JP6752491B1 - Lock type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lock type connector capable of easily performing a series of operations from connection of a plug and a socket to locking. SOLUTION: An engaged portion 7b provided on one of the plug main body 4 and the socket main body 8 and the other main body of the plug main body 4 or the socket main body 8 can be rotated around an axis and have an axis. It is externally fitted so as to be movable in the direction, engages with the engaged portion 7b in the axial direction by rotating around the axis, and the plug body 4 and the socket body 8 in the state of being inserted into each other are tightened in the axial direction, respectively. It is rotatably fitted around the axis to the lock member 6 having the lockable engaging portion 6f and to the other main body, and is relatively non-rotatable to the lock member 6 around the axis. A rotating member that is connected so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction and can move the lock member 6 in the axial direction until the engaging portion 6f comes into contact with the engaged portion 7b and can be engaged. 5 and. [Selection diagram] FIG. 11

Description

The present invention relates to a lock type connector that enables a plug and a socket to be connected to each other and locked.

Conventionally, a connector in which a plug and a socket are connected by inserting them in the axial direction is provided with a screw structure in order to maintain the connection state with each other (hereinafter referred to as "locking or locking state"). There is a lock type connector used (see Patent Document 1).

The lock type connector described in Patent Document 1 is used for an infusion line or a blood transfusion line provided with a tube for supplying a liquid such as a drug solution or blood to a patient, and this is electrically connected. Explaining by replacing it with a type using means, in order to connect the plug PG shown in FIG. 15 to the socket SK and put it in the locked state, as shown in FIG. 15A, a plug is placed on the tip side of the plug PG. The cylindrical lock member RE provided so as to be movable in the axial direction of the PG is gripped and moved in the A direction in the drawing, and as shown in FIG. 15B, the cylindrical insertion portion of the plug PG. With the IT completely exposed, the root RT of the plug PG to which the multi-core cable CL is connected is gripped. Either the plug PG or the socket SK gripped in this way is moved in the insertion direction of each other, and as shown in FIG. 15C, the insertion portion IT is inserted into the tubular portion TB and fitted. After the insertion portion IT is completely fitted to the tubular portion TB, as shown in FIG. 15D, the lock member RE is gripped and the female screw portion FT formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lock member RE is formed. Is screwed into the male screw portion MT formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion TB of the socket SK. It is preferable to connect the plug PG and the socket SK in such a procedure to lock them.

In this type of lock type connector, when the insertion part IT of the plug PG is in the regular position, it can be inserted into the tubular part TB of the socket SK by simply moving it in the axial direction. Then, when the insertion portion IT is inserted into the tubular portion TB, the pin PN projecting into the tubular portion TB enters the pin insertion hole PI provided in the insertion portion IT, and the insertion portion When the IT is completely inserted into the tubular portion TB, it is properly electrically connected. On the other hand, when the insertion portion IT of the plug PG is not in the proper position, it cannot be inserted into the tubular portion TB of the socket SK simply by moving it in the axial direction.

JP-A-2009-50346

However, when connecting the plug PG and the socket SK, if the tip sides of the plug PG and the socket SK are gripped, the position can be easily adjusted to the above-mentioned regular position. In this case, since the lock member RE that can move in the axial direction is provided on the tip side of the plug PG, as shown in FIG. 16A, the lock member RE is gripped and the plug PG insertion portion is inserted. When the IT is to be inserted into the tubular portion TB of the socket SK, as shown in FIG. 16B, the tip of the lock member RE is set to the tubular portion TB before the insertion portion IT is inserted into the tubular portion TB. Since it comes into contact with the tip of the male screw portion MT of the above, the insertion portion IT cannot be inserted into the tubular portion TB. In this state, as shown in FIG. 16C, while forcibly screwing the female screw portion FT of the lock member RE into the male screw portion MT of the tubular portion TB in the socket SK, the insertion portion IT of the plug PG is tubular. When trying to insert into the part TB, if the insertion part IT is in the normal position, the insertion part IT can be fitted to the tubular part TB, but due to the frictional force at the time of insertion (fitting) The tightening torque becomes large and it is not easy to fasten. On the other hand, when the insertion portion IT of the plug PG is not in the proper position, the female screw portion FT of the lock member RE can be screwed into the male screw portion MT of the tubular portion TB, or the insertion portion IT can be screwed into the tubular portion TB. You can't even plug it in.

That is, since the lock member RE is provided on the tip side of the plug PG so as to be movable in the axial direction as described above, when the plug PG is inserted into the socket SK, the position of the plug PG is located away from the tip where it is difficult to adjust the position. It is necessary to grip (root part RT), and further, in order to lock the lock member RE after inserting it, it is necessary to re-grip the lock member RE, and a series of operations from connection to locking of the plug PG and socket SK. Cannot be done without delay.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lock type connector capable of easily performing a series of operations from connection of a plug and a socket to locking.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a connector in which a plug body of a plug and a socket body of a socket can be connected by inserting them in the axial direction, the plug body and the socket body are provided on opposite portions of the plug body and the socket body. , Electrical, optical, or fluid connecting means that can be connected to each other, an engaged portion provided on either the plug body or the socket body, or any of the plug body or the socket body. It is externally fitted to the other main body so as to be rotatable around the axis and movable in the axial direction, and is engaged with the engaged portion in the axial direction by the rotation around the axis and inserted into each other. The plug body and the socket body in the state are rotatably fitted around the axis to a lock member having an engaging portion that can be locked by tightening the plug body and the socket body in the axial direction, respectively. The lock member is connected to the lock member so as to be relatively non-rotatable around the axis and relatively movable in the axial direction, and the tip of the engaging portion engages with the lock member. It is provided with a rotating member capable of moving in the axial direction to an engageable position where it can be engaged by contacting the tip end portion of the portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the other main body has an annular groove portion on the outer peripheral surface, and the rotating member is an annular shape and is inside the inner peripheral surface. The lock member can be engaged with the annular groove portion by projecting in a direction and being externally fitted into the annular groove portion so as to be rotatable around the axis and movable in the axial direction, and by contacting the end portion of the annular groove portion. It has a regulatory protrusion that regulates movement beyond position.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the other main body has a small diameter portion on the tip end side of the annular groove portion, and the lock member has a tubular shape. The small-diameter portion has an inwardly projecting portion that projects inwardly on the inner peripheral surface on the base end side and is externally fitted so as to be rotatable around the axis and movable in the axial direction.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect or the second aspect, the lock member is cylindrical and has an outward protrusion protruding outward on the outer peripheral surface. The rotating member has an axial groove portion in which the outward protrusion is relatively non-rotatable around the axis and is movably engaged in the axial direction.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the rotating member has a plurality of guide rods extending in the axial direction, and the lock member is attached to the guide rod. A plurality of holes having a tip side that opens at opposite positions and extends in the axial direction, and the guide rods are inserted so as to be relatively non-rotatable around the axial line and movable in the axial direction. Has a guide hole.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the rotating member has a covering portion that covers a covering portion on the outer peripheral surface of the lock member.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect when the fourth aspect is not used, the radial direction is formed on either the inner peripheral surface of the covering portion or the outer peripheral surface of the covering portion. A plurality of slide ridges protruding in the axial direction and extending in the axial direction are provided, and a groove that is recessed in the radial direction and extends in the axial direction on either the inner peripheral surface of the covering portion or the outer peripheral surface of the covering portion. A plurality of slide groove portions are provided in which the slide ridges are fitted so as to be relatively non-rotatable around the axis and relatively movable in the axial direction.

According to the present invention, in a lock type connector, a series of operations from connection of a plug and a socket to locking can be easily performed.

It is a perspective view which shows the state which separated the plug and the socket of the lock type connector in one Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a perspective view which shows the plug, the rotating member and the locking member before assembling to the plug. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line (a)-(a) of FIG. 2 and a cross-sectional view taken along the line (b)-(b). It is a central longitudinal side view of the state which the plug and the socket of the lock type connector in one Embodiment of this invention are separated. It is also a plan view of a female contactor. It is sectional drawing in the ∨I-∨I line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which separated the cylindrical part and the inner cylinder of the socket of the lock type connector in one Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a developed view of a cylindrical portion and an inner cylinder. It is a central longitudinal side view of the state just before connecting a plug of a lock type connector and a socket in one Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a central longitudinal side view in a state where the plug and the socket are connected. Similarly, it is a central longitudinal side view in which the plug and the socket are connected and locked. Similarly, it is a side view in which the plug and the socket are connected and locked. It is a partial cross-sectional view which omitted the partial structure which shows the moving state of the rotating member of the lock type connector and the lock member in the axial direction in the modification 1. It is a partial cross-sectional view of the rotating member and the lock member of the lock type connector in the modification 2. It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the series flow from the connection of a plug and a socket in the conventional screw lock type connector to the locked state. It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the series flow from the connection of a plug and a socket in the conventional screw lock type connector to the locked state.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the connector C of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The connector C is composed of a plug 1 and a socket 2. The plug 1 and the socket 2 can be connected by inserting the plug main body 4 and the socket main body 8 described later into each other in the central axis L direction. The connector C constitutes a lock type connector capable of holding the connection state of the plug 1 and the socket 2 in the axial direction (hereinafter, referred to as “lock state”) by providing the lock member 6 described later. (See FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 12, etc.).

(Plug 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the plug 1 includes a cylindrical plug case 3 and a plug body 4 fitted in the plug case 3 with an intermediate portion rotatable and immovable in the central axis L direction. Have. As shown in FIG. 2, a cylindrical rotating member fitted to the plug body 4 so as to be rotatable around the central axis L and relatively movable in the central axis L direction with respect to the plug body 4. 5 and the rotating member 5 are externally fitted so as to be rotatable around the central axis L and relatively movable in the central axis L direction with respect to the plug body 41 and the rotating member 5, and are fitted to the rotating member 5 on the proximal end side ( A cylindrical lock member 6 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular portion 6a) described later is provided.

(Plug case 3)
As shown in FIG. 4, the plug case 3 is located on the proximal end side (left side in FIG. 4) and the tip side (right side in FIG. 4) with respect to the small diameter portion 3a and is larger than the small diameter portion 3a. It has a large diameter portion 3b and an outer step portion 3c formed by a difference in outer diameter between the small diameter portion 3a and the large diameter portion 3b. Around the small diameter portion 3a of the plug case 3, the central axis of the lock member 6 is between the outer step portion 3c of the plug case 3 and the inner step portion 5c of the large diameter tubular portion 5b of the rotating member 5, which will be described later. The variable groove portion 3d that allows movement in the L direction is formed in an annular shape.

(Plug body 4)
The plug main body 4 has a columnar insertion portion 9 having a circular outer peripheral surface, and an outward protruding portion 11 is provided on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the tip end portion of the insertion portion 9.
In the present embodiment, the projecting portion 11 has a rhombic cross-sectional shape, but instead, it may have a circular shape, a triangular shape, or another shape, but the tip end portion and the base end portion in the central axis L direction are It is preferably pointed.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the tip surface of the insertion portion 9, five pin insertion holes 12 parallel to the central axis L are provided evenly (may be uneven) in the circumferential direction.
As shown in FIG. 4, in each pin insertion hole 12 of the insertion portion 9, a flat plate-shaped female contactor 13 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is provided, and the base of each is a contact within the plug body 4. It is firmly held and arranged by the holding member 14.

Two protrusions 13a and 13b for preventing the female contactor 13 are diagonally cut up and provided near the base end portion of the female contactor 13.
The tip of the female contactor 13 has a bifurcated shape, and this bifurcated portion expands due to elastic deformation by inserting a pin 24, which will be described later, which has been inserted into each pin insertion hole 12, and a pin. It is in contact with 24 so that electrical continuity can be achieved.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the contact holding member 14, at the base end of each female contact 13, a core wire 15a, which is a covered conducting wire drawn out from the terminal of the multi-core cable 15 into the plug body 4, The terminal is connected by soldering or the like.
The terminal portion of the multi-core cable 15 is provided with a retaining metal fitting 16 for preventing the multi-core cable 15 from falling off from the plug 1 (contactor holding member 14).

The base portion of the insertion portion 9 in the plug body 4, the contactor holding member 14, and the terminal portion of the multi-core cable 15 are covered by the tip end side, the center, and the base end side of the cylindrical exterior body 17, respectively.

(Exterior body 17)
As shown in FIG. 4, a reduced diameter small diameter portion 17a is provided in the middle portion of the outer peripheral surface of the exterior body 17, and the plug case 3 can rotate around the central axis L in the small diameter portion 17a. Moreover, it is fitted so as not to be movable in the central axis L direction. An upright portion 17b that projects outward in an annular shape is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 17a on the base end side. Further, in the small diameter portion 17a, a concave invariant groove portion (annular groove portion) 17d is formed in an annular shape between the base end portion of the plug case 3 and the upright portion 17b of the exterior body 17.

The tip portion of the exterior body 17 is formed so as to cover the base portion of the insertion portion 9 with a required gap G, and an inward annular ridge 17c having a chevron-shaped cross section is provided on the inner surface thereof.

In the present embodiment, the plug body 4 is composed of 9, 5 female contacts 13, a contact holding member 14, and an exterior body 17, but is actually composed of a larger number of members. ..
For example, the contact holding member 14 and the exterior body 17 are actually formed by connecting a plurality of members, respectively, but for the sake of simplicity, they will be described as an integral body. The same applies to the socket body 8 described later.

(Rotating member 5)
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the rotating member 5 has a cylindrical shape, and has a small-diameter tubular portion 5a on the proximal end side (left side in FIG. 4) and a tip side (right side in FIG. 4) with respect to the small-diameter tubular portion 5a. ), It has a large-diameter cylinder portion 5b having a diameter larger than that of the small-diameter cylinder portion 5a, and an inner step portion (extruded portion) 5c formed by the difference in inner diameter between the small-diameter cylinder portion 5a and the large-diameter cylinder portion 5b. ..

The large-diameter tubular portion 5b of the rotating member 5 constitutes a covering portion that is externally fitted so as to cover the small-diameter tubular portion 6a described later of the lock member 6.

An inward annular protrusion (regulatory protrusion) 5d that projects inwardly in an annular shape is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter tubular portion 5a near the base end. The inwardly annular protrusion 5d may be continuous or discontinuous as long as it projects inwardly in an annular shape.

On the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter tubular portion 5b, a plurality of slide groove portions 5e having a concave cross-sectional shape and extending in the central axis L direction are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (see FIG. 3).

In the rotating member 5, the inward annular protrusion 5d is fitted onto the invariant groove portion 17d of the exterior body 17 so as to be rotatable around the central axis L and movable by a predetermined distance in the central axis L direction. Further, the rotating member 5 is provided so that the large-diameter tubular portion 5b covers the outer periphery of the small-diameter tubular portion 6a of the lock member 6, which will be described later. In other words, the rotating member 5 is attached to the plug main body 4 so as to cover the central portion in the central axis L direction. As a result, when the operator grips the plug 1, the rotating member 5 can be easily gripped.

The movement of the rotating member 5 in the central axis L direction is performed from the non-sliding position (see FIG. 4) in which the inward annular protrusion 5d abuts on the base end side upright portion 17b of the invariant groove portion 17d to the base end of the plug case 3. It is limited to the slide position (predetermined position, see FIG. 9) that abuts the portion.

(Lock member 6)
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the lock member 6 has a cylindrical shape, and has a small diameter cylinder portion 6a on the base end side (left side in FIG. 4) and a tip side (right side in FIG. 4) with respect to the small diameter cylinder portion 6a. ), It has a large diameter cylinder portion 6b having a diameter larger than that of the small diameter cylinder portion 6a, and an outer step portion 6c formed by the difference in outer diameter between the small diameter cylinder portion 6a and the large diameter cylinder portion 6b.

The small-diameter tubular portion 6a of the lock member 6 constitutes a covering portion that is internally fitted so as to be covered by the large-diameter tubular portion 5b of the rotating member 5.

An inward annular protrusion (inward protrusion) 6d that projects inwardly in an annular shape is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the base end of the small diameter tubular portion 6a. The inwardly annular protrusion 6d may be continuous or discontinuous as long as it projects inwardly in an annular shape.

On the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter tubular portion 6a, a plurality of slide ridges 6e having a convex cross-sectional shape and extending in the central axis L direction are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (FIGS. 2 and 3). , See FIG. 12). The slide ridges 6e form a complementary shape to the slide groove portion 5e of the rotating member 5, and are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter tubular portion 6a at the same intervals as the slide groove portion 5e. A groove corresponding to the slide groove 5e may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lock member 6, and a ridge corresponding to the slide ridge 6e may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating member 5.

A female screw portion (engagement portion) 6f is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter tubular portion 6b on the tip end side.

The lock member 6 is fitted onto the variable groove portion 3d so that the inwardly-facing annular protrusion 6d can rotate around the central axis L and move in the central axis L direction. Further, in the lock member 6, the small diameter tubular portion 6a is fitted inside the large diameter tubular portion 5b of the rotating member 5. As a result, the lock member 6 is hard to come off from the plug body 4.
When the small-diameter tubular portion 6a of the lock member 6 is internally fitted into the large-diameter tubular portion 5b of the rotating member 5, and the slide ridge 6e of the lock member 6 is fitted into the slide groove portion 5e of the rotating member 5, the lock member 6 Is connected to the rotating member 5 so as to be relatively movable in the central axis L direction and to be able to rotate with the lock member 6 around the central axis L, that is, to be relatively non-rotatable.

As described above, since the rotating member 5 can rotate around the central axis L with respect to the plug body 4, the lock member 6 is integrated with the rotating member 5 and has the central axis L with respect to the plug body 4. It can rotate around.

The movement of the lock member 6 in the central axis L direction includes the non-locking position (see FIG. 4) in which the inward annular protrusion 6d abuts on the inner step portion 5c of the rotating member 5 in the non-sliding position, and the plug case 3. It is limited to the lock position (see FIG. 11) that abuts on the outer step portion 3c. When the rotating member 5 is in the sliding position, the locking member 6 has the inwardly annular protrusion 6d in contact with the inner step portion 5c of the rotating member 5 and is slightly on the tip side (right side in FIG. 4) of the unlocked position. ) Protrudes to a lockable position (engageable position, see FIGS. 9 and 10).

In the present embodiment, the distance from the lockable position to the lock position of the lock member 6 is the distance required to completely screw the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6 to the male screw portion 7b of the enlarged diameter flange portion 7, which will be described later. Is equal to. The distance from the slide position to the non-slide position of the rotating member 5 is the distance from the lockable position to the non-lock position of the lock member 6, and the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6 is the male screw of the enlarged collar portion 7. The distance is sufficient to completely separate from the portion 7b.

By making the rotating member 5 and the locking member 6 movable within the above range in this way, the female threaded portion 6f of the locking member 6 can be completely screwed into the male threaded portion 7b of the enlarged diameter flange portion 7 described later. At the same time, it can be separated from the state of being screwed into the male screw portion 7b.

In the present embodiment, when the rotating member 5 is in the slide position and the lock member 6 is in the lockable position, when the plug body 4 is completely inserted into the socket body 8, the tip surface of the lock member 6 (the tip of the female screw portion 6f) ) Contact the tip of the male threaded portion 7b of the enlarged diameter flange portion 7, which will be described later, and the female threaded portion 6f can be screwed into the male threaded portion 7b (engageable state).

(Socket 2)
The socket 2 has a substantially cylindrical socket body 8 having an outwardly annular enlarged diameter flange portion 7 projecting from the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion.

On the tip end side (left side in FIG. 4) of the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter flange portion 7, a fitting portion 7a into which the female screw portion 6f at the tip end portion of the lock member 6 can be fitted is provided, and is also provided on the outer peripheral surface. On the base end side (right side in FIG. 4), a male screw portion (engaged portion) 7b into which the female screw portion (engaged portion) 6f of the lock member 6 can be screwed is provided.

A groove portion 7c recessed in an annular shape is formed on the base end surface of the enlarged diameter flange portion 7, and an O-ring 7d is mounted along the inner peripheral surface of the groove portion 7c. The socket body 8 is formed by fitting the O-ring 7d into the groove 7c while the O-ring 7d is elastically deformed by a mounting portion (not shown) projecting from the outer surface of a case (not shown) of an electronic device or the like in an annular shape. It is attached to a case of an electronic device or the like, and internal wiring (not shown) of the electronic device or the like is connected to the base end of each pin 24 protruding from the socket body 8 into the case.

(Socket body 8)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the socket body 8 has a cylindrical cylindrical portion 10 on the tip side (left side in FIG. 4) and a bottomed cylindrical portion fitted and fixed in the cylindrical portion 10. It has a cylinder 21 and.
When the tip of the cylindrical portion 10 is inserted into the gap G between the insertion portion 9 of the plug body 4 and the tip of the exterior body 17 on the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket body 8. An outward annular ridge 10a having a chevron-shaped cross section is provided so as to be elastically engaged with the inward annular ridge 17c on the inner surface of the exterior body 17.

As shown in FIG. 8, on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket main body 8, a plurality of portions facing the central axis L direction forming a groove 18 through which the protrusion 11 of the plug main body 4 can be inserted toward the tip portion. When the inward ridge 19 and the insertion portion 9 are inserted into the cylindrical portion 10 in the direction of the central axis L, which is closer to the base end portion than each ridge 19, the protrusion 11 slides into contact as a cam follower. An inclined cam surface 20 is provided so that the plug main body 4 and the socket main body 8 are relatively rotated so as to be positioned at regular positions in the rotation direction around the central axis L.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of ridges 19 is eight, and each ridge 19 is integrally formed with the cylindrical portion 10. The width of the groove 18 is the same as or slightly larger than the width of the protrusion 11 (the width of the insertion portion 9 in the circumferential direction).

The lengths of the cylindrical portions 10 in the ridges 19 in the central axis L direction are different from each other, but both ends of the respective central axis L directions are pointed.
By making the tip of each of the ridges 19 pointed in this way, the tip of the groove 18 formed between the ridges 19 and 19 adjacent to each other is in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical part 10 of the socket body 8. When the insertion portion 9 of the plug body 4 is first inserted into the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket body 8, the protrusion 11 of the plug body 4 is inserted into any of the grooves 18 on both sides of each protrusion 19. It is possible to smoothly distribute and guide. It is desirable that the inner surface of the tip end portion of the cylindrical portion 10 is chamfered so as to expand toward the tip end including each ridge 19.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the inclined cam surface 20 is composed of an end face cam formed by the tip surface of the tubular portion 21a in the inner cylinder 21 in the cylindrical portion 10. The inclined cam surface 20 has a shape in which the tip of the tubular portion 21a of the inner cylinder 21 is cut substantially obliquely with respect to the central axis L. The top portion 20a of the inclined cam surface 20 has a pointed shape, and the base portion 20b is also provided with an entry groove 23 facing the central axis L direction so that the protrusion 11 of the plug body 4 can enter. There is.

The length of each ridge 19 in the central axis L direction is a protrusion between each ridge 19 and the inclined cam surface 20 when the inner cylinder 21 is fitted and fixed to the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket body 8. It is defined so that the distance 11 is formed in the central axis L direction so that the socket body 8 can be inserted in the circumferential direction.

With the above configuration, the protruding portion 11 of the insertion portion 9 in the plug body 4 that has been guided along any side surface of the top portion 20a of the inclined cam surface 20 is a two-dot chain line shown in FIG. As indicated by the arrow, the guide continues to be smoothly guided along the inclined cam surface 20.
The inner cylinder 21 can also be integrally formed with the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket body 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom wall 21b that closes the base end of the cylinder portion 21a in the inner cylinder 21 has five pins 24 corresponding to the five pin insertion holes 12 in the insertion portion 9 of the plug body 4. , It is located at a position facing the pin insertion hole 12 and is provided so as to penetrate the bottom wall 21b in the central axis L direction. On the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion of each pin 24, an outward annular diameter-expanded flange portion 24a for preventing the pin 24 is provided.

Regarding the positional relationship between each pin insertion hole 12 and each pin 24, the insertion portion 9 of the plug body 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket body 8, and the plug body 4 and the socket body 8 are the protrusions of the insertion portion 9. When 11 is positioned at a regular position in the rotational direction around the central axis L that engages the entry groove 23 of the inclined cam surface 20, they are aligned with each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, the portions of the cylindrical portion 10 provided with the engaging holes 28 on both sides of the engaging holes 28 at the base end portion of the cylindrical portion 10 are easily elastically deformed in the radial direction. Notch grooves 27, 27 are provided so as to make it possible.

On the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 21, a pair of outward protrusions 25, 25 protruding outward engage with a pair of recessed grooves 29, 29 formed at the base end of the cylindrical portion 10, respectively. In this way, a pair of outward engaging claws 26, 26 that are pushed in from the base end portion of the cylindrical portion 10 and project outward are provided with each engaging hole 28 at the base end portion of the cylindrical portion 10. By elastically deforming the portion to the outside and then elastically engaging with each engagement hole 28, the portion can be accurately positioned in the cylindrical portion 10 to be easily fitted and prevented from coming off.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of female contacts 13 in the plug body 4 and the plurality of pins 24 in the socket body 8 are conductors, and the other members are formed of an insulator, preferably a synthetic resin material.
As a result, the plurality of female contacts 13 and the plurality of pins 24 form an electrical connection means (unsigned).
The connecting means may be, for example, an optical connecting means (not shown) for connecting an optical fiber cable (not shown) including a plurality of optical fibers, or a fluid connecting means (not shown) for connecting a fluid pipe. It can also be replaced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the plug main body 4 may be a male type having a cylindrical insertion portion 9 having a circular outer peripheral surface, and the socket main body 8 may be fitted so that the male insertion portion 9 can rotate. A female type having a cylindrical cylindrical portion 10 is used, but the plug body 4 may be a female type (for example, a cylindrical shape) and a socket body 8 may be a male type (for example, a cylindrical shape). Is.
In this way, when the plug body 4 is a female type and the socket body 8 is a male type, the rotating member 5 and the lock member 6 are assembled to the socket 2, and the plug 1 is screwed with the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6. A male screw portion (not shown) may be provided.

(Flow from connection of plug 1 and socket 2 to locked state)
Next, a work process for connecting the plug 1 and the socket 2 to each other will be described.
In order to connect the plug 1 and the socket 2 to each other, the rotating member 5 assembled to the plug body 4 is gripped, and the plug 1 is inserted in the insertion direction B (right direction in FIG. 4) shown by the arrow in FIG. By moving the plug body 4, the insertion portion 9 of the plug body 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket body 8.

In the present embodiment, the rotating member 5 is provided on the plug main body 4 so as to cover the central portion in the central axis L direction. Therefore, when the operator grips the plug 1, the rotating member 5 can be easily gripped, and the operator can directly perform the connection work with the socket 2 without visually recognizing whether or not the rotating member 5 is gripped. It can be carried out.

Due to the resistance force generated when the insertion portion 9 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 10, the rotating member 5 moves relative to the plug body 4 in the central axis L direction, so that the rotating member 5 slides from a non-sliding position (see FIG. 4). Move to position (see FIG. 9). In the lock member 6, the inwardly annular protrusion 6d is pushed by the inner step portion 5c (extruded portion) of the rotating member 5, and the outer step portion 6c is the tip portion (extruded portion) of the large-diameter tubular portion 5b of the rotating member 5. The plug 1 moves from the unlocked position (see FIG. 4) in the central axis L direction to the lockable position (see FIG. 9). At this time, even if the lock member 6 is in the lock position, it is returned to the lockable position by contacting the tip side of the male screw portion 7b of the enlarged diameter flange portion 7 of the socket body 8, so that the plug body 4 and It does not adversely affect the connection of the socket body 8.

The tip 11 of the insertion portion 9 slightly enters the cylindrical portion 10 or almost at the same time, the protrusion 11 of the insertion portion 9 is located at any position around the central axis L. , Enter any groove 18 in the cylindrical portion 10. The insertion portion 9 enters the cylindrical portion 10 with the position around the central axis L once positioned at that position, and the plug body 4 and the socket body 8 are fitted together in a centered state. Can be done.

That is, even if the central axis of the plug 1 and the socket 2 is slightly displaced or tilted with respect to the illustrated central axis L, the deviation or inclination is corrected, and the insertion portion 9 is inside the cylindrical portion 10. You can enter smoothly.

Subsequently, when the insertion portion 9 is further inserted into the cylindrical portion 10, the protrusion 11 is detached from the groove 18 in the cylindrical portion 10 and comes into contact with the inclined cam surface 20 as can be understood from FIG. It slides along it, and due to the reaction at that time, the plug body 4 is inserted while rotating relative to the socket body 8.
At this time, since the rotating member 5 being gripped does not rotate and only the plug body 4 is rotated in the plug case 3, the operator can insert the plug body 4 into the socket body 8 without discomfort.

When the protrusion 11 slides along the inclined cam surface 20 and enters the entry groove 23 on the inclined cam surface 20, the plug body 4 and the socket body 8 are corrected to regular positions around the central axis L.

When the insertion portion 9 is further deeply inserted into the cylindrical portion 10 in a state of being corrected to the normal position around the central axis L described above, the protrusion 11 deeply enters the entry groove 23 and each pin 24 is inserted. It enters the corresponding pin insertion hole 12 and comes into contact with the female contactor 13. When the plug 1 is completely (all) inserted into the socket 2, the connector C (connecting means) is properly electrically connected in a proper positional relationship.

The tip of the cylindrical portion 10 enters the gap G between the insertion portion 9 of the plug body 4 and the tip of the exterior body 17 just before the plug 1 is completely inserted into the socket 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, when the plug 1 is completely inserted into the socket 2, the outward annular ridge 10a provided at the tip of the cylindrical portion 10 is an inward annular shape on the inner surface of the exterior body 17. Elastically engages with the ridge 17c. This makes it difficult for the plug 1 to come out of the socket 2.

In the elastic engagement between the outward annular ridge 10a and the inward annular ridge 17c, the tip of the exterior body 17 in the plug body 4 expands due to elastic deformation, or the tip of the cylindrical portion 10 in the socket body 8 expands. It is done by shrinking the diameter by elastic deformation or by both.

As described above, in the present embodiment, even in the case of the lock type connector, the insertion portion 9 of the plug main body 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket main body 8 in the state where the plug 1 maintains the grip without changing the rotating member 5. Can be fully plugged into. That is, the operator can easily perform the work for connecting the plug 1 and the socket 2 to each other.

As described above, when the plug body 4 is completely inserted into the socket body 8 with the rotating member 5 in the slide position and the lock member 6 in the lockable position, the tip of the lock member 6 has a diameter-expanded collar. It fits externally into the fitting portion 7a of the portion 7, and the tip surface (the tip of the female screw portion 6f) also comes into contact with the tip of the male screw portion 7b, and the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6 is expanded to the male screw portion of the flange portion 7. It is ready to be screwed into 7b.

In this state, since the inward annular protrusion 5d of the rotating member 5 at the slide position is in contact with the base end portion of the plug case 3, further movement in the insertion direction B is restricted.

Therefore, in this state, when the rotating member 5 is rotated in the tightening direction of the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6, the lock member 6 also follows the rotating member 5 and rotates in the same direction, and the female screw portion 6f expands. It moves in the insertion direction B (to the right in FIG. 10) while being screwed into the male screw portion 7b of the diameter flange portion 7.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6 is completely screwed into the male screw portion 7b, the lock member 6 moves to the lock position, and the inward annular protrusion 6d is an outer step of the plug case 3. The plug case 3 is pressed against the portion 3c from the base end side in the insertion direction B. As a result, the lock member 6 is not only at the tip of the screwed screw portion, but also at the intermediate portion of the plug body 4, the socket of the plug body 4 shown by the arrow in FIG. 11, which is opposite to the insertion direction B of the plug body 4. The movement in the pulling direction D (leftward in FIG. 11) from the main body 8 is restricted.
In this way, the plug body 4 and the socket body 8 can be reliably locked in a connected state.

As is clear from the above, no matter what direction the plug 1 is inserted into the socket 2, the plug body 4 and the socket body 8 are smoothly guided to the proper positions, and the connector C is definitely and properly electrically connected. Since the connections can be made, even if the connection points between the plug 1 and the socket 2 cannot be visually recognized, the connection work can be easily and quickly performed by fumbling.

Moreover, before the protrusion 11 of the insertion portion 9 in the plug body 4 comes into contact with the inclined cam surface 20 in the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket body 8, the protrusion 11 of the plug body 4 is the cylindrical portion 10 of the socket body 8. In a state where it has entered any of the grooves 18 formed between the plurality of protrusions 19 on the inner surface, it has entered the socket body 8 to some extent, and the plug body 4 and the socket body 8 have their mutual inclinations corrected. Since the plug body 4 is centered, the protrusion 11 of the plug body 4 can always come into contact with the inclined cam surface 20 of the socket body 8 in a constant posture, and wear due to one-sided contact when the plug body 4 and the socket body 8 are inserted. And breakage are prevented.

Further, the tip surface of the insertion portion 9 in the plug body 4 and the facing surface of the cylindrical portion 10 in the socket body 8 do not need to be provided with a large-diameter center pin or pin insertion hole as in the conventional case, and the entire facing surface thereof does not need to be provided. Can be used as a connecting means, so that the outer diameter of the entire connector can be reduced.

Further, unlike the conventional connectors shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the locking work is continuously and easily performed from the connection work of the plug 1 and the socket 2 while maintaining the grip of the rotating member 5 assembled to the plug 1. be able to.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the following modifications and modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention. In addition, the above-described embodiment of the present invention and the respective constituent members, treatments, conditions, and the like in the following modifications can be appropriately combined.

(Modification example 1)
The articulated structure (connecting) structure of the rotating member 5 and the locking member 6 may be as follows.
For example, as shown in FIG. 13, a plurality of axial groove portions 5f having a concave cross-sectional shape and extending in the central axis direction are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating member 5 near the center in the central axis (not shown) direction. .. Further, in the lock member 6, instead of the inwardly-facing annular protrusion 6d, it projects outward to the outer peripheral surface of the base end, and the dimension in the circumferential direction is slightly smaller than that of the axial groove portion 5f, and is centered on the axial groove portion 5f. An outward protrusion 6g that is relatively movable in the axial direction and relatively non-rotatably engaged is provided around the central axis.
With this configuration, as in the above-described embodiment, the lock member 6 is regulated so as to be relatively movable in the central axis direction and relatively immovable around the central axis with respect to the rotating member 5. To.

With reference to FIG. 13, the flow from the connection between the plug 1 and the socket 2 of this modified example to the locked state will be described.
FIG. 13A shows a state in which the rotating member 5 is in the non-sliding position and the locking member 6 is in the non-locking position.
From this state, when the rotating member 5 is gripped and the plug body 4 is inserted into the socket body 8, the rotating member 5 moves in the central axis direction with respect to the plug body 4 due to the resistance force at the time of the insertion. Since it moves relatively, as shown in FIG. 13B, it moves from the non-slide position to the slide position, the lock member 6 is pushed by the rotating member 5 and moves to the lockable position, and further, the plug body 4 Is completely inserted into the socket body 8, the female threaded portion 6f of the lock member 6 comes into contact with the male threaded portion 7b of the socket body 8.
In this state, when the rotating member 5 is rotated in the tightening direction of the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6, the lock member 6 rotates and the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6 is screwed into the male screw portion 7b of the socket body 8. Then, the lock member 6 moves to the lock position shown in FIG. 13C, and the connection state between the plug 1 and the socket 2 becomes the lock state.

(Modification 2)
Further, instead of the rotating member 5 and the locking member 6, the following rotating member 50 and the locking member 60 which are connected so as not to overlap each other may be provided. In the rotating member 50 and the locking member 60, the same configurations as those of the rotating member 5 and the locking member 6 of the above-described embodiment are designated by the same names and the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the rotating member 50 can be moved from the non-sliding position in the central axis L direction to the sliding position, as in the rotating member 5 of the above-described embodiment.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, the tubular rotating member 50 extends from the tip surface in the central axis L direction, and a plurality of guide rods are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction along the tip surface. Provide 5 g. On the other hand, the tubular lock member 60 having the same diameter as the rotating member 50 has an opening on the tip side and a depth into which all of the guide rods 5g can be inserted, and the guide rods 5g are arranged in the circumferential direction. A plurality of guide holes 6h arranged at the same interval as the interval are provided.

The guide rod 5g has a shaft portion 5i and a retaining portion 5h having an enlarged diameter at the tip of the shaft portion 5i. At the tip of the guide hole 6h, a retaining portion 6i is provided so that only the shaft portion 5i of the guide rod 5g can be inserted and the retaining portion 5h cannot be inserted so that the lock member 60 does not fall off from the rotating member 50. ing.

By inserting and fitting 5 g of the guide rod into the guide hole 6h, the lock member 60 can move relatively in the central axis L direction with respect to the rotating member 50, and the central axis line, as in the above-described embodiment. It is regulated so that it cannot rotate relatively around L.

Specifically, the movement of the lock member 60 in the central axis L direction is performed by the rotating member 50 at the non-locking position and the sliding position where the tip surface of the locking member 60 abuts on the tip surface of the rotating member 50 at the non-sliding position. The lockable position where the tip surface of the lock member 60 abuts on the tip surface and the lock member 60 move from the lockable position to the insertion direction (right side in FIG. 14), and the retaining portion 5h of the guide rod 5g becomes the guide hole 6h. It is restricted between the lock positions that engage with the retaining portion 6i.

Since the positional relationship between the rotating member 50 and the locking member 60 and the linking relationship with each member at each position are the same as those of the rotating member 5 and the locking member 6 in the above-described embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

(Modification 3)
The connection (lock) of the lock member 6 by the screw structure may be a bayonet type connection.
Specifically, the lock member 6 is provided with a lock pin (engagement portion, not shown) that protrudes outward instead of the female screw portion 6f, and the socket 2 is provided in place of the male screw portion 7b of the enlarged flange portion 7. In addition, a cylindrical tubular portion (not shown) that covers the socket body 8 and a tip portion of the tubular portion that allows the lock pin to enter are opened and diagonally extends in the central axis L direction and the circumferential direction. , An engaging elongated hole (engaged portion, not shown) having an engaging hole (not shown) with which the lock pin that has entered the base end side is engaged is provided.

In this case, for example, the lock member 6 is rotated by rotating the rotating member 5 in a predetermined direction while the lock pin of the lock member 6 is inserted into the engaging elongated hole provided in the tubular portion of the socket 2. However, the lock pin of the lock member 6 spirally moves in the engaging slot and engages with the engaging portion, so that the locked state can be obtained.
The socket 2 may be provided with the lock pin, and the lock member 6 may be provided with the engaging slot directly.

(Modification example 4)
In the above-described embodiment, the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6 can be screwed into the male screw portion 7b of the enlarged diameter flange portion 7 with the plug body 4 completely (all) inserted into the socket body 8. , The insertion of the plug body 4 into the socket body 8 is incomplete, for example, the insertion part 9 of the plug body 4 is almost completely inserted into the cylindrical part 10 of the socket body 8, but the tip surface of the insertion part 9 is. Even in a state where a gap is provided on the base end side in the cylindrical portion 10 without contacting the bottom wall 21b of the inner cylinder 21, the female screw portion 6f of the lock member 6 is the diameter-expanded flange portion 7. It may be possible to screw into the male screw portion 7b.

In this case, when the female screw portion 6f is completely screwed into the male screw portion 7b while the plug main body 4 is incompletely inserted into the socket main body 8, the inward annular protrusion 6d of the lock member 6 becomes the plug case. By contacting the outer step portion 3c of 3 and moving the plug body 4 together with the plug case 3 in the insertion direction B, the plug body 4 is completely inserted into the socket body 8.

(Modification 5)
In the above-described embodiment, the rotating member 5 is fitted onto the plug body 4 so as to be movable in the central axis L direction and rotatably around the central axis L, but cannot be moved in the central axis L direction. As a result, only rotation may be possible. In this case, the rotating member 5 may be at least an annular shape.

C Connector L Central axis 1 Plug 2 Socket 3 Plug case 3a Small diameter part 3b Large diameter part 3c Outer step part 3d Variable groove part 4 Plug body 5 Rotating member 5a Small diameter cylinder part 5b Large diameter cylinder part 5c Inner step part 5d Inward annular protrusion Part 5e Slide groove part 5f Axis groove part 5g Guide rod 5h Retaining part 5i Shaft part 6 Lock member 6a Small diameter cylinder part 6b Large diameter cylinder part 6c Outer step part 6d Inward ring protrusion 6e Slide protrusion 6f Female thread part 6g Outward protrusion Part 6h Guide hole 6i Preventing part 7 Expanded diameter flange part 7a Insertion part 7b Male thread part 7c Groove part 7dO ring 8 Socket body 9 Insertion part 10 Cylindrical part 10a Outward annular protrusion 11 Protrusion part 12 Pin insertion hole 13 Female contact Child 13a, 13b Protrusion 14 Contact holding member 15 Multi-core cable 15a Core wire 16 Retaining metal fitting 17 Exterior body 17a Small diameter part 17b Inward annular ridge 17c Inward annular ridge 17d Invariant groove 18 Groove 19 Convex 20 Inclined cam surface 20a Top 20b Base 21 Inner cylinder 21a Cylinder 21b Bottom wall 23 Entry groove 24 Pin 24a Expanded diameter flange 25 Outward protrusion 26 Outward engagement claw 27 Notch groove 28 Engagement hole 29 Indented groove 50 Rotating member 60 Lock member

Claims (7)

In a connector that can be connected by inserting the plug body of the plug and the socket body of the socket into each other in the axial direction.
Electrical, optical, or fluid connecting means provided on the opposite portions of the plug body and the socket body and connectable to each other.
An engaged portion provided on either the plug body or the socket body, and
The plug body or the socket body is fitted on the other body so as to be rotatable around the axis and movable in the axis direction, and the rotation around the axis causes the engaged portion to rotate in the axial direction. A lock member having an engaging portion that can be locked by tightening the plug body and the socket body, each of which is engaged with and inserted into each other in the axial direction.
It is rotatably fitted to one of the other main bodies around the axis, and is connected to the lock member so as to be relatively non-rotatable around the axis and relatively movable in the axial direction. A rotating member capable of moving the lock member in the axial direction to an engageable position where the tip of the engaging portion contacts the tip of the engaged portion and can be engaged. A lock type connector characterized by having and. The other main body has an annular groove on the outer peripheral surface.
The rotating member is an annular shape, projects inward to the inner peripheral surface, and is externally fitted into the annular groove portion so as to be rotatable around the axis and movable in the axial direction, and the annular groove portion. The lock-type connector according to claim 1, further comprising a regulating protrusion that restricts the movement of the lock member beyond the engageable position by abutting on the end portion. The other main body has a small diameter portion on the tip side of the annular groove portion.
The lock member has a tubular shape, projects inwardly on the inner peripheral surface on the base end side, and is externally fitted to the small diameter portion so as to be rotatable around the axis and movable in the axial direction. The lock type connector according to claim 2, wherein the connector has a protrusion. The lock member is cylindrical and has an outward protrusion that projects outward on the outer peripheral surface.
The rotating member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outward protrusion has an axis groove portion that is relatively non-rotatable around the axis and is movably engaged in the axis direction. Lock type connector. The rotating member has a plurality of guide rods extending in the axial direction, and has a plurality of guide rods.
The lock member has a hole shape in which the tip side opens at a position facing the guide rod and extends in the axial direction, and the guide rod is relatively non-rotatable around the axis and in the axial direction. The lock-type connector according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of guide holes movably inserted into the connector. The lock type connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotating member has a covering portion that covers a covering portion on an outer peripheral surface of the lock member. A plurality of slide ridges protruding in the radial direction and extending in the axial direction are provided on either the inner peripheral surface of the covering portion or the outer peripheral surface of the covering portion.
A groove shape that is recessed in the radial direction and extends in the axial direction on either the inner peripheral surface of the covering portion or the outer peripheral surface of the covering portion, and the slide ridges are formed around the axis. The lock-type connector according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of slide groove portions that are relatively non-rotatable and are fitted so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction are provided, when claim 4 is not cited.

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