moves in the direction of detachment from the terminal accommodating chamber 22, the tip of the elastic locking arm portion 25 abuts against the locking projection 14, so that the terminal fitting 10 is in the terminal accommodating chamber. Blocking from 22 is prevented.

  11B, the terminal fitting 10 has a state in which the terminal fitting 10 has a slight gap between the crimping portion 15 and the groove upper end surface 30a of the guide groove portion 30, or the crimping portion 15 is guided as shown in FIG. The groove 30 is locked in the terminal accommodating chamber 22 while being placed on the groove upper end surface 30a.

  In this embodiment, since the guide groove portion 30 extends to a part of the mating connection portion 11 of the terminal fitting 10 at the locking position, the terminal fitting 10 has a part of the mating connection portion 11 on the groove of the guide groove portion 30. The terminal receiving chamber 22 is locked in a state in which the gap with the end surface 30 a is made small or a part of the mating connection portion 11 is placed on the groove upper end surface 30 a of the guide groove portion 30.

  In the locking structure 1 between the terminal fitting and the connector housing according to the embodiment of the present invention, the terminal fitting 10 is guided to the locking position by the locking projection 14 being guided by the guide groove 30, and the locking Since the crimping portion 15 of the terminal fitting 10 at the position is adjusted so as to reduce the distance from the groove upper end surface 30a of the guide groove portion 30, the crimping portion 15 of the terminal fitting 10 at the locking position is between the groove upper end surface 30a. Therefore, the crimping portion 15 is less likely to rattle in the direction of its own weight. As a result, the terminal fitting 10 can be easily guided to the locking position, and the terminal fitting 10 can be prevented from rattling. .

  In addition, the locking structure 1 between the terminal fitting and the connector housing according to the embodiment of the present invention is a terminal fitting with the guide groove 30 as a mark when the terminal fitting 10 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 22 from the terminal insertion port 22a. Since the orientation of the terminal 10 can be confirmed, erroneous assembly of the terminal fitting 10 to the connector housing 20 can be prevented.

  Further, in the locking structure 1 between the terminal fitting and the connector housing according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the pair of guide walls 31 are connected to both side portions of the base end portion 25a, the rigidity of the base end portion 25a is increased. Can be increased.

  In the locking structure 1 between the terminal fitting and the connector housing according to the embodiment of the present invention, the guide groove portion 30 is formed from the terminal insertion port 22a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the groove upper end surface 30a of the guide groove portion 30 is It is sufficient that the crimping portion 15 can be supported. More preferably, the crimping portion 15 extending from the rear end face of the crimping portion 15 of the terminal fitting 10 at the locking position to the inside of the terminal accommodating chamber 22 can be supported from below.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the above-described embodiments of the invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments of the invention and does not depart from the gist thereof. Various changes can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Locking structure of terminal metal fitting and connector housing 10 Terminal metal fitting 10a Bottom face 11 Mating connection part 12 Connection main body part 12a Bottom wall 12b Side wall 12c Ceiling wall 12d Elastic contact 13 Locking opening part 13a Opening inner edge surface 14 Locking protrusion part 15 Crimping part 15a Conductor crimping part 15b Covering crimping part 16 Intermediate part 17 Connecting part 20 Connector housing 21 Housing body 22 Terminal receiving chamber 22a Terminal insertion port 22b Mating terminal insertion port 22c Internal bottom surface 23 Connection body placement part 24 Crimping part placement part 25 Elasticity Locking arm portion 25a Base end portion 26 Jig insertion space 26a Jig insertion port 27 Deflection space 30 Guide groove portion 30a Groove upper end surface 30b Groove inner side surface 31 Guide wall W Electric wire W1 Conductor portion W2 Insulation coating portion

Claims (1)

The part of the terminal fitting which is a part connected to the mating terminal, provided with a mating connection part projecting a locking projection on the bottom surface on the front end side, and provided with a crimping part crimping on the terminal part of the electric wire on the rear end side Providing a base end on the inner bottom surface of the terminal housing chamber that houses the locking projection and the terminal fitting of the connector housing,
And an elastic locking arm portion that prevents the terminal fitting from moving in a direction of detachment from the terminal accommodating chamber by abutting a leading end that is a free end to the locking projection, and In the locking structure between the terminal fitting and the connector housing locked in the terminal accommodating chamber,
Provided on the inner bottom surface facing the bottom surface of the terminal metal fitting, from the position where the crimping portion of the terminal metal fitting in the locking position is arranged so as to guide the locking protrusion toward the locking position. parts are grooves formed in the connector housing side to, and have a guide groove having a groove upper end surface is formed so as to reduce the gap between the crimping portion of the terminal fitting locking position,
The guide groove is
A pair of guide walls erected at an interval so as to be able to fit the locking projections in between form a groove inner surface,
The pair of guide walls are
The inner bottom surface is formed continuously from a terminal insertion opening serving as an inlet for inserting the terminal fitting into the terminal accommodating chamber so as to be connected to both side portions of the base end portion of the elastic locking arm portion. A locking structure between the terminal fitting and the connector housing, wherein the elastic locking arm portion that protrudes upward from the tip is raised in the protruding direction .

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