JPH0249657Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a waterproof connector used for wiring in automobiles, etc.

(Prior Art) As shown in FIG. 8, in a conventional waterproof connector of this type, an endless elastic material a having a circular cross section made of silicone rubber or the like is placed in a groove c formed on the outer periphery of a male connector housing b. The endless elastic member a is pressed between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the respective housings by fitting the male and female connector housings d and b,
This part ensured sealing between the male and female connector housings d and b, but before the male and female connector housings d and b were fitted together, the endless elastic member a Therefore, when assembling a wire harness as a wiring means for an automobile or when assembling it into an automobile, scratches are likely to occur on the surface due to external force, and due to these scratches, both the male and female connector housings d, There was a drawback that the sealing performance was impaired when mating.

In addition, by impregnating the endless elastic member a with oil, the magnitude of the fitting force caused by the frictional force that occurs when the male and female connector housings d and b are fitted with the male and female connector housings d and b interposed can be suppressed. In the case of waterproof connectors, there is a drawback that dust and the like adhere to the connectors during the above-mentioned operations, impairing their sealing performance.

Today, from the above, as shown in Figure 9,
A type of waterproof connector is used in which the above-mentioned endless elastic member a is locked onto the inner peripheral surface of the insertion opening e of the female connector housing d to isolate it from the outside. In order to lock the elastic material a to the fitting part e, a locking ring f having an axial length shorter than the axial length of the fitting part e is inserted and locked into the fitting part e. A concave groove h for interposing the endless elastic material a is formed between the retaining ring f and the step g formed in the fitting opening e, so that the fitting opening e has a concave groove h. has a step in the middle of its axial length, and the external shape of the tip end of the fitting head i of the male connector housing b inserted into this part is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the locking ring f, and the fitting opening part e has a step. Since it is smaller than the inner diameter of the open end, the male and female connector housings d,
When mating connector housings b, the male connector housing b is inserted into the female connector housing d with their axes shifted from each other and the insertion directions do not match, and the cavity j of the female connector housing d is
A tab-shaped electrical contact portion I protruding into the insertion opening e of the electrical connector k whose base is housed and locked is a receptacle for the electrical connector n which is accommodated in the cavity m of the male connector housing b. If the axial direction of the electrical contact part o does not match, the cavity m of the male connector housing b may come into contact with the surface p along the open end of the cavity m, causing deformation, etc. To prevent this, the cavity of the female connector housing d A protrusion r is provided that protrudes beyond the protruding width of the electrical contact portion I from a surface q along the opening end of the male connector housing b, and a corresponding hole s is formed through the surface p of the cavity m of the male connector housing b. The surface p along the opening end of the cavity m of the male connector housing b is kept from reaching the electrical contact part I of the female connector housing d until the protrusion r is fitted into the hole s. When part r and hole s penetrate, electrical contact part I becomes electrical contact part o for the first time.
It is designed to be inserted into.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Therefore, in the above-mentioned waterproof connector, the projections r provided on the male and female connector housings d, b,
The presence of the hole s has the disadvantage that the width of the housing in the shearing plane direction increases accordingly.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is a waterproof connector in which an endless elastic member serving as a sealing means is housed and locked in a fitting opening of a female connector housing, and is designed to further reduce the size of the waterproof connector. The axial length of the locking ring is formed so that when the locking ring is inserted and locked during insertion, one end of the locking ring is aligned with the opening end of the fitting opening. A fitting direction regulating means for regulating the fitting direction of the fitting cylindrical portion of the male connector housing is provided on the inner circumferential surface, and a protrusion on the cavity opening end surface of the male and female connector housing, which is a fitting direction regulating means commonly used in the past, is provided. The purpose is to eliminate the holes and eliminate the above drawbacks.

This idea will be explained below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the waterproof connector according to the present invention before assembly, in which 1 is a female connector housing, 2 is a male connector housing, 6 is a locking ring,
Reference numeral 8 denotes an endless elastic material having a circular cross section and made of silicone rubber or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the female connector housing 1 has a stepped portion 5 extending toward the open end of the fitting opening 4 on the inner peripheral surface thereof at the inner depth of the fitting opening 4.
An endless elastic member 8 is housed and locked in a concave groove 7 formed between the stepped portion 5 and a locking ring 6 housed and locked in the fitting opening 4. ing.

The locking ring 6 is shaped so that a part of the locking ring 6 is lined up with the opening end of the fitting opening 4 in the axial direction of the locking ring 6 while being accommodated and locked in the fitting opening 4 as described above. An insertion direction regulating means for guiding and regulating the insertion direction of the fitting head 9 of the male connector housing 2 is provided on the inner circumferential surface of this portion.

The insertion direction regulating means includes grooves 1 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting head 9 of the male connector housing 2 and corresponding to the protrusions 10 and 10' extending in the axial direction of the housing.
1 and 11', and is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the locking ring 6.

In addition, the fitting head 9 of the male connector housing 2 is
It will necessarily be understood that it is formed to be inserted into the locking ring 6.

(effect) The operation of the present invention will be explained below.

The endless elastic member 8 is inserted into the fitting opening 4 of the female connector housing 1 to a position where it abuts the stepped portion 5, and is accommodated therein, and then the locking ring 6 is inserted into the fitting opening 4.
The endless elastic member is accommodated and locked in the recessed groove portion 7 formed by the step portion 5 and the locking ring 6, and the cavities 12, 12 of the female connector housing 1 are in this state. An electric connector 13 connected to an electric wire is housed and locked in the ', thereby forming a female connector.

Further, an electrical connector 15 connected to an electric wire is housed and locked in each cavity 14, 14' of the male connector housing 2 to form a male connector.

Subsequently, when assembling the wire harness or when assembling it into an automobile, the fitting head 9 of the male connector is inserted into the fitting opening portion 4 of the female connector.

Since the fitting head 9 corresponds to the inner cavity of the locking ring 6 of the fitting opening 4, the protrusions 10, 10' and the grooves 11,
11' are not in the corresponding positional relationship, the fitting head 9 will not be inserted into the fitting opening 4, and the male and female connectors will not be electrically and mechanically connected.

When the protrusions 10, 10' and the grooves 11, 11' are in a corresponding positional relationship, the electrical connectors of each connector are also in a correctly corresponding relationship, and the fitting head 9 is inserted into the fitting opening 4, Electrical and mechanical coupling between male and female connectors is also provided.

(Example) An example of implementing the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

To explain based on FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the female connector housing 1 is connected to the cavity 1.
2, 12', and a second cylindrical part 17 formed with a fitting opening 4 for receiving the fitting head 9 of the mating male connector housing 2.
Therefore, a stepped portion 5 and a stepped portion 18 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the fitting portion 4 at the inner depth of the fitting portion 4, and gradually expand toward the open end of the fitting portion 4. In addition, a through hole 19 is formed from the rear portion of the second cylindrical portion 17 through the stepped portion 18 into the fitting opening portion 5.
is formed near the opening end of the through hole 19,
Locking protrusions 20, 20' are formed in a protruding manner.

An endless elastic member 8 made of silicone rubber or the like and having a circular cross section is disposed on the inner circumferential surface between the step portion 5 and the step portion 18 described above.

On the other hand, the locking ring 6 has a pair of arm pieces 21, 21' extending from the side to the rear and has a window 26, and when it is housed in the above-mentioned fitting opening 4 from the rear end,
The rear end is in contact with the stepped portion 18, and the arm pieces 21, 21' are
It is inserted into the through hole 19, and the stepped portion of the window 26 is hooked to the locking protrusions 20, 20'.

As a result, the endless elastic member 8 is locked in the concave groove 7 formed between the step 5 and the rear end of the locking ring 6.

At least a portion of the locking ring 6 is formed so that its front end is lined up with the open end of the fitting opening 4, with its front end being accommodated and locked within the fitting opening 4 as described above.

A pair of grooves 11 and 11' starting from the front end are recessed on the inner peripheral surface of the portion.

It will be understood that the grooves 11 and 11' are insertion direction regulating means for regulating the insertion direction of the fitting head 9 formed in the male connector housing 2 into the fitting opening 4, as described above. .

Further, the locking ring 6 is formed by cutting out a part of the second cylindrical part 17 of the female connector housing 1, and cutting out a part of the second cylindrical part 17 located at the arm piece 210 whose free end extends toward the open end of the second cylindrical part 17. I'm there.

A window 22 is formed in the arm piece 210.

Next, the male connector housing 2 will be explained based on FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7. Inset head 9 for
A second cylindrical portion 24 is formed therein, and cavities 14, 14' are formed inside the first and second cylindrical portions 23, 24 so as to straddle both.

A pair of protrusions 10 and 10' are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fitting head 9, starting from a position slightly away from the tip thereof, and running upward and rearward in the axial direction of the housing.
5 is formed.

Male connector housing 1 configured as described above
connects the protrusions 10, 10' to the female connector housing 2.
The above-mentioned protrusion 25 is inserted into the groove 7 formed in the inner locking ring 6 while being guided and restricted.
It is coupled and locked to the female connector housing 2, which is present in a part of the connector housing 2 that is cut out.

At this time, the ends of the protrusions 10, 10' and the fitting cylinder part 4
The endless elastic member 8 is pressed into contact with the end portion of the elastic member 8 .

Incidentally, cavities 12, 12'..., 14, 1 are provided at the rear end openings of the male and female connector housings 1, 2.
4'... Electrical connectors 13, 1 accommodated and locked between
A rubber stopper (not shown) is enclosed for guiding the electric wires connected to the terminals 3', 15, 15', etc. to the outside in a watertight manner.

(Effects of the invention) As explained above, the present invention provides sealing properties to the joint portions of male and female connectors by placing an endless elastic material such as silicone rubber on the inner circumferential surface of the insertion opening of the female connector housing. In a waterproof connector arranged in a waterproof connector, the fitting tube part of the male connector housing is guided and controlled in the fitting part of the female connector housing by engagement with a hole penetrated from above the surface along the cavity opening end of the fitting part. Rather than locking it in place, the locking ring for storing and locking it inside the endless elastic object fitting opening part engages with the fitting cylinder part of the male connector housing, so that the above-mentioned protrusion and This eliminates the need for an area for forming holes, and the widths of the male and female connector housings in the shear plane direction can be made as small as possible.

Further, a protrusion is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the fitting cylinder, and a concave line corresponding to the protrusion is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the locking ring, and these are used as guide regulating means, and the locking ring provided with the above-mentioned concave line is provided with a protrusion. Since the end of the locking ring is partially aligned with the opening edge of the fitting opening, the axial width of the locking ring becomes substantially longer, increasing the structural strength and making the connector more compact. Even if the locking ring is made smaller, its strength can be ensured sufficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure shows an example of the implementation of the present invention.
The figure is a perspective view showing the state before assembling the waterproof connector, Figure 2 is a front view of the female connector housing,
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A, and Figure 4 is taken along line B-B.
5 is a front view of the male connector housing, FIG. 6 is a C-C sectional view, FIG. 7 is a top and bottom view of the same, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the coupled state of the waterproof connector of Conventional Example 1. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the coupled state of the waterproof connector of Conventional Example 2. 1... Female connector housing, 2... Male connector housing, 3... Locking ring, 4... Fitting opening part,
5... Step part, 6... Locking ring, 7... Concave groove part, 8...
... Endless elastic material, 9 ... Fitted head, 10, 10'
... Protruding ridges, 11, 11'... Concave ridges.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] inserting a locking ring into the fitting opening of the female connector housing into which the male connector housing is fitted, forming a recessed groove between one end of the locking ring and a step formed on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting opening; In a waterproof connector in which an endless elastic member with a circular cross section is interposed in the concave groove, when the locking ring is inserted and locked into the fitting opening, the other end of the locking ring is inserted into the fitting opening. At least a portion of the locking ring has the axial length so as to be aligned with the opening end, and the inner circumferential surface of the portion of the locking ring having the axial length is aligned with the male connector housing. On the outer peripheral surface of the fitting cylinder part, a protrusion running in the axial direction is provided on one side, and a concave line running in the axial direction corresponding to the protrusion is provided on the other side to regulate the insertion direction of the fitting head in the male connector housing. A waterproof connector characterized by: