JP7365828B2 - connector device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, connector devices that are provided on electric wires, electronic components, circuit boards, etc. and electrically connect them to each other have been widespread. This type of connector device includes, for example, a male connector including a plurality of male terminals and a male housing that accommodates them, and a female connector that includes a plurality of female terminals and a female housing that accommodates them. . Workers who handle connector devices perform the connection work of connector devices by fitting (fitting) the male housing and female housing when electrically connecting wires, electronic components, circuit boards, etc. to each other. I do.

In such connection work, it is not easy for the operator to visually judge whether the male housing and the female housing are properly fitted. Therefore, the operator may mistakenly believe that the work has been completed normally even though the housings are incompletely fitted (hereinafter referred to as half-fitted). In addition, if the work is completed in such a half-fitted state, even if the electrical connection between the male terminal and the female terminal can be temporarily confirmed by post-work inspection, unintended male housing and Problems such as separation of the female housing (ie, electrical disconnection of the female terminal and the female terminal) may occur.

Therefore, in order to detect such half-fitting, for example, a locking hole is drilled in the connector inserted part behind the connector insertion opening of the inserted connector, and the locking hole is engaged with the connector when the connector is mated. A mating locking protrusion is provided protruding from the insertion side connector, and a strain sensor is provided at the edge between the connector insertion opening and the locking hole that will be pressed by the locking protrusion when the connector is inserted. There is a known connector with a half-fitting detection function that detects the distortion of the edge where the locking protrusion contacts when the connector is inserted into the connector insertion part, and detects the half-fitting when this distortion is detected (patented). (See Reference 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-222323

However, in the conventional technology described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a strain sensor on one side of the housings (in this case, the insertion side connector) that are fitted together, and furthermore, the housing provided with the sensor is provided with a strain sensor. A new electrical structure, such as wiring, will be required. Furthermore, in the connection work of the connector device, the housings may be fitted in an inappropriate direction away from the normal fitting direction (hereinafter referred to as diagonal fitting). In the prior art, prevention of such diagonal fitting is not considered at all.

The present invention was devised in view of the problems of the prior art, and makes it possible to visually determine whether two housings forming a connector device are properly fitted. The main purpose is to provide a connector device.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a first connector (2) including a plurality of first terminals (5) and a first housing (6) accommodating the plurality of first terminals; a plurality of second terminals (7) electrically connectable to each of the terminals; a second housing (8) accommodating the plurality of second terminals and fittable to the first housing; It is received in a guide groove (26) provided in the second housing so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fitting with the housing, and has an entry position in which it enters the guide groove and a portion partially out of the guide groove. a second connector (3) having a slide plate (9) displaceable between the first housing and the slide plate; A cam mechanism (17, 38, 37, 60) is provided that drives the slide plate from the approach position to the exit position upon completion of fitting of the first housing and the second housing, and the slide plate At least one visible portion (36A-36C) is provided at the end on the exit position side, and the peripheral wall of the first housing accommodates at least a portion of the second housing in which the guide groove is provided. (12) is provided with at least one viewing hole (15A-15C) that makes the visible portion of the slide plate in the exit position visible from the outside.

According to this, a worker who performs the connection work of the connector device visually checks the visible portion of the slide plate exposed from the viewing hole of the first housing, and then connects the two housings (the first housing and the second housing). It becomes possible to visually determine whether the two are properly fitted.

In a second aspect of the present invention, at least one of the visually recognized parts is provided so as to protrude outward from an outer surface of the peripheral wall of the first housing when viewed from the fitting direction in the exit position. The configuration is as follows.

According to this, the worker can easily determine whether the two housings are properly fitted together without significantly changing the working posture.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the second housing is notched inward at a portion corresponding to a position where at least one of the viewing holes of the first housing is provided when viewed from the fitting direction. It is configured to have notches (85A, 85B).

According to this, it is possible to prevent the visible part of the slide plate from protruding outward from the outer edge of the connector device (that is, to increase the size of the connector device), and to realize a visible part that is easily visible to the operator. I can do it.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the at least one visible portion includes a first visible portion disposed at an intermediate portion of the slide plate in a left-right direction perpendicular to the fitting direction with the first housing. (36A), and second and third visible parts (36B, 36C) respectively arranged on both ends of the slide plate so as to sandwich the first visible part in the left and right direction. .

According to this, the operator can easily and reliably determine whether the two housings are properly mated using the three visible parts arranged in the left and right direction perpendicular to the mating direction. becomes.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, at least one of the visually recognized parts includes an engaging claw (36A), and when the slide plate is in the entering position, the engaging claw is inserted into the guide groove. , and when the slide plate is in the retracted position, the engaging claw is engaged with an outer wall of the second housing that defines the opening of the guide groove.

According to this, the state in which the slide plate is in the withdrawn position (indicating that the two housings are in a normally fitted state) is stably maintained.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the engaging pawl has an inclined surface (41A) that is inclined so as to be displaced more toward the fitting direction as it reaches from the entering position to the exiting position, and At least a portion of the surface is located within the viewing hole when the slide plate is in the exit position, and when the second housing moves in a direction opposite to the fitting direction with the first housing, It is configured to be pressed in the fitting direction by the edge or peripheral surface (91, 92) of the viewing hole.

According to this, when the second housing moves in the opposite direction of mating with the first housing (that is, the first housing and the second housing are uncoupled), the inclined surface is located at the edge of the viewing hole or Since the circumferential surface presses the slide plate in the mating direction, the operator applies force to release the mating between the first housing and the second housing by moving the slide plate toward the entry position through the inclined surface and the viewing hole. It can also be used as a driving force. As a result, the operator can disengage the first housing and the second housing without having to directly manipulate the slide plate.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of second terminals is positioned within the guide groove in a state of being normally accommodated in the second housing, so that each of the plurality of second terminals is arranged in the slide plate in the entering position. It is configured to have locked portions (68A, 68B) that are locked in a state where a portion (69, 71) is received.

According to this, before the fitting of the first housing and the second housing is completed, the operator places the slide plate in the entry position so that the plurality of second terminals can be properly accommodated in the second housing. You can confirm that

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, the state in which the locked portion receives a portion of the slide plate is released upon completion of fitting of the first housing and the second housing.

According to this, each of the second terminals is unlocked when the fitting of the first housing and the second housing is completed (that is, when the first terminal and the second terminal are electrically connected). As a result, the second terminal is in a floating state (non-fixed state), the degree of freedom in its posture is improved, and an appropriate connection with the first terminal is realized.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, a protrusion (38) constituting the cam mechanism is further provided on the entry position side of the slide plate, and the first housing is fitted with the second housing. In this case, the cam mechanism is configured together with the protrusion and includes a drive wall (17D) that applies a force to the protrusion to drive the slide plate toward the exit position.

According to this, when the first housing and the second housing are fitted together, the protrusion of the slide plate is driven toward the exit position by the driving wall of the first housing, so that the operator can move the second housing to the first housing. The force for fitting the housing can also act as a force for driving the slide plate toward the exit position via the cam mechanism. As a result, the operator can fit the first housing and the second housing together without having to directly manipulate the slide plate.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, the second housing has a plate insertion hole (27) that communicates with the guide groove and into which the protrusion is inserted when the slide plate is in the advanced position. , the protrusion protrudes from the plate insertion hole to the outside of the second housing when the slide plate is at the entry position, and is located within the guide groove when the slide plate is at the exit position. shall be.

According to this, the simple configuration allows the force of the operator to fit the second housing into the first housing to act as a force for driving the slide plate toward the exit position.

In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the drive wall is disposed perpendicular to the fitting direction, and the first housing extends in the fitting direction so as to be continuous with the left and right sides of the drive wall. It further has a pair of vertical walls (17A, 17B), and the protrusion has a pair of elastic arms (51A, 17B) spaced apart from each other at a wider interval than the pair of vertical walls in the left-right direction perpendicular to the fitting direction. , 51B), and the pair of elastic arms are formed with slopes (81B) that engage with the upper edges of the pair of vertical walls so as to be elastically deformed in a direction toward each other.

According to this, when the first housing and the second housing are fitted together, the slopes of the pair of elastic arms engage with the upper edge of the vertical wall, thereby elastically deforming the elastic arms in a direction that brings them closer together. let As a result, if a worker tries to fit the housings together in an inappropriate direction that deviates from the normal fitting direction, the elastic arms cannot be elastically deformed in a direction closer to each other, and the first Fitting of the first housing and the second housing is inhibited (that is, diagonal fitting can be prevented). In addition, by the configuration in which the elastic arms are elastically deformed in a direction toward each other, an appropriate repulsive force is generated against the force applied by the operator to fit the first housing and the second housing (i.e., (can produce an inertial lock-like effect).

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the peripheral wall of the first housing has a substantially rectangular outer peripheral surface when viewed from the fitting direction, and the pair of vertical walls are formed as part of the peripheral wall. , forming a part of a convex wall (17) provided so as to protrude outward from the substantially rectangular outer circumferential surface when viewed from the fitting direction, and the drive wall is configured to A bottom wall (17D) is formed to close the opening on the fitting direction side.

According to this, the simple configuration allows the force of the operator to fit the second housing into the first housing to act as a force for driving the slide plate toward the exit position.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the protrusion has a pair of arm locking claws (52A, 52B) provided at the tips of the pair of elastic arms, and the slide plate is in the withdrawn position. In this case, when the pair of arm locking claws are elastically deformed in a direction in which the pair of elastic arms approach each other, they can be inserted into the plate insertion hole, and the slide plate is in the entry position. The pair of arm locking claws protrude from the plate insertion hole to the outside of the second housing, and the second housing defines an opening of the plate insertion hole by recovery of the elastic deformation of the pair of elastic arms. The structure is such that it is locked to the outer wall of the housing.

According to this, the state in which the pair of arm locking claws protrudes from the plate insertion hole to the outside of the second housing (that is, the state in which the slide plate is in the entry position) is stably maintained.

In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, a pair of side pieces (37) constituting the cam mechanism are further provided at both ends of the slide plate in the left-right direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, and the first The housing includes a pair of engaging pieces (60) that constitute the cam mechanism together with the pair of side pieces, and each apply a force to the pair of side pieces to drive the slide plate toward the exit position. The configuration is as follows.

According to this, when the first housing and the second housing are fitted together, the pair of side pieces of the slide plate are driven toward the exit position by the pair of engagement surfaces of the first housing, so that the operator can The force for fitting the second housing into the first housing can also act as a force for driving the slide plate toward the exit position via the cam mechanism. As a result, the operator can fit the first housing and the second housing together without having to directly manipulate the slide plate.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to visually determine whether the two housings forming the connector are properly fitted together.

An exploded perspective view of a connector device according to an embodiment Explanatory diagram showing a series of connection operations of the connector device An explanatory diagram showing the state of the connector device 1 between FIGS. 2(B) and 2(C) An explanatory diagram showing the state of the connector device 1 between FIGS. 3 and 2(C) Cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Figure 4 VI-VI line sectional view in Figure 4 VII-VII line sectional view in Figure 4 Cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 2(C) Cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Figure 2(C) Cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Figure 2(C) Explanatory diagram showing the movement of the protrusion of the slide plate when connecting the male connector and the female connector An explanatory diagram of the forward and backward movement of the slide plate 9 Explanatory diagram showing the exposure operation of the visible part of the slide plate in plan view Explanatory diagram showing the diagonally fitted state of the male connector and female connector Explanatory diagram showing the main part of the sliding operation of the slide plate during the separation operation of the connector device Explanatory diagram showing the main part of the sliding operation of the slide plate during the separation operation of the connector device

Hereinafter, a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, for convenience, the directions regarding the connector device and its components follow the directions shown by arrows in each figure (front/back, left/right, up/down). However, the practical arrangement of the connector device is not limited to these directions.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector device 1 according to an embodiment. FIGS. 2A to 2C are explanatory diagrams showing a series of connecting operations of the connector device 1 (male connector 2 and female connector 3). FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the connector device 1 between FIGS. 2(B) and 2(C). Note that in FIG. 1, illustration of the female connector 3 (see FIG. 2(A)) is omitted.

The connector device 1 is used as an electrical connection device, and has a male connector (first connector) 2 and a female connector (second connector) 3 that are removably connected to each other, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Be prepared.

The male connector 2 includes a plurality of male terminals (first terminals) 5 and a male housing (first housing) 6 that accommodates the plurality of male terminals 5. On the other hand, the female connector 3 is slidably provided within the female housing (second housing) 8 that accommodates the plurality of female terminals (second terminals) 7 and the plurality of male terminals 5. A slide plate 9 is provided.

Each male terminal 5 has the same shape. Similarly, each female terminal 7 has the same shape and has a shape that allows electrical connection with each male connector 2. Each male terminal 5 and each female terminal 7 are manufactured by pressing a metallic coil material.

Inside the male housing 6, a plurality of male terminals 5 are arranged so as to be lined up in the left-right direction at predetermined intervals. Here, the plurality of male terminals 5 are arranged in two rows, front and rear. Similarly, within the female housing 8, a plurality of female terminals 7 are arranged at positions corresponding to the plurality of male terminals 5, respectively. The lower part 5A of each male terminal 5 is exposed from the lower part of the male housing 6 and is fixed to a circuit board (not shown) by soldering.

The male housing 6 and the female housing 8 each have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and are made of a non-conductive material such as synthetic resin.

The male housing 6 has a substantially rectangular outer peripheral surface when viewed from above, and has front and rear, left and right side walls 12A to 12D (hereinafter collectively referred to as "peripheral walls 12"), and the peripheral wall 12 is a female connector. 3 (female housing 8).

The front side wall 12A has a substantially rectangular center hole 15A, a left hole 15B, and a right hole 15C (hereinafter collectively referred to as "visual recognition hole 15") spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction. each formed. The center hole 15A is arranged at the center of the front side wall 12A in the left-right direction. The left hole 15B and the right hole 15C are arranged on the left and right sides of the side wall 12A so as to sandwich the center hole 15A. Further, the left hole 15B and the right hole 15C have the same shape (substantially rectangular shape long in the left-right direction), and have a larger size in the left-right direction than the center hole 15A. As will be described later, the visual confirmation hole 15 allows a worker who connects the connector device 1 (male connector 2 and female connector 3) to check that the male housing 6 and the female housing 8 are properly mated. Used for visual confirmation (i.e., visual determination).

Note that a plurality of viewing holes 15 in the peripheral wall 12 do not necessarily need to be formed, and it is sufficient that at least one hole (for example, only the central hole 15A) is formed. Further, at least one of the viewing holes 15 does not need to be a precise hole, and may be, for example, a notch or the like having a similar function.

Further, the rear side wall 12B of the peripheral wall 12 is provided with an outer peripheral surface of the main body of the peripheral wall 12, which has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the fitting direction (in this case, from above) of the male connector 2 and the female connector 3. A convex wall 17 is provided so as to protrude in the direction.

The convex wall 17 has left and right vertical walls 17A, 17B, a horizontal wall 17C, and a bottom wall (driving wall) 17D. The internal space of the convex wall 17 communicates with the internal space of the main body of the peripheral wall 12 via a front opening between the vertical walls 17A, 17B. Moreover, the convex wall 17 has an upper opening formed by the vertical walls 17A, 17B and the horizontal wall 17C.

The vertical walls 17A and 17B have a substantially rectangular plate shape and project rearward from the main body of the peripheral wall 12 while being spaced apart from each other. The vertical walls 17A and 17B are arranged substantially perpendicularly in the left-right direction. The horizontal wall 17C connects the rear edges of the vertical walls 17A and 17B to each other. Thereby, the horizontal wall 17C is arranged substantially perpendicularly in the front-rear direction. The bottom wall 17D closes the lower opening formed by the vertical walls 17A, 17B and the horizontal wall 17C. Thereby, the bottom wall 17D is arranged substantially perpendicular to the up-down direction (fitting direction). As will be described later, the convex wall 17 constitutes a part of a first cam mechanism provided between the male housing 6 and the slide plate 9.

On the other hand, the female housing 8 includes a housing body 21 and a flange portion 22 provided at the upper part of the housing body 21.

The housing body 21 has a plurality of terminal accommodating holes 25 for accommodating the female terminals 7, respectively. The plurality of terminal accommodating holes 25 are arranged so as to be lined up in the left-right direction at predetermined intervals. Here, the plurality of terminal accommodating holes 25 are arranged in two rows, front and rear. Each terminal accommodating hole 25 extends so as to generally penetrate the housing body 21 in the vertical direction. Further, the housing body 21 has an intermediate wall 23 extending in the left-right direction so as to partition the front and rear rows of the terminal accommodating holes 25 in a plan view.

Furthermore, a guide groove 26 for receiving the slide plate 9 is formed in the housing body 21. The guide groove 26 is provided at a predetermined depth from the front surface of the housing body 21 toward the rear. The guide groove 26 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction (fitting direction). Further, the guide groove 26 opens on the front surface and a portion of the left and right side surfaces (front side) of the housing body 21. Further, the guide groove 26 is formed so as to divide a portion (at least the front row) of the terminal accommodating hole 25 into upper and lower parts.

Further, the housing body 21 is formed with a plate insertion hole 27 (see FIG. 3) extending from the rear surface defining the guide groove 26 (corresponding to the bottom surface of the guide groove 26) to the rear surface of the housing body 21.

The flange portion 22 is formed to protrude outward from the upper peripheral edge of the housing body 21, and has an annular shape with a substantially rectangular outer edge when viewed from above in the fitting direction (in this case, from above). Engagement pieces 31 extending downward are provided on the left and right sides of the flange portion 22, respectively. A housing locking pawl 32 that extends outward is formed at the tip (lower end here) of each engagement piece 31 . Each housing locking pawl 32 locks into a corresponding locking portion 33 formed inside the left and right side walls 12C, 12D of the male housing 6 when the male housing 6 and the female housing 8 are fitted together. be done. Each corresponding locking portion 33 is provided as a groove extending in the front-rear direction so as to be able to receive the housing locking claw 32, but its form can be modified in various ways.

The slide plate 9 is received in the guide groove 26 of the housing main body 21, and has two positions: an entry position (see FIG. 2B) where the slide plate 9 enters the guide groove 26, and an exit position where it partially protrudes rearward from the guide groove 26 (see FIG. (A)), it can be displaced in the front-back direction. The slide plate 9 includes a plate main body 35, a plurality of visible parts 36A to 36C, a pair of left and right side pieces 37, and a protrusion 38.

The plate body 35 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and has a plurality of terminal insertion holes 40 through which at least some of the plurality of female terminals 7 (here, the female terminals 7 forming the front row) are respectively inserted. . Each terminal insertion hole 40 of the slide plate 9 has substantially the same shape as each terminal receiving hole 25. Further, each terminal insertion hole 40 is arranged so that it overlaps each terminal receiving hole 25 in the vertical direction (that is, the guide groove 26 The female housing 8 is arranged so as to complement the upper and lower parts of the female housing 8.

The visible portion 36A (first visible portion) is arranged at an intermediate portion of the slide plate 9 in the left-right direction perpendicular to the fitting direction. The visible portion 36A is formed as an engaging claw that can be engaged with the female housing 8. This engagement claw is formed to protrude upward, and has an inclined surface 41A that is inclined so as to be displaced downward (toward the fitting direction) as it goes from the rear (entering position side) to the front (exiting position side). .

The visible parts 36B and 36C (second visible part, third visible part) have substantially the same shape (left-right symmetrical shape), and are arranged on the slide plate 9 so as to sandwich the visible part 36A in the left-right direction. They are placed on both ends. The visible parts 36B and 36C have inclined surfaces 41B and 41C, respectively, which are inclined so as to be displaced downward from the front edge of the upper surface of the plate main body 35 toward the front. The lengths of the inclined surfaces 41B and 41C in the left-right direction are set smaller than the inclined surface 41A of the visible portion 36A. Further, the angle of inclination of the inclined surfaces 41B and 41C with respect to the horizontal direction is set smaller than the angle of inclination of the inclined surface 41A of the visible portion 36A.

Each side piece 37 is provided at the left and right ends of the slide plate 9, respectively. Each side piece 37 constitutes a part (slope surface 41B, 41C) of the visually recognized part 36B, 36C, respectively. Each side piece 37 extends rearward from the base end at a portion including the inclined surfaces 41B and 41C, so that the rear end portion 45 thereof forms a free end. Each rear end portion 45 is formed with an inclined surface 47 that is inclined so as to be displaced upwardly from the front to the rear.

The protrusion 38 is provided so as to protrude rearward from the rear edge of the plate body 35. The protrusion 38 is located in the middle of the slide plate 9 in the left-right direction. The protrusion 38 also includes a pair of elastic arms 51A and 51B that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and can be elastically deformed. Arm locking claws 52A, 52B are provided at the tips (rear ends) of each elastic arm 51A, 51B, respectively. The protrusion 38 is inserted into the plate insertion hole 27 of the housing body 21 when the slide plate 9 is received in the guide groove 26 of the housing body 21 (see FIG. 2(A) and FIG. 8 described later). Become. As will be described later, the protrusion 38 (particularly, the lower rear surface 82B, which will be described later) is connected to the first cam mechanism provided between the male housing 6 and the slide plate 9 together with the convex wall 17 (particularly, the bottom wall 17D). Configure.

The lower portion of the housing body 21 is accommodated in the peripheral wall 12 of the male housing 6 when the male housing 6 and the female housing 8 are fitted together. Note that the housing main body 21 may have a configuration in which at least a portion where the guide groove 26 is provided is accommodated in the peripheral wall 12.

A worker handling the connector device 1 can connect the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 by, for example, the following procedure.

First, an operator (not shown) attaches the slide plate 9 to the guide groove 26 of the female housing 8 as shown by arrow A in FIG. At this time, the locking claw forming the visible portion 36A of the slide plate 9 engages with the front outer wall defining the guide groove 26 of the female housing 8 (housing main body 21), as shown in FIG. 2(A). It will be in a stopped state. At this time, the slide plate 9 is at the exit position, and further entry into the guide groove 26 is prevented by the locking of the visible portion 36A. Thereby, the slide plate 9 is stably held at the exit position. Also, at this time, the operator attaches the plurality of male terminals 5 to the male housing 6. Furthermore, each male terminal 5 may be soldered to a circuit board (not shown).

Next, the operator inserts each female terminal 7 connected to each of the plurality of conductive wires 55 into each terminal receiving hole 25 of the corresponding female housing 8, as shown by arrow B in FIG. 2(A). . As a result, all the female terminals 7 are housed in the female housing 8, as shown in FIG. 2(B).

Thereafter, in the state shown in FIG. 2(B), the operator presses the inclined surface 41A of the slide plate 9 downward with his or her finger to elastically deform the slide plate 9, and the visible portion 36A against the outer wall of the female housing 8. Release the lock. In this state, the operator pushes the slide plate 9 forward and moves it to the entry position (see FIG. 5, which will be described later). At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the arm locking claws 52A and 52B of the protrusion 38 are in a state of protruding from the plate insertion hole 27 of the housing body 21 to the rear of the housing body 21.

Subsequently, the operator inserts the female housing 8 into the peripheral wall 12 of the male housing 6 as shown by arrow C in FIG. 2(B). This completes the connection between the male connector 2 and the female connector 3, as shown in FIG. 2(C).

Although details will be described later, between FIGS. 2(B) (FIG. 3) and 2(C), the slide plate 9 is driven toward the exit position by engagement with the male housing 6, and is finally Then, upon completion of the connection between the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 shown in FIG. 2(C), the connector moves to the exit position.

Although the female connector 3 is moved toward the male connector 2 here, the operator is not limited to this, and when making these connections, the operator must move at least one of the female connector 3 and the male connector 2. may be moved relative to the other.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the connector device 1 between FIG. 3 and FIG. 2(C) (while the female housing 8 is being inserted into the male housing 6). FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 4. Note that in FIGS. 4 to 7, illustration of the female terminal 7 is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the housing body 21 of the female housing 8 is inserted halfway into the peripheral wall 12 of the male housing 6, as shown in FIGS. The portion 38 is inserted into the convex wall 17 of the male housing 6 from above.

Also, at this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the left and right side pieces 37 (rear end portions 45) of the slide plate 9 are provided inside the left and right side walls 12B, 12C of the male housing 6 correspondingly. It abuts on the left and right engaging pieces 60. More specifically, each of the inclined surfaces 47 of the slide plate 9 abuts on an engagement surface 61 formed on each engagement piece 60 of the male housing 6 . The engaging surface 61 of each engaging piece 60 is inclined so as to be displaced more downwardly from the rear to the front so as to oppose the inclined surface 47 of each side piece 37, and together with these inclined surfaces 47, the engaging surface 61 of the male side A second cam mechanism is provided between the housing 6 and the slide plate 9.

As a result, when the female housing 8 is further inserted downward (towards the male housing 6) from the state shown in FIG. 4, the slide plate 9 is driven forward (toward the exit position) via the second cam mechanism. be done.

Next, the internal configuration of the connector device 1 shown in FIG. 2(C) when the connection is completed will be described. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 2(C). FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 2(C). FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 2(C). Note that illustration of the female terminal 7 is omitted in FIGS. 8 to 10.

When the connection of the connector device 1 is completed as shown in FIG. 2(C), the slide plate 9 moves to the exit position as shown in FIGS. 8-10. At this time, the visible parts 36A to 36C of the slide plate 9 are inserted from the inside into the center hole 15A, left hole 15B, and right hole 15C formed in the side wall 12A of the male housing 6, respectively. . As a result, the operator can visually check the visible parts 36A-36C exposed from the center hole 15A, left hole 15B, and right hole 15C, so that the male housing 6 and the female housing 8 are properly installed. It becomes possible to visually determine that they are in a fitted state.

Further, at this time, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the protrusion 38 of the slide plate 9 in the exit position escapes from the inside of the convex wall 17 due to the forward movement of the slide plate 9, and the protrusion 38 of the slide plate 9 in the exit position escapes from the inside of the convex wall 17 and 27.

Further, at this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the left and right side pieces 37 of the slide plate 9 in the exit position have been moved forward, so that they are disengaged from the left and right engaging pieces 60, respectively. becomes.

FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B) are explanatory diagrams showing the mode of the locking operation of the female terminal 7 by the slide plate 9 in the female connector 3.

As shown in FIG. 11(A), when the slide plate 9 is in the retracted position (that is, the state shown in FIG. 2(B)), each of the female terminals in the front row (indicated by reference numeral 7A) is , are inserted (loosely fitted) into each terminal insertion hole 40 of the corresponding slide plate 9 (plate main body 35). At this time, each female terminal 7A is locked upward (i.e., , the direction of escape from the male housing 6). On the other hand, each of the female terminals in the rear row (indicated by reference numeral 7B here) is located in front of the slide plate 9 (plate main body 35). At this time, each female terminal 7B is locked by each housing lance 66 having the same configuration as the housing lance 65, thereby restricting upward movement. Each housing lance 66 is provided on the rear side of the intermediate wall 23 that defines a part of the terminal insertion hole 40 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 11(B), the female terminals 7A and 7B are provided with locking recesses 68A and 68B (locked portions) that can receive a portion of the slide plate 9, respectively. When the slide plate 9 is in the advanced position (that is, the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 5), the locking recess 68A of the female terminal 7A in the front row has a hole that defines each terminal insertion hole 40 in the slide plate 9. The edge (front edge) 69 of is in a state of being fitted from the front. This restricts the vertical movement of each female terminal 7A. Similarly, the rear edge 71 of the plate main body 35 of the slide plate 9 is fitted from the front into the locking recess 68B of the female terminal 7B in the rear row. This restricts the vertical movement of each female terminal 7B.

When the connection between the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 is completed (see FIG. 2(C)), the slide plate 9 is moved from the entry position shown in FIG. 11(B) to the position shown in FIG. 11(A) again. Move to exit position.

FIGS. 12A to 12E are explanatory diagrams of the forward and backward movement of the slide plate 9. In (A) to (E), the upper and middle rows are a perspective view and a front view (view from the rear) of the protrusion 38 of the slide plate 9 inserted into the plate insertion hole 27 of the female housing 8, respectively. . Further, the lower part is a cross-sectional view of the connector device 1 including a cross section taken by cutting the slide plate 9 in the middle in the left-right direction.

FIG. 12A shows a state corresponding to FIG. 2B described above, in which the slide plate 9 is at the exit position. At this time, the protrusion 38 of the slide plate 9 is located within the plate insertion hole 27 of the female housing 8.

Next, FIG. 12(B) shows a state corresponding to FIG. 3 described above, in which the slide plate 9 has moved from the exit position to the approach position. At this time, the protrusion 38 of the slide plate 9 is in a state of protruding from the plate insertion hole 27 of the housing body 21 to the rear of the housing body 21. At this time, in the protrusion 38, the left and right outer edges of the arm locking claws 52A and 52B as seen from the rear are connected to the convex wall 17 of the male housing 6 (the middle stage in FIGS. 12(B) to 12(D)). The elastic arms 51A and 51B are spaced apart from each other so that the distance is wider than the inner peripheral surfaces of the left and right vertical walls 17A and 17B (indicated by two-dot chain lines). Further, the arm locking claws 52A and 52B in the protrusion 38 have a shape that projects downward, and are locked in a portion defining the opening of the plate insertion hole 27 on the outer peripheral surface of the female housing 8. . This restricts the movement of the slide plate 9 toward the exit position.

Next, FIG. 12C shows a state corresponding to FIG. 5 described above, in which the female housing 8 is inserted into the male housing 6 so that the protrusion 38 of the slide plate 9 6 is inserted from above into the convex wall 17 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the middle of FIGS. 12(B) to 12(D)).

Here, each of the arm locking claws 52A, 52B has substantially the same shape except for being symmetrical, and each has an inner surface 80, an outer surface 81, a rear surface 82, and a bottom surface 83. The inner surface 80 is arranged substantially perpendicularly in the left-right direction. The outer surface 81 includes an upper outer surface 81A arranged substantially perpendicularly in the left-right direction, and a lower outer surface (slanted surface) 81B that is connected to the lower part of the upper outer surface 81A and is inclined to be displaced more inward from the upper side to the lower side. and has. The rear surface 82 is connected to an upper rear surface 82A which is inclined so as to be displaced more inward as it goes further rearward from the rear edge of the upper outer surface 81A of the outer surface 81, and below the upper rear surface 82A, and is further disposed toward the front as it goes from above to below. It has a lower rear surface 82B that is inclined so as to be displaced. The bottom surface 83 is continuous with the lower ends of the inner surface 80, the lower outer surface 81B, and the lower rear surface 82B, and forms the tip edge (lower edge) of the arm locking claws 52A, 52B.

Due to the shape of each arm locking claw 52A, 52B, when the female housing 8 (slide plate 9) moves downward from the state shown in FIG. 12(B), the arm locking claws 52A, 52B The lower outer surface 81B engages (contacts) the upper edges of the left and right vertical walls 17A, 17B at approximately the same time. Thereafter, as the slide plate 9 moves further downward, a force is applied to the arm locking claws 52A, 52B by the vertical walls 17A, 17B in the direction of mutually displacing them inwardly, as shown in FIG. 12(C). Then, due to elastic deformation, they become close to each other. At this time, the force that moves the female housing 8 (slide plate 9) downward is caused by the outer lower part 81B of the arm locking claws 52A, 52B to move the arm locking claws 52A, 52B inward (in the approach direction). converted into power.

Due to such elastic deformation of the arm locking claws 52A, 52B (elastic arms 51A, 51B), the outer shape of the protrusion 38 seen from the rear can pass through the plate insertion hole 27, as shown in FIG. 12(D). size. Further, at this time, the rear lower portions 82B of the arm locking claws 52A and 52B engage (abut) the upper surface of the bottom wall 17D of the convex wall 17, respectively. Thereafter, as the slide plate 9 moves further downward, the arm locking claws 52A, 52B are given a force to drive them forward (toward the exit position) by the bottom wall 17D, and move toward the exit position. At this time, the force that moves the female housing 8 (slide plate 9) downward is converted into the force that moves the slide plate 9 toward the exit position by the lower rear surface 82B of the arm locking claws 52A, 52B.

As a result, the slide plate 9 moves to the exit position, as shown in FIG. 12(E). This FIG. 12(E) corresponds to FIG. 2(C) described above, and shows a state in which the male housing 6 and the female housing 8 have been completely fitted.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of exposing the visible portion of the slide plate 9 in plan view.

FIG. 13(A) shows a state corresponding to FIG. 5 described above, in which the slide plate 9 is in the entering position. At this time, in a plan view from above, the slide plate 9 is recessed into the guide groove 26 of the female housing 8, and the operator visually checks the slide plate 9 (visible parts 36A to 36C). Can not.

FIG. 13(B) shows a state corresponding to FIG. 2(C) described above, in which the slide plate 9 is in the retracted position. At this time, in a plan view seen from above, the left and right visible parts 36B and 36C of the slide plate 9 are located outside the outer edges of the male housing 6 and the female housing 8, and the operator can The visual recognition parts 36B and 36C can be visually confirmed. In this way, when the slide plate 9 is in the exit position, at least one of the plurality of visually recognized parts 36A to 36C is configured to protrude outward from the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the male housing 6 in plan view. Therefore, the operator can easily determine whether the male housing 6 and the female housing 8 are properly fitted together without significantly changing the working posture.

The flange portion 22 of the female housing 8 is notched inward at a portion corresponding to the positions where the left hole 15B and right hole 15C of the male housing 6 are provided in plan view, thereby forming cutout portions 85A and 85B. is provided. This prevents the visible parts 36B and 36C of the slide plate 9 from protruding outward from the outer edge of the connector device 1 (that is, increasing the size of the connector device), while making the visible parts easily visible to the operator. can be realized. Note that the female housing 8 may be provided with a through hole that vertically passes through the female housing 8 (flange portion 22) instead of the notches 85A and 85B. Thereby, the operator can visually recognize the visible parts 36B and 36C of the slide plate 9 at the exit position from the through hole in a plan view.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are diagonally fitted.

As shown in FIG. 14, the operator inserted the male housing 6 and the female housing 8 in an inappropriate direction (see imaginary axis D in FIG. 14) from the normal fitting direction (in this case, the vertical direction). Assume that you are trying to fit them together (diagonal fitting).

In that case, unlike the state shown in FIG. 12(B) above, when the female housing 8 (slide plate 9) moves downward, the lower part of the arm locking claws 52A, 52B (the outer lower part 81B) do not engage (contact) the upper edges of the convex wall 17 (left and right vertical walls 17A, 17B) at the same time. Here, since the arm locking pawl 52B engages with the upper edge of the convex wall 17 first, the arm locking pawls 52A and 52B do not elastically deform equally on the left and right sides, and are prevented from entering the convex wall 17. inhibited. Thereby, the operator notices that the male housing 6 and the female housing 8 are fitted diagonally, and can correct the fitting direction to the normal direction.

In addition, when the operator obliquely fits the male housing 6 and the female housing 8, the engaging pieces 31 (housing locking claws 32) provided on the left and right sides of the female housing 8 are It becomes difficult to properly engage the housing 6. This also allows the operator to notice that the male housing 6 and the female housing 8 are fitted diagonally.

Next, an outline of the separation operation of the connector device 1 will be explained. 15 and 16 are explanatory views showing essential parts of the sliding operation of the slide plate 9 in the separating operation of the connector device 1. Here, FIG. 15 shows a cross section of the connector device 1 at the middle part in the left-right direction and an enlarged view of its main parts, and FIG. 16 shows a cross-section of the connector device 1 at the left end side in the left-right direction and an enlarged view of its main parts. It shows.

As shown in FIG. 15, the operator can perform a separation operation to disconnect the normally connected connector device 1. At this time, the operator presses the inclined surface 41A of the visible portion 36A of the slide plate 9 downward with his or her finger or an appropriate tool. As a result, the slide plate 9 is elastically deformed as shown by arrow E, and the visible portion 36A moves downward, and the locking of the female housing 8 to the front outer wall is released. In this state, the operator can disconnect the connector device 1 by further pushing the visible portion 36A backward (towards the entry position).

Alternatively, when the operator applies a force to the female housing 8 to pull it upward from the male housing 6, the inclined surface 41A of the visible portion 36A of the slide plate 9 will move toward the upper edge of the hole defining the central hole 15A. By coming into contact with 91, it is pressed downward. As a result, the slide plate 9 is elastically deformed, the visible portion 36A moves downward, and the locking on the front outer wall of the female housing 8 is released. Furthermore, the force for pulling out the female housing 8 upward is converted into the force for driving the slide plate 9 toward the entry position by the inclined surface 41A of the visible portion 36A. This moves the slide plate 9 to the entry position, allowing the operator to disconnect the connector device 1.

Further, at this time, as shown in FIG. 16, the inclined surface 41B of the visible portion 36B of the slide plate 9 (the same applies to the visible portion 36C) comes into contact with the upper edge 92 of the hole that defines the left hole 15B. By touching, it is pressed downward. Thereby, the force that drives the slide plate 9 toward the approach position is increased, and the slide plate 9 can be easily moved to the approach position as shown by arrow F. In this case, since force is applied to both the left and right ends of the slide plate 9 in a well-balanced manner, the slide plate 9 can be stably moved rearward.

Although the present invention has been described above based on specific embodiments, these embodiments are merely illustrative, and the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. All of the components of the woody biomass power generation system and power generation method according to the present invention shown in the embodiments described above are not necessarily essential, and at least those skilled in the art can select them as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention. Is possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the operator visually determines whether the two housings are properly fitted, but it is not necessary for the operator to directly determine, for example: The operator may determine whether the two housings are in a properly fitted state based on a photographed image of the connector device using an image processing device applying a known image recognition technique.

1: Connector device 2: Male side connector (first connector)
3: Female side connector (second connector)
5: Male terminal (first terminal)
6: Male side housing (first housing)
7: Female terminal (second terminal)
8: Female side housing (second housing)
9: Slide plate 12: Peripheral wall 13: Bottom wall 15A: Center hole (visual recognition hole)
15B: Left hole (visual hole)
15C: Right hole (visual hole)
17: Convex walls 17A, 17B: Vertical wall 17C: Horizontal wall 17D: Bottom wall (driving wall)
21 : Housing main body 22 : Flange part 23 : Intermediate wall 25 : Terminal accommodation hole 26 : Guide groove 27 : Plate insertion hole 31 : Engagement piece 32 : Housing locking claw 33 : Corresponding locking part 35 : Plate main body 36A-36C : Visible part 37 : Side piece 38 : Projection 40 : Terminal insertion hole 41A-41C : Inclined surface 45 : Rear end part 47 : Inclined surface 51A, 51B : Elastic arms 52A, 52B : Arm locking claw 55 : Conductor wire 60 : Engagement piece 61 : Engagement surface 65, 66 : Housing lance 68A, 68B: Locking recess (locked part)
69: Edge of hole 71: Rear edge 80: Inner surface 81: Outer surface 81A: Upper outer surface 81B: Lower outer surface (slope)
82: Rear surface 82A: Upper rear surface 82B: Lower rear surface 83: Bottom surface 85A, 85B: Notches 91, 92: Upper edge

Claims (14)

a first connector including a plurality of first terminals and a first housing housing the plurality of first terminals;
a plurality of second terminals that are electrically connectable to each of the plurality of first terminals; a second housing that accommodates the plurality of second terminals and is fittable to the first housing; and the first housing. The second housing is received in a guide groove provided in the second housing so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the second housing is fitted, and an entry position in which the housing enters the guide groove, and an exit position in which the housing partially protrudes from the guide groove. a second connector including a slide plate displaceable between the second connector and the second connector,
A cam mechanism is provided between the first housing and the slide plate to drive the slide plate from the approach position to the exit position upon completion of fitting of the first housing and the second housing. provided,
At least one visible portion is provided at the end of the slide plate on the exit position side,
A peripheral wall of the first housing in which at least a portion of the second housing in which the guide groove is provided is provided with at least one part that makes the visible part of the slide plate in the exit position visible from the outside. Connector device with two viewing holes. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the visually recognized parts is provided so as to protrude outward from an outer surface of the peripheral wall of the first housing when viewed from the fitting direction in the exit position. . 3. The second housing has an inward cutout portion corresponding to a position where at least one of the viewing holes of the first housing is provided when viewed from the fitting direction. Connector device as described. The at least one visible portion includes a first visible portion disposed at an intermediate portion of the slide plate in the left-right direction perpendicular to the fitting direction with the first housing, and a first visible portion in the left-right direction. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising second and third visually recognized parts respectively arranged on both ends of the slide plate so as to sandwich the visually recognized part. At least one of the visually recognized parts includes an engaging claw,
When the slide plate is in the advanced position, the engaging claw is located in the guide groove, and when the slide plate is in the exit position, the engaging claw is located in the opening of the guide groove. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connector device is locked to an outer wall of the second housing that defines the second housing. The engagement pawl has an inclined surface that is inclined so as to be displaced more toward the fitting direction as it goes from the entry position to the exit position,
At least a portion of the inclined surface is located within the viewing hole when the slide plate is in the exit position, and when the second housing moves in a direction opposite to the fitting direction with the first housing. 6. The connector device according to claim 5, wherein the connector device is pressed in the fitting direction by an edge or a circumferential surface of the viewing hole. Each of the plurality of second terminals is positioned in the guide groove when normally housed in the second housing, thereby being locked in a state in which a portion of the slide plate at the entering position is received. 7. The connector device according to claim 1, further comprising a locked portion. 8. The connector device according to claim 7, wherein the state in which the locked portion receives a portion of the slide plate is released upon completion of fitting of the first housing and the second housing. A protrusion forming the cam mechanism is further provided on the entry position side of the slide plate,
When the first housing is fitted with the second housing, the first housing constitutes the cam mechanism together with the protrusion, and has a drive that applies a force to the protrusion to drive the slide plate toward the exit position. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a wall. The second housing has a plate insertion hole that communicates with the guide groove and into which the protrusion is inserted when the slide plate is in the entry position;
The protrusion protrudes from the plate insertion hole to the outside of the second housing when the slide plate is at the entry position, and is located within the guide groove when the slide plate is at the exit position. 9. The connector device according to 9. The drive wall is arranged perpendicular to the fitting direction,
The first housing further includes a pair of vertical walls extending in the fitting direction so as to be connected to the left and right sides of the drive wall,
The protrusion includes a pair of elastic arms that are spaced apart from each other at a wider interval than the pair of vertical walls in the left-right direction perpendicular to the fitting direction,
11. The connector device according to claim 9, wherein the pair of elastic arms are formed with slopes that engage with upper edges of the pair of vertical walls so as to be elastically deformed in a direction toward each other. The peripheral wall of the first housing has a substantially rectangular outer peripheral surface when viewed from the fitting direction,
The pair of vertical walls are formed as a part of the peripheral wall, and form a part of a convex wall provided to protrude outward from the substantially rectangular outer peripheral surface when viewed from the fitting direction. ,
12. The connector device according to claim 11, wherein the drive wall forms a bottom wall that closes the opening on the fitting direction side in the convex wall. The protrusion has a pair of arm locking claws provided at the tips of the pair of elastic arms, respectively,
When the slide plate is in the withdrawn position, the pair of arm locking claws are elastically deformed in a direction in which the pair of elastic arms approach each other, so that the pair of arm locking claws can be inserted into the plate insertion hole,
When the slide plate is in the advanced position, the pair of arm locking claws protrudes from the plate insertion hole to the outside of the second housing, and the pair of elastic arms recovers from the elastic deformation to prevent the plate insertion. 11. The connector device according to claim 10, wherein the connector device is latched to an outer wall of the second housing defining a hole opening. A pair of side pieces each constituting the cam mechanism are further provided at both ends of the slide plate in the left-right direction perpendicular to the fitting direction,
The first housing constitutes the cam mechanism together with the pair of side pieces, and includes a pair of engagement pieces that respectively apply a force to the pair of side pieces to drive the slide plate toward the exit position. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising:

Images