JP2002151209A - Mounting structure of connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To aim at improvement of sealing property of a partition penetrating part in a simple structure, and to provide a mounting structure of a connector which enables connection even if there is error in mounting position of a connector at a receptacle side. SOLUTION: With the mounting structure of a connector for coupling a first connector 2 located at one side of a partition 5 with a second connector 3 located at the other side of the partition through a partition penetrating part 5a, the second connector 3 has a grommet mounted for choking the penetrating part 5a, the first connector 2 is set at one side of the penetrating part 5a to wait for the second connector, so that, when the second connector 3 is inserted into the penetrating part 5a, the grommet 4 is mounted on the penetrating part 5a to choke it as a result, and also, the second connector 3 is so structured to be coupled with the first connector 2 provided with. A change-over switch is mounted on a socket main body so as to be able cut off power easily when it is not needed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector mounting structure for making electrical connection at a penetrating portion between partition walls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when connecting a wire harness in an engine room of a vehicle to a wire harness in a room, a worker has a through hole formed in a dash panel as a partition wall which defines the engine room and the room. Through the harness to connect the connector.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the worker operates the connector 1 of each of the plurality of wire harnesses 14 in the engine room 11.
5 are routed one by one from the engine room 11 side (E / G side) through the harness through hole 12a of the dash panel 12 to the indoor side and through holes by the grommet 16a of the protection tube 16 for protecting these wire harnesses 14. 12a was closed and connected to each connector 18 of the wire harness 17 on the indoor side corresponding to each wire harness 14.

However, a plurality of connectors 15 are sequentially routed through the through-hole 12a, a grommet 16a is mounted in the through-hole 12a, and then a connection is made between the plurality of connectors 15 and 18 on the indoor side. There were many man-hours, work was difficult, and workability was poor.
Therefore, there has been proposed a connector structure in which a connector is made to stand by on one side of the partition wall penetrating portion and a connection operation is performed only by a penetrating operation in the partition wall penetrating portion. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the instrument panel is assembled, the indoor connector (male connector) 21 is set, and the through hole 1 of the dash panel 12 is set.
An engine-side connector (female connector) 22 is set to the 2a via a packing 20 and a movable rack pin 23 provided on the engine-side connector 22 is inserted into the engine-side connector 22 to engage with the movable rack pin 23 provided in the engine-side connector 22. By driving the pinion 24, the rack 21 a provided in the indoor connector 21 is driven by the pinion 25 provided integrally with the pinion 24, and the indoor connector 2 is driven.
1 is drawn to and coupled to the engine-side connector 22 (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-110706).
issue).

[0004] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the distal end of an indoor side connector (surface contact connector) 27 fixed to the instrument panel 13 is allowed to freely pass through the through hole 12 a of the dash panel 12,
An engine side connector (spring contact connector) 28 is connected from the engine room side to the flange 1 of the through hole 12a.
2b has a connection structure of a wire harness in which the grommet 29a of the protection tube 29 is fitted in a liquid-tight manner (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-255851).

[0005]

However, in the electric connector shown in FIG. 6, the sealing performance of the dash panel penetrating portion is uneasy, the structure is complicated, and the number of parts is large, so that the cost becomes high. It becomes large. Further, if there is an error in the mounting position of the indoor side (standby side) connector 21, there is a problem that connection with the engine side connector 22 becomes difficult.

In the connection structure of the wire harness shown in FIG. 7, if there is an error in the mounting position of the indoor side (standby side) connector 27, the connection with the engine side connector 28 becomes difficult, and furthermore, the surface contact is made. The use of the connector may cause a contact failure. In addition, there is a problem that there is concern about the sealing property of the dash panel penetration part. The present invention
In consideration of the above points, a connector mounting structure capable of improving the sealing performance of a partition penetration portion with a simple configuration and connecting even if there is an error in a mounting position of a connector on a standby side. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell system comprising:
In a connector mounting structure for coupling a second connector disposed on the other side of the partition to the connector through a through portion of the partition, a grommet for closing the through portion is mounted on the second connector, The first connector is arranged on one side of the penetrating portion to wait for the second connector, and the grommet is attached to the penetrating portion when the second connector is inserted into the penetrating portion. And the second connector is coupled to the first connector.

[0008] In the invention of claim 2, the grommet is:
A mounting portion for the second connector and a mounting portion for the penetrating portion are provided concentrically, and one end is continuously provided around the entire circumference by a bellows portion, so that the second connector is located inside the grommet. It is displaceable, and is mounted on the second connector and the penetrating portion in a state where the first connector and the second connector are connected to shut off both sides of the partition.

The first connector is arranged on one side of the partition wall so as to face the through portion, and is a standby connector. The second connector is mounted on the mounting portion of the grommet, and is disposed on the other side of the partition wall penetrating portion. The second connector is coupled to the first connector in which the fitting portion with the first connector passes through the through portion and waits, and the grommet is mounted in the through hole to close the through portion. Thus, the first and second connectors are coupled through the through portion, and both sides of the partition through portion are closed by the grommet to stop water.

In the grommet, the mounting portion of the second connector is connected to the mounting portion of the through portion by a bellows portion.
The second connector can be displaced in the radial direction and the axial direction with respect to the through portion, and the first connector, which is a standby connector, can be displaced in the radial direction with respect to the through portion or in the coupling direction with the second connector. Even if the connector is misaligned, the mounting error is absorbed and the second connector can be securely connected to the first connector. Further, the second connector is cut off from the partition wall by the bellows portion, and the stress caused by the vibration from the partition wall is absorbed and is not transmitted to the second connector.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a connector mounting structure according to the present invention, in which a connector is separated. In the figure, a connector 1 includes a male connector 2 as a first connector, a female connector 3 as a second connector, and a grommet 4. still,
In the figure, a plurality of male terminals of the male connector 2 and a wire harness connected to each male terminal, a plurality of female terminals of the female connector 3 respectively connected to the plurality of male terminals, and a wire harness connected to each female terminal are: Omitted. The connector 1 is, for example, a connection portion of a wire harness that is routed from the engine room side of the vehicle to the room side.

The male connector 2 has, for example, a cylindrical shape, and has a plurality of male terminals projecting into an opening 2a on the distal end side. It is used as an alignment guide at the time of coupling. A locking claw 2 protruding inward is provided on a wall surface near an end surface of the opening 2a.
d and 2d are provided to face each other. This male connector 2
The base end 2b is fixed to, for example, an instrument panel (not shown) on the indoor side of the vehicle.

The female connector 3 has a cylindrical shape corresponding to the male connector 2, and the distal end 3 a has an opening 2 of the male connector 2.
a male connector 2 near the tip of the outer peripheral surface.
At the positions corresponding to the locking claws 2d, 2d.
c is provided, and an engaging ridge 3d is provided in an annular shape over the entire outer peripheral surface near the base end 3b. The locking claws 2d, 2d of the male connector 2 and the locking recesses 3c, 3c of the female connector 3 are arranged such that the distal end 3a of the female connector 3 fits into the opening 2a of the male connector 2 and these male connectors 2
In a state in which the female connector 3 and the female connector 3 are completely connected, the female connector 3 can be engaged. Each locking claw 2d has a chevron shape with locking surfaces on both sides having a substantially symmetrical inclined surface.
Female half rock. The female connector 3 uses a terminal with a waterproof boot, and prevents rainwater from entering the connector from the base end 3b side.

The grommet 4 has an annular inner shell portion 4a externally fitted to the female connector 3 and an outer shell cylindrical portion 4b mounted in a through hole 5a of a dash panel 5 (FIG. 2) as a partition. A bellows part 4d which is arranged concentrically with the space 4c and which continuously connects the base end of the inner shell part 4a and the base end of the outer shell part 4b over the entire circumference is integrally formed. ing. An annular groove 4e is provided at substantially the center of the inner peripheral surface of the inner shell cylindrical portion 4a, into which a ridge 3d for engagement of the female connector 3 is fitted. An annular groove 4f into which the through hole 5a fits is provided.

The inner diameter of the inner cylindrical portion 4a is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the female connector 3, and the outer diameter of the outer cylindrical portion 4b is larger than the through hole 5a. The outer diameter of the bottom surface is slightly larger than the through hole 5a. A front part 4g (a side wall part inserted into the through-hole 5a) of the annular groove 4f of the outer shell cylindrical part 4b is an inclined surface whose diameter decreases in a substantially tapered shape from the annular groove 4f side toward the front end. Has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the through hole 5a, thereby facilitating insertion into the through hole 5a. Also, the rear part 4h of the annular groove 4f.
Is larger in diameter than the front part 4g, and has a function of a stopper that widely adheres to the periphery of the through hole 5a to improve waterproofness and also prevents penetration when inserted into the through hole 5a. ing. The grommet 4 is integrally formed of, for example, a rubber member having elasticity and waterproofness.

The operation will be described below. As shown in FIG. 2, the male connector 2 has a base end 2 d fixed to an instrument panel (not shown) and arranged inside the dash panel 5, and an opening 2 a arranged to face the through hole 5 a. The standby connector. The female connector 3 is fitted inside the inner cylindrical portion 4a of the grommet 4, and the annular ridge 3d is fitted into the annular groove 4e to be fixedly attached to the inner cylindrical portion 4a. The inner shell cylindrical portion 4a is attached to substantially the entire proximal end portion 3b except for the distal end portion 3a to be connected to the male connector 2. The inner diameter of the inner shell cylindrical portion 4a is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the female connector 3 so that it has elasticity and close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the female connector 3, and has an annular ridge 3d and an annular groove. By fitting with 4e, the water between them is completely stopped. In this way, the grommet 4 is mounted and fixed to the female connector 3 in a liquid-tight manner.

Next, the distal end 3a of the female connector 3 is passed through the through hole 5a of the dash panel 5 from the engine room side, and the male connector 2 awaits and opens while being aligned with the tapered opening end 2c. It gradually fits into the part 2a. Then, the tip of the outer cylindrical portion 4b of the grommet 4 is inserted into the through hole 5a while pressing the base end 3b of the female connector 3 and the rear portion 4h of the outer cylindrical portion 4b of the grommet 4. The outer cylindrical portion 4b of the grommet 4 has a front end formed with a through hole 5b.
a is slightly smaller than the diameter of the through hole 5a.
Easily inserted into The grommet 4 is configured such that as the base end 3b and the rear part 4h of the female connector 3 are pressed, the outer shell cylindrical part 4 is pressed.
The front portion 4g, which forms a tapered surface b, is pushed in while being reduced in diameter against the elasticity by the through hole 5a, and the through hole 5a fits in the annular groove 4f.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the grommet 4, the front portion 4g returns to its original shape by elasticity when the annular groove 4f is fitted in the through hole 5a, and the front portion 4g and the rear portion 4h are formed in the through hole 5a. The rear portion 4h has a large diameter, so that the rear portion 4h has a large diameter and closely adheres to the engine room side peripheral portion of the through hole 5a. Further, since the outer diameter of the bottom surface of the annular groove 4f is slightly larger than the through hole 5a, the bottom surface is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 5a. Further, since the inner shell cylindrical portion 4a and the outer shell cylindrical portion 4b are continuously provided over the entire circumference by the bellows portion 4d, the through hole 5a of the dash panel 5 is provided.
, The engine room side and the room side are completely shut off. Thus, the grommet 4 is mounted and fixed in the through hole 5a in a liquid-tight manner.

The grommet 4 has an inner shell 4a and an outer shell 4b separated by an annular space 4c, and a bellows 4d.
The inner cylindrical portion 4a, that is, the female connector 3 can be displaced in the radial direction and the axial direction with respect to the outer cylindrical portion 4b, that is, the through-hole 5a. The displacement is possible even if the tip of 4a slightly enters the open end 2c of the male connector 2 which expands in a tapered shape. As a result, the male connector 2 which is the standby connector
Can be connected to the female connector 3 by absorbing the mounting error, even if they are displaced in the radial direction with respect to the through hole 5a or in the connecting direction with the female connector 3.

On the other hand, the female connector 3 has the distal end 3a inserted into the opening 2a of the male connector 2 as the base end is pushed, and the outer cylindrical portion 4b of the grommet 4 is fitted and fixed in the through hole 5a. In this state, the male connector 2 is completely connected, and the locking claws 2d, 2d engage with the locking recesses 3c, 3c (FIG. 3). As a result, the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are locked in a coupled state.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the female connector 3 is coupled to the male connector 2, the grommet 4 allows the female connector 3 to be displaced in the radial direction with respect to the dash panel 5 and in the coupling direction with the male connector 2. Since the open end 2c of the male connector 2 faces the annular space 4c between the inner cylindrical portion 4a and the outer cylindrical portion 4b of the grommet 4, the tip of the inner cylindrical portion 4a expands in a tapered shape. Even if it enters the opening end 2c that opens, it can be displaced in the radial direction and the coupling direction. Then, the female connector 3 is cut off from the dash panel 5. Thereby, the stress caused by the vibration of the dash panel 5 is absorbed and is not transmitted to the female connector 3.

When the connection between the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 is released, the front part 4 of the grommet 4 is
g is reduced in diameter against the elastic force so that the through hole 5a and the annular groove 4f are formed.
Disengage with and push it out to the engine room side. Since the locking portion between the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 is a male-female half lock, the locking is released with the pushing operation of the grommet 4, and the female connector 3 is connected to the inner shell cylinder of the grommet 4. The connection with the male connector 2 is released by being pushed out to the engine room side together with the portion 4a.

[0023]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first connector disposed on one side of the partition is connected to the second connector disposed on the other side of the partition. In the mounting structure of the connector coupled through the through portion, the second connector is provided with a grommet for closing the through portion, and the first connector is provided on one side of the through portion and the second connector is provided with the second connector. A structure in which the grommet is attached to and closed by the penetrating portion when the second connector is inserted into the penetrating portion, and the second connector is coupled to the first connector. By doing so, it is possible to satisfactorily stop water on both sides of the partition wall penetration portion, and it is possible to easily couple the first connector and the second connector. Further, the structure is extremely simple, the number of parts is small, and the cost is significantly reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the grommet includes:
A mounting portion for the second connector and a mounting portion for the penetrating portion are provided concentrically, and one end is continuously provided around the entire circumference by a bellows portion, so that the second connector is located inside the grommet. It is displaceable, and is mounted on the second connector and the penetrating portion in a state where the first connector and the second connector are connected to block both sides of the partition wall, thereby greatly improving the sealability of the partition wall penetrating portion. And the first connector on the standby side can be easily connected even if the mounting position of the first connector is deviated, so that the first and second connectors can be securely connected and workability can be improved. Is improved. Further, the second connector is cut off from the partition wall by the bellows portion, and the stress caused by the vibration from the partition wall is absorbed and is not transmitted to the second connector.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a connector mounting structure according to the present invention, in a state where a connector is separated.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram when the connector shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a partition wall penetration portion.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state where the connector shown in FIG. 2 is attached to a partition.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a wire harness that connects an engine room side and a room side of a vehicle.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a connector of the wire harness shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example of a wire harness connector for connecting an engine room side and a room side.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example of a wire harness connector for connecting an engine room side and a room side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 2 Male connector (1st connector) 3 Female connector (2nd connector) 4 Grommet 4a Inner shell cylindrical part 4b Outer shell cylindrical part 4d Bellows part 5 Dash panel (partition wall) 5a Through hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connector mounting structure for coupling a second connector disposed on the other side of the partition to a first connector disposed on one side of the partition through a through portion of the partition. A grommet for closing the through portion is attached to the connector, and the first connector is provided on one side of the through portion and waits for the second connector. A connector mounting structure, wherein the grommet is attached to and closed by the through portion when inserted into the through portion, and the second connector is coupled to the first connector. 2. The grommet according to claim 1, wherein a mounting portion for the second connector and a mounting portion for the penetrating portion are provided concentrically, and one side end is continuously provided by a bellows portion over the entire circumference. A second connector is displaceable within the grommet;
2. The connector mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are attached to the second connector and the penetrating portion to shut off both sides of the partition wall. 3.