WO2014162889A1

WO2014162889A1 - Connector

Info

Publication number: WO2014162889A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/057733
Authority: WO
Inventors: 克司宮▲崎▼; 宏芳前岨; 怜也岡本
Original assignee: 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所; 住友電装株式会社; 住友電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2013-04-05
Filing date: 2014-03-20
Publication date: 2014-10-09
Also published as: JP2014203694A

Abstract

A wire-side connector (30) which mates with a device-side connector (10) equipped with a plurality of terminal housing sections (14) aligned in an alignment direction (R), and which is equipped with a plurality of terminal housing cases (31) that are aligned in the alignment direction (R) and mate with the plurality of terminal housing sections (14), and a connector frame (40) that holds the plurality of terminal housing cases (31) in an aligned state and is provided with a plurality of lances (48) which elastically deform in both the alignment direction (R) and an intersecting direction (S) perpendicular to the alignment direction (R) and hold the plurality of terminal housing cases (31).

Description

connector

The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, as a unit side connector provided in a device in an apparatus including a plurality of devices and a harness side connector fitted to the unit side connector, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 below is known. In the thing of patent document 1, the unit side connector provided in each apparatus is distribute | arranged in the apparatus unit in parallel. And the harness side connector respectively corresponding to the said unit side connector is fitted by the unit side connector in the state hold | maintained at the holding member.

JP 2006-344419 A

However, in the connector having the above-described configuration, a positional deviation may occur between adjacent unit-side connectors due to dimensional tolerances or attachment tolerances of a plurality of unit-side connectors. In such a case, the harness side connector and the unit side connector interfere with each other, and there is a possibility that the two connectors cannot be smoothly fitted.

The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can be smoothly engaged with a mating connector.

The present invention is a connector that fits with a device-side connector that includes a plurality of terminal accommodating portions arranged in parallel in a parallel direction, and is a plurality of connectors that are parallel in the parallel direction and fitted with the plurality of terminal accommodating portions. The terminal housing member and the plurality of terminal housing members are held in parallel and elastically deformed in both the parallel direction and the crossing direction intersecting the parallel direction, and the plurality of terminals And a holding member provided with a plurality of elastic holding portions for holding the housing member.

According to the above configuration, the elastic holding portion that holds the terminal accommodating member is elastically deformed in the parallel direction and the intersecting direction, so that the displacement of the plurality of terminal accommodating members in the parallel direction and the intersecting direction is allowed to some extent. . Thereby, in the apparatus side connector which is the other party, even if position shift arises between adjacent terminal accommodating parts by the dimensional tolerance of a plurality of terminal accommodating parts, attachment tolerance, etc., a terminal accommodating member is displaced according to it. Thus, the positional deviation can be absorbed. Thereby, it is avoided that a terminal accommodating member and the other party's terminal accommodating part interfere, and it becomes impossible to mutually fit, and fitting with an apparatus side connector is performed smoothly.

It is preferable to have the following configuration as an embodiment of the above configuration. Each of the plurality of terminal accommodating members is provided with a receiving portion that engages with the plurality of elastic holding portions, and a width dimension of the receiving portion in the parallel direction is equal to that of the elastic holding portion in the parallel direction. It is preferable to be larger than the width dimension.

According to the configuration as described above, the terminal housing member is held in a state in which the displacement in the direction along the parallel direction of the plurality of terminal housing members is allowed by the difference in the width dimension between the elastic holding portion and the receiving portion. Is done. For this reason, since it can respond also to the position shift of the direction along the parallel direction of the some terminal accommodating member in the other party terminal accommodating part, a fitting with an apparatus side connector is performed more smoothly.

Preferably, each of the plurality of terminal accommodating members is held in a state of being sandwiched from the crossing direction by a pair of elastic holding portions among the plurality of elastic holding portions.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to cope with the positional deviation in the direction along the tolerance direction of the plurality of terminal accommodating members, so that the fitting with the device side connector is performed more smoothly.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can be smoothly engaged with the mating connector.

The perspective view which shows a mode that the electric wire side connector was made to fit in the connector for apparatus of a holding member in embodiment. The perspective view which shows the mode before fitting the electric wire side connector to the connector for apparatus of a holding member Exploded perspective view of holding member Perspective view of wire side connector Exploded perspective view of wire side connector Rear view of wire side connector Perspective view of terminal housing case Rear view of terminal housing case Front view of terminal housing case View of terminal housing case as seen from case side first side wall The terminal accommodation case is seen from the side where the case side holding piece receiving part and the case side rib receiving part are provided in the pair of case side second side walls. The figure which looked at the terminal storage case in an electric wire side connector from the side which provided the holding piece and the rib among a pair of case side 2nd side walls. Perspective view of connector frame Rear view of connector frame Front view of connector frame Side view of connector frame AA sectional view of FIG. BB sectional view of FIG. CC sectional view of FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The electric wire side connector 30 (an example of a connector) in the present embodiment is fitted to a device side connector 10 provided in a device module in which a plurality of flat devices such as a battery and a board are arranged in parallel. Hereinafter, in each of the

connectors

10 and 30, the fitting surface side with the mating side will be described as the front side.

1. Device side connector 10
First, the apparatus side connector 10 which is the other party is demonstrated. An example of a device module provided with the device-side connector 10 is a battery module. The battery module is formed by laminating a plurality of single cells (not shown) formed in a flat shape in the thickness direction (parallel direction R), and fixing and holding the front end by a fixing member 11. The fixing member 11 is provided with a device-side connector 10.

The fixing member 11 includes a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) hoods 12 provided independently for each unit cell, and a hood case 17 that fixes and holds the plurality of hoods 12.

The hood 12 includes a hood main body 13 formed in a block shape that is flat as a whole. The hood body 13 is covered on the front end face of each unit cell.

In the hood main body 13, a terminal accommodating portion 14 is provided at a central position in the long side direction. These terminal accommodating portions 14 penetrate the hood main body 13 in the front-rear direction, and the front ends thereof protrude forward from the front surface of the hood 12.

In the state where the four hoods 12 are stacked in parallel along the parallel direction R, the terminal accommodating portions 14 provided in the respective hoods 12 are also stacked in parallel along the parallel direction R, and the rectangular tubes having a square cross section. A cavity 15 having a shape is formed. In the cavity 15, device-side terminals 22 are arranged. This device side terminal 22 is connected to the electrode tab and voltage detection tab of each cell.

The hood case 17 that holds and holds the plurality of hoods 12 has a case body 18 that is formed in a container shape that has a flat rectangular shape as a whole and has an open rear side. The case main body 18 accommodates the hood main body 13 of each hood 12 in the inside.

A housing portion 19 that holds the terminal housing portion 14 of the hood 12 is provided in the front wall of the case body 18. The accommodating portion 19 includes a pair of receiving wall portions 21 that extend forward from the opening edge of the opening portion 20 that opens to the front wall of the case body 18. In a state where the hood main body 13 is accommodated inside the hood case 17, the terminal accommodating portion 14 enters the opening 20 of the hood case 17 from the rear and is held between the pair of receiving wall portions 21. The The receiving wall portion 21 and the terminal accommodating portion 14 form a device-side connector 10 that can be fitted to the wire-side connector 30 that is the counterpart.

2. Electric wire side connector 30
1) Structure The electric wire side connector 30 fitted to the apparatus side connector 10 is connected to the terminal of electric wires (not shown), such as a voltage detection line and a power line. The wire-side connector 30 includes a terminal accommodating case 31 (an example of a terminal accommodating member) that can be individually fitted into the four cavities 15 of the device-side connector 10, and a plurality of terminal accommodating cases 31 (four in this embodiment). ) In a state of being aligned in the parallel direction R, and a connector frame 40 (an example of a holding member).

The terminal accommodating case 31 is formed in a rectangular tube shape penetrating in the front-rear direction. The terminal accommodating case 31 extends in the front-rear direction and connects the pair of case-side first side walls 32 intersecting the intersecting direction S and both ends of the pair of case-side first side walls 32. A pair of case-side second side walls 33 that extend and intersect the parallel direction R are provided. Note that the crossing direction S refers to a direction crossing the parallel direction R.

The electric wire side terminal (not shown) is accommodated in the terminal accommodating case 31. Although not illustrated in detail, the electric wire side terminal has a general configuration in which one end is connected to the electric wire and the other end is connectable to the counterpart device side terminal 22.

In each terminal accommodating case 31, a pair of case-side first side walls 32 are provided with holding arm portions 34 that protrude outward from the rear edge. One of the pair of case-side second side walls 33 is formed with a holding piece 36 that protrudes outward from the rear edge and a rib 37 that continues to the holding piece 36 and extends forward. A case-side holding piece receiving portion 38 and a case-side rib receiving portion 39 capable of receiving the holding pieces 36 and the ribs 37 of the adjacent terminal accommodating case 31 are formed. The widths of the case-side holding piece receiving portion 38 and the case-side rib receiving portion 39 are wider than the holding pieces 36 and the ribs 37.

The connector frame 40 that accommodates the terminal accommodating case 31 includes a frame body 41 that can receive the device-side connector 10 therein. The frame body 41 includes a rectangular plate-shaped rear wall portion 42 and a rectangular tube-shaped side wall portion 43 that extends forward from the periphery of the rear wall portion 42, and is formed in a rectangular box shape that opens forward. Yes. The side wall portion 43 connects the pair of frame side first side walls 44 intersecting the intersecting direction S and both ends of the pair of frame side first side walls 44, and a pair of frames intersecting the parallel direction R Side second side wall 45.

A case insertion hole 46 through which the four terminal accommodating cases 31 can be inserted in parallel is formed in the rear wall portion 42 of the frame main body 41. A holding concave portion 47 that can receive the holding arm portion 34 at a position aligned with the holding arm portion 34 in a state where the terminal accommodating case 31 is accommodated in the frame main body 41 is formed on the outer surface of the rear wall portion 42. Is formed. The holding recess 47 is wider than the holding arm 34.

Lances 48 (an example of elastic holding portions) are formed on the pair of frame side first side walls 44 in the frame main body 41 at positions corresponding to the pair of case side first side walls 32 of the respective terminal housing cases 31. Yes. The lance 48 is cantilevered so as to extend forward from the inner side surface (the surface facing the terminal housing case 31) of the rear wall portion 42 of the connector frame 40 along the frame-side first side wall 44. And a locking projection 50 formed so as to protrude inwardly (from the terminal accommodating case 31 side) from the tip of the lance body 49. A gap is provided between the lance body 49 and the wall surface of the frame-side first side wall 44. With the base end (rear end) as a fulcrum, the lance 48 can be elastically bent in both the parallel direction R and the cross direction S (direction approaching and separating from the terminal housing case 31).

On the other hand, a lance receiving groove 35 (an example of a receiving portion) is provided on each of the pair of case side first side walls 32 in each terminal accommodating case 31 on the outer side surface (the surface facing the connector frame 40). . The lance receiving groove 35 extends forward from the rear end of the case side first side wall 32, and the front end wall thereof is a receiving wall 35 </ b> A with which the locking protrusion 50 of the lance 48 can be engaged. The width dimension L of the lance receiving groove 35 in the parallel direction R is larger than the width dimension M of the lance 48 in the parallel direction R (see FIGS. 10 and 15).

One of the pair of frame-side second side walls 45 in the frame body 41 can receive the holding piece 36 and the rib 37 of the terminal accommodating case 31A arranged at one end of the plurality of terminal accommodating cases 31 arranged in parallel. A frame-side holding piece receiving portion 51 and a frame-side rib piece receiving portion 52 are formed. The frame-side holding piece receiving portion 51 and the frame-side rib piece receiving portion 52 are wider than the holding pieces 36 and the ribs 37.

A lock arm 53 is provided on the outer surface of the side wall 43 in the connector frame 40. The lock arm 53 rises from the rear end of the connector frame 40 and then extends forward in a cantilevered manner. The lock arm 53 is elastically deformed in a direction approaching and separating from the side wall 43 with the rear end serving as a fulcrum. To do. A lock hole 54 is formed in the front end portion of the lock arm 53 so as to penetrate in the thickness direction.

On the other hand, in the receiving wall portion 21 of the case main body 18 constituting the device-side connector 10, a lock projection 16 that can be engaged with the lock hole 54 is provided at a position aligned with the lock hole 54 of the lock arm 53. Yes.

2) Assembly of terminal housing case 31 to connector frame 40 When the terminal housing case 31 is assembled to the connector frame 40, the terminal housing case 31 is inserted into the connector frame 40 from the rear. The four terminal housing cases 31 are sequentially assembled from the side on which the frame side holding piece receiving portion 51 and the frame side rib piece receiving portion 52 are formed in the connector frame 40. When the first terminal housing case 31A is inserted into the connector frame 40 from the rear, the locking projection 50 of the lance 48 presses against the case side first side wall 32 of the terminal housing case 31, and the lance body 49 bends outward. Deform. When the terminal housing case 31 is inserted into the normal position, the locking projection 50 is fitted into the lance receiving groove 35 and the lance body 49 is elastically restored. In this state, the locking projection 50 of the lance 48 is engaged with the receiving wall 35A of the lance receiving groove 35, and the terminal receiving case 31 is prevented from coming off backward. Further, the holding piece 36, the rib 37 and the holding arm portion 34 of the terminal receiving case 31 are fitted into the frame side holding piece receiving portion 51, the frame side rib piece receiving portion 52 and the holding recess 47, respectively, and the terminal receiving case 31 is Stop before.

Next, the terminal housing case 31B adjacent to the terminal housing case 31A is assembled. When the terminal housing case 31B is inserted into the normal position, the locking projection 50 of the lance 48 engages with the receiving wall 35A of the lance receiving groove 35 and the holding arm portion 34 is held in the holding recess 47 as in the terminal housing case 31A. Fit into. Further, the holding pieces 36 and the ribs 37 of the terminal housing case 31B are fitted into the case side holding piece receiving portions 38 and the case side rib receiving portions 39 of the adjacent terminal containing cases 31A.

Similarly, the remaining terminal

accommodating cases

31C, 31D are also assembled sequentially, and the assembling of the terminal accommodating case 31 to the connector frame 40 is completed. The four terminal accommodating cases 31 are accommodated in the connector frame 40 so as to protrude forward from the rear end, and are arranged at substantially the same pitch as the arrangement pitch of the cavities 15 in the counterpart device-side connector 10.

Here, in the side wall portion 43 of the frame main body 41, the pair of frame side first side walls 44 whose plate surfaces intersect the intersecting direction S are respectively arranged in the parallel direction R and the intersecting direction S (close to the terminal housing case 31). A lance 48 that can be elastically bent is formed in the direction of separation, and the terminal housing case 31 is held by the pair of lances 48 so as to be sandwiched from the intersecting direction S. As a result, the terminal housing case 31 is held in a state in which displacement of the plurality of terminal housing cases 31 in the parallel direction R and the crossing direction S is allowed by the deformation of the pair of lances 48.

Further, each terminal accommodating case 31 is held with a slight gap with respect to the connector frame 40 and the adjacent terminal accommodating case 31. In the parallel direction R, the width dimension L of the lance receiving groove 35 in the terminal housing case 31 is larger than the width dimension M of the lance 48 in the connector frame 40. Thereby, the terminal accommodating case 31 is displaced in the direction along the parallel direction R of the plurality of terminal accommodating cases 31 by the difference between the width dimension M of the lance 48 and the width dimension L of the lance receiving groove 35. Held in an allowed state.

3. Fitting of the wire-side connector 30 to the device-side connector When the wire-side connector 30 configured as described above is fitted to the device-side connector 10 of the fixing member 11, each terminal accommodating case 31 of the wire-side connector 30. However, it enters into the cavity 15 in the corresponding device-side connector 10.

Here, in the fixing member 11, there may be a positional deviation between the adjacent terminal accommodating portions 14 due to a dimensional tolerance or an attachment tolerance of the hood 12. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, in the frame main body 41 of the electric wire side connector 30, the pair of frame side first side walls 44 whose plate surfaces intersect the intersecting direction S are respectively provided in the parallel direction R and the intersecting direction S. A lance 48 that can be elastically bent is provided in the direction of approaching and separating from the terminal housing case 31, and the terminal housing case 31 is held by the lance 48 so as to be sandwiched from the crossing direction S. As a result, the terminal housing case 31 is held in a state in which displacement of the plurality of terminal housing cases 31 in the parallel direction R and the crossing direction S is allowed by the deformation of the pair of lances 48.

Further, each terminal accommodating case 31 is held with a slight gap with respect to the connector frame 40 and the adjacent terminal accommodating case 31. The width dimension of the lance receiving groove 35 in the terminal housing case 31 is made larger than the width dimension of the lance 48 in the connector frame 40. Thereby, the terminal accommodating case 31 is held in a state in which the displacement in the direction along the parallel direction R of the plurality of terminal accommodating cases 31 is allowed by the difference in the width dimension between the lance 48 and the lance receiving groove 35. .

For this reason, the terminal housing case 31 is arranged in the parallel direction R of the plurality of terminal housing cases 31 or in the direction S intersecting with the parallel direction R according to the positional deviation of the terminal housing portion 14 of the device-side connector 10 that is the counterpart. Can move. Thereby, the dimensional tolerance and the attachment tolerance of the terminal accommodating part 14 in the apparatus side connector 10 are absorbed.

Thereby, it is avoided that this terminal accommodating part 14 interferes with the other party's terminal accommodating case 31 by position shift of the terminal accommodating part 14, and it becomes impossible to mutually fit, The apparatus side connector 10 and the electric wire side connector 30 are The mating is performed smoothly.

When the wire-side connector 30 and the device-side connector 10 reach a normal fitting state, the device-side terminal 22 is connected to the wire-side terminal so as to be conductive. In addition, the lock projections 16 are fitted and locked in the lock holes 54 of the lock arm 53, whereby the device-side connector 10 and the wire-side connector 30 are locked in the fitted state.

4). Summary As described above, the connector of the present embodiment is provided in a battery module in which a plurality of single cells are arranged in parallel, and can be fitted to a device-side connector 10 including a plurality of terminal accommodating portions 14 provided individually for each single cell. It is the electric wire side connector 30, Comprising: The some terminal accommodating case 31 which can be fitted with the some terminal accommodating part 14, and the connector frame 40 hold | maintained in the state which these these terminal accommodating cases 31 were arranged in parallel. The connector frame 40 is provided with a lance 48 that elastically holds the terminal accommodating case 31 from the parallel direction R and the intersecting direction S of the plurality of terminal accommodating cases 31.

According to such a configuration, the terminal accommodating case 31 is elastically held from the parallel direction R and the crossing direction S of the plurality of terminal accommodating cases 31 by the lance 48, so that the plurality of terminal accommodating cases 31 are arranged in parallel. The displacement in the direction R and the crossing direction S is allowed to some extent. Thereby, in the apparatus side connector 10 which is the other party, even if position shift arises between adjacent terminal accommodating parts 14 by the dimensional tolerance of the several terminal accommodating part 14, attachment tolerance, etc., the terminal accommodating case 31 according to it. The displacement can be absorbed by the displacement. Thereby, it is avoided that the terminal housing case 31 and the counterpart terminal housing portion 14 interfere with each other and cannot be fitted to each other, and the fitting with the device-side connector 10 is performed smoothly.

Further, the terminal housing case 31 is provided with a lance receiving groove 35 that engages with the lance 48, and in the parallel direction R, the width dimension L of the lance receiving groove 35 is larger than the width dimension M of the lance 48.

According to such a configuration, the terminal housing case 31 is arranged in the direction along the parallel direction R of the plurality of terminal housing cases 31 by the difference between the width dimension M of the lance 48 and the width dimension L of the lance receiving groove 35. The displacement is maintained in an allowable state. For this reason, it is possible to cope with a positional shift in the direction along the parallel direction R of the plurality of terminal accommodating cases 31 in the terminal accommodating portion 14 on the counterpart side, and the fitting with the device side connector 10 is performed more smoothly. .

Further, each of the plurality of terminal housing cases 31 is held in a state of being sandwiched from the crossing direction S by a pair of lances 48. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a positional shift in the direction along the intersecting direction S of the plurality of terminal accommodating cases 31 in the counterpart terminal accommodating portion 14, and the fitting with the device-side connector 10 is performed more smoothly. .

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the terminal housing case 31 is held by the pair of lances 48 so as to be sandwiched from both sides in the crossing direction S. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the terminal housing case 31 is held by the pair of lances 48. May be held between both sides of the parallel direction R.

(2) In the above embodiment, the elastic holding portion is the lance 48, but the elastic holding portion may be any as long as it can elastically hold the terminal accommodating member.

(3) In the above embodiment, the four terminal accommodating cases 31 are arranged in parallel in the parallel direction R. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two to three, or five or more terminal accommodating cases 31 are provided. It is good also as a structure paralleled in the parallel direction R.

30: Electric wire side connector 31: Terminal housing case 40: Connector frame 48: Lance 35: Lance receiving groove R: Parallel direction S: Crossing direction

Claims

A connector that fits with a device-side connector that includes a plurality of terminal accommodating portions arranged in parallel,
A plurality of terminal accommodating members that are arranged in parallel in the parallel direction and fit with the plurality of terminal accommodating portions,
The plurality of terminal accommodating members are held in parallel, and are elastically deformed in both the parallel direction and the crossing direction intersecting the parallel direction, and hold the plurality of terminal accommodating members. A holding member having a plurality of elastic holding portions;
Connector with.
Each of the plurality of terminal accommodating members is provided with a receiving portion that engages with the plurality of elastic holding portions,
The connector according to claim 1, wherein a width dimension of the receiving part in the parallel direction is larger than a width dimension of the elastic holding part in the parallel direction.
The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the plurality of terminal accommodating members is held in a state of being sandwiched from the crossing direction by a pair of elastic holding portions among the plurality of elastic holding portions.