JP2021061173A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of improving reliability of electrical connection by suppressing generation of abrasion powder due to contact between a terminal and a terminal on the other side. A connector 1 is relative to a terminal 2 having an elastically deformable contact portion 14, a housing 3 accommodating the terminal 2, and the housing 3 and a mating housing 51 when mating. A movable fitting auxiliary member 4 is provided. During mating, the fitting auxiliary member 4 exerts an external force on the contact portion 14 in the first position with respect to the housing 3 in a direction away from the mating terminal 7 housed in the mating housing 51. Moreover, as the fitting progresses, the external force is released by moving to a second position different from the first position. [Selection diagram] Fig. 4

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, a method of electrically connecting a connector and a mating connector by pressing and contacting a terminal provided on the connector and a mating terminal provided on the mating connector with each other has been proposed. For example, in one of the conventional connectors, the terminal and the mating terminal start to make a pressing contact during the mating between the connector and the mating connector, and the mating is performed with the terminal and the mating terminal in the pressing contact. It is becoming more and more advanced (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2018-014300

In the conventional connector described above, as the mating progresses, the terminal and the mating terminal move relative to each other (that is, slide) while rubbing against each other. Here, depending on the moving length of such relative movement and the pressing pressure of the pressing contact, the wear debris generated by the wear of the plating film or oxide film on the surface of the terminal or the mating terminal is generated between the terminal and the mating terminal. It may get in between and interfere with the continuity between the terminal and the other terminal. In other words, wear debris can excessively increase the electrical resistance between the terminal and the mating terminal. Therefore, from the viewpoint of improving the reliability of the electrical connection by the connector, it is desirable to suppress the generation of such wear debris as much as possible.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of improving the reliability of electrical connection by suppressing the generation of abrasion powder due to the contact between the terminal and the mating terminal.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector according to the present invention is characterized by the following [1] to [4].
[1]
A connector including a terminal having an elastically deformable contact portion, a housing accommodating the terminal, and a fitting auxiliary member that can move relative to the housing when the housing and the mating housing are fitted. And
The fitting auxiliary member is
During the fitting, an external force is applied to the contact portion at the first position with respect to the housing in a direction away from the mating terminal accommodated in the mating housing, and the mating progresses. As a result, the external force is released by moving to a second position different from the first position.
Must be a connector.
[2]
In the connector described in [1] above,
The fitting auxiliary member is
When it is in the first position, it is arranged between the contact portion and the mating terminal to exert the external force on the contact, and when it is in the second position, the contact and the mating terminal It has an external force applying unit that separates from and releases the external force.
Must be a connector.
[3]
In the connector according to the above [1] or the above [2],
The housing is
It has a lock portion that can be engaged with the mating housing.
The fitting auxiliary member is
When it is in the first position, it interferes with the lock portion, and as the fitting progresses, the interference with the lock portion is avoided and the housing can be moved to the second position, so that the housing and the partner can be moved. It is possible to detect whether or not the side housing is properly fitted.
Must be a connector.
[4]
In the connector according to any one of the above [1] to the above [3].
The terminal is
When the mating auxiliary member has the pair of the contact portions and the fitting auxiliary member is in the second position, the mating terminal is sandwiched by the pair of the contact portions.
Must be a connector.

According to the connector having the configuration of [1] above, during the fitting between the housing and the mating housing, the contact pressure between the contact portion of the terminal and the mating terminal is reduced by the external force exerted by the fitting auxiliary member ( Alternatively, if the external force is sufficiently large, the contact portion is isolated from the mating terminal), and the generation of wear debris due to sliding between the contact portion and the mating terminal is suppressed. Further, when the fitting progresses and the external force is released, the contact portion comes into contact with the mating terminal, so that the terminal and the mating terminal are electrically connected. In this way, the connector of this configuration improves the reliability of electrical connection by suppressing the generation of abrasion powder due to the contact between the terminal and the mating terminal during mating, as compared with the conventional connector. It is possible.

According to the connector having the configuration of [2] above, it is possible to easily switch between applying and releasing the external force to the contact portion depending on whether or not the external force applying portion is arranged between the contact portion and the mating terminal. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the generation of abrasion powder due to the contact between the terminal and the mating terminal without making the structure of the housing excessively complicated. Further, if necessary, it is possible to provide the external force applying unit with a function of guiding the other side terminal toward the terminal by utilizing the fact that the external force applying unit is in such a position.

According to the connector having the configuration of [3] above, the fitting auxiliary member has a function as a member (so-called CPA. Connector Position Insurance) for detecting whether or not the housing and the mating housing are properly fitted. You can have it. As a result, the connector can be further enhanced in functionality.

According to the connector having the configuration of [4] above, the pair of contact portions can be pressed and contacted with the mating terminal while the mating terminal is sandwiched between the pair of contact portions of the terminals. Thereby, for example, the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal and the mating terminal can be improved as compared with the case where one contact portion is pressed against one side of the mating terminal.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector capable of improving the reliability of electrical connection by suppressing the generation of abrasion powder due to the contact between the terminal and the mating terminal.

The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the embodiments described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. ..

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before fitting the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention and the mating connector. 2 (a) is a rear view of the connector shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 (b) is an enlarged view of a portion A of FIG. 2 (a). FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state before the connection between the terminal shown in FIG. 1 and the electric wire. 4 (a) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the BB cross section of FIG. 2 (a) showing a state before mating of the connector and the mating connector, and FIG. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 (a). ) Is an enlarged view of part C. 5 (a) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 (a) showing a state in which the connector and the mating connector are in the first stage during mating, and FIG. 5 (b) is FIG. 5 (a). It is an enlarged view of the D part of). FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4A showing a state in which the connector and the mating connector are in the second stage during mating, and FIG. 6B is FIG. 6A. ) Is an enlarged view of part E. 7 (a) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 (a) showing a state in which the connector and the mating connector have reached a fully fitted state, and FIG. 7 (b) is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 (a). It is an enlarged view of F part. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the fitting assisting member is in the process of moving from the first position to the second position after the connector and the mating connector have reached the fully fitted state. 8 (b) is an enlarged view of a portion G of FIG. 8 (a). FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4A showing a state in which the terminal and the mating terminal are electrically connected when the fitting auxiliary member reaches the second position, and FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view. (B) is an enlarged view of part H of FIG. 9 (a).

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1, "front-back direction", "width direction", "vertical direction", "upper" and "lower" are defined. The "front-back direction", "width direction", and "vertical direction" are orthogonal to each other. The front-rear direction coincides with the mating direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector 5. For each of the connector 1 and the mating connector 5, the front side in the mating direction is referred to as "front", and the back side in the opposite mating direction is referred to as "rear".

As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 1 includes a terminal 2, a housing 3 accommodating the terminal 2, and a fitting auxiliary member 4 assembled to the housing 3. Hereinafter, the configurations of the components constituting the connector 1 will be described in order.

First, the terminal 2 will be described. The terminal 2 is formed by performing press working, bending, or the like on a single metal plate made of copper, a copper alloy, or the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 2 has a shape extending in the front-rear direction, and has a square tubular box portion 11, a core wire crimping portion 12 located behind the box portion 11, and a core wire crimping portion 12. A covering crimping portion 13 located at the rear is integrally provided. A locking hole 11a (see FIG. 4) penetrating in the vertical direction is formed on the lower wall of the box portion 11. When the terminal 2 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 22 of the housing 3, the front end edge of the locking hole 11a is locked to the lance projection 24 described later in the housing 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electric wire 6 connected to the terminal 2 is composed of a conductor core wire 16 and an insulating coating 17 that covers the periphery of the conductor core wire 16. At the end of the electric wire 6, the insulating coating 17 is removed to expose the conductor core wire 16. The exposed conductor core wire 16 and the insulating coating 17 at the terminal of the electric wire are crimped and fixed to the core wire crimping portion 12 and the coating crimping portion 13 of the terminal 2, respectively, so that the electric wire 6 is fixed to the terminal 2 and electrically. Connected to.

From the front ends of the upper and lower walls of the box portion 11, a pair of plate-shaped contact portions 14 that can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction extend forward integrally while facing the vertical direction. The pair of contact portions 14 are electrically connected to the mating terminal 7 by sandwiching the mating terminal 7 (see FIG. 4A) housed in the mating connector 5 in the vertical direction. (See FIG. 9).

The pair of contact portions 14 extend in parallel with each other from the front end of the box portion 11 to an intermediate position in front of the box portion 11 by a predetermined distance, and extend from the intermediate position to a portion near the front end so as to be inclined toward each other toward the front. From the vicinity of the front end to the front end, the direction toward the front is inclined so as to be separated from each other. Therefore, the vertical distance between the pair of contact portions 14 is the minimum in the vicinity of the front end. This minimum interval is slightly smaller than the vertical thickness of the mating terminal 7. Therefore, when the portions near the front end of the pair of contact portions 14 sandwich the mating terminal 7, the portions near the front end and the mating terminal 7 are in pressure contact with each other. The portion of the pair of contact portions 14 from the vicinity of the front end to the front end is a guide portion for facilitating the pair of contact portions 14 to easily ride on the outer side in the vertical direction of the pair of extension portions 47 described later of the fitting auxiliary member 4. It is designed to function as 15 (see FIG. 4, details will be described later).

On the surface of the terminal 2, at least the inner side surface of the pair of contact portions 14 in the vertical direction (that is, the surface that sandwiches the mating terminal 7) is made of tin (Sn), nickel (Ni), or the like for the purpose of rust prevention or the like. It is plated.

Next, the housing 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the resin housing 3 includes a substantially square tubular housing body 21. The housing body 21 is inserted into the mating housing 51 (see also FIG. 4A) of the mating connector 5, so that the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 are fitted together.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 22 for accommodating the terminals 2 are formed inside the housing main body 21 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction. In this example, the three terminal accommodating chambers 22 are provided so as to be arranged in the width direction. The terminal 2 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 22 from the rear end side of the terminal accommodating chamber 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, in each terminal accommodating chamber 22, a cantilever-shaped lance 23 elastically deformable in the vertical direction is provided in front of and behind the terminal accommodating chamber 22 so as to face the terminal accommodating chamber 22 from below. It is provided so as to extend forward from a substantially central position. At the tip of the lance 23, a lance protrusion 24 projecting upward toward the inside of the terminal accommodating chamber 22 is integrally formed. When the terminal 2 is inserted from the rear side to the normal position of the terminal accommodating chamber 22, the front end edge of the locking hole 11a of the terminal 2 is locked to the lance protrusion 24, so that the lance 23 is located on the rear side of the terminal 2. Demonstrates a function to prevent it from coming off.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of protective walls 25 projecting upward are integrally provided on the upper wall of the housing body 21 so as to extend in the front-rear direction and face each other in the width direction. A tall portion 26 that further protrudes upward is integrally provided on the rear side portion of the pair of protective walls 25. A lock portion 27 is provided in the space sandwiched between the pair of protective walls 25. The lock portion 27 switches between maintaining and releasing the fully fitted state between the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 by engaging the mating housing 51 with the locked portion 52 (see FIG. 4A) in the front-rear direction. It has a function that enables it. The pair of tall portions 26 functions to protect the operation portion 30 (described later) in the lock portion 27 in particular.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A, the lock portion 27 has a cantilever shape at intervals in the width direction from the base end portion 28 protruding upward from the front side portion of the upper wall of the housing body 21. It has a pair of lock arms 29 extending rearward. The pair of lock arms 29 can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction.

The pair of lock arms 29 are integrally formed with an operating portion 30 that connects the tip end portion (that is, the rear end portion) in the width direction and an engaging portion 31 that connects the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction in the width direction. ing. By engaging the locked portion 52 with the engaging portion 31 in the front-rear direction, the fully fitted state of the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 is maintained (see FIGS. 7 to 9). By pushing the operating portion 30 downward in this completely fitted state, the engagement between the engaging portion 31 and the locked portion 52 is released, and the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 can be separated in the front-rear direction. It becomes.

At the front end portions of the pair of tall portions 26 in the pair of protective walls 25, a connecting portion 32 that connects the front end portions in the width direction is integrally formed so as to straddle the space above the pair of lock arms 29. .. The connecting portion 32 functions to prevent the pair of lock arms 29 from being excessively deformed upward by interfering with each other when the pair of lock arms 29 are elastically deformed upward.

Next, the fitting auxiliary member 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the resin fitting auxiliary member 4 is configured by assembling the slide portion 41 and the coupling portion 42 to each other. The slide portion 41 has a substantially rectangular box-like shape that opens upward and forward, so as to cover a pair of side surfaces, rear surfaces, and lower surfaces of the housing body 21 of the housing 3, and with respect to the housing body 21. It is assembled to the housing body 21 so as to be relatively movable in the front-rear direction.

The joint portion 42 has a substantially flat plate shape extending in the width direction, and is integrally assembled to the front end portion of the slide portion 41 so as to cover the front surface of the housing body 21 of the housing 3. Therefore, the connecting portion 42 assembled to the slide portion 41 is integrally movable with the slide portion 41 and can move relative to the housing main body 21 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, an opening is formed in the region corresponding to the rear end opening of the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 22 on the rear wall of the slide portion 41. As a result, the rear end openings of the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 22 are exposed to the outside, and the terminals 2 can be inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers 22 from the rear in a state where the fitting auxiliary member 4 is assembled to the housing body 21. It has become.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4A, a detection arm 43 extending forward from the upper end portion of the central portion in the width direction is integrally formed on the rear wall of the slide portion 41. An engaging protrusion 44 projecting upward is formed at the tip end portion (that is, the front end portion) of the detection arm 43. The engaging protrusion 44 will engage with the engaging portion 31 of the lock portion 27 (details will be described later).

A pair of grip portions 45 projecting outward in the width direction are integrally formed on the outer surface in the width direction of the rear end portions of the pair of side walls of the slide portion 41. The pair of gripping portions 45 are used as locations to be gripped to hold the housing 3 when the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 are fitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4B, the coupling portion 42 has a plurality of (three in this example) penetrating in the front-rear direction corresponding to the front end openings of the plurality of (three in this example) terminal accommodating chambers 22. Then, the three) terminal insertion holes 46 are formed so as to be arranged in the width direction. When the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 are fitted, the mating terminal 7 is inserted into the terminal insertion hole 46. In this example, the terminal insertion hole 46 has a rectangular shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the mating terminal 7.

As shown in FIG. 4B, a pair of plate-shaped extending portions 47 face each other in the vertical direction and are integrated rearward from the upper edge and the lower edge of the rear end of each terminal insertion hole 46 in the coupling portion 42. It extends to. As will be described later, the pair of extension portions 47 have a function of guiding the mating terminal 7 inserted through the terminal insertion hole 46 toward the pair of contact portions 14 of the terminal 2, and the pair of contact portions 14 are moved up and down. It functions to exert an external force (external force in the direction away from the mating terminal 7) that pushes outward in the direction to the pair of contact portions 14.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the fitting auxiliary member 4 is assembled by attaching the engaging protrusion 44 of the detection arm 43 of the slide portion 41 to the rear surface of the engaging portion 31 of the lock portion 27 of the housing 3. This is completed by assembling the coupling portion 42 to the slide portion 41 while allowing the pair of extending portions 47 of the coupling portion 42 to enter the terminal accommodating chamber 22 of the housing 3 from the front side in a state of being adjacent to the sliding portion 42.

When the fitting auxiliary member 4 is assembled to the housing 3, as shown in FIG. 4A, the front end surface of the housing body 21 and the joint portion 42 are in contact with each other, and the engagement portion 31 is on the rear surface. By engaging the adjacent engaging protrusion 44 and the engaging portion 31, the movement of the fitting assisting member 4 with respect to the housing 3 in both front and rear directions is restricted, and the fitting assisting member 4 is shown with respect to the housing 3. It is locked at the position shown in 4 (a) (hereinafter referred to as "first position"). In the state where the fitting auxiliary member 4 is locked in the first position, the pair of extending portions 47 of the coupling portion 42 are located inside the terminal accommodating chamber 22 via the front end opening of the terminal accommodating chamber 22 of the housing 3. doing.

The terminal 2 is inserted forward from the rear side to the normal position of the terminal accommodating chamber 22 in a state where the fitting auxiliary member 4 is locked at the first position with respect to the housing 3 in this way. In the process of inserting the terminal 2 forward, first, the pair of guide portions 15 located at the tips of the pair of contact portions 14 of the terminal 2 are connected to the pair of extension portions 47 located in the terminal accommodating chamber 22. Contact. Next, when the pair of guide portions 15 receive an external force that is pushed outward from the pair of extension portions 47 in the vertical direction, the pair of contact portions 14 are elastically deformed outward in the vertical direction to form the pair of extension portions 47. Ride outward in the vertical direction.

Next, the pair of contact portions 14 elastically deformed outward in the vertical direction move forward while rubbing the outer surfaces of the pair of extending portions 47 in the vertical direction. This state is continued until the terminal 2 reaches the normal position of the terminal accommodating chamber 22. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the fitting auxiliary member 4 is locked at the first position with respect to the housing 3 and the terminal 2 is at the normal position of the terminal accommodating chamber 22, the pair of contact portions 14 Is maintained in a state of being elastically deformed outward in the vertical direction by receiving an external force that is pushed outward from the pair of extending portions 47 in the vertical direction. Therefore, even if the mating terminal 7 is inserted through the terminal insertion hole 46 to a position where it overlaps the pair of contact portions 14 of the terminals 2 in the front-rear direction, the extending portion 47 is inserted between the contact portion 14 and the mating terminal 7. By being arranged between the two, the pair of contact portions 14 and the mating terminal 7 do not come into contact with each other. The components constituting the connector 1 have been described above.

Next, the mating side connector 5 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A, the mating connector 5 includes a rectangular box-shaped resin mating housing 51 that opens forward. On the bottom wall (rear wall) of the mating housing 51, a plurality of (three) mating terminals 7 are provided corresponding to the plurality of (three) terminal insertion holes 46 of the fitting auxiliary member 4. , And so as to extend in the front-rear direction in the internal space of the mating housing 51. In this example, the mating terminal 7 is a rod-shaped terminal having a rectangular cross section. Fixing of the mating terminal 7 to the mating housing 51 is achieved by insert molding or press fitting.

A locked portion 52 projecting downward is integrally formed at the center portion in the width direction of the front end portion of the upper wall of the mating housing 51. At a position above the mating terminal 7 on the bottom wall of the mating housing 51, ribs 53 are moved back and forth in the internal space of the mating housing 51 in accordance with the base end portion 28 of the lock portion 27 of the housing 3. It is integrally provided so as to extend in the direction. The rib 53 comes into contact with the base end portion 28 of the lock portion 27 when the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 are fitted (see FIGS. 7 to 9).

Next, the operation when the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 are fitted will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9. In order to fit the housing 3 and the mating housing 51, as shown in FIG. 4, the fitting auxiliary member 4 is locked at the first position, and the terminal 2 is at the normal position of the terminal accommodating chamber 22. The inserted housing 3 is inserted into the internal space of the mating housing 51. This insertion operation is performed by gripping a pair of gripping portions 45 of the fitting assisting member 4 and a predetermined portion of the mating housing 51, and bringing the fitting assisting member 4 and the mating housing 51 closer to each other in the front-rear direction. It is said. Since the fitting assisting member 4 is locked at the first position with respect to the housing 3, the fitting assisting member 4 and the housing 3 are integrally moved forward with respect to the mating housing 51.

In the process of proceeding with this insertion operation, first, as shown in FIG. 5, the mating side terminal 7 is inserted into the terminal insertion hole 46 of the fitting auxiliary member 4, and the locked portion 52 of the mating side housing 51 is housing. It comes into contact with the engaging portion 31 of 3.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the locked portion 52 presses the engaging portion 31 downward, the engaging portion 31 (thus, the pair of lock arms 29) is elastically deformed downward and the engaging portion 31 is elastically deformed. When the tip of the detection arm 43 engaged with the 31 is pressed downward by the engaging portion 31, the detection arm 43 is also elastically deformed downward. In this state, when both the pair of lock arms 29 and the detection arm 43 are elastically deformed downward, the locked portion 52 passes over the upper surface of the engaging portion 31 and is adjacent to the rear surface of the engaging portion 31. It continues until it moves onto the upper surface of the engaging protrusion 44.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, when the locked portion 52 passes over the upper surface of the engaging portion 31 and moves onto the upper surface of the engaging protrusion 44, the locked portion 52 touches the upper surface of the engaging protrusion 44. By pressing downward, the state in which the detection arm 43 is elastically deformed downward is still maintained, while the downward pressing of the locked portion 52 against the engaging portion 31 is completed, so that a pair of locks are locked. The arm 29 elastically returns upward. As a result, the engaging portion 31 is arranged adjacent to the front surface of the locked portion 52, so that the engaging portion 31 and the locked portion 52 are engaged in the front-rear direction. As a result, a completely fitted state of the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 can be obtained (see FIG. 7A).

At this stage, as shown in FIG. 7B, the mating terminal 7 has moved to a position where it overlaps the pair of contact portions 14 of the terminals 2 in the front-rear direction. However, due to the fitting auxiliary member 4 being in the first position with respect to the housing 3, the extension portion 47 is arranged between the contact portion 14 and the mating terminal 7, so that a pair of contacts The unit 14 and the other terminal 7 still do not come into contact with each other.

Further, at this stage, the pair of lock arms 29 elastically return upward, so that the engaging portion 31 moves upward from a position adjacent to the front surface of the engaging protrusion 44, and engages with the engaging portion 31. The engagement with the portion 44 is released. Therefore, the restriction on the forward movement of the fitting auxiliary member 4 with respect to the housing 3 is lifted, so that the fitting auxiliary member 4 can move forward from the first position with respect to the housing 3. On the other hand, at this stage, the rib 53 provided on the mating side housing 51 is in contact (or close to) the base end portion 28 of the lock portion 27 of the housing 3, and therefore, after this stage, the housing 3 with respect to the mating side housing 51. Further movement forward is restricted.

Therefore, after this stage, when the insertion operation progresses, only the fitting auxiliary member 4 moves forward with respect to the mating housing 51 while the relative positions of the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 in the front-rear direction are maintained. Will come to do. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the fitting auxiliary member 4 moves forward from the first position with respect to the housing 3. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the pair of extending portions 47 moves forward with respect to the terminal accommodating chamber 22, so that the pair of extending portions 47 enter the terminal accommodating chamber 22. The length decreases.

In this way, the state in which the fitting auxiliary member 4 moves forward from the first position with respect to the housing 3 is until the engaging protrusion 44 of the detection arm 43 passes over the lower surface of the engaging portion 31. Will be continued. The detection arm 43 was elastically deformed downward by pressing the upper surface of the engaging protrusion 44 downward until the engaging protrusion 44 completed passing over the lower surface of the engaging portion 31. The condition is still maintained. Hereinafter, the position of the fitting auxiliary member 4 with respect to the housing 3 at the stage where the engaging protrusion 44 completes passing over the lower surface of the engaging portion 31 is referred to as a “second position”.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when the engaging protrusion 44 of the detection arm 43 has passed over the lower surface of the engaging portion 31 and the fitting auxiliary member 4 reaches the second position with respect to the housing 3. When the downward pressing on the engaging protrusion 44 by the engaging portion 31 is completed, the detection arm 43 elastically returns upward. As a result, the engaging protrusion 44 is arranged adjacent to the front surface of the engaging portion 31, so that the engaging protrusion 44 and the engaging portion 31 are engaged in the front-rear direction. As a result, the rearward movement (removal) of the fitting auxiliary member 4 with respect to the housing 3 is restricted.

As shown in FIG. 9B, when the fitting auxiliary member 4 is in the second position with respect to the housing 3, the pair of extending portions 47 are located in front of the front end opening of the terminal accommodating chamber 22. , The extending portion 47 is separated from the contact portion 14 and the mating terminal 7. Therefore, the external force that the pair of guide portions 15 receives from the pair of extension portions 47 and is expanded outward in the vertical direction is released, so that the pair of extension portions 47 elastically return to the inside in the vertical direction. As a result, the pair of contact portions 14 sandwich the mating terminal 7 in the vertical direction, so that the pair of contact portions 14 (hence, the terminal 2) and the mating terminal 7 are electrically connected. As described above, a state in which the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 are completely fitted and a state in which the terminal 2 and the mating terminal 7 are electrically connected can be obtained.

In this example, when the mating housing 51 and the housing 3 are in a completely fitted state (see FIG. 7), the engagement between the engaging portion 31 and the engaging protrusion 44 is disengaged. The fitting auxiliary member 4 can be moved from the first position to the second position with respect to the housing 3. In other words, in the incompletely fitted state (see, for example, FIG. 6) before the mating housing 51 and the housing 3 reach the fully fitted state, the engaging portion 31 and the engaging protrusion 44 are engaged with each other. Is not released, so that the fitting auxiliary member 4 cannot move forward from the first position to the second position with respect to the housing 3. As described above, since the fitting auxiliary member 4 cannot move forward from the first position to the second position, the incomplete fitting state between the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 can be easily detected.

<Action / effect>
As described above, according to the connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, during the fitting between the housing 3 and the mating housing 51, the pair of extending portions 47 of the fitting auxiliary member 4 are the pair of contacts of the terminals 2. Due to the external force exerted on the contact portion 14, the contact between the contact portion 14 and the mating terminal 7 is avoided, and the abrasion powder due to the sliding between the contact portion 14 and the mating terminal 7 (the plating film provided on the surface of the contact portion 14). The generation of abrasion powder, etc.) is suppressed. Further, as the fitting progresses and the external force is released, the contact portion 14 elastically recovers and comes into contact with the mating terminal 7, so that the terminal 2 and the mating terminal 7 are electrically connected. .. As a result, it is possible to reduce the generation of abrasion powder due to the contact between the terminal 2 and the mating terminal 7 as compared with the conventional connector. Therefore, the connector 1 having this configuration can improve the reliability of the electrical connection.

Further, according to the connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, an external force is applied to the contact portion 14 depending on whether or not the pair of extending portions 47 are arranged between the contact portion 14 and the mating terminal 7. You can switch between release and release. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the generation of abrasion powder due to the contact between the terminal 2 and the mating terminal 7 without making the structure of the housing 3 excessively complicated. Further, utilizing the fact that the pair of extension portions 47 are in such a position, the pair of extension portions 47 have a function of guiding the mating terminal 7 toward the terminal 2.

Further, according to the connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the function as a member (so-called CPA. Connector Position Insurance) for detecting whether or not the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 are in a completely fitted state is provided. It is provided in the fitting auxiliary member 4. This can further contribute to higher functionality of the connector 1.

Further, according to the connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pair of contact portions 14 are pressed against the mating terminal 7 in a state where the mating terminal 7 is sandwiched between the pair of contact portions 14 of the terminal 2. Can be done. As a result, the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal 2 and the mating terminal 7 can be improved as compared with the case where the contact portion is simply pressed against the mating terminal.

<Other forms>
The present invention is not limited to each of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified, improved, and the like. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

In the above embodiment, the fitting auxiliary member 4 can move from the first position to the second position with respect to the housing 3 on condition that the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 are in a completely fitted state. ing. On the other hand, regardless of whether the housing 3 and the mating housing 51 are in a completely fitted state, the fitting auxiliary member 4 is attached to the housing 3 when a predetermined condition is satisfied as the fitting progresses. On the other hand, it may be configured to be movable from the first position to the second position.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the fitting auxiliary member 4 is in the first position with respect to the housing 3, the contact portion 14 of the terminal 2 receives an external force from a pair of extending portions 47 (external force applying portions). , The contact between the contact portion 14 of the terminal 2 and the mating terminal 7 is avoided. On the other hand, when the fitting auxiliary member 4 is in the first position with respect to the housing 3, the contact portion 14 of the terminal 2 receives an external force from the external force applying portion, so that the contact portion 14 of the terminal 2 and the other side terminal The contact pressure between the contact portion 14 of the terminal 2 and the mating terminal 7 may be reduced as compared with the case where the contact portion 7 is in contact with the contact portion 7 but is not subjected to the external force from the external force applying portion.

Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the connector 1 according to the present invention are briefly summarized and listed below [1] to [4], respectively.
[1]
When the terminal (2) having the elastically deformable contact portion (14), the housing (3) accommodating the terminal (2), and the housing (3) and the mating housing (51) are fitted to each other. A connector (1) including a fitting auxiliary member (4) that can move relative to the housing (3).
The fitting auxiliary member (4) is
During the fitting, an external force is applied to the contact portion (7) at the first position with respect to the housing (3) and away from the mating terminal (7) accommodated in the mating housing (51). It is configured to exert on 14) and move to a second position different from the first position to release the external force as the fitting progresses.
Connector (1).
[2]
In the connector (1) described in the above [1],
The fitting auxiliary member (4) is
When the contact portion (14) is arranged between the contact portion (14) and the mating terminal (7) when in the first position, the external force is applied to the contact portion (14), and the contact portion (14) is in the second position. Has an external force applying portion (47) that separates from the contact portion (14) and the mating terminal (7) to release the external force.
Connector (1).
[3]
In the connector (1) according to the above [1] or the above [2],
The housing (3) is
It has a lock portion (27) that can be engaged with the mating housing (51).
The fitting auxiliary member (4) is
By interfering with the lock portion (27) when in the first position, interference with the lock portion (27) is avoided as the fitting progresses, and the vehicle can move to the second position. , It is possible to detect whether or not the housing (3) and the mating housing (51) are properly fitted.
Connector (1).
[4]
In the connector (1) according to any one of the above [1] to the above [3],
The terminal (2)
When the mating auxiliary member (4) has the pair of the contact portions (14) and the fitting auxiliary member (4) is in the second position, the mating terminal (7) is sandwiched between the pair of the contact portions (14).
Connector (1).

1 Connector 2 Terminal 3 Housing 7 Mating terminal 14 Contact part 27 Lock part 47 Pair of extension parts (external force applying part)
51 Opposite housing

Claims (4)

A connector including a terminal having an elastically deformable contact portion, a housing accommodating the terminal, and a fitting auxiliary member that can move relative to the housing when the housing and the mating housing are fitted. And
The fitting auxiliary member is
During the fitting, an external force is applied to the contact portion at the first position with respect to the housing in a direction away from the mating terminal accommodated in the mating housing, and the mating progresses. As a result, the external force is released by moving to a second position different from the first position.
connector. In the connector according to claim 1,
The fitting auxiliary member is
When it is in the first position, it is arranged between the contact portion and the mating terminal to exert the external force on the contact, and when it is in the second position, the contact and the mating terminal It has an external force applying unit that separates from and releases the external force.
connector. In the connector according to claim 1 or 2.
The housing is
It has a lock portion that can be engaged with the mating housing.
The fitting auxiliary member is
When it is in the first position, it interferes with the lock portion, and as the fitting progresses, the interference with the lock portion is avoided and the housing can be moved to the second position, so that the housing and the partner can be moved. It is possible to detect whether or not the side housing is properly fitted.
connector. In the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The terminal is
When the mating auxiliary member has the pair of the contact portions and the fitting auxiliary member is in the second position, the mating terminal is sandwiched by the pair of the contact portions.
connector.

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