JP2011014390A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector, which does not require an increase in components, and maintains a good connection state, which prevents looseness between fitted and connected connectors, over a long term even in an environment where strong vibration or the like is acted.SOLUTION: A rib 56 for pressing a tip end side outer circumference surface 47 of a male housing part 41, which is inserted in a female housing part 51, is integrally formed on a base end side inner circumference part 51a of the female housing part 51 in which the male housing part 41 is fitted. The rib 56 is formed to have a shape with protrusion gradually increased toward a base end of the female housing part 51. The male housing part 41 can receive pressing of the rib 56 by elastically deforming.

Description

  According to the present invention, the first connection terminal in the male housing part and the female housing part are fitted and connected to the male housing part of the first connector and the female housing part of the second connector. It is related with the connector which makes the 2nd connection terminal inside the electrical connection state.

  A connector having the above structure is often used for a connection part of an electric circuit of an automobile or the like. In this type of connector, if rattling occurs between the male housing part and the female housing part that are connected to each other, the connection between the connecting terminals that are electrically connected to each other is accompanied by the backlash of each housing part. There is a risk that impact or sliding will occur, leading to problems such as wear or breakage of the connection terminals.

  Therefore, conventionally, in this type of connector, measures have been taken to eliminate backlash between the mated and connected male housing portion and female housing portion.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.
In this connector 1, the male housing portion 4 of the first connector 3 and the female housing portion 8 of the second connector 7 are fitted and connected.

  The male housing part 4 accommodates a first connection terminal 5 which is a female terminal. The female housing portion 8 has a cylindrical structure that fits on the outer periphery of the male housing portion 4, and a second connection terminal that is a male terminal that fits on the first connection terminal 5 on the inner side thereof. 9 is arranged.

  As shown in the figure, when the male housing part 4 and the female housing part 8 are fitted, the first connection terminal 5 and the second connection terminal 9 arranged inside each housing part are fitted. When connected, they are in an electrically connected state.

  In the case of this connector 1, an annular rubber packing 11 is attached to the proximal inner peripheral portion of the female housing portion 8 so as to be waterproof.

  The rubber packing 11 has a convex portion 11a that urges the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the male housing portion 4 toward the center, and a direction that is in contact with the corner portion of the distal end of the male housing portion 4 and orthogonal to the fitting direction. And an inclined portion 11b that performs positioning in two directions, that is, a fitting direction.

  In the case of the connector 1 in FIG. 6, the convex portion 11 a and the inclined portion 11 b of the rubber packing 11 function as means for preventing the male housing portion 4 from rattling.

7 and 8 show a conventional connector disclosed in Patent Document 2 below.
The connector 13 fits and connects the male housing portion 15 of the first connector 14 and the female housing portion 18 of the second connector 17. By the fitting connection between the housing parts, the first connection terminal 19 in the male housing part 15 and the second connection terminal 21 disposed inside the female housing part 18 are connected.

  An annular rubber packing 23 for waterproofing is fitted and attached to the outer periphery of the male housing portion 15, and an inner ring 25 and an outer ring 26 are fitted and attached to prevent rattling. The inner ring 25 and the outer ring 26 are formed of a resin material harder than the rubber packing 23 (for example, the same resin material as each housing portion).

  The inner ring 25 and the outer ring 26 are provided with wedge-shaped members 25a and 26a at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the inner ring 25 and the outer ring 26 are arranged so that the slopes of the wedge-shaped members 25a and 26a overlap each other.

  The wedge-shaped member 26a fitted to the distal end side of the male housing part 15 has a length set so as to protrude from the distal end of the male housing part 15, and when the housing parts are fitted to each other, The housing inner end surface 17a on the proximal end side of the female housing portion 18 presses the wedge-shaped member 26a toward the wedge-shaped member 25a (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8). As a result, the outer ring 26 rides on the inner ring 25, the wedge-shaped member 25 a urges the outer periphery of the male housing portion 15 in the reduced diameter direction, and the wedge-shaped member 26 a moves along the inner periphery of the female housing portion 18. By energizing in the diameter increasing direction, the fitting direction of each housing part and the backlash in the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction are prevented.

JP 2007-73457 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-19287

However, since the rubber packing 11 used for waterproofing is easily elastically deformed as compared with the material of each connector, in the connector 1 that also uses the rubber packing 11 as a means for preventing rattling, for example, fitting connection When strong vibration or the like is applied to one of the male and female housing parts 4 and 8, the rubber packing 11 is bent by the vibration, and there is a possibility that rattling occurs between the male and female housing parts. .
In addition, the rubber packing 11 is generally more susceptible to deterioration of mechanical properties due to aging than the resin material used for the male and female housing portions 4 and 8, and can maintain the anti-rattle performance for a long period of time. There was also a problem that was difficult.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in the case of the connector 13 incorporating wedge-shaped members 25a and 26a separate from the rubber packing 23 to prevent rattling, for example, the respective wedge-shaped members 25a, 25a, 26a is made of a material having high rigidity equivalent to that of the male and female housing portions 15 and 18, the relative displacement between the male and female housing portions 15 and 18 to be fitted and connected can be more firmly regulated. Even in an environment in which strong vibrations or the like act, it is possible to maintain a good connected state in which there is no backlash between the connected connectors.
However, since separate wedge-shaped members 25a and 26a are used, the number of components increases, resulting in a problem that the assemblability is lowered and the cost is increased.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and does not cause an increase in the number of components, and even in an environment where strong vibrations or the like act, there is no backlash between the connected connectors. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can maintain a good connection state for a longer period of time.

The above-described object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.
(1) By fitting and connecting the male housing part of the first connector and the female housing part of the second connector, the first connection terminal in the male housing part and the female housing part A connector for electrically connecting the inner second connection terminal;
A rib for pressing the outer peripheral surface of the distal end side of the male housing part inserted into the female housing part is integrally formed on the inner peripheral part of the proximal end in the outer peripheral hood of the female housing part,
The rib extends along the fitting direction of the male housing part, and the proximal end of the female housing part is configured to gradually increase the pressing force to the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side of the male housing part. Is formed in a form that the bulge gradually increases toward
The male housing part is provided with a pressure receiving mechanism that receives the pressure of the rib by elastic deformation,
A connector characterized in that the fitting between the male housing part and the female housing part is brought into a tight fitting state without backlash by the pressing force of the rib.

  (2) The connector according to (1), wherein the pressure receiving mechanism is a thin portion that allows a part of a peripheral wall on a distal end side of the male housing portion to be elastically displaced by pressing the rib. .

  According to the configuration of the above (1), the ratchet prevention between the male housing part and the female housing part to be fitted and connected is achieved by the rib integrally formed on the proximal end side inner peripheral part of the female housing part. This is done by pressing the outer peripheral surface of the male housing part inserted into the female housing part, and since no separate parts are used, the number of components does not increase.

  In addition, the rib that presses the outer peripheral surface on the front end side of the male housing part is integrated with the female housing part, and therefore, compared to a rubber material used for packing or the like, there is little deterioration in mechanical properties due to aging, And it is made of a highly rigid material. Therefore, the relative displacement between the male and female housing portions to be fitted and connected can be more firmly regulated, and the deterioration of the performance for regulating the relative displacement can be suppressed.

  Therefore, even in an environment where strong vibrations or the like act, it is possible to maintain a good connection state in which the backlash between the connected connectors does not occur for a long period of time, which is caused by backlash between the housing parts. It is possible to provide a high-performance connector in which the connection terminal is not easily worn or damaged.

  According to the configuration of (2) above, the pressure receiving mechanism may be, for example, a thin wall portion formed on the side wall portion of the male housing portion, etc., and does not increase the number of components. In addition, the elastic characteristics of the housing wall that is displaced by the pressing of the rib can be adjusted flexibly by appropriately adjusting the thickness of the thin portion or the size (range) of the thin portion. Therefore, an appropriate frictional force can be generated when the rib is pressed, and a good anti-rattle performance can be obtained.

  According to the connector of the present invention, rattling between the male housing part and the female housing part to be fitted and connected can be prevented by using a rib integrally formed on the proximal end side inner peripheral part of the female housing part. This is done by pressing against the outer peripheral surface of the male housing part inserted into the mold housing part, and since no separate parts are used, the number of components does not increase.

In addition, the rib that presses the outer peripheral surface on the front end side of the male housing part is integrated with the female housing part, and therefore, compared to a rubber material used for packing or the like, there is little deterioration in mechanical properties due to aging, And it is made of a highly rigid material. Therefore, the relative displacement between the male and female housing portions to be fitted and connected can be more firmly regulated, and the deterioration of the performance for regulating the relative displacement can be suppressed.
Therefore, even in an environment where strong vibrations or the like act, it is possible to maintain a good connection state in which the backlash between the connected connectors does not occur for a long period of time, which is caused by backlash between the housing parts. It is possible to provide a high-performance connector in which the connection terminal is not easily worn or damaged.

It is a disassembled perspective view of one Embodiment of the connector which concerns on this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state of the fitting initial stage of the male housing part and female housing part which were shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state at the time of completion of fitting with the male housing part and female housing part which were shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the B section of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the C section of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the fitting state of the male housing part and female housing part in the conventional connector. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of another conventional connector. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the fitting state of the male housing part and female housing part in the connector shown in FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a connector according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a connector according to the present invention.
The connector 31 according to this embodiment is a so-called waterproof connector, and includes a first connector 42 having a male housing part 41 and a second housing part 51 having a female housing part 51 fitted to the outer periphery of the male housing part 41. And a gasket 61 made of a waterproof rubber material to be mounted between the fitting portions of the first connector 42 and the second connector 52.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the male housing portion 41 of the first connector 42 has a substantially cylindrical structure having a fitting hood 44, and a male connection terminal is provided in the male housing portion 41. The first connection terminal 71 is arranged in a protruding state. The base end side of the first connection terminal 71 is held by a terminal holding portion 43 that is integrally formed with the base end of the male housing portion 41. Further, a locking projection 45 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the male housing part 41 so as to engage with the locking part 53a of the lock arm 53 on the second connector 52 side.

  The second connector 52 includes a terminal holding portion 54 that fits into the fitting hood 44 of the male housing portion 41 having a substantially cylindrical structure between the outer peripheral hood 57 as the female housing portion 51 and the lock arm 53. Is provided. A second connection terminal 73, which is a female connection terminal that fits into the first connection terminal 71, is attached to the terminal holding portion 54.

  The rubber-made packing 61 is fitted and attached to the outer periphery of the terminal holding portion 54, and when the terminal holding portion 54 is fitted into the male housing portion 41, the terminal holding portion 54 and the male housing portion 41 are interposed. Close liquid tightly.

  A retainer 63 having a substantially cylindrical structure is fitted and attached to the distal end portion of the terminal holding portion 54. The retainer 63 accommodates and holds the distal end portion of the second connection terminal 73 inserted into the terminal holding portion 54, and prevents the terminal locking lance 55 from being flexibly displaced to hold the second connection terminal 73. Double locking.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the inner peripheral portion of the fitting hood 44 of the male housing portion 41, there are a packing housing portion 41 a with which a rubber material packing 61 abuts, and a retainer housing portion 41 b for housing the retainer 63. Is formed.

  The connector 31 according to the embodiment is configured such that the male housing part 41 of the first connector 42 is fitted and connected to the inside of the female housing part 51 of the second connector 52 as indicated by an arrow D in FIG. Thus, the first connector 42 and the second connector 52 are combined.

  When the fitting of the first connector 42 and the second connector 52 is normally completed, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the locking portion 53 a of the lock arm 53 of the second connector 52 is moved to the first connector 42. Engaging with the locking projection 45 on the male housing part 41 of the connector 42, the fitting state of both the connectors 42 and 52 is locked, and the first connector 42 is restricted from moving in the direction of arrow W in FIG. Is done.

  In this locked state, the terminal holding portion 54 of the second connector 52 is fitted into the male housing portion 41, and as shown in FIG. 3, the first connection terminal 71, the second connection terminal 73, Are fitted and the connection terminals 71 and 73 are electrically connected.

  In the case of this embodiment, the distal end of the male housing part 41 inserted inside the female housing part 51 is formed on the inner peripheral part 51a on the proximal end side of the female housing part 51, as shown in FIGS. A rib 56 for pressing the side outer peripheral surface 47 is integrally formed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ribs 56 are provided so as to extend along the fitting direction of the male housing portion 41 (the arrow X direction in FIG. 5). Further, the rib 56 is gradually raised toward the base end of the female housing portion 51 (in the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. 5) so that the pressing force to the outer peripheral surface 47 on the distal end side of the male housing portion 41 gradually increases. The height is increased.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the ribs 56 are provided at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the proximal end inner peripheral portion 51a.

  When the front end side outer peripheral surface 47 of the fitting hood 44 of the male housing portion 41 rides on the rib 56, the press receiving mechanism is configured so that the pressing force of the rib 56 acting on the front end side outer peripheral surface 47 causes the male housing portion 41 to move. The distal end side outer peripheral surface 47 where the rib 56 abuts can be elastically displaced in the pressing direction of the rib 56 so that the insertion operation is not blocked. In other words, the fitting hood 44 has flexibility.

  When the fitting between the first connector 42 and the second connector 52 is completed, the restoring force from the flexible displacement state due to the pressing force of the rib 56 abutting on the distal end side outer peripheral surface 47 causes the male housing portion 41 to The tip portion is urged in the directions of the arrows X and Y in FIG. 5 so that the male housing portion 41 and the female housing portion 51 are brought into a tight fitting state without backlash.

  In the connector 31 of the embodiment described above, the backlash prevention between the male housing part 41 and the female housing part 51 to be fitted and connected is integrated with the inner peripheral part on the proximal end side of the female housing part 51. Since the formed rib 56 presses the outer peripheral surface 47 of the distal end side of the male housing part 41 inserted into the female housing part 51 and uses no separate parts, the number of components increases. Is not invited.

  In addition, the rib 56 that presses the outer peripheral surface 47 on the distal end side of the male housing part 41 is integrated with the female housing part 51, and therefore has mechanical characteristics due to secular change as compared with a rubber material used for packing or the like. Made of material with little deterioration and high rigidity. Therefore, the relative displacement between the male and female housing portions to be fitted and connected can be more firmly regulated, and the deterioration of the performance for regulating the relative displacement can be suppressed.

  Therefore, even in an environment where strong vibrations or the like act, it is possible to maintain a good connection state in which the backlash between the connected connectors does not occur for a long period of time, which is caused by backlash between the housing parts. It is possible to provide a high-performance connector in which the connection terminal is not easily worn or damaged.

  Further, in the connector 31 according to the above embodiment in which the rib 56 which is not easily elastically deformed is used as the pressing means, the male housing portion with which the rib 56 abuts so that the insertion of the male housing portion 41 is not hindered by the pressing force of the rib 56. A pressure receiving mechanism for elastically displacing the front end side outer peripheral surface 47 of the fitting hood 44 of 41 according to the pressing force of the rib 56 is indispensable.

  And in the said embodiment, since the flexibility of the fitting hood 44 is utilized as a press reception mechanism, the equipment of a press reception mechanism does not cause the increase in a component.

  In the connector according to the present invention, the pressure receiving mechanism for receiving the pressure of the rib is such that, for example, a part of the peripheral wall on the distal end side of the male housing portion 41 is more easily elastically displaced by the pressure of the rib 56. It is good also as a thin part.

  Thus, also when providing a thin part as a press reception mechanism, the increase in a component is not caused. In addition, the elastic characteristics of the housing wall that is displaced by the pressing of the rib 56 can be flexibly adjusted by appropriately selecting the thickness of the thin portion or the size (range) of the thin portion. Therefore, an appropriate restoring force can be generated when the rib 56 is pressed, and a good anti-rattle performance can be obtained.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified and improved. In addition, the material, shape, dimension, numerical value, form, number, arrangement location, and the like of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

Reference Signs List 31 connector 41 male housing part 42 first connector 43 terminal holding part 45 locking projection 47 distal end side outer peripheral surface 51 female housing part 51a base end side inner peripheral part 52 second connector 53 lock arm 53a locking part 54 Terminal holding part 56 Rib 61 Packing made of rubber material 63 Retainer 71 First connection terminal 73 Second connection terminal

Claims (2)

By fitting and connecting the male housing part of the first connector and the female housing part of the second connector, the first connection terminal in the male housing part and the inner side of the female housing part A connector for electrically connecting the two connection terminals,
A rib for pressing the outer peripheral surface of the distal end side of the male housing part inserted into the female housing part is integrally formed on the inner peripheral part of the proximal end in the outer peripheral hood of the female housing part,
The rib extends along the fitting direction of the male housing part, and the proximal end of the female housing part is configured to gradually increase the pressing force to the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side of the male housing part. Is formed in a form that the bulge gradually increases toward
The male housing part is provided with a pressure receiving mechanism that receives the pressure of the rib by elastic deformation,
A connector characterized in that the fitting between the male housing part and the female housing part is brought into a tight fitting state without backlash by the pressing force of the rib.   2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressure receiving mechanism is a thin wall portion that allows a part of a peripheral wall on a front end side of the male housing portion to be elastically displaced by pressing the rib. 3.

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