TW201838259A - Electric connector being really waterproof even if being used under a condition that an external force is applied - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides an electric connector which is really waterproof even if being used under a condition that an external force is applied. The electric connector (1) is provided with a conductive connecting piece (20), an insulated shell (10), a cylindrical metal shell (30), a sealing member (40), and a protruded part (32); the insulated shell (10) is used for holding the connecting piece (20); the cylindrical metal shell (30) is opened in front, is provided with an open part (31) for inserting an object side connector into a mounting hole (101) and storing a shell (10); the sealing member (40) is arranged at the front side of the peripheral surface (30a) of the metal shell (30) and has an elastic force for pressure-welding an inner wall (102) of the mounting hole (101);the protruded part (32) is arranged on the metal shell (30), is protruded outwards from the peripheral surface (30a), is configured to have a gap with the inner wall (102), and is in contact with or separated from the inner wall (102) according to the compression amplitude of the sealing member (40). The sealing member (40) can be compressed according to the compression amplitude larger than the width of the gap between the sealing member (40) and the inner wall (102) so as to be pressure-welded on the inner wall (102).

Description

   Electric connector   

The invention relates to an electrical connector with a waterproof function.

Conventionally, as an electrical connector having a waterproof function installed in a housing such as an electronic device, it is known that the space between the housing and the housing is blocked by a sealing material provided on the outside, so that the inside of the device becomes a waterproofer (for example, Patent Document 1).

As this electrical connector, the one shown in FIG. 12 is known. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a conventional electrical connector 200 having a waterproof function is installed in a mounting hole 301 of a housing 300 of a machine. The electrical connector 200 shown in FIG. 12 is a sealing material 202 provided along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical housing 201 and crimped to the inner wall 302 of the mounting hole 301, so that the mounting hole 301 and the The space between the electrical connectors 200 is sealed inside the machine.

    [Previous Technical Literature]         [Patent Literature]    

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-225712

However, in the conventional electrical connector having a waterproof function, an external force such as the direction S shown in FIG. 12 applied to the connector on the target side elastically deforms the sealing material, causing the inner wall of the mounting hole and the housing to be deformed. The distance between the sealant and the inner wall is changed, and there is a problem that the waterproof performance is reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that is reliably waterproof even when an external force is applied.

The electrical connector of the present invention is installed in a mounting hole provided in a casing of a machine and opened on the outer surface of the casing, and includes: a conductive connector; and an insulating housing that holds the connector. A cylindrical housing that is opened at the front and has a connector opening portion through which the object-side connector that can be inserted into the mounting hole is inserted, and houses the housing; a sealing member is provided in front of the outer peripheral surface of the housing It is provided with an elastic force that presses against the inner wall of the mounting hole at the side; the protruding portion is provided in the outer shell and protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface and is arranged with a gap between the inner wall and the compression member in response to the compression of the sealing member. The sealing member is separated from the inner wall by the width, and the sealing member can be compressed and pressed against the inner wall by the inner wall being compressed with a compression width larger than the width of the gap.

When an external force is applied from the object-side connector to the up, down, left, and right directions, the distance between the inner wall of the mounting hole and the housing changes, and the portion of the sealing member that is subjected to a large pressing force by the inner wall is compressed by a large amount. When elastic deformation occurs, protrusions arranged with a gap between the inner wall and the inner wall will abut against the inner wall, thereby limiting the case where the compression width of the seal member becomes larger. Parts other than the part with a large pressing force are crimped to the inner wall with a compression width larger than the width of the gap, so the state of crimping to the inner wall is maintained.

According to the present invention, even when an external force is applied, it is possible to reliably waterproof.

1‧‧‧electrical connector

2‧‧‧electrical connector

10‧‧‧shell

11‧‧‧Body

12‧‧‧ plate

20‧‧‧Connector

21‧‧‧Connection Department

22‧‧‧Terminal

23‧‧‧Fixed section

30‧‧‧ metal case

30a‧‧‧outer surface

31‧‧‧ opening

32‧‧‧ protrusion

40‧‧‧sealing member

43‧‧‧ Crimping Department

44‧‧‧ front end

45‧‧‧ opening

50‧‧‧ auxiliary frame

100‧‧‧Cage

101‧‧‧Mounting holes

102‧‧‧Inner wall

130‧‧‧metal case

130a‧‧‧outer surface

131‧‧‧ opening

132‧‧‧ protrusion

140‧‧‧sealing member

143‧‧‧Crimping part

144‧‧‧Front end

145‧‧‧ opening

146‧‧‧concave

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 2.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a mounting hole of a casing.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state in which the electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a mounting hole of a casing.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where an external force is applied in a state where the electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a mounting hole of a casing.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a sealing material according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a sealing material according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a mounting hole of a casing.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a conventional electrical connector having a waterproof function is installed in a mounting hole of a casing.

Hereinafter, an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the figure, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are three-axis orthogonal coordinates, with the positive direction of the y-axis as the forward direction, the negative direction of the y-axis as the rear direction, the x-axis direction as the left-right direction, and the z-axis. The positive direction of is the upward direction, and the negative direction of the z-axis is the downward direction.

    (First Embodiment)         <Structure of Electric Connector>    

The structure of the electrical connector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Figs. 1 to 5.

The electrical connector 1 is provided in a casing 100 of the machine as shown in FIG. 4 and is installed in a mounting hole 101 opened on the outer surface of the casing 100, and has a housing 10, a connector 20, a metal casing 30, The sealing member 40 and the auxiliary frame 50.

The case 10 is formed of an insulating material and holds the connecting member 20. The casing 10 includes a main body portion 11 and a plate-like portion 12.

The main body portion 11 is fixed by being pressed into a metal case 30. Moreover, the fixing means of the main body portion 11 to the metal case 30 is not limited to press-fitting, and it may be integrally molded or engaged.

The plate-shaped portion 12 protrudes forward from the front end of the main body portion 11 and is fitted into an object-side connector (not shown).

The connector 20 is formed of a conductive material, and includes a connection portion 21, a terminal portion 22, and a fixing portion 23.

The connecting portion 21 is a connector that is exposed on the surface of the plate-like portion 12 and can be connected to the object-side connector.

The terminal portion 22 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the main body portion 11 and is connected to a conductive portion of a substrate (not shown) with solder or the like.

The fixing portion 23 is fixed to the main body portion 11 by integral molding. The fixing means of the fixing portion 23 to the main body portion 11 is not limited to integral molding, but may be press-fitting or engaging.

The metal case 30 is provided with an opening portion 31 which is opened at the front and can be inserted into the object-side connector inserted into the mounting hole 101 from the front, and houses the case 10 holding the connector 20. The metal case 30 includes a protruding portion 32 protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface 30a.

The protruding portions 32 are provided in plural along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a, and are provided at positions where the upper and lower directions of the outer peripheral surface 30a face each other and where the left and right directions of the outer peripheral surface 30a face each other. The protruding portions 32 may be plurally provided at random positions along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a.

The protruding portion 32 is provided behind the sealing member 40 and is provided on the sealing member 40 side between the sealing member 40 and the auxiliary frame 50. The protruding portion 32 is formed by pressing the metal case 30. The distance between the protruding portion 32 between the metal case 30 and the inner wall 102 of the mounting hole 101 is the state shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 that is substantially uniform along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30 a of the metal case 30. It is arranged so as to have a gap with the inner wall 102. The protruding portion 32 is brought into contact with and separated from the inner wall 102 in accordance with the compression width of the sealing member 40.

The sealing member 40 is ring-shaped, is formed of a material having elasticity, and is provided at the front end of the outer peripheral surface 30 a of the metal case 30, and includes a crimping portion 43, a front end portion 44, and an opening portion 45. When the sealing member 40 is subjected to a substantially uniform pressing force by the inner wall 102 as a whole as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sealing member 40 is larger than the gap width R2 between the protruding portion 32 and the inner wall 102. The compression range R1 (R1> R2) is compressed by the inner wall 102 and crimped to the inner wall 102. In FIG. 5, the dotted line portion of the sealing member 40 shows a state before the elastic deformation of the sealing member 40.

The crimping portion 43 projects outward and is crimped to the inner wall 102.

The front end portion 44 projects forward from the metal case 30 and covers the front end surface of the metal case 30.

The opening 45 is penetrated in the front-rear direction to enable insertion of the target-side connector. The opening 45 communicates with the opening 31.

The auxiliary frame 50 is provided on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface 30 a of the metal case 30 and is attached to the casing of the machine. The electrical connector 1 may not include the auxiliary frame 50.

    <Operation of the electrical connector>    

The operation of the electrical connector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

First, the electrical connector 1 is inserted into the mounting hole 101 of the housing 100 of the electronic device from the rear, and the electrical connector 1 is inserted to a predetermined position of the mounting hole 101. At this time, the crimping portion 43 of the sealing member 40 of the electrical connector 1 is elastically deformed by being pressed by the inner wall 102 of the casing 100, and thus is pressed into the mounting hole 101. Moreover, the protruding portion 32 is provided in the metal housing 30 so as to have a gap between the inner wall 102 and the protruding portion 32 so as not to be caught on the inner wall 102 when the electrical connector 1 is pressed into the mounting hole 101. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electrical connector 1 from being inserted into the mounting hole 101.

In the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, where the distance between the metal case 30 and the inner wall 102 is approximately uniform along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30 a of the metal case 30, the sealing member 40 comes from the inner wall 102. The pressing force is elastically deformed and compressed by the compression range R1, and the whole is pressed against the inner wall 102 by a substantially equal pressing force from the inner wall 102 as a whole. Moreover, in the state shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the protruding portions 32 are arranged to face each other in a state where there is a gap with the inner wall 102.

When the electrical connector 1 is connected to an object-side connector (not shown), the object-side connector receives external force through the object-side connector, for example, so that the lower side of the sealing member 40 is elastically deformed with a large compression width and is strong. The inner wall 102 is crimped so that the pressing state of the inner wall 102 with respect to the entire sealing member 40 becomes uneven. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the protruding portion 32 abuts against the inner wall 102, and prevents the electrical connector 1 from moving downward toward the mounting hole 101 in the state shown in FIG. 6 or more. In addition, the seal member 40 is crimped to the inner wall 102 with a compression width R1 larger than the width R2 of the gap except for the lower side of the seal member 40, and is kept in a state of being crimped to the inner wall 102. Therefore, a predetermined waterproof effect can be obtained. In addition, the protruding portion 32 abuts on the inner wall 102 and restricts the movement of the electrical connector 1 to the mounting hole 101, thereby preventing the position of the electrical connector 1 from shifting to the housing 100 of the electronic device.

The electrical connector 1 returns to the state shown in FIG. 4 by the elastic restoring force of the sealing member 40 when the external force applied through the target-side connector is released.

Here, when the mounting position of the housing 100 is shifted by the electrical connector 1, the distance between the metal housing 30 and the inner wall 102 is uneven along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a. It is considered that a small external force is applied by the target-side connector, and it is also considered that a portion where the pressure-contact force of the sealing member 40 to the inner wall 102 is weakened is generated. Even in the above-mentioned case, the protruding portion 32 is arranged to have a gap with respect to the inner wall 102, so that when an external force is applied, the protruding portion 32 abuts against the inner wall 102, and the compression width of the sealing member 40 can be limited. A predetermined waterproof effect can be obtained, and a reduction in the waterproof effect caused by an installation error of the electrical connector 1 to the casing 100 can be prevented.

According to this embodiment, by providing the protruding portion 32 behind the sealing member 40, the protruding portion 32 can be used for positioning at the time when the sealing member 40 is mounted on the front end of the metal case 30.

In addition, according to this embodiment, since the protruding portion 32 is integrated with the metal case 30, it is not necessary to provide the protruding portion 32 as a separate member, which can suppress an increase in the number of parts and an increase in the cost of products and manufacturing.

    (Second Embodiment)         <Structure of Electric Connector>    

The structure of the electrical connector 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

In FIGS. 7 to 10, parts having the same structure as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The electrical connector 2 according to this embodiment is installed in a mounting hole 101 provided in a casing 100 of the machine and opened on the outer surface of the casing 100, and includes a housing 10, a connector 20, an auxiliary frame 50, and a metal. A case 130 and a sealing member 140.

The main body part 11 of the casing 10 is pressed into the metal shell 130

And was fixed. In addition, the fixing means of the main body portion 11 to the metal case 130 is not limited to press-fitting, and may be integrally formed or engaged.

The metal case 130 includes an opening portion 131 that opens in the front and can be inserted into the target-side connector, and houses the housing 10 holding the connector 20. The metal case 130 includes a protruding portion 132 protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface 130a.

The protruding portions 132 are provided in plural along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 130a, and are provided at positions where the upper and lower directions of the outer peripheral surface 130a face each other, and where the left and right directions of the outer peripheral surface 130a face each other. The protruding portions 132 may be plurally provided at random positions along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 130a.

The protruding portion 132 is covered by the sealing member 140. The protruding portion 132 is formed by pressing the metal case 130. When the distance between the protruding portion 132 between the metal case 130 and the inner wall 102 of the mounting hole 101 is substantially uniform along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 130 a of the metal case 130, the protruding portion 132 is disposed between the protruding portion 132 and the inner wall 102. With gaps. The protruding portion 132 comes into contact with and separates from the inner wall 102 in accordance with the compression width of the sealing member 140.

The sealing member 140 is ring-shaped, is formed of a material having elastic force, and is provided at a front end of the outer peripheral surface 130 a of the metal case 130, and includes a crimping portion 143, a front end portion 144, and an opening portion 145. When the sealing member 140 is subjected to a substantially uniform pressing force by the inner wall 102 as a whole, the sealing member 140 is compressed and compressed with a compression width larger than the gap width between the protruding portion 132 and the inner wall 102.接 于 内墙 102。 Connected to the inner wall 102. The sealing member 140 includes a crimping portion 143, a tip portion 144, an opening portion 145, and a recessed portion 146.

The crimping portion 143 protrudes outward and is crimped to the inner wall 102.

The front end portion 144 protrudes forward from the metal case 130 and covers the front end surface of the metal case 130.

The opening 145 is penetrated in the front-rear direction to enable insertion of the target-side connector. The opening portion 145 communicates with the opening portion 131.

The recessed portion 146 is recessed on the inner peripheral surface at a position facing the protruding portion 132 of the sealing member 140 and is formed in a size that can accommodate the protruding portion 132. The recessed portion 146 is provided behind the crimping portion 143.

The auxiliary frame 50 is provided on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface 130a of the metal case 130, and is attached to the casing of the machine. The electrical connector 2 may not include the auxiliary frame 50.

The operation of the electrical connector 2 is the same as the operation of the electrical connector 1, and therefore description thereof is omitted.

According to this embodiment, the sealing member 140 is provided on the front side of the outer peripheral surface 130 a of the metal case 130 and has an elastic force for pressure-contacting the inner wall 102 of the mounting hole 101. The protruding portion 132 is provided on the metal case 130. It protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 130a and is arranged to have a gap between the inner wall 102 and the contact member 140 to be separated from the inner wall 102 in accordance with the compression amplitude of the seal member 140. The width of the gap is also compressed by the inner wall 102 to be compressed and crimped to the inner wall 102, so that it can be reliably waterproofed even when an external force is applied.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by providing the protruding portion 132 behind the crimping portion 143, the elastic force when the sealing member 140 is crimped to the inner wall 102 can be sufficiently ensured.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, by covering the protruding portion 132 with the sealing member 140, the appearance of the electrical connector 2 can be made into a shape with less unevenness, and the appearance can be improved.

In addition, in the present embodiment, although the entire protruding portion 132 is covered by the sealing member 140, a part of the protruding portion 132 may be covered by the sealing member.

In the present invention, the type, arrangement, and number of members are not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and it is naturally possible that the constituent elements can be appropriately replaced with equivalent effects and the like, as long as they do not exceed the gist of the invention. Change appropriately.

Specifically, in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, although the protruding portion contacting and separating the inner wall of the casing is provided in the metal case, the protruding portion may be disposed facing the inner wall of the casing. It is an arbitrary member such as a case other than a metal case. Furthermore, a member having a protruding portion may be separately provided.

In addition, in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, although the sealing member is provided at the front end of the metal case, the sealing member may be provided slightly rearward than the front end of the metal case, and may be disposed on the inner wall of the casing. A sealing member is provided at an arbitrary position facing the metal case. In this case, the sealing member has a shape that does not cover the front end surface and the front end portion of the metal case.

In addition, in the first and second embodiments, although a plurality of protrusions are formed in the metal case, one protrusion may be formed over the entire circumference of the metal case.

Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, although a metal case is provided in the electrical connector, a case made of an insulating material other than metal may be provided in the electrical connector.

    [Industrial availability]    

The invention is suitable for an electrical connector with a waterproof function.

Claims (3)

    An electrical connector is installed in a mounting hole provided in a casing of a machine and opened on the outer surface of the casing, and is characterized in that it has: an electrically conductive connector; and an insulating housing that holds the aforementioned connector A cylindrical housing that is opened at the front and has a connector opening portion through which the object-side connector that can be inserted into the mounting hole is inserted, and houses the housing; a sealing member is provided in front of the outer peripheral surface of the housing It is provided with an elastic force that presses against the inner wall of the mounting hole at the side; the protruding portion is provided in the outer shell and protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface and is arranged with a gap between the inner wall and the compression member in response to the compression of the sealing member. The sealing member is separated from the inner wall by a width, and the seal member is compressed and pressed against the inner wall by the inner wall being compressed by a compression width larger than the width of the gap.         The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is provided behind the sealing member.         The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is at least partially covered by the sealing member.