JPH08185925A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily perform the separating operation of a connector, and prevent a lever from being easily rotated in the separating direction. CONSTITUTION: A female connector housing 21 has a lever 40 rotatable between a fitting start position and a fitting complete position, and a wire cover 60. The fitting and separation of both connectors are performed by the rotation of the lever 40, and the wire cover 60 can be slid in the direction orthogonal to the rotating direction of the lever 40. The engaging claw 51 of the lever 40 is engaged with the hook part 65 of the wire cover 60 to lock the lever 40 in the fitting complete position. When the wire cover 60 is slid from this state, the lock is released, and the cam projection 63 of the wire cover 60 pushes the lever 40 upward to slightly rotate it in the fitting start position, so that a finger can be easily put on the lever 40.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a connector in which a connector is fitted by a rotating member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a connector of this type, a connector disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-627724 is known.
In the structure shown in the publication, a large number of male terminals are arranged in the male connector housing, a large number of female terminals are arranged in the female connector housing, and the male connector housing is made to perform "leverage". A lever, which is a rotating member having a cam groove, is rotatably provided.

On the other hand, a cam projection is provided on the female connector housing, and when both connectors are fitted, the lever is held at the fitting start position so that the cam projection of the female connector housing is engaged with the cam groove of the lever. After that, by rotating the lever toward the mating completion position, the female connector housing is displaced to the male connector housing side by the cam action of the cam groove, and the mating of both connectors is performed.

Further, in order to securely hold such a connector fitting state, a lever lock mechanism for holding the lever at the fitting completion position is provided. In this lock mechanism, an elastic claw piece is integrally formed with a connector housing via a leg portion, and a tip of the elastic claw piece is engaged with an engaging recess formed in a lever.

[0005]

In the above structure, in order to disengage both connectors in the fitted state, first the elastic claw pieces of the lever lock mechanism are elastically rotated to release the engagement and the lever. Is allowed to rotate, and then a finger is put on the tip of the lever to cause this.

However, such an operation does not mean that the lever stands up to a position where it is easy to put a finger even if the lever lock mechanism is unlocked. Therefore, while holding the connector housing with one hand, the other hand can be used. You have to pry open the lever, which is not something you can do with one hand. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to perform the connector detaching operation after the connector is installed in a narrow device.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-46275, when a return spring is incorporated in the lever and the lever lock mechanism is unlocked, the lever is returned by the return spring. It has also been proposed to raise and rotate. However, in this configuration, the return spring needs to be incorporated in the lever, which complicates the structure and also increases the manufacturing man-hours, resulting in a significant increase in cost.

Further, in the conventional lever lock mechanism, since the rotation direction of the lever and the rotation direction of the elastic claw piece are set to the same direction, the lever receives a strong turning force toward the fitting start position. Then, the elastic claw pieces are elastically deformed so as to escape and the engagement is likely to be released, and eventually there is a possibility that the free rotation of the lever is allowed. Of course, it is also possible to design the elastic claw pieces so that the rigidity of the elastic claw pieces is made difficult to elastically deform, but then a large operating force is required when the elastic claw pieces are engaged with the lever or unlocked. There is a problem that workability is greatly reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. Therefore, the purpose is to easily perform the connector disengagement operation by rotating the rotating member from the fitting completion position, and the other purpose is that the rotating member is carelessly moved from the fitting completion position. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can be prevented from being rotated to the fitting start position side.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a connector housing of one of the connectors to be fitted to each other with a fitting start position and a fitting completion position. In a structure in which a rotating member that can be rotated between is provided, and both connector housings are engaged and disengaged by rotating the rotating member,
An auxiliary member is provided on the one connector housing so as to be displaceable in a direction intersecting the rotation direction of the rotating member, and the auxiliary member and the rotating member are engaged with the rotating member at the fitting completion position. A feature is that a lock mechanism for locking the rotating member at the fitting completion position is provided and the lock mechanism is locked and unlocked by displacing the auxiliary member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in which the two connectors are engaged and disengaged by rotating the rotating member, an auxiliary member is displaceably provided on one connector housing. It is characterized in that a cam mechanism portion that displaces the rotating member from the fitting completion position toward the fitting start position is provided between the member and the rotating member based on the displacement of the auxiliary member.

Further, the auxiliary member may be configured to also serve as an electric wire cover for covering an electric wire led out from one of the connector housings (invention of claim 3), and a state in which the operation member is locked at the fitting completion position. It is also possible to adopt a structure in which the locking mechanism held by the auxiliary member is provided between the auxiliary member and one of the connector housings (the invention of claim 4).

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the rotating member is held at the fitting completion position by the lock mechanism. Here, since the auxiliary member that engages and disengages the lock mechanism is provided so as to be displaceable in a direction that intersects with the rotation direction of the rotation member, the rotation member is tentatively set in the fitting start position direction. Even if a strong turning force is applied to the auxiliary member, the auxiliary member does not move in the disengaging direction, and the rotating member can be reliably locked.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, when the auxiliary member is displaced, the cam member causes the rotating member to rotate from the fitting completion position toward the fitting start position. A clue is made to rotate the.

According to the invention of claim 3, since the auxiliary member is also used as the cover for the electric wire, the number of parts can be reduced, and the locking mechanism for locking the operation member at the fitting completion position is provided. According to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to more reliably prevent the operation member from being displaced easily and the rotation member from being accidentally rotated.

[0016]

According to the invention of claim 1, since the rotating direction of the rotating member and the moving direction of the auxiliary member intersect with each other, even if the rotating member has a strong turning force in the fitting start position direction. Even if the connector is received, it is possible to reliably maintain the locked state, and it is possible to reliably prevent the fitting of both connectors from being accidentally released. Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, since the rotating member is slightly rotated due to the displacement of the auxiliary member, the connector can be easily detached. Further, according to the invention of claim 3 which also serves as the auxiliary member and the cover for the electric wire, the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts, and in the invention of claim 4 in which the locking mechanism is provided, the rotating member is It is possible to more reliably prevent the careless rotation.

[0017]

【Example】

<First Embodiment> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Structure of Embodiment) The overall structure of both connectors is as shown in FIG. A male connector 10 is shown on the left side of the figure, and a female connector 20 is shown on the right side. The male connector 10 has a configuration in which a large number of male terminals 12 are mounted in a flat cylindrical male connector housing 11 having one end open and the other end closed. For example, two guide wall portions 13 extend toward the opening side. The male terminal 12 is provided with a large-sized terminal group having a large current capacity and a small-sized terminal group having a small current capacity in separate arrangement regions.

On the male connector housing 11, a pair of cam action pins 14 are provided coaxially on the left and right sides of the male connector housing 11, and the disengagement pieces 1 are provided above the respective cam action pins 14.
5 are protrudingly provided.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the female connector 20 has a structure in which a large number of female terminals 22 are mounted in a female connector housing 21 which is also in the shape of a flat cylinder. The female connector housing 21 corresponds to one connector housing of the present invention, and the male connector housing 11 corresponding to the other connector housing can be fitted to the outer peripheral side of the female connector housing 21. 1
A waterproof seal 23 for sealing between the female connector housing 1 and the connector 1 is fitted to the outer periphery of the female connector housing 21 on the base end side. Further, the female connector housing 21 is integrally formed with a hood portion 24 surrounding the outer peripheral side of the fitted male connector housing 11, and the male connector housing 11 has the hood portion 24 and the female connector housing 21. It is designed to be inserted between them. It should be noted that guide slits 25 into which the cam action pins 14 of the female connector housing 21 can enter when the male connector housing 11 is inserted into the hood portion 24 and the disengagement pieces 1 are provided on both left and right sides of the hood portion 24.
And an engaging hole 26 into which 5 can enter (see FIG. 2).

The hood portion 24 of the female connector housing 21
A pair of support shafts 27, which are located on the extension lines of the guide slits 25 and on which the lever 40 corresponding to the rotating member of the present invention is mounted, are coaxially projected on both left and right sides of the shaft. The support shaft 27 has a large diameter preventing portion 29 at the tip thereof and has a split groove 28 having a V-shaped cross section that vertically divides the shaft.
Are formed.

The lever 40 is provided with two leg portions 42 on both left and right sides of the bridge portion 41 so as to have a U-shape as a whole, and each leg portion 42 is provided to allow the support shaft 27 to pass therethrough. A support shaft insertion hole 43 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the support shaft 27 is formed so as to penetrate therethrough.
3, the support shaft 27 is penetrated, and the lever 40 is rotatably supported around the support shaft 27 between the "fitting start position" shown in FIG. 1 and the "fitting completion position" shown in FIG. There is.

As shown in FIG. 2, a cam groove 45 is formed on the back side of the lever 40 (on the male connector housing 11 side), and when the male connector housing 11 is inserted, the cam action pin 14 is inserted and engaged therewith. be able to. The cam groove 45 has an arc shape whose curvature gradually changes as a whole, and the lever 40 is rotated from the "fitting start position" shown in FIG. 1 to the "fitting completion position" shown in FIG. Along with this, the cam action pin 14 and thus the male connector housing 11 is displaced toward the female connector housing 21 side by the "cam action" so that both connectors are fitted.

An elastic projection 46 is integrally formed with the lever 40 near the base of each leg 42 of the lever 40, and the elastic projection 46 is projected toward the back side of the lever 40. The elastic projection 46 is adapted to fit into the engagement hole 26 of the hood portion 24 and engage when the lever 40 is at the “fitting start position”, and cooperates with the engagement hole 26. A locking mechanism 47 for holding the lever 40 at the "fitting start position" is configured.

On the back side of the female connector housing 21, there is provided an electric wire cover 60 corresponding to the auxiliary member of the present invention. The electric wire cover 60 has a shape that surrounds an electric wire w group (shown only in FIG. 3) connected to the female terminal 22 from the outside, and the electric wire w group has a rear opening portion 6 of the cover 60.
1 (left side in FIG. 3). A mounting groove 62 is formed on the inner surface of the electric wire cover 60 on the female connector housing 21 side.
It is attached to the female connector housing 21 by fitting it to the mounting protrusion 30 formed on the back surface of the connector, and can be slid from the state shown in FIG.

A pair of cam projections 63 are provided on one side surface of the electric wire cover 60 at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire cover 60, and an inclined surface 64 is formed on the front side in the arrow direction. The bridge 41 of the lever 40 is provided with a cam receiving recess 48 for accommodating the cam protrusion 63 of the wire cover 60 when the lever 40 is rotated to the “fitting completion position”, and the cam protrusion 63 is inclined. A similar inclined surface 49 is formed on a portion corresponding to the surface 64. Therefore, the lever 40
When the wire cover 60 is moved in the direction of the arrow when is in the “fitting completion position”, the inclined surface 64 of the cam projection 63 pushes up the inclined surface 49 of the cam receiving recess 48, and the lever 40 is “fitted”. It is possible to rotate the lever 40 upward from the “completion position”, and the cam projection 63 and the cam receiving recess 48 move the lever 40 from the “fitting completion position” to the “fitting start position”.
A cam mechanism unit 50 that displaces in the direction is configured.

A substantially L-shaped engaging claw 51 is provided at the center of the bridging portion 41 of the lever 40, and a hook-shaped portion 52 at the tip thereof extends toward the tip side of the electric wire cover 60. On the other hand, the electric wire cover 60 is integrally formed with a U-shaped hook portion 65 located at an intermediate portion of the cam protrusion 63.
The lock mechanism 54 of the lever 40 is configured by these. That is, when the electric wire cover 60 is moved to the “lock position” shown in FIG. 1 when the lever 40 is in the “fitting completion position”, the engaging claw 51 of the lever 40 engages with the hook portion 65 of the electric wire cover 60. The lever 40 is restricted from rotating in the “fitting start position” direction, and when the electric wire cover 60 is moved in the arrow direction from the “lock position”, the engaging claw 51 disengages from the hook portion 65. The "lock release position" shown in FIG. 5 is reached. The hook-shaped portion 52 has a shape that extends linearly along the bridge portion 41 of the lever 40, and the contact surface with the hook portion 65 is set to be orthogonal to the rotation direction of the lever 40.

Further, a projecting piece 31 is formed at the center of one side surface of the female connector housing 21 so as to overlap the side surface of the electric wire cover 60 with a space, and a locking hole 32 is provided therein.
Are formed. Further, a locking projection 66 is integrally provided on a position of the wire cover 60 corresponding to the projecting piece 31, and the tip of the locking projection 66 can enter the locking hole 32. Cover 60 in the "lock position"
A locking mechanism 67 for holding the above is formed. The locking projection 66 has a triangular plate shape having slopes on both sides,
In the “lock position”, the locking projection 66 is brought into contact with the side portion of the projecting piece 31 and locked as shown in FIG. 7, and the electric wire cover 60 is moved from the “lock position” to the “unlock position” (right side in FIG. 7). ) Is prohibited. Further, when the electric wire cover 60 is forcibly moved in the arrow direction from the “lock position”, the tip of the locking projection 66 is located at the locking hole of the projecting piece 31 when the wire cover 60 reaches the “lock release position”. Fit in 32.

(Operation of Embodiment) Now, both connectors are shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the lever 40 is in the fitted state as shown in, and the lever 40 is held at the “fitting completion position” by the lock mechanism 54. In this state, if a strong turning force acts on the lever 40 in the “fitting start position” direction, the hook-shaped portion 52 of the engaging claw 51 of the lever 40 strongly pushes up the lower surface of the hook portion 65 of the wire cover 60. The wire cover 60 is the lever 4
It is movable in a direction orthogonal to the turning direction of 0, and the contact surface between the hook-shaped portion 52 and the hook portion 65 is the lever 4
Since it is set to be orthogonal to the rotation direction of 0, the electric wire cover 60 does not move to escape in the unlocking direction of the lock mechanism 54. Moreover, since the wire cover 60 is held in the “lock position” by the locking mechanism 67 including the locking projection 66 and the protruding piece 31, the wire cover 60 is more reliably prevented from moving in the unlocking direction.

In order to detach both connectors from this state, the electric wire cover 60 is moved in the arrow direction from the position shown in FIG. That is, the wire cover 60 is pushed up from the “lock position” shown in FIG. 7 by the locking projection 66 to elastically deform the protruding piece 31 of the female connector housing 21, and moved to the “lock release position” shown in FIG. 8. Then, in the lock mechanism 54, the hook portion 65 in the state shown in FIG.
5 reaches the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the engagement with the engaging claw 51 of the lever 40 is released, and the rotation of the lever 40 is allowed. When the wire cover 60 is further moved, the cam projection 6
The inclined surface 64 of No. 3 comes into contact with the inclined surface 49 of the cam receiving recess 48 of the lever 40 and forcibly pushes it up. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the lever 4
0 will rotate a little from the “fitting completion position” to the “fitting start position” and stop, and the lever 40 and the wire cover 6 will be stopped.
There is a gap with 0. As a result, it is possible to easily put a finger on the lever 40 even with one-handed operation, and it is possible to easily perform the subsequent rotation operation of the lever 40 in the "fitting start position" direction. become.

(Effects of the Embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, the electric wire cover 60 constituting the lock mechanism 54 of the lever 40 has a relationship in which its moving direction intersects with the rotating direction of the lever 40. Therefore, even if a strong turning force acts on the lever 40 at the “fitting completion position”, the electric wire cover 60 can be prevented from escaping in the unlocking direction. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the mating of both connectors from being accidentally released.
The reliability of mating maintenance becomes high.

When the lever 40 at the "fitting completion position" is rotated to the "fitting start position" for releasing the fitting of the connector, first, the wire cover 60 is slid to move the lever 40. Since it is rotated to a position where it is easy to put a finger on it, it suffices to put the finger on the lever 40 and raise it. Therefore, even if the connector is arranged in a narrow space inside the device, it can be detached with one hand, and the work such as maintenance becomes extremely easy.

Further, in this embodiment, since the lock mechanism 54 is provided using the electric wire cover 60, the number of parts is reduced and the manufacturing cost is reduced as compared with the configuration in which the dedicated auxiliary member is provided for the lock mechanism. Can be cheaper.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 12 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is the specific structure of the lock mechanism for locking the lever at the fitting completion position. . Since the other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and only different parts will be described.

A U-shaped hook portion 71 is provided at the center of the bridge portion 41 of the lever 40, and an L-shaped engaging claw 72 capable of engaging with the hook portion 71 is provided at the electric wire cover 60. There is. The hook-shaped portion 73 of the engaging claw 72 has a shape extending toward the rear opening portion 61 side of the wire cover 60. Here, when the lever 40 is rotated to the “fitting completion position” after the wire cover 60 is mounted on the female connector housing 21, the lever 40 is rotated.
Is locked in that position, and then the electric wire cover 60 is slid in the direction of the arrow, the engagement between the engaging claw 72 and the hook portion 71 is released, and the lock of the lever 40 is released.

Even with this structure, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the strength of the bridge portion 41 of the lever 40 can be increased as compared with the first embodiment.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 13 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is the specific structure of the lock mechanism, and the other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Only the differences will be explained.

A rectangular engaging hole 74 is formed in the center of the bridge portion 41 of the lever 40, and an engaging claw 75 is formed on the wire cover 60 at a position corresponding to the engaging hole 74 so as to be inserted therethrough. Has been done. Similar to the second embodiment, the engaging claw 75 has an L-shaped hook 76 that extends toward the rear opening 61 of the wire cover 60. Therefore, when the lever 40 is rotated to the “fitting completion position” after the wire cover 60 is attached to the female connector housing 21, the engaging claw 75 is elastically deformed and the lever 40 is locked at that position, and then, When the electric wire cover 60 is slid in the arrow direction, the engagement between the engagement claw 75 and the engagement hole 74 is released, and the lock of the lever 40 is released. Even with such a configuration, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 14 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is the specific structure of the lock mechanism, and the other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Only the differences will be explained.

An engaging claw 77 is provided on the wire cover 60 in place of the hook portion 65 of the first embodiment, and the hook-shaped portion 7 thereof is provided.
8 is directed in the direction opposite to the engaging claw 51 of the lever 40.
Even with such a configuration, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

<Fifth Embodiment> FIGS. 15 and 16 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that
The protective frame 79 for protecting the engaging claw 51 from the side is integrally formed with the bridge portion 41 of the lever 40. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

With this structure, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the electric wire is caught by the engaging claw 51 at the time of transportation before handling the connector and at the time of handling, and a strong force acts on the engaging claw 51. However, there is an advantage that the engagement claw 51 can be surely prevented from being broken due to this.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the following modifications are possible, for example, and these embodiments also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) In each of the above embodiments, the electric wire cover 60
Although the lock mechanism 54 is configured by using as an auxiliary member, the electric wire cover 60 is not essential. When the electric wire cover 60 is not provided, an auxiliary member may be movably provided on the female connector housing 21, and a lock mechanism for locking the lever at the fitting completion position may be provided between the auxiliary member and the lever.

(2) Although the split groove 28 is formed in a V-shaped cross section in the above embodiment, it is not limited to this and may be U-shaped or U-shaped, and a large number of split grooves are formed. Good. (3) The rotating member is not limited to the lever-shaped member illustrated in the above embodiment, but may be, for example, a simple flat plate-shaped member having only one leg, or a disc-shaped substrate and a rotary operation unit. It may have a shape in which a cam acting portion is provided, and in other words, a pivoting member is rotatably provided in one connector housing via a support shaft in order to engage and disengage both connectors. Can be applied to the connector. In addition, the invention of the present application can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of both connectors according to a first embodiment of the present invention before mating.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the female connector shown with a lever removed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of both connectors before mating.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lever is locked at a fitting completion position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the electric wire cover is moved to a lock release position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the electric wire cover is moved further forward from the unlocked position.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where the electric wire cover is held in a locked state by a locking mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where the electric wire cover reaches the unlocked position.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a locked state of the lock mechanism.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where the lock of the lock mechanism is released.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view showing an operating state of a cam mechanism section.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a female connector showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a female connector showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a female connector showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of both connectors according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention before fitting.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention after completion of mating of both connectors.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Male connector 20 ... Female connector 27 ... Spindle 40 ... Lever 54 ... Lock mechanism 60 ... Electric wire cover (auxiliary member) 67 ... Locking mechanism

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A rotating member that can be rotated between a fitting start position and a fitting completion position is provided on one connector housing of connectors to be fitted to each other, and the turning member is rotated. In such a configuration that both connector housings are engaged and disengaged by a dynamic operation, an auxiliary member is provided on the one connector housing so as to be displaceable in a direction intersecting a rotation direction of the rotation member, The auxiliary member and the rotating member are provided with a lock mechanism that engages with the rotating member at the fitting completion position to lock the rotating member at the fitting completion position, and displaces the auxiliary member. Thus, the connector is configured to lock and unlock the lock mechanism. 2. A rotating member that can be rotated between a fitting start position and a fitting completion position is provided on one connector housing of connectors to be fitted to each other, and the turning member is rotated. In a structure in which both connectors are engaged and disengaged by a dynamic operation, an auxiliary member is displaceably provided in the one connector housing, and the auxiliary member is provided between the auxiliary member and the rotating member. A connector provided with a cam mechanism portion for displacing the rotating member from the fitting completion position toward the fitting start position based on displacement. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member also serves as an electric wire cover for covering the electric wire led out from the one connector housing. 4. The locking mechanism for holding the auxiliary member in the locked state of the locking mechanism is provided on the one connector housing and the auxiliary member. Connector according to any one of.