KR101427909B1 - Connector fixing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a connector fixing device capable of improving the assemblability by integrating the connector of the automatic transmission and the snap ring and changing the state of engagement between the connector and the snap ring without a separate tool in a small space so that the connector can be attached to or detached from the case . The connector fixing device includes a connector having a mounting groove along an outer circumferential surface and inserted into a mounting hole of a corresponding coupling member, and a snap ring coupled to the mounting groove and extending outwardly of the mounting hole to fix the connector, , The mounting groove has a cross-sectional structure in which a portion in contact with the snap ring has a plurality of angles, and the snap ring has an elliptical shape.

Connector, snap ring, transmission, case

Description

CONNECTOR FIXING APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector used in a vehicle, and more particularly, to a connector fixing apparatus.

In general, a snap ring is an annular ring that is fitted to an outer diameter of a shaft or a connector, or is inserted in a groove machined in the inner diameter of the hole, thereby preventing movement of a part in which the snap ring is mounted.

The snap ring has an outer ring mounted on the outer side, such as a shaft or a connector, and an inner ring mounted on the groove of the hole, as described above.

The outer ring is fitted in a groove machined to the outside of the shaft or connector to prevent movement of the shaft or connector. The outer ring is inserted into the groove in the opened state using the tool, and when the released force is released, it is screwed into the groove.

The inscribed ring is inserted into the groove formed in the hole to prevent the movement of the part inserted in the hole and, contrary to the outer ring, the insert is inserted into the groove in the contracted state by using the tool. When the contracted force is released, Respectively.

However, when the case space of the above-described snap ring is small, assembly and disassembly of the snap ring becomes very difficult. Particularly, when the connector and the snap ring are separated from each other as in the automatic transmission assembly line, the operation of mounting the snap ring in the connector in a poorly assembled space becomes difficult.

There is provided a connector fixing device capable of improving the assemblability by integrating the connector of the automatic transmission and the snap ring and changing the state of engagement between the connector and the snap ring without a separate tool in a small space so that the connector can be attached to or detached from the case .

An embodiment of the present invention is a connector including a connector having a mounting groove along an outer circumferential surface and inserted into a mounting hole of a corresponding coupling member, and a snap ring coupled to the mounting groove and extending outwardly of the mounting hole, The mounting groove may have a cross-sectional structure in which a portion of the mounting groove that is in contact with the snap ring has a plurality of angles, and the snap ring may have an elliptical shape.
In addition, the snap ring includes: a first member disposed at an end of both ends at predetermined intervals from each other and fitted into the mounting groove; A second member extending from both ends of the first member in a direction perpendicular to the first member; And a third member connecting the second members adjacent to each other among the second members and extending in a direction parallel to the first member and extending toward the outside of the first member.
Also, the snap ring may be variable in size as it is rotated in an initial state in which the snap ring is fitted into the mounting groove of the connector.
The connector may further include a protrusion formed in the mounting groove of the connector to maintain the rotation of the snap ring.
The protrusions may be formed at two positions facing each other in the mounting groove.
Further, the straight line distance between the two protrusions may be made smaller than the initial size in which the snap ring is coupled to the connector.
In addition, the size of the snap ring in the initial state coupled to the connector and the size in the connector detachment position may be different from each other.
In addition, the size of the snap ring can maintain a first elliptical shape smaller than the mounting hole of the engaging member in the initial state coupled to the connector.
In addition, the size of the snap ring can be varied from a connector detachment prevention position to a second elliptical shape that is larger in some direction than the mounting hole of the engagement member.
Further, the snap ring may be made of a wire material having elasticity.

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The connector fixing device can integrate the connector of the automatic transmission with the snap ring to improve the assemblability even in a narrow space.

In addition, the cost can be reduced by unifying the connector and the snap ring to unify the logistics classified in the automatic transmission assembly line.

In addition, the connector can be attached to or detached from the case by changing the engagement state of the connector and the snap ring without a separate tool.

In addition, since the connector and the snap ring are integrally coupled, it is possible to reduce the assembling failure due to the non-assembly and misassembly of the connector and the snap ring.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The present invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described below. In the specification and drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a connector and a snap ring are engaged in a connector fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a snap ring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, a connector fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a connector 10 and a snap ring 20.

The connector 10 has a mounting groove 12 along an outer circumferential surface thereof and is inserted into a mounting hole of a corresponding engaging member. In the embodiment of the present invention, the coupling member refers to the case 2 of the automatic transmission. However, the connector fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be used not only for the automatic transmission but also for other coupling members to which the connector 10 can be mounted. Therefore, the coupling member is not limited to the case 2 of the automatic transmission.

On the other hand, an O-ring 16 can be coupled to the connector 10 at a position where the connector 10 is inserted into the mounting hole of the case 2.

The snap ring 20 is engaged with the mounting groove 12 of the connector 10. The mounting groove 12 is formed in a shape other than a circular shape in contact with the snap ring 20. Here, the shape of the mounting groove 12 may be changed through various design changes, and the portion contacting the snap ring 20 may have a non-circular cross-sectional structure.
For example, as in the embodiment of the present invention, the surface in contact with the snap ring 20 can be formed in a rectangular shape having a plurality of angles, and in consideration of the contact with the snap ring 20, .

The snap ring 20 is composed of a closed curve corresponding to the shape of the mounting groove 12. As described above, when the surface in contact with the snap ring 20 is formed in a rectangular shape, the snap ring 20 can be formed in an elliptic shape as in the embodiment of the present invention.

On the other hand, the snap ring 20 is formed as a closed curve and is in a state of being integrated with the connector 10 in a state of being coupled to the mounting groove 12.

The snap ring 20 corresponds to the shape of the mounting groove 12 and includes a first member 22, a second member 24 and a third member 26. [ The first member 22 to the third member 26 may be integrally formed.

The first member 22 is a portion where both ends of the first member 22 are fitted to the mounting groove 12 with predetermined intervals therebetween.

The second member 24 is a portion extending in the vertical direction from each end at both ends of the first member 22.

The third member 26 connects the adjacent second members 24 among the respective second members 24 and is formed in a direction parallel to the first member 22 and the first member 22 As shown in Fig.

The retaining ring 20 can be changed in size as it is rotated in the initial state fitted in the mounting groove 12 of the connector 10. [ For this purpose, the snap ring 20 is formed of a wire material having elasticity. And a protrusion 14 formed in the mounting groove 12 of the connector 10 and supporting the rotated state of the snap ring 20. [ When the protrusion 14 is formed in the mounting groove 12 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connector 10 and the snap ring 20 is integrally mounted in the mounting groove 12 of the connector 10, the connector 10 and the snap ring 20 ) Can be maintained in a difficult condition.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the size difference in an initial state where the snap ring is coupled to the connector, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the size difference when the snap ring is coupled to the connector and rotated to the connector separation preventing position.

As shown in Fig. 3, the protruding portions 14 are formed of two pieces, and can be formed at positions facing each other in the mounting groove 12. The linear distance between the two protruding portions 14 is made smaller than the initial size d1 in which the snap ring 20 is coupled to the connector 10. [

The snap ring 20 is varied in size between an initial size d1 coupled to the connector 10 and a size d2 at the connector departure-avoiding position.

For example, the size d1 of the snap ring 20 maintains the first oval shape, which is smaller than the size c1 of the connector 10, as shown in Fig. 3 in the initial state coupled to the connector 10. Fig. Here, the size c1 of the connector 10 refers to the size of the portion of the connector 10 inserted into the mounting hole of the case 2.

The size d1 of the snap ring 20 can be inserted into the mounting hole by maintaining a state smaller than the mounting hole of the case 2 in the initial state coupled to the connector 10. [
3, the connector 10 can be detached from the inside of the case 2 in the initial state in which the snap ring 20 is integrated with the connector 10. Therefore, in a state where the connector 10 is inserted into the mounting hole of the case 2, the snap ring 20 is rotated to the connector separation preventing position to prevent the connector 10 from being detached from the inside of the case 2 to the outside .

4, the size d2 of the snap ring 20 is varied to a second elliptical shape that is larger in some direction than the size c1 of the connector 10 at the connector departure-avoidance position. When the snap ring 20 changes from the first ellipse to the second ellipse, the size also changes.
The portion d2 which is elongated in the second ellipse is larger than the size c1 of the connector 10 but larger than the mounting hole diameter of the case 2 into which the connector 10 is inserted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the connector 10 from being detached from the mounting hole of the case 2.

As described above, the retaining ring 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention is formed such that the circular shape is a first ellipse or a second ellipse. That is, a plurality of angles can be formed in the closed curve of the snap ring 20 according to the user's need. In the embodiment of the present invention, when the snap ring 20 is rotated 180 degrees, It is possible to have the maximum release preventing force that does not fall. On the other hand, it is possible to further increase the plurality of angles to minimize the rotation of the snap ring 20 and to prevent the deviation from the case 2, and to form a bend in the shape of the first member 22 of the snap ring 20, The size of the snap ring 20 may be varied.

The operation of the connector fixing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig.

A valve body is mounted inside the automatic transmission to control the hydraulic pressure. A solenoid valve and an oil temperature sensor are mounted for hydraulic control. In addition, the automatic transmission is connected to various electric devices required for driving, and most of them are operated by an electrical signal. Therefore, a cable connector for connecting an electric signal to one side of the case 2 is mounted on the automatic transmission. The connector mounting structure has a connector mounting hole formed at one side of the case 2, and the connector is pulled out from the inside of the case 2 through the connector mounting hole. Then, the snap ring is inserted into the groove machined on the outer circumferential surface of the connector so as to be hooked on the outer side of the case (2), and the connector is fixed so as not to separate again into the inside of the case (2).

That is, the connector mounted on the case 2 is inserted and fixed by a snap ring so as not to be pushed inward by an external force.

To mount the snap ring, the snap ring must be pushed into the narrow space of the case (2) and the connector insertion structure. In addition, it is necessary to mount it before assembling the valve body on the joint structure of the case 2 and the connector.

If the valve body is attached to the lower part of the transmission, the automatic transmission is turned over into the assembly line for the operator's convenience. Therefore, the connector is placed in a position where it can not be seen easily by the operator, so that the assembling work and the work confirmation are not good.

In addition, the mounting process of the connector is mostly the last step in the transmission assembly line, so that it is possible for a worker to omit the snap ring by mistake. In addition, since the connector and the snap ring are separated from each other, it is necessary to overcome the elastic force of the snap ring.

In order to solve such a problem, the embodiment of the present invention firstly forms a rectangular shape in the mounting groove 12 machined on the outer peripheral surface of the connector 10 in contact with the snap ring 20. And the snap ring 20 is formed in an elliptical shape corresponding to the shape of the mounting groove 12. [ The mounting groove 12 is formed in the protruding portion 14 and the snap ring 20 is integrally mounted to the mounting groove 12 of the connector 10 so that the snap ring 20 is inserted into the mounting groove 12 of the connector 10 The separation of the connector 10 and the snap ring 20 in a combined initial state remains difficult.

The connector 10 is inserted into the mounting hole of the case 2 in the initial state in which the connector 10 and the snap ring 20 are integrally joined. The connector 10 can be disengaged from the inside of the case 2 in a state where the connector 10 and the snap ring 20 are integrated. Therefore, after the connector 10 is assembled to the case 2, the snap ring 20 is rotated to the connector separation preventing position to prevent the connector 10 from being detached from the inside of the case 2 from the outside.

To this end, the snap ring 20 is rotated to the case release preventing position in a state in which a part of the exposed portion of the connector 10 is caught in the mounting hole to change the shape of the snap ring 20 from the first ellipse to the second ellipse . At this time, the snap ring 20 is correspondingly changed from the first elliptical shape to the second elliptical shape according to the rectangular shape of the mounting groove 14. In this state, the projection 14 is brought into contact with the outer surface of the snap ring 20, so that the snap ring 20 is maintained in a rotated state.

The linear distance between the protruding portions 14 of the mounting groove 12 is made smaller than the initial size d1 in which the snap ring 20 is coupled to the connector 10. [ The snap ring 20 can be supported by the protruding portion 14 in a state where the protruding portion 14 of the mounting groove 12 and the outer surface of the snap ring 20 are in contact with each other.

This causes the snap ring 20 to change from the first ellipse to the second ellipse. The size of the snap ring 20 changes from the first elliptical shape to the second elliptical shape as the size of the snap ring 20 changes. The elongated dimension d2 is not only the size c1 of the connector 10 but also the size of the case 2 in which the connector 10 is inserted. As shown in Fig.
Therefore, the connector 10 is prevented from being detached from the mounting hole of the case 2.

In this state, when the snap ring 20 is rotated to the initial state, the snap ring 20 correspondingly changes from the second elliptical shape to the first elliptical shape corresponding to the rectangular shape of the mounting groove 14. Then, the size d1 of the snap ring 20 becomes smaller than the size c1 of the connector 10. Therefore, the connector 10 is switched to the initial state in which the connector 10 can be disengaged through the mounting hole diameter of the case 2.

The snap ring 20 can be rotated by applying an external force to the worker's hand without any additional tool and the snap ring 20 can be rotated in accordance with the contact relationship between the protrusion 14 of the mounting groove 12 and the snap ring 20, An elliptical shape or a second elliptical shape.

The connector 10 and the snap ring 20 are integrally coupled to each other so that the snap ring 20 is not engaged with the connector 10 even if the mounting process of the connector 10 is the last step in the assembly line of the automatic transmission There is no concern. In addition, since the snap ring 20 is retained in the mounting groove 12 of the connector 10 in advance, it is possible to solve the problem of assembly error of the operator. Therefore, the assembling failure due to the non-assembling and mis-assembling of the snap ring 20 can be solved.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a connector and a snap ring are engaged in a connector fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a snap ring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a view showing the size difference in the initial state in which the snap ring is coupled to the connector.

4 is a view showing the size difference when the snap ring is coupled to the connector and rotated to the connector release preventing position.

Description of the Related Art

2 ; Case 10; connector

12; Mounting groove 14; Protrusion

20; Snap ring 22; The first member

24; A second member 26; The third member

Claims (10)

A connector having a mounting groove along an outer circumferential surface and inserted into a mounting hole of a corresponding engaging member, A retaining ring coupled to the mounting groove and extending outwardly of the mounting hole in accordance with the rotation state to fix the connector, / RTI > Wherein the mounting groove has a cross-sectional structure in which a portion in contact with the snap ring has a plurality of angles, Wherein the snap ring is elliptical. The method according to claim 1, The snap ring A first member which is disposed at an end of both ends at predetermined intervals from each other and which is fitted in the mounting groove; A second member extending from both ends of the first member in a direction perpendicular to the first member; And A third member connecting the second members adjacent to each other among the second members, the third member being formed in a direction parallel to the first member and extending toward the outside of the first member; . 3. The method of claim 2, Wherein the snap ring is variable in size as it is rotated in an initial state in which the snap ring is fitted into the mounting groove of the connector. The method of claim 3, And a protrusion formed in a mounting groove of the connector to maintain the rotation of the snap ring. 5. The method of claim 4, And the protruding portions are formed of two pieces, and are formed at positions facing each other in the mounting groove. 6. The method of claim 5, And a linear distance between the two protrusions is smaller than an initial size in which the snap ring is coupled to the connector. The method according to claim 6, Wherein the snap ring has a size in an initial state coupled to the connector and a size in a connector departure-avoiding position being different from each other. 8. The method of claim 7, Wherein a size of the snap ring maintains a first elliptical shape smaller than a mounting hole of the engagement member in an initial state coupled to the connector. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the size of the snap ring varies from a portion of the mounting hole of the engaging member to a second elliptical shape that is larger in a direction away from the connector detaching position. 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, Wherein the snap ring is made of a wire material having elasticity.

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