JPH11329573A - Waterproof structure of connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof structure of a connector that makes it easy to operate sound waterproofing between a connector housing and wires pulled out of the connector housing and also improves the cost effectiveness. SOLUTION: A pair of gel housing frames 12 and 13 which can open and close in such a direction that blockade a connection terminal fitting part 11B through the intermediary of thin hinges are provided on both walls opposing each other at a connection terminal fitting part 11B formed in a connector housing 11 and silicone gel 15 is housed in both of the gel housing frames 12 and 13. When the connection terminal fitting part 11B is blockaded within both gel housing frames 12 and 13, surrounding surface around a wire 20 and the connection terminal fitting part 11B of the connector housing 11 are held watertight in a pinched condition with both silicone gel 15 housed in both of the gel housing frames 12 and 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waterproof structure for a connector used, for example, in an automobile or the like. The present invention relates to a waterproof structure of a connector which can be more economically improved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional structure of a waterproof connector of a type in which a connection terminal of a connector and an electric wire (wire harness) are pressure-welded, there is, for example, a structure as shown in FIG.
In this conventional example, a connection terminal block 3 fitted inside a connector housing 1 and integrally holding a plurality of connection terminals 2, and a plurality of connection terminals 2 connected by pressure to the respective connection terminals 2 of the connection terminal block 3. It has a waterproof member 5 made of, for example, silicon for inserting and holding the electric wire 4, and a pressing frame 6 for keeping the waterproof member joined to the connector housing 1 in a watertight state.

In order to assemble a waterproof connector using the above components, first, a plurality of electric wires 4 are connected to a waterproof member 5.
After the waterproof member 5 and each of the wires 4 are brought into a nectar state by being inserted into the respective wire insertion holes 7 formed in advance, the wires 4 are connected to the respective connection terminals 2 of the connection terminal block 3. After press-fitting, the connection terminal block 3 is inserted into the connector housing 1, and further, after the expendable portion of each electric wire 4 is inserted into each electric wire insertion hole 8 provided in the holding frame 6, By attaching the holding frame 6 to the connector housing 1, the waterproof member 5 is interposed between the connector housing 1 and the holding frame 6 by the water honey.

[0004]

In order to assemble such a conventional waterproof connector, one electric wire must be inserted into each of the electric wire insertion holes 7 formed in the waterproof member 5. Therefore, the workability of assembling the waterproof connector was poor. In order to secure the strength of the waterproof member 5 and to secure a large joint area between the waterproof member 5 and the electric wire 4, the thickness of the waterproof member 5 is inevitably increased. This limits the size of the waterproof connector. Waterproof member 5
Since the diameter of the electric wire insertion hole 7 formed in the connector is constant, if the outer diameter of the electric wire to be connected to the connector is different, the electric wire insertion hole 7 of various hole diameters corresponding to the outer diameter of the electric wire is formed. Various waterproof members must be prepared in advance, and the number of parts of the various waterproof members is greatly increased, which causes a problem that the cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and the waterproofness between a connector housing and an outer peripheral surface of an electric wire drawn from the connector housing depends on the thickness of the electric wire. A first object is to provide a waterproof function that can be maintained without any problem.

It is a second object of the present invention to reduce the number of components of a waterproof connector, to improve assembly workability and economy, and to make the connector compact.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above first and second objects, according to the first aspect of the present invention, opposing sides of a connection terminal fitting portion formed on a connector housing are provided. A pair of gel storage frames that open and close in a direction to close the connection terminal fitting portion via a thin hinge is provided on the wall, a silicone gel is stored in both of these gel storage frames, and the two gel storage frames are connected. When the terminal fitting portion is closed, the waterproofing of the connector which maintains the peripheral surface of the electric wire and the connection terminal fitting portion of the connector housing in a nectar-like manner by the two silicon gels stored in the two gel storage frames. It is characterized by a structure.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

1 to 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a cylindrical connector housing having front and rear openings, and a front portion inside the connector is formed in a fitting portion 11A of a mating connector housing (not shown). Further, a rear portion inside the connector is provided with a connection terminal fitting portion 11B.
Is formed. A pair of left and right gel storage frames 12 and 13 are connected to the rear end of the connection terminal fitting portion 11B and both side edges opposed to the left and right via a thin hinge 14 so as to be openable and closable. Both gel storage frames 12, 13
The two gel storage frames 12, 13 cooperate to fit and attach the connection terminal fitting portion 11B of the connector housing 11, and the form of both the gel storage frames 12, 13 is continuous with the thin hinge 14. Side walls 12A, 13A and a rear wall 1 formed at right angles to the edges of the side walls 12A, 13A.
2B, 13B and an upper wall 12 formed between the upper and lower edges of one rear wall 12B and the upper and lower edges of the side wall 12A.
C and a lower wall 12D, and an upper wall 13C and a lower wall 13D formed between the upper and lower edges of the other rear wall 13B and the upper and lower edges of the side wall 13A.

On both rear walls 12B and 13B, semicircular wire lead-out portions 12E and 13E are formed, and both of the wire lead-out portions 12E and 13E cooperate to form a circular wire lead-out hole. Be composed. A locking piece 12F is formed on the upper wall 12C and the lower wall 12D, and a locking claw 13F locked with the locking piece 12F is formed on the upper wall 13C and the lower wall 13D. Is formed.

Reference numeral 15 denotes the two gel storage frames 12, 1
The silicon gel 15 is stored (filled) in the concave portion of No. 3, and the silicon gel 15 is, for example, a # 950301 silicon gel device developed by Raychem Corporation of the United States and announced at the meeting of the SAF in the United States. be able to. Reference numeral 16 denotes a terminal assembly to which electric wires are connected. The terminal assembly 16 includes an external terminal (shield terminal) 17 fitted into the connection terminal fitting portion 11B of the connector housing 11, and an external terminal 17. 17, an internal terminal 19 fitted through an insulative internal housing 18 and a shielded electric wire 20 connected to the external terminal 17 and the internal terminal 19. The wire 21 is connected to the internal terminal 19, and the shield net 22 of the shielded electric wire 20 is connected to the external terminal 17.

Next, the terminal assembling body 16 is fitted into the connector housing 11 having the above configuration. At this time, first, a pair of left and right gel housing frames 12 and 13 provided in the connector housing 11 are provided. Is released (Fig. 1
), The external terminals 17 of the terminal assembly 16 are fitted into the connection terminal fitting portions 11B of the connector housing 11.
Next, both the left and right gel storage frames 12 and 13 in which the silicon gel 15 has already been stored are rotated with the thin hinge 14 as a boundary so as to close the connection terminal fitting portion 11B. By locking the locking claws 13F to connect and support the two gel storage frames 12, 13, the rear end opening of the connection terminal fitting portion 11B is closed by the silicone gel 15 in a watertight manner. Further, the shielded electric wire 20 of the terminal assembly 16 is connected to the electric wire drawing portion 12E,
13E, the outer peripheral surface of the shielded electric wire 20 positioned inside the gel housing frames 12, 13 is separated from the left and right gel housing frames 12, 13.
Since the connector housing 11 and the shielded electric wire 20 pulled out from the connector housing 11 are sealed by the silicone gel 15 in a waterproof manner, the silicon gel 15 is sandwiched between the two silicone gels 15 housed in the housing 13. Things.

In this embodiment, the connector housing 11
The shielded wire drawn out from the gel storage frame 12,
The waterproofing between the connector housing 11 and the shielded electric wire is ensured by being squeezed and held by the silicon gel housed (filled) in the inside 13. The effective pressing force applied to the outer surface of the connector housing 11 is about 70% of the thickness of the silicon gel 15, and effective waterproofing can be obtained.

As in the above embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the shielded electric wire drawn out of the connector housing is sandwiched and held between the two silicon gels housed in the gel housing frames 12 and 13 so that the shielded electric wire is held. Appropriate waterproofness can be secured without being affected by the thickness (outer diameter) of the cable, and the work of inserting an electric wire into the electric wire insertion hole provided in the waterproof member as in the conventional example can be omitted. Accordingly, the assembling workability of the connector is greatly improved.

[0015]

According to the present invention, waterproofness between wires of various thicknesses and the connector housing 11 can be ensured without being affected by the thickness of wires drawn out of the connector housing. As in the example, various waterproof members corresponding to electric wires of various thicknesses are not required, and therefore, the economic efficiency accompanying the reduction in the number of parts is greatly improved. Further, since the operation of inserting each electric wire into the electric wire insertion hole formed in the waterproof member as in the conventional example can be omitted, the assembling workability and economical efficiency of the connector can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing an embodiment of a waterproof connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the waterproof connector according to the present invention when assembly is completed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the waterproof connector according to the present invention when assembly is completed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a conventional waterproof connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Connector housing 11A Fitting portion 11B Connection terminal fitting portion 12, 13 Gel storage frame 12A, 13A Side wall 12B, 13B Rear wall 12C, 13C Upper wall 12D, 13D Lower wall 12E, 13E Wire drawing part 12F ... Locking piece 13F ... Locking claw 14 ... Thin hinge 15 ... Silicon gel 16 ... Terminal assembly 17 ... External terminal 18 ... Internal housing 19 ... Internal terminal 20 ... Shield wire 21 ... Signal wire 22 ... Shield network

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A connecting terminal fitting portion (11B) formed on a connector housing (11) has opposite side walls,
A pair of gel storage frames (12), (13) are provided via a thin hinge (14) to open and close in a direction to close the connection terminal fitting portion (11B), and these two gel storage frames (12) are provided. , (13), and when the connection terminal fitting portion (11B) is closed in both gel storage frames (12), (13), the two gel storage frames (12, 13) are closed. And (13), the peripheral surface of the electric wire (20) and the connection terminal fitting portion (11B) of the connector housing are nipped and maintained by the both silicone gels (15). Connector waterproof structure.