JP2009218188A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve stabilization of sealing performance at an outer periphery of a bulk rubber plug. <P>SOLUTION: A deformation-regulating member 50 made of synthetic resin having a form of coupling a pair of nearly parallel deformation-regulating ribs 51 with a coupling rib 52 is provided inside the bulk rubber plug 20, wherein the deformation-regulating ribs 51 are arranged so as to be extended along an outer periphery of the bulk rubber plug 20 between the outer periphery of the plug 20 and wire insertion holes 22 arranged along the outer periphery of the plug 20, while a rubber material alone constituting the bulk rubber plug 20 exists between the wire insertion holes 22 adjacent to each other nearly at right angles and the deformation-regulating ribs 51. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector having a waterproof function.

  As a connector having a waterproof function, it is provided with a synthetic resin housing having a plurality of cavities, a batch rubber plug through which a plurality of electric wire insertion holes are penetrated, and a plurality of terminal fittings having electric wires connected to the rear end. ing. The collective rubber plug is fitted into a housing recess that opens at the rear end surface of the housing, and the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug is in liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess. Further, the terminal fitting is penetrated from the rear into the wire insertion hole and accommodated in the cavity, and the inner periphery of the wire insertion hole is in close contact with the outer periphery of the wire in a liquid-tight manner.

  When using a connector with such a configuration in an environment where the temperature changes drastically, the outer circumference of the bulk rubber plug and the housing are accommodated due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the synthetic resin that is the housing material and the rubber that is the bulk rubber plug material. There is a concern that the state of elastic contact with the inner peripheral surface of the recess will fluctuate greatly and the sealing performance will become unstable.

As a countermeasure, a plurality of cylindrical portions protrude from the front surface of the synthetic resin rubber plug holder that presses the rear surface of the batch rubber plug, and a plurality of grooves that individually surround each wire insertion hole are formed on the rear surface of the batch rubber plug. A method of forming and fitting the cylindrical portion into each groove is conceivable. With such a configuration, excessive deformation of the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug is suppressed by the plurality of cylindrical portions arranged along the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug, so that the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug and the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating recess It can be expected that the variation in the contact state due to the temperature change during the period is suppressed. Such a connector is disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like.
JP 2004-342415 A

However, since the plurality of cylindrical portions arranged along the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug are spaced apart from each other, deformation of a portion of the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug close to the collective rubber plug is effectively suppressed. On the other hand, in the portion corresponding to the space between the tube portion, the deformation suppressing force by the tube portion does not sufficiently act. For this reason, there is a concern that the contact state between the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug and the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating recess is not uniform in the circumferential direction of the collective rubber plug.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to stabilize the sealing performance on the outer periphery of a batch rubber stopper.

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a housing made of synthetic resin having a plurality of cavities, and a batch rubber plug having a substantially square shape formed by penetrating a plurality of wire insertion holes, A plurality of terminal fittings connected to an electric wire at the rear end, and the collective rubber plug is fitted into a housing recess formed to open at the rear end surface of the housing, and the outer circumference of the collective rubber plug is The terminal fitting is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the housing recess, and the terminal fitting is penetrated from the rear into the wire insertion hole and accommodated in the cavity. In the connector in which the inner periphery of the insertion hole is in close contact with the liquid-tight state, a deformation restriction member made of a synthetic resin in a form in which a pair of substantially parallel deformation restriction ribs are connected to each other inside the batch rubber plug by a connection rib. And the deformation rule is provided. The rib is arranged so as to extend along the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug, and only the rubber material constituting the collective rubber plug is interposed between the wire insertion holes adjacent to each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the deformation regulating rib. It has features where it exists.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the deformation restricting rib is provided between an outer periphery of the collective rubber plug and the electric wire insertion hole disposed along the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug. It is characterized by where it is placed.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the pair of deformation restricting ribs are arranged along a pair of long sides of the batch rubber plug. .

<Invention of Claim 1>
Since the deformation restricting member is made of synthetic resin like the housing, the positional relationship between the deformation restricting rib and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess does not vary greatly even if the ambient temperature changes greatly. Therefore, a portion of the collective rubber plug that exists between the deformation regulating rib and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess is not greatly displaced in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess. Further, the portion of the collective rubber plug that exists between the deformation regulating rib and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess has a relatively small thickness, so that the amount of expansion / contraction due to temperature change is also relatively small. Thereby, even if atmospheric temperature changes greatly, the contact | adherence state of the outer periphery of the lump rubber stopper with respect to an accommodation recessed part does not change a lot. Moreover, since the deformation restricting rib extends along the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug, the close contact state of the collective rubber plug with the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess is uniform in the circumferential direction of the collective rubber plug. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to stabilize the sealing performance on the outer periphery of the batch rubber stopper.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since there is no wire insertion hole between the deformation regulating rib and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess, the portion of the batch rubber plug that exists between the deformation regulating rib and the inner circumferential surface of the housing recess is thick. Becomes thinner. Thereby, even if atmospheric temperature changes greatly, the fluctuation | variation of the contact | adherence state of the outer periphery of the lump rubber stopper with respect to an accommodation recessed part is suppressed more.

<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the pair of deformation restriction ribs are arranged along the pair of long sides of the batch rubber stopper, the effect of the deformation restriction by the deformation restriction ribs can be greatly expected.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The connector of the present embodiment is a connector that is waterproofed by using a collective rubber plug 20, and includes a housing 10, a collective rubber plug 20, a rubber plug holder 30, a plurality of terminal fittings 40, and a deformation regulating member 50. It is prepared for.

  The housing 10 is made of synthetic resin, and has 12 cavities 11 penetrating in the front-rear direction. The twelve chamber cavities 11 are divided into six chambers in two upper and lower stages, and the upper and lower cavities 11 are both arranged at a constant pitch in the horizontal direction (left-right direction).

  A housing recess 12 that opens to the rear end surface is formed at the rear end of the housing 10. The housing recess 12 has a horizontally long substantially square shape when viewed from the rear, and the four corners of the inner peripheral surface form a substantially quarter-arc curved surface. The inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12 functions as a sealing surface over the upper, lower, left and right planes and the entire four curved surfaces. A pair of locking projections 13 are formed on the outer surface of the housing recess 12.

  The collective rubber plug 20 is made of a relatively soft rubber material and has a horizontally long block shape as a whole. The collective rubber plug 20 is fitted into the housing recess 12 from the rear. On the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug 20, an outer peripheral lip portion 21 in a form protruding in a rib shape along the circumferential direction is continuously formed over the entire periphery. The outer peripheral lip portion 21 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12 in a liquid-tight manner over the entire circumference in a state of being elastically crushed and deformed. The elastic close contact action of the outer peripheral lip 21 prevents the liquid (water) from entering the cavity 11 through the gap between the inner periphery of the housing recess 12 and the outer periphery of the batch rubber stopper 20.

  Further, twelve electric wire insertion holes 22 penetrating from the front end surface to the rear end surface are formed in the collective rubber plug 20. Each of the electric wire insertion holes 22 has a circular cross-sectional shape, and is arranged in six pieces in two upper and lower stages so as to correspond to the cavities 11 of 12 chambers. On the inner periphery of each electric wire insertion hole 22, a circumferential inner peripheral lip portion 23 is formed so as to form a concentric circle. The inner diameter of the inner peripheral lip 23 is smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire 43 described later.

  The rubber plug holder 30 is made of a synthetic resin, has a plate shape that covers the rear surface of the collective rubber plug 20, and has a pair of elastically deformable arms 31. The rubber plug holder 30 is assembled to the housing 10 from the rear, and is held in an assembled state with respect to the housing 10 by locking a locking hole 32 formed in the arm portion 31 to the locking projection 13. In the assembled state, the rubber plug holder 30 is in a state of being pressed or abutted against the rear surface of the collective rubber plug 20, thereby restricting the collective rubber plug 20 from being separated (removed) rearward from the housing 10. Thus, it is held in a state of being fitted in the housing recess 12. Twelve terminal insertion holes 33 are formed in the rubber plug holder 30 so as to correspond to the electric wire insertion holes 22.

  The terminal fitting 40 is elongate in the front-rear direction, and a substantially first half portion thereof is a connection portion 41 with a mating terminal (not shown), and a substantially second half portion is a wire crimping portion 42. Are connected so that the electric wire 43 can conduct. The electric wire 43 connected to the terminal fitting 40 is configured to extend rearward from the rear end of the terminal fitting 40 along the length direction of the terminal fitting 40. The terminal fitting 40 passes through the terminal insertion hole 33 of the rubber plug holder 30 and the wire insertion hole 22 of the batch rubber plug 20 in order from the rear, and is accommodated in the cavity 11 in the housing 10, and is pulled out by a retaining portion (not shown). It is held in a stopped state.

  In the process in which the terminal fitting 40 passes through the electric wire insertion hole 22, the terminal fitting 40 pushes the electric wire insertion hole 22 so as to expand the diameter. When the terminal fitting 40 finishes passing through the electric wire insertion hole 22 and is accommodated in the cavity 11, the electric wire 43 penetrates through the electric wire insertion hole 22, and the inner peripheral lip portion 23 is against the outer periphery of the electric wire 43. Adheres in a liquid-tight manner. Due to the elastic close contact action of the inner peripheral lip 23, liquid (water) is prevented from entering the cavity 11 through the gap between the inner periphery of the wire insertion hole 22 and the outer periphery of the wire 43.

In the connector according to the present embodiment, the sealing performance between the outer periphery of the batch rubber stopper 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12 is stable so as to suppress fluctuations due to changes in the ambient temperature around the connector. Means are provided. The configuration will be described below.
The collective rubber plug 20 is formed with a mounting groove 24 having a substantially H-shaped opening on the rear surface. A deformation regulating member 50 is attached to the attachment groove 24.

  The deformation regulating member 50 is manufactured as a separate part from the batch rubber plug 20 and is made of a synthetic resin that is the same material as the housing 10. The deformation restricting member 50 includes a pair of upper and lower deformation restricting ribs 51 and one connecting rib 52 configured to connect both deformation restricting ribs 51. The deformation restricting member 50 is fitted into the mounting groove 24 from the rear of the collective rubber plug 20 without any gap. In a state where the deformation restricting member 50 is attached to the collective rubber plug 20, the deformation restricting member 50 is exposed on the rear surface of the collective rubber plug 20, and the rear surface of the deformable restricting member 50 faces the rear surface of the collective rubber plug 20. It is in one shape. The rubber stopper holder 30 also restricts the deformation restricting member 50 from being detached from the collective rubber stopper 20 backward.

  The pair of deformation restricting ribs 51 constituting the deformation restricting member 50 extend linearly in the left-right direction along the upper peripheral surface and the lower peripheral surface of the outer periphery of the batch rubber plug 20, that is, the long side peripheral surface. It has a long and narrow plate shape with the plate surface oriented horizontally. The formation region of the deformation regulating rib 51 in the left-right direction is a range that covers substantially the entire width of the upper surface and the lower surface of the collective rubber plug 20, and is a wide range that includes the formation regions of all the wire insertion holes 22.

  Further, in the vertical direction, the upper deformation restriction rib 51 includes an upper peripheral surface of the collective rubber plug 20 and an upper stage disposed along the upper peripheral surface (that is, a side close to the upper peripheral surface). Are arranged at positions between the six electric wire insertion holes 22. On the other hand, the lower deformation restricting rib 51 is provided on the lower peripheral surface of the batch rubber plug 20 and the lower step side (that is, the side closer to the lower peripheral surface) arranged along the lower peripheral surface. It is arranged at a position between the six electric wire insertion holes 22. Accordingly, the rubber constituting the batch rubber plug 20 is between the upper wire insertion hole 22 and the lower wire insertion hole 22, that is, between the wire insertion holes 22 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the deformation regulating rib 51. Only the material is present, and no member constituting the deformation restricting member 50 is present.

  The connection rib 52 connects the center positions in the length direction (left-right direction) of the pair of deformation restriction ribs 51, and is connected to the deformation restriction rib 51 at a right angle. The connecting rib 52 is positioned so as to divide the arrangement area including all the wire insertion holes 22 into two areas on the left and right. The connecting rib 52 is a vertically long plate having the same thickness as that of the deformation restriction rib 51, and the dimensions in the front-rear direction are the same as those of the deformation restriction rib 51. That is, the front surface of the connecting rib 52 is flush with the front surface of the deformation restricting rib 51, and the rear surface of the connecting rib 52 is flush with the rear surface of the deformation restricting rib 51.

  Since the deformation regulating member 50 is made of synthetic resin like the housing 10, the coefficient of thermal expansion is substantially the same as that of the housing 10. Therefore, even if the ambient temperature around the connector changes greatly, the positional relationship between the deformation regulating rib 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12 in the vertical direction (the approach / separation direction) does not vary greatly. Therefore, a portion of the collective rubber plug 20 that exists between the deformation regulating rib 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12 (a portion that is long in the left-right direction constituting the upper and lower peripheral portions of the collective rubber plug 20). There is no possibility of large displacement in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12.

  Further, the portion of the collective rubber plug 20 that exists between the deformation regulating rib 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12 is relatively thin, so that it can expand and contract in the vertical direction (thickness direction) due to temperature changes. The amount of shrinkage is also relatively small. Therefore, even if the atmospheric temperature changes greatly, there is no possibility that the contact state of the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug 20 with respect to the housing recess 12 will fluctuate greatly. Moreover, since the deformation restricting rib 51 extends along the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug 20, the close contact state of the collective rubber plug 20 with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12 is the circumferential direction of the collective rubber plug 20 (deformation restricting rib). 51 in the length direction). Thereby, the sealing performance in the upper surface and lower surface of the lump rubber stopper 20 can be stabilized.

  Moreover, since the deformation | transformation control rib 51 is distribute | arranged between the outer periphery of the lump rubber stopper 20, and the electric wire penetration hole 22 arrange | positioned along the outer periphery of the lump rubber stopper 20, the deformation restriction rib 51 and the accommodation recessed part 12 are provided. The wire insertion hole 22 does not exist between the inner peripheral surface of the wire. Therefore, the thickness of the portion of the collective rubber plug 20 existing between the deformation regulating rib 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 12 is sufficiently thin. Thereby, even if atmospheric temperature changes greatly, the fluctuation | variation of the contact | adherence state of the outer periphery of the lump rubber stopper 20 with respect to the accommodation recessed part 12 is suppressed effectively.

  Moreover, since a pair of deformation | transformation control rib 51 is distribute | arranged along a pair of long side among the outer periphery of the lump rubber stopper 20, by the deformation | transformation control rib 51 compared with the case where it provides along a short side. The deformation regulating action covers a wide range, and the effect of stabilizing the sealing performance is great.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the pair of deformation regulating ribs are arranged along the long side of the collective rubber plug, but the pair of deformation regulating ribs may be along the short side of the collective rubber plug.
(2) In the above embodiment, the pair of deformation restricting ribs are connected by one connecting rib, but the pair of deformation restricting ribs may be connected by a plurality of connecting ribs.
(3) In the above embodiment, the pair of deformation restricting ribs are connected at the center in the length direction, but the pair of deformation restricting ribs may be connected by a pair of connecting ribs at both ends in the length direction. . In this case, since the connecting rib is disposed at a position close to the outer periphery of the batch rubber stopper, it can be expected that the function as a deformation regulating rib is exhibited. In addition to the both ends of the deformation regulating rib, one or a plurality of coupling ribs may be connected at a position shifted from the center to the end side in the length direction of the deformation regulating rib.
(4) In the above embodiment, the deformation regulating rib is arranged between the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug and the electric wire insertion hole arranged along the outer circumference of the collective rubber plug. You may arrange | position on the center side opposite to the outer periphery of the said lump rubber stopper on both sides of the electric wire penetration hole distribute | arranged along the outer periphery.
(5) In the above embodiment, the pair of deformation regulating ribs are arranged along only the long side of the collective rubber plug, but the two pairs of deformation regulating ribs are arranged along both the long side and the short side of the collective rubber plug. May be. In this case, the connection rib that connects the long side deformation restriction ribs and the connection rib that connects the short side deformation restriction ribs intersect each other. In this case, the end of the long side deformation regulating rib and the end of the short side deformation regulating rib may be connected to each other or may be separated from each other.
(6) Although the number of cavities is 12 in the above embodiment, the number of cavities may be 11 or less or 13 or more. Further, the form of the cavity array is not limited to the above embodiment.
(7) In the above embodiment, the deformation restricting member is assembled to the collective rubber plug from the rear, but the deformation restricting member may be assembled to the collective rubber plug from the front.
(8) In the above embodiment, the deformation restricting member is a part independent of the housing and the rubber plug holder and is assembled to the batch rubber plug. However, the deformation restricting member is formed integrally with the housing. Alternatively, it may be formed integrally with the rubber plug holder, or may be integrated with the batch rubber plug by two-color molding.
(9) In the above embodiment, the deformation restricting member is exposed only on the rear surface of the collective rubber plug, but the deformation restricting member may be exposed only on the front surface of the collective rubber plug, It is good also as a form exposed to both of a rear surface.

Partially cutaway side view of Embodiment 1 Rear view of batch rubber stopper

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing 11 ... Cavity 12 ... Accommodating recessed part 20 ... Collective rubber stopper 22 ... Electric wire insertion hole 40 ... Terminal metal fitting 43 ... Electric wire 50 ... Deformation | regulation regulation member 51 ... Deformation | regulation regulation rib 52 ... Connection rib

Claims (3)

A synthetic resin housing having a plurality of cavities;
A batch rubber plug having a substantially square shape formed by penetrating a plurality of wire insertion holes;
A plurality of terminal fittings with wires connected to the rear end,
The collective rubber plug is fitted into an accommodation recess formed so as to open at the rear end surface of the housing, and the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug is in liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the accommodation recess. And
In the connector, the terminal fitting is penetrated from the rear through the wire insertion hole and accommodated in the cavity, and the inner periphery of the wire insertion hole is in close contact with the outer periphery of the wire in a liquid-tight manner.
Inside the batch rubber stopper, a deformation restriction member made of synthetic resin in a form in which a pair of deformation restriction ribs that are substantially parallel are connected by a connection rib is provided,
The deformation restriction rib is arranged to extend along the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug,
Only the rubber material which comprises the said package rubber stopper exists between the said electric wire penetration holes adjacent to the said deformation | transformation control rib at a substantially right angle direction.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the deformation regulating rib is disposed between an outer periphery of the collective rubber plug and the electric wire insertion hole arranged along the outer periphery of the collective rubber plug.   The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pair of deformation regulating ribs are arranged along a pair of long sides of the batch rubber plug.

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