JPH08106949A - Divided connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To accurately connect female-male terminal metal fittings to each other by fitting corresponding female-male sub-connectors to each other in the mutually straight direction. CONSTITUTION: Among corresponding three sets of sub-connectors 3 and 13, central ones become positioning connectors 3a and 13a, and are housed in housing holes 2a and 12a so as to be immovable in the longitudinal direction without arranging a clearance. When female-male frames 1 and 11 are butted against each other, since lock projecting parts 45 of the positioning connector 13a are fitted in an under surface of a locking part 46 of the male frame 1, both frames 1 and 11 are temporarily installed. When a lever 30 is swingingly operated, a fitting projecting part 14 of the positioning connector 13a is fitted in a fitting recessed part 4 of the positioning connector 3a while downward moving the lock projecting parts 45 in an escape groove 47, and the female frame 11 is straightly drawn near to the male frame l side by being guided by them, and the corresponding female-male sub-connectors 3 and 13 are fitted to each other in the straight direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in split connectors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art For example, in a multi-pole connector having a terminal having several tens of poles, a split type connector is partially used for the purpose of preventing erroneous insertion when inserting a terminal fitting into the connector. There is. An example of this split connector is
A male and female connector is provided in which a male and female connector is divided into a plurality of sub-connectors, each of which is equipped with a small number of terminal fittings, and a plurality of accommodating holes are formed for accommodating the divided male and female sub-connectors. Equipped with a frame. Each sub-connector is irremovably accommodated by being inserted into the accommodation hole of the corresponding frame and locked by the lance. Then, a lever having an arcuate cam groove is pivotally supported on one frame, and a follower pin protruding from the other frame is fitted into the cam groove, and the lever is rotated to use the lever action. Thus, the other frame is pulled toward one frame, and the corresponding male and female sub-connectors are collectively fitted and connected.

[0003]

By the way, in such a split connector, in order to absorb the positional deviation within the tolerance between the corresponding sub-connectors, each sub-connector is fixed in the accommodation hole. It is common to house with clearance. On the other hand, in the case where the two frames are coupled by the lever as described above, a lateral load acts on the frame on the side to be pulled in a direction perpendicular to the direction approaching the mating frame. Therefore, if the clearance is provided as described above, the sub-connector on the side to be pulled will be fitted in the twisted state while moving it laterally with respect to the mating sub-connector. There was a problem such that the male and female terminal fittings attached to each other came into partial contact with each other.

Further, in the lever type connector, the male and female frames are connected by the turning operation of the lever made of a synthetic resin plate, and at that time, the handle is free and the turning operation of the lever can be performed smoothly. Thus, it is desirable that both frames can be temporarily assembled before the turning operation. Conventionally, the temporary assembly has been performed by fitting the follower pin of the frame on the pulled side into the starting end of the cam groove formed therein while elastically deforming the lever. However, the lever itself tends to warp after molding, and due to repeated insertion and removal of the follower pin, it gradually plastically deforms, and the follower pin cannot be fitted into the cam groove stably, that is, the temporary assembly of the frame is stable. There were things I couldn't do.

The present invention has been completed in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the invention of claim 1 is to fit corresponding male and female sub-connectors in a straight direction to each other, and The purpose is to enable accurate connection between the fitted male and female terminal fittings. An object of the invention of claim 2 is, in addition to the above object, to enable stable temporary assembly of the male and female frames before the male and female frames are displaced closer to each other.

[0006]

As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is provided with a male frame and a female frame paired with each other, and formed corresponding to each frame. Each of the plurality of housing holes accommodates a male sub-connector with a male terminal fitting and a female sub-connector with a female terminal fitting, and both frames are brought close to each other by a coupling member provided therebetween. In a divided connector in which the corresponding male and female sub-connectors are fitted and connected to each other in one direction, the one male and female sub-connector of the plurality of male and female sub-connectors fitted to each other, It is characterized in that it is configured such that it is immovably accommodated in the corresponding accommodation holes in the direction orthogonal to the approaching direction of both frames.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, either one of the male and female sub-connectors that are immovably accommodated, the mating sub-connector or the frame that accommodates the sub-connector, and both frames are It is characterized in that it is provided with an engaging portion that engages with each other when they are butted and holds both frames in a temporarily assembled state.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the two frames are displaced close to each other via the coupling member, a pair of male and female sub-connectors housed immovably in the direction orthogonal to the approaching direction of the two frames are mutually connected. By fitting and being guided by it, both frames are displaced toward each other in the straight direction, and accordingly, all the corresponding male and female sub-connectors are fitted in the straight direction.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when both frames are butted against each other prior to the approaching displacement operation by the connecting member, either one of the male and female sub-connectors housed immovably and the mating sub-connector or the sub-connector thereof. The engaging portion provided on the frame accommodating the
Both frames are temporarily assembled.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, both frames, that is, the corresponding male and female sub-connectors can be fitted in the straight direction without twisting. Therefore, the male and female terminal fittings attached to the respective frames can be fitted. It is possible to accurately connect each other, and it is possible to improve reliability in electrical contact. Moreover, since it has a simple structure in which one set of corresponding male and female sub-connectors are tightly housed in the respective housing holes, there is an effect that it can be handled at low cost.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the engaging portion for temporary assembly of both frames is fixedly provided, and is provided on the sub connector or the frame which is close to the rigid body and less likely to be deformed. Therefore, the temporary assembly of both frames can be performed stably. Thereby, there is an effect that the approaching displacement operation of both frames by the coupling member can be smoothly and accurately performed.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a male-sided split connector M and a female-sided split connector F that are coupled to each other are provided.

First, the male connector is mainly shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to 4 and 8. The split connector M includes a male frame 1 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The male frame 1 is formed with three housing holes 2 which are substantially rectangular in plan view and open on both upper and lower surfaces in a line.
Male sub-connectors 3 in which male terminal fittings are mounted are separately housed therein.

These male sub-connectors 3 have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is accommodated over substantially the entire height in each of the accommodating holes 2 described above. A fitting recess 4 into which the fitting protrusion 14 is fitted is formed. Cavities (not shown) are formed in line in each male sub-connector 3, and male terminal fittings are mounted in the respective cavities with their tabs protruding into the fitting recesses 4. It has become.

At the upper ends of the left and right side surfaces of each male sub-connector 3, as shown in FIG. 8, two ridges 6 are provided at both ends in the lengthwise direction, and the upper surface side is located first between them. Two locked portions 7 that are inclined surfaces are formed symmetrically. Then, each male sub-connector 3 is inserted from the lower surface side of the accommodation hole 2 along the vertical groove 8 formed on the inner surface of the accommodation hole 2, and the peripheral edge of the fitting concave portion 4 is inserted into the accommodation hole. The insertion is stopped when it abuts on the abutting wall 9 formed inwardly on the peripheral edge of the upper surface of 2. At that time, the male sub-connector 3 is irremovably accommodated in the accommodation hole 2 by elastically locking the lance 10 projecting on the inner surface of the accommodation hole 2 to the lower surface of each locked portion 7. It has become so.

Next, the split connector F on the female side is shown in FIGS.
7 will be described. The split connector F includes a female frame 11 having a low height, and the female frame 11 also has three housing holes 12 opened on both upper and lower surfaces, which correspond to the housing holes 2 of the male frame 1 described above. Is formed. Female sub-connectors 13 to which female terminal fittings are attached are individually accommodated in the respective accommodation holes 12.

These female sub-connectors 13 are shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, the lower surface side is provided with a fitting protrusion 14 that fits into the fitting recess 4 of the male sub-connector 3. In the female sub-connector 13, cavities (not shown) are formed in line, and female terminal fittings are mounted in the cavities.

On the left and right side surfaces of each female sub-connector 13,
Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, two protrusions 16 are provided at both ends in the lengthwise direction, and two engaged portions 17 having a lower surface side having a downwardly inclined surface are provided therebetween. , Are formed symmetrically. Then, each female sub-connector 13 is inserted from the upper surface side of the accommodation hole 12 by aligning the left and right protrusions 16 with the vertical groove 18 formed on the inner surface of the accommodation hole 12, and the protrusion 16 is formed in the vertical groove 18. The insertion is stopped when it hits the abutting portion 19 provided at the lower end. At that time, the accommodation hole 1
The female sub-connector 1 is formed by elastically locking the lance 20 projecting from the inner surface of the second member 2 to the upper surface of each locked portion 17.
3 is irremovably accommodated in the accommodation hole 12 with the fitting protrusion 14 protruding from the lower surface of the female frame 11. The fitting projection 14 of the female sub-connector 13
When is fitted into the fitting recess 4 of the male sub-connector 3, the tab of the male terminal fitting fitted to the male sub-connector 3 enters into the cavity of the female sub-connector 13 and is fitted therein. It is designed to be connected to a female terminal fitting.

On the upper surface of the female frame 11, there is provided a cover 23 for covering and protecting the electric wire 22 drawn out from each female sub-connector 13. This cover 23
The front side (left side in FIG. 1) is formed obliquely for releasing the lever 30, which will be described later, and the rear side is opened, and the elastic lock legs 24 formed on the lower edges of both side surfaces are formed.
Is fitted and attached to a locking projection 25 provided on the side surface of the female frame 11.

Further, the lever 30 is attached to the shaft 3 of the male frame 1.
It is swingably supported by 1. This lever 30
Is formed in a two-legged shape that straddles the male frame 1,
A part of the outer surface is covered with a cover plate 33 provided at a distance from the side surface of the male frame 1 and accommodated therein. The lever 30 is provided with a substantially arcuate cam groove 36 into which a follower pin 35 protruding from the side surface of the female frame 11 is fitted. When the cam groove 36 and the follower pin 35 are fitted to each other, the lever 30 is oscillated from the "open position" shown in FIG. 2 to the "coupling position" shown in FIG. It has a well-known function of pulling the frame 11 toward the male frame 1.

The lever 30 is held in the "open position" by fitting the pin 38 protruding from the lever 30 into the locking hole 39 formed in the cover plate 33 of the male frame 1, and the pin 30 A locking hole 40 that is opened to the side of 38 is retained in the “coupling position” by fitting into a protrusion 41 that is provided on the female frame 11. Also,
As shown in FIG. 1, the lever 30 is in the “open position” described above.
In the case of, the starting end 36a of the cam groove 36 is located above the male frame 1, and the back side of the portion above the starting end 36a of the cam groove 36 of the lever 30 is thinly machined, An entry path 43 into which the follower pin 35 of the female frame 11 can enter is formed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the central male sub-connector of the above-mentioned three male sub-connectors 3 is the positioning connector 3a. The outer side surfaces (left and right in the figure) are closely fitted to the inner side surfaces of the male frame 1 at the front and rear of the accommodation hole 2a at the center without any clearance. The two male sub-connectors 3 at both ends are provided with a fixed clearance in the front-rear direction between them and the accommodation hole 2.

In the female sub-connector 13 as well, the central female sub-connector serves as the positioning connector 13a, and the front and rear outer surfaces of the female sub-connector 13 are the central receiving holes 12a of the female frame 11.
The shape is such that it can be fitted tightly without any clearance between the front and rear inner surfaces. Regarding the two female sub-connectors 13 at both ends, a fixed clearance is provided in the front-rear direction between the female sub-connectors 13 and the accommodation hole 12.

Also, the female side positioning connector 1 described above.
A pair of lock protrusions 45 is provided on the front and rear surfaces of the fitting protrusion 14 of 3a at the center of the lower end in the width direction. On the other hand, the housing hole 2a of the male positioning connector 3a
The front and rear abutment walls 9 also serve as locking portions 46 that lock the locking projections 45. Further, on the front and rear side surfaces of the fitting concave portion 4 of the male side positioning connector 3a, there is formed a vertical escape groove 47 into which the above-mentioned lock projection 45 is fitted to allow its vertical movement.

The present embodiment has the above-mentioned structure, and subsequently the assembling procedure will be described. First, the male sub-connectors 3 fitted with male terminal fittings are housed in the housing holes 2 of the male frame 1 irremovably in the same manner as described above. that time,
The central positioning connector 3a is housed in the housing hole 2a while being immovable in the front-rear direction. Similarly, the female sub-connector 13 fitted with the female terminal fittings is housed in the respective housing holes 12 of the female frame 11 in an irremovable manner with the fitting projection 14 projecting to the lower surface of the female frame 11. . The central positioning connector 13a is also housed in the housing hole 12a in a state of being immovable in the front-rear direction. In addition, the electric wires 22 drawn out from the female sub-connectors 13 are collected and flowed in one direction, and a cover 23 covering the electric wires 22 is attached.

Subsequently, the lever 30 is held in the "open position" as shown in FIG. 1, the male and female positioning connectors 3a and 13a are aligned, and the male frame 1 and the female frame 11 are butted against each other. . Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the fitting projection 14 of the female-side positioning connector 13a causes the locking projection 45 provided there to engage with the locking portion of the upper edge of the accommodation hole 2a of the male-side positioning connector 3a. While riding on 46, it is fitted into it, and when it is fitted to a certain size, the lock projection 45 crosses over the locking portion 46 and is fitted into the upper end of the escape groove 47 provided in the fitting recess 4 of the positioning connector 3a. That is, the locking projection 45 of the positioning connector 13 a housed in the female frame 11 is locked by the locking portion 46 of the male frame 1, so that the male frame 1 and the female frame 11 are temporarily assembled.

At this time, the two female sub-connectors 1 at both ends
The fitting projections 14 of the male and female sub-connectors 3 are fitted into the upper ends of the fitting recesses 4 of the corresponding male sub-connectors 3, and if there is a positional deviation within the tolerance between the male and female sub-connectors 3, 13. , The error is absorbed by the clearance and the fitting is performed. In addition, at the time of this temporary assembly, as shown in FIG.
The follower pin 35 provided at 1 is fitted to the starting end 36 a of the cam groove 36 through the approach passage 43 while elastically expanding the lever 30 outward.

Subsequently, the lever 30 is removed from the "open position" to the "coupling position" while removing the holding pin 38 from the locking hole 39.
Swing toward. In this case, since the female frame 11 is temporarily assembled to the male frame 1, it is no longer necessary to hold and hold the female frame 11 by hand, and this time, hang the finger of the hand on the tip of the lever 30 to cause it. Thus, the swing operation of the lever 30 can be continued.

When the lever 30 is swung to the "coupling position" side in this way, the follower pin 35 is pressed downward by the cam groove 36 of the lever 30 in FIG. 2 and, as shown in FIGS. Is pulled toward the male frame 1 side. At that time, under the influence of the shape of the cam groove 36,
A lateral load is applied to the female frame 11 in the front-rear direction that is at a right angle to the direction approaching the male frame 1.
Positioning connector 1 housed immovably in the front-back direction
In the state where the fitting protrusion 14 of 3a is fitted in the fitting recess 4 of the positioning connector 3a which is also housed in the male frame 1 immovably in the front-rear direction, the lock protrusion 45 allows the escape groove 4 to move.
Since it slides while moving downward in 7, the female frame 11 is pulled straight toward the male frame 1 by being guided by it. Accordingly, the positioning connector 13
The fitting protrusions 14 of all the female sub-connectors 13 housed in the female frame 11 including a are fitted straight into the fitting recesses 4 of the corresponding male sub-connector 3 housed in the male frame 1 without prying. Are combined. Thereby, the male and female terminal fittings are accurately connected to each other. The lever 30 swung to the “coupling position” is held in that position by fitting the locking hole 40 into the protrusion 41.

As described above, in this embodiment, the male frame 1 and the female frame 11 are fitted with the positioning connectors 3a and 13a, which are respectively immovably housed in the front-rear direction, and the female frame 11 is guided while being guided thereby. Since the structure pulls the female frame 11 to the side, the female frame 11 can be pulled straight to the male frame 1 side even if a lateral load is applied to the female frame 11 in the front-back direction that is perpendicular to the direction approaching the male frame 1. it can. Therefore, the corresponding male and female sub-connectors 3 and 13 are fitted straight without prying, so that the male and female terminal fittings attached to each can be accurately connected, and electrical contact can be made. The reliability can be increased. Moreover, the structure is simple in that the pair of corresponding male and female positioning connectors 3a and 13a are tightly housed without providing clearances in the housing holes 2a and 12a, so that it can be handled at low cost. Further, the size of the split connectors M and F can be reduced to the extent that the clearance is removed.

Regarding the structure of the part where the male and female frames 1 and 11 are temporarily assembled, the lock projection 45 formed on the fitting projection 14 of the female-side positioning connector 13a is replaced by the locking portion of the male frame 1. It has a structure that locks to 46,
Positioning connector 13a provided with them and male frame 1
Are fixedly provided and are close to a rigid body and are less likely to be deformed.
The temporary assembly of 1 can be stably performed. Thereby,
It is possible to smoothly and accurately perform the approaching displacement operation of the both frames 1 and 11 by the lever 30.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition to the above, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the central one of the three sets of corresponding sub-connectors 3 and 13 is the positioning connector 3a and 13a. However, one of the pairs of both ends may be the positioning connector. . Further, the invention can be similarly applied to a case where two sets or four sets or more of corresponding sub-connectors 3 and 13 are provided, and one set of them may be a positioning connector.

(2) The locking portion for locking the locking projection 45 provided on the female positioning connector 13a may be provided on the male positioning connector 3a itself. Further, depending on the shapes of the male and female sub-connectors 3 and 13 and the form of accommodation in the frames 1 and 11, a locking projection is provided on the male side positioning connector 3a, and conversely, on the female side positioning connector 13a.
Alternatively, the female frame 11 may be provided with a locking portion.

(3) The present invention is not limited to the lever type,
The present invention can be similarly applied to a split connector that is fastened by bolts.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a split connector according to an embodiment of the present invention before being assembled.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the split connector in a temporarily assembled state.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the split connector in a fully assembled state.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a state before assembly.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a temporarily assembled state.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fully assembled state.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end view taken along line XX of FIG.

8 is an enlarged end view taken along line YY of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M ... Male side split connector F ... Female side split connector 1 ... Male frame 2, 2a ... Accommodating hole 3 ... Male sub connector 3a ... Positioning connector 11 ... Female frame 12, 12a ... Accommodating hole 13 ... Female sub connector 13a ... Positioning connector 30 ... Lever (coupling member) 35 ... Follower pin 36 ... Cam groove 45 ... Lock protrusion (engagement part) 46 ... Locking part (engagement part)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A male sub-connector and a female sub-connector, each of which has a male frame and a female frame which are paired with each other, and in which a plurality of receiving holes formed corresponding to the respective frames are fitted with male terminal fittings. A female sub-connector to which a terminal connector is attached is accommodated, and the two frames are displaced in a direction toward each other by a coupling member provided therebetween, so that the corresponding male and female sub-connectors are fitted and connected to each other. In the split connector, one set of male and female sub-connectors of the plurality of sets of male and female sub-connectors fitted to each other is immovable in the corresponding accommodation holes in a direction perpendicular to the approaching direction of the both frames. The split connector is characterized by being housed in. 2. When one of the male and female sub-connectors housed immovably and the mating sub-connector or a frame housing the sub-connector are engaged with each other, the two frames are engaged with each other. The split connector according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion that holds both frames in a temporarily assembled state.