JPH03285280A - Lock confirmation device of electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent imperfect fitting and an imperfect lock of both connectors beforehand by making a mechanism in which at the time of locking a locking arm, a lock detection arm may advance and a slider for lock confirmation may move to a lock confirming position. CONSTITUTION:When a slider S is pushed, a locking arm advances bending downward in slide contact with a guide taper 22a. Next, when an engaging projection 14b enters the deeper inside than a check 22, its engagement is released and the locking arm 14 elastically returns to turn upward. Thereby, the engaging projection 14b is engaged with the check 22 to simultaneously attain perfect fitting and locking the female and male connectors F, M. Now, when the slider is further pushed, a lock detection arm 24 advances and a stopper 24a reaches the deeper inside than the engaging projection 14b, then said arm 24 also elastically returns to move the slider S to a lock conforming position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a lock confirmation device for an electrical connector used for connecting electric wires, etc.

[Conventional technology]

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a conventional connector lock confirmation device. In the figure, 1 and 2 are terminals (
3 is a locking arm having a locking pawl 4, and 5 is a locking lug that engages with the locking pawl 4 when both housings are fitted together.

When the housings 1 and 2 are fitted together, the locking arm 3 passes under the side 5 while being bent, and the locking claw 4 is locked onto the lever 5. At this time, by inserting a member 6 into the space between the housing 2 and the locking arm 3, the locked state of the arm 3 is detected.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

According to the prior art shown in FIG. 11.12, when both housings 1 and 2 are partially fitted, the locking arm 3 is
Since the member 6 cannot be inserted because the member 6 is bent under the member 6, it is possible to detect that the member 6 is partially fitted.

However, the member 6 can be inserted even when the housing 2 is not fitted, and if it is accidentally inserted when the housing 2 is not fitted, the erroneous locking claw 7 at the tip of the member 6 will engage with the side 5, making it impossible to remove it. It is not easy and requires a lot of effort during the final mating.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks, to provide a member that closes and operates when the connector housing is completely fitted and the locking arm is in the locked state, and to facilitate the attachment/detachment operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a lock confirmation device for an electrical connector that can prevent incomplete fitting of a housing.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the electrical connector lock confirmation device of the present invention includes a pair of female,
A locking arm having a locking protrusion is provided on one outer circumferential wall of the male connector housing so as to be elastically displaceable via a fulcrum, and a detent is provided on the other outer circumferential wall, so that when both housings are fully fitted, the locking arm has a locking protrusion. In an electrical connector in which both housings are locked by engaging with a detent, a passage is provided along the locking arm, and a lock detection arm and a slider body that are movable to move forward and backward through the passage and have a stopper at a free end. A lock confirmation slider is slidably attached to the one outer peripheral wall, and when the locking arm is unlocked, a stopper of the lock detection arm inserted into the passage abuts against the locking protrusion, and the lock detection arm is held in the opening/7 king arm, and when the locking arm is locked, the engagement between the stopper and the locking protrusion is released, the lock detection arm moves forward, and the lock confirmation slider moves to the lock confirmation position. It is characterized by the following.

It is preferable that the lock confirmation slider is provided with a locking means between the slider body and the outer circumferential wall of the housing.

insertion of the lock detection arm into the passageway of the locking arm;
That is, in order to facilitate attachment of the lock confirmation slider to the connector, a guide may be provided on the housing outer peripheral wall or the slider body, and an insertion groove may be provided on the slider body or the outer peripheral wall, as described in claim 4. is preferred.

Further, it is effective to provide the lock detection arm with a support guide that engages with the locking protrusion of the locking arm together with the stopper.

Furthermore, the passage through which the lock detection arm moves back and forth can be provided between the locking arm and the outer circumferential wall of the connector housing or in parallel with the locking arm.

[For production]

The lock detecting arm of the lock confirming slider enters the passage within the locking arm, and its stopper abuts against the locking protrusion and is prevented from moving forward.

This state will not be released unless the locking protrusion of the locking arm slides into contact with the detent, so that the arm is once bent downward (or upward) and then elastically returned and locked.

That is, when the female and vjl connectors (housings) are unfitted or in the middle of being fitted and the locking arm is not in the locked state, the lock confirmation slider cannot be moved to the lock confirmation position. The lock confirmation slider operates only when both connectors are completely fitted and locked.

Therefore, incomplete fitting and locking of the connector can be prevented.

Furthermore, by providing the lock detection arm of the lock confirmation slider with a support guide that engages with the locking protrusion together with the stopper, the lock detection arm moves along with the deflection of the locking arm, making it easy to operate the slider. Can be done.

The passage through which the lock detection arm advances and retreats may be between the locking arm and the outer circumferential wall of the connector housing or parallel to the locking arm, but in the latter case, the connector can be miniaturized without becoming bulky.

Hereinafter, the above configuration and operation will be specifically explained with reference to drawings showing examples.

〔Example〕

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the electrical connector lock confirmation device according to the present invention in a separated state, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a partially assembled state of the same, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11 in Fig. 2. .

In these figures, M indicates a male connector, F indicates a female connector, and S indicates a lock confirmation slider.

Inside the connector housing 11 of the male connector M, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 12 are formed in upper and lower stages, and each accommodating chamber 12
A female terminal 13 (see FIG. 2) is accommodated in the housing. Further, a locking arm 14 is provided on the upper outer peripheral wall of the housing 11.

This locking arm 14 includes a pair of arm plates 14a, 14a that extend forward through a portal-shaped (or channel-shaped) fulcrum part 15 at the rear, and locking protrusions 14b, 14b formed on their free ends. , a connecting piece 14c that connects both the locking protrusions, and a pair of arm plates 14.
A passage 16 is formed between 8 and 142 to allow a lock detection arm 24, which will be described later, to move forward and backward. This passage 16 communicates with the space formed between the side plates 15a, 15a on both sides of the fulcrum part 15, and a locking protrusion 17 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is connected to the upper outer peripheral wall between the side plates 15a, 15a. It is installed protrudingly.

The connector housing 18 of the female connector F has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 19 corresponding to the male connectors M therein, and each accommodating chamber 19 has a male terminal 20 (corresponding to the female terminal 13).
(see Figure 2) is accommodated.

The housing 18 has a hood 18a in its front half for receiving the male connector M, and a lock chamber 21 for receiving the locking arm 14 is formed in an enlarged upper outer peripheral wall of the hood 18a. A detent 22 (see FIG. 2) is provided protruding from the inner surface of the ceiling wall. This detent 22 has a guide taper 22a on its lower surface and engages with the locking projection 14b of the locking arm 14.

The Rofuku frli recognition slider S consists of a slider body 23 and a lock detection arm 24 that extends forward integrally from the slider body 23. The slider body 23 is formed into a cross-sectional shape by a slide plate 23a and an operation plate 23b.
A guide groove 25 for the protrusion 17 is formed on the back surface (see Figs. 2 and 3), and a protrusion 2 is provided at the end of the groove 25.
6 is provided. The lock detection arm 24 has a protruding stopper 24a and a support guide 24b protruding forward at its free end.

Next, the usage and operation of the lock confirmation slider S will be explained (FIG. 4 a = f).

The lock confirmation slider S is attached to the male connector M in advance, as shown in FIG.

That is, when the slider S is inserted into the space between the housing 11 and the fulcrum part 15, the lock detection arm 24 moves forward in the passage 16 of the locking arm E 4, and the front hanging wall of the stopper 24a is connected to the connecting piece 14c (hereinafter referred to as , locking protrusion 1
4b) and stops, and the support guide 24b becomes in a state of supporting the locking protrusion 14b from below. At the same time, the protrusion 26 of the slide plate 23a rides over the protrusion 17 on the outer peripheral wall of the housing. As a result, the slider S is locked to the housing 11 and the lock detection arm 24 is held by the locking arm 14.

FIG. 4a shows a state in which the male connector M to which the slider S is attached as described above is partially fitted into the hood 18a of the female connector F. The free end of the locking arm 14 rests against a detent 22 in the locking chamber 21.

In this state, move the slider S (or male connector M) to the arrow P.
When pushed as shown in FIG. 4, the locking arm 14 slides into contact with the guide taper 22a and moves forward while being bent downward. At this time, since the stopper 24a and the support guide 24b are engaged with the locking protrusion 14b of the arm 14, the lock detection arm 24 also bends downward, and the stopper 24a
a also slips under the detent 22.

When the locking protrusion 14b enters deeper than the detent 22 between c and d in FIG. 4, the engagement is released, and the locking arm 14 is elastically returned and bent upward. Thereby, the locking protrusion 14b engages with the detent 22, and complete mating and locking of the female and male connectors F, M is achieved at the same time, and the female and male connectors F, M are completely mated and locked at the same time.

An electrical connection of the male terminals 13.20 is made. Also, due to the elastic return of the locking arm 14, the stopper 24a
The obstacle (locking protrusion 14b) that prevents the forward movement of the robot disappears, and the front part is released.

Therefore, when the slider S is further pushed as shown in FIG.
It also returns elastically.

As a result, the slider S moves to the lock confirmation position as shown in FIG. 4f.

As mentioned above, the slider S for checking the opening and opening is female.

The device operates only when the group connector is completely fitted and locked and the locking arm and lock detection arm are disengaged. Therefore, it is possible to confirm that j:3, . . . , are completely locked when the connectors are fitted.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the lock detection arm 24. In the lock detection arm 24 shown in FIG. 1, the support guide F' 24b at the free end is omitted, and as can be easily understood from FIG. The downward deflection of the king arm 14 and the lock detection arm 24. Although this does not occur at the same time, the stopper 24a is aligned with the guide taper 2 of the detent
2a (see FIG. 2) and bends downward, the lock confirmation slider S reaches the lock confirmation position following the same process as in FIGS. 4b to 4d. In the case of this embodiment, the lock detection arm 2
4. is bent after the locking arm 14, so the slider SL can be installed with low insertion force.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention.

In the figure, the male connector M'' and the female connector F' are formed as waterproof connectors 5, and are attached to the front of the outer peripheral wall of the male connector multi-housing 11' having an oval cross-section. A waterproof hood 27 is provided which surrounds the foot 18a' of 18'.

A notch 27a is formed in the upper row peripheral wall of the waterproof hood 27, and the notch 27? Locking arm 14' facing ζ
is provided via the fulcrum portion 15'. The long arm L14' includes a pair of arm plates 14.2' and 14a' extending forward from a fulcrum part 15', a connecting piece (locking protrusion) 14b' that connects the free ends thereof, and a fulcrum part 15'. and a photographing section 140' extending rearward from the rear. 7-mu board 14
3' is a tapered triangular plate shape, and the plates 14a, 14a
A passage 16' is formed between them.

Further, the rear outer peripheral wall of the housing 11' is provided with a protrusion 17' at the center and guides 28 for the lock confirmation slider S' on both sides.

The locking protrusion 14 is provided on the hood 18a' of the female connector F'.
A detent 22' protrudes and engages b'.

The lock confirmation slider S' is composed of a slider body 23' and a lock detection arm 24', as described above. This lock detection arm 24' is slightly inclined upward, and has a stopper 24a' projecting from the lower surface of its free end, and a support guide 24b' projecting from the front. Also,
The slider main body 23' has a guide groove 25' and a protrusion 26' on the back surface (see FIG. 7), and insertion grooves 29 for the guides 28 are provided on both sides. The insertion groove 29 may be provided on the outer peripheral wall of the housing 11', and the guide 28 may be provided on the slider body 23'.

In this embodiment, when the lock confirmation slider S' is attached to the male connector M' with its insertion groove 29 aligned with the guide 28, the protrusion 2 of the slider body 23'
6' is engaged with the protrusion 17' and locked, while the lock detection arm 24', which has entered the passage 16' of the locking arm 14', is moved forward due to the collision of the stopper 24a' with the locking protrusion 14b'. It is blocked and held on said arm 14'.

Figures 7a to 7f show the process of fitting the male connector M' with the lock confirmation slider S' attached to the female connector F'. It differs from FIGS. 4a to 4f in the following points.

In Figures 7a''-c, female and male connectors F'.

By the fitting operation of M', the locking protrusion 14b' of the locking arm 14' rides on the detent 22', and the arm 14' is bent upward.

Then, in FIG. 7d, the locking arm 14' elastically returns downward, and the locking protrusion 14b' and detent 22'
It is locked by engagement with.

Further, the lock detection arm 24' is bent upward when the stopper 24a' and the support guide 24b' engage with the locking protrusion 14b', and when this engagement is released (the seventh
d), since the stopper 24a' is no longer obstructed, the lock detection arm 24' can move through the passage 16 as shown in FIGS. 7e and f.
' is advanced, and the lock confirmation slider S' reaches the lock confirmation position.

Thus, FIGS. 7a-f are different from FIGS. 4a-f in that the locking arm 14' and the lock detection arm 24' are
bends in an upside-down direction and returns elastically, but the female and male connectors F' and M' fit and open.

When the rotation is completely completed, the slider S' for Rofuku W1-2 is tightened and operates in exactly the same manner.

Note that, as in the case of FIG. 5, the support guide 24b' of the lock detection arm 24' may be omitted.

8 to 10 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The outer peripheral wall of the male connector M has a rising base 30a at the front end.
(fulcrum part) and extends rearward through a locking protrusion 30b in the middle.
, a locking arm 30 having a rear end 30c is provided. The locking protrusion 30b is an example of the arm 30 (
It is formed to protrude toward the slide holder 31 side (described later).

On the other hand, the slider body 23' of the lock confirmation slider S2
In place of the slide plate 23a of the sliders S and Si, a slide frame 23a' having a U-shaped cross section is formed, and a locking claw 32a at the tip is provided in front of the outer wall of the slide frame 23a'. A stopper 32 is provided.

The outer peripheral wall of the male connector M has the above-mentioned opening.

A slide holder 3 leaves a path 16 for the lock detection arm 24 of the lock confirmation slider S2 to move forward and backward in parallel with the king arm 30, and holds the slider S2 so that it can move forward and backward.
1 is erected. Sweet holder 31 is slider S
A cross-sectional guide groove 31 for the slide frame 23a of No. 2
It has a.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 10a shows the initial fitted state of the male connector M and the female connector F to which the lock confirmation slider S2 is attached. That is, the slider S2 can be moved by inserting its slider frame 23a' into the guide groove 31a of the slide holder 31.
The lock detection arm 24 moves forward in the passage 16, and as shown in FIG.
Similarly, the stopper 24a abuts against the locking protrusion 30b of the locking arm 30, and the support guide 24b abuts against the locking protrusion 30b.
ob is supported, and at the same time the locking claw 32a of the locking arm 32 engages with the tip of the slide holder 31, temporarily locking it.

In FIG. 10, the male connector M is further inserted into the female connector F, and the locking protrusion 30b of the locking arm 30 slides into contact with the guide taper 22a of the detent 22 of the lock chamber 21' as in FIG. 4a. Figure 10C shows the state in which the female and male connectors F and M are completely fitted and the locking protrusion 30b of the locking arm 30 is in the detent 2.
2 and locked, and the lock confirmation slider Sz is moved to the lock confirmation position. Note that the interaction between the longing arm 30 and the lock detection arm 24 of the lock confirmation slider S2 is the same as that in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

In the first to third embodiments, the lock confirmation slider is moved back and forth between the locking arm and the outer peripheral wall of the connector housing. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the height h of the fulcrum portion 15 from the housing surface becomes high, and the connector housing 11 becomes bulky, resulting in a drawback that it is likely to be enlarged.

According to this embodiment, the lock detection arm 24 of the lock confirmation slider S2 is moved back and forth in line with the locking arm 30, so the above-mentioned drawbacks can be eliminated.

In addition, in the fourth embodiment, instead of the locking arm 30 having the fulcrum part (rising base part 30a) at the front, the first
Similarly to the third embodiment, a locking arm having a fulcrum at the rear may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the locking projections ( 14b, 14b', 30b) and lock detection arm (2
Since the stoppers (24a, 24a') of the lock confirmation sliders (S, S+, S2
．． S') is not active and therefore cannot be moved to the lock confirmation position and only works when the fit and lock are complete.

In this way, incomplete fitting and locking of both connectors can be prevented and electrical connection between the two can be ensured, which is particularly effective in forming a circuit for a safety device such as an air bank device.

In addition, a support guide (24b) is attached to the lock detection arm.

24b'), the locking arm (1
4, 14', 30), so lock 1i
1! The recognition sliders cs, s, , s'> can be operated very smoothly.

Further, by providing a path through which the lock detection arm of the lock confirmation slider advances and retreats in parallel with the locking arm, the connector can be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device of the present invention in a separated state; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a partially assembled state of the same; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line mm in FIG. 2; 4a to 4f are cross-sectional views of the main parts showing the fitting process and operating state, respectively, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main parts showing the second embodiment of the device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a separated state showing a third embodiment of the device; FIGS. 7A and 7F are cross-sectional views of essential parts showing the fitting process and operating state, respectively; FIG. 8 is a fourth embodiment of the device of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the separated state.
"-c is a cross-sectional view of the main parts showing the fitting process and working state of the same as above, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the conventional example in the separated state, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the same as the above in the combined state. Yes.F, F'...Female connector, M, M'...Male connector, s, s', SI S2...Slider for lock confirmation, 11.11', 18.18'...Connector Housing, 14.14', 30... Locking arm, 14b. 14b', 30b... Locking protrusion, 15.15'...
Fulcrum part, 16.16'... passage, 17.17'...
Projection, 22.22'... Detent, 23.23'...
・Slider body, 23a'...Slide frame, 24.2
4'24,...Lock detection arm, 24a, 24a
...Stock collar, 24b, 24b'...Support guide, 25°25'...Guide groove, 26.26'...Protrusion, 28...Guide, 29...Insertion groove, 31.・・・
Slide holder, 31a... guide groove. 6 1z Figure 10-406- Figure 12

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) A locking arm with a locking protrusion is provided on the outer circumferential wall of one of the pair of female and male connector housings so that it can be elastically displaced via a fulcrum, and a detent is provided on the other outer circumferential wall, so that both housings can be completely In an electrical connector in which both housings are locked by the locking protrusion engaging with a detent when mated, a passage is provided along the locking arm, the passage is movable back and forth, and a stopper is provided at the free end. A lock confirmation slider consisting of a lock detection arm and a slider body is slidably mounted on the one outer peripheral wall, and when the locking arm is unlocked, a stopper of the lock detection arm inserted into the passage engages the locking. When the lock detecting arm hits the protrusion, the lock detecting arm is held by the locking arm, and when the locking arm is locked, the engagement between the stopper and the locking protrusion is released, the lock detecting arm moves forward, and the lock confirming slider moves to the lock confirming position. A lock confirmation device for an electrical connector, characterized in that the electrical connector is configured to move. (2) The electrical connector lock confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein a passage through which the lock detection arm advances and retreats is provided between the locking arm and the connector housing. (3) A locking means is provided between the slider body and the outer circumferential wall of the connector housing, the locking means functioning when the locking protrusion of the locking arm and the stopper of the lock detection arm collide with each other. Lock confirmation device for electrical connectors. (4) A claim in which a guide is provided on the outer peripheral wall of one connector housing or the slider body, an insertion groove is provided in the slider body or the outer peripheral wall, and the slider body is slid by inserting the guide into the insertion groove. A lock confirmation device for the electrical connector of either item 1 or 3. (5) Lock confirmation of the electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a support guide that projects forward from the stopper and that engages with a locking protrusion of the locking arm is provided at the free end of the lock detection arm. Device. (6) A slide holder having a guide groove is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the one connector housing, leaving a passage for the lock detection arm to advance and retreat on the side of the locking arm, and the slide body of the lock confirmation slider is inserted into the guide groove. 2. The lock confirmation device for an electrical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding frame for locking the electrical connector.