Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
  • H01R13/533—Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure

Definitions

• the present invention relates to connectors, particularly a connector employed in a connecting portion to which vibration is applied.
• a connector is a component employed for connecting electric wiring.
• the connector is employed for a wiring harness to which vibration of the vehicle is applied, there is a possibility of the connector, if of a general type, being detached by vibration.
• Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-176602 discloses the technology of improving adhesion between a connector and a vibration isolation cover to ensure the vibration isolation capability by incorporating a rubber member between the connector employed in a vehicle and the vibration isolation cover.
• the power cable is connected to the motor by a connector due to the ease in assembly and maintenance.
• a connector is large in size, as compared to a conventional connector employed for an on- vehicle wiring harness.
• Vibration of a large connector in response to vibration of the motor can cause generation of noise.
• the vibration-proof connector disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-176602 takes into account the issue of preventing connector detachment by suppressing vibration thereof, the publication is silent about suppressing the spread of noise generated from the connector (the drumming noise caused by a portion or the entirety of the surface of the connector vibrating likewise the surface of a drum) when an object of vibration and the connector are fastened together.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a connector having sound generated from the connector caused by vibration reduced.
• a connector includes a main body supporting a wiring, and a sound-proof member attached to at least a first face of the main body to absorb sound generated from the main body caused by vibration.
• the sound-proof member includes a cover facing the first face, and a sound absorbing material located between the cover and the first face.
• the sound-proof member further includes a sound insulation material provided at the cover so as to wrap around the sound absorbing material.
• the connector further includes a fastening member fastening the cover to the main body.
• the main body is made of metal
• the cover is made of resin.
• the main body has a portion inserted in a housing that vibrates during operation.
• the sound-proof member is attached to a portion of the main body protruding from the housing in a state where the main body has a portion inserted in the housing.
• the main body has a shape in which the width of the cross section is greater than the height.
• the first face corresponds to the surface along the width direction of the cross section.
• the main body includes a first member formed with a recess in which the wiring is to be accommodated, and a second member forming a lid over the first member with the wiring accommodated.
• the first face corresponds to a portion of the second member.
• the main body is attached to a housing of an on- vehicle rotating electric machine.
• the wiring is a power wiring to supply power to the on-vehicle rotating electric machine.
• the power wiring includes a plurality of power cables.
• the plurality of power cables are accommodated in the main body in a juxtaposing manner.
• the first face corresponds to the surface along the direction in which the plurality of power cables are juxtaposed.
• the spread of noise generated from the surface of the connector fastened to a vibrating object towards the surrounding can be prevented.
• Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a structure of a vehicle in which a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a connector 8.
• Fig. 3 is a back side view of connector 8.
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the top side of a sound-proof member 26,
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view from the back side of sound-proof member 26.
• Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 7 represents data obtained by observing sound generated from the connector when sound-proof member 26 is attached to and not attached to the connector of the present embodiment.
• the vehicle shown in Fig. 1 in which the connector of the present invention is applied may be, for example, an electric car, a hybrid vehicle, a fuel cell electric vehicle, and the like.
• the vehicle includes a direct current power supply 2, a voltage-up-converter 4 boosting the voltage output from direct current power supply 2, an inverter 6 converting the direct current voltage boosted by voltage- up-converter 4 into a 3 -phase alternating current, a transaxle 10 incorporating a motor driven by inverter 6, a differential gear 12 connected to the output shaft of transaxle 10, and wheels 14 and 16 driven by differential gear 12.
• connection is established between inverter 6 and transaxle 10 by a 3-phase power cable 18.
• a connector 8 is employed at the connection between power cable 18 and transaxle 10.
• connector 8 includes a main body supporting power cable 18, and a sound-proof member 26 attached by bolts 32 and 34 to the top surface of the main body that is the main surface from which sound is generated. Sound-proof member 26 absorbs sound generated from the main body caused by vibration.
• the main body is attached to the housing of transaxle 10 of Fig. 1 including an on-vehicle rotating electric machine.
• the power cable is a power wiring supplying power to the on-vehicle rotating electric machine.
• Connector 8 further includes terminals 3OU, 30V, and 3OW electrically connected to power cables 18U, 18V and 18 W, respectively, a connector insertion unit 36 supporting terminals 30U, 30V and 30W, and a stopper 28 provided at an insertion limit such that connector insertion unit 36 is inserted up to a predetermined length.
• the main body of connector 8 includes a base 22 formed with bulges 22U, 22V and 22W to store the three power cables 18U, 18V and 18W, respectively, and a lid 24 over base 22 with power cables 18U, 18V and 18W accommodated therein.
• the main body of connector 8 has a cross sectional configuration in which the width is larger than the height since the main body supports the three power cables in a juxtaposed manner. Therefore, the main body has a broad and flat shape such that sound is readily generated by vibration from lid 24.
• the sound emitting surface where sound-proof member 26 is attached corresponds to the face in the direction of width of the cross section.
• the main body of connector 8 has its portion up to stopper 28 inserted into the housing of transaxle 10 of the vehicle that vibrates during motion.
• Sound absorbing member 26 is attached to a portion of the main body protruding from the housing with a portion of the main body inserted in the housing.
• Base 22 includes valleys 38 and 40 between bulges 22U, 22V and 22W, when viewed from the back side.
• Base 22 therefore has a structure with higher rigidity than lid 24 even though the thickness is the same. It is therefore considered that lid 24 vibrates and emits sound more readily than base 22.
• sound-proof member 26 is attached to the face of the side of lid 24 where it is expected that sound is readily generated. The attachment of sound-proof member 26, though only at one side, is advantageous in sound isolation. The sound-proof member may also be attached at the side face corresponding to base 22.
• sound-proof member 26 includes a cover 50 facing the sound emitting surface of connector 8, and a sound absorbing material 56 located between cover 50 and the sound emitting surface. Sound-proof member 26 further includes a sound insulation material 52 provided so as to surround sound absorbing material 56 such that sound absorbing material 56 absorbs sound without any leakage.
• Sound-proof material 56 may be a layer of polyester non- woven fabric, glass wool, urethane, and the like.
• Sound insulation material 52 may be an open- cell foam type soft sponge-like foam obtained by foaming a mixture of a fire retardant mixed into synthesized rubber.
• Such sound absorbing material and sound insulation material may be the general type commonly employed for interior components of a vehicle.
• Cover 50 is provided with bolts holes 58 and 60 to be fastened to base 22 together with lid 24 of the main body of connector 8.
• Bolts 32 and 34 of Fig. 2 are fitted in bolt holes 58 and 60, respectively, and fastened with nuts.
• base 22 and lid 24 of the main body is formed of metal such as aluminum, for example, and cover 50 is formed of resin.
• Base 22 is identified as the first member of the connector main body provided with a recess in which the wiring is accommodated.
• Lid 24 is identified as the second member forming a lid on base 22 that is the first member, with the wiring accommodated.
• Cover 50 serving as a sound proof member is attached to the top surface of lid 24 by bolts 32A and 34A and nuts 32B and 34B.
• the power is transmitted to the vehicle motor by a plurality of power cables 18U, 18 V and 18W.
• Each of power cables 18U, 18 V and 18W includes a conductive metal core and an insulative cover thereon.
• Power cables 18U, 18.V and 18W are accommodated in base 22 of the main body of connector 8 in a juxtaposed manner, as shown in Fig. 6.
• the face where cover 50 identified as a sound proof member is attached corresponds to the face along which the power cables are juxtaposed, and corresponds to the top surface of lid 24.
• Fig. 7 represents data based on observation of noise from the connector when sound-proof member 26 is attached and not attached to the connector of the present embodiment.
• the solid line corresponds to the case where sound-proof member 26 is attached to the connector main body, and the broken line corresponds to the case where sound-proof member 26 is not attached. It is appreciated from Fig. 7 that the sound-proof member is effective corresponding to the region where the peak value of the sound pressure is reduced by 2db in the vicinity of approximately 3,000 Hz in frequency.
• the spread of sound generated from the connector can be prevented. This contributes to realization of a quiet vehicle particularly for the on- vehicle type.
• the connector of the present embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case where quietness is required in the passenger compartment in vehicles having low running noise such as a hybrid vehicle and fuel cell vehicle.

Landscapes

• Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
• Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
• Arrangement Or Mounting Of Propulsion Units For Vehicles (AREA)

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Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Citations (3)

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• 2005
  • 2005-03-15 JP JP2005073511A patent/JP4525397B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-02-10 CN CN2006800080902A patent/CN101138136B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-02-10 WO PCT/JP2006/302792 patent/WO2006098113A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (3)

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