JPH06302354A - Multipolar connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a multipolar connector excellent in attachability which can be constituted to be compact and can be fitted easily by hand. CONSTITUTION:This multipolar connector is composed of a male connector and a female connector F to be fitted to each other. Either of the male and female connectors M, F is constituted of a housing block 20 provided with a fitting hole 22 penetrating in the connector fitting direction and fitted to a housing 10 of the other connector and a plurality of small connectors 30 slidably received independently in respective fitting holes of the housing block 20. This housing block 20 is provided with a temporary locking mechanism for temporarily locking the small connectors 30 on the front side of a fitting position to the other connector.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-pole connector used for electric wiring of automobiles and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An extremely large number of electric wires are laid on the back side of an instrument panel of an automobile, and a multipolar connector is used to connect these electric wires to the instrument panel of the instrument panel. Since it is necessary to connect a large number of terminals to the multipolar connector, the fastening operation is performed by using a coupling mechanism such as a bolt.

FIG. 16 shows an example of this type of multi-pole connector described in JP-A-62-145673. This figure shows a female connector, which accommodates a large number of terminals 3 in a connector housing 1 and is provided with a bolt 2 which constitutes a coupling mechanism at a central portion thereof. Further, in this publication, an example in which the male connector is configured by an assembly of a plurality of connectors is shown. In this case,
The male connector and the female connector are adapted to be collectively coupled by the coupling mechanism.

[0004]

By the way, the above-mentioned conventional multipolar connector is provided with the coupling mechanism constituted by the bolts 2 and the like, so that there is a problem that the outer dimensions of the connector are increased and the weight is increased. It was In addition, there is also a problem that the fitting work is troublesome because it is necessary to connect them by using a tool.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multipolar connector which can be compactly constructed and which can be easily fitted by hand and which has a good assembling property.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a multi-pole connector including a male connector and a female connector that are fitted to each other, one of the female and male connectors is a connector fit. A housing block having a plurality of fitting holes penetrating in the mating direction and fitted into the housing of the other connector, and a plurality of small connectors individually slidably accommodated in the fitting holes of the housing block. It is characterized in that the housing block is provided with a temporary locking mechanism for temporarily locking the small connector before the fitting position with the other connector.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a stopper is provided on the housing of the other connector to prevent the small connector from moving from the temporarily locked state, and the housing block is fitted into the housing of the other connector. It is characterized in that a stopper releasing means for releasing the stopper is provided.

[0008]

When connecting the wire harness using the multipolar connector of the first aspect of the present invention, the wire harness is divided into small pieces in advance and individually connected to the small connector. Then, the small connector is housed in the housing block and temporarily locked. In this state, the housing block is fitted to the female connector, for example. Then, the temporary locking is released and the small connectors are fitted into the female connectors one by one. When unmating, the small connectors are pulled out one by one, and finally the housing block is separated from the female connector.

In the case of the multipolar connector of the invention of claim 2,
For example, since the stopper is automatically released when the housing block is fitted to the female connector, the small connector may be inserted into the female connector as it is.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a multipolar connector of the embodiment. The multipolar connector K includes a multipolar female connector (module side) F and a multipolar male connector M. The male connector M is a rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped housing block 20 that fits inside the housing 10 of the female connector F,
The housing block 20 includes a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped small connectors 30. Each small connector 30
Each of the plurality of terminal fittings 3 shown in FIG. 6 and the like is housed in each of the terminals, and a wire harness W is connected to each terminal fitting 3.

The housing block 20 has a total of four fitting holes 22, each of which is two in length and width. Each fitting hole 22 penetrates in the connector fitting direction (direction A in the drawing), and the small connector 30 is inserted into the inside from the rear.

Next, the relationship among the housing 10 of the female connector F, the housing block 20, and the small connector 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

A main locking hole 12 is provided in the upper wall of the hood of the housing 10 of the female connector F at the center in the width direction. A pair of guide walls 14 are provided on the inner surface sides of both sides of the main locking hole 12 along the connector fitting direction. Further, an unlocking projection (temporary locking releasing means) 15 is provided on the inner wall of the housing 10 so as to correspond to the position of the small connector 30. The unlocking protrusion 15 is a protrusion protruding toward the entry direction of the mating small connector 30, and has a wedge-shaped front end (see FIG. 9).

On the outer surface of the upper wall of the housing block 20, there is provided a main lock arm 40 which is positioned at the center in the width direction and is guided by the guide wall 14. The main lock arm 40 has a front end side fixed and a rear end side flexible, and the upper surface thereof has the locking hole when the housing block 20 is fitted into the housing 10 of the female connector F. Locking protrusions 42 are provided that interengage with 12. Further, a pushing operation portion 44 (see FIG. 4) for releasing the engagement is provided at the rear end of the lock arm 40.

On the inner wall surface of each fitting hole 22 of the housing block 20, a rear end side is supported by the inner wall surface, and a flexible stopper arm 50 protruding forward is provided. The stopper arm 50 is located at a position corresponding to the unlock protrusion 15. This stopper arm 50 has
It has a stopper 52 that projects into the movement path of the small connector 30 in the free state. The stopper 52 contacts the front end of the small connector 30 in the free state and prevents the small connector 30 from moving forward. In addition, two lock holes 24, 26 are provided on the inner wall of each fitting hole 22 of the housing block 20 at intervals in the connector fitting direction.
Is provided. These lock holes 24 and 26 are for locking the small connector 30 and the housing block 20 at the temporary locking position and the main locking position. The rear locking hole 24 is for temporary locking and the front locking. The hole 26 is for main locking.

On the outer surface of the housing of the small connector 30,
Locking lock arms 60 are provided at positions corresponding to the lock holes 24 and 26. The locking lock arm 60 has a front end fixed and a rear end flexible.
Each fitting hole 22 of the housing block 20 is provided on the upper surface thereof.
When the small connector 30 is fitted to the lock hole 2
Locking locking projections 62 are provided which engage with each other. Further, at the rear end of the lock arm 60 for locking, a pressing operation portion 64 for releasing the engagement is provided. The locking arm 60 for locking and the lock hole 24 for temporary locking constitute a temporary locking mechanism.

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

First, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a plurality of small connectors 30 are inserted into the fitting holes 22 of the housing block 20 from behind. Then, the front end of the small connector 30 contacts the stopper 52 of the stopper arm 50 in the free state, and the small connector 30 stops. At the same time, the locking lock arm 60 of the small connector 30 bends, and the locking protrusion 62 of the locking lock arm 60 engages with the temporary locking lock hole 24 of the housing block 20. As a result, the small connector 30 is temporarily locked so as not to move forward and backward.
In this state, the multipolar male connector M is constructed.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the housing block 20 in which a plurality of small connectors 30 are set is fitted into the female connector F. Then, before the terminals are connected, first, the front end of the stopper arm 50 on the housing block 20 side contacts the unlocking protrusion 15 inside the female connector F, the stopper arm 50 bends, and the stopper 52 becomes smaller. Withdraw from the front of the connector 30.
Then, the movement prevention in the front direction (fitting direction) is released,
The small connector 30 can be slid forward. At this time, the lock protrusion 42 of the main lock arm 40 engages with the main locking hole 12 on the female connector F side, and the female connector F
And the housing block 20 are coupled to each other.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, in this state, the small connectors 30 are individually slid in the fitting direction to fit the small connectors 30 into the female connector F. At this stage, the terminals fit together. At the end of fitting, the lock protrusion 62 of the lock arm 60 for locking the small connector 30
Engages with the lock hole 26 on the front side, thereby completing the coupling.

When the fitting is released, the small connectors 30 and the housing block 20 may be removed while pushing the pressing operation portions 44 and 64 provided on the arms 40 and 60 to release the engagement.

As described above, according to the multipolar connector of this embodiment, since the fitting operation can be performed by hand, the assembling property is excellent. Further, when the housing block 20 is fitted to the female connector F, the temporary locking of the small connector 30 is automatically released, so that the fitting operation can be easily performed.
In addition, since the small connector 30 cannot be inserted when the housing block 20 is in the half-fitted state, there is an effect of preventing the half-fitted state. Further, the small connector 30 can be selected according to the grade of each vehicle type.

Next, the application place of the multipolar connector of this embodiment will be briefly described.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view around the instrument panel of the automobile. 102 is an instrument panel, 103 is an instrument panel assembly, 105 is a cluster frame, 107 is a wire harness protector, 108 is an instrument panel wire harness. is there. Then, on the rear side of the instrument panel 102, a multi-pole connector of the embodiment (only the male connector M is shown in the figure) M
Are placed.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view around the instrument panel. 112 is an instrument board, 113 is a printed wiring board, and 114 is a printed wiring board.
Is a centralized control circuit board, 115 is an electric connection box, 116 is a module case, 118 is a sub wire harness, 126
Is a bus bar, 127 is an insulating plate, 128 is a bus bar circuit,
133 is a spacer. A multipolar female connector F is fixed to the back surface of the cluster frame 105 as shown in FIG. 15, and the multipolar male connector M of the embodiment is arranged so as to be connected thereto.

[0027]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, the coupling force of the multi-pole connector can be divided into the coupling force of the small connectors, and the small connectors are individually fitted to each other. The fitting operation can be performed manually without using a tool. In addition, since they can be fitted by hand, no special coupling mechanism is required, and the size and weight can be reduced. Further, since the small connectors can be aligned by simply fitting the housing block into the female connector, only the small connectors need to be pushed individually thereafter, and the assemblability is good. It is also possible to meet the grade for each vehicle type.

According to the invention of claim 2, when the housing block is fitted into the female connector, the temporary locking action is automatically released, so that the fitting operation is further facilitated. In addition, it is possible to detect a fitting failure of the housing block by not releasing the temporary locking state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an essential part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part showing an internal configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where the small connector is temporarily locked to the housing block according to the embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG.

6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state where the housing block is fitted to the female connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG.

9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the female connector of one embodiment of the present invention and the small connector housed in the housing block are fitted together.

11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG.

12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle instrument panel shown as an example of a place to which the connector of the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing details of main parts of FIG.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a further main part of FIG. 14 viewed from the back side.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional multipolar connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F Female Connector M Male Connector 10 Housing 15 Unlocking Protrusion (Temporary Lock Release Means) 20 Housing Block 24 Lock Hole 30 Small Connector 50 Stopper Arm 52 Stopper 60 Locking Arm for Locking

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A multi-pole connector comprising a male connector and a female connector that are fitted to each other, wherein one of the female and male connectors has a plurality of fitting holes penetrating in the connector fitting direction. A housing block that is included and is fitted into the housing of the other connector, and a plurality of small connectors that are individually slidably accommodated in respective fitting holes of the housing block. A multipolar connector comprising a temporary locking mechanism for temporarily locking the small connector before the mating position with the other connector. 2. The multipolar connector according to claim 1, wherein
A stopper for preventing the small connector from moving from the temporarily locked state is provided in the housing of the other connector, and stopper releasing means for releasing the stopper when the housing block is fitted in the housing of the other connector. Multi-pole connector that is characterized by being.