JP6933559B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector accommodating terminals in which the connection direction of the terminals and the lead-out direction of the electric wire are different.

As a conventional connector of this type, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. As shown in FIG. 13, the connector 100 includes a terminal 101 to which an electric wire W is connected, a connector housing 110 having a terminal accommodating chamber 111 accommodating the terminal 101, a cover 120 attached to the connector housing, and a connector housing. It includes a slider 130 mounted on the 110.

The terminal 101 is composed of a terminal connecting portion 101a connected to the mating terminal and an electric wire connecting portion 101b to which the electric wire W is connected, and has an L-shaped shape. As a result, the connection direction WY1 with the mating terminal and the lead-out direction WY2 of the electric wire W are substantially orthogonal to each other.

The connector housing 110 is provided with an opening 113 that opens into the terminal accommodating chamber 111. The cover 120 closes the opening 113 while being attached to the connector housing 110.

To assemble the connector 100, the terminal 101 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 111 through the opening 113. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the lance 114 of the connector housing 110 is elastically deformed to allow the insertion of the terminal 101. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, when the terminal 101 is inserted to the normal insertion position, the lance 114 of the connector housing 110 is locked to the locking portion 102 of the terminal 101, and the terminal 101 is positioned in the terminal accommodating chamber 111. Will be done. After that, the cover 120 is attached to the connector housing 110 to complete the process.

According to this connector 100, the electric wire W can be drawn out from a direction substantially orthogonal to the connection direction WY1 with the mating terminal.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-84252

However, in the conventional connector 100, the cover 120 may be blocked while the terminal 101 is inserted halfway. If the mating connector is fitted at the position where the terminal 101 is inserted halfway, there is a problem that the connection reliability between the terminal 101 and (not shown) cannot be ensured.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of preventing a terminal from being inserted in the middle.

The present invention has a terminal to which an electric wire is connected and a connection direction with the mating terminal and a lead-out direction of the electric wire are different, and a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating the terminal. A connector housing provided with an opening to be inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber and a cover attached to the connector housing to close the opening are provided, and the terminals have a first locking recess and a second locking recess. The connector housing is provided with a first lance in which the terminal enters and locks in the first locking recess at the normal insertion position, and a first lance located behind the first lance, and the terminal is normally inserted. A second lance that enters and locks into the second locking recess is provided at the position, and the peripheral edge of the protrusion that enters the second locking recess of the second lance is formed on a tapered surface, and the cover has the said. When the connector housing is mounted, a pressing protrusion that enters the terminal accommodating chamber is provided, and when the terminal is inserted halfway, the tapered surface of the protrusion of the second lance is placed on the peripheral edge of the second locking recess of the terminal. In the process of moving the cover to the closed position, the pressing protrusion presses the second lance in the direction of entering the second locking recess, and the terminal is pressed by the pressing force from the tapered surface of the protrusion. Is a connector characterized by moving to a regular insertion position.

According to the present invention, when the opening of the connector housing is closed by the cover when the terminal is in the halfway inserted state, the pressing protrusion of the cover presses the second lance in the direction of entering the second locking recess, and this pressing The tapered surface that receives the pressure acts on the terminal to push the terminal from the mid-insertion position to the regular insertion position, and the terminal moves to the regular insertion position, preventing the terminal from being inserted halfway.

It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of this invention and shows the insertion process of a terminal in the process of assembling a connector. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of this invention and shows the process of closing a cover in the process of assembling a connector. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of this invention and shows the assembly completion state of a connector. An embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a front view of a terminal, and (b) is a d arrow view of (a). An embodiment of the present invention is shown, and is a front view of a connector housing. An embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3, and (b) is an enlarged view of part B of (a). An embodiment of the present invention is shown, and is a perspective view of a connector housing with a cover in an open position. An embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 7, and (b) is an enlarged view of part D of (a). An embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a process of pushing a terminal into a terminal accommodating chamber with a finger, and (b) is an enlarged view of part E of (a). An embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a process of closing an opening with a cover, and (b) is an enlarged view of part F of (a). An embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a pressing protrusion presses a second lance in the process of closing an opening with a cover, and (b) is an enlarged view of a G portion of (a). be. An embodiment of the present invention is shown, where FIG. A conventional example is shown, and it is a perspective view of the main part of a connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional example, and the terminal is inserted in the middle. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional example and inserted the terminal to a normal insertion position.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 12 show an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector 1 includes a terminal 2 to which the terminal of the electric wire W is connected, a connector housing 10 in which the terminal 2 is housed, and a cover 20 attached to the connector housing 10. There is.

The electric wire W is formed of a core wire w1 in which a large number of strands (not marked) are twisted together, and an insulating covering portion w2 that covers the outer periphery of the core wire w1. In the terminal portion of the electric wire W, the covering portion w2 is stripped off and the core wire w1 is exposed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal 2 includes a terminal connection portion 3 electrically connected to a mating terminal (not shown) and an electric wire crimping portion 4 integrally provided in the terminal connection portion 3. There is. A flat frame body 3a in which a leaf spring 3b is housed is provided on the tip end side of the terminal connection portion 3. The flat frame body 3a is arranged at a position facing the connector fitting port of the connector housing 10. The electric wire crimping portion 4 extends in a substantially orthogonal direction from the rear end side portion of the terminal connecting portion 3. That is, the terminal 2 has an L-shaped shape, and the connection direction WY1 with the mating terminal and the lead-out direction WY2 of the electric wire W are formed in a direction substantially at right angles.

The terminal connection portion 4 is provided with a first locking recess 5. The first locking recess 5 is a rectangular hole. A second locking recess 6 is provided at a position behind the insertion of the terminal connecting portion 4 than the first locking recess 5. The second locking recess 6 is a circular hole.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 5 to 8, the connector housing 10 has a housing main body 11 and a housing protrusion 12 projecting in a direction perpendicular to the rear end portion of the housing main body 11. A terminal accommodating chamber 13 is formed in the housing main body 11 and the housing protrusion 12. The terminal accommodating chamber 13 on the housing body 11 side and the terminal accommodating chamber 13 on the housing protrusion 12 side are arranged in substantially right-angled directions. That is, the terminal accommodating chamber 13 is formed in an L shape. The terminal connection portion 3 of the terminal 2 is housed in the terminal storage chamber 13 on the housing body 11 side. The electric wire crimping portion 4 of the terminal 2 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 13 on the housing protrusion 12 side. An electric wire outlet 14 is formed on the side end surface of the housing protrusion 12. An opening 15 is formed on the rear surface side of the terminal accommodating chamber 13. Lock claws 16 are provided at a plurality of locations on the outer surface of the housing body 11 and the housing protrusion 12 on the rear surface side.

As shown in FIG. 9, the housing main body 11 is provided with a first lance 17 and a second lance 18. The first lance 17 is cantilevered and supported by the housing body 11. The tip portion of the first lance 17 on the free end side has a protrusion 17A protruding in front of the terminal accommodating chamber 13. Above the first lance 17, a first space S1 is formed for elastically flexing and deforming the first lance 17 in the direction of exiting from the terminal accommodating chamber 13.

The second lance 18 is cantilevered and supported by the housing body 11. A tip tapered surface 18a is formed on the tip surface which is the free end of the second lance 18. The tip portion of the second lance 18 on the free end side has a protrusion 19 projecting to the rear position of the terminal accommodating chamber 13. The protrusion 19 is a circular protrusion. The protrusion 19 is formed to be larger than the dimension of the second locking recess 6 of the terminal. A tapered surface 19a is formed on the entire peripheral edge of the protrusion 19. Above the second lance 18, a second space S2 is formed for elastically flexing and deforming the second lance 18 in the direction of exiting from the terminal accommodating chamber 13.

The cover 20 is connected to the connector housing 10 via a hinge portion 30, as shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. The cover 20 is provided with a plurality of elastic locking frames 21. The cover 20 is attached to the connector housing 10 by locking each elastic locking frame 21 to each lock claw 16 of the connector housing 10. The cover 20 closes the opening 15 of the connector housing 10 in the mounted state. The cover 20 can be positioned to release the opening 15 of the connector housing 10 by releasing the lock of the elastic locking frame 21 to the lock claw 16.

A pressing protrusion 22 and a backlash filling protrusion 25 are provided so as to project from the inner surface of the cover 20. The pressing protrusion 22 is provided from a root portion 23 and a tip protrusion 24 extending from the root portion 23. The tip surface of the tip protrusion 24 is formed on the tip tapered surface 24a. The tip protrusion 24 is formed to have a wall thickness (width) that can be inserted into the second space S2. The upper surface of the tip protrusion 24 is flush with the root portion 23, but the lower surface of the tip protrusion 24 is formed higher than the lower surface of the root portion 23. As a result, the gap dimension d1 (shown in FIG. 8A) between the tip protrusion 24 of the pressing protrusion 22 and the backlash filling protrusion 25 is the second lance in a state of being fitted into the second locking recess 6 of the terminal 2. The dimensions are set so that the 18 and the terminal 2 are press-fitted. The gap dimension d2 (shown in FIG. 8A) between the root portion 23 of the pressing projection 22 and the backlash filling projection 25 is set to a dimension into which the terminal 2 can be inserted.

Next, the procedure for assembling the connector 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 20 is set to the open position. Then, the terminal 2 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 13 through the opening 15 of the connector housing 10. The electric wire W connected to the terminal 2 is guided to the outside from the electric wire outlet 14.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover 20 at the release position is attached to the connector housing 10 to close the opening 15 (see FIG. 3).

In the insertion work of the terminal 2 during the assembly process of the connector 1, as shown in FIG. 9A, since the terminal 2 has an L-shaped shape, the operator can use his / her finger, for example, to insert the terminal 2 into the terminal connection portion 3. This is usually done by pressing the rear end face. Then, it is assumed that the operator misunderstands that the terminal 2 has been inserted to the normal insertion position, and the terminal 2 stops pressing in the halfway inserted state.

Here, in the halfway insertion state, there are cases where the terminal 2 is at the solid line position in FIG. 9 (b) and where the terminal 2 is at the virtual line position in FIG. 9 (b).

In the case of the solid line position in FIG. 9B, the first lance 17 is not locked in the first locking recess 5 of the terminal 2, and the tapered surface 19a of the protrusion 19 of the second lance 18 is the terminal 2. The position is such that it does not rest on the front peripheral edge of the second locking recess 6.

In the case of the virtual line position shown in FIG. 9B, the first lance 17 is not locked in the first locking recess 5 of the terminal 2, and the tapered surface 19a of the protrusion 19 of the second lance 18 is the terminal. It is a position (see FIG. 10B) on the front peripheral edge of the second locking recess 6 of 2.

Next, the work of attaching the cover 20 to the connector housing 10 is performed. Even if the operator tries to attach the cover 20 to the connector housing 10 in the halfway inserted state at the solid line position in FIG. 9B, the cover 20 is pressed. The tip protrusion 24 of the protrusion 22 abuts on a surface other than the tip tapered surface 18a of the second lance 18, and the cover 20 cannot be attached to the connector housing 10. As a result, the mid-insertion state can be detected. In this case, the operator presses the rear end surface of the terminal connection portion 3 of the terminal 2 again with a finger, for example, and inserts the terminal 2 into the normal insertion position.

When the operator attaches the cover 20 to the connector housing 10 in the state of being inserted halfway at the virtual line position of FIG. 9B, as shown in FIG. 10, first, the tip protrusion of the pressing protrusion 22 The tip tapered surfaces 24a and 18a of both the 24 and the second lance 18 abut. When the cover 20 is attached (moved to the closed position) from this position, as shown in FIG. 11, the tip protrusion 24 of the pressing projection 22 becomes the second space by the guide function of both tip tapered surfaces 24a and 18a. Proceeding in the direction of entering S2 (see the arrow (1) in FIG. 11B), the second lance 18 is pressed toward the terminal accommodating chamber 13. Here, since the tapered surface 19a of the protrusion 19 of the second lance 8 is placed on the front peripheral edge of the second locking recess 6 of the terminal 2, the pressing force acting on the second lance 18 (terminal accommodating chamber 13). The second lance 18 is displaced downward by the pressing force to the side (see the arrow (2) in FIG. 11 (b)), and the terminal 2 is in the direction of the normal insertion position (arrow (3) in FIG. 11 (b)). See).

When the cover 20 moves to the closed position, the terminal 2 moves to the normal insertion position as shown in FIG. Then, the first lance 17 is locked in the first locking recess 5 of the terminal 2, and the second lance 18 is locked in the second locking recess 6 of the terminal 2. As a result, the terminal 2 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 13 in a double-locked state.

At the closed position of the cover 20, as shown in detail in FIG. 12B, the second lance 18 and the terminal 2 are press-fitted between the tip protrusion 24 of the pressing protrusion 22 and the backlash filling protrusion 25. Further, the protrusion 19 of the second lance 18 is fitted into the second locking recess 6 in a state where the tapered surface 19a is in contact with the entire peripheral edge of the second locking recess 6 of the terminal 2. Therefore, even if there is a dimensional error between the protrusion 19 of the second lance 18 and the second locking recess 6 of the terminal 2, the protrusion 19 of the second lance 18 is surely on the peripheral edge of the second locking recess 6 of the terminal 2. It is locked in a state of being in contact with.

Specifically, when the peripheral edge of the protrusion 19 is a vertical surface instead of the tapered surface 19a, if the diameter of the protrusion 19 is smaller than the diameter of the second locking recess 6, rattling occurs, and conversely, the diameter of the protrusion 19 increases. If the diameter is larger than the diameter of the second locking recess 6, the protrusion will not be locked in the second locking recess.

As described above, in the connector 1, the terminal 2 is provided with the first locking recess 5 and the second locking recess 6, and the connector housing 10 is provided with the first locking recess in the terminal 2 at the normal insertion position. A first lance 17 that enters and locks the first lance 17 and a second lance 18 that is located behind the first lance 17 and that the terminal 2 enters and locks into the second locking recess 6 at the normal insertion position are provided. The peripheral edge of the protrusion 19 that enters the second locking recess 6 of the second lance 18 is formed on the tapered surface 19a, and the cover 20 is provided with a pressing protrusion 22 that enters the terminal accommodating chamber 13 with the connector housing 10 attached. In the state where the terminal 2 is inserted halfway, the tapered surface 19a of the protrusion 19 of the second lance 18 is placed on the peripheral edge of the second locking recess 6 of the terminal 2, and the cover 20 is moved to the closed position in the process of moving. The pressing projection 22 presses the second lance 18 in the direction of entering the second locking recess 6, and the terminal 2 is moved to the normal insertion position by the pressing force from the tapered surface 19a of the projection 19.

Therefore, when the opening 15 of the connector housing 10 is closed by the cover 20 when the terminal 2 is in the halfway inserted state, the pressing protrusion 22 of the cover 20 presses the second lance 18 in the direction of entering the second locking recess 6. Then, the tapered surface 19a that receives the pressing force acts on the terminal 2 to move the pressing force from the midway insertion position to the normal insertion position, and the terminal 2 moves to the normal insertion position. As a result, it is possible to prevent the terminal 2 from being inserted halfway, and the connection reliability between the terminals is surely ensured.

When the connector housing 10 is mounted, both surfaces of the pressing protrusion 22 and the second lance 18 that abut against each other are formed on the tip tapered surfaces 24a and 18a. Therefore, guided by both tip tapered surfaces 24a and 18a, the pressing projection 22 reliably presses the second lance 18 in the direction of entering the second locking recess 6. Either one of the pressing protrusion 22 and the second lance 18 that abuts against each other may be formed as the tip tapered surface.

The cover 20 is provided with a backlash-filling protrusion 25 that sandwiches the terminal 2 at the normal insertion position and the second lance 18 locked in the second locking recess 6 with the pressing protrusion 22. Therefore, the locking of the second lance 18 to the terminal 2 is strengthened, and the vibration of the terminal 2 can be suppressed.

The cover 20 is connected to the connector housing 10 via a hinge portion 30. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced. Since the cover 20 is connected to the connector housing 10, workability when the cover 20 is closed / released is good. The cover 20 may be a single component without being connected to the connector housing 10.

In this embodiment, the first locking recess 5 is a square through hole, but it may be a bottomed hole as long as the first lance 17 can be locked. The shape of the hole does not matter. The second locking recess 6 is a circular through hole, but it may be a bottomed hole as long as the protrusion 19 of the second lance 18 can be inserted and locked. The shape of the hole does not matter.

The tip tapered surface 18a of the second lance 18, the tip tapered surface 24a of the pressing protrusion 22, and the tapered surface 19a of the protrusion 19 are both straight surfaces, but any surface shape that can exhibit the guide function is sufficient, and is an arc surface. You may.

1 Connector 2 Terminal 5 1st Locking Recess 6 2nd Locking Recess 10 Connector Housing 13 Terminal Storage Room 15 Opening 17 1st Lance 18 2nd Lance 18a Tip Tapered Surface 19 Protrusion 19a Tapered Surface 20 Cover 22 Pressing Projection 24a Tip Tapered surface 25 Backlash packing protrusion 30 Hinge part W Electric wire

Claims (4)

A terminal to which an electric wire is connected and the connection direction with the mating terminal and the lead-out direction of the electric wire are different,
A connector housing having a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating the terminal, having an opening in the terminal accommodating chamber, and having an opening for inserting the terminal into the terminal accommodating chamber.
It is attached to the connector housing and includes a cover that closes the opening.
The terminal is provided with a first locking recess and a second locking recess.
In the connector housing, the terminal is located at a position rearward from the first lance and a first lance that enters and locks into the first locking recess at the normal insertion position, and the terminal is at the normal insertion position. A second lance that enters and locks into the two locking recesses is provided, and the peripheral edge of the protrusion that enters the second locking recess of the second lance is formed on a tapered surface.
The cover is provided with a pressing protrusion that enters the terminal accommodating chamber when the connector housing is attached.
In the halfway inserted state of the terminal, the tapered surface of the protrusion of the second lance is placed on the peripheral edge of the second locking recess of the terminal, and the pressing protrusion is in the process of moving the cover to the closed position. A connector characterized in that the second lance is pressed in a direction of entering the second locking recess, and the terminal is moved to a normal insertion position by a pressing force from the tapered surface of the protrusion. The connector according to claim 1.
A connector characterized in that, in the mounted state of the connector housing, both surfaces of the pressing protrusion and the second lance that abut against each other, or one of the surfaces, is formed as a tip tapered surface. The connector according to claim 1 or 2.
The cover is characterized by being provided with a backlash-filling protrusion that sandwiches the terminal at the normal insertion position and the second lance locked in the second locking recess with the pressing protrusion. Connector to do. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The cover is a connector characterized in that it is connected to the connector housing via a hinge portion.

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