WO2019230518A1

WO2019230518A1 - Connector assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2019230518A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/020240
Authority: WO
Inventors: 長宮本
Original assignee: 住友電装株式会社
Priority date: 2018-05-28
Filing date: 2019-05-22
Publication date: 2019-12-05

Abstract

A connector assembly 10 according to the present invention is provided with a first connector and a second connector which is fitted into the first connector. The first connector is provided with: a first hood part 28; a fixation part 16 which is affixed to the casing side by means of a fixation member; and a first rib 32 which is arranged between the first hood part 28 and the fixation part 16, and which protrudes from the first hood part 28 toward the fixation part 16. The second connector is provided with: a second hood part 52; and a seal ring 58 which is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the second hood part 52. The second hood part 52 is provided with a second rib 60 which protrudes from the opening edge of the second hood part 52 toward the opening.

Description

Connector assembly

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a connector assembly.

As an example of a conventional connector assembly, a terminal block described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-45590 (Patent Document 1 below) is known. This terminal block is composed of a plurality of conductive members that relay-connect a device-side terminal provided on a device and a wire-side terminal connected to the end of the wire, a pair of mounting portions, and the conductive members and mounting portions as a single unit. And a housing to be held in the housing.

The mounting part is flat and protrudes from the housing. The mounting portion is provided with an insertion hole through which the fixing member is inserted, and the terminal block is fixed to the device case by inserting the inserted fixing member into the fixing hole provided in the device case. The

The housing has a cylindrical connector fitting portion, and the connector fitting portion is fitted with a wire side fitting portion formed integrally with the wire side terminal. The electric wire side terminal and the conductive member are fixed in a state where the connector fitting portion and the electric wire side fitting portion are fitted.

A seal ring is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the wire side fitting portion. When the electric wire side fitting portion and the connector fitting portion are fitted, the seal ring is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire side fitting portion and the inner peripheral surface of the connector fitting portion. It is supposed to be water-stopped.

JP 2017-45590 A

For example, when the connector fitting portion is provided to be opened downward and the wire side fitting portion is fitted to the connector fitting portion from below, generally, an operator looks into the connector fitting portion from below. However, since the fitting operation is performed, the fitting operation becomes difficult. As a result, the seal ring fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the wire-side fitting portion during operation may accidentally hit the fixing member of the attachment portion, and the seal ring may be damaged.

A connector assembly disclosed in the present specification is a connector assembly including a first connector fixed to a housing side, and a second connector fitted to the first connector, wherein the first connector Includes a first hood portion that is open in one direction, an insertion hole, a fixing portion that is inserted into the insertion hole to be fixed to the housing side, and the first hood portion and the fixing portion. And a first rib protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the first hood portion toward the fixed portion, and the second connector opens in the other direction opposite to the one direction. And a second hood part accommodated in the opening of the first hood part, and a seal ring disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the second hood part, wherein the insertion hole of the fixing part is the first It is arranged on the one direction side from the opening edge of one hood, In the second hood portion, among the opening edges of the second hood portion, in the state where the second hood portion is housed in the first hood portion, from the opening edge on the side close to the fixing portion, the other hood portion A second rib protruding in the direction is provided.

Since the first rib is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the first hood portion and the fixed portion, the first hood portion is offset from the fixed portion by the height of the first rib. As a result, when the first connector and the second connector are fitted, the second hood portion is displaced in the other direction (fitting direction) and attached to the fixed portion when housed in the first hood portion. It is suppressed that a fixing member contacts the seal ring arrange | positioned at the outer peripheral surface of a 2nd hood part. Moreover, even if the seal ring tries to contact the fixing member, the second rib protruding in the other direction (fitting direction) from the opening edge on the side close to the fixing portion of the opening edge of the second hood portion is first. In order to hit, it is suppressed that a seal ring contacts a fixing member.

Further, the end portion in the one direction of the first rib is an inclined portion that is inclined from the opening edge of the first hood portion toward the plate surface of the fixed portion in the one direction. It is also good.

Since the end portion in one direction of the first rib is an inclined portion that is inclined from the opening edge of the first hood portion toward the plate surface of the fixed portion, the second rib of the second hood portion is the first. When hitting the inclined portion of the rib, the second hood portion is guided into the opening of the first hood portion, so that the workability of attaching the second connector to the first connector is improved.

The inclined portion of the first rib includes a first inclined portion inclined from an opening edge of the first hood portion toward a plate surface of the fixed portion, and a plate of the fixed portion of the first inclined portion. A second inclined portion that is inclined toward the plate surface of the fixed portion from an end on the surface side, and the second inclined portion has a gentler inclination than the first inclined portion. Also good.

The second inclined portion has a gentler inclination than the first inclined portion, and the second inclined portion is formed when the second rib of the second hood portion hits the second inclined portion. The second rib is guided to the first inclined portion, and further, the second rib of the second hood portion hits the first inclined portion, and the second hood portion is guided into the opening of the first hood portion. As described above, by providing the second inclined portion that guides the first inclined portion, it is possible to further improve the workability of attaching the second connector to the first connector.

Further, the bolt as the fixing member inserted through the insertion hole has a head exposed from an opening edge of the insertion hole, and the fixing portion extends from an outer peripheral surface of the first hood portion of the first rib. The length in the protruding direction toward the plate surface may be longer than the length of the head in the protruding direction.

By making the length of the protruding direction of the first rib longer than the length of the head of the bolt exposed from the opening edge of the insertion hole, when the first connector and the second connector are fitted, the second hood portion Can be prevented from coming into contact with the head of the bolt.

According to the connector assembly disclosed in the present specification, when the first connector fixed to the housing by the fixing member and the second connector are fitted, the seal ring provided in the second connector is provided. It is possible to suppress hitting the fixing member.

Front view of the connector assembly in the present embodiment Bottom view of connector assembly Left side view of connector assembly In FIG. 3, the figure before attaching the harness side connector (second connector) Front view of terminal block (first connector) Bottom view of terminal block (first connector)

<Embodiment>
A connector assembly 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In the following description, it is assumed that the Z direction in FIGS. 1 to 6 is upward, the Y direction is rightward, and the X direction is forward.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connector assembly 10 of this embodiment includes a terminal block (first connector) 12 that is fixed to a housing side that forms a part of a vehicle, and a harness that is connected to the terminal block 12 from below. And a side connector (second connector) 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal block 12 is a terminal block that is attached to the housing side and relays between the harness side and the vehicle side device (not shown), and is made of a metal that has a long plate shape in the vertical direction. The fixed portion 16, a resin-made first housing 18 that is molded integrally with the fixed portion 16, and three conductive metal first portions that are partially embedded in the first housing 18 and fixed to the first housing 18. And a terminal 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, bolt insertion holes (insertion holes) 24 through which bolts 22 as fixing members fixed to the housing are inserted are provided at the four corners of the fixing portion 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the bolt 22 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 24 from the front, and is fixed to the housing (not shown) with the head portion 26 of the bolt 22 in contact with the opening edge of the bolt insertion hole 24. . The head portion 26 of the bolt 22 is exposed from the opening edge of the bolt insertion hole 24.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first housing 18 is provided on the front surface side of the fixed portion 16, and opens first, a first hood portion 28, a flat surface portion 30 provided on the front surface of the fixed portion 16, and the first housing 18. And four first ribs 32 connected to the hood portion 28 and the flat surface portion 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the lower two bolt insertion holes 24 among the four bolt insertion holes 24 of the fixing portion 16 are, as shown in FIG. 5, the first hood portion 28 in front view. It is located below the opening edge.

As shown in FIG. 6, the four first ribs 32 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction, and from the surface of the outer peripheral surface of the first hood portion 28 that faces the front surface of the fixed portion 16. Projecting toward the front surface of the fixed portion 16 is provided. The first hood portion 28 is offset forward from the front surface of the fixed portion 16 by the length of the first rib 32 in the front-rear direction (projection direction). Further, the length of the first rib 32 in the front-rear direction is longer than the length of the head 26 of the bolt 22 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end portion of the first rib 32 is an inclined portion 34 that is inclined from the opening edge of the first hood portion 28 toward the lower end side of the front surface of the fixed portion 16. The inclined portion 34 includes a first inclined portion 36 that is inclined from the opening edge of the first hood portion 28 toward the front surface of the fixed portion 16, and an end portion on the front surface side of the fixed portion 16 of the first inclined portion 36. The second inclined portion 38 is inclined toward the front surface of the first inclined portion 38, and the second inclined portion 38 is inclined more gently than the first inclined portion 36.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first terminal 20 has three harness side connection portions 40 respectively provided in the opening of the first hood portion 28, and on the rear surface side of the fixing portion 16 as shown in FIG. 3. Three device-side connection portions 42 that are positioned and connected to a vehicle-side device (not shown), and the three harness-side connection portions 40 and the three device-side connection portions 42 are provided in the first housing 18. They are connected and electrically connected by bus bars (not shown) embedded in each.

As shown in FIG. 6, the harness side connection portion 40 has a plate shape, and is fastened to a terminal block side connection portion 46 of the second terminal 44 described later on the plate surface of the harness side connection portion 40. A fastening hole is provided open. The three harness side connection portions 40 are arranged in the opening of the first hood portion 28 with a predetermined interval in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the device-side connection portion 42 has a plate shape, and on the plate surface of the device-side connection portion 42, a fastening hole that is fastened to the device side (not shown) is opened. Yes. As shown in FIG. 3, the three device side connection portions 42 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the harness-side connector 14 includes a second housing 48 fitted to the first housing 18, three second terminals 44, and three electric wires connected to the three second terminals 44, respectively. 50. The three second terminals 44 and the three electric wires 50 are partially embedded in the second housing 48 and fixed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second housing 48 is open at the top, and the second housing 48 is accommodated in the opening of the first hood portion 28 when the first housing 18 and the second housing 48 are fitted. 2 hood part 52 and electric wire embedding part 54 which is connected to the rear surface of the outer peripheral surface of second hood part 52 and projects downward. As shown in FIG. 3, the three electric wires 50 are provided so as to extend in the vertical direction, and the upper ends of the three electric wires 50 are embedded in the electric wire embedding portion 54, although not shown. It is connected to the second terminal 44 in the embedded portion 54. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the three electric wires 50 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, a concave groove portion 56 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second hood portion 52, and an annular seal ring 58 is disposed in the groove portion 56. When the second hood portion 52 is accommodated in the opening of the first hood portion 28, the outer peripheral surface of the seal ring 58 elastically contacts the inner peripheral surface of the first hood portion 28. Accordingly, water enters the first housing 18 of the terminal block 12 and the second housing 48 of the harness side connector 14 from between the outer peripheral surface of the second hood portion 52 and the outer peripheral surface of the first hood portion 28. Is suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second housing 48 is provided with a second rib 60 that protrudes upward from the rear opening edge of the opening edge of the second hood portion 52.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second terminal 44 includes a plate-like terminal block side connection portion 46, and the plate surface of the terminal block side connection portion 46 is connected to the harness side connection portion 40 of the first terminal 20. A fastening hole to be fastened is provided open. As shown in FIG. 2, the three terminal block side connection portions 46 are provided in the opening of the second hood portion 52 and are arranged at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a work hole 62 is opened on the rear surface of the second hood portion 52, and the first housing 18 and the second housing 48 are engaged with each other from the work hole 62. The fastening operation of the harness side connection part 40 of the 1 terminal 20 and the terminal block side connection part 46 of the second terminal 44 is performed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the second housing 48 of the harness-side connector 14 is fitted into the first housing 18 of the terminal block 12 from below, it is difficult to visually recognize the opening of the first hood portion 28. The mating work is supposed to be performed under the circumstances. At this time, the first hood portion 28 is offset forward from the front surface of the fixed portion 16 by the length of the first rib 32 in the front-rear direction, and the length of the first rib 32 in the front-rear direction is a bolt. 22 is longer than the length in the front-rear direction of the head portion 26, the first hood portion 28 and the seal ring 58 of the first housing 18 may contact the head portion 26 of the bolt 22 during the fitting operation. It is suppressed.

Next, in the fitting operation between the first housing 18 and the second housing 48, the second hood portion 52 of the second housing 48 is displaced upward toward the opening of the first hood portion 28 of the first housing 18. When the second housing 48 is accidentally shifted to the left rear side and the rear opening edge of the second hood portion 52 is positioned below the head 26 of the bolt 22, the fitting operation is performed. Work can happen. At this time, when the second housing 48 is displaced upward, among the opening edges of the second housing 48, the second rib 60 projecting upward from the opening edge on the rear side contacts the head 26 of the bolt 22 first. . As a result, the seal ring 58 located below the second rib 60 is prevented from contacting the head portion 26 of the bolt 22.

Next, in the fitting operation between the first housing 18 and the second housing 48, the second hood portion 52 of the second housing 48 is displaced upward toward the opening of the first hood portion 28 of the first housing 18. At this time, it is possible that the fitting operation is performed in a state where the second housing 48 is shifted to the rear side by mistake. At this time, the second rib 60 of the second housing 48 comes into contact with the second inclined portion 38 of the terminal block 12 from below, the upper end of the second rib 60 and the second inclined portion 38 slide, and the second The housing 48 is guided to the first inclined portion 36 side. Further, the second rib 60 contacts the first inclined portion 36 of the terminal block 12 from below, the upper end of the second rib 60 and the first inclined portion 36 slide, and the second hood portion of the second housing 48. 52 is guided into the opening of the first hood portion 28 of the first housing 18.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the first rib 32 is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the first hood portion 28 and the fixing portion 16, the first hood portion 28 is a plate of the fixing portion 16. It is offset from the surface by the height of the first rib 32. As a result, when the terminal block (first connector) 12 and the harness side connector (second connector) 14 are fitted together, the second hood portion 52 is displaced upward (in the other direction), so that the inside of the first hood portion 28 When being housed, the fixing member attached to the fixing portion 16 is prevented from coming into contact with the seal ring 58 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the second hood portion 52. Even if the seal ring 58 tries to contact the fixing member, the second rib 60 that protrudes upward (in the other direction) from the opening edge closer to the fixing portion 16 among the opening edges of the second hood portion 52. Therefore, the seal ring 58 is prevented from coming into contact with the fixing member.

Moreover, since the edge part of the one direction of the 1st rib 32 becomes the inclination part 34 which inclines toward the plate | board surface of the fixing | fixed part 16 from the opening edge of the 1st hood part 28, the 2nd hood part 52 of When the second rib 60 hits the inclined portion 34 of the first rib 32, the second hood portion 52 is guided into the opening of the first hood portion 28, so that the workability of attaching the second connector to the first connector is improved. improves.

In addition, the second inclined portion 38 has a gentler inclination than the first inclined portion 36, so that the second inclined portion 38 hits the second inclined portion 38 with the second rib 60 of the second hood portion 52. In this case, the second rib 60 of the second hood portion 52 is guided to the first inclined portion 36, and the second rib 60 of the second hood portion 52 hits the first inclined portion 36, and the second hood portion 52. Is guided into the opening of the first hood portion 28. Thus, by providing the second inclined portion 38 that guides to the first inclined portion 36, the workability of attaching the second connector to the first connector can be further improved.

Further, the length of the first rib 32 in the protruding direction is longer than the length of the head portion 26 of the bolt 22 exposed from the opening edge of the insertion hole, so that the first connector and the second connector can be fitted. When the second hood portion 52 is accommodated in the first hood portion 28, it is possible to suppress the second hood portion 52 from contacting the head portion 26 of the bolt 22.

<Other embodiments>
The technology disclosed in the present specification is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings, and includes, for example, the following various aspects.
(1) In the above embodiment, the first hood portion 28 is opened downward, and the second hood portion 52 is configured to be fitted to the first hood portion 28 from below. The fitting direction is not limited to this. For example, the first hood portion may be opened to the left and the second hood portion may be fitted from the left.
(2) In the above embodiment, the fixing portion 16 is made of metal. However, the fixing portion 16 may be integrally molded with the resin together with the first housing 18, and a metal collar may be press-fitted or insert-molded into a portion to be a fastening hole. good.
(3) In the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure provided with the 1st terminal 20 and the 2nd terminal 44, respectively, it is good also as a structure of 2 or less, and good also as a structure of 4 or more.
(4) In the said embodiment, although the 1st connector was set as the terminal block 12 which relays a vehicle side apparatus and a harness side, the 1st connector may be a connector of a vehicle side apparatus.

10: Connector assembly 12: Terminal block (first connector)
14: Harness side connector (second connector)
16: Fixing portion 18: First housing 22: Bolt (fixing member)
24: Bolt insertion hole (insertion hole)
26: head 28: first hood portion 32: first rib 34: inclined portion 36: first inclined portion 38: second inclined portion 48: second housing 52: second hood portion 58: seal ring 60: second rib

Claims

A connector assembly comprising: a first connector fixed to the housing side; and a second connector fitted to the first connector,
The first connector is
A first hood that opens in one direction;
A fixing portion that has an insertion hole, and is fixed to the housing side by inserting a fixing member through the insertion hole;
A first rib provided between the first hood portion and the fixed portion and projecting from the outer peripheral surface of the first hood portion toward the fixed portion;
The second connector is
A second hood portion that opens in the other direction opposite to the one direction and is accommodated in the opening of the first hood portion;
A seal ring disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the second hood portion,
The insertion hole of the fixed part is arranged on the one direction side with respect to the opening edge of the first hood part,
The second hood portion has an opening edge on the side closer to the fixed portion, in the state in which the second hood portion is accommodated in the first hood portion among the opening edges of the second hood portion. A connector assembly provided with a second rib protruding in the direction of.
The end portion in the one direction of the first rib is an inclined portion that is inclined from the opening edge of the first hood portion toward the plate surface of the fixing portion in the one direction. A connector assembly according to claim 1.
The inclined portion of the first rib includes a first inclined portion inclined from an opening edge of the first hood portion toward a plate surface of the fixed portion, and a plate surface side of the fixed portion of the first inclined portion. And a second inclined portion inclined toward the plate surface of the fixed portion, and the second inclined portion has a gentler inclination than the first inclined portion. The connector assembly as described.
The bolt as the fixing member inserted through the insertion hole has a head exposed from the opening edge of the insertion hole,
The length of the protrusion direction which goes to the plate | board surface of the said fixing | fixed part from the outer peripheral surface of the said 1st hood part of the said 1st rib is longer than the length of the said protrusion direction of the said head. The connector assembly according to any one of claims.