WO2016208369A1

WO2016208369A1 - Complex connector and production method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2016208369A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/066688
Authority: WO
Inventors: 哲矢宮村; 康雄大森; 和紘鷲尾
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: 2015-06-22
Filing date: 2016-06-03
Publication date: 2016-12-29
Also published as: JP2017010763A

Abstract

Provided are: a complex connector allowing multiple electric wires to be mutually short-circuited and connected externally; and a production method for the complex connector. This complex connector comprises short-circuit members (30A), relay terminals (30B), and an insulation housing (HG). Each of the short-circuit members (30A) comprises a short-circuiting intermediate base portion (32A) and, protruding therefrom in a first protrusion direction and a second protrusion direction respectively, a plurality of short-circuiting first and second male type terminal portions (34A, 36A), each capable of mating with a short-circuiting female type terminal (20A). Each of the relay terminals (30B) comprises a relaying intermediate base portion (32B) and, protruding therefrom in the first and second protrusion directions, relaying first and second male type terminal portions (34B, 36B) capable of mating with an external connection female type terminal (20B) and an external circuit female type terminal (20C), respectively. The intermediate base portions (32A, 32B) are arranged along a straight line extending in a terminal arrangement direction. The short-circuiting and relaying first male type terminal portions (34A, 34B) are arranged along the terminal arrangement direction. The short-circuiting and relaying second male type terminal portions (36A, 36B) are arranged in the terminal arrangement direction.

Description

Composite connector and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention provides a composite connector having both a short-circuit function for mutually short-circuiting a plurality of short-circuited electric wires and an external connection function for connecting an external connection electric wire different from the plurality of short-circuited electric wires to another external circuit And a method for manufacturing the composite connector.

Conventionally, as a connector for electrically connecting a plurality of electric wires included in an automobile wire harness or the like, a short-circuit portion (joint portion) for mutually short-circuiting a part of the plurality of electric wires, and the plurality of electric wires There is known a composite type that includes an external connection portion for connecting a part of the external connection circuit to another external circuit. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a male connector, which is a male terminal connected to a single electric wire, and a short-circuit bus bar, which couples a plurality of male terminals and these male terminals. What includes a coupling portion and a connector housing that holds the male terminals and the bus bars in a posture in which the male terminals and the male terminals of the bus bars are oriented in one direction and arranged in a horizontal row are disclosed. ing.

The connector described in Patent Document 1 is a so-called composite type that has both a normal male terminal and a short-circuit bus bar. The size of the connector is the same as the size of a normal connector including the male terminal. The joint connector including the bus bar is almost the same as the size of the joint connector, and therefore there are few advantages of the composite type. In other words, it is difficult to perform both a short circuit between more wires and a connection of a specific wire to an external circuit with a compact structure.

Also, the man-hours and costs required for manufacturing the connector are not significantly different from the costs for manufacturing the male terminal and the bus bar individually, and the advantages of the composite type are also small in this respect.

JP 2005-353361 A

An object of the present invention is a composite connector capable of performing mutual short-circuiting of more wires and connection to an external circuit of a specific external connection wire with a compact structure utilizing the composite type, and It is to provide a method that enables the composite connector to be efficiently manufactured at low cost.

Provided is a function of forming a short circuit that short-circuits a plurality of short-circuited wires, and an external connection wire that is different from the plurality of short-circuited wires to an external circuit that is different from the short-circuit And an external connection function. The composite connector includes a plurality of short-circuit female terminals mounted on the terminals of the plurality of short-circuit target wires, and at least one external connection female terminal mounted on a terminal of the external connection wires. The plurality of short circuit target electric wires are configured by at least one external circuit side female terminal connected to the external circuit and a single member made of a conductor, and the plurality of short circuit female terminals are electrically connected to each other. It is composed of at least one short-circuit member for short-circuiting each other and a single member made of a conductor, and the external connection electric wire is connected by relay connection between the female terminal for external connection and the female terminal for external circuit side. And at least one relay terminal connected to the external circuit, and an insulating housing that collectively holds the short-circuit member and the relay terminal. In this composite connector, the short-circuit member includes a short-circuit intermediate base extending along a preset terminal arrangement direction, and a plurality of short-circuit males each having a shape that can be fitted to the plurality of short-circuit female terminals. And the plurality of short-circuiting male terminal portions are arranged at intervals in the terminal arrangement direction, and each is orthogonal to the terminal arrangement direction from the short-circuit intermediate base portion. A plurality of first male terminals for short-circuit projecting in the first projecting direction and a second projecting that is arranged at an interval in the terminal arrangement direction and that is opposite to the first projecting direction from the intermediate base for short-circuiting A plurality of short-circuiting second male terminal portions protruding in the direction. The at least one relay terminal includes a relay intermediate base, a first male terminal for relay projecting from the intermediate base for relay in the first projecting direction, and having a shape that can be fitted to the female terminal for external connection. And a relay second male terminal portion that protrudes from the intermediate intermediate base portion in the second protruding direction and has a shape that can be fitted to the external circuit side female terminal. The insulating housing is arranged along a straight line in which the short-circuit intermediate base and the relay intermediate base extend in the terminal arrangement direction, the plurality of short-circuit first male terminal portions and the relay first male terminal portions. Arranged along the terminal arrangement direction, and the plurality of short-circuiting second male terminal portions and the relay second male terminal portion sandwich the plurality of short-circuiting intermediate base portions and the relay intermediate base portion. A conductor holding portion for holding the short-circuit member and the relay terminal in a posture arranged along the terminal arrangement direction at a position opposite to the first male terminal portion for short-circuiting and the first male terminal portion for relay; 1st terminal holding | maintenance which hold | maintains the said female terminal for a short circuit each fitted in the some 1st male terminal part for a short circuit, and the female terminal for an external connection fitted to the said 1st male terminal part for a relay And the second male terminal for short-circuiting, respectively. Having a second terminal holding portions for holding the shorting female terminals and the external circuit side female terminals to be fitted to the second male terminal portions for the relay is.

In addition, provided is a function of forming a short circuit that short-circuits a plurality of short-circuited wires, and an external connection wire that is different from the plurality of short-circuited wires and an external circuit different from the short-circuit This is a method for manufacturing a composite connector having both an external connection function for connecting to a cable. This method is a step of preparing a plurality of female terminals having the same shape, and the plurality of female terminals are a plurality of short-circuit females attached to respective terminals of the plurality of short-circuit target wires. A female terminal preparation step including a mold terminal, at least one female terminal for external connection attached to a terminal of the external connection electric wire, and at least one external circuit side female terminal connected to the external circuit; A step of preparing a single conductor member made of a conductor, the conductor member having an intermediate base portion extending in a preset terminal arrangement direction, and having the same shape as each other, each of the plurality of female terminals And a plurality of male terminal portions that can be fitted together, and the plurality of male terminal portions are arranged at a constant terminal interval in the terminal arrangement direction in the intermediate base portion, and each from the intermediate base portion Terminal arrangement Three or more first male terminal portions projecting in a first projecting direction orthogonal to the direction, and at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of first male terminal portions while being arranged at the constant terminal interval in the terminal arrangement direction. A conductor member preparing step including three or more second male terminal portions projecting from the intermediate base portion in a second projecting direction opposite to the first projecting direction, and a step of preparing an insulating housing, wherein the insulation The housing includes a conductor holding portion capable of holding the conductor member, a first terminal holding portion for holding a female terminal that fits into the first male terminal portion among the plurality of female terminals, and the A housing preparation step having a second terminal holding portion for holding a female terminal fitted to the second male terminal portion among the plurality of female terminals, and the conductor in the conductor holding portion of the insulating housing. To hold the member A fixing step for fixing the conductor member in the insulating housing, and at least one short-circuit member for forming the short-circuit by dividing the short-circuit member before or after the fixing step and the electric wire for external connection A dividing step of dividing into at least one relay terminal for connection to the external circuit. This dividing step is performed by cutting at least one portion selected from among a plurality of cutting candidate portions located between the male terminal portions adjacent to each other in the terminal arrangement direction in the intermediate base portion of the short-circuit member. As the male terminal portion for short-circuiting, the intermediate base portion is divided, and thereby the first and second male terminal portions included in the short-circuit member are fitted with the plurality of short-circuiting female terminals. A functioning one, the first male terminal for relay in which the first and second male terminal portions included in the relay terminal can be engaged with the female terminal for external connection, and the female on the external circuit side It includes cutting into two that function as a second male terminal for relay that can be fitted to the mold terminal.

1 is a cross-sectional side view of a composite connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a cross section taken along line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a cross section taken along line III-III in FIG. It is the cross-sectional side view which expanded and showed the principal part of the composite connector shown by FIG. It is the cross-sectional top view which expanded and showed the principal part of the composite connector shown by FIG. It is a top view of the composite connector. It is the perspective view which looked at the said composite connector from the hood part side. It is a perspective view which shows the arrangement | sequence of the short circuit member and relay terminal of the said composite connector. It is a top view which shows the excision site | part of the conductor member which forms the short circuit member and relay terminal of the said composite connector. It is a top view which shows the 1st modification of the excision site | part of the said conductor member. It is a top view which shows the 2nd modification of the excision site | part of the said conductor member.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 8 show a composite connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. This composite connector has a function of forming a short circuit that short-circuits a plurality of short-circuit target wires 10A, and a plurality of external connection wires 10B that are different from the plurality of short-circuit target wires 10A. And an external connection function for connecting to an external circuit. Specifically, the composite connector includes a plurality of short-circuit female terminals 20A respectively attached to the terminals of the plurality of short-circuit target wires 10A and a plurality of external connections respectively attached to the terminals of the external connection wires 10B. Female terminal 20B, a plurality of external circuit side female terminals 20C attached to ends of unillustrated electric wires connected to the external circuit, and a plurality of short-circuiting female terminals 20A. Short-circuit member 30A, a plurality of relay terminals 30B for respectively connecting the plurality of external connection female terminals 20B to the corresponding external circuit-side female terminals 20C, the plurality of short-circuit members 30A and the plurality And an insulating housing HG that collectively holds the relay terminals 30B.

The plurality of short-circuit female terminals 20A, the plurality of external connection female terminals 20B, and the plurality of external circuit-side female terminals 20C according to this embodiment have the same shape. Specifically, each of the

female terminals

20A, 20B, and 20C has a wire crimping portion 22 and an electrical contact portion 24, which are formed of a single metal plate. The wire crimping portion 22 is a portion to be crimped to the terminal of the short circuit target wire 10A or the external connection wire 10B. The crimping enables electrical conduction between the

female terminals

20A, 20B or 20C and the conductor portions of the

electric wires

10A, 10B. The electrical contact portion 24 is brought into electrical contact with the short-circuit member 30A or the relay terminal 30B by fitting with the short-circuit member 30A or the relay terminal 30B, that is, in contact with each other so as to form electrical conduction. It is a part. Specifically, the electrical contact portion 24 has a so-called female shape, and accepts the insertion of the short-circuit member 30 </ b> A or the relay terminal 30 </ b> B into the electrical contact portion 24.

The plurality of short-circuit members 30A and the plurality of relay terminals 30B are each composed of a single flat metal plate made of a conductor. In this embodiment, the plurality of short-circuit members 30A and the plurality of relay terminals 30B are provided over a plurality of stages (three stages in the drawing) arranged in the vertical direction. In each stage, a single short-circuit member 30A and a plurality (three in the drawing) of relay terminals 30B arranged side by side are arranged in the horizontal direction. The short-circuit member 30A is short-circuited between the short-circuit female terminals 20A by fitting with the short-circuit female terminals 20A. The relay terminals 30B are connected to the

female terminals

20B, 20C by fitting into the female terminals 20B for external connection and the corresponding female terminals 20C on the external circuit side.

The short-circuit member 30A integrally includes a short-circuit intermediate base portion 32A, a plurality of short-circuit first male terminal portions 34A, and a plurality of short-circuit second male terminal portions 36A.

The short-circuit intermediate base 32A has a shape extending in a predetermined terminal arrangement direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) with a predetermined width. That is, it has a substantially rectangular shape having a major axis in the terminal arrangement direction.

The plurality of first male terminals 34A for short-circuiting are arranged in the terminal arrangement direction at intervals from each other, and a first projecting direction (in FIG. 2) perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction from the short-circuiting intermediate base 32A. Projects to the right). Each short-circuiting first male terminal portion 34A is fitted into the electrical contact portion 24 of each short-circuiting female terminal 20A as a so-called male terminal (tab), thereby making electrical contact with the electrical contact portion 24. It is possible.

The plurality of short-circuiting second male terminal portions 36A are arranged at intervals in the terminal arrangement direction, and from the short-circuiting intermediate base portion 32A, a second projecting direction opposite to the first projecting direction (FIG. 2). In this case, each of the short-circuit female terminals 20A has a shape that can be fitted to each other.

Each relay terminal 30B integrally includes a relay intermediate base 32B, a plurality of relay first male terminal portions 34B, and a plurality of relay second male terminal portions 36B. The plurality of relay first male terminal portions 34B protrude from the intermediate intermediate portion 32B in the first protruding direction (rightward in FIG. 2). Each relay first male terminal portion 34B is fitted as a so-called male terminal (tab) into the electrical contact portion 24 of the corresponding external connection female terminal 20B, thereby being electrically connected to the electrical contact portion 24. It is possible to touch. The plurality of relay second male terminal portions 36B protrude from the intermediate intermediate portion 32B in the second projecting direction, thereby holding the external circuit side female terminals held in the connector housing of the mating connector CC. It has a shape that can be fitted with 20C.

The insulating housing HG in this composite connector has a terminal holding housing part 40, a conductor holding housing part 50, and a counterpart housing part CC. The terminal holding housing part 40 is a part including a part of the first terminal holding part and the second terminal holding part according to the present invention, and the first male for short circuit among the plurality of female terminals for short 20A. The short-circuit female terminal 20A to be fitted to the mold terminal portion 34A and the external connection female terminal 20B are held. The conductor holding housing portion 50 is a portion corresponding to the conductor holding portion according to the present invention, and is a portion that holds the plurality of short-circuit members 30A and the relay terminals 30B. The counterpart housing portion CC is a portion constituting a part of the second terminal holding portion according to the present invention, and is fitted to the short-circuiting second male terminal portion 36B among the plurality of short-circuiting female terminals 20A. This is a portion for holding the short-circuit female terminal 20A to be mated with the external circuit-side female terminal 20C.

The terminal holding housing part 40 is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and includes a terminal holding part 43, a casing part 44, a hood part 46, and a retainer 47. Among these, the terminal holding portion 43, the casing portion 44, and the hood portion 46 are integrally formed as a housing portion main body made of a single member, and the retainer 47 is a member separate from the housing portion main body. It is attached to.

The terminal holding portion 43 defines a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 41 and has a plurality of lances 42 respectively provided for the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 41.

The terminal accommodating chamber 41 has a shape that accepts insertion of the plurality of short-circuit female terminals 20A and the plurality of external connection female terminals 20B along the axial direction of the

female terminals

20A and 20B, respectively. Have. Specifically, the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 41 are formed so as to be aligned vertically and horizontally, that is, aligned in the left-right direction over a plurality of upper and lower stages. Each terminal accommodating chamber 41 has a terminal insertion port 41a that opens on one side in the axial direction (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2). Each of the

female terminals

20A and 20B can be inserted into the corresponding terminal accommodating chamber 41 from the terminal insertion port 41a with the electrical contact portion 24 as the head.

The plurality of lances 42 constitute terminal locking portions for locking (primary locking) the

female terminals

20A and 20B inserted into the terminal housing chambers 41, respectively. The lance 42 has a so-called cantilever shape. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lance 42 includes a base portion 42 a connected to a part of a wall that defines the terminal accommodating chamber 41, and a tip end portion 42 b that is the opposite end portion. Have. The lance 42 can be elastically deformed so that the tip end portion 42b is bent and displaced in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the

female terminals

20A and 20B (downward in FIG. 1). The lance 42 is bent and displaced in the direction in which the distal end portion 42b retracts from the

female terminals

20A and 20B (upward in FIG. 1), so that the

female terminals

20A and 20B are inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 41. On the other hand, the

female terminals

20A and 20B are partially elastically restored in a state in which the

female terminals

20A and 20B are completely inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 41, so that the

female terminals

20A and 20B are restored to the terminal accommodating chamber. 41 is locked (primary locking). Specifically, the tip 42b of the lance 42 is engaged with an appropriate portion of the inserted

female terminal

20A, 20B (an intermediate portion of the electric contact portion 24 in the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5). The separation of the

female terminals

20A and 20B is prevented.

The retainer 47 locks (secondarily locks) the

female terminals

20A and 20B inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers 41 in the terminal holding portion 43 separately from the lock by the lance 42. It is attached to the terminal holding part 43 in the main body. Specifically, the retainer 47 has a shape that defines a window 47 a, and the window 47 a constitutes a specific portion of the terminal accommodating chamber 41 behind the lances 42. The retainer 47 has a locking protrusion 47b that locks a specific portion (the rear end of the wire crimping portion 22 in FIG. 1) of the

female terminals

20A and 20B inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers 41. The retainer 47 is in the locking position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, where the locking protrusion 47b locks the

female terminals

20A and 20B, and the female terminal 20A, It can move between a retracted position shifted in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of 20B (downward in FIG. 1). In the retracted position, the window 47a matches the other part of the terminal accommodating chamber 41, so that the

female terminals

20A and 20B pass through the retainer 47 through the window 47a and enter the terminal accommodating chamber 41. Allow to be inserted.

The retainer 47 can be omitted as appropriate in the present invention.

The casing portion 44 is adjacent to the terminal holding portion 43 on the side opposite to the terminal insertion ports 41a (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2), and holds the conductor holding housing portion 50 so as to be relatively displaceable. It is a part to accommodate. The hood portion 46 is a portion extending from the casing portion 44 to the side opposite to the terminal holding portion 43 (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2).

The conductor holding housing portion 50 is a member formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin as a member different from the terminal holding housing portion 40, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in this embodiment. The conductor holding housing portion 50 holds the plurality of short-circuit members 30A and the plurality of relay terminals 30B, respectively. Specifically, the conductor holding housing portion 50 has one short-circuit member 30A in each of a plurality of stages arranged in the vertical direction (that is, the direction orthogonal to the terminal arrangement direction and the first and second protruding directions). The short-circuit members 30A and the relay terminals 30B are held so that the plurality of relay terminals 30B are arranged in the terminal arrangement direction.

More specifically, the conductor holding housing part 50 holds the short-circuit member 30A and the relay terminal 30B in an arrangement as shown in FIG. That is, i) the short-circuiting intermediate base portion 32A of the short-circuit member 30A and the relay intermediate base portions 32B of the plurality of relay terminals 30B are arranged along a straight line extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and ii) the plurality of short-circuit first males A type terminal portion 34A and the relay first male terminal portion 36A are arranged along the terminal arrangement direction, and iii) the plurality of short-circuit second male terminal portions 34B and the relay second male terminal portion 36B is arranged in the terminal arrangement direction at a position opposite to the plurality of short-circuiting first male terminal portions 34A and the relay first male terminal portions 36A across the short-circuiting intermediate base portion 32A and the relay intermediate base portion 32B. The short-circuit member 30A and the relay terminal 30B are held in a posture along the line.

The conductor holding housing part 50 is accommodated and held in the casing part 44 of the terminal holding housing part 40. The position where the conductor holding housing portion 50 is held is such that the first male terminal portion 34A for short-circuiting of each short-circuit member 30A and the first male terminal portion 34B for relaying of each relay terminal 30B each accommodate the respective terminals. An electrical contact portion of the

female terminals

20A and 20B inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers 41 at a position protruding from the side opposite to the terminal insertion port 41a (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) into the chamber 41. 24 respectively engages with the first male terminal portion 34A for short circuit and the first male terminal portion 34B for relay (specifically, the first

male terminal portions

34A and 34B are fitted in the electrical contact portions 24). It is a position that makes it possible to

The conductor holding housing portion 50 communicates with the intermediate base press-fit portion 52 and the intermediate base press-fit portion 52 that receives the press-fit of the short-circuit intermediate base portion 32A of each short-circuit member 30A and the relay intermediate base portion 32B of each relay terminal 30B. A plurality of terminal insertion holes 56 for receiving insertion of each second male terminal portion 36A for short circuit and each second male terminal portion 36B for relay, and said terminal insertion hole 56 with the intermediate base press-fit portion 52 as a boundary. And a plurality of terminal insertion portions 54 located on the opposite side. The terminal insertion portion 54 has a shape that allows the intermediate base portions 32 </ b> A and 32 </ b> B to be press-fitted into the intermediate base press-fit portion 52 through the terminal insertion portion 54. The terminal insertion portion 54 includes a short-circuit female terminal 20A and a female terminal for external connection that are respectively fitted to the first male terminal portion 34A for short-circuiting and the first male terminal portion 34B for relay. The electrical contact portion 24 of 20B has a shape that allows the electrical contact portion 24 to be inserted into the terminal insertion portion 54. The terminal insertion portion 54 according to this embodiment is a concave portion having a bottom portion 55, and the bottom portion 55 functions as a contact portion. That is, the position of the tip of the electrical contact portion 24 inserted into the terminal insertion portion 54 is defined by abutting against the bottom portion 55.

The casing portion 44 has a relative displacement of the conductor holding housing portion 50 with respect to the terminal holding housing portion 40 including the casing portion 44, in particular, a relative displacement in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the

female terminals

20A and 20B. , The conductor holding housing portion 50 is accommodated and held so as to allow it in a limited range. Specifically, the casing portion 44 has an inner peripheral surface 44a shaped to wrap the conductor holding housing portion 50 with a slight gap with respect to the outer peripheral surface 50a of the conductor holding housing portion 50, and It opens on the opposite side to each terminal holding part 41. A step 45 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is formed at the boundary between the casing portion 44 and the terminal holding portion 43, and this step 45 is an end of the conductor holding housing portion 50 on the terminal holding portion 43 side. Is restrained. On the other hand, the conductor holding housing part 50 has a pair of constrained protrusions 58 protruding from the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the casing part 44 abuts on the constrained protrusions 58 to thereby make the conductor holding housing part 50 a part of the stepped part. The restraint surface 44b restrains from the opposite side to 45 is included.

The hood portion 46 surrounds the short-circuit second male terminal portions 36A and the relay second male terminal portions 36B protruding from the conductor holding housing portion 50, and inserts the counterpart housing portion CC. It has a shape to accept and hold it. That is, the hood portion 46 constitutes a second terminal holding portion together with the counterpart housing portion CC, and the second terminal holding portion is the plurality of short-circuiting second male terminals among the plurality of short-circuiting female terminals 20A. The short-circuit female terminals 20A respectively fitted to the mold terminal portions 36A and the external circuit-side female terminals 20C respectively fitted to the plurality of relay second male terminal portions 36B are held.

The terminal holding housing part 40 and the conductor holding housing part 50 may be integrally formed as a single member.

In the composite connector described above, a plurality of short-circuit first male terminal portions 34A and a plurality of short-circuit second male terminal portions are respectively provided in the first and second projecting directions from the short-circuit intermediate base portion 32A of the short-circuit member 30A. Since 34B protrudes, the number of short-circuit target electric wires 10A that can be short-circuited by the short-circuit formed by the short-circuit member 30A doubles. On the other hand, the relay terminal 30B held in the insulating housing HG together with the short-circuit member 30A relay-connects the external connection female terminal 20B and the external circuit side female terminal 20C, that is, a specific external connection wire. It is possible to electrically connect 10B to an external circuit different from the short circuit. Further, the insulating housing HG is arranged as shown in FIG. 8, that is, the short-circuiting and relay

intermediate bases

32A and 32B in each stage are arranged along a straight line extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and a plurality of short-circuiting and relaying terminals are arranged. First

male terminal portions

34A, 34B are arranged in the terminal arrangement direction, and a plurality of short-circuiting and relaying second

male terminal portions

36A, 36B are used for the short-circuiting and the

intermediate base portions

32A, 32B. Compact that makes use of a composite type by holding the short-circuit member 30A and the relay terminal 30B in an arrangement that is arranged along the terminal arrangement direction on the side opposite to the first

male terminal portions

34A, 34B for relay. With a simple structure, it is possible to perform both the short-circuiting of many wires as described above and the connection of an external connection wire to an external circuit.

The composite connector according to this embodiment further has the following characteristics.

A) All of the

female terminals

20A, 20B and 20C have the same shape.

b) The cross section of the short-circuit intermediate base 32A in the direction orthogonal to the terminal arrangement direction is the same as the cross section of the relay intermediate base 32B in the direction orthogonal to the terminal arrangement direction. All of the plurality of first male terminal portions for short circuit 34A and the first male terminal portion for relay 34B have the same shape, and the plurality of second male terminals for short circuit. The part 36A and the relay second male terminal part 36B all have the same shape.

c) Each of the first short-circuiting male terminal portions 34A and each of the second short-circuiting male terminal portions 36A are arranged from the short-circuiting intermediate base portion 32A at a plurality of positions arranged at a constant terminal interval in the terminal arrangement direction. Projecting in the first and second directions, respectively. The insulating housing HG is configured such that the distal ends of the plurality of first male terminal portions for short circuit 34A and the distal ends of the first male terminal portions for relay 34B extend along the direction parallel to the terminal arrangement direction. The leading ends of the plurality of short-circuiting second male terminal portions 36A and the leading end of the relay second male terminal portion 36B are aligned at a distance between the terminals along a direction parallel to the terminal arrangement direction. As described above, the short-circuit member and the relay terminal are held.

These features a) b) and c), that is, sharing the cross section of each

intermediate base

32A, 32B, each

female terminal

20A, 20B and 20C, each first

male terminal

34A, 34B and each second male The shape of the

mold terminal portions

36A and 36B is made common, the tips of the male

terminal portions

34A and 36A are aligned at equal intervals along the terminal arrangement direction, and the tips of the male

terminal portions

34A and 36A are aligned. The alignment at equal intervals along the terminal arrangement direction enables further downsizing of the entire composite connector, and also enables cost reduction by sharing parts.

Furthermore, the composite connector having the features a) to c) can be mass-produced at a reasonable and low cost by a manufacturing method including the following steps.

1) Preparation Step In this step, the plurality of female terminals 20A to 20C, the insulating housing HG, and a single conductor member 70 as shown in FIG. 9 made of a conductor are prepared. . The conductor member 70 is a member for forming the short-circuit member 30A and the relay terminals 30B (three in the figure) in each stage, and constitutes the short-circuit intermediate base 32A and the relay intermediate base 32B. An intermediate base portion that extends in the terminal arrangement direction and a plurality of male terminal portions corresponding to the male

terminal portions

34A, 34B, 36A, and 36B are integrally provided. The plurality of male terminal portions are arranged at a fixed terminal interval in the terminal arrangement direction in the intermediate base portion, and each protrudes from the intermediate base portion in a first protruding direction orthogonal to the terminal arrangement direction (see FIG. 9 is 8) first male terminal portions and the first protrusions from the intermediate base at positions corresponding to the plurality of first male terminal portions while being arranged at the fixed terminal intervals in the terminal arrangement direction. 3 or more (eight in FIG. 9) second male terminal portions projecting in the second projecting direction opposite to the direction.

2) Dividing Step In this step, the conductor member 70 is divided and divided into a short-circuit member 30A and a relay terminal 30B arranged in each stage. This dividing step is performed by excision of a portion selected from among a plurality of excision candidate sites located between the male terminal portions adjacent to each other in the terminal arrangement direction in the intermediate base portion of the short-circuit member 70. Specifically, in this embodiment, the conductor member 70 has five first short-circuiting male terminal portions 34A and 5A by cutting out the three portions 72 having a mesh pattern in FIG. It is divided into one short-circuit member 30A having the second male terminal portion 34B for short-circuiting and three relay terminals 30B.

3) Fixing Step In this step, the short-circuit member 30A and the relay terminal 30B are connected to the terminal holding housing portion 50 by press-fitting the short-circuit member 30A and the relay terminal 30B into the terminal holding housing portion 50 of the insulating housing HG. And further fixed in the insulating housing HG.

In this method, the number of short-circuit members 30A and relay terminals 30B and the number of poles of the short-circuit member can be freely set by selecting a part to be actually excised from the plurality of excision candidate parts in the dividing step. Is possible. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, by selecting the outer portions 72 of the plurality of excision candidate portions and excising the portions 72, the six first male terminal portions 34C for short-circuiting and the six It is possible to obtain the short-circuit member 30C having the second male terminal portion 34C for short-circuit and the two relay terminals 30B in total arranged on both outer sides of the short-circuit member 30C. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, two short-circuiting first male terminals 34D and two short-circuiting second male molds are obtained by cutting out the third and fourth portions 72 counted from one end. A first short-circuit member 30D having a terminal portion 34D, a first short-circuit member 30E having three first male terminal portions 34E for short-circuiting and three second male terminal portions 34E for short-circuiting, a first and a first It is possible to obtain one relay terminal 30B interposed between the two short-

circuit members

30D and 30E. In this way, the conductor member 70 as a raw material for the short-circuit member and the relay terminal and the shape of the insulating housing HG that holds the conductor member 70 are used in common for mass production. A combination of the number of short-circuit members and relay terminals and the number of poles of the short-circuit member can be selected with a high degree of freedom.

When the combination of the short-circuit member 30A and the relay terminal 30B is disposed in each of a plurality of stages (stages arranged in a direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction and the first and second protruding directions) as in the embodiment, The conductor member 70 may be formed for each step, or an intermediate base portion that is sufficiently longer than the conductor member 70 and a large number of male terminal portions that protrude from the intermediate base portion in the first and second protruding directions. A plurality of conductor members 70 may be cut out from the member to be included.

The present invention can include other embodiments as follows.

I) In the present invention, a combination including at least one short-circuit member and at least one relay terminal may be provided only in a single stage. However, the combination provided in each of the plurality of stages as described above enables a short circuit between more wires and connection of external connection wires to an external circuit with a compact structure. In this case, if the short-circuit member and the relay terminal are plate members having a thickness direction in a direction orthogonal to both the terminal arrangement direction and the first and second protruding directions, the short-circuit is formed with a more compact structure. In addition, both the relay connection and the relay connection are possible, and when the manufacturing method is applied, there is an advantage that the conductor member can be easily divided along the surface along the thickness direction. However, the short-circuit member and the relay terminal according to the present invention are not limited to plate-like members, and may be, for example, rod-like members having a circular cross section.

Ii) When the combination of the short-circuit member and the relay terminal is arranged over a plurality of stages as described above, the number and arrangement of the short-circuit member and the relay terminal included in each stage may be different. For example, the plurality of arrangements shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 may be applied to different stages. Alternatively, a stage in which only the short-circuit member or only the relay terminal is arranged may be included.

Iii) The dividing step according to the manufacturing method may be performed after the fixing step. That is, the conductor member may be fixed in the insulating housing at a stage before being divided, and then the conductor member may be divided. The division can be performed, for example, by providing a through-hole that allows the cutting laser to pass through an appropriate position of the insulating housing, and irradiating the cutting member with the cutting laser through the through-hole.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to carry out mutual short-circuiting of a larger number of short-circuited wires and connection of a specific external connection wire to an external circuit with a compact structure utilizing the composite type. Possible composite connectors and methods that allow the composite connectors to be manufactured efficiently and at low cost are provided.

In this composite connector, in addition to projecting from the plurality of first male terminal portions for short-circuiting in the first projecting direction perpendicular to the short-circuiting intermediate base portion of the short-circuit member, a second opposite to the first projecting direction is provided. Since the plurality of second male terminal portions for short-circuit project in the projecting direction, the number of short-circuit target wires that can be short-circuited by the short-circuit formed by the short-circuit member is doubled. On the other hand, the relay terminal held in the insulating housing together with the short-circuit member relay-connects the female terminal for external connection and the external circuit side circuit, that is, a specific external connection wire is separated from the short-circuit. It is possible to electrically connect to an external circuit. In addition, the insulating housing has a short-circuit intermediate base portion of the short-circuit member and a relay intermediate base portion of the relay terminal arranged along a straight line extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and the plurality of short-circuit first male terminal portions and The relay first male terminal portions are arranged in the terminal arrangement direction, and the plurality of short-circuit second male terminal portions and the relay second male terminal portions are the short-circuit intermediate base portion and the relay intermediate portion. The at least one short-circuit member and at least the at least one short-circuit member and the at least one short-circuit member and the at least one short-circuit member so as to be aligned along the terminal alignment direction on the opposite side of the plurality of first male terminal portions for short-circuiting and the first male terminal portion for relay By holding one relay terminal, it is possible to perform both short-circuiting between many short-circuited wires as described above and connection to external circuits of external connection wires, with a compact structure utilizing the composite type, enable.

In this composite connector, all of the short-circuit female terminal, the external connection female terminal, and the external circuit-side female terminal have the same shape, and are cross-sections of the short-circuit intermediate base, and the terminal arrangement A cross section in a direction orthogonal to the direction and a cross section in the direction orthogonal to the terminal arrangement direction, which is a cross section of the intermediate intermediate portion for relay, have the same shape, and the plurality of first male terminals for short-circuiting And the relay first male terminal portion have the same shape, and the plurality of short-circuit second male terminal portions and the relay second male terminal portion have the same shape. Each of the first male terminal portions for short-circuiting and each of the second male terminal portions for short-circuiting are arranged from the short-circuiting intermediate base portion at a plurality of positions arranged at a certain terminal interval in the terminal arrangement direction. Projecting in the first and second directions respectively, the insulating housing The plurality of short-circuit first male terminal portions and the first relay male terminal portion are arranged at intervals between the terminals along a direction parallel to the terminal arrangement direction, and the plurality of short-circuiting first male terminal portions are arranged. The short-circuit member and the relay terminal are arranged such that the distal end of the second male terminal portion and the distal end of the second male terminal portion for relay are aligned with the terminal interval along a direction parallel to the terminal arrangement direction. Is preferably maintained. Such a common cross section of each intermediate base part, a common shape of each female terminal and male terminal part, and further, the tips of each male terminal part are aligned at equal intervals along the terminal arrangement direction. This makes it possible to further reduce the overall size of the composite connector and to reduce costs by using common parts.

The combination of the at least one short-circuit member and the at least one relay terminal may be arranged in each of a plurality of stages arranged in a direction orthogonal to both the terminal arrangement direction and the first and second protruding directions. In this case, each of the short-circuit member and the relay terminal is preferably a plate material having a thickness direction parallel to a direction in which the plurality of steps are arranged. This configuration enables a short circuit between a large number of short-circuited electric wires and connection of external connection wires to an external circuit with a compact structure.

In this method, it is possible to freely set the number of short-circuit members and relay terminals and the number of poles of the short-circuit member by selecting a cut-off site where the intermediate base portion is cut in a single conductor member. Accordingly, the short-circuit member and the relay terminal raw material and the insulating housing that holds the same are used in common for mass production, and the short-circuit member and the relay terminal can be selected by selecting a dividing portion in the conductor member. The combination of the number and the number of poles of the short-circuit member can be selected with a high degree of freedom.

Regarding the fixing step, “the conductor member” of “fixing the conductor member in the insulating housing by holding the conductor member in the conductor holding portion of the insulating housing” is the same as that after the division. It is meant to include both the pre-split items. That is, the conductor member that has already been divided into the short-circuit member and the relay terminal by the dividing step may be individually fixed in the insulating housing, or the conductor member before being divided may be in the insulating housing. The conductor member may be divided in the insulating housing after being fixed to the insulating housing.

In the method, it is preferable that the conductor member is a plate member having a thickness direction in a direction orthogonal to both the terminal arrangement direction and the first and second protruding directions. The said conductor member can be easily parted by the surface along the thickness direction.

In this case, in the housing preparing step, the insulating housing is prepared so that the conductor member holding portion holds the conductor member over a plurality of steps arranged in a direction parallel to the thickness direction of the conductor member. Is preferred. This insulating housing enables a short circuit between a larger number of short-circuited wires and connection of an external connection wire to an external circuit with a compact structure.

Claims

A function of forming a short circuit that short-circuits a plurality of short-circuited wires and an external connection function that connects an external connection wire different from the plurality of wires to an external circuit different from the short circuit. A composite connector having:
A plurality of short-circuited female terminals attached to the respective terminals of the plurality of short-circuited wires;
At least one external connection female terminal attached to the end of the external connection wire;
At least one external circuit side female terminal connected to the external circuit;
It is composed of a single member made of a conductor, and at least one short-circuit member that short-circuits the plurality of short-circuit target wires by electrically connecting the plurality of short-circuiting female terminals,
At least one relay terminal configured by a single member made of a conductor and connecting the external connection wire to the external circuit by connecting the external connection female terminal and the external circuit side female terminal via a relay connection When,
An insulating housing that collectively holds the short-circuit member and the relay terminal;
The short-circuit member includes a short-circuiting intermediate base extending along a preset terminal arrangement direction, and a plurality of short-circuit male terminals each having a shape that can be fitted to the plurality of short-circuit female terminals, The plurality of short-circuiting male terminal portions are arranged at intervals in the terminal arrangement direction, and each is arranged in a first projecting direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction from the short-circuiting intermediate base portion. A plurality of first male terminals for short-circuit projecting and a plurality projecting in the second projecting direction opposite to the first projecting direction from the intermediate base for short-circuiting while being arranged at intervals in the terminal arrangement direction A second male terminal for short-circuiting,
The at least one relay terminal includes a relay intermediate base, a first male terminal for relay projecting from the intermediate base for relay in the first projecting direction, and having a shape that can be fitted to the female terminal for external connection. And a relay second male terminal portion that protrudes from the intermediate intermediate portion for relay in the second protruding direction and has a shape that can be fitted to the external circuit side female terminal,
The insulating housing is arranged along a straight line in which the short-circuit intermediate base and the relay intermediate base extend in the terminal arrangement direction, the plurality of short-circuit first male terminal portions and the relay first male terminal portions. Arranged along the terminal arrangement direction, and the plurality of short-circuiting second male terminal portions and the relay second male terminal portion sandwich the plurality of short-circuiting intermediate base portions and the relay intermediate base portion. A conductor holding portion for holding the short-circuit member and the relay terminal in a posture arranged along the terminal arrangement direction at a position opposite to the first male terminal portion for short-circuiting and the first male terminal portion for relay; 1st terminal holding | maintenance which hold | maintains the said female terminal for a short circuit each fitted in the some 1st male terminal part for a short circuit, and the female terminal for an external connection fitted to the said 1st male terminal part for a relay And the second male terminal for short-circuiting, respectively. Having a second terminal holding portion for holding the external circuit side female terminals to be fitted into the second male terminal portions for shorting female terminal and the relay is, the composite connector.
2. The composite connector according to claim 1, wherein all of the female terminal for short circuit, the female terminal for external connection, and the female terminal for external circuit side have the same shape, and a cross-section of the intermediate base for short circuit A cross section in a direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction and a cross section in the direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction in the cross section of the intermediate intermediate portion for relay have the same shape, All of the first male terminal part and the first male terminal part for relay have the same shape, and all of the second male terminal part for short circuit and the second male terminal part for relay are all The first male terminal portions for short-circuiting and the second male terminal portions for short-circuiting have the same shape as each other, and the second short-circuiting terminal portions for short-circuiting are arranged at a plurality of positions arranged at constant terminal intervals in the terminal arrangement direction. The insulating housing projects from the intermediate base in the first and second directions, respectively. The tips of the plurality of first male terminal portions for short-circuiting and the tips of the first male terminal portions for relay are aligned at a distance between the terminals along a direction parallel to the terminal arrangement direction, The short-circuit member such that the tips of the plurality of second male terminal portions for short-circuiting and the tips of the second male terminal portions for relay are aligned with the terminal interval along a direction parallel to the terminal arrangement direction. And a composite connector holding the relay terminal.
3. The composite connector according to claim 1, wherein the combination of the at least one short-circuit member and the at least one relay terminal is perpendicular to both the terminal arrangement direction and the first and second protruding directions. A composite connector placed on each of multiple stages.
4. The composite connector according to claim 3, wherein each of the short-circuit member and the relay terminal is a plate member having a thickness direction parallel to a direction in which the plurality of steps are arranged.
A function of forming a short circuit that short-circuits a plurality of short-circuited wires and an external connection function that connects an external connection wire different from the plurality of wires to an external circuit different from the short circuit. A method for manufacturing a composite connector having:
A step of preparing a plurality of female terminals having the same shape, wherein the plurality of female terminals are a plurality of short-circuited female terminals to be attached to respective terminals of the plurality of short-circuited wires; A female terminal preparation step including at least one external connection female terminal to be attached to the terminal of the external connection electric wire, and at least one external circuit side female terminal connected to the external circuit;
A step of preparing a single conductor member made of a conductor, the conductor member having an intermediate base portion extending in a preset terminal arrangement direction, and having the same shape as each other, each of the plurality of female terminals And a plurality of male terminal portions that can be fitted together, and the plurality of male terminal portions are arranged at a constant terminal interval in the terminal arrangement direction in the intermediate base portion, and each from the intermediate base portion Three or more first male terminal portions projecting in a first projecting direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, and corresponding to the plurality of first male terminal portions arranged in the terminal arrangement direction at the constant terminal interval. A conductor member preparing step including three or more second male terminal portions projecting in a second projecting direction opposite to the first projecting direction from the intermediate base at a position to be
A step of preparing an insulating housing, wherein the insulating housing is a female holding portion capable of holding the conductive member and a female fitting into the first male terminal portion of the plurality of female terminals. A housing preparation step, comprising: a first terminal holding portion that holds a mold terminal; and a second terminal holding portion that holds a female terminal that is fitted into the second male terminal portion of the plurality of female terminals, respectively. ,
A fixing step of fixing the conductor member in the insulating housing by holding the conductor member in the conductor holding portion of the insulating housing;
Dividing to divide the short-circuit member into at least one short-circuit member for forming the short-circuit circuit and at least one relay terminal for connecting the specific electric wire to the external circuit before or after the fixing step. And the dividing step includes at least one selected from a plurality of excision candidate sites located between the male terminal portions adjacent to each other in the terminal arrangement direction in the intermediate base portion of the short-circuit member. The intermediate base portion is divided by excising the portion, whereby the first and second male terminal portions included in the short-circuit member are fitted with the plurality of short-circuit female terminals. A first male terminal for relay that can function as a male terminal for the external connection and a first and second male terminal included in the relay terminal and the female terminal for external connection. And before And those that function respectively as an external circuit side female terminals to be fitted to second male terminal relay, the carving includes method of producing a composite connector.
6. The method of manufacturing a composite connector according to claim 5, wherein the conductor member is a plate member having a thickness direction in a direction orthogonal to both the terminal arrangement direction and the first and second protruding directions. Production method.
7. The method of manufacturing a composite connector according to claim 6, wherein, in the housing preparation step, the insulating member includes a conductor member holding portion extending over a plurality of steps arranged in a direction parallel to the thickness direction of the conductor member. A method for manufacturing a composite connector, wherein a member for holding a conductor member is prepared.