JPH03274687A - Detector for coupling of connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the coupling of a connector by advancing a slider for confirmation of lock by means of a spring when both connector housings are completely engaged, and bringing a terminal for detection circuit and a terminal for short circuit into contact with each other. CONSTITUTION:A male connector housing A' has a slider E' for confirmation of lock, which can be shifted forward when it has engaged completely with the fellow female connector housing (not shown in the figure). At the time of complete engagement with the fellow connector, the slider E' for confirmation of lock, which has escaped from the restriction by a locking arm 5, advances automatically by the tension of a coil spring 14, and the contact end G'1 of an elastic contact G' for short circuit contacts with a terminal F' for detection circuit from an opening 12a, and operates the detection circuit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a pair of connectors used for connection of automotive wire harnesses, etc., and a method for detecting the connection of a pair of connectors, which has a means for detecting whether or not they are connected normally. It is related to the device.

[Conventional technology]

A' is a male connector that holds a female terminal C by a flexible locking piece 2 in the terminal housing chamber of the male connector housing 6, and B' is a female connector that holds the female terminal C in the terminal housing chamber of the female connector housing B. The male terminal is held within the chamber 3 by a flexible locking piece 4.

A locking arm 5 is provided on the male connector housing A by a flexible support portion 5a, and a locking portion 5c formed at the tip of the elongated hole 5b on the front side engages with a locking protrusion 6 provided on the surface of the female connector housing B. match. A lock release operation section 5d is provided at the rear end of the lock arm 5.

A lock confirmation slider E is provided on the male connector housing A so as to be movable in the front and back direction, and a cantilevered flexible lock detection arm 8 protrudes forward from its base 7. Abutment part 8
a and a support portion 8b, and has a long hole 5b of the lock arm 5.
The abutting portion 8a abuts the rear surface of the locking portion 5c, and the support portion 8b abuts the upper surface of the locking portion 5c.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11(a), before the female and male connector housings A and B are fitted, the lock confirmation slider E is prevented from moving forward by the locking portion 5c of the lock arm 5. ing.

When female connector housings A and B are fitted, the locking portion 5c of the locking arm 5 engages with the tapered guide surface 6 of the locking protrusion 6.
a, and the lock detection arm 8 also moves upward as shown in FIG.
Since the abutting portion 8a is located on the locking projection 6, the lock detection arm 8 is disengaged from the lock arm 5 and takes the raised position independently (FIG. 11d). In this state, it becomes possible to move the lock confirmation slider E forward, thereby confirming that the female 1 connectors A' and B' are completely fitted.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, since the fitted state is determined by looking at the position of the lock confirmation slider provided on the male connector housing, it is insufficient to detect incomplete fitting.

The present invention has been made with attention to the above points, and is designed to electrically detect complete fitting of the connector in a connector having such a lock confirmation slider.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides one connector housing having a flexible locking arm, another connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm, and a connector housing provided in the one connector housing to A detection circuit terminal and a short-circuit terminal are provided opposite to the lock confirmation slider that can move forward when the connector housing is fully mated, and the one connector housing and the 8-input and 7-input confirmation sliders. At the same time, a spring is provided between the two connector housings, and when the two connector housings are completely fitted, the lock confirmation slider is moved forward by the spring so that the detection circuit terminal and the short circuit terminal come into contact with each other.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1, the male connector housing A' has a lock confirmation slider E' that can be moved forward when the male connector housing A' is fully fitted with a mating female connector housing (not shown). The engagement structure between the lock confirmation slider E' and the lock arm 5 is the same as that of the conventional example.

The male connector housing A' is provided with a sleeve part 9 surrounding the mating female connector housing in the front half thereof, and a pair of rails 10 extend rearward from the rear part of the sleeve part 9, and a pair of rails 10 extend rearward from the rear of the sleeve part 9, and a pair of rails 10 extend rearward from the rear of the sleeve part 9. Groove 1 formed on both sides of 7
1 is engaged with the rail 10, and the pair of rails 10
A terminal accommodating chamber 12 opening rearward is formed in each of the terminals (see FIG. 2).

A small detection circuit terminal F' connected to the electric wire W is inserted in advance into the terminal housing chamber 12, and the locking piece F is inserted into the upper opening 12.
The terminal F' is prevented from being pulled out by engaging with the terminal a, and the terminal F' is exposed at the inner opening 12b.

A substantially V-shaped short-circuiting elastic contact G' is provided by fitting the base into the substantially ■-shaped support groove 7a formed in the base 7 of the lock confirmation slider E', and its contact end Gl' can come into contact with the detection circuit terminal F' through the opening 12b.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, spring accommodating grooves 3 extending in the front-rear direction are formed at positions facing the terminal accommodating chamber 12 on both sides of the base 7 of the lock confirmation slider E'. The spring housing groove 13 accommodates a tension type automatic lock tri recognition coil spring 14 whose rear end 14a is locked to a fixed pin 15 and whose front free end has a catch plate spring 14b.

The lock confirmation slider E' is first combined with the male connector housing A' in the situation shown in FIG. The hook is made by engaging the plate spring 14b with the upper opening 12b of the terminal accommodating chamber 12 (see Fig. 5).
bl), in this state, the lock confirmation slider E' is moved back again while pulling the coil spring 14, and the abutment part 8a of the lock detection arm 8 is engaged with the locking part 5C of the lock arm 5 to fix it (first Figure 5 (C)).

In the above configuration, when fully mated with the mating connector, the lock confirmation slider E' released from the restraint by the lock arm 5 automatically moves forward by the tension of the coil spring 14, and comes into contact with the shorting elastic contact G'. The end Gl' contacts the detection circuit terminal F' through the opening 12a to close the detection circuit.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention provides one connector housing having a flexible locking arm, the other connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm, and a connector housing provided in the one connector housing so that the two connector housings can be completely fitted together. A detection circuit terminal and a short-circuit terminal are provided opposite to the one connector housing and the lock confirmation slider, and a spring is stretched between the two. When the pair of connector housings are completely fitted, the lock confirmation slider is moved forward by the spring so that the detection circuit terminal and the short circuit terminal come into contact with each other. The detection circuit can be activated automatically when

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially cut perspective view of the connector housing of the above, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the lock confirmation slider of the above, Figure 4 shows (a) the same lock confirmation slider as above.
is a rear view, (bl is a bottom view, and (C) is a cross-sectional view. Figures 5 (a), (b), and (C) are cross-sectional views showing the process of locking the spring of the lock confirmation slider to the connector housing. , Figure 6 is a sectional view of the conventional example, (a) (b) ((
tel (f) shows the fitting process of a pair of connector housings. A'...One connector housing, E'...Slider for lock confirmation, F'...Detection circuit terminal, G'...
...Short circuit terminal, 14...Spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] one connector housing having a flexible locking arm; the other connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm; and a lock provided on the one connector housing and capable of moving forward when the two connector housings are fully fitted. It consists of a confirmation slider, and a detection circuit terminal and a short circuit terminal are provided facing each other to the one connector housing and the lock confirmation slider, and a spring is tensioned between the two, so that when both connector housings are completely fitted, A connector coupling detection device characterized in that the lock confirmation slider is moved forward by the spring so that the detection circuit terminal and the short circuit terminal come into contact with each other.