JP6901365B2 - Connector cover and connector assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector cover and a connector assembly, for example, a connector cover and a connector assembly that prevent foreign matter from entering the wiring insertion port of the connector.

The wiring that connects the device to the device is provided with a male connector that connects the wiring to the device. Then, by fitting this male connector into the female connector provided in the device, the wiring and the device are fixed in a state where the wiring and the device are electrically connected. Here, the wiring and the connector are connected by fixing the wiring to the connector using a fixing mechanism provided at the wiring insertion port provided in the connector. However, when the connector is viewed from the wiring outlet side with the connector and the wiring connected, it is common that there is a large gap. From the viewpoint of equipment safety, there is a demand to prevent dust from entering this gap. Therefore, a connector cover is provided near the wiring insertion port for connecting the connector and the wiring to prevent dust from entering the wiring insertion port. An example of this connector cover is disclosed in Patent Documents 1-3.

The contents disclosed in Patent Documents 1-3 provide a sealed structure in a portion including a wiring insertion port of a connector to prevent dust or moisture from entering the wiring insertion port.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-149186 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-259608 Patent No. 3264351

However, the connector cover does not necessarily have to have a closed structure depending on the foreign matter to be prevented from entering. In such a case, when a connector cover having a sealed structure as in Patent Document 1-3 is adopted, there is a problem that the time cost required for assembly or the member procurement cost becomes unnecessarily high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the invasion of a target foreign substance with a simple structure.

One aspect of the connector cover of the present invention is a cylindrical tube-shaped connector cover, which is a tube connecting portion connected to a wiring storage tube for bundling a plurality of wires to be inserted into the connector, and a connector side end portion in contact with the connector. And a bellows portion provided between the tube connecting portion and the connector side end portion, and the bellows portion has a member thickness of the apex portion and the valley bottom portion of the unevenness constituting the bellows portion. It is formed so as to be thicker than the member thickness of the foot portion connecting the apex portion and the valley bottom portion.

One aspect of the connector assembly of the present invention is to provide a device insertion part to be inserted into another device, a wiring insertion part provided with a wiring insertion port into which wiring is inserted, and the device insertion part to the other device. A connector having a locking mechanism for fixing, a wiring storage tube for bundling a plurality of wires inserted into the wiring insertion port, an end surface of the wiring insertion portion of the connector provided with the wiring insertion port, and the wiring storage tube. It has a connector cover provided between the two and covers the plurality of wirings, and the connector cover includes a tube connecting portion connected to the wiring storage tube, a connector side end portion in contact with the connector, and the connector cover. The bellows portion has a bellows portion provided between the tube connecting portion and the connector side end portion, and the bellows portion has a member thickness of the apex portion and the valley bottom portion of the unevenness constituting the bellows portion. It is formed so as to be thicker than the member thickness of the foot portion connecting the valley bottom portion and the valley bottom portion.

The connector cover according to the present invention has a simple structure that is not fixed to the connector while having close contact with the connector. Further, the connector assembly according to the present invention can be assembled by a simple assembly process by having a connector cover having a simple structure that is not fixed to the connector while having close contact with the connector.

According to the connector cover and the connector of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of a target foreign substance with a simple structure.

It is a figure explaining the structure of the connector assembly which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the connector assembly which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the connector assembly which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG.

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In order to clarify the explanation, the following description and drawings have been omitted or simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted as necessary.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram for explaining the configuration of the connector assembly 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector assembly 1 according to the first embodiment has a connector cover 10, a wiring storage tube (for example, a corrugated tube 20), and a connector 30. Although not shown in the drawing in FIG. 1, the connector assembly 1 has a wiring to be inserted into the connector 30 in the connector cover 10 and the corrugated tube 20. In the following description, an example in which the corrugated tube 20 is used as the wiring storage tube will be described, but another tube using a flexible resin can also be used as the wiring storage tube.

The connector cover 10 is formed of, for example, a member having excellent heat resistance and elasticity, such as ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM). The corrugated tube 20 is formed of a member having excellent heat resistance such as polypropylene. The connector 30 is made of a hard resin.

The connector cover 10 is provided between an end surface of the wiring insertion portion of the connector 30 where a wiring insertion port (not shown) is provided and the corrugated tube 20, and covers a plurality of wirings. The corrugated tube 20 bundles a plurality of wirings to be inserted into the wiring insertion port. The connector 30 is a device insertion part (the end of the connector 30 on the connector insertion direction side) to be inserted into another device, and a wiring insertion part (on the opposite side of the connector insertion direction) provided with a wiring insertion port into which wiring is inserted. The end of the connector 30) and a lock mechanism for fixing the device insertion part to other devices are provided.

Further, the connector cover 10 has a tube connecting portion 11, a connector side end portion 12, and a bellows portion 13. The tube connecting portion 11 is a portion connected to the corrugated tube 20. The connector side end portion 12 is a portion in contact with the connector 30. The bellows portion 13 is a portion provided between the tube connecting portion 11 and the connector side end portion 12, and the tube is formed in a bellows shape. Further, the bellows portion 13 is formed so that the member thicknesses of the apex portion and the valley bottom portion of the unevenness constituting the bellows portion are thicker than the member thickness of the skirt portion connecting the apex portion and the valley bottom portion.

Here, the connector assembly 1 according to the first embodiment has one of the features in the configuration of the connector cover 10. Therefore, in order to explain the configuration of the connector cover 10 in detail, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly 1 along the line II-II of FIG. Note that FIG. 2 shows the wiring 40 covered by the connector cover 10 and the connector side end portion 12. The wiring 40 is inserted into the wiring insertion port of the connector 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tube connecting portion 11 has a claw shape that is fitted into a groove formed along the outer circumference of the corrugated tube 20. The claw-shaped portion that bites into the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube 20 prevents the connector cover 10 from coming off the corrugated tube 20.

The connector side end portion 12 is an end surface of the connector 30 in the direction opposite to the connector insertion direction (for example, the end surface of the connector 30 in which the connector side end portion 12 is in contact with the connector 30, and hereinafter, the end surface on the wiring insertion port side. In contact with). That is, the connector cover 10 and the connector 30 are not connected, and the connector side end portion 12 is in a deformable state while being in close contact with the wiring insertion port side end portion of the connector 30. Further, the diameter of the connector side end portion 12 is formed to be smaller than the length of the longest side of the wiring insertion port side end portion of the connector 30. Further, referring to FIG. 1, the outer diameter of the connector side end portion 12 is formed to be larger than the length of the shortest side of the wiring insertion port side end portion of the connector 30. As described above, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be clearly seen that the connector side end portion 12 is in a deformable state while being in close contact with the wiring insertion port side end portion of the connector 30.

Further, the outer diameter of the connector side end portion 12 has substantially the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the portion where the apex portion of the bellows portion 13 is located. The outer diameter of the connector side end portion 12 may be larger than the outer diameter of the portion where the apex portion of the bellows portion 13 is located. In this case, the connector cover 10 has a widened shape in which the outer diameter increases as it approaches the connector side end portion 12. Further, the outer diameter of the connector side end portion 12 may be smaller than the outer diameter of the portion where the apex portion of the bellows portion 13 is located. In this case, the connector cover 10 has a tapered shape in which the outer diameter becomes smaller as it approaches the connector side end portion 12. The shape of the entire connector cover 10 is preferably set by the difference between the outer diameter of the connector cover 10 and the area of the end portion of the connector 30 on the wiring insertion port side.

Further, the connector side end portion 12 is formed so as to be thicker than the member thickness of the apex portion of the bellows portion 13. This is to improve the rigidity of the connector side end portion 12 and prevent deformation such as warpage of the connector side end portion 12. In addition, in order to improve the rigidity of the connector side end portion 12, a highly rigid member such as a wire may be inserted in the resin forming the connector side end portion 12. A wire material that is considered to be a member that is harder than the main material of the connector cover 10.

The bellows portion 13 is a bellows-shaped tube. The bellows portion 13 is formed so that the member thicknesses of the apex portion and the valley bottom portion of the unevenness constituting the bellows portion 13 are thicker than the member thickness of the skirt portion connecting the apex portion and the valley bottom portion. Further, the bellows portion 13 is formed so that the angle θ between the apex portion and the valley bottom portion of the unevenness is 80 ° to 100 °, more preferably 85 ° to 95 °.

The connector 30 is a jig difference between the lock mechanism 31 and a fitting jig (for example, a semi-fitting prevention jig 50) that secures a locked state by the lock mechanism 31 at the end on the wiring insertion port side. It has a jig opening. Then, when the connector assembly 1 is inserted into the female connector of another device, the semi-fitting prevention jig 50 for preventing the half-fitting of the lock mechanism 31 is inserted into the jig insertion opening. At this time, since the connector side end portion 12 of the connector cover 10 can be freely deformed along the wiring insertion port side end portion, the connector cover 10 does not interfere with the use of the semi-fitting prevention jig 50. .. That is, by using the connector cover 10 according to the first embodiment, the process of assembling the connector assembly 1 can be simplified.

From the above description, the connector cover 10 of the connector assembly 1 according to the first embodiment is attached so that the tube connecting portion 11 is connected to the corrugated tube 20 and the connector side end portion 12 is in contact with the connector 30. That is, since the connector cover 10 according to the first embodiment only fits into the corrugated tube 20 and does not need to fit into the connector 30, the time required for the assembly process can be shortened. Further, the connector cover 10 of the connector assembly 1 according to the first embodiment can be integrally formed of a resin such as rubber, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed, so that the member procurement cost can be reduced.

Further, since the connector cover 10 of the connector assembly 1 according to the first embodiment is provided so that the end portion 12 on the connector side is in contact with the connector 30, dust is effectively prevented from entering the wiring insertion port of the connector 30. .. At this time, when the connector assembly 1 is attached to the device so as to apply a force for bending the connector cover 10, the bellows of the bent inner portion of the connector cover 10 is crushed and the bent outer portion is stretched. The force is applied. Even in such a case, since the bellows portion 13 of the connector cover 10 has an elastic force, the connector side end portion 12 does not separate from the connector 30. In particular, although it is not known in which direction the connector cover 10 can be bent, the folding angle of the bellows portion of the bellows portion 13 is about 90 °, so that the connector cover 10 is elastic even when the connector cover 10 is bent in any direction. The power becomes high.

Further, the present inventors improve the pressing force against the connector 30 and when the connector cover 10 is bent by making the thickness of the apex portion and the valley bottom portion of the unevenness of the bellows portion 13 thicker than that of the straight portion between them. It was found that it is possible to improve the bendability of the product at the same time. Specifically, increasing the thickness of the apex and valley bottom improves the pressing force against the connector 30, and reducing the thickness of the straight portion improves the bendability of the bellows portion. Further, since the apex and valley bottom of the unevenness of the bellows portion 13 are relatively thick, the resin material flows into the mold at the apex and valley bottom of the unevenness which is originally curved and has poor resin inflow. The property is improved, and the inflow property of the entire connector cover is improved.

In the connector assembly 1 according to the first embodiment, a gap may be formed between the connector cover 10 and the connector 30 when the connector 30 is viewed from the connector insertion direction side. However, in the state where the connector assembly 1 is inserted into the device, or in the process of inserting the connector assembly 1 into the device, the gap faces downward, and the possibility that problematic dust invades through the gap is extremely low. , It does not matter in practice.

In the connector cover 10 according to the first embodiment, the outer diameter of the connector side end portion 12 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the convex portion of the bellows portion 13. As a result, the dust intrusion prevention effect of the connector cover 10 according to the first embodiment can be maximized.

Embodiment 2
In the second embodiment, the connector cover 10a which is a modification of the connector cover 10 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly 2 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the connector cover 10a of the connector assembly 2 according to the second embodiment is obtained by changing the tube connecting portion 11 of the connector cover 10 to the tube connecting portion 11a. The tube connecting portion 11a is formed with an outer shape that can be fitted inside the corrugated tube 20.

As described above, even if the tube connecting portion 11a can be fitted inside the corrugated tube 20, the shape of the tube connecting portion can be freely changed as long as the connector cover 10a cannot be easily removed from the corrugated tube 20. Can be formed.

Further, both the tube connecting portion 11 according to the first embodiment and the tube connecting portion 11a according to the second embodiment have a labyrinth structure in which the meshing portion between the tube connecting portion and the corrugated tube 20 is intricately entangled. .. By adopting such a labyrinth structure, it is possible to prevent dust from entering from the tube connecting portion side.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit.

1, 2 Connector assembly 10 Connector cover 11 Tube connection part 12 Connector side end 13 Bellows part 20 Corrugated tube 30 Connector 31 Lock mechanism 40 Wiring 50 Semi-fitting prevention jig

Claims (11)

Cylindrical tubular connector cover
A tube connection part that is connected to a wiring storage tube that bundles multiple wires that are inserted into the connector,
The end of the connector that comes into contact with the connector in a non-connected state,
It has a bellows portion provided between the tube connecting portion and the connector side end portion, and has.
The bellows portion is a connector cover formed so that the thickness of the apex portion and the valley bottom portion of the unevenness constituting the bellows portion is thicker than the member thickness of the skirt portion connecting the apex portion and the valley bottom portion. .. The connector cover according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the inner portion of the connector cover at the apex and the angle of the outer portion of the connector cover at the valley bottom are formed at approximately 90 degrees. The connector cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer diameter of the connector side end portion is formed to be smaller than the length of the longest side of the end surface of the connector in which the connector side end portion is in contact with the connector cover. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer diameter of the connector side end portion is formed to be larger than the length of the shortest side of the end surface of the connector in which the connector side end portion contacts the connector cover. cover. The connector cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connector side end has an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the portion where the apex of the bellows portion is located. The connector cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connector side end portion is formed so as to be thicker than the member thickness of the apex portion of the bellows portion. The connector cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a wire formed of a member harder than the main material of the connector cover is embedded in the connector side end portion. The connector cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tube connecting portion has a biting structure in which a claw that bites is formed on a surface on the outer peripheral side of the wiring storage tube. The connector cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tube connecting portion is formed with an outer shape that can be fitted inside the wiring storage tube. A device insertion part to be inserted into another device, a wiring insertion part provided with a wiring insertion port into which wiring is inserted, and a connector having a lock mechanism for fixing the device insertion part to the other device.
A wiring storage tube that bundles a plurality of wires that are inserted into the wiring slot,
It has a connector cover provided between an end surface of the wiring insertion portion of the connector where the wiring insertion port is provided and the wiring storage tube, and covers the plurality of wirings.
The connector cover is
A tube connecting portion connected to the wiring storage tube and
The end of the connector that comes into contact with the connector in a non-connected state,
It has a bellows portion provided between the tube connecting portion and the connector side end portion, and has.
The bellows portion is a connector assembly formed so that the member thicknesses of the apex portion and the valley bottom portion of the unevenness constituting the bellows portion are thicker than the member thickness of the skirt portion connecting the apex portion and the valley bottom portion. .. The lock mechanism of the connector is provided with a jig insertion opening that serves as an insertion port for a fitting jig that secures a locked state by the locking mechanism on the end surface on which the wiring insertion port is formed.
The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the connector cover is in contact with the connector so that at least a part of the jig insertion opening is exposed.

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