JP4761990B2 - Waterproof connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof connector for fastening a grommet attached to a connector body with a grommet cover.

  When a wire harness is passed through a location where there is a high possibility of being exposed to water, such as an instrument panel or a door panel between an engine room and a cabin of an automobile, the wiring harness is routed through a waterproof connector. That is, when wiring a wire harness to the above-described instrument panel, a waterproof connector is connected to the end of the wire harness that is routed on the engine room side where the possibility of getting wet is high. This waterproof connector is fitted into a mating connector fixed to the cabin side of the instrument panel. Since the connector housing is waterproofed by grommets, the waterproof connector can route the wire harness between the engine room and the cabin without causing problems due to water.

  As this type of conventional waterproof connector, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. As shown in FIG. 7, the waterproof connector 100 includes a connector housing 101 into which a mating connector (not shown) is fitted and a terminal (not shown) is accommodated therein, and a wire lead-out side of the connector housing 101. A grommet 102 that is attached to the outside of the connector and covers the electric wire W led out from the connector housing 101, a grommet cover 103 that is attached to the outer peripheral side of the grommet 102, and a mating connector (not shown) are fitted. And an operation lever 104.

  The grommet cover 103 is composed of a pair of split cover members 103a and 103b. A pair of division | segmentation cover members 103a and 103b are mounted | worn so that the outer side of the grommet 102 may be pinched | interposed by moving to the arrow direction of FIG. A pair of split cover members 103a and 103b that are abutted with each other are locked by a locking means (not shown). The lock means (not shown) includes a lock portion (not shown) provided in one of the divided cover members 103a (or 103b) and a locked portion provided in the other divided cover member 103b (or 103a). Part (not shown).

According to this conventional waterproof connector 100, since the grommet cover 103 fastens the grommet 102 from the outside, the fastening force between the connector housing 101 and the grommet 102 can be strengthened by this fastening force.
JP-A-11-144794

  However, in the conventional waterproof connector 100, when an external force in a direction to open the two divided cover members 103a and 103b acts on the divided cover members 103a and 103b due to the tension of the electric wire W, the operation of the operation lever 104, etc. However, it is countered only by the locking force of the locking means (not shown). For this reason, when an external force greater than the locking force of the locking means (not shown) is applied, the locking means (not shown) is released, and the two divided cover members 103a and 103b are opened. When the locking means (not shown) is removed or the two divided cover members 103a and 103b are opened, the fixing force between the connector housing 101 and the grommet 102 is lowered, and the sealing performance is also lowered.

  Here, in order to prevent such a situation, it is conceivable to strengthen the locking force of the locking means (not shown). However, if the locking force of the locking means (not shown) is strengthened, the locking means (not shown) is considered. 2) increases in size, and as a result, the waterproof connector 100 increases in size.

  In addition, a large lock insertion force is required when assembling the two divided cover members 103a and 103b, and there is a problem that the assembling workability is deteriorated.

  In particular, in the waterproof connector 100 attached to the instrument panel that partitions the engine room and the cabin, the grommet 102 is required to have functions such as sound insulation, heat insulation, and dust prevention as well as a waterproof function. Accordingly, when the grommet cover 103 is detached from the grommet 102 and the grommet 102 is detached from the connector housing 101 due to this influence, all the above-described functions are lost. For this reason, there is a strong demand to prevent the grommet cover 103 from dropping off in the waterproof connector 100 attached to the instrument panel, and countermeasures are desired.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the connector main body and the grommet are formed by releasing the locking means or opening the two divided cover members without reinforcing the locking force of the locking means. It aims at providing the waterproof connector which can prevent the fall of the fixing force between them and a sealing force.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector housing in which a mating connector is fitted and a terminal is accommodated therein, and an electric wire that is attached to the outside of the connector housing on the electric wire outlet side and is led out from the connector housing. A waterproof connector comprising a grommet and a grommet cover that is mounted so as to sandwich a pair of split cover members on the outside of the grommet and is locked by a locking means between a pair of split cover members that face each other. In a state where the mating connector is fitted to the housing, both of the pair of split cover members are configured to enter into the connector hood of the mating connector, and one of the outer wall surface of the connector housing and the inner wall surface of the grommet The mounting rib part is provided with a mounting groove for fitting the mounting rib part on the other side. A seal portion is provided on one of the outer wall surface of the connector housing and the inner wall surface of the grommet, and a seal portion abutting against the seal surface is provided on the other, and the grommet cover has a position outside the mounting rib portion and the mounting groove. And a pressing portion for pressing both the sealing surface and the outer position of the sealing portion .

  The invention according to claim 2 is the waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the divided cover members has an outer surface in a direction orthogonal to each pulling-off direction arranged close to an inner wall surface of the connector hood. To do.

  Invention of Claim 3 is the waterproof connector of Claim 1 or Claim 2, Comprising: As for each said division | segmentation cover member, the outer surface parallel to each pulling-off direction is arrange | positioned close to the inner wall face of the said connector hood. Features.

Invention of Claim 4 is the waterproof connector of any one of Claims 1-3 , Comprising: It was comprised so that the holding | suppressing part of the grommet cover might enter in the connector hood of the said other party connector. It is characterized by.

According to the invention of claim 1, when an external force in the direction of opening between the two divided cover members acts on the divided cover member due to the tension of the electric wire or the like, the locking force of the locking means counters the external force, The connector hood restricts the split cover member from changing in the opening direction by an external force. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the fixing force and the sealing force between the connector main body and the grommet due to the locking means coming off or the opening between the two divided cover members without increasing the locking force of the locking means. Thus, since it is not necessary to strengthen the locking force of the locking means, the locking means can be reduced in size, and thus the waterproof connector can be kept downsized. In addition, a large lock insertion force is not required when assembling the two divided cover members, and assembling workability can be maintained.
Further, the tightening force of the grommet cover directly acts in a direction in which the mounting rib portion and the mounting groove are deeply fitted, and directly in a direction in which the seal portion and the seal surface are in close contact with each other. Therefore, both the fixing force and the sealing force between the connector housing and the grommet are strengthened by the grommet cover.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, it is possible to reliably prevent each divided cover member from shifting in the opening direction.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or claim 2, it is possible to reliably prevent each divided cover member from shifting in a direction orthogonal to the opening direction.

According to the invention of claim 4 , in addition to the effects of the inventions of claims 1 to 3 , it is possible to directly suppress the displacement of the pressing portion of the grommet cover by the connector hood. The fixing force and sealing force between them can be further strengthened.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a waterproof connector 1, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a process of mounting a pair of divided cover members 5 and 6 on a grommet 3. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof connector 1, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the waterproof connector 1 is attached to the mating connector 20, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state mounted | worn to.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the waterproof connector 1 includes a female connector housing 2 to which a mating connector 20 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) is fitted, and an outer side of the female connector housing 2 on the electric wire outlet side. A grommet 3 that is mounted and covers an electric wire (not shown) led out from the female connector housing 2, a grommet cover 4 that is mounted on the outer peripheral side of the grommet 3, and a grommet cover 4 that is swingably supported. The operation lever 7 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) is provided.

  The female connector housing 2 is formed of a hard synthetic resin material, and accommodates therein female terminals 10 to which ends of electric wires (not shown) are connected. A large number of terminal insertion holes 2 b are opened at positions facing the respective female terminals 10 on the connector contact surface 2 a of the female connector housing 2. On the outer wall surface of the female connector housing 2, a mounting rib portion 11 is provided so as to protrude over the entire circumference, and a seal surface 12 is formed over the entire circumference.

  The grommet 3 is composed of a grommet main body portion 3a formed of a rubber material having elasticity and having a front surface opened in a cap shape, and a wire protection cylinder portion 3b having one end fixed to the grommet main body portion 3a. Has been. An electric wire (not shown) led out from the female connector housing 2 is led out through the grommet main body portion 3a and the wire protection cylinder portion 3b.

  The grommet body 3a is mounted so as to cover the outer wall surface of the female connector housing 2 excluding the connector contact surface 2a, that is, the electric wire outlet side of the female connector housing 2. On the inner wall surface of the grommet main body portion 3a, a mounting groove 13 into which the mounting rib portion 11 enters is formed over the entire circumference, and a seal portion 14 that contacts the seal surface 12 is provided over the entire circumference.

  The wire protection cylinder portion 3b is formed with a thin portion at every predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction, and can be bent freely by a weak external force. Thereby, the lead-out direction of the electric wire can be freely taken.

  The grommet cover 4 includes a pair of divided cover members 5 and 6 each formed of a hard synthetic resin material. A pair of division | segmentation cover members 5 and 6 are mounted | worn so that the outer side of the grommet main-body part 3a may be pinched | interposed by moving to the arrow direction of FIG. The pair of divided cover members 5 and 6 that are abutted with each other are locked by the locking means 15. The lock means 15 includes a lock portion 15 a provided on one divided cover member 5 and a locked portion 15 b provided on the other divided cover member 6.

  Holding portions 5a and 6a are integrally provided at the distal ends of the divided cover members 5 and 6 on the connector fitting side. Each pressing part 5a, 6a is disposed so as to cover at least one of the outer position of the mounting rib part 11 and the mounting groove 13 or the outer position of the sealing surface 12 and the sealing part 14. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressing portions 5 a and 6 a of the divided cover members 5 and 6 enter the connector hood 22 of the mating connector 20 when the mating connector 20 is fitted to the female connector housing 2. It is set as follows. Each of the divided cover members 5 and 6 has an outer surface (in this embodiment, the outer surface of the pressing portions 5a and 6a) perpendicular to each pulling direction T in close contact with the inner wall surface 22a (shown in FIG. 6) of the connector hood 22. Yes. Each of the divided cover members 5 and 6 has an outer surface parallel to each pulling direction T (in this embodiment, the outer surface of the holding portions 5a and 6a) is also in close contact with the inner wall surface 22a (shown in FIG. 6) of the connector hood 22. It is close.

  A pair of support pins 16 protrude from the left and right sides of the divided cover member 6.

  The operation lever 7 is supported so as to be swingable along the outer periphery of the grommet cover 4 around the pair of support pins 16 of the divided cover member 6. The operation lever 7 is formed with cam grooves (not shown) on the left and right side surfaces. By swinging the operating lever 7 with the cam pins (not shown) of the mating connector 20 inserted into the left and right cam grooves, the waterproof connector 1 and the mating connector 20 can be fitted with a low fitting force.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mating connector 20 is disposed over the entire outer periphery of the male and female connector housing 21 and the male and female connector housing 21, and protrudes forward of the connector contact surface 21a. Connector hood 22 to be used. The male / female connector housing 21 is formed of a hard synthetic resin material, and a plurality of male terminals (particularly, without reference numerals) to which end portions of respective electric wires (not shown) are connected are connector contact surfaces 21a. It is more prominent.

  In the above configuration, when the wire harness is routed between the engine room and the cabin, the waterproof connector 1 is connected to the end of the wire harness that is routed on the engine room side where the possibility of being wet is high. The mating connector 20 is connected to the end of the wire harness that is routed on the cabin side where there is little possibility of being wet. The mating connector 20 is fixed from the cabin side to an instrument panel that partitions the engine room and the cabin. Then, the waterproof connector 1 is fitted to the mating connector 20 from the engine room side of the instrument panel. Since the female connector housing 2 is waterproofed by the grommet 3, the waterproof connector 1 can prevent problems due to moisture.

  In this waterproof connector 1, when an external force in a direction to open between the two divided cover members 5, 6 is applied to the divided cover members 5, 6 due to the tension of an electric wire (not shown), the locking means 15 The connector hood 22 restricts the split cover members 5 and 6 from moving in the opening direction by an external force. Accordingly, the fixing force and the sealing force between the female connector housing 2 and the grommet 3 are reduced by releasing the locking means 15 or opening the two divided cover members 5 and 6 without strengthening the locking force of the locking means 15. Can be prevented. Since it is not necessary to reinforce the locking force of the locking means 15 in this way, the locking means 15 can be reduced in size, and as a result, the waterproof connector 1 can be reduced in size.

  In addition, a large lock insertion force is not required when assembling the two divided cover members 5 and 6, and good assembling workability can be maintained.

  Further, when the grommet 3 has the same vertical and horizontal dimensions, the connector hood 22 cannot be inserted into the holding portions 5a and 6a of the divided cover members 5 and 6, so that erroneous assembly can be prevented. It is effective when working.

  In this embodiment, each divided cover member 5, 6 is in close contact with the inner wall surface 22 a of the connector hood 22 because the outer surfaces of the holding portions 5 a, 6 a in the direction orthogonal to the pulling direction T are separated from each other. , 6 is reliably prevented by the connector hood 22 from shifting in the opening direction.

  In this embodiment, since each divided cover member 5, 6 is also in close contact with the inner wall surface 22 a of the connector hood 22, the outer surfaces of the holding portions 5 a, 6 a parallel to each pulling direction T are also in contact. The connector hood 22 reliably prevents the connector hood 22 from shifting in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the valve opens. In other words, in this embodiment, the shift of the divided cover members 5 and 6 in all directions is prevented.

  In this embodiment, the mounting rib portion 11 is provided on the inner wall surface of the grommet 3 on the outer wall surface of the female connector housing 2, and the seal surface 12 is formed on the inner wall surface of the grommet 3 on the outer wall surface of the female connector housing 2. Since the seal portion 14 is provided and the grommet cover 4 is provided with the pressing portions 5a and 6a for pressing the outer positions of the mounting rib portion 11 and the mounting groove 13 and the outer surfaces of the sealing surface 12 and the sealing portion 14, the grommet is provided. The tightening force of the cover 4 directly acts in the direction in which the mounting rib portion 11 and the mounting groove 13 are deeply fitted, and directly in the direction in which the seal surface 12 and the seal portion 14 are in close contact with each other. Accordingly, both the fixing force and the sealing force between the female connector housing 2 and the grommet 3 are strengthened by the grommet cover 4. In addition, you may make the member which installs the attachment rib part 11 and the attachment groove | channel 13, and the member which installs the sealing surface 12 and the seal part 14 reverse to this embodiment. That is, the mounting groove 13 is provided on the outer wall surface of the female connector housing 2, the mounting rib portion 11 is provided on the inner wall surface of the grommet 3, the seal portion 14 is provided on the outer wall surface of the female connector housing 2, and the sealing surface is provided on the inner wall surface of the grommet 3. 12 may be provided.

  In this embodiment, since the pressing portions 5a and 6a of the grommet cover 4 are configured to enter the connector hood 22 of the mating connector 20, the pressing portions 5a and 6a of the grommet cover 4 itself are changed by the connector hood 22. Since it can be directly suppressed, the fixing force and the sealing force between the female connector housing 2 and the grommet 3 can be further strengthened. Moreover, since the displacement of the pressing portions 5a and 6a itself of the grommet cover 4 can be directly suppressed by the connector hood 22, the thickness of the pressing portions 5a and 6a is set to be thick in consideration of prevention of deformation of itself. It is not necessary and can be set as thin as possible.

  Further, when the waterproof connector 1 is mounted on an instrument panel that partitions the engine room and the cabin, the grommet 3 is required to have functions such as sound insulation, heat insulation, and dust prevention as well as a waterproof function. Accordingly, when the grommet cover 4 is detached from the grommet 3 and the grommet 3 is dropped from the female connector housing 2 due to this influence, the above-described functions are all lost. According to the waterproof connector 1 of the present invention, however. Since there is no fear that the grommet cover 4 is detached from the grommet 3, there is an advantage that the above-described function can be reliably maintained.

  Although the waterproof connector 1 of this embodiment has the operation lever 7 that facilitates the operation when the connector is fitted, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a device that does not have the operation lever.

  In this embodiment, each of the divided cover members 5 and 6 has an inner wall surface 22a of the connector hood 22 (an outer surface of the pressing portions 5a and 6a in this embodiment) in each pulling direction T and an orthogonal direction thereof (FIG. 6). However, they may be arranged close to each other instead of closely contacting each other. Further, the separating surface T of each divided cover member 5, 6 and the outer surface in the orthogonal direction may be provided over the entire width of the divided cover member 5, 6 as in this embodiment. Instead of the full width of 6, for example, it may be provided only in a partial range by a protrusion. Furthermore, the inner wall surface 22a of the connector hood 22 of the mating connector 20 is formed in a taper shape or a step shape, and the outermost portions of the divided cover members 5 and 6 are not located until the waterproof connector 1 is completely fitted to the mating connector 20. You may comprise so that a protrusion part and the inner wall face 22a of the connector hood 22 may adjoin and arrange | position closely.

  In this embodiment, the waterproof connector 1 is a female connector. However, the present invention can be applied to a male connector.

1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is an exploded perspective view of a waterproof connector. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of this invention and shows the process of mounting | wearing a grommet with a pair of division | segmentation cover member. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a waterproof connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 3. It is a side view which shows one Embodiment of this invention and shows the state which attached the waterproof connector to the other party connector. It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of this invention and shows the state which mounted | wore the other party connector with the waterproof connector. It is a partially broken side view of the waterproof connector of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Waterproof connector 2 Female connector housing (connector housing)
3 Grommet 4 Grommet cover 5 Divided cover member 5a Holding part 6 Dividing cover member 6a Holding part 10 Female terminal (terminal)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Mounting rib part 12 Seal surface 13 Mounting groove 14 Seal part 15 Locking means 20 Mating connector 22 Connector hood 22a Inner wall surface

Claims (4)

A connector housing in which a mating connector is fitted and a terminal is accommodated inside, a grommet that is attached to the outside of the connector housing on the wire lead-out side and covers the wire led out from the connector housing, and the grommet In a waterproof connector equipped with a grommet cover that is mounted so as to sandwich a pair of split cover members on the outside, and between a pair of split cover members that face each other is locked by a locking means,
In a state where the mating connector is fitted to the connector housing, both the pair of split cover members are configured to enter the connector hood of the mating connector ,
A mounting rib portion is provided on one of the outer wall surface of the connector housing and the inner wall surface of the grommet, and a mounting groove in which the mounting rib portion is fitted on the other.
A seal portion is provided on one of the outer wall surface of the connector housing and the inner wall surface of the grommet, and the seal surface is in contact with the seal surface on the other side.
The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the grommet cover is provided with a pressing portion that presses both the outer position of the mounting rib and the mounting groove and the outer surface of the sealing surface and the sealing portion . The waterproof connector according to claim 1,
Each of the divided cover members is a waterproof connector characterized in that an outer surface in a direction orthogonal to each pulling direction is disposed close to an inner wall surface of the connector hood. The waterproof connector according to claim 1 or 2,
Each of the divided cover members has a waterproof connector in which an outer surface parallel to each pulling direction is disposed close to an inner wall surface of the connector hood. The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A waterproof connector characterized in that a pressing portion of the grommet cover is inserted into a connector hood of the mating connector.

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