JPH10261471A - Joint connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a widely usable joint connector of which joint terminals are reliably prevented from coming out of a terminal housing chamber of a housing and at the same time connected with improved crimping workability of electric wires. SOLUTION: Retainer main bodies 21 of retainers 20 provided with bus bars are installed in terminal insertion inlets 12b of respective terminal housing chambers 12 of housings 11, 13 in freely detachable manner, engagement parts 25a to be engaged to joining parts 14, 34 formed in the terminal insertion inlets 12b of the respective terminal housing chambers 12 are formed in the retainer main bodies 21, and at the same time the terminals 26 of the bus bars of the retainers 20 provided with the bus bars are so made as to be freely engaged to the engagement parts of joint terminals 17, 37. Moreover, retainer main bodies 21' of retainers 20' with the same shape of the retainers 20 provided with the bus bars are so installed as to be freely fitted in the terminal insertion inlets 12b of respective terminal housing chambers 12 of respective housing 11, 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joint connector for reliably preventing a joint terminal from coming out of a terminal accommodating chamber of a housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
1 to 13 are shown in FIG.
No. 24778). This relay connector 1 has three terminal accommodating chambers 2a, which also serve as a plurality of plug insertion spaces,
A socket-shaped insulating housing 2 having 2a, 2a;
A male joint terminal 3 having three male terminal pieces 3a, 3a, 3a protruding into each terminal accommodating chamber 2a of the housing 2, and an input side crimp-connected to a crimp portion 3b of the joint terminal 3. A plug-shaped insulating housing 5 inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber 2 a of the socket-shaped housing 2, and a terminal accommodating chamber 5 of the housing 5.
a female joint terminal 6 which is fitted into the male terminal piece 6a and which is brought into contact with the male terminal piece 3a of the male joint terminal 3 for electrical conduction. It is composed of an output-side electric wire 7 that is crimp-connected to the crimp portion 6b of the terminal 6. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the male joint terminal 3 is prevented from falling off by engaging its elastic locking piece 3 c with the projection 2 c of the socket-like housing 2. Similarly, the female joint terminal 6 has its elastic locking piece 6c locked to the protruding portion 5c of the plug-shaped housing 5 and is prevented from falling off.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional relay connector 1, each of the joint terminals 3 and 6 has the elastic locking pieces 3c and 6c locked to the projections 2c and 5c of the housings 2 and 5. In addition, there was a danger that the terminals would come off because only a single stop was made. Moreover, in the male joint terminal 3, the crimp connection of the electric wire 4 and the joint terminal 3 by an automatic machine was impossible because the shape of the terminal piece 3a was a special shape. Further, although the male joint terminal 3 is branched into three at the distal end side, the base side is a single crimped portion 3b, that is, since only a single electric wire 4 can be connected, its use range is limited. Had been.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to reliably prevent the joint terminal from coming off from the terminal accommodating chamber of the housing, and to perform the crimping connection work of the joint terminal with the electric wire. It is an object to provide a versatile joint connector that can be improved.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, and a joint terminal formed by crimping an electric wire fitted into each terminal accommodating chamber of the housing. In a joint connector in which an engaging portion of the joint terminal is freely locked to a locking portion of each terminal accommodating chamber, a retainer main body of a retainer with a bus bar is provided in a terminal insertion opening of each terminal accommodating chamber so as to be freely fittable. The retainer main body is provided with a locking portion which is locked to an engaging portion provided in the terminal insertion port of each terminal accommodating chamber, and a bus bar terminal of the retainer with a bus bar is engaged with the locking portion of the joint terminal. It is characterized by being able to stop freely.

In this joint connector, the joint terminal is securely prevented from coming off from the terminal accommodating chamber of the housing, and the crimp connection of the joint terminal to the electric wire is automated to improve the workability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the joint connector according to the first aspect, wherein a retainer main body of a retainer having the same shape as the retainer with the bus bar is inserted into the terminal insertion opening of each terminal accommodating chamber instead of the retainer with the bus bar. The retainer body is provided so as to be freely fitted, and the retainer main body is provided with a locking portion that is locked to an engaging portion provided at a terminal insertion port of each of the terminal receiving chambers,
The terminal-shaped protrusion protruding from the retainer main body can be locked to the locking portion of the joint terminal.

In this joint connector, the joint connector is used as an ordinary connector in which the joint terminal is securely prevented from coming off from the terminal accommodating chamber of the housing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the joint connector according to the first aspect, the housing is a male type and the joint terminal is a female type.

With this joint connector, there is provided a versatile male joint connector in which the work of crimping the female joint terminal by wire is improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the joint connector according to the first aspect, wherein the housing is a female type and the joint terminal is a male type.

According to this joint connector, there is provided a versatile female joint connector in which the work of crimping the electric wire of the male joint terminal is improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the joint connector according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the male housing is provided in the female housing so as to be fitted thereinto and detached from the female housing. The male joint terminal can be freely fitted and detached, and a locking portion is provided on an upper surface side of the male housing to be engaged with and disengaged from an engaging portion of the female housing. .

In this joint connector, when the male housing and the female housing are fitted together, the female joint terminal and the male joint terminal are securely fitted together.
Stable electrical conduction is always achieved.

[0015]

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

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of male and female joint connectors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6, a male joint connector 10 is made of a synthetic resin male housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 12; Electric wire 16 fitted into terminal accommodating chamber 12
And a female joint terminal 17 to which a crimping connection is made. A terminal insertion opening 12b (described later) of each terminal accommodating chamber 12 of the housing 11 has the same shape as the retainer body 21 of the retainer 20 with a bus bar or the retainer 20 with a bus bar. The retainer body 21 'of the retainer 20' is provided to be freely fitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 (a) and 2 (b),
Each terminal accommodating chamber 12 of the housing 11 is partitioned by a partition wall 12a, and female joint terminals 17 are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers 12 through terminal insertion openings 12b opened to the left and right on the rear side. It has become. Also, as shown in FIGS.
On the front side of each terminal accommodating chamber 12, a mating terminal insertion port 12c communicating with each terminal accommodating chamber 12 is formed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), an elastic locking piece (locking portion) 13 is integrally formed substantially at the center of the upper wall of each terminal accommodating chamber 12 of the housing 11. This elastic locking piece 13
The contact bent piece portion 17a on the front side of the joint terminal 17
The rear edge portions 18a (engagement portions) of the pair of front bending spring pieces 18, 18, which are bent in a rectangular cylindrical shape so as to surround the frame, are locked.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 (a) and 6 (b), rectangular engagement holes are formed on the left and right sides of the upper wall of each terminal accommodating chamber 12 of the housing 11 on the side of the terminal insertion opening 12b. (Engagement part)
14 are formed. In each of the engagement holes 14,
Retainer main body 21 of retainer 20 with bus bar described later
The locking projection (locking portion) 25a of the retainer 20 'or the locking projection (locking portion) 25a' of the retainer body 21 'of the retainer 20' is locked. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6, an L-shaped elastic locking piece 15 is integrally formed at the front center of the upper surface of the housing 11 so as to protrude. On the upper surface of the elastic locking piece 15, a locking projection (locking portion) 15a is integrally formed.

The female joint terminal 17 is integrally formed by bending a pair of rear bent spring pieces 19, 19 into a square tube behind a pair of front bent spring pieces 18, 18 bent into a square tube. A bent portion (locking portion) 19a is further bent inward on the rear side of each bent spring piece portion 19. A tab terminal 26c of a bus bar 26 of a retainer 20 with a bus bar, which will be described later, or a tab terminal-shaped projection 26c 'of a retainer 20' is engaged with the bent portion 19a. A pair of crimping portions 17b, 17 is provided between the front bending spring piece 18 and the rear bending spring piece 19.
The conductor 16a of the electric wire 16 is crimp-connected between these crimping portions 17b.

As shown in FIG. 9, the retainer body 21 of the retainer 20 with a bus bar includes a pair of holders 24 and 25 which can be opened and closed via respective hinges 23. 26 base 26
a has been inserted. The concave portion 24 of this one holder 24
a, the engagement hole 26 of the base 26a of the bus bar 26
A pin-shaped projection 24b into which b is fitted is integrally formed. On both sides of one holder 24, a pair of locking claws 24c, 24c engaged and disengaged with engagement holes 25c, 25c on both sides of the other holder 25 are integrally formed.
The bus bar 26 is fixed to each of the holders 24 so that the branch tab terminals (terminals) 26c of the bus bar 26 protrude outward from the retainer main body 21 by being locked in the locking claws 24c of the pair of holders 24 and 25 and the engagement holes 25c. , 25. Each of the branch tab terminals 26c
Are inserted into a pair of square bent spring pieces 19, 19 of the joint terminal 17 and are locked to the bent portions 19a. Further, the other holder 25
A pair of locking projections (locking portions) 25a, 25a to be locked in the respective engaging holes 14 of the housing 11 are integrally formed on both outer surfaces of the housing 11 respectively.
An engagement hole 25b into which the projection 24b is inserted is formed at a position facing the pin-shaped projection 24b.

As shown in FIG. 1, a retainer 20 'made of a synthetic resin having the same shape as the retainer 20 with a bus bar is engaged with the respective engaging holes 14 of the housing 11 on both sides of the upper surface of the retainer body 21'. A pair of locking projections (locking portions) 25
a ', 25a' are formed integrally with each other, and are inserted into a pair of rectangular bent rear spring pieces 19, 19 of the joint terminal 17 on the front surface of the retainer body 21 '. Each protruding portion 26c 'in the form of a branch tab terminal, which is engaged with the bent portion 19a, is integrally formed.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 7,
The female joint connector 30 includes a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 3.
A female insulating housing 31 made of a synthetic resin having
A male joint terminal 37 in which an electric wire 36 fitted to each terminal accommodating chamber 32 of the housing 31 is crimp-connected is provided. A terminal insertion opening 32b described later of each terminal accommodating chamber 32 of the housing 31 has: The retainer body 21 of the retainer 20 with a bus bar or the retainer body 21 'of a retainer 20' having the same shape as the retainer 20 with a bus bar is provided so as to be freely fitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 (a) and 8, a male joint connector 1 is provided on the front side of the housing 31.
Opening 3 into which front part 11a of housing 11 is fitted
1a. Each terminal accommodating chamber 32 communicates with the rear part of the opening 31a. 4 (a), (b) and FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), each terminal accommodating chamber 32 of the housing 31 is partitioned by a partition wall 32a, and is inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber 32 from a terminal insertion opening 32b opened to the left and right on the rear surface side. The male joint terminals 37 are respectively inserted. 4 (b) and 5
7 (b), as shown in FIG. 7 (a), a terminal insertion port 32c through which the tab terminal 37a of the joint terminal 37 is inserted is formed in the opening 31a of the housing 13 and the partition wall of each terminal accommodating chamber 32. is there. Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, an elastic locking piece (locking portion) 33 is integrally formed substantially at the center of the upper wall of each terminal accommodating chamber 32 of the housing 31. A pair of front bent spring pieces 38, 38, which are bent in the shape of a square tube at the rear of the tab terminal 37 a of the joint terminal 37, are locked to the elastic locking piece 33. It is supposed to be.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 7 (a) and 7 (b), rectangular engaging holes are formed on the left and right sides of the terminal insertion chamber 32b of the upper wall of each terminal accommodating chamber 32 of the housing 31. (Engagement part)
34 are formed respectively. In each of the engagement holes 34,
The locking projection (locking portion) 25a of the retainer main body 21 of the retainer 20 with a bus bar or the locking projection (locking portion) 25a 'of the retainer main body 21' of the retainer 20 'is locked. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, a square cylindrical portion 3
5 are integrally formed. A rectangular engaging hole (engaging portion) 35a is integrally formed on the upper wall of the square cylindrical portion 35 so as to protrude. The male joint connector 10 is inserted into the engagement hole 35a.
The locking projection 15a of the elastic locking piece 15 is locked.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tab terminal 37a projecting forward from the male joint terminal 37 comes into contact with the contact bent piece 17a of the female joint terminal 17 so that electrical conduction is achieved. It has become. A pair of front-bending spring pieces 38, 38 are respectively formed integrally with the tab terminal 37a of the male joint terminal 37 behind the tab terminal 37a so as to form a square tube. The rear-bending spring pieces 39, 39 are each bent and integrated into a rectangular tube. As shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, a bent portion (locking portion) 39a is further bent inward on the rear side of each bent spring piece 39. The tab portion 26c of the bus bar 26 of the retainer 20 with a bus bar or the tab terminal-like projection 26c 'of the retainer 20' is engaged with the bent portion 39a. Further, the front bent spring piece 38 and the rear bent spring piece 39
And a pair of crimping portions 37b, 37b are integrally formed between the crimping portions 37b.
6a is connected by crimping.

A pair of ribs 11b, 11b are integrally formed on the lower surface of the housing 11 so as to protrude.
A concave groove 31b for guiding the rib 11b is formed on the bottom surface side of one opening 31a. Further, a pair of hook portions 31c, 3 integrally formed on the lower surface of the housing 31 are formed.
An attachment clip 40 is detachably attached to 1c.

According to the male and female joint connectors 10 and 30 of the above embodiment, when assembling the male joint connector 10, the male housing 11 is used.
The female joint terminal 17 is inserted and fitted into the terminal accommodating chamber 12. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B,
Rear edge 18 of front bent spring piece 18 of joint terminal 17
a is locked by the elastic locking piece 13 of the housing 11, and both are locked. Next, the retainer body 21 of the retainer 20 with busbars is inserted and fitted into the terminal insertion opening 12b of the housing 11. As a result, each locking projection 25 a of the retainer main body 21 is locked in each engagement hole 14 of the housing 11, and each branch tab terminal 26 c of the bus bar 26 protruding from the retainer main body 21 is bent backward of the joint terminal 17. The joint terminal 17 is double-locked to the housing 11 via the retainer main body 21 by being locked to the bent portion 19 a of the spring piece portion 19. Thus, the male-type joint connector 10 of the retainer type with the bus bar is completed.

Also, instead of the busbar-equipped retainer 20, a retainer body 21 'of a retainer 20' having the same shape as the busbar-equipped retainer 20 is connected to the terminal insertion port 12 of the housing 11.
b, when fitted to busbar,
The retaining projection 25a 'of the retainer body 21' is
1 and the retainer body 2
A terminal-like projection 26c 'projecting from 1' is locked to the bent portion 19a of the joint terminal 17. Thus, the male joint connector 10 is used as a normal connector.

Similarly, the female joint connector 3
When assembling 0, the male joint terminal 37 is inserted and fitted into the terminal accommodating chamber 32 of the female housing 31. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the rear edge 38 of the front bent spring piece 38 of the joint terminal 37 is formed.
a is locked by the elastic locking piece 33 of the housing 31, and both are locked. Next, the retainer body 21 of the retainer 20 with a bus bar is inserted and fitted into the terminal insertion opening 32b of the housing 31. As a result, each locking projection 25a of the retainer main body 21 is locked in each engagement hole 34 of the housing 13, and each branch tab terminal 26c of the bus bar 26 protruding from the retainer main body 21 is bent backward of the joint terminal 37. The joint terminal 37 is doubly locked to the housing 13 via the retainer main body 21 by being locked to the bent portion 39a of the spring piece portion 39. Thereby, the female-type joint connector 30 of the retainer type with the bus bar is completed.

Further, instead of the bus bar-equipped retainer 20, the retainer body 21 'of the retainer 20' having the same shape as the bus bar-equipped retainer 20 is connected to the terminal insertion port 32 of the housing 13.
b, when fitted to busbar,
The retaining projection 25a 'of the retainer body 21' is
1 and the retainer body 2
The terminal-shaped protrusion 26c 'protruding from 1' is locked to the bent portion 39a of the joint terminal 37. Thus, the female joint connector 30 is used as a normal connector.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when a male joint connector 10 of a retainer type with a bus bar is used, the mating connector of the mating partner is a female joint connector in which a retainer 20 'is fitted. Use 30.
When using a female joint connector 30 of a retainer type with a bus bar and a female connector, a male joint connector 10 with a retainer 20 'fitted therein is used as the mating connector of the mating partner. Each of these joint connectors 10,
If you make 30 according to the shape of the general connector,
The mating connector of the mating partner can be used as a general connector.

As described above, the joint terminals 17 and 37 can be double-engaged in the respective terminal accommodating chambers 12 and 32 of the housings 11 and 31 via the elastic locking pieces 13 and 23 and the retainers 20 and the like. As a result, the joint terminals 17, 37 can be reliably prevented from coming off from the terminal accommodating chambers 11, 32 of the housings 11, 31, and the crimp connection of the joint terminals 17, 37 to the electric wires can be automated. Workability can be improved. As shown in FIG. 8, the male housing 11 is replaced with the female housing 31.
When the female housing 31 is engaged with the female housing 31, the locking projection 15a of the elastic locking piece 15 on the upper surface side is locked by being locked by the engaging hole 35a of the cylindrical portion 35 of the female housing 31.
Female joint terminal 17 and male joint terminal 37
Can be surely fitted, stable electrical conduction can always be achieved, and it is possible to provide high quality and versatile joint connectors 10 and 30.

In the above embodiment, the male and female connectors use the same pole (five poles) of joint terminals and bus bars, but the number of poles may be more or less.

[0035]

As described above, according to the joint connector of the first aspect of the present invention, the joint terminal can be securely prevented from coming off from the terminal accommodating chamber of the housing. Work can be improved.

According to the joint connector of the second aspect of the present invention, the joint connector can be used as an ordinary connector in which the joint terminal is securely prevented from coming off from the terminal accommodating chamber of the housing.

According to the joint connector of the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a versatile male joint connector in which the work of crimping a female joint terminal by wire is improved.

According to the joint connector of the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a versatile female joint connector in which the work of crimping the electric wire of the male joint terminal is improved.

According to the joint connector of the present invention, when the male housing and the female housing are fitted, the female joint terminal and the male joint terminal are securely fitted. Thus, stable electrical conduction can be always achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of male and female joint connectors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a rear view of the male joint connector, FIG. 2B is an enlarged explanatory view of a portion Y in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C is a cross section taken along line XX in FIG. FIG.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the male joint connector, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged explanatory view of a Z portion of FIG. 3A.

4A is a front view of the female joint connector, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged explanatory view of a portion X in FIG. 4A.

5A is a rear view of the female joint connector, FIG. 5B is an enlarged explanatory view of a portion Y in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5C is a cross section taken along line ZZ in FIG. FIG.

6 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the male joint connector, FIG. 6 (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion P in FIG. 6 (a), and FIG. 6 (c) is a female type connector used in the male joint connector. It is an enlarged perspective view of the principal part of a joint terminal.

7A is a cross-sectional view of the female joint connector, FIG. 7B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a Q portion of FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7C is a male male connector used for the female joint connector. It is an enlarged perspective view of the principal part of a joint terminal.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a fitting state of the male joint connector and the female joint connector.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a retainer with a bus bar used for each of the male and female joint connectors.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a clip attached to the female joint connector.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a conventional relay connector.

FIG. 12 is a plan view in which a portion of the relay connector of the conventional example is cut away.

13 is a vertical sectional view taken along line VV in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 30 Joint connector 11, 31 Housing 12, 32 Terminal accommodating chamber 12b, 32b Terminal insertion slot 13, 32 Engagement part 14, 34 Engagement part 16, 36 Electric wire 17, 37 Joint terminal 18a, 38a Engagement part 19a, 39a Locking portion 20 Retainer with busbar 21 Retainer main body 25a Locking portion 26 Busbar 26c Terminal 20 'Retainer 21' Retainer main body 25a 'Locking portion 26c' Terminal-shaped protrusion

Claims (5)

[Claims] A housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers; and a joint terminal formed by crimping and connecting an electric wire fitted to each terminal accommodating chamber of the housing. In a joint connector in which an engaging portion of a joint terminal is freely latchable, a retainer body of a retainer with a bus bar is provided in a terminal insertion opening of each terminal accommodating chamber so as to be freely fittable, and a terminal of each terminal accommodating chamber is provided in the retainer body. A joint portion provided with an engaging portion which is engaged with an engaging portion provided in the insertion opening, and wherein a bus bar terminal of the retainer with the bus bar is freely engageable with the engaging portion of the joint terminal. . 2. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein a retainer main body of a retainer having the same shape as the retainer with a bus bar is provided so as to be freely fitted to a terminal insertion opening of each terminal accommodating chamber, instead of the retainer with a bus bar. A retainer body provided with an engaging portion which is engaged with an engaging portion provided at a terminal insertion opening of each of the terminal accommodating chambers, and a terminal-like projecting portion projecting from the retainer main body is engaged with the joint terminal. Joint connector characterized in that it can be freely locked to the stop. 3. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein said housing is of a male type, and said joint terminal is of a female type. 4. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein said housing is a female type, and said joint terminal is a male type. 5. The joint connector according to claim 3, wherein said male housing is fitted to said female housing.
The male joint terminal is removably provided to fit and disengage the male joint terminal with the female joint terminal, and is engaged with and disengaged from the engaging portion of the female housing on the upper surface side of the male housing. A joint connector provided with a locking portion.