JPH09129312A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve detection reliability by preventing the infiltration of water or sticking of dust for an electric detecting means for detecting a connector fitting state. SOLUTION: A sliding rod 15 is provided in a female housing 11 so as to be freely slid and rotated and a conductor 18 is fixed to its tip. A conductor housing chamber 36 is provided in a male housing 12 and the inserting port 38 of the conductor 18 is provided in a partition wall 37 inside the conductor housing chamber 36. Contact terminals 41 and 42 are buried in the inner surface 39 of the partition wall 37. After the female and male housings 11 and 12 are fitted to each other, the conductor 28 is inserted through the inserting port 38 into the conductor housing chamber 36, rotated so as to be brought into contact with the inner surface 39 of the partition wall 37 and also with the contact terminals 41 and 42.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector structure for detecting a half-fitted state between male and female housings.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when fitting male and female housings of a connector to each other to establish electrical continuity between electric wires, for example, a worker does a mating operation in a half mating state while housings are completely mated. There were times when it stopped working. And, even if such a semi-fitting state is obtained, if continuity between the terminals is obtained, it becomes difficult to detect it, and at the same time, it is overlooked as it is. However, in a connector applied to a vehicle such as an automobile, the half-fitted state of the housings is disengaged due to vibration during traveling. When such a situation occurs, various troubles will occur, such as the predetermined function not operating even if the driver operates the switch.

In order to prevent the occurrence of such a problem, the connector 100 proposed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-3419 shown in FIG. 11 has one housing 101.
An engaging portion 105 having a recess 104 and with which the arm 103 of the other housing 102 is engaged is provided on the outer side of the housing. Two contact terminals 106 and 107 arranged along the vertical direction of the contact terminals, and one free end 108 of the two branched free ends 108 and 109 arranged on the contact terminals 106 and 107 is the contact terminal 106, 107. There is provided a contact piece 110 having a high spring property, which is always connected to one terminal 106 of 107, and the other free end 109 is brought close to the other contact terminal 107 at an appropriate interval.

The housings 101 and 102 are completely fitted to each other, the arm 103 of the mating housing 102 engages with the locking portion 105, and the tip of the arm 103 contacts the contact terminal 1.
07, the free end 109 of the contact piece 110 provided in non-contact with
By pressing the free end 109 into contact terminal 10
Contacted 7. Thereby, the pair of contact terminals 106, 1
No. 07, which was electrically connected to produce an output, was able to detect the completely fitted state between the housings 101 and 102. That is, this connector 100 is provided with the mating housing 102.
The tip of the arm 103 of the
A pair of contact terminals 10 only when they are locked to and fully fitted.
Since the output was generated between 6 and 107, the connector coupling in the half-fitted state could be eliminated by detecting this output.

[0005]

However, in the above-described connector 100, the contact terminals 106 and 107 and the contact piece 110 are exposed, so that contact failure occurs due to intrusion of water, adhesion of dust or the like, and detection reliability is increased. There was a problem of lack of sex. Further, water may infiltrate into the electric wire 111 from the electric wire crimping portion 112 of the contact terminals 106 and 107 due to a capillary phenomenon and leak to the electric component side connected to the electric wire 111, causing various troubles such as short circuit and corrosion. was there. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector capable of detecting a completely fitted state of the connector and preventing incomplete fitting, and to improve reliability of a detection mechanism.

[0006]

A connector according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a connector comprising a pair of housings fitted to each other, wherein one of the housings has a conductor at one end and the other. A slide rod that has an operation lever at its end and is formed so as to be slidable and rotatable is provided, and the other side of the housing is partitioned by a partition wall that has an insertion port through which the conductor passes, and accommodates the conductor. A conducting body accommodating chamber is provided, and a plurality of contact terminals are provided on the partition wall surface in the conducting body accommodating chamber. When the housings are fitted to each other, the slide rod slides toward the other housing. Then, the conductor is inserted into the conductor containing chamber from the insertion opening, and the slide rod is rotated by the operation lever to conduct the conductor. The characterized in that contacting the engaging and the plurality of contact terminals to the partition wall.

Alternatively, the conductor of the slide rod is provided with a first engaging portion, and the partition rod with which the slide rod engages rotates the slide rod to rotate the first rod.
A second locking portion that locks with the locking portion of is provided.

Alternatively, the slide rod provided in the one housing may be spring-biased in a direction away from the other housing, and may be pushed against the spring-biasing force when the housing is fitted. .

In this connector, since the conductor is inserted into the conductor containing chamber through the partition wall and is in contact with the contact terminal in the conductor containing chamber, both the contact terminal and the conductor are arranged in the containing chamber. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electrical connector fitting detection force from being lowered due to the influence of water and dust. In addition, the conductor passes through the insertion port and engages with the partition wall, and contacts the contact terminal of the partition wall to integrate the lock mechanism for connector fitting and the detection mechanism for incomplete fitting detection. Since this is achieved, the connector fitting detection force can be improved.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a connector according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to the present invention in an exploded state, FIG. 2 is a view taken along arrow A of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view taken along arrow B of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a view taken along arrow C of FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are sectional views for explaining the operation of the connector according to the present invention, and FIG.
-E sectional view, FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views for explaining the operation of the connector according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a connector 1 according to the present invention includes a pair of female housings 1 which are fitted to each other.
1 and a male housing 12. A plurality of female terminals 13 (see FIG. 2) are provided in the female housing 11, and a wire harness connected to a terminal device (not shown) is connected to the female terminal 13. The female terminal 13 is covered with a cover portion 17 protruding from the rear end surface of the female housing 11.

A cylindrical boss portion 14 is provided at the center of the female housing 11, and a slide rod 15 is inserted inside the boss portion 14 so as to be slidable and rotatable about its axis. One end side of the slide rod 15 is arranged inside the female housing 11, and the other end side is arranged so as to extend outside the rear end of the female housing 11. At a substantially intermediate position of the slide rod 15, a stopper 16 for projecting a flange-like position is provided. A conductor 18 is fixed to one end of the slide rod 15 inside the female housing 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the conductor 18 is formed in a vertically long shape, and has a concave first locking portion 3 on the inner surface of one end portion in the longitudinal direction.
2 are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a handle 19 for rotating the slide rod 15 is fixed to the other end of the slide rod 15 arranged outside the female housing 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the handle 19 comprises a cylindrical fitting portion 20 that fits into the slide rod 15 and a plate-like operating portion 21. The operation portion 21 is formed in an L shape as shown in FIG. A predetermined space L is provided between the handle 19 and the rear end surface of the female housing 11.

At the end of the boss portion 14 on the handle 19 side,
A small-diameter locking portion 22 that locks the stopper 16 of the slide rod 15 is provided. Further, a recess 23 having an enlarged diameter is provided on the handle 19 side of the locking portion 22, and an O-ring 24 is inserted therein. That is, the O-ring 24 is fitted on the slide rod 15. This prevents water and dust from entering the female housing 11 from the outside through the slide rod 15. The O-ring 24 is prevented from coming off by a spacer 25 fitted in the recess 23.

A compression spring 26 is provided inside the boss portion 14.
Is inserted, and the slide rod 15 is inserted into the compression spring 26. One end of the compression spring 26 is locked to the stopper 16 for regulating the position of the slide rod 15, and the other end is a stopper 27 fitted to the tip of the boss portion 14.
It is locked to. The slide rod 15 is constantly urged toward the handle 19 by the compression spring 26.

On the front opening 28 side of the female housing 11,
A spacer 29 for inserting and guiding the male housing 12 and for preventing a packing 30 described later from coming off is fitted in the terminal accommodating portion 13A (see FIG. 1). Spacer 2
A ring-shaped packing 30 is attached to the rear end of 9, and the packing 30 is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hood of the male housing 12. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the spacer 29 is provided with a vertically elongated hole 31 through which the conductor 18 of the slide rod 15 can be taken in and out.

The male housing 12 is, as shown in FIG.
A male terminal 35 connected to the female terminal 13 is projected, and a conductor accommodating chamber 36 is provided on the rear end side of a partition wall 37 on which the male terminal 35 is projected.
That is, the conductor containing chamber 36 is partitioned by the partition wall 37. As shown in FIG. 4, the partition wall 37 is provided over the entire inner circumference of the male housing 12. Partition wall 37
An insertion opening 38 that is slightly larger than the conductor 18 of the slide rod 15 is provided at the center of the. Insertion slot 38
Communicate with the conductor storage chamber 36 as shown in FIG. In addition, the conductor accommodating chamber 36 is formed in a predetermined size so that the conductor 18 of the slide rod 15 can rotate inside.

As shown in FIG. 1, a second locking portion 40 is provided on the inner surface 39 of the partition wall 37 on the side of the conductor accommodating chamber 36 so as to project. The second locking portion 40 is provided near one end of the insertion opening 38 as shown in FIG. In addition, plate-shaped contact terminals 41 and 42 are provided on both sides of the insertion opening 38 on the surface of the partition wall 37 in the conductor containing chamber 36 diagonally across the insertion opening 38. These connection terminals 41, 42
Are embedded in the inner surface 39 of the partition wall 37, as shown in FIG.

Next, the fitting operation of the connector 1 will be described. When fitting the connector 1, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the male housing 12 is inserted into the female housing 11 to connect the female terminal 13 of the female housing 11 and the male terminal 35 of the male housing 12. As a result, the terminal device connected to the wire harness is in a state in which the predetermined function can be operated. Further, the packing 30 of the female housing 11 abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the male housing 12 to prevent water, dust, and the like from entering the conductor housing chamber 36 of the male housing 12.

After inserting the male housing 12 to a predetermined position of the female housing 11, as shown in FIG. 7, the slide rod 15 is pushed toward the male housing 12 side by a predetermined distance L against the biasing force of the compression spring 26. To do. as a result,
As shown in FIG. 8, the slide rod 15 is slid toward the male housing 12 side, and the conductor 18 at the tip of the slide rod 15 is inserted into the partition wall 37 of the male housing 12.
8 and is inserted into the conductor storage chamber 36.

In this state, as shown in FIG.
1 is grasped and the handle 19 is operated to rotate the conductor 18 counterclockwise by a predetermined angle α. With this, the partition wall 37
The second locking portion 40 and the first locking portion 32 of the conductor 18 are located at the engagement position. Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressing force of the handle 19 is removed. As a result, the slide rod 15 is biased in the return direction by the compression spring 26, and the first locking portion 32 of the conductor 18 is locked to the second locking portion 40 of the partition wall 37. As a result, the conductor 18 is separated by the partition wall 37.
The non-rotatable engagement with the connector 1 acts as a lock mechanism for the connector 1, and at the same time, the conductor 18 is attached to the inner surface 3 of the partition wall 37.
It contacts the two contact terminals 41 and 42 formed in 9 and acts as an incomplete fitting detection mechanism.

That is, when the connector 1 is completely fitted and the conductor 18 electrically connects the contact terminals 41 and 42 to each other, the contact terminals 41 and 42 generate an output. To be done. Specifically, the contact terminal 4
If a display means such as an LED is connected to 1, 42, the LED lights up when the female housing 11 and the male housing 12 are completely fitted together.
And the fitted state of the male housing 12, that is, the completely fitted state is detected. In addition, the conductor 18 acting as a lock mechanism uses the compression spring 26 to contact the contact terminal 41,
Since it is pressed toward the 42 side, the connected state can be reliably maintained even if vibration or the like is applied.

To disengage the connector 1, when the handle 19 is rotated to return the conductor 18 clockwise by the angle α, the slide rod 15 is urged by the compression spring 26. 18 is the insertion port 3 of the partition wall 37
The female housing 11 is slid to the rear end side through 8 to be disengaged. Therefore, the female housing 11 and the male housing 12 are pulled away from each other, and the connector fitting is released.

According to the above embodiment, the connector 1 is
The two contact terminals 41, 42 are provided in the conductor housing chamber 36, and the conductor 18 of the slide rod 15 for electrically connecting the two contact terminals 41, 42 is inserted in the conductor housing chamber 36. Since it is not exposed to the outside, it is possible to prevent water from entering and dust from adhering to these connecting portions. This prevents the occurrence of various troubles such as corrosion of the contact terminals 41 and 42 and the conductor 18 which are the means for detecting the fitted state and short-circuiting of the contact terminals 41 and 42, thereby improving detection reliability. Can be achieved.
Further, when the female housing 11 and the male housing 12 are completely fitted together, the first locking portion 32 of the conductor 18 and the second locking portion 40 of the partition wall 37 are engaged with each other so that the female housing 11 and the male housing 12 are connected to each other. Since it is locked, the connector 1 can be prevented from being accidentally detached.

In the above-described embodiment, the female housing 11 is provided with the slide rod 15, the conductor 18, and the operating lever 1.
9 and the first locking portion 32, the conductor housing chamber 36, the partition wall 37, the insertion port 38, the second locking portion 40 in the male housing 12.
Although the contact terminals 41 and 42 are provided, they can be reversed. Also, two or more contact terminals can be provided.

[0025]

As described in detail above, in the connector of the present invention, a plurality of contact terminals are provided in the conductor housing chamber, and the conductor is inserted into the conductor housing chamber and brought into contact with the contact terminals. As a result, the contact terminals are brought into conduction, so that the contact terminals and the conductor are disposed inside the conductor accommodation chamber and are not exposed to the outside, and it is possible to prevent dust and water from adversely affecting the connection portion. As a result, it is possible to improve the reliability of the electrical detection means for the connector fitting state. Further, since this detecting means is constructed as an integrated structure which also serves as a lock mechanism of the connector, it is possible to improve the detecting force.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a connector according to the present invention in an exploded state.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view on arrow C of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the connector.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the connector.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the connector.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the connector.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a main part of a connector according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 11 Female housing 12 Male housing 15 Slide rod 18 Conductor 32 First locking part 36 Conductor housing chamber 37 Partition wall 38 Insertion port 40 Second locking part 41, 42 Contact terminal

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A connector comprising a pair of mutually fitting housings, wherein one of the housings has a conductor at one end and an operation lever at the other end, and is formed to be slidable and rotatable. A rod is provided, and on the other side of the housing, there is provided a conductor accommodating chamber that is partitioned by a partition having an insertion port through which the conductor passes and accommodates the conductor, and the partition surface in the conductor accommodating chamber. Is provided with a plurality of contact terminals, and when the housings are fitted to each other, the slide rod is slid toward the other housing to insert the conductor into the conductor containing chamber from the insertion opening. Rotating the slide rod by the operation lever to engage the conductor with the partition wall and to contact the plurality of contact terminals. Connector to the butterflies. 2. A conductive body of the slide rod is provided with a first locking portion, and the partition rod with which the slide rod engages rotates the slide rod so that the first locking portion is engaged. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a second locking portion for locking. 3. The slide rod provided in the one housing is spring-biased in a direction away from the other housing, and is pushed against the spring-biasing force when the housing is fitted. The connector according to Item 1.