JPH04366571A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a certain main locking to be executed even in the case where a terminal is slightly longer than a standard dimension by providing a means for energizing a terminal locking tool toward a connector housing in the main locking state on a main locking means or a temporary locking means. CONSTITUTION:When a terminal locking tool B is advanced into the locking tool installing chamber 5 of a housing A, a lock arm 8 is deflected inward since a locking projection 8c is slid and guided by the tapered surface 17a of a locking part 17, and when the projection 8c gets over the surface 17a, the arm 8 is elastically returned. The back of the projection 8c is engaged with the locking part 17 and temporarily locked, and the locking tool B is energized on the housing A side because of the spring property of a longitudinally flexible arm 8b formed as a lock spring. When the locking tool B is pushed up, then, a locking projecting 10 is supported by 18 and laid into main locking state. According to this constitution, even if an insulator nipping piece 27 is slightly protruded from the reverse side of the housing A in the perfectly inserted state of a male terminal C, the main locking state is kept as it is.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to electrical connectors.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement in an electrical connector equipped with a terminal locking device for preventing the terminals accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers of the connector housing from coming out later.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, a locking means called a terminal lance or a case lance is provided between a terminal and a terminal housing chamber.
This prevents it from coming off afterwards. The former method involves forming a cut-and-raised lance on the terminal and engaging it with a locking groove recessed in the wall of the terminal housing chamber, while the latter method uses a flexible locking arm provided on the wall of the housing chamber to engage the lance on the terminal. This method involves engaging with the shoulder or locking hole.

However, as connectors have become multipolar and terminals have become smaller, the cut-and-raise lances and flexible locking arms have also become smaller, making it difficult to obtain sufficient strength and holding force. Therefore, recently, terminal locking devices (separate from the connector housing)
A method has been adopted in which the holding force of the terminal is strengthened and the reliability of the electrical connection is improved by using a rear holder (rear holder) in combination with the above-mentioned locking means. FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B) show an example of a conventional electrical connector equipped with a rear holder (Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-43986), in which (A) shows a state in which the rear holder b is temporarily locked to the housing a, and (B) is in the fully locked state.

In the electrical connector shown in FIG. 12, in the temporarily locked state, the terminal c is inserted into the terminal receiving hole a1, and the locking piece c1 is engaged with the terminal locking pawl a2 to achieve primary locking. Then, the rear holder b is moved to the final locking state, and the terminal c is locked at the edge b1, which is a part of the holder.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventionally known electrical connector, in order to prevent the rear holder b from suddenly becoming fully locked when the rear holder b is temporarily locked, an abutting portion (step) is provided in the holder. Since it is necessary to provide b2, the final locking requires a two-step process in which the rear holder b is moved in the direction of the arrow p and then in the direction of q, and then pushed forward, which increases the number of work steps. In addition, due to the size of the wire w being crimped to the wire connection part c2 of the terminal c, or due to the dimensional error of the terminal itself, the rear end of the terminal c2' reaches the position shown by the two-dot chain line, and the rear holder b is locked. There may be cases where this is not possible.

[0006] The present invention has been made by focusing on the problems of the conventionally known techniques described above, and allows the terminal locking tool to be transferred from the temporary locking state to the fully locking state in one step, and
To provide an electrical connector capable of reliably locking a terminal locking tool and locking a terminal even if there is a dimensional error in the terminal or slight elongation during crimping.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above objects, the electrical connector of the present invention includes a connector housing having a terminal receiving chamber, a terminal inserted into the terminal receiving chamber, and a rear portion of the connector housing. On the other hand, in an electrical connector comprising a terminal locking device which has a temporary locking means and a permanent locking means and is combined in two stages of a temporary locking state and a final locking state, the main locking means or the temporary locking means The locking means is characterized in that it is provided with means for biasing the terminal locking tool toward the connector housing in the fully locked state.

[0008]

[Operation] In the electrical connector of the present invention, the transition from the temporarily locked state to the fully locked state is performed in one step by sliding or pushing the terminal locking tool in one direction against the rear part of the connector housing. This improves work efficiency. In addition, since the terminal locking tool is equipped with a means for biasing toward the connector housing in the fully locked state, even if the rear end of the terminal extends slightly beyond the standard size due to dimensional errors of the terminal, etc. This can be absorbed by the biasing means and reliably locked.

[0009]

[Embodiment] In FIGS. 1 to 4, A is a synthetic resin female connector housing (hereinafter simply referred to as housing);
B indicates a terminal locking tool also made of synthetic resin, and C indicates a male terminal connected to the end of the electric wire W. Housing A has male terminal C
It consists of a housing body A1 in which a plurality of (three in this embodiment) terminal housing chambers 1 are arranged side by side for storing and locking the terminals, and a hood A2 formed on the front surface of the housing body A2 for receiving a male connector housing (not shown). A lock chamber 2 for a lock arm (not shown) of the male connector housing is formed on the upper outer circumferential wall of the hood A2, and a terminal locking chamber 2 consisting of both side walls 3 and an upper wall 4 is formed on the rear surface of the housing body A1. A locking tool mounting chamber 5 for the tool B is formed in a bulging manner.

The terminal locking tool B includes a frame-shaped main body 6 having a plurality of openings 7 corresponding to the terminal accommodating chambers 1 of the housing A. The size of the opening 7 may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the opening of the terminal accommodating chamber 1, as long as the male terminal C can be inserted therein when the terminal locking tool B is in a temporarily locked state, which will be described later. Further, on the front surface of the opening 7, a tapered push engagement surface 7 for the male terminal C is provided on one inner edge.
a (see FIG. 4) is formed. The frame-shaped main body part 6 includes
A locking arm 8, a locking groove 9, and a locking protrusion 10 for the housing A are provided on the outer surface of the side frame 6a on both the left and right sides,
A recess 12 is provided on the upper frame 6b along with a pair of locking rods 11, 11. The lock arm 8 has a T-shape consisting of a horizontally flexible arm 8a extending forward from the rear of the side frame 6a, and a longitudinally flexible arm 8b extending vertically from its tip, and each longitudinally flexible arm 8b is formed as a locking spring that bends back, and a locking projection 8c is provided at its free end. The horizontally flexible arm 8a is directed in the arrow x direction,
The longitudinally flexible arm 8b is elastically displaced in the arrow y direction. The locking rod 11 is hook-shaped, and has a locking claw 11a projecting outward at its tip. In addition, the lower frame 6c of the frame-shaped main body portion 6
has a recess 13 in the center of the lower surface, a pair of grooves 14, 14 located on both sides of the recess 13 on the front surface thereof, and a pair of anti-rotation arms 15, 1 extending forward from the inner wall of the recess.
5. The anti-rotation piece 15 consists of an L-shaped arm 15a and an engaging protrusion 15b provided on the inside of its tip (Fig.
reference).

On the rear side of the housing main body A1, that is, on the side of the locking device attachment chamber 5, locking projections are provided at the middle part of the inner surface of the side wall 3 in the upper and lower portions across the passage 16 for the horizontally flexible arm 8a of the lock arm 8. Locking portions 17, 17 for the locking groove 9 are provided in a protruding manner, and a locking protrusion 18 for the locking groove 9 is provided at the lower end of the side wall 3. Further, two locking chambers 19 for the locking rod 11 are formed on the upper wall 4 in a raised manner, and each locking chamber 19 has a locking hole 20 and a temporary locking protrusion 21.
(See FIG. 8), and a locking portion 22 for the recess 12 is provided between the locking chambers 19, 19. Further, on the rear side of the housing body A1, positioning protrusions 23, 23 are provided at the lower end to fit into the pair of grooves 14, 14.
is provided. This positioning protrusion 23 is located on the end face of the partition wall 1a of the terminal accommodating chamber 1, and a guide tongue piece 24 having an L-shaped cross section is provided so as to connect the lower ends of both protrusions 23, 23.

The male terminal C is formed by connecting a body part 25 formed by bending a conductive metal plate into a rectangular cylinder shape, with an electrical contact part C1 at the front and an electric wire connection part C2 at the rear. Electrical contact part C1
is formed as a tab with a folded double plate structure, and the wire connection portion C2 is formed by a pair of conductor clamping pieces 26 and insulator clamping pieces 27.
A locking hole 28 is provided in the bottom plate portion of the body portion 25. In addition, the insulator clamping piece 2 is used as the male terminal C.
7 with a stabilizer (not shown) can also be used.

Next, the method of use and function of the terminal locking tool B will be explained. First, insert the terminal locking tool B into the rear surface of the housing A and temporarily lock it. In this state, male terminal C
is inserted into the terminal housing chamber 1 and locked. Finally, the terminal locking tool B is slid upward to fully lock the terminal and prevent the male terminal C from coming off backward.

In FIG. 2, the terminal locking tool B is inserted into the locking tool mounting chamber 5 of the housing A in the direction of the arrow P. The terminal locking tool B enters the locking tool mounting chamber 5 with its locking groove 9 being engaged and guided by the locking protrusion 18 on the side wall 3 of the housing A. At that time, the recess 13 on the lower end surface of the terminal locking tool B is supported by the guide tongue piece 24, and the two locking rods 11 are connected to the locking chamber 19.
the positioning protrusion 23 is inserted into the groove 1 on the front surface of the terminal locking tool.
4 is fitted.

Furthermore, when the terminal locking tool B enters, the lock arm 8 is bent inward as the upper and lower locking protrusions 8c are guided in sliding contact with the tapered surface 17a of the locking portion 17 on the inner surface of the side wall. As the locking protrusion 8c passes over the tapered surface 17a, the lock arm 8 returns elastically. At this time,
The front surface B0 of the terminal locking tool B contacts the rear surface A0 of the housing A as shown in FIG. , the terminal locking tool B is prevented from coming off rearward. Further, the terminal locking tool 8 is biased toward the housing A side due to the spring properties of the front and rear flexible arms 8b, 8b formed as lock springs.

In the above-mentioned temporary locking state, the terminal locking tool B engages the locking groove 9 with the locking protrusion 18 and locks the locking rod 11, as shown in FIG. Claw 11a and locking chamber 19
By engaging with the temporary locking protrusion 21, vertical wobbling is prevented, and the axes of the opening 7 of the terminal locking tool B and the terminal accommodating chamber 1 are aligned. Further, as shown in the figure, when the guide tongue piece 24 is provided, it is possible to more reliably prevent the terminal locking tool B from wobbling, especially in the downward direction.

In this temporarily locked state, as shown in FIG. 6(A), the male terminal C connected to the electric wire W is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber 1 through the opening 7, and the flexible terminal provided in the chamber is inserted. Locking arm 2
9 is engaged with the locking hole 28 to prevent the male terminal C from coming off backwards (primary locking of the terminal). Next, move the terminal locking tool B along the arrow Q.
slide in the direction. That is, when the terminal locking tool B is pushed up in the surface contact state, the engagement between the locking groove 9 and the locking protrusion 18 is released, and the terminal locking tool B moves upward. As a result, the locking claws 11a of the locking rod 11 ride on the temporary locking protrusion 21 in the locking chamber 19 and move into the upper locking hole 20, and the locking claws 11a of the locking rod 11 ride on the temporary locking projection 21 in the locking chamber 19 and move into the upper locking hole 20, and Each of the locking protrusions 10 is in a fully locked state in which it is supported by a locking protrusion 18 on the inner surface of the side wall.

5(B) and FIG. 6(B) both show the rear holder B in its fully locked state. That is, in addition to the above-mentioned engagement between the locking claw 11a of the locking rod 11 and the locking hole 20, and the locking protrusions 18 and 10, the engagement between the locking protrusion 15b of the rotation prevention piece 15 and the back surface of the guide tongue piece 24 occurs. Engagement and locking portion 2 of the upper wall 4
2 and the recess 12, the terminal locking tool B is reliably prevented from coming off backwards.

In the fully locked state, even if a tensile force is applied to the male terminal C via the electric wire W, the terminal locking tool B will not move at the rear end of the male terminal C (in the illustrated example, the insulator clamping piece 27). Since it functions as a stopper against the lock, in combination with the above-mentioned primary locking, it is possible to reliably prevent the lock from coming off. Terminal lock B
During the sliding transition from the temporarily locked state to the fully locked state, if some of the male terminals C are slightly incompletely inserted,
During the sliding movement, the tapered push-in engagement surface 7a of the opening 7 engages with the insulator holding piece 27 and pushes the male terminal C forward into the terminal accommodating chamber 1, thereby eliminating incomplete insertion. In addition, in FIG. 6(B), even if a rotational force as indicated by the arrow R is applied to the terminal locking tool B due to the tensile force of the electric wire W, for example, the rotation prevention piece 15 will not move with the guide tongue as described above. Piece 2
4, so there is no need to worry about the final locking being released. Furthermore, when the male terminal C is fully inserted, due to dimensional errors or elongation during crimping,
) As shown in FIG. The locking state is maintained as it is.

As is clear from the above description, the lock arm 8 and the locking portions 17 on the inner surface of the side wall 3 constitute temporary locking means and permanent locking means for the terminal locking tool B and the housing A. . In the temporarily locked state, the locking groove 9 and the locking protrusion 18, or the recess 13 and the guide tongue piece 24 are connected to the terminal locking tool B.
to prevent it from falling off from housing A. Similarly, the locking rod 11 and the locking chamber 19, or the locking protrusion 10 and the locking protrusion 18 prevent the terminal locking tool B from falling off in the fully locked state. Further, the recess 12 and the locking portion 22, or the rotation prevention piece 15 and the guide tongue piece 24 are effective in maintaining and strengthening the main locking state.

The above is the terminal accommodation chamber 1 in the housing A.
Although an example of a single-stage structure in which terminals are arranged horizontally in one row has been described, in the case of a multi-stage arrangement in the upper and lower directions, the openings 7 of the terminal locking tool B may be arranged correspondingly in the vertical and horizontal directions. Further, since the terminal locking tool B is independent of the locking means between the male terminal C and the terminal housing chamber 1, that is, the flexible locking arm 29 of the conventional case lance type, The same can be applied to other cases. Similarly, the invention can also be applied to a male connector housing that accommodates female terminals.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an electrical connector showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the terminal lock B'. The terminal locking tool B' extends forward of a frame-shaped main body 61 having an opening 71 and has a plurality of flexible locking pieces 30 corresponding to the plurality of upper and lower terminal accommodating chambers 11 of the housing A'. In addition to protruding from the housing A', flexible locking arms 31 are connected to the housing A' and extend forward on both sides. The lock arm 31 includes a pair of vertically flexible pieces 31a, 31a arranged vertically in parallel with a gap 31c in between.
and a horizontally flexible piece 31b that faces the gap 31c on the side of the vertically flexible pieces 31a and is provided so as to be movable in and out of the gap 31c.
A temporary locking protrusion 31a1 is provided protruding from the horizontally flexible piece 31b, and a permanent locking protrusion 31b1 is provided projecting from the horizontally flexible piece 31b at a position rearward from the temporary locking protrusion 31a1. A spring leg 31 opened in a V-shape is provided on the rear end surface of this main locking protrusion 31b1.
b2, 31b2 are provided.

Bulging walls 33, 33 are provided at the rear of the side walls 32, 32 of the housing A', and receiving portions 34, 34 for the lock arms 31, 31 are formed. Each reception section 3
A locking portion 33a for the temporary locking protrusion 31a1 is formed on the upper and lower sides of the rear end of the bulging wall 33 facing 4, and the main locking portion 33a is formed on the side surface of the bulging wall 33 in front of the locking portion 33a. A locking portion 33b for the locking projection 31b1 is provided in a protruding manner.

[0024] Before the male terminal C is inserted, the terminal locking tool B' is provided with a temporary locking protrusion 31a of the vertical flexible piece 31a.
1 is engaged with the locking part 33a in the receiving part 34 of the housing A' and is temporarily locked, and in this temporarily locked state, the male terminal C is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 11 from the opening 71 of the terminal locking tool B1. Insert it inside and lock it. This is shown in Figure 6 (
This is the same as in case A).

Next, push the terminal locking tool B' into the housing A' to lock the main locking protrusion 3 on the lock arm 31.
The spring leg 31b2 of 1b1 is engaged with the locking part 33b in the receiving part 34 to achieve the final locking state, and the flexible locking piece 30 is brought close to the position where it engages with the male terminal C, and the spring leg 31b2 of the spring leg 31b2 is engaged with the locking part 33b in the receiving part 34, and the flexible locking piece 30 is brought close to the position where it engages with the male terminal C. Perform locking. If the male terminal C has a dimensional error (Δl) as shown in FIGS. 6(B) and 7(B), the terminal locking tool B will retreat against the elasticity of the spring leg 31b2,
As before, the fully locked state is maintained as it is.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the invention. The terminal locking tool B'' has a frame-shaped main body 62 having an opening 72.
A plurality of flexible locking pieces 30' are protruded from the front of the housing A'' and correspond to the plurality of upper and lower terminal accommodating chambers 12 of the housing A''. A temporary locking protrusion 36 and a permanent locking protrusion 37 that engage with the locking hole 35a of the flexible locking arm 35 are provided, and the rear edge of the locking hole 35a has an arc-shaped spring piece that is elastically displaced in the front-rear direction. 35b is provided. This spring piece 35b is also connected to the spring leg 31 in FIG.
Since it has the same effect as b, the explanation will be omitted.

[0027]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
By sliding or pushing the terminal locking device in one direction toward the rear of the housing, the transition from the temporary locking state to the final locking state of the terminal locking tool with respect to the housing can be smoothly performed in one step, improving workability. In addition, since the terminal locking tool is equipped with a means for biasing toward the housing in the fully locked state, even if the rear end of the terminal extends slightly beyond the standard size due to dimensional errors of the terminal, The biasing means can absorb this and lock securely.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention in a separated state.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the female connector housing of FIG. 1;

4(A) is a perspective view of the terminal locking tool shown in FIG. 1 seen from the front side, FIG. 4(B) is a rear view thereof, and FIG. 4(C) is a right side view thereof.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are rear views of the female connector housing showing a temporary locking state and a fully locking state of the terminal locking tool, respectively.

6A and 6B are sectional views of the main parts of the electrical connector showing the temporary locking state and the final locking state of the terminal locking tool, respectively, similar to FIG. 5;

7A and 7B are enlarged sectional views of the lock arm portion in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged explanatory view showing a temporarily locked state of the locking rod in FIG. 5(A).

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an electrical connector in a separated state showing another embodiment of the present invention.

10 is an enlarged perspective view of the terminal locking tool of FIG. 9. FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an electrical connector in a separated state showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B) are cross-sectional views showing a temporary locking state and a fully locking state of a conventional electrical connector, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

A, A', A'' Female connector housing B, B', B
″ Terminal locking tool C male terminal 1, 11, 1
2 Terminal storage chambers 6, 61, 62 Frame-shaped main body portions 7, 71, 72 Openings 8, 31, 35 Lock arm 8a Horizontal flexible arm 8b
Front-rear flexible arm 9
Locking grooves 10, 18 Locking protrusions 11 Locking rods 12, 13 Recessed portion 14 Groove 15 Rotation prevention pieces 17, 22
Locking part 19 Locking chamber 20 Locking hole 23 Positioning protrusion 24
Guide tongue pieces 31a1, 36 temporary locking protrusions 31b1, 37 main locking protrusions

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A connector housing having a terminal accommodating chamber, a terminal inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber, and a temporary locking means and a permanent locking means for temporarily locking the rear part of the connector housing. In an electrical connector consisting of a terminal locking device that is combined in two stages: a state and a fully locked state,
An electrical connector characterized in that the permanent locking means or the temporary locking means is provided with means for biasing the terminal locking tool toward the connector housing in the fully locked state.