WO2017159231A1

WO2017159231A1 - Connector

Info

Publication number: WO2017159231A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/006319
Authority: WO
Inventors: 哲矢宮村; 田端　正明; 康雄大森; 竣哉竹内
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: 2016-03-14
Filing date: 2017-02-21
Publication date: 2017-09-21
Also published as: JP2017168188A

Abstract

The present invention improves the power for retaining of a terminal metal fitting. According to the present invention, a retainer through-hole (6) is bored on the side surface of a connector housing (1) so as to be connected with a cavity (2), and a retainer (5) is fitted to the retainer through-hole (6). A locking projection (33) is formed on the retainer (5), and the front surface thereof serves as a locking surface (14) to be locked to a terminal metal fitting (T). The locking surface (14) is formed as an inversely tapered surface in which the tip side and a base end side of the locking projection (33) respectively correspond to the front side and back side in the insertion direction of the terminal metal fitting (T).

Description

connector

The present invention relates to a connector.

The terminal metal fitting accommodated in the cavity of the connector housing is generally double-locked by a lance and a retainer (see Patent Document 1 below). The terminal fitting has a rectangular tube-like terminal connecting portion connected to the mating terminal fitting, and a locking portion provided on the retainer is locked at the rear end thereof. More specifically, the rear end surface of the terminal connecting portion locked by the retainer is a raised surface, and the retaining portion of the retainer is also a similarly raised surface.

JP 2001-332335 A

Even in such a structure where the surfaces perpendicular to the pulling direction of the terminal fitting are engaged with each other, the terminal holding force is not particularly problematic in practical use. However, for example, when the connector is further miniaturized and the terminal metal fitting is also made thinner and smaller, the terminal holding force may not be sufficient with the above-described locking structure.

Also, when locking between the surfaces that stand apart, if the mutual engagement is shallow, there is a concern that the retainer may be displaced and the locking may be released if a strong pulling force is applied to the terminal fitting.

The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector capable of improving the holding force with respect to the terminal fitting.

The connector of the present invention is formed to be connected to the terminal fitting connected to the end portion of the electric wire, a connector housing having a cavity through which the terminal fitting can be inserted, and open to the side surface of the connector housing. A retainer mounted in the retainer insertion hole, and formed to protrude from the retainer, and is locked to the terminal fitting by a reverse taper surface whose front end side is the front side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting and the base end side is the rear side in the insertion direction. And a locking portion.

According to the present invention, the locking portion of the retainer is locked to the terminal fitting by the reverse tapered surface. For this reason, when a pulling force in the pulling direction acts on the terminal fitting, the locking portion bites into the retainer and locks, so that the terminal holding force can be improved. Moreover, even if the locking allowance between the retainer and the terminal fitting is shallow, it is possible to avoid the locking of the terminal fitting being released due to the above-described biting portion being caught.

The front view of the female connector housing which concerns on Example 1 Similarly bottom view Retainer front view Side view of terminal fitting Side sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting is locked by the retainer In Example 2, sectional side view which shows the latching state of a terminal metal fitting when a retainer exists in an upright attitude | position Similarly, a cross-sectional side view showing a terminal metal locking state when the retainer is in an inclined posture.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(1) In the connector according to the present invention, a surface of the locking portion facing the terminal fitting may be formed on the reverse tapered surface.
According to such a configuration, since the retaining portion of the retainer is formed as an inverted tapered surface, the terminal holding force can be improved without changing the structure of the terminal fitting.
(2) The retainer insertion hole is expanded to the rear side in the insertion direction so that the retainer is in an upright posture in the retainer insertion hole so as to be orthogonal to the insertion direction, and the retainer extends to the retainer insertion hole. While the front side of the mounting direction when mounted is allowed to be displaced between the inclined posture that is the rear side of the insertion direction, the surface facing the terminal fitting in the locking portion is, When the retainer is in an upright posture, the retainer may be formed so as to be cut in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction, and when the retainer is in the inclined posture, the reverse tapered surface may be used to be engaged with the terminal fitting.
According to such a configuration, in a normal state in which the retainer is mounted in the retainer mounting hole in an upright posture, the locking portion is locked to the terminal fitting on the standing surface. However, when an external force in the pulling direction is applied to the specific terminal fitting, for example, when the electric wire is pulled, a backward force is applied to the locking portion by the retreating of the terminal fitting. When the above force acts on the terminal fitting at the specific position, the retainer shifts from the upright posture to the inclined posture. In connection with this, it changes to the form which becomes a reverse taper surface from the form where the opposing surface with the terminal metal fitting in a latching | locking part stood up. As a result, the retaining portion of the retainer is retained on the terminal fitting by the reverse tapered surface, so that the terminal fitting is firmly prevented from coming off.

(3) When the retainer is in the upright posture, a gap is retained on the rear side in the insertion direction in the retainer insertion hole, and on the other hand, the end of the retainer on the front side in the mounting direction is connected to the connector. It is good also as a structure in which the cover piece which covers the said clearance gap is formed in the outer side of the housing.

When the retainer is in an upright posture, a gap is retained behind the retainer and the rear surface in the retainer insertion hole. For this reason, dust or the like may enter the connector housing from the entrance of the gap. However, according to the above configuration, since the cover piece formed on the retainer covers the gap, entry of dust or the like can be avoided in advance.

Next,

Embodiments

1 and 2 embodying the connector of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Example 1>
(Connector housing 1)
A connector housing 1 (female connector housing) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is made of a synthetic resin, and a cavity 2 for accommodating a terminal fitting T is formed in a plurality of chambers in three stages in the figure. . Each cavity 2 is formed along the front-rear direction, and the terminal fitting T can be inserted from the rear of each cavity 2.

A lance 3 for primarily locking the terminal fitting T is disposed in each cavity 2 and near the front end. The lance 3 is cantilevered from the bottom surface of the cavity 2 obliquely forward and is formed so as to be able to bend in the illustrated vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the terminal fitting T). The front end surface 3A of the lance 3 is formed so as to form an inclined surface when the lance 3 is in a natural state. Specifically, the inclined surface is formed with an inclination such that the edge on the cavity 2 side is located on the front side in the insertion direction with respect to the cavity 2 and the opposite edge is located on the rear side in the insertion direction.

A lock arm 4 for locking a mating connector (not shown) in a fitted state is provided on the upper surface of the connector housing 1 so as to be able to bend. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a retainer insertion hole 6 for mounting the retainer 5 is opened on the lower surface of the connector housing 1. The retainer insertion hole 6 is formed along the width direction of the connector housing 1, and is formed so as to divide all the cavities 2 forward and backward in the rear of the lance 3. Further, both end portions in the width direction of the retainer insertion hole 6 form a pair of latch receiving portions 8, and when a later-described retainer leg portion 7 of the retainer 5 is inserted, the retainer 5 is locked and prevented from coming off. The

As shown in FIG. 5, a front holder 9 is mounted on the front surface of the connector housing 1. The front holder 9 is provided with a plurality of receiving recesses 10 communicating with the respective cavities 2 and receiving the front end portions of the terminal fittings T. The front wall of the housing recess 10 is a front stop with respect to the terminal fitting T, and tab insertion holes 11 into which the tabs 15 of the mating terminal fitting can enter are opened on the front wall.

(Terminal fitting T)
The terminal fitting T uses a metal thin plate material having conductivity as a base material, and is punched into a predetermined developed shape and then bent into a predetermined shape. That is, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the terminal fitting T is composed of a terminal connection portion 12 for connection with a mating terminal fitting and a wire connection portion 13 for connection with an electric wire.

The electric wire connecting portion 13 includes a wire barrel 28 for caulking the core portion of the electric wire W and an insulation barrel 29 arranged behind the caulking portion for caulking the covering portion of the electric wire W.

The terminal connection portion 12 is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape that opens in both the front and rear directions. Two projecting portions are provided on the upper surface of the terminal connecting portion 12 in the front-rear direction. The front portion is a lance locking portion 17 locked by the lance 3, and the rear portion is a retainer locking portion 18 locked by the retainer 5. Both the lance latching portion 17 and the retainer latching portion 18 are arranged so as to be biased toward the edge portion on the one side in the width direction of the upper surface of the terminal connection portion (the edge portion on the near side in FIG. 4). Is formed. Both the lance locking portion 17 and the retainer locking portion 18 are formed to be bent so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross section when the terminal connection portion 12 is viewed from the rear surface side. Therefore, when the

locking portions

17 and 18 are locked with the lance 3 or the retainer 5, there is a relationship in which the respective edges of the two pieces bent into a substantially U shape come into contact with each other.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear surface of the retainer locking portion 18 is formed as a vertical surface 22 that stands substantially vertically. A slightly vertical portion is formed on the rear surface of the lance locking portion 17, and a reverse tapered inclined portion 26 is formed below the rear portion.

(Retainer 5)
The retainer 5 is made of synthetic resin and has a main body 30 formed in a block shape. The retainer 5 is formed so that it can be inserted into the retainer insertion hole 6 of the connector housing 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of locking legs 7 are formed on the front side (upper side in FIG. 3) of the retainer 5 in the mounting direction to the retainer insertion hole 6 and on both side edges in the width direction. . A lock claw 31 that can be bent in the width direction is formed at the distal ends of both locking legs 7. Although not shown in detail, when the retainer 5 is inserted into the retainer insertion hole 6, the lock claw 31 is locked at two positions in the lock receiving portion 8 of the connector housing 1, and the retainer 5 is at each position. It is supposed to be retained. One position is a position called a temporary locking position where the depth of mounting of the retainer 5 is shallow, and the terminal fitting T can be freely inserted into and removed from the cavity 2 at this temporary locking position. The other position is a position called the main locking position (the position shown in FIG. 5) where the retainer 5 is deeply attached. In this final locking position, the retainer 5 is locked to the terminal fitting T and the terminal. The metal fitting T can be retained with the lance 3 in a double manner.

In the main body 30 of the retainer 5, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of window holes 32 are opened in two steps in the height direction, whereby the entire retainer 5 is formed in a substantially lattice shape. When the retainer 5 is in the temporary locking position, each window hole 32 can communicate with the corresponding cavity 2 on the connector housing 1 side (two stages located rearward in the insertion direction of the retainer 5). is there.

As shown in FIG. 5, the retainer 5 is provided with a locking projection 33 (locking portion) that locks the terminal fitting T together with the lance 3. The locking projection 33 is arranged corresponding to the retainer locking portion 18 of each terminal fitting T. Specifically, each window hole 32 is formed so as to protrude from the entire lower edge of the opening surface on the front edge side (front side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting T) and the front edge side of the upper surface of the main body 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, in a state where the retainer 5 is upright, the front surface of each locking projection 33 (the surface facing the retainer locking portion 18 of the terminal fitting T: the locking surface 14) is a reverse tapered surface. It is formed to become. That is, the locking surface 14 is an inclined surface such that the protruding end side (front end side) is the front side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting T, and the base end side (base side) is the rear side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting T. Yes. In this embodiment, the angle formed between the upper surface of the locking projection 33 and the locking surface 14 is formed to be an acute angle close to a substantially right angle. The upper edge of the locking surface 14 (the protruding end edge of the locking projection 33) is sharply formed over the entire edge. Further, the upper surface of the locking projection 33 is a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the terminal fitting T.

When the retainer 5 is in the temporary locking position, each locking projection 33 is retracted to the outside of the cavity 2 (the space in which the terminal fitting T advances), and the terminal fitting T can be inserted into and removed from the cavity 2. . On the other hand, when the retainer 5 is in the main locking position, each locking projection 33 protrudes into the cavity 2 and can be locked to the retainer locking portion 18 of the terminal fitting T.

More specifically, when the retainer 5 is in the main locking position, as shown in FIG. 5, the formation range in the height direction of the locking surface 14 is the formation in the height direction of the retainer locking portion 18 of the terminal fitting T. It can be locked so as to include almost all of the range (in other words, the forming range of the locking surface 14 is formed wider than the forming range of the retainer locking portion 18 in the height direction. Will be.) At this time, the locking surface 14 and the lower end edge of the retainer locking portion 18 are substantially in a hit state.

However, as shown in FIG. 3, in the locking projection 33 formed in the window hole 32 positioned at the lowest level, the locking surface 14 is an upright surface, not a reverse tapered surface. As with the other locking surfaces 14, a reverse tapered surface may be used.

Next, the function and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. With the retainer 5 held in the temporary locking position, the terminal fitting T is inserted into each cavity 2 from the rear. As the terminal fitting T advances in the cavity 2, the lance locking portion 17 rides on the lance 3 to bend the lance 3. When the terminal fitting T passes through the lance 3 and reaches the normal position, the lance 3 is elastically restored to a substantially natural state and locked to the lance locking portion 17 of the terminal fitting T (primary locking state).

After the terminal fittings T have been inserted into the normal positions in all the cavities 2 in this manner, subsequently, a pushing force is applied to the retainer 5 to move it from the temporary locking position to the final locking position shown in FIG. . When the retainer 5 reaches the final locking position, each locking projection 33 of the retainer 5 is locked to the retainer locking portion 18 (secondary locking state).

At this time, since the locking surface 14 of the retainer 5 is formed in a reverse taper shape, when a pulling force is applied to the terminal fitting T as the electric wire W is pulled, it is the rear end surface of the terminal connecting portion 12. Since the edge portion of the rear end surface of the retainer locking portion 18 acts so as to bite into the middle portion of the locking surface 14, a high locking force can be obtained. That is, in the first embodiment, the retainer locking portion 18 is in a pointed state with respect to the locking surface 14 of the retainer 5, so that when the above-described pulling force is applied, a state of biting into the locking surface 14 is immediately generated. . Therefore, the terminal metal fitting T can be reliably prevented from coming off.

Even if the retainer locking portion 18 has a small allowance for the locking surface 14, a situation in which the retainer locking portion 18 is displaced from the locking surface 14 due to the reverse taper effect is avoided. The locked state can be maintained.

Thus, in the first embodiment, since the locking force by the retainer 5 with respect to the terminal fitting T is increased, the terminal holding force can be improved.

<Example 2>
6 and 7 show Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the locking surface 14 of each locking projection 33 in the retainer 5 is formed in a reverse taper shape, but in the second embodiment, the locking surface 51 of the retainer 50 is formed in a substantially vertical shape. Yes. However, when the electric wire W is pulled, the retainer 50 assumes an inclined posture (see FIG. 7), so that the locking surface 51 of the originally standing shape is converted into a reverse tapered surface by utilizing this. It is a thing. This will be specifically described below.

As shown in FIG. 6, the inner front wall of the retainer insertion hole 52 is formed so as to stand up along the mounting direction of the retainer 50, but the rear wall is formed so as to be inclined toward the opening surface. . Thereby, the width dimension in the front-rear direction in the retainer insertion hole 52 is set slightly wider than the front-rear width of the retainer 50 on the rear side in the mounting direction (upper side in FIG. 6). (Lower side) is set to be sufficiently wider than the front-rear width of the retainer 50. For this reason, the retainer 50 shifts from the upright posture as shown in FIG. 6 to the inclined posture (the posture shown in FIG. 7) in which the front side in the mounting direction with respect to the retainer insertion hole 52 is displaced backward in the retainer insertion hole 52. Can do.

As described above, when the retainer 50 is in the upright posture, the locking surface 51 of the locking projection 53 is formed to be an upright surface along the mounting direction with respect to the retainer insertion hole 52. For this reason, when the retainer 50 in the main locking position assumes the inclined posture as it is at the same position, the locking surface 51 forms a reverse tapered surface with respect to the retainer locking portion 18 of the terminal fitting T. That is, the angle formed by the locking surface 51 with respect to the retainer locking portion 18 is equal to the transition angle when the retainer 50 shifts from the upright posture to the inclined posture. Since the rear end of the retainer locking portion 18 in the terminal fitting T is a vertically upright surface as in the first embodiment, when the retainer 50 is in the inclined posture, the locking surface 51 is the retainer locking portion. 18 is almost in a point-striking state with respect to the edge portion at the rear end of 18.

Although not shown in detail, even if the retainer 50 shifts from the upright posture to the inclined posture, the retainer 50 is held in the locked state with respect to the connector housing 1 in the fully locked position. A locking structure for 1 is set.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the retainer 50 is in an upright posture, a gap is formed behind the retainer 50 in the retainer insertion hole 52. For this reason, there is a concern that dust or the like enters from the gap. In view of this, in the second embodiment, a cover piece 54 that covers the gap is formed to protrude rearward on the rear edge of the lower surface of the retainer 50 (the front surface in the mounting direction with respect to the retainer insertion hole). .

Also in the second embodiment configured as described above, as in the first embodiment, when the terminal fitting T is inserted into each cavity 2 with the retainer 50 held in the temporary locking position, the lance of the terminal fitting T is obtained. Since the lance 3 is elastically locked to the locking portion 17, the terminal fitting T is prevented from coming off in the primary locked state. Subsequently, the retainer 50 is pushed deeply and straightly through the retainer insertion hole 52 and moved to the full locking position. At this time, the retainer 50 is in an upright posture, and the locking surface 51 and the retainer locking portion 18 of the terminal fitting T are substantially in contact with each other. In the state shown in FIG. 6, the locking surface 51 and the retainer locking portion 18 are locked with the leading end of the locking surface 51 exceeding the retainer locking portion 18 and entering the terminal connection portion 12. Yes. As a result, the terminal fitting T is double-locked together with the lock by the lance 3, and is in an effective retaining state.

In addition, when a pulling force is applied to the electric wire W connected to the terminal fitting T at a specific position (for example, the terminal fitting T accommodated in the cavity 2 located at the lowest level shown in FIG. 6 (not shown in FIG. 6). The terminal fitting T pushes the locking projection 53 of the retainer 50 and retreats in the cavity 2. Thereby, since the near side displaces the retainer 50 centering on the back side in the mounting direction with respect to the retainer insertion hole 52, the whole is in an inclined posture as shown in FIG. As a result, the locking surface 51 of the locking projection 53 is a reverse taper surface with respect to the retainer locking portion 18 of the terminal fitting T (the protruding end side of the locking projection 53 is positioned on the front side, and the proximal end side is positioned on the rear side). The end portion of the retainer locking portion 18 is in a substantially pointed state with respect to the locking surface 51, and is locked in a biting manner. For this reason, the removal of the terminal fitting T can be reliably regulated by the pulling force of the electric wire W. Further, even when the locking allowance between the locking surface 51 and the retainer locking portion 18 is shallow in a state where the retainer 50 is in the inclined posture, the locking state of both can be maintained as in the first embodiment. is there.

Further, in the second embodiment, since the cover piece 54 is formed on the retainer 50, a foreign matter such as dust enters the connector housing 1 in a normal state (when the retainer 50 is in an upright posture). There is also an effect that it can be avoided beforehand.

<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) Although the female connector was illustrated in the said Example, this invention may be applied to a male connector.
(2) In the second embodiment, the retainer 50 is inclined by inclining the rear wall in the retainer insertion hole 52. However, instead of this, the following configuration may be adopted. That is, the rear wall of the retainer insertion hole 52 is vertically cut, that is, the opening width in the front-rear direction of the retainer insertion hole 52 is made uniform, and the rear surface of the retainer 50 is inclined so that the width in the front-rear direction of the retainer 50 itself. May be gradually narrowed from the front side to the rear side in the mounting direction.
(3) In the second embodiment, the cover piece 54 is projected only toward the rear of the retainer 50. However, a second cover piece that projects toward the front may be formed together. In this way, entry of dust or the like into the connector housing 1 can be avoided even when the retainer 50 is in an inclined posture.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector housing 2 ...

Cavity

5,50 ...

Retainer

6,52 ...

Retainer insertion hole

14, 51 ... Locking

surface

33, 53 ... Locking protrusion (locking part)
T ... Terminal fitting W ... Wire

Claims

A terminal fitting connected to the end of the wire;
A connector housing having a cavity through which the terminal fitting can be inserted;
A retainer mounted in a retainer insertion hole formed in the side surface of the connector housing and communicating with the cavity;
And a locking portion that is formed to protrude from the retainer, and that locks the terminal fitting with a reverse taper surface with the distal end side being the front side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting and the proximal end side being the rear side in the insertion direction. Connector.
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the locking portion facing the terminal fitting is the reverse tapered surface.
The retainer insertion hole is extended rearward in the insertion direction so that the retainer is in an upright posture in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction in the retainer insertion hole, and the retainer is attached to the retainer insertion hole. While it is allowed to be displaced between the inclined posture that is the front side in the mounting direction and the rear side in the insertion direction,
When the retainer is in an upright posture, the surface of the locking portion that faces the terminal fitting is formed in a form that is cut in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction, and is in the reverse tapered surface when in the inclined posture. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is locked to the terminal fitting.
When the retainer is in the upright posture, a gap is retained in the retainer insertion hole on the rear side in the insertion direction, and on the other hand, an end of the retainer on the front side in the mounting direction is outside the connector housing. The connector according to claim 3, wherein a cover piece that covers the gap is formed on one side.