JP7292982B2 - Connectors and wires with connectors - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a connector and an electric wire with a connector.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a connector and an electric wire with a connector, after a terminal fitting is physically and electrically connected to an end of an electric wire, the terminal fitting is accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber from a terminal accommodating opening of a housing. In the housing, terminal insertion openings for mating terminal fittings are formed at one end in the connector inserting/removing direction between the mating connector, and terminal receiving openings are formed at the other end in the connector inserting/removing direction. The terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber from the opening toward the terminal insertion opening. A connector and an electric wire with a connector are provided with a terminal locking part (a so-called retainer) that locks a locked portion of the terminal metal fitting with a locking portion in order to prevent the terminal metal fitting from coming out of the terminal receiving chamber. (Patent Document 1 below). The terminal locking part is a separate part assembled to the housing, and is relatively moved with respect to the housing so that the locked part of the terminal fitting is locked by the locking part inserted into the terminal receiving chamber. Further, as a connector and an electric wire with a connector, there is known one having a plurality of connected split connectors (Patent Document 2 below).

JP-A-2008-235050 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-217358

By the way, in the conventional connector and the electric wire with the connector, when performing the assembling work, it is necessary to assemble the terminal locking parts, and it is necessary to pay attention not to forget the assembling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector and a connector-equipped electric wire that can improve assembly workability.

In order to achieve the above object, a connector according to the present invention comprises a plurality of split connectors for connecting housings of adjacent ones, and the split connectors are physically and electrically connected to mating terminal fittings of a mating connector. and the housing for accommodating the terminal fitting physically and electrically connected to the end of the electric wire, wherein the housing includes the terminal in which the terminal fitting is accommodated in the accommodation completion position. a housing chamber, a non-locking position in which the terminal fitting at the housing completion position in its own terminal housing chamber cannot be locked, and a terminal fitting at the housing completion position in its own terminal housing chamber can be locked. and a locking body capable of being displaced between two locking positions, wherein the locking body engages the mating housing in conjunction with the connecting operation of the two adjacent housings to be connected. The housing is formed so as to be displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position while being pushed, and the housing moves the locking body to the terminal receiving chamber between the unlocked position and the locking position. It is characterized by having a rotating structure for rotating between the locking position .

Further, the housing is an opening of the terminal accommodating chamber of itself, is formed at one end in the connector inserting/removing direction between the mating connector, and is used when inserting the mating terminal fitting into the terminal accommodating chamber of itself. The terminal insertion opening is an opening separate from the terminal accommodating chamber, and is formed at the other end in the connector inserting/removing direction, and accommodates the terminal fitting and the end of the electric wire in the connected state in the terminal accommodating chamber. and a housing connecting structure for connecting the two housings along a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction between the two adjacent housings to be connected, The rotating structure is a shaft parallel to the connector inserting/removing direction, and is a rotating shaft that rotates the locking body to be rotated between the unlocked position and the locked position. It is desirable to have

In addition, a plurality of connecting connectors each including two split connectors connecting the housings are provided, and the two adjacent connecting connectors have a first connecting portion of one of the connecting connectors and the other of the connecting connectors. It is preferable that the housing includes a connector connecting structure that connects the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion by connecting the second connecting portion.

Further, the housing is an opening of the terminal accommodating chamber of itself, is formed at one end in the connector inserting/removing direction between the mating connector, and is used when inserting the mating terminal fitting into the terminal accommodating chamber of itself. The terminal insertion opening is an opening separate from the terminal accommodating chamber, and is formed at the other end in the connector inserting/removing direction, and accommodates the terminal fitting and the end of the electric wire in the connected state in the terminal accommodating chamber. and the locking bodies provided at one end and the other end in the direction perpendicular to the connector inserting/removing direction. It is desirable to provide a housing connecting structure for connecting the two housings along a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction and the arranging direction of the locking bodies.

Moreover, it is desirable that the housing has a plurality of the terminal accommodating chambers.

In order to achieve the above object, an electric wire with a connector according to the present invention comprises an electric wire and a plurality of split connectors for connecting housings of adjacent ones, and the split connectors are attached to mating terminal fittings of a mating connector. a terminal fitting that is physically and electrically connected; and a housing that houses the terminal fitting that is physically and electrically connected to an end of the electric wire, wherein the housing is configured such that the terminal fitting is A terminal accommodating chamber accommodated in an accommodation completion position, an unlocking position in which the terminal fitting at the accommodation completion position in its own terminal accommodation chamber cannot be locked, and the accommodation completion position in its own terminal accommodation chamber. a locking body that can be displaced between a locking position where the terminal fitting can be locked, and the locking body interlocks with the connecting operation of the two adjacent housings to be connected. and is pushed by the mating housing to be displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position. between the unlocked position and the locked position .

In the connector and the electric wire with the connector according to the present invention, it is not necessary to move the terminal locking component prepared as a separate component from the housing from the unlocking position to the locking position in a dedicated work process. That is, in this connector and the electric wire with the connector, the two housings to be connected are connected, and at the same time, the locking body is displaced from the unlocked position to the locking position, and the locking body moves the terminal accommodating chamber. The accommodated terminal fitting can be locked at the accommodation completion position. Therefore, the connector and the electric wire with the connector according to the present invention do not require a step of assembling the terminal locking part to the housing, so that the assembling workability can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connector and an electric wire with a connector according to an embodiment, and is an exploded perspective view before connecting split connectors. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and is an exploded perspective view showing a state before connecting the split connectors from another angle. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and is an exploded perspective view showing a state before connecting the split connectors from another angle. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and is a perspective view after connecting the split connectors. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and is a perspective view of the state after the split connectors are connected, as seen from another angle. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the first split connector. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the first split connector viewed from another angle. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the second split connector. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the second split connector viewed from another angle. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and is a perspective view for explaining a step of connecting the split connectors. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 11. FIG. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and are perspective views for explaining a step of connecting the split connectors. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 13. FIG. FIG. 15 is a view showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and is a perspective view for explaining a step of connecting the split connectors. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 15. FIG. 17A and 17B are diagrams showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and are perspective views for explaining a step of connecting the split connectors. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 17. FIG. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and is a perspective view for explaining a step of connecting the split connectors. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 19. FIG. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a connector and an electric wire with a connector according to the embodiment, and is a perspective view explaining a connecting step of the split connectors. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 21. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of the embodiment, and is a perspective view after connecting the connecting connector. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a connector and a connector-equipped electric wire of Modification 1, and is an exploded perspective view before connecting split connectors. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a connector and an electric wire with a connector of Modification 1, and is a plan view before connecting split connectors. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 26. FIG. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of Modification 1, and is a plan view after the split connectors are connected. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 28. FIG. 30 is a top view showing a split connector of Modification 1. FIG. 31 is a side view showing a split connector of Modification 1. FIG. 32 is a plan view of the split connector of Modification 1 as viewed from the terminal insertion opening side. FIG. FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of Modification 1, and is a plan view before being fitted and connected to the mating connector. FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the connector and the electric wire with the connector of Modification 1, and is a plan view after being fitted and connected to the mating connector. FIG. 35 is a plan view showing a step of forming twisted pair wires. FIG. 36 is a plan view showing a step of forming twisted pair wires. FIG. 37 is a plan view showing a step of forming twisted pair wires. FIG. 38 is a plan view showing a step of forming twisted pair wires. FIG. 39 is a plan view showing a step of forming twisted pair wires. FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a connector and an electric wire with a connector of Modification 2, and is an exploded perspective view before connecting the split connectors. FIG. 41 is a diagram showing a connector and an electric wire with a connector of Modification 2, and is a perspective view after the split connectors are connected. 42 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 41. FIG. FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing a housing of Modification 2. FIG. FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the housing of Modification 2 as seen from another angle. FIG. 45 is a view showing a connector and an electric wire with a connector of Modification 2, and is a perspective view for explaining a connecting step of split connectors. 46 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 45. FIG. FIG. 47 is a view showing a connector and a connector-equipped electric wire of Modification 2, and is a perspective view for explaining a step of connecting split connectors. 48 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 47. FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 41. FIG. FIG. 50 is a diagram showing a connector and an electric wire with a connector of Modification 2, and is a perspective view after connecting the connecting connector. FIG. 51 is a view showing a connector and an electric wire with a connector of Modification 2, and is a perspective view showing a modification of the connector coupling structure.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, embodiment of the connector which concerns on this invention, and an electric wire with a connector is described in detail based on drawing. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

[Embodiment]
One embodiment of a connector and an electric wire with a connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 24. FIG.

Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 6 indicates the connector of this embodiment. Reference numeral 2 in FIGS. 1 to 6 denotes an electric wire with a connector according to the present embodiment, in which a connector 1 is attached to the end of the electric wire We. Further, reference numeral 3 in FIGS. 1 to 6 indicates the split connector of this embodiment. Further, reference numeral 4 in FIGS. 4 to 6 indicates a connecting connector of this embodiment in which two split connectors 3 are connected.

The connector 1 comprises a plurality of split connectors 3 (Figs. 1 to 6). This connector 1 is integrated by connecting the respective split connectors 3 . In this connector 1, split connectors 3 are provided with terminal fittings and housings, and the housings of adjacent split connectors 3 are connected to each other (FIGS. 1 to 6).

The connector 1 may be provided with a plurality of terminal fittings having the same shape, or may be provided with terminal fittings having different shapes. In this example, all split connectors 3 forming the connector 1 are provided with terminal fittings 10 of the same shape (FIGS. 6 to 10).

Further, the connector 1 may be provided with a plurality of housings having the same shape, or may be provided with housings having different shapes. In this example, two different-shaped housings (first housing 20A and second housing 20B) are mixed, and the pair of two different-shaped housings (first housing 20A and second housing 20B) are combined. They are connected by a housing connecting structure 30 which will be described later (FIGS. 1 to 6). Hereinafter, the split connector 3 provided with the first housing 20A will be referred to as the first split connector 3A, and the split connector 3 provided with the second housing 20B will be referred to as the second split connector 3B. However, the first housing 20A and the second housing 20B shown here have the same shape except for the part related to the housing connection structure 30. As shown in FIG. Therefore, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the first housing 20A and the second housing 20B may be collectively referred to as the housing 20, and the first split connector 3A and the second split connector 3B are collectively referred to as the split connector 3. It is sometimes called

The connector-equipped electric wire 2 includes an electric wire We for each split connector 3 in addition to the plurality of split connectors 3 (FIGS. 1 to 6). In this connector-equipped electric wire 2, a terminal fitting 10 is physically and electrically connected to the end of the electric wire We for each split connector 3 (FIGS. 7 to 10).

The terminal fitting 10 is made of a conductive material such as metal. The terminal fitting 10 is physically and electrically connected to a terminal connection portion 11 physically and electrically connected to a mating terminal fitting (not shown) of the mating connector, and to the end of the electric wire We. and a wire connecting portion 12 (FIGS. 6 to 10).

One of the terminal connecting portion 11 and the mating terminal connecting portion (not shown) of the mating terminal fitting is shaped like a female terminal, and the other is shaped like a male terminal. In this example, the terminal connecting portion 11 is formed in the shape of a rectangular tubular female terminal, and the mating terminal connecting portion is formed in the shape of a male terminal that is fitted inside the terminal connecting portion 11 . In the terminal connection portion 11, the mating terminal connection portion is inserted along the cylinder axis direction from an opening at one end in the cylinder axis direction. Therefore, here, the cylindrical axis direction of the terminal connection portion 11 is the terminal insertion/extraction direction between the terminal connection portion 11 and the mating terminal connection portion, and the connector insertion/extraction direction between the connector 1 and the mating connector. .

The wire connection portion 12 is arranged on the other end side of the terminal connection portion 11 in the cylinder axis direction, and allows the physically and electrically connected electric wire We to be pulled out along the cylinder axis direction. For example, the wire connecting portion 12 is physically and electrically connected to the end of the electric wire We by crimping the core wire We1 of the end of the electric wire We (FIGS. 6 and 7). .

The housing 20 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. This housing 20 has a terminal accommodating chamber 21 in which the terminal fitting 10 is accommodated (FIGS. 1 to 10). The terminal accommodating chamber 21 allows the terminal fitting 10 to be inserted to the accommodation completion position, and accommodates the terminal fitting 10 at the accommodation completion position. Therefore, the housing 20 allows the terminal fitting 10 physically and electrically connected to the end of the wire We to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 21 at the accommodation completion position.

The terminal connecting portion 11 of the terminal fitting 10 in the terminal accommodating chamber 21 is fitted and connected to the counterpart terminal connecting portion of the counterpart terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 21 . Accordingly, the housing 20 is an opening of its own terminal accommodating chamber 21, and is formed at one end in the connector inserting/removing direction between the mating connector and used when inserting the mating terminal fitting into its own terminal accommodating chamber 21. It has an insertion port 22 (FIGS. 1, 4 to 7 and 9). Further, the housing 20 is another opening of its own terminal accommodating chamber 21 and is formed at the other end in the connector inserting/removing direction, and accommodates the connected terminal fitting 10 and the end of the wire We in its own terminal accommodating chamber 21 . 2, 3, 6, 8 and 10). The terminal housing opening 23 is also used as a wire outlet through which the wire We whose end is physically and electrically connected to the wire connection portion 12 of the terminal fitting 10 is drawn out of the terminal housing chamber 21 .

In the connector 1 and the connector-equipped wire 2 of this embodiment, the housing 20 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 21 . The plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 21 are arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction. This exemplary housing 20 has two terminal receiving chambers 21 .

Further, the housing 20 has a non-locking position where locking of the terminal fittings 10 at the accommodation completion position in its own terminal accommodating chamber 21 is impossible, and a locking position of the terminal fittings 10 at the accommodation completion position in its own terminal accommodating chamber 21 . 1 to 7, 9 and 10). The housing 20 has a locking body receiving chamber 25 for containing the locking body 24 in the locking position (FIGS. 1 to 8 and 10). The housing 20 itself has an engaging body 24 and an engaging body accommodating chamber 25 for engaging the terminal fitting 10 accommodated in its own terminal accommodating chamber 21 . The locking body 24 may be formed integrally with the housing 20 as a part of the housing 20, or may be formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin as a separate part from the housing 20. , may be assembled as a part of this housing 20 . In this illustration, the locking body 24 integrally molded with the housing 20 is taken as an example.

The locking body 24 has a locking portion (hereinafter referred to as "first locking portion") 24a for locking the terminal fitting 10 at the locking position (FIGS. 1 to 3, 6, and 6). 7, FIGS. 9 and 10). On the other hand, the terminal fitting 10 has a locked portion (hereinafter referred to as "first locked portion") 13 to be locked by the locking portion 24a (FIGS. 6 to 10). When the locking body 24 is in the locking position, the first locking portion 24a has a first locked portion on the terminal receiving opening 23 side of the first locked portion 13 of the terminal fitting 10 at the accommodation completion position. By locking the terminal fitting 13, relative movement of the terminal fitting 10 toward the terminal receiving opening 23 is suppressed. Therefore, in this example, in order to keep the positional deviation of the terminal fitting 10 from the accommodation completion position within a design allowable range, the first locked portion 13 of the terminal fitting 10 at the accommodation completion position and the locking body at the locking position are arranged. 24 and the first locking portion 24a is set. For example, in the terminal fitting 10 , the end face of the terminal connecting portion 11 on the wire connecting portion 12 side is used as the first locked portion 13 . In the locking body 24, the wall surface on the side of the terminal insertion opening 22 in the connector insertion/removal direction is used as the first locking portion 24a. Here, the terminal fittings 10 of the respective terminal accommodating chambers 21 are locked by the wall surface (first locking portion 24a).

Here, the two adjacent housings 20 to be connected (the first housing 20A and the second housing 20B) are connected along the direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction. A housing connecting structure 30 is provided between the two housings 20 to connect the two housings 20 along the direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6 to 10). For example, the two housings 20 to be connected shown here are formed to be connected to each other using the outer wall surface 20a ₁ of each outer wall 20a as a joint surface ( FIG _. And, they are connected along the direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction. The housing connecting structure 30 is configured to enable connecting operation of each housing 20 along the housing connecting direction.

The housing connecting structure 30 shown here includes a first connecting portion 31 that one of two adjacent housings 20 to be connected (first housing 20A) has, and a first connecting portion 31 that the other of them (second housing 20B) has. 2 connections 32 (FIGS. 1-4 and 6-10). The housing connecting structure 30 connects the two housings 20 to be connected and maintains the mutual connected state by connecting the first connecting portion 31 and the second connecting portion 32 together.

In this housing connecting structure 30, the first connecting portion 31 is formed as a convex protrusion, and the second connecting portion 32 is formed as a concave groove. The first connecting portion 31 protrudes from the outer wall surface 20a ₁ of the outer wall 20a of the first housing 20A and extends along the outer wall surface 20a ₁ in a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction (housing connecting direction). Department. The first connecting portion 31 is formed so that the cross section orthogonal to its extending direction (connecting direction with the second connecting portion 32) is a trapezoid (here, an isosceles trapezoid) prism (Fig. 1 4 and 6 to 10). The first connecting portion 31 has its trapezoidal upper base located on the side of the outer wall surface _20a1 of the first housing 20A, and protrudes toward the lower base longer than the upper base. The second connecting portion 32 is a groove formed by recessing the outer wall surface 20a ₁ of the outer wall 20a of the second housing 20B and extending along the outer wall surface 20a ₁ in a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction (housing connecting direction). is. In accordance with the shape of the first connecting portion 31, the second connecting portion 32 has a trapezoidal (here, isosceles trapezoidal) corner in a cross section perpendicular to its extending direction (connecting direction with the first connecting portion 31). It is formed to be a columnar groove (Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 10). The trapezoidal upper base side of the second connecting portion 32 is arranged on the side of the outer wall surface _20a1 of the second housing 20B, and is recessed toward the lower base side longer than the upper base. In the housing connecting structure 30, the first connecting portion 31 and the second connecting portion 32 form such a trapezoidal shape, so that the two adjacent housings 20 to be connected can be held in the connected state. .

The housing connecting structure 30 includes a plurality of combinations of the first connecting portion 31 and the second connecting portion 32 that make a pair. In this example, one set is provided for each of the terminal insertion opening 22 side and the terminal receiving opening 23 side in the connector inserting/removing direction. However, a pair of the first connecting portion 31 and the second connecting portion 32 on the terminal insertion opening 22 side is divided into three parts so that a second locking portion 26 (to be described later) is provided on the outer wall 20 a of the housing 20 .

The locking body 24 and the locking body receiving chamber 25 have a housing connecting structure 30, and along the arrangement direction of the two terminal receiving chambers 21, an outer wall 20a forming a wall surface of the two terminal receiving chambers 21 is provided. provided (FIGS. 1-3, 7 and 10). The two adjacent housings 20 to be connected are accommodated while inserting the engaging bodies 24 of their own housings 20 into their own engaging body accommodating chambers 25 in conjunction with the connecting operation. Therefore, the locking body 24 is formed to be displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position while being pushed by the mating housing 20 in conjunction with the connecting operation of the two adjacent housings 20 to be connected. be.

The housing 20 has a rotating structure 40 for rotating its own locking body 24 with respect to its own terminal receiving chamber 21 between the unlocked position and the locked position (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7). ). The locking body 24 and the rotating structure 40 cause the locking body 24 at the unlocking position to protrude from the outer wall surface 20a ₁ and accommodate the locking body 24 at the locking position in the locking body housing chamber 25 (that is, The locking portion 24a of the locking body 24 at the locking position is accommodated in the terminal receiving chamber 21. As shown in FIG. The rotation structure 40 shown here is a shaft parallel to the connector insertion/removal direction, and rotates the locking body 24 to be rotated between the unlocked position and the locked position. It has an axis 41 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7). In this example, a living hinge is provided as the rotating structure 40, and the housing 20 and the locking body 24 are integrally molded via this living hinge. When the housing 20 and the engaging body 24 are prepared as separate parts, the rotating structure 40 may be provided with a rotating shaft 41 in one of the housing 20 and the engaging body 24, and A bearing for the rotating shaft 41 may be provided on the other of the two.

In this housing 20, the rotating structure 40 is arranged so as to be closer to the other housing 20 side in the housing connecting direction. The locking body 24 at the unlocking position protrudes beyond the outer wall surface 20a ₁ in a direction perpendicular to the outer wall surface 20a ₁ with the rotation structure 40 as a starting point. The engaging body 24 at the unlocking position is formed with an inclined surface 24b that gradually approaches the mating housing 20 side in the housing coupling direction as it protrudes (FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 3). 7 to 10). The inclination of the inclined surface 24b starts from the living hinge as the rotation structure 40. As shown in FIG. Further, the engaging body 24 at the unlocking position is formed with an abutment surface 24c which is a wall surface continuous with the inclined surface 24b on the protruding direction side and extends along the protruding direction and the connector insertion/removal direction (Fig. 1 to 3 and 7 to 10).

In the locking body 24 at the unlocked position, by starting to connect the two adjacent housings 20 to be connected, the mating housing 20 comes into contact with the contact surface 24c, and the mating housing 20 is pushed. Power begins to be applied (FIGS. 11 and 12). As a result, the engaging body 24 starts rotating around the rotating shaft 41 (FIGS. 13 and 14). In this locking body 24, as the connecting operation between the housings 20 progresses, the application point of the pushing force from the mating housing 20 shifts to the inclined surface 24b (FIGS. 15 to 18). Therefore, as the connecting operation between the housings 20 further progresses, the engaging body 24 is pushed by the mating housing 20 along the inclined surface 24b, and the rotating shaft 41 moves to the engaging position. (Figs. 19 to 22). In this illustration, the connection operation between the housings 20 is further advanced to complete the connection between the housings 20 (FIGS. 4 and 23).

By the way, the terminal fitting 10 has a locked portion (hereinafter referred to as a "second locked portion") 14 different from the first locked portion 13 (see FIGS. 6, 7 and 7). 10). The second locked portion 14 is provided at the end of the terminal connection portion 11 opposite to the wire connection portion 12 . The second locked portion 14 protrudes at its end in a direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction. The housing 20 has a second locking portion that locks the second locked portion 14 closer to the terminal accommodating opening 23 than the second locked portion 14 of the terminal fitting 10 accommodated in its own terminal accommodating chamber 21 . 26 (FIG. 6). The second locking portion 26 is a flexible so-called lance, and can be elastically deformed between a locked state and an unlocked state with respect to the second locked portion 14 . In this example, the second engaged portion 14 of the terminal fitting 10 at the accommodation completion position and the second locking portion 26 of the housing 20 are arranged so as to keep the displacement of the terminal fitting 10 from the accommodation completion position within a design allowable range. Set the interval between

The connecting connector 4 is composed of two split connectors 3 (first split connector 3A and second split connector 3B) that connect the housings 20 (first housing 20A and second housing 20B). The connector 1 of the present embodiment may be configured with only one linking connector 4 or may be configured with a plurality of linking connectors 4 . The connector 1 of this embodiment is provided with a connector connecting structure 50 for connecting two adjacent connecting connectors 4 so that a plurality of connecting connectors 4 can be provided regardless of which configuration is adopted. (Figs. 1 to 10). FIG. 24 shows the state after the two connecting connectors 4 are connected by the connector connecting structure 50 .

The connector connection structure 50 includes a first connection portion 51 possessed by one of two adjacent connection connectors 4 and a second connection portion 52 possessed by the other of them (Figs. 1 to 10 and Figs. 24). By connecting the first connecting portion 51 and the second connecting portion 52, the connector connecting structure 50 connects two adjacent connecting connectors 4 and maintains the mutual connected state. This connector connection structure 50 may connect the first connection portion 51 and the second connection portion 52 along the connector insertion/extraction direction. It may be connected along the orthogonal direction to the direction. In this example, the first connecting portion 51 and the second connecting portion 52 are connected along the connecting direction of the split connectors 3 (the first split connector 3A and the second split connector 3B) in the direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction. match.

The housing 20 is provided with both the first connecting portion 51 and the second connecting portion 52 . The illustrated first connecting portion 51 and second connecting portion 52 are provided on the outer wall 20b of the housing 20 on the side opposite to the outer wall 20a in the direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction (see FIGS. 1 to 10 and 24). ).

In this connector connection structure 50, the first connection portion 51 is formed as a convex protrusion, and the second connection portion 52 is formed as a concave groove. The first connecting portion 51 is a protrusion projecting from the outer wall surface 20b ₁ of the outer wall 20b, and has a trapezoidal cross section (here, an isosceles trapezoid) with respect to the connecting direction (connector connecting direction) between the first connecting portion 52 and the second connecting portion 52. ) is formed to be a prism (FIGS. 1 to 10 and 24). The first connecting portion 51 has its trapezoidal upper base side disposed on the side of the outer wall surface _20b1 , and protrudes toward the lower base side longer than the upper base. The second connecting portion 52 is a groove formed by recessing the outer wall surface 20b ₁ of the outer wall 20b. It is formed so that the perpendicular cross-section becomes a trapezoidal (here, isosceles trapezoidal) prismatic groove (FIGS. 1 to 10 and 24). The trapezoidal upper base side of the second connecting portion 52 is arranged on the side of the outer wall surface _20b1 , and is recessed toward the lower base side longer than the upper base. In the connector connecting structure 50, the first connecting portion 51 and the second connecting portion 52 form such a trapezoidal shape, so that the two adjacent connecting connectors 4 to be connected can be held in the connected state. can.

This connector connection structure 50 includes a plurality of combinations of the first connection portion 51 and the second connection portion 52 that make a pair. In this example, six such combinations are provided. In the outer wall 20b of the housing 20, one first connecting portion 51 is formed at one end side in the connecting direction of the first connecting portion 51 and the second connecting portion 52 and at both corners in the connector inserting/removing direction. One second connecting portion 52 is formed between the one connecting portions 51 (FIGS. 1 to 5, 8, 9 and 24). Further, in the outer wall 20b of the housing 20, one second connecting portion 52 is formed at each of the corners in the connector inserting/removing direction on the other end side in the connecting direction. One first connecting portion 51 is formed (FIGS. 1 to 5, 8, 9 and 24).

As described above, in the connector 1 and the connector-equipped wire 2 of the present embodiment, a terminal locking component (a component for locking the terminal fitting 10 in the terminal receiving chamber 21) is prepared as a separate component from the housing 20. ) from the unlocked position to the locked position in a dedicated work process. That is, in the connector 1 and the electric wire with connector 2, at the same time as connecting the two housings 20 to be connected, the locking body 24 is displaced from the non-locking position to the locking position. , the terminal fitting 10 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 21 can be locked at the accommodation completion position. Therefore, the connector 1 and the connector-equipped wire 2 of the present embodiment do not require a step of assembling the terminal locking parts to the housing 20 compared with the conventional one, so that the assembling workability can be improved. can. Furthermore, since the connector 1 and the electric wire with connector 2 can prevent forgetting to assemble the terminal locking parts, it is possible to ensure stable quality compared to the conventional ones. Furthermore, since the connector 1 and the electric wire 2 with a connector can connect two adjacent connecting connectors 4 by the connector connecting structure 50, the number of poles can be increased to 5 or more.
[Modification 1]

Reference numeral 101 in FIGS. 25 to 29 indicates the connector of this modified example. Reference numeral 102 in FIGS. 25 to 29 denotes a connector-equipped electric wire of this modification in which a connector 101 is attached to the end of the electric wire We. Reference numeral 103 in FIGS. 25 to 29 denotes a split connector of this modified example. Reference numeral 104 in FIGS. 25 to 29 denotes a connecting connector of this modified example in which two split connectors 3 are connected.

Like the connector 1 of the embodiment, the connector 101 is provided with a plurality of split connectors 103 and integrated by connecting the respective split connectors 103 (FIGS. 25 to 29). In this connector 101, split connectors 103 are provided with terminal fittings and housings, and the housings of adjacent split connectors 103 are connected to each other (FIGS. 25 to 29).

The connector 101 may be provided with a plurality of terminal fittings of the same shape, or may be of a mixture of terminal fittings of different shapes. In this example, all split connectors 103 forming the connector 101 are provided with terminal fittings 10 having the same shape.

Further, the connector 101 may have a plurality of housings of the same shape, or may have housings of different shapes mixed together. In this example, all of the split connectors 103 forming the connector 101 are provided with identically shaped housings 120 (FIGS. 25 to 32).

The housing 120 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. As with the housing 20 of the embodiment, the housing 120 has a terminal accommodating chamber 121 into which the terminal fitting 10 is inserted to the accommodation completion position and into which the terminal fitting 10 is accommodated (FIGS. 25, 27 and 27). Figure 32). Further, like the housing 20 of the embodiment, the housing 120 is an opening of its own terminal accommodating chamber 121, and is formed at one end in the connector inserting/removing direction between the mating connector 190 (FIGS. 33 and 34). , a terminal insertion opening 122 (FIG. 32) used for inserting a mating terminal fitting 191 (FIG. 33) into its own terminal accommodating chamber 121, and another opening of its own terminal accommodating chamber 121, which is located at the other end in the connector inserting/removing direction. A terminal receiving opening 123 (FIG. 25) is formed at the end and is used when the connected terminal fitting 10 and the end of the electric wire We are received in its own terminal receiving chamber 121 . The terminal housing opening 123 has a terminal housing 123, similar to the terminal housing housing 23 of the embodiment, in which the electric wire We whose end is physically and electrically connected to the wire connection portion 12 of the terminal fitting 10 is led out of the terminal housing chamber 121. It is also used as an outlet for electric wires.

In the connector 101 and the connector-equipped wire 102 of this modified example, the housing 120 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 121, like the housing 20 of the embodiment. The plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 121 are arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction. This exemplary housing 120 has two terminal receiving chambers 121 .

Further, as with the housing 20 of the embodiment, the housing 120 has a non-locking position where locking of the terminal fitting 10 at the accommodation completion position in its own terminal accommodating chamber 121 is impossible, and a It has a locking body 124 that can be displaced between a locking position where the terminal fitting 10 can be locked at the accommodation completion position (FIGS. 25 to 32). The housing 120 has a locking body receiving chamber 125 for containing the locking body 124 in the locked position (FIGS. 25 and 31). The locking bodies 124 are provided at one end and the other end of the housing 120 in a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction (FIGS. 26 to 28, 30 and 32). Here, locking bodies 124 are provided at one end and the other end in a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction and the arranging direction of the respective terminal accommodating chambers 121 . One locking body 124 is provided on each of the outer walls 120a and 120b, which are present in the direction perpendicular to the connector inserting/removing direction and the arrangement direction of the respective terminal accommodating chambers 121 (FIGS. 25 and 30). Each locking body 124 is molded integrally with the housing 120 in the same manner as the locking body 24 of the embodiment.

The locking body 124 has a locking portion 124a that locks the terminal fitting 10 at the locking position (FIGS. 26, 28, 30 and 31). When the locking body 124 is in the locking position, the locking portion 124a has the first locked portion 13 on the terminal receiving opening 123 side of the first locked portion 13 of the terminal fitting 10 at the accommodation completion position. , the relative movement of the terminal fitting 10 toward the terminal receiving opening 123 is suppressed. The locking body 124 is formed with a locking portion 124a for each terminal fitting 10 in each terminal accommodating chamber 121. As shown in FIG.

Here, two adjacent housings 120 to be connected are connected along a direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction and the arrangement direction of the locking bodies 124 . A housing connecting structure 130 is provided between the two housings 120 to connect the two housings 120 along a direction perpendicular to the connector inserting/removing direction and the arrangement direction of the locking bodies 124 (FIG. 25, 26, 28 and 30-32). For example, the two housings 120 to be connected shown here are formed to be connected to each other using the outer wall surface 120a ₁ of the outer wall 120a of one housing 120 and the outer wall surface 120b ₁ of the outer wall 120b of the other housing 120 as joint surfaces. (FIG. 25), and are connected along the outer wall surfaces 120a ₁ and 120b ₁ of each other and along the direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction. The housing connecting structure 130 is configured to enable the connecting operation of each housing 120 along the housing connecting direction.

The housing connecting structure 130 shown here includes a first connecting portion 131 possessed by one of the two adjacent housings 120 to be connected and a second connecting portion 132 possessed by the other of them (Figs. 26, 28, 30 and 32). The housing connecting structure 130 connects the two housings 120 to be connected and maintains the mutual connected state by connecting the first connecting portion 131 and the second connecting portion 132 together. As shown above, in each split connector 103, each housing 120 has the same shape. Therefore, the housing 120 is provided with both the first connecting portion 131 and the second connecting portion 132 . In this housing 120, two first connecting portions 131 are provided on the outer wall 120a, and two second connecting portions 132 are provided on the outer wall 120b. Therefore, the housing connection structure 130 of this modified example can connect another housing 120 to be connected next to the two connected housings 120, so that it is possible to connect three or more housings 120.

The first connection portion 131 is a protrusion that protrudes from the outer wall surface 120a ₁ of the outer wall 120a and extends along the outer wall surface 120a ₁ in a direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction (housing connection direction) (Fig. 25 and FIGS. 30-32). The second connecting portion 132 is a protrusion that protrudes from the outer wall surface 120b ₁ of the outer wall 120b and extends along the outer wall surface 120b ₁ in a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction (housing connecting direction). (FIGS. 25 and 30). The first connecting portion 131 and the second connecting portion 132 are formed so that the cross section orthogonal to the extending direction thereof forms an L shape, and the L-shaped pieces are aligned with each other in the connector inserting/removing direction and the locking bodies 124 respectively. arranged opposite to each other in the arrangement direction. Therefore, this housing connection structure 130 keeps the two housings 120 in the connected state by suppressing relative movement in two directions of the two adjacent housings 120 to be connected.

The locking body 124 and the locking body receiving chamber 125 have a housing connecting structure 130, and have outer walls 120a along the arrangement direction of the two terminal receiving chambers 121 and forming wall surfaces of the two terminal receiving chambers 121. 120b respectively. The two adjacent housings 120 to be connected are accommodated by inserting the engaging bodies 124 of their own housings 120 into their own engaging body accommodating chambers 125 in conjunction with the connecting operation. Therefore, as with the locking body 24 of the embodiment, the locking body 124 is pushed by the mating housing 120 in conjunction with the connecting operation of the two adjacent housings 120 to be connected, and is moved to the unlocked position. to the locked position. In conjunction with the connecting operation of the two housings 120, the illustrated locking body 124 is pushed by the locking body 124 of the mating housing 120 and displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position. In other words, it is assumed that the locking bodies 124 of the two housings 120 to be connected in this example are displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position while being pushed together in conjunction with the connecting operation of the two housings 120 . formed.

This exemplary locking body 124 has an inclined surface 124b that converts the force in the housing connecting direction accompanying the connecting operation of the two housings 120 into a force in the displacement direction from the unlocked position to the locked position (FIG. 25). 27 and 30-32). The locking body 124 is provided with one inclined surface 124b at each end in the housing connection direction. Between two adjacent housings 120 to be connected, the inclined surfaces 124b of the locking bodies 124 to be pushed are arranged to face each other in the housing connecting direction when the two housings 120 are connected, and It is designed to abut. Therefore, in the locking bodies 124 in the unlocked positions of the two adjacent housings 120 to be connected, when the two housings 120 are started to be connected, the inclined surfaces 124b come into contact with each other, and the housings of the opposite sides are connected to each other. Push force from 120 begins to be applied. As a result, each locking body 124 begins to rotate around the rotation shaft 141, and when the connection between the housings 120 is completed, it is displaced to the locking position.

The housing 120 has a rotating structure 140 for rotating its locking body 124 with respect to its own terminal accommodating chamber 121 between the unlocked position and the locking position (FIGS. 25 and 31). The locking body 124 and the rotating structure 140 project the locking body 124 at the unlocking position from the outer wall surface 120a ₁ (outer wall face 120b ₁ ), and the locking part 124a of the locking body 124 at the locking position projects from the terminal. It is formed to be accommodated in the accommodation chamber 121 . The rotation structure 140 shown here is a shaft parallel to the connector insertion/removal direction and the arrangement direction of the locking bodies 124, and engages the locking body 124, which is to be rotated by itself, with the unlocked position. It has a rotating shaft 141 that rotates between the stop position (FIGS. 25 and 31). In this example, a living hinge is provided as the rotating structure 140, and the housing 120 and the engaging body 124 are integrally formed via this living hinge. When the housing 120 and the engaging body 124 are prepared as separate parts, the rotating structure 140 may be provided with a rotating shaft 141 in one of the housing 120 and the engaging body 124, and A bearing for the rotating shaft 141 may be provided on the other of the two.

In this housing 120, the rotary structure 140 is arranged to be closer to the terminal insertion opening 122 side in the connector insertion/extraction direction. The locking body 124 at the unlocking position is moved from the turning structure 140 toward the outer wall surface 120a ₁ (outer wall surface 120b ₁ ) in a direction orthogonal to the outer wall surface 120a ₁ (outer wall surface 120b ₁ ). protrude.

The locking member 124 of this modified example has a cantilevered flexible portion 124c whose fixed end is on the rotating structure 140 side (FIGS. 25, 26, and 30 to 32). The flexible portion 124c is formed as a flexible piece extending from the fixed end toward the free end, and is formed so as to be elastically deformable along the direction intersecting the connector insertion/removal direction. be. The thickness of the flexible portion 124c illustrated in this example is gradually thinner on the fixed end side than on the free end side. The two locking portions 124a are provided at the free end of the flexible portion 124c and protrude from the free end toward the terminal accommodating chamber 121 side. On the other hand, the two inclined surfaces 124b are provided at the free end of the flexible portion 124c and on the opposite side to the projecting direction of the two locking portions 124a. The locking body 124 is displaced between the unlocked position and the locked position as the rotating structure 140 rotates and elastically deforms the flexible portion 124c.

In this illustrated locking body 124, the flexible portion 124c protrudes from the outer wall 120a (outer wall 120b) at the unlocked position, and at the unlocked position, the locking portion 124a is at least a terminal. It is formed so as to be placed outside the housing chamber 121 . The locking body 124 illustrated in this example is formed such that the flexible portion 124c enters the terminal receiving chamber 121 to lock the terminal fitting 10 at the locking position. Here, the engaging body accommodating chambers 125 of this example are formed so as to communicate with the respective terminal accommodating chambers 121 and accommodate the flexible portions 124c when in the engaging position. Therefore, in the locking body 124, the locking portion 124a enters into the terminal accommodating chamber 121 at the locking position.

In the connector 101 and the electric wire with connector 102 of this modified example shown above, the plurality of split connectors 103 are connected by the housing connection structure 130, and the connection body is fitted and connected to the mating connector 190 (FIGS. 33 and 34). In this example, by inserting and fitting the connector 101 into the connector accommodating chamber 192a of the housing 192 of the counterpart connector 190, the terminal fittings 10 are fitted and connected to the plurality of counterpart terminal fittings 191 in the connector accommodating chamber 192a.

In the connector 101 and the electric wire with connector 102 of this modified example, as in the connector 1 and the electric wire with connector 2 of the embodiment, the two housings 120 to be connected are connected and at the same time the locking body 124 is disengaged. By displacing from the stop position to the locking position, the locking body 124 can lock the terminal fitting 10 housed in the terminal housing chamber 121 at the housing completion position. Therefore, the connector 101 and the connector-equipped wire 102 of the present modified example do not require a step of assembling the terminal locking parts to the housing 120 compared to the conventional one, so that the assembling workability can be improved. can. Furthermore, since the connector 101 and the electric wire 102 with a connector can prevent forgetting to assemble terminal locking parts prepared as separate parts, it is possible to ensure stable quality. . Furthermore, since the connector 101 and the electric wire with connector 102 can connect three or more split connectors 103 by the housing connecting structure 130, the number of poles can be increased to five or more.

By the way, the split connector 103 of this modified example may be connected to one end and the other end of a twisted pair wire (a so-called twisted pair cable). Here, conventionally, a combination of two terminal fittings forming a pair is accommodated in one housing, and there are some that require formation of a plurality of sets of twisted pair wires in that one housing. However, in the connector 101 and the electric wire with connector 102 of this modified example, after forming a twisted pair for each split connector 103, a plurality of split connectors 103 can be connected. In comparison, the work in forming the twisted pair wire can be improved.

For example, in this modification, one ends of two electric wires We are accommodated in the respective terminal accommodating chambers 121 of one of the split connectors 103 at the accommodation completion positions, and the other ends of the two electric wires We are accommodated in the other end of the split connector 103 . The split connectors 103 are accommodated in the respective terminal accommodating chambers 121 at the accommodation completion positions (FIG. 35). In this modification, one split connector 103 is fixed to the fixing jig E1, and the other split connector 103 is installed in the twister E2 (FIGS. 36 and 37). The fixing jig E1 and the twister E2 are provided with L-shaped connecting portions e1 corresponding to the first connecting portion 131 and the second connecting portion 132 of the housing connecting structure 130 (FIG. 36). Therefore, each split connector 103 is installed while inserting and fitting the first connecting portion 131 and the second connecting portion 132 into the respective connecting portions e1. In addition, the fixing jig E1 and the twisting machine E2 are provided with a pushing portion e2 for displacing the locking member 124 of the split connector 103 from the unlocked position to the locked position in conjunction with the insertion and fitting. (Fig. 36). Therefore, each split connector 103 can hold the terminal fitting 10 at the accommodation completion position by the locking body 124 by being installed on the fixing jig E1 or the twisting machine E2. In this modification, the twister E2 in this state rotates the other split connector 103 to twist the two electric wires We to form a twisted pair of the two electric wires We (FIG. 38). After that, in this modification, one split connector 103 is removed from the fixing jig E1, and the other split connector 103 is removed from the twister E2 (FIG. 39). When each split connector 103 is removed from the fixing jig E1 or the twisting machine E2, the locking body 124 is displaced from the locking position to the unlocking position.
[Modification 2]

Reference numeral 201 in FIGS. 40 to 42 indicates the connector of this modified example. Reference numeral 202 in FIGS. 40 to 42 denotes a connector-equipped electric wire of this modification in which a connector 201 is attached to the end of the electric wire We. Reference numeral 203 in FIGS. 40 to 42 indicates the split connector of this modified example. Reference numeral 204 in FIGS. 41 and 42 denotes a connecting connector of this modified example in which two split connectors 203 are connected.

The connector 201 is provided with a plurality of split connectors 203 and integrated by connecting the respective split connectors 203 (FIGS. 40 to 42), like the connector 1 of the embodiment. In this connector 201, split connectors 203 are provided with terminal fittings and housings, and the housings of adjacent split connectors 203 are connected (FIGS. 40 to 42).

This connector 201 may be provided with a plurality of terminal fittings of the same shape, or may be one in which terminal fittings of different shapes are mixed. In this example, all split connectors 203 forming the connector 201 are provided with terminal fittings 10 having the same shape.

Further, the connector 201 may have a plurality of housings of the same shape, or may have housings of different shapes mixed together. In this example, all of the split connectors 203 forming the connector 201 are provided with identically shaped housings 220 (FIGS. 40 to 42).

Housing 220 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. This housing 220 has a terminal accommodating chamber 221 into which the terminal fitting 10 is inserted to the accommodation completion position and into which the terminal fitting 10 is accommodated at the accommodation completion position, as in the case of the housing 20 of the embodiment (FIGS. 40 to 44). . Further, like the housing 20 of the embodiment, the housing 220 is an opening of its own terminal accommodating chamber 221, and is formed at one end in the connector inserting/removing direction between the mating connector and the mating terminal fitting. A terminal insertion opening 222 (FIGS. 40 to 44) used when inserting the terminal into the receiving chamber 221 and another opening of the own terminal receiving chamber 221, which is formed at the other end in the connector insertion/removal direction and is in a connected state. 10 and a terminal accommodating opening 223 (FIG. 42) used when accommodating the terminal of the wire We in its own terminal accommodating chamber 221. As shown in FIG. The terminal housing opening 223 has a terminal housing 223 in which the electric wire We whose end is physically and electrically connected to the wire connection portion 12 of the terminal metal fitting 10 is led out of the terminal housing chamber 221 in the same manner as the terminal housing housing 23 of the embodiment. It is also used as an outlet for electric wires.

In the connector 201 and the connector-equipped wire 202 of this modified example, the housing 220 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 221, like the housing 20 of the embodiment. The plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 221 are arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction. This exemplary housing 220 has two terminal receiving chambers 221 .

Further, as with the housing 20 of the embodiment, the housing 220 has a non-locking position in which the terminal fitting 10 at the accommodation completion position in its own terminal accommodating chamber 221 cannot be locked, and a It has a locking body 224 that can be displaced between a locking position where the terminal fitting 10 can be locked at the accommodation completion position (FIGS. 40 and 42 to 49). The locking body 224 may be formed integrally with the housing 220 as a part of the housing 220, or may be formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin as a separate part from the housing 220. , may be assembled as part of this housing 220 . In this illustration, the locking body 224 integrally molded with the housing 220 is taken as an example.

The locking body 224 is displaced between the unlocked position and the locking position by sliding the locking body 224 with respect to the terminal accommodating chambers 221 in a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction and the arranging direction of the respective terminal accommodating chambers 221 . . In the following, the orthogonal direction will be referred to as the sliding direction. The housing 220 has a slide structure 225 for sliding its own locking body 224 with respect to its own terminal receiving chamber 221 between the unlocked position and the locked position (FIGS. 40, 41 and 43 to 43). 49).

The locking body 224 has a locking piece 224a that locks the terminal fitting 10 at the locking position (FIGS. 40 and 42 to 49). The locking piece 224a has a first piece 224a ₁ and a second piece 224a ₂ arranged in the sliding direction (Figs. 42, 46, 48 and 49). A living hinge 224a ₃ is provided between the first piece 224a ₁ and the second piece 224a ₂ of the locking piece _{224a .} The relative position in the sliding direction of the second piece _224a2 can be changed (Figs. 46, 48 and 49). That is, this locking piece 224a can be deformed through its living hinge 224a ₃ . The locking piece 224a forms an obtuse angle between the first piece 224a ₁ and the second piece 224a ₂ via the living hinge 224a ₃ when the locking body 224 is in the unlocked position (FIG. 46). , the angle formed by the first piece 224a ₁ and the second piece 224a ₂ through the living hinge 224a ₃ becomes an acute angle when the locking body 224 is in the locking position (FIG. 49).

With this locking piece 224a, when the locking body 224 is in the unlocked position, the first piece 224a ₁ side is housed inside the housing 220, and the second piece 224a ₂ side is housed inside the housing 220. project from the outer wall surface 220a ₁ of the outer wall 220a (FIG. 40). The locking piece 224a accommodates the whole inside the housing 220 when the locking body 224 is in the unlocked position. In this locking body 224, a locking piece 224a is provided with a first locking portion _224a4 for locking the first locked portion 13 of the terminal fitting 10 (FIG. 42). The first locking portion _224a4 is the same as the first locking portion 24a of the embodiment, and when the locking body 224 is in the locking position, the first engaged portion of the terminal fitting 10 in the accommodation complete position is engaged. The first locked portion 13 is locked on the terminal receiving opening 223 side of the stop portion 13 . Here, the end surface of the locking piece 224a on the terminal insertion opening 222 side is used as the first locking portion _224a4 .

In the locking piece 224a, the end of the first piece 224a ₁ opposite to the living hinge 224a ₃ is connected to the inside of the housing 220 via the first living hinge 224b (FIGS. 46 and 46). 48 and Figure 49). On the other hand, in this locking piece 224a, the end of the second piece 224a ₂ opposite to the living hinge 224a ₃ is connected to the pushed wall 224d via the second living hinge 224c (FIG. 46). , FIGS. 48 and 49). The locking body 224 has a combination of a locking piece 224a, a first living hinge 224b and a second living hinge 224c for each terminal accommodating chamber 221. As shown in FIG.

The pushed wall 224d is a wall to which a pushing force is applied to slide the locking member 224 from the unlocked position to the locked position. to act on The locking piece 224a is deformed from the shape at the non-locking position to the shape at the locking position by the pushing force, the living hinge 224a ₃ , the first living hinge 224b and the second living hinge 224c. The pushed wall 224d of this example is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape.

Here, two adjacent housings 220 to be connected are connected along a direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction. A housing connecting structure 230 is provided between the two housings 220 to connect the two housings 220 along the direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction (FIGS. 40, 41, 43 and 44). The two housings 220 to be connected shown here are formed so as to _be connected to each other using the outer wall surface 220a ₁ of each outer wall 220a as a joint surface (FIG. 42). , sliding direction of the locking body 224). The housing connecting structure 230 is configured to enable connecting motion of each housing 220 along the housing connecting direction.

The housing connecting structure 230 shown here includes a first connecting portion 231 possessed by one of two adjacent housings 220 to be connected and a second connecting portion 232 possessed by the other of them (Figs. 41, 43 and 44). The housing connecting structure 230 connects the two housings 220 to be connected and maintains the mutual connected state by connecting the first connecting portion 231 and the second connecting portion 232 together. As shown above, in each split connector 203, each housing 220 has the same shape. Therefore, the housing 220 is provided with both the first connecting portion 231 and the second connecting portion 232 . In this housing 220, the first connecting portion 231 and the second connecting portion 232 are provided on the outer wall 220a.

In this housing connecting structure 230, the first connecting portion 231 is formed as a convex protrusion, and the second connecting portion 232 is formed as a concave groove. The first connecting portion 231 is a protrusion that protrudes from the outer wall surface 220a ₁ of the outer wall 220a. The illustrated first connecting portion 231 has a cantilever shaft portion 231a projecting from the outer wall surface 220a ₁ and a claw portion 231b provided at the free end of the shaft portion 231a (FIG. 43). and FIG. 44). The shaft portion 231a shown here has flexibility capable of elastic deformation along the connector insertion/removal direction. The claw portion 231b protrudes in the connector insertion/removal direction. The second connecting portion 232 is formed in a groove shape into which the first connecting portion 231 can be fitted. The second connecting portion 232 is formed as a locking portion that locks the claw portion 231b in a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction and the connecting direction of the split connectors 203 .

This housing connection structure 230 includes a plurality of combinations of the first connection portion 231 and the second connection portion 232 that make a pair. In this example, four such combinations are provided. In the outer wall 220a of the housing 220, one first connecting portion 231 is formed at one end side in the arranging direction of each terminal accommodating chamber 221 and at both corners in the connector inserting/removing direction (see FIGS. 40, 41, and 41). 43 and Figure 44). In addition, on the outer wall 220a of the housing 220, a second connecting portion 232 is formed on each of the two corners in the connector inserting/removing direction on the other end side in the arrangement direction of the respective terminal accommodating chambers 221 (FIGS. 41 and 43).

In two adjacent housings 220 to be connected, by starting to connect them along the housing connecting direction, the pushed walls 224d of the locking bodies 224 are brought into contact with each other (FIGS. 45 and 46). In the two housings 220, by continuing the connecting operation, a pushing force in the sliding direction is applied to the pushed wall 224d of the locking body 224 from the pushed wall 224d of the mating locking body 224. Therefore, the locking piece 224a of each locking body 224 is deformed from the shape of the non-locking position to the shape of the locking position (FIGS. 47 to 49).

In the housing 220, a sliding structure 225 is constructed to define the movement of the locking body 224 thereof. The slide structure 225 includes guided portions 225a provided at both ends of the pushed wall 224d in the arrangement direction of the respective terminal accommodating chambers 221, and guide portions for guiding the guided portions 225a in the sliding direction for each guided portion 225a. 225b (FIGS. 40, 41, 43 and 44). The illustrated guided portion 225a is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. Further, the illustrated guide portion 225b is formed in the housing 220 as a groove-shaped member that can guide the guided portion 225a in the sliding direction in the accommodated state. In this slide structure 225, when the locking body 224 is slid from the non-locking position to the locking position, the guide portion 225b guides the guided portion 225a along the sliding direction. On the other hand, in this slide structure 225, when the locking body 224 is slid from the locked position to the unlocked position, the guide portion 225b guides the guided portion 225a along the sliding direction. In other words, the slide structure 225 slides the locking body 224, which is the object of sliding, from the unlocked position to the locked position along the connecting direction of the two housings 220 (housing connecting direction). It is a guide structure that slides its locking body 224 from the locked position to the unlocked position in the opposite direction to the housing connection direction.

By the way, the housing 220 of this modified example, like the housing 20 of the embodiment, is located closer to the terminal receiving opening 223 than the second locked portion 14 of the terminal fitting 10 received in its own terminal receiving chamber 221 . It has a second locking portion 226 that locks the second locked portion 14 (FIG. 42). The second locking portion 226 is formed as a flexible lance, like the second locking portion 26 of the embodiment.

The connecting connector 204 is composed of two split connectors 203 that connect their housings 220 together. The connector 201 of this modified example may be configured with only one linking connector 204, like the connector 1 of the embodiment, or may be configured with a plurality of linking connectors 204. good. The connector 201 of this modified example is provided with a connector connecting structure 250 for connecting two adjacent connecting connectors 204 so that a plurality of connecting connectors 204 can be provided regardless of which configuration is adopted. (Figs. 40-44 and 50). FIG. 50 shows the state after the two connection connectors 204 are connected by the connector connection structure 250 .

The connector connection structure 250 is similar to the connector connection structure 50 of the embodiment, and includes a first connection portion 251 and a second connection portion 252 (FIGS. 40 to 44 and 50). Both the first connecting portion 251 and the second connecting portion 252 are provided in the housing 220 . The first connecting portion 251 and the second connecting portion 252 are provided on the outer wall 220b of the housing 220 on the side opposite to the outer wall 220a in the direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction (FIGS. 40 and 50). Therefore, the first connecting portion 251 is a protrusion projecting from the outer wall surface 220b ₁ of the outer wall 220b, and is formed to have the same shape as the first connecting portion 51 of the embodiment (FIGS. 40 to 44). and FIG. 50). The second connecting portion 252 is a groove formed by recessing the outer wall surface 220b ₁ of the outer wall 220b, and is formed to have the same shape as the second connecting portion 52 of the embodiment (FIGS. 40 to 44 and Figure 50). This connector coupling structure 250 includes a plurality of combinations of the first coupling portion 251 and the second coupling portion 252 that make a pair. In this example, four such combinations are provided. In the outer wall 220b of the housing 220, one first connecting portion 251 is formed at one end side in the connecting direction of the first connecting portion 251 and the second connecting portion 252 and at both corners in the connector inserting/removing direction (FIG. 40). , FIGS. 41, 43, 44 and 50). Further, in the outer wall 220b of the housing 220, one second connecting portion 252 is formed at each of the corners in the connector inserting/removing direction on the other end side in the connecting direction (Figs. 40, 41, 43, 44 and 50).

Further, in the connector 201 of this modified example, instead of the connector connection structure 250, a housing connection structure 230 may be provided on the outer wall 220b, and the housing connection structure 230 may be used as the connector connection structure (FIG. 51). In the outer wall 220b, one first connecting portion 231 is formed at one end side in the arrangement direction of each terminal accommodating chamber 221 and at both corners in the connector insertion/extraction direction. Further, on the outer wall 220b, a second connecting portion 232 is formed on each of the two corners in the connector inserting/removing direction on the other end side in the arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating chambers 221. As shown in FIG.

As described above, in the connector 201 and the electric wire with connector 202 of this modified example, the two housings 220 to be connected are connected at the same time as the connector 1 and the electric wire with connector 2 of the embodiment. By displacing the stop body 224 from the unlocked position to the locked position, the locking body 224 can lock the terminal fitting 10 housed in the terminal housing chamber 221 at the housed position. Therefore, the connector 201 and the connector-equipped wire 202 of this modified example do not require a step of assembling the terminal locking parts to the housing 220, compared with the conventional one, so that the assembling workability can be improved. can. Furthermore, the connector 201 and the electric wire with connector 202 can prevent forgetting to assemble the terminal locking parts prepared as separate parts, compared with the conventional ones, so that it is possible to ensure stable quality. . Furthermore, the connector 201 and the electric wire with connector 202 can connect two adjacent connecting connectors 204 by the connector connecting structure 250, or connect three or more split connectors 203 by the housing connecting structure 230. Therefore, it is possible to increase the number of poles to 5 or more.

Reference Signs List 1, 101, 201 connector 2, 102, 202 electric wire with connector 3, 103, 203 split connector 3A first split connector 3B second split connector 4, 104, 204 coupling connector 10 terminal fitting 20, 120, 220 housing 20A first Housing 20B Second housing 21, 121, 221 Terminal receiving chamber 22, 122, 222 Terminal insertion opening 23, 123, 223 Terminal receiving opening 24, 124, 224 Locking body 30, 130, 230 Housing connection structure 40, 140 Rotation Structure 41, 141 Rotating shaft 50, 250 Connector connection structure 51, 251 First connection part 52, 252 Second connection part 225 Slide structure We Electric wire

Claims (6)

Equipped with a plurality of split connectors for connecting adjacent housings,
The split connector includes terminal fittings that are physically and electrically connected to mating terminal fittings of the mating connector, and the housing that accommodates the terminal fittings that are physically and electrically connected to ends of electric wires. and
The housing includes a terminal accommodating chamber in which the terminal fitting is accommodated in the accommodation completion position, an unlocking position in which the terminal fitting in the accommodation completion position cannot be locked in the terminal accommodating chamber, and the terminal in the terminal accommodating chamber. a locking body that can be displaced between the housing completion position in the housing chamber and a locking position where the terminal fitting can be locked,
The locking body is formed to be displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position while being pushed by the mating housing in conjunction with the connecting operation of the two adjacent housings to be connected. ,
A connector according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a pivoting structure for pivoting said locking body of said housing between said unlocked position and said locking position with respect to said terminal accommodating chamber of said housing. The housing is an opening of its own terminal accommodating chamber, is formed at one end in the connector inserting/removing direction between the mating connector, and is used when inserting the mating terminal fitting into its own terminal accommodating chamber. A port is another opening of the terminal accommodating chamber and is formed at the other end in the connector inserting/removing direction, and is used when accommodating the terminal fitting and the end of the electric wire in the connected state in the terminal accommodating chamber. and a terminal housing port to be used,
A housing connecting structure is provided between two adjacent housings to be connected, for connecting the two housings along a direction orthogonal to the connector inserting/removing direction,
The rotating structure has a shaft parallel to the connector inserting/removing direction, and rotates the locking body to be rotated between the unlocked position and the locked position. 2. The connector of claim 1, comprising an axis. comprising a plurality of connecting connectors composed of the two split connectors connecting the housings together;
The two adjacent connection connectors have a connector connection structure that connects a first connection portion of one connection connector and a second connection portion of the other connection connector to each other,
3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The housing is an opening of its own terminal accommodating chamber, is formed at one end in the connector inserting/removing direction between the mating connector, and is used when inserting the mating terminal fitting into its own terminal accommodating chamber. A port is another opening of the terminal accommodating chamber and is formed at the other end in the connector inserting/removing direction, and is used when accommodating the terminal fitting and the end of the electric wire in the connected state in the terminal accommodating chamber. and the locking bodies provided at one end and the other end in a direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/extraction direction,
A housing connection structure is provided between two adjacent housings to be connected, for connecting the two housings along a direction orthogonal to the connector insertion/removal direction and the arrangement direction of the locking bodies. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a plurality of said terminal accommodating chambers. an electric wire;
a plurality of split connectors for connecting adjacent housings;
with
The split connector accommodates terminal fittings physically and electrically connected to mating terminal fittings of the mating connector, and terminal fittings physically and electrically connected to ends of the electric wires. a housing;
The housing includes a terminal accommodating chamber in which the terminal fitting is accommodated in the accommodation completion position, an unlocking position in which the terminal fitting in the accommodation completion position cannot be locked in the terminal accommodating chamber, and the terminal in the terminal accommodating chamber. a locking body that can be displaced between the housing completion position in the housing chamber and a locking position where the terminal fitting can be locked,
The locking body is formed to be displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position while being pushed by the mating housing in conjunction with the connecting operation of the two adjacent housings to be connected. ,
The electric wire with connector, wherein the housing has a rotating structure for rotating the locking body relative to the terminal accommodating chamber between the unlocking position and the locking position. .

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