JP2015018728A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of preventing the connection from becoming unstable, while connecting a first connector and a second connector to be fitted, with a degree of freedom in the positioning in the circumferential direction.SOLUTION: In a connector 1 having a first connector 10 including a plurality of first terminals 20 including an annular connection 21, and holding the plurality of first terminals 20 so that the centers of the annular connections 21 are arranged in the fitting direction, and a second connector 40 including a plurality of second terminals 50 for connection with a degree of freedom in the positioning in the circumferential direction for each of the plurality of first terminals 20, when fitting to the first connector 10, the second terminal 50 consists of an elastic piece portion formed by inflating the central part between two fulcrums 52a, 52b, and has a two fulcrum inflation connection 52 for connection with the annular connection 21.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector having a first connector and a second connector that are fitted with a degree of freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction.

Conventionally, when a connector having a first connector and a second connector for connector fitting is installed in a narrow space, it is important to facilitate the connector fitting operation.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes a connector having a degree of freedom in circumferential positioning when a first connector and a second connector are fitted together.

  The connector described in Patent Document 1 includes three cylindrical plug contacts (first terminals), and a subassembly (first connector) that holds the centers of the three cylindrical plug contacts in a straight line. And a sub-assembly (second connector) including three receptacle contacts (second terminals) that are fitted to each cylindrical plug contact with a degree of freedom in the circumferential fitting.

JP 2002-75558 A

  However, in the connector described in Patent Document 1, since the receptacle contact (second terminal) is cantilevered, a load is applied to the fixed end by repeated connector fitting with a degree of freedom in the circumferential direction. There was a risk that the peripheral portion of the wire would be plastically deformed, resulting in unstable connection.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is possible to prevent the connection from becoming unstable while the first connector and the second connector to be fitted to the connector are connected with freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction. An object is to provide a connector.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a connector according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a plurality of first terminals including a ring-shaped connection portion, and the plurality of first terminals are connected to the ring-shaped connection portion. When a connector is fitted to the first connector and the first connector is held so that the center is aligned along the fitting direction, the degree of freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction with respect to each first terminal of the plurality of first terminals A second connector having a plurality of second terminals to be connected to each other, wherein the second terminal comprises an elastic piece-like portion inflating a central portion between two fulcrums, and the annular connection portion It has the 2 fulcrum bulging connection part to connect.

  Further, in the connector according to claim 2 of the present invention, in the above invention, the two fulcrum bulging connection portions are extended in a piece shape from the bottom wall of the second terminal toward the distal end. The extending end of the second terminal is folded between both side walls of the second terminal and close to the bottom wall.

  In the connector according to claim 3 of the present invention, in the above invention, each second terminal of the plurality of second terminals is a terminal having the same shape attached to a terminal portion of the electric wire. .

  A connector according to claim 1 of the present invention includes the first connector and the second connector that are fitted to each other with a degree of freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction, and the two fulcrum bulging connection portion includes the fulcrum. By providing two, the load involved in elastic deformation is distributed, so that it is possible to prevent plastic deformation even by repeated connector fitting of the first connector and the second connector. As a result, it is possible to prevent the connection from becoming unstable while the first connector and the second connector to be fitted into the connector are connected with a degree of freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction.

  In the connector according to claim 2 of the present invention, since the two fulcrum bulging connection portions are disposed between the both side walls, when the second terminal is moved in the circumferential direction within the first connector, Since it is supported from both sides by both side walls, plastic deformation can be prevented more reliably, and as a result, the first connector and the second connector to be connected to the connector are connected with freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction. However, the connection can be further stabilized.

  The connector which concerns on Claim 3 of this invention arrange | positions said 2nd terminal of the same shape in the position corresponding to said 1st terminal in the fitting direction of said 2nd connector by adjusting the length of an electric wire. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced, and as a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before a connector is fitted between a first connector and a second connector of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the first terminal. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second connector. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the second terminal, in which (a) and (b) are viewed from different directions. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the second connector housing, and (a) and (b) are views seen from different directions. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the second connector housing shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the housing cover, and (a), (b) and (c) are views seen from different directions. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the second terminal is attached to the second connector housing, and (a) and (b) are views seen from different directions. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the second connector, and (a) and (b) are views seen from different directions. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an assembly procedure of the second connector. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a connector fitting procedure between the first connector and the second connector.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before the first connector 10 and the second connector 40 of the connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention are fitted to each other. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the first terminal 20. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second connector 40. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the second terminal 50, and (a) and (b) are views seen from different directions. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the second connector housing 60, where (a) and (b) are viewed from different directions. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the second connector housing 60 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the housing cover 70, and (a), (b) and (c) are views seen from different directions. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the second terminal 50 is attached to the second connector housing 60, and (a) and (b) are views seen from different directions. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the second connector 40, where (a) and (b) are viewed from different directions.

  The connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes three first terminals 20 including a ring-shaped connection portion 21, and holds the three first terminals 20 so that the centers of the ring-shaped connection portions 21 are aligned in the fitting direction D1. When the connector is fitted to the first connector 10 and the first connector 10, the first connector 10 includes three second terminals 50 connected to the first terminals 20 of the three first terminals 20 with a degree of freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction. And a second connector 40.

First, the first connector 10 will be described.
The first connector 10 includes three first terminals 20 and a first connector housing 30 that holds the three first terminals 20.

The first terminal 20 is a terminal fitting in which a plate-like member made of metal such as copper or copper alloy is formed by die pressing or the like.
As shown in FIG. 4, the first terminal 20 is connected to a ring-shaped connecting portion 21 whose inner peripheral surface 21 a is connected to the second terminal 50, and the ring-shaped connecting portion 21, and is connected to a connection destination (not shown). Connecting piece portion 22.

The first connector housing 30 is made of a cylindrical insulating material and has terminal holding grooves 31 for holding the three first terminals 20.
As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal holding groove 31 is a groove into which the outer peripheral surface side of the ring-shaped connecting portion 21 is fitted so as to hold the first terminals 20 at intervals along the fitting direction of the second connector 40. is there.
Each first terminal 20 is held in the first connector housing 30 with the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped connecting portion 21 facing the same direction as the inner peripheral surface of the first connector housing 30.

Next, the second connector 40 will be described.
The second connector 40 includes three second terminals 50, a second connector housing 60 that holds the three second terminals 50, and a housing cover 70 that covers the second connector housing 60.

The second terminal 50 is a terminal attached to the terminal portion of the electric wire W, and is a terminal fitting in which a plate-like member made of a metal such as copper or a copper alloy is formed by die pressing or the like.
The second terminal 50 includes a mating terminal connecting portion 51 including a two-fulcrum bulge connecting portion 52 connected to the first terminal 20, a wire connecting portion 55 connected to the electric wire W, and a mating terminal connecting portion 51 and an electric wire connecting portion. And an intermediate part 56 that connects

  The mating terminal connection portion 51 has an outer wall formed by a bottom wall 51a and side walls 51b erected on both edges of the bottom wall 51a, and a two-fulcrum bulge connection portion 52, a guide piece portion 53, and a locking piece Part 54.

The two fulcrum bulge connection portion 52 is formed of an elastic piece-like portion in which a central portion between the two fulcrum points 52 a and 52 b is bulged, and is connected to the ring-shaped connection portion 21.
The two fulcrum bulge connection portions 52 are folded back so that the extending ends of the extending pieces extending in a shape from the bottom wall 51a toward the distal end are between the side walls 51b and closer to the bottom wall 51a. Form by feeding.
In the two-fulcrum bulging connection portion 52 formed in this way, the folded portion becomes one fulcrum 52a and the extended end becomes another fulcrum 52b.
Further, the 2-fulcrum bulging connection portion 52 is set so that the inflated central portion is located above the upper end surfaces of the side walls 51b.

When the second terminal 50 is attached to the second connector housing 60, the guide piece portion 53 is brought into sliding contact with a guide rib 63 described later, whereby the second terminal 50 is moved along the guide rib 63 to the position where the second connector housing 60 is completely attached. It is a part to guide.
The guide piece 53 is formed by raising a part of each side wall 51b parallel to the bottom wall 51a and flush with the bottom surface. Two guide pieces 53 are provided on each side wall 51b.

The locking piece portion 54 is a portion for locking the second terminal 50 to the mounting completion position of the second connector housing 60 and engages with the locking protrusion 64 of the second connector housing 60.
The locking piece portion 54 is formed by raising a part of the bottom wall 51a obliquely.

The second connector housing 60 is made of a columnar insulating material and has three terminal holding and accommodating portions 61 that hold and accommodate the respective second terminals 50.
The terminal holding / accommodating portions 61 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the second connector housing 60.
The terminal holding / accommodating portion 61 has a guide opening 62, a guide rib 63, and a locking projection 64.

The guide opening 62 is installed from the terminal insertion port 61a so that the operator can easily move the second terminal 50 from the terminal insertion port 61a to the installation completion position, and the two fulcrum bulging connection portion 52 is exposed. It is formed by cutting into a band shape to the position.
The guide opening 62 has a cut length from the terminal insertion opening 61a corresponding to the position of the first terminal 20 to which each second terminal 50 is connected.

  The guide rib 63 is a rib that guides the second terminal 50 to the attachment completion position, and is formed linearly along both edge surfaces facing each other in the width direction of the guide opening 62.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the locking projection 64 is a portion that projects from the bottom surface 61 b of the terminal holding housing 61. The locking projection 64 is engaged with the locking piece 54 of the second terminal 50, thereby locking the second terminal 50 at the attachment completion position of the terminal holding housing 61.

  In such a terminal holding / accommodating portion 61, the two fulcrum bulging connection portions 52 are arranged corresponding to the respective ring-shaped connection portions 21 arranged at intervals in the fitting direction of the first connector and the second connector. The installation completion position of each second terminal 50 is adjusted.

  The housing cover 70 is made of a cylindrical insulating material whose front end is closed, and closes the opening 71 formed so as to expose only the periphery of the two fulcrum bulging connection portion 52 and the rear end opening 70a of the housing cover 70. The lid portion 72 and an abutting stepped portion 73 that abuts against the fitting inlet end face 30b of the first connector housing 30 are provided.

  The lid portion 72 is provided so as to be openable and closable via a flexible portion 72 a provided at the rear end portion of the housing cover 70. The lid portion 72 forms a wire insertion hole 72b so that the wire W can be pulled out from the second connector housing 60.

  The contact step portion 73 is a step in which the outer diameter of the housing cover 70 changes from an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the first connector housing to an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the first connector housing.

  The housing cover 70 covers the three second terminals 50 attached to the second connector housing 60 so as to expose only the peripheral portion of the two fulcrum bulge connection portion 52 described later.

When the first connector 10 and the second connector 40 are fitted to each other, the two fulcrum bulge connection portions 52 of the second terminals 50 are connected to the ring-shaped connection portions of the first terminals 20 with a degree of freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction. 21 can be in contact with the inner peripheral surface.
In addition, the 1st connector 10 and the 2nd connector 40 are fixed in the connector fitting completion position by the engaging part not shown. The engaging portion has a degree of freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction.

  Further, the two fulcrum bulging connection portion 52 presses the bulging portions with the two fulcrums 52a and 52b against the inner peripheral surface 21a of the annular connection portion 21. That is, the two fulcrum bulging connection portion 52 is configured to disperse the fulcrums 52a and 52b at two locations.

Next, the assembly procedure of the second connector 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for assembling the second connector 40.
First, the operator inserts each second terminal 50 into each terminal holding and accommodating portion 61 from the terminal insertion port 61a of the second connector housing 60, and guides each second terminal 50 to the installation completion position while guiding by each guide rib 63. Move (see FIG. 12A).
At this time, the operator can move the second terminal 50 from the guide opening 62 to a position where the locking piece 54 and the locking projection 64 are engaged.

Next, the operator attaches the housing cover 70 to the second connector housing 60 and completes the assembly of the second connector 40 (see FIGS. 12B and 12C).
Thereby, the 2nd terminal 50 will be in the state exposed outside only the 2 fulcrum bulging connection part 52 periphery.

Next, a connector connection procedure between the first connector 10 and the second connector 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a connector fitting procedure between the first connector 10 and the second connector 40.
First, the worker starts fitting the second connector 40 from the fitting port of the first connector 10 (see FIG. 13A).
In addition, since each 2nd terminal 50 is arrange | positioned so that the inner peripheral surface 21a of the ring-shaped connection part 21 of the corresponding 1st terminal 20 may contact, an operator gives freedom in circumferential positioning. The second connector can be fitted into the first connector.
Further, in this work, when the second connector 40 moves in the circumferential direction D2 and the fitting direction D1, the fulcrums 52a and 52b of the two fulcrum bulge connection portion 52 are dispersed to the two fulcrums 52a and 52b. Hard to be plastically deformed. In addition, since the two fulcrum bulging connection portions 52 are supported from both sides by the both side walls 51b, 51b, they are further hardly plastically deformed.

  Thereafter, the operator inserts the second connector 40 into the first connector 10 until the contact stepped portion 73 hits the fitting entrance edge surface 30b, and the first connector 10 and the second connector 40 are engaged by an engaging portion (not shown). And the connector fitting between the first connector 10 and the second connector 40 is completed (see FIG. 13B).

  The connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a first connector 10 and a second connector 40 that are connected with a degree of freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction, and the two fulcrum bulge connection portion 52 has fulcrums 52a and 52b. By providing two, the load involved when elastically deforming is distributed, so plastic deformation can be prevented even by repeated connector fitting between the first connector 10 and the second connector 40. As a result, it is possible to prevent the connection from becoming unstable while the first connector 10 and the second connector 40 to be fitted to each other are connected with a degree of freedom in positioning in the circumferential direction.

  Further, in the connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the two fulcrum bulge connection portions 52 are disposed between the both side walls 51b, the second terminal 50 is moved in the circumferential direction in the first connector 10. Since the two side walls 51b and 51b are supported from both sides, plastic deformation can be further reliably prevented. As a result, the first connector 10 and the second connector 40 to be fitted into the connector are positioned in the circumferential direction. The connection can be further stabilized while connecting with a degree of freedom.

  Moreover, the connector 1 which concerns on the Example of this invention respond | corresponds to the 1st terminal 20 in the fitting direction of the 2nd connector 40 by adjusting the length of the electric wire W, and the 2nd terminal 50 of the same shape. Since it can arrange | position in a position, a number of parts can be restrained small and a manufacturing cost can be reduced as a result.

  In addition, although the connector 1 which concerns on the Example of this invention illustrated what connected the three 1st terminals 20 and the three 2nd terminals 50, the number of the 1st terminals 20 and the 2nd terminals 50 is this. The number of the first terminals 20 and the second terminals 50 may be other numbers as long as there are a plurality of them.

  Moreover, although the connector 1 which concerns on the Example of this invention illustrated what the 2nd terminal 50 was attached to the terminal part of the electric wire W, not only this but the 2nd terminal 50 is a 2 fulcrum bulging connection part. If it is a terminal which has 52, it may be a terminal which cannot be attached to electric wire W.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the above-described embodiments of the invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments of the invention and does not depart from the gist thereof. Various changes can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 10 1st connector 20 1st terminal 21 Ring-shaped connection part 21a Inner peripheral surface 22 Connection piece part 30 1st connector housing 30a Inlet 30b Inlet end edge 31 Terminal holding groove 40 Second connector 50 Second terminal 51 Opposition Terminal connection part 51a Bottom wall 51b Side wall 52 Two fulcrum bulging connection parts 52a, 52b Support point 53 Guide piece part 54 Locking piece part 55 Electric wire connection part 56 Intermediate part 60 Second connector housing 61 Terminal holding accommodation part 61a Terminal insertion slot 61b Bottom surface 62 Guide opening 63 Guide rib 64 Locking projection 70 Housing cover 70a Rear end opening 71 Opening portion 72 Lid portion 72a Flexible portion 72b Wire insertion hole 73 Butting stepped portion W Electric wire

Claims (3)

A first connector having a plurality of first terminals including a ring-shaped connecting portion, and holding the plurality of first terminals so that the centers of the ring-shaped connecting portions are aligned in the fitting direction; In the case of matching, in a connector having a plurality of second terminals connected to each first terminal of the plurality of first terminals with a degree of freedom in circumferential positioning,
The second terminal is
A connector comprising a two-fulcrum bulge connecting portion that is formed of an elastic piece-like portion inflating a central portion between two fulcrums and that is connected to the ring-shaped connecting portion. The two fulcrum bulging connection portion is
Folding the extended ends of the extended pieces that extend in the shape of a piece from the bottom wall of the second terminal toward the distal end between the side walls of the second terminal and approaching the bottom wall It forms by these. The connector of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Each second terminal of the plurality of second terminals is
It is a terminal of the same shape attached to the terminal part of an electric wire. The connector according to claim 1 or 2 characterized by things.

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