JPH09204954A - Waterproof connector and manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide excellent working property in the blocking of the terminal insert hole of a waterproof rubber plug by a dummy plug, and easily conform to a change of specification. SOLUTION: A waterproof rubber plug 9 having terminal insert holes 11 opened in conformation to terminal housing chambers 5 is fitted into a mounting recessed part 7 on the rear end of a female housing 1. A cover 20 can be installed to the rear surface side of the waterproof rubber plug 9, and the cover 20 is molded in the state where dummy plugs 25 are provided every position corresponding to all the terminal insert holes 11. Each dummy plug 25 is formed through a thin part 27 so as to be easily driven through. When an empty chamber 5a to which a female terminal fitting 3 is not inserted is present in the terminal housing chambers 5, only the dummy plug 25 in the position corresponding to the empty chamber 5a of all the dummy plugs 25 is left, and the other dummy plugs 25 are driven through by a jig to open through-holes for the female terminal fitting 3 there. When the cover 20 is installed, the terminal insert hole 11a corresponding to the empty chamber 5a is blocked by the left dummy plug 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a waterproof connector and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one type of waterproof connector, as shown in FIG. 10, a rear surface of a connector housing 51 provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 52 corresponds to each terminal accommodating chamber 52. When a waterproof rubber plug 53 having an open terminal insertion port 54 is attached and the terminal fitting 55 is inserted into the corresponding terminal accommodating chamber 52 through the terminal insertion port 54,
It is known that the inner periphery of the terminal insertion port 54 is brought into close contact with the electric wire 56 so as to be sealed. On the other hand, in such a waterproof connector, depending on the purpose of use, an empty room in which the terminal fitting 55 is not inserted may remain in the terminal accommodating chamber 52, and in that case, leakage occurs from the terminal insertion port 54 corresponding to the empty room. Do not insert the terminal insertion port 54
Need to be closed.

As one of conventional leak prevention measures, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, there is known a method of individually inserting the dummy plugs 57 into the terminal insertion openings 54 corresponding to the vacant rooms.
When the number of empty rooms is large, it takes a lot of time to insert the dummy plug 57, and there is a drawback that the work efficiency is poor.

As another method, as shown in FIG. 12, a cover 58 mountable on the rear surface side of the waterproof rubber plug 53.
Corresponding to the arrangement of the terminal accommodating chamber 52 into which the terminal fitting 55 is inserted and the vacant room, the insertion holes 5 of the terminal fitting 55 are respectively provided
It is also practiced to mold a so-called dummy plug integrated type cover formed by forming 9 and the dummy plug 60 and to use the cover. Although this method can reduce the labor for assembling, if the specifications are different, that is, if the insertion arrangement of the terminal fittings 55 is different, the cover 5 corresponding to the arrangement is used.
Since it is necessary to mold 8 individually, there was a problem in terms of cost.

The present invention has been completed in view of the above circumstances, and is excellent in workability when closing a terminal insertion port corresponding to an empty room, and can easily change specifications. It is an object of the present invention to provide a waterproof connector and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0006]

As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a connector housing provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, in which a terminal insertion port corresponding to each terminal accommodating chamber is provided. When a waterproof rubber plug with an opening is attached to cover the rear surface side and the terminal metal fitting is inserted into the corresponding terminal accommodating chamber through the terminal insertion opening, the inner circumference of the terminal insertion opening adheres to the wire to seal it. If there is a terminal connector into which the terminal fitting is inserted and a terminal connector is empty, a waterproof connector that closes the terminal insertion port corresponding to the empty terminal container with a dummy plug In the above, a cover that can be mounted on the rear surface side of the waterproof rubber plug is provided, and a dummy plug that can be individually fitted to all terminal insertion ports is projected on the cover, and each dummy plug is By punching out the terminal Characterized in place where the structure is formed via the thin portion so as to open the hole.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a connector housing provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers is fitted with a waterproof rubber plug having a terminal insertion opening corresponding to each terminal accommodating chamber with the rear surface side closed, and the terminal metal fitting. A method of manufacturing a waterproof connector, wherein when a terminal is inserted into a corresponding terminal accommodating chamber through the terminal insertion opening, the inner periphery of the terminal insertion opening is closely attached to the electric wire to provide a seal. A cover that can be mounted on the rear side of the terminal and has a dummy plug that can be individually fitted to all terminal insertion ports and that protrudes in advance; If there is a hole, a dummy plug corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber in which the terminal fitting is inserted is punched out to open an insertion hole through which the terminal fitting can be inserted, and the cover is attached to the rear surface side of the waterproof rubber plug. Configuration to be attached to Having the features in the place.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the dummy plug of the cover is punched using a jig having a punching pin, and the punching pin is removable. It has a feature in that it can be set up.

[0009]

Function and Effect of the Invention

<Claims 1 and 2> When a vacant room is formed in the terminal accommodating chamber, among the dummy stoppers provided in advance on the cover, the dummy stoppers corresponding to the vacant chambers are left as they are, and other dummy stoppers are left as they are. Punch out and remove. After punching, the insertion hole is opened. When the cover treated in this way is attached to the rear surface side of the waterproof rubber stopper, the terminal insertion opening corresponding to the empty room is closed by fitting the remaining dummy stopper, while the other terminal accommodating chambers are The terminal metal fitting is inserted through the terminal insertion opening from the opened insertion hole.

That is, when closing the terminal insertion port of the waterproof rubber plug corresponding to the vacant room, the cover may be attached to the rear surface of the waterproof rubber plug while leaving only the necessary dummy plug on the cover. , The work is extremely easy.
Also, even if the place where the vacant room can be changed,
Since it is only necessary to change the place where the dummy plug is left, it is possible to obtain an effect that can be easily dealt with.

<Claim 3> When the arrangement of the portion where the dummy plug is left and the arrangement of the portion where the insertion hole is opened are changed, it is possible to easily cope with them by changing the portion where the punching pin is set up.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
8 to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a female-side connector housing (hereinafter, simply referred to as a female housing), in which a female terminal fitting 3 fixed to an end of an electric wire 2 can be inserted. Are aligned in the vertical and horizontal directions. A hood 6 is formed on the outer periphery of the front end side (left side in the figure) of the female housing 1, and a mounting recess 7 into which an integrated waterproof rubber plug 9 described later is fitted is formed on the rear end face. Has been done.

The waterproof rubber plug 9 is thick and has a substantially square shape in the front surface so that it can be fitted tightly into the mounting recess 7 of the female housing 1, and its outer peripheral surface on the rear end side. Is a lip 1 that can elastically contact the inner peripheral surface of the mounting recess 7.
Multiple 0s are formed. In addition, the waterproof rubber plug 9
A terminal insertion port 11 penetrating in the front-rear direction is opened at each position corresponding to the position of each terminal accommodating chamber 5 of the female housing 1. An annular protrusion 1 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of each terminal insertion port 11.
No. 2 is formed every three rows. The inner diameter of the ridge 12 is
It is formed to have a size slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire 2 to which the female terminal fitting 3 is fixed, and the side surface on the rear side of the protrusion 12 is tapered so that the female terminal fitting 3 can be easily inserted. Has become.

That is, when the waterproof rubber plug 9 is pushed into the mounting recess 7 of the female housing 1, the lip 10 is fitted while being elastically crushed and pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the mounting recess 7. In that state, when the female terminal metal fitting 3 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 5 through the terminal insertion opening 11 of the waterproof rubber plug 9, the female terminal metal fitting 3 is locked by the lance 14 and accommodated in the retaining state. The electric wire 2 is the ridge 12 of the terminal insertion port 11.
Fits tightly into the inside of the female housing, thereby allowing the female housing 1
The rear side is sealed from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 7, the female housing 1
A seal ring 15 is fitted in the hood 6 at
A fitting portion with a mating male housing (not shown) can be sealed, and a front type retainer 16 is mounted from the front side of the female housing 1, and a fitting portion 17 protruding from the retainer 16 has a lance. By fitting in the bending deformation space 18 of the lance 14, the bending deformation of the lance 14 is restricted, and the female terminal fitting 3 is double-locked.

Depending on how the connector is used, among the terminal accommodating chambers 5 provided in the female housing 1, a room in which the female terminal fitting 3 is not inserted, that is, an empty room (indicated by reference numeral 5a in the figure) ) May be possible. In that case, since the terminal insertion opening 11a corresponding to the empty room 5a remains open and is not sealed, it is necessary to close the terminal insertion opening 11a.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the cover 20 that functions to close such a terminal insertion port 11a is provided. The cover 20 is made of the same synthetic resin material as the female housing 1 and has a box shape with the front side open.
The female housing 1 can be fitted to the outer periphery of the rear end portion provided with the mounting recess 7. Locking grooves 21 are formed on both the upper and lower surfaces of the cover 20, and locking projections 22 projecting from the upper and lower surfaces of the rear end portion of the female housing 1 are fitted into the locking grooves 21 to prevent the retaining state. It can be installed with.

Dummy plugs 25 are preliminarily provided on the inner surface of the rear plate 24 of the cover 20 at positions corresponding to the respective terminal insertion openings 11 provided in the waterproof rubber plug 9.
The dummy plug 25 has a round bar shape having an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the protrusion 12 of the terminal insertion port 11, and has a rounded tip. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a diameter larger than the dummy plug 25 by a certain dimension is provided on the rear surface side (upper side in the drawing) of the portion of the rear plate 24 of the cover 20 on which the dummy plugs 25 project. A circular punching hole 26 having a depth that is approximately half the thickness of the rear plate 24 is provided. Therefore, each dummy plug 25 is provided so as to project from the rear face plate 24 with the annular thin portion 27 provided around the base end side thereof.

That is, each dummy plug 25 of the cover 20 is provided so as to be removable by punching, and a jig 29 for that purpose is provided. The jig 29 is schematically shown in FIG. 2, and has a lower die 30 fixedly installed and an upper die 31 installed above the lower die 30 so as to be vertically movable.
On the lower surface of the upper mold 31, the dummy plug 2 of the cover 20 described above is provided.
In the same arrangement as the position where 5 is provided, the punching pin 33
The mounting position of is set. A screw hole 34 for mounting the punching pin 33 is formed at each mounting position. The punching pin 33 is in the shape of a round rod having a diameter between the diameters of the dummy plug 25 and the punching hole 26 described above, and the tip end surface is cut obliquely from both sides to cut the blade portion 35.
Are formed. Therefore, the blade portion 35 functions to cut the thin portion 27 on the base end side of the dummy plug 25. Further, at the rear end portion of the punching pin 33, a male screw portion 36 that can be screwed into the screw hole 34 cut at the mounting position is formed.

On one lower die 30, the punching pin 3 is provided at each position corresponding to the mounting position of the punching pin 33.
A vertical escape hole 38 is formed so that the through hole 3 can be inserted. That is, the cover 20 is placed on the lower mold 30 while inserting the dummy plugs 25 into the escape holes 38 with the dummy plugs 25 facing downward.

The present embodiment has the above structure,
Subsequently, the operation will be described. First, the cover 20 is molded with all the dummy plugs 25 protruding in advance. If there is a vacant room 5a in which the female terminal fitting 3 is not inserted in the terminal accommodating chamber 5 of the female housing 1, the vacant room 5
The cover 2 in which the dummy plug 25 is left only at the position corresponding to "a"
0 is produced. Therefore, the punching pins 33 are set up on the upper mold 31 of the jig 29 by screwing the male screw portions 36 into the screw holes 34 at the mounting positions other than the positions corresponding to the portions where the dummy plugs 25 are left. .

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the cover 20 as it is at the time of molding is placed on the lower mold 30 while fitting the dummy plugs 25 into the escape holes 38. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper die 31 having the punching pins 33 attached thereto is attached to the lower die 3
When the punching pin 33 is lowered toward 0, the punching pin 33 cuts the thin portion 27 around the base end of the dummy plug 25 with the blade portion 35 thereof, and the punching pin 33 passes through the escape hole 38, whereby the dummy plug 25 is punched out. The punched dummy plug 25 is discharged through the escape hole 38. The dummy plug 25 is left as it is in the portion where the punching pin 33 is not provided.

After the upper mold 31 is lifted and returned, the cover 2
When 0 is removed from the lower die 30, as shown in FIG. 5, the dummy plug 25 is left at a position corresponding to the empty room 5a, and in other cases, the dummy plug 25 is punched out so that the female terminal fitting 3 is inserted. A cover 20a having a possible insertion hole 39 is obtained.

In the case of assembly, first, as shown in FIG. 6, a waterproof rubber plug 9 is attached to the mounting recess 7 on the rear surface of the female housing 1.
Is fitted. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the cover 20a manufactured by the jig 29 is fitted into the rear end portion of the female housing 1, and the locking projection 22 is fitted into the locking groove 21 to lock the cover 20a. Since the dummy plug 25 remains in the cover 20a at a position corresponding to the vacant room 5a, the dummy plug 25 is vacant in the vacant room 5a in the waterproof rubber plug 9.
Is inserted into the corresponding terminal insertion opening 11a to close the terminal insertion opening 11a. The other terminal insertion openings 11 are aligned with the insertion holes 39 formed in the cover 20a and open on the rear surface.

The female terminal metal fitting 3 fixed to the end of the electric wire 2 passes through the insertion hole 39 of the cover 20a and the terminal insertion port 11 and the corresponding terminal accommodation chamber 5 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 8 and is accommodated as shown in FIG. 8, and the terminal insertion opening 11 corresponding to the terminal accommodation chamber 5 is closed by the electric wire 2. This completes the sealing of the rear side of the female housing 1.

Subsequently, as described above, the seal ring 15 is fitted in the hood 6, and then the retainer 16 is mounted to double-lock the female terminal fitting 3 and the female housing 1 is illustrated. When mated with the mating male housing,
The fitting portion is sealed by the seal ring 15 described above.

Further, when the use of the connector is different and the place where the empty room 5a of the terminal housing chamber 5 of the female housing 1 is formed is changed, the punching pin 33 attached to the upper die 31 of the jig 29 is changed. Change the mounting position of.
That is, the punching pin 33 is set up only at the mounting position other than the position corresponding to the empty room 5a. Then, when the cover 20 at the time of molding is punched by such a jig 29, the dummy plug 2 is also placed at a position corresponding to the empty room 5a.
5 is left as it is, and in other cases, the dummy plug 25 is punched out to obtain a cover having an insertion hole 39 through which the female terminal fitting 3 can be inserted, and the cover can be applied to a connector in a new usage mode.

That is, according to this embodiment, the empty room 5
When the terminal insertion port 11a of the waterproof rubber plug 9 corresponding to a is closed, a cover 20a is manufactured by using a jig 29 from the cover 20 provided with all dummy plugs 25 in advance. Since the cover 20a may be attached to the rear surface side of the waterproof rubber plug 9, the assembling work becomes extremely simple. Further, even if the place where the vacant room 5a is formed is changed, it can be easily dealt with by changing the position of the punching pin 33 in the jig 29 and changing the place where the dummy plug 25 is left.

<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, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the punching pin 3
Although a screw-in type is adopted as a means for detachably attaching 3, the attaching holes 42 are opened at each attaching position of the upper die 41 as shown in FIG. Insert punching pin 43 and press plate 4
Other means such as fixing with 4 may be adopted.

(2) It is also possible to prepare a plurality of types of upper molds having different punching pin mounting positions and replace the upper molds to manufacture covers with different positions of the dummy plugs. (3) The present invention is not limited to the waterproof connector on the female side and can be similarly applied to the waterproof connector on the male side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a jig and a cover at the time of molding.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an initial state of a punching process.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view after completion of punching.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a punched cover alone.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting operation of the cover.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view when a cover is attached.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view when assembly is completed.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a punching pin mounting structure according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a waterproof connector according to a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a dummy plug insertion method of a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another conventional dummy plug insertion method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Female housing 2 ... Electric wire 3 ... Female terminal metal fitting 5 ... Terminal accommodation chamber 5a ... Vacant room 7 ... Mounting recess 9 ... Waterproof rubber plug 11, 11a ... Terminal insertion port 20 ... Cover 25 ... Dummy plug 27 ... Thin portion 29 ... jig 30 ... lower mold 31 ... upper mold 33 ... punching pin 34 ... screw hole 36 ... male screw part 39 ... insertion hole 41 ... upper mold 42 ... mounting hole 43 ... punching pin 44 ... pressing plate

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A connector housing provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers is equipped with a waterproof rubber stopper having a terminal insertion opening corresponding to each terminal accommodating chamber with the rear surface side closed, and a terminal fitting is inserted through the terminal insertion opening. A waterproof connector, which is sealed by inserting the inner periphery of the terminal insertion port into close contact with the electric wire when inserted into the corresponding terminal accommodating chamber, wherein the terminal fitting is inserted in the terminal accommodating chamber. In the case where there is a vacant one, the terminal insertion opening corresponding to the vacant terminal accommodating chamber is closed with a dummy plug, and a cover attachable to the rear surface side of the waterproof rubber plug is provided. Dummy plugs that can be individually fitted to all terminal insertion ports are projected on the cover, and each dummy plug is formed through a thin portion so as to open the insertion hole of the terminal fitting by punching. Waterproof connector characterized by Data. 2. A connector housing provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers is equipped with a waterproof rubber plug having a terminal insertion opening corresponding to each terminal accommodating chamber with the rear surface side closed, and a terminal fitting is inserted through the terminal insertion opening. A method for manufacturing a waterproof connector in which the inner circumference of a terminal insertion port is closely attached to an electric wire to provide a seal when inserted into a corresponding terminal accommodating chamber, wherein the waterproof rubber plug is attached to a rear surface side of the waterproof rubber plug. It is possible to provide a cover in which dummy plugs that can be individually fitted to all terminal insertion ports are provided in advance, and in the case where there are one of the terminal accommodating chambers into which the terminal fittings are inserted and one of which is empty. By punching out a dummy plug corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber in which the terminal fitting is inserted in the cover, an insertion hole through which the terminal fitting can be inserted is opened, and the cover is attached to the rear surface side of the waterproof rubber plug. Characteristic waterproof Method of manufacturing a connector. 3. The dummy plug of the cover is designed to be punched by using a jig having a punching pin, and the punching pin is detachably set up. Manufacturing method of waterproof connector.