JP2021111575A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of achieving high waterproofing.SOLUTION: A connector 30 includes a connector housing 50 and a rubber ring 70 fitted onto an outer-peripheral surface of the connector housing 50. The rubber ring 70 includes an annular seal part 71, an annular seal part 72 provided apart from the seal part 71 and a connection part 73 for connecting the seal part 71 with the seal part 72.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present disclosure relates to connectors.

Conventionally, a connector attached to a case of an electric device mounted on a vehicle is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This type of connector has an insertion portion that can be inserted into a mounting hole provided in the case. A rubber ring is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion to waterproof (seal) the space between the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole and the insertion portion by being in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion. ing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-86150

By the way, since the vehicle travels in various environments, the liquid that tries to enter the inside of the case from between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole may contain salt. .. If the liquid containing this salt comes into contact with the case, the salt contained in the liquid may corrode the case. Therefore, it is desired to further improve the waterproof property between the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole and the insertion portion.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of improving waterproofness.

The connector of the present disclosure includes a connector housing and a seal member attached to the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing, and the seal member is provided apart from the annular first seal portion and the first seal portion. It has an annular second seal portion and a connecting portion that connects the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

According to the connector of the present disclosure, the effect of improving the waterproof property can be obtained.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a wire harness of one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a connector of one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the connector of one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a connector of one embodiment. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the connector of one embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a wire harness of a modified example.

[Explanation of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
[1] The connector of the present disclosure includes a connector housing and a seal member attached to the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing, and the seal member is separated from the annular first seal portion and the first seal portion. It has an annular second seal portion and a connecting portion that connects the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

According to this configuration, since the seal can be performed by the two first seal portions and the second seal portion, the waterproof property of the seal member can be improved as compared with the case where the seal is performed by one seal portion. Further, since the connecting portion for connecting the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion is provided, the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion can be integrated. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced and the workability when mounting the seal member on the connector housing can be improved as compared with the case where the first seal portion and the second seal portion are individually provided.

Here, the "ring" in the present specification means a structure in which the whole is connected to form a continuous ring, that is, an endless structure in which the start point and the end point coincide with each other. Further, the term "annular" in the present specification includes an annular ring having a circular outer edge shape, an elliptical ring having an elliptical outer edge shape, an oval ring having an oval outer edge shape, and an annular ring having a rounded outer edge shape. An outer edge shape consisting of any closed shape connected by a straight line or a curved line. The "annular" is a shape having a through hole in a plan view, and the outer edge shape and the inner circumference shape of the through hole are the same shape, or the outer edge shape and the inner circumference shape of the through hole are different shapes. including. The “annular” includes one having a predetermined length extending along the penetrating direction of the through hole, and the length thereof does not matter.

[2] The connector of the present disclosure is provided on a connector housing that is inserted into a mounting hole of a mating case along an insertion direction and an outer peripheral surface of the connector housing, and is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing and the mounting hole. It has a seal member for waterproofing between the inner peripheral surface, and the seal member has an annular first seal portion and an annular second seal provided apart from the first seal portion in the insertion direction. It has a portion and a connecting portion that connects the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

According to this configuration, since the seal can be performed by the two first seal portions and the second seal portion, the waterproof property of the seal member can be improved as compared with the case where the seal is performed by one seal portion. Further, since the connecting portion for connecting the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion is provided, the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion can be integrated. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced and the workability when mounting the seal member on the connector housing can be improved as compared with the case where the first seal portion and the second seal portion are individually provided.

[3] It is preferable that the connector housing has an accommodating groove formed recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing, and the sealing member is accommodated in the accommodating groove. According to this configuration, the seal member is accommodated in the accommodating groove. As a result, the positioning of the seal member can be easily performed, and the misalignment of the seal member can be suppressed.

[4] It is preferable that the connector housing has a concave portion formed by being recessed from the bottom surface of the accommodating groove, and the connecting portion has a convex portion that fits into the concave portion.
By the way, in the seal member in which the first seal portion, the second seal portion and the connecting portion are integrally formed, the length in the direction in which the first seal portion, the connecting portion and the second sealing portion are aligned becomes long. Therefore, there arises a problem that the seal member is easily rolled up when the connector is inserted and removed. On the other hand, in the above configuration, the connecting portion is provided with a convex portion that fits into the concave portion formed by further recessing from the bottom surface of the accommodating groove. By fitting the convex portion into the concave portion, it is possible to preferably suppress the sealing member from being rolled up when the connector is inserted and removed. Further, by forming the concave portion in the connector housing, the weight of the connector housing can be reduced, so that the weight of the connector can be reduced.

[5] It is preferable that the connecting portion has an annular shape, and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion has a lip protruding toward the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing.
According to this configuration, a lip is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion and the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing. Thereby, the waterproof property between the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion of the seal member and the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing can be improved.

[6] It is preferable that the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion has a recess formed by being recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the first seal portion and the second seal portion.
According to this configuration, a recess is formed in the connecting portion. As a result, the material cost of the sealing member can be reduced as compared with the case where the concave portion is not formed in the connecting portion, and it is possible to contribute to the cost reduction of the connector.

[Details of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
Specific examples of the connectors of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, a part of the structure may be exaggerated or simplified for convenience of explanation. In addition, the dimensional ratio of each part may differ in each drawing. The term "parallel" or "orthogonal" in the present specification includes not only the case of strictly parallel or orthogonal, but also the case of being substantially parallel or orthogonal within the range in which the action and effect in the present embodiment are exhibited. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is indicated by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

(Overall configuration of wire harness 10)
The wire harness 10 shown in FIG. 1 electrically connects two or three or more electric devices (equipment). The wire harness 10 electrically connects an inverter 11 installed at the front of a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle with a high-voltage battery 12 installed behind the inverter 11. The wire harness 10 is arranged so as to pass under the floor of the vehicle, for example. The inverter 11 is connected to a wheel drive motor (not shown) that is a power source for traveling the vehicle. The inverter 11 generates AC power from the DC power of the high-voltage battery 12 and supplies the AC power to the motor. The high voltage battery 12 is, for example, a battery capable of supplying a voltage of several hundred volts. That is, the wire harness 10 of the present embodiment constitutes a high-voltage circuit that enables high-voltage exchange between the inverter 11 and the high-voltage battery 12.

The wire harness 10 includes one or a plurality of electric wires (two in the present embodiment), an exterior member 25 that collectively surrounds the plurality of electric wires 20, and a pair of wires attached to both ends of the electric wires 20. It has a connector 30 and. One end of the electric wire 20 is connected to the inverter 11 via the connector 30, and the other end of the electric wire 20 is connected to the high voltage battery 12 via the connector 30. The electric wire 20 is, for example, a high-voltage electric wire capable of dealing with a high voltage and a large current. The electric wire 20 may be, for example, a shielded electric wire having an electromagnetic shield structure by itself, or a non-shielded electric wire having no electromagnetic shield by itself.

The exterior member 25 has a long tubular shape as a whole. One or a plurality of electric wires 20 are housed in the internal space of the exterior member 25. The exterior member 25 is formed so as to surround the outer periphery of the plurality of electric wires 20 over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, for example. The exterior member 25 protects the electric wire 20 housed therein from flying objects and water droplets. As the exterior member 25, for example, a metal or resin pipe, a resin protector, a flexible corrugated tube made of resin or the like, a rubber waterproof cover, or a combination thereof can be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, each connector 30 is fixed to a conductive case 15 included in an electric device such as an inverter 11 and a high-voltage battery 12 (see FIG. 1). Each connector 30 is electrically connected to, for example, a mating terminal (not shown) provided in the case 15. As the material of the case 15, for example, a metal material such as iron-based or aluminum-based can be used.

(Structure of electric wire 20)
As shown in FIG. 3, the electric wire 20 has a core wire 21 made of a conductor and an insulating coating 22 that covers the outer periphery of the core wire 21. Examples of the core wire 21 include a stranded wire formed by twisting a plurality of metal strands, a columnar conductor made of one columnar metal rod having a solid structure inside, and a tubular conductor having a hollow structure inside. Can be used. Further, as the core wire 21, a stranded wire, a columnar conductor or a tubular conductor may be used in combination. Examples of the columnar conductor include a single core wire and a bass bar. The core wire 21 of this embodiment is a stranded wire. As the material of the core wire 21, for example, a metal material such as copper-based or aluminum-based can be used. The core wire 21 is formed by, for example, extrusion molding.

The cross-sectional shape of the core wire 21 cut by a plane orthogonal to the length direction of the core wire 21 can be any shape. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the core wire 21 can be any shape. The cross-sectional shape of the core wire 21 is formed, for example, into a circular shape, a semicircular shape, a polygonal shape, a square shape, or a flat shape. The cross-sectional shape of the core wire 21 of the present embodiment is formed in a circular shape.

The insulating coating 22 covers, for example, the outer peripheral surface of the core wire 21 over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. The insulating coating 22 is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The insulating coating 22 can be formed, for example, by extrusion molding (extrusion coating) on the core wire 21.

(Structure of case 15)
As shown in FIG. 2, the case 15 has a box-shaped case main body 16 and an annular mounting portion 17 that is integrally provided with the case main body 16 and protrudes to the outside of the case main body 16. The mounting portion 17 is formed in an annular shape by having a mounting hole 17X penetrating the mounting portion 17. The mounting hole 17X is formed so as to communicate the internal space of the case body 16 and the external space of the case body 16. The mounting hole 17X is formed, for example, into a flat shape having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction when viewed from the penetrating direction. In the present specification, the "flat shape" includes, for example, a rectangle, an oval shape, an ellipse shape, and the like. The "rectangle" in the present specification has a long side and a short side, and excludes a square. Further, the "rectangle" in the present specification also includes a shape in which the ridge portion is chamfered and a shape in which the ridge portion is rounded. As used herein, an "oval" is a shape consisting of two parallel lines of equal length and two semicircles. The mounting hole 17X of the present embodiment is formed in an elliptical shape when viewed from the penetrating direction. Further, the mounting portion 17 of the present embodiment is formed in an elliptical ring shape.

Here, the "ring" in the present specification means a structure in which the whole is connected to form a continuous ring, that is, an endless structure in which the start point and the end point coincide with each other. Further, the term "annular" in the present specification includes an annular ring having a circular outer edge shape, an elliptical ring having an elliptical outer edge shape, an oval ring having an oval outer edge shape, and an annular ring having a rounded outer edge shape. An outer edge shape consisting of any closed shape connected by a straight line or a curved line. The "annular" is a shape having a through hole in a plan view, and the outer edge shape and the inner circumference shape of the through hole are the same shape, or the outer edge shape and the inner circumference shape of the through hole are different shapes. including. The “annular” includes one having a predetermined length extending along the penetrating direction of the through hole, and the length thereof does not matter. Further, in the present specification, "equal" includes not only the case where they are exactly equal but also the case where there are some differences between the comparison targets due to the influence of dimensional tolerances and the like.

The connector 30 can be mounted on the case 15 in an arbitrary direction according to the posture of the mounting portion 17, but in the present embodiment, the structure of the connector 30 will be described with the through direction of the mounting hole 17X as the front-rear direction. In each drawing, the X-axis in the XYZ axes represents the front-rear direction of the connector 30, the Y-axis represents the left-right direction (width direction) of the connector 30 orthogonal to the X-axis, and the Z-axis is orthogonal to the XY plane. It represents the vertical direction (height direction) of the connector 30. In the following description, for convenience, the direction extending along the X axis is referred to as the front-back direction X, the direction extending along the Y axis is referred to as the left-right direction Y, and the direction extending along the Z axis is referred to as the vertical direction Z. Further, in the following description, the X arrow direction in FIG. 2 is forward, the Y arrow direction is left, and the Z arrow direction is upward.

The case 15 has a fixing portion 18 for fixing the connector 30 to the case 15. The fixing portion 18 is formed so as to project to the outside of the case body 16, for example. The fixing portion 18 is formed integrally with the mounting portion 17, for example. The fixing portion 18 is provided, for example, side by side with the mounting portion 17 in the left-right direction Y. A fixing hole 18X is formed in the fixing portion 18. The fixing hole 18X is formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction X, for example.

(Configuration of connector 30)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector 30 is mounted on, for example, the connection terminal 40 connected to the end of the electric wire 20, the connector housing 50 holding the connection terminal 40, and the outer periphery of the connector housing 50. It has a rubber ring 70. As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 30 has, for example, a rubber stopper 80 attached to the end of the electric wire 20, a retainer 85, and a shield shell 90 that covers the connector housing 50 from the outside.

(Configuration of connection terminal 40)
The connection terminal 40 has, for example, an electric wire connection portion 41 connected to the end portion of the electric wire 20, and a terminal connection portion 42 connected to a mating terminal (not shown). The connection terminal 40 is, for example, a single component in which the electric wire connection portion 41 and the terminal connection portion 42 are connected in the front-rear direction X and integrally formed. As the material of the connection terminal 40, for example, a metal material such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, or stainless steel can be used. The connection terminal 40 may be subjected to surface treatment such as silver plating, tin plating, or aluminum plating, for example, depending on the type of the constituent metal and the usage environment. The connection terminal 40 can be formed, for example, by pressing a metal plate having excellent conductivity.

(Structure of electric wire connection portion 41)
The electric wire connecting portion 41 is electrically connected to the end portion of the electric wire 20. The electric wire connecting portion 41 is connected to, for example, the end portion of the core wire 21 exposed from the insulating coating 22. The electric wire connecting portion 41 is connected to the core wire 21 by, for example, crimping or ultrasonic welding. As a result, the electric wire connecting portion 41 and the core wire 21 are electrically connected.

(Structure of terminal connection portion 42)
The terminal connection portion 42 is formed in a flat plate shape, for example. The terminal connection portion 42 is formed with a through hole 42X into which a fixture (not shown) such as a screw or a bolt is inserted. The through hole 42X is formed so as to penetrate the terminal connection portion 42 in the plate thickness direction (here, the vertical direction Z). In the terminal connection portion 42, for example, a locking hole 42Y that penetrates the terminal connection portion 42 in the plate thickness direction is formed between the through hole 42X and the electric wire connection portion 41. The terminal connection portion 42 may be formed in another shape such as a plate shape or a rod shape having no through hole 42X or locking hole 42Y.

(Structure of connector housing 50)
As shown in FIG. 2, the connector housing 50 has, for example, a substantially tubular shape extending in the front-rear direction X. The connector housing 50 is formed, for example, in a flat shape that is longer in the left-right direction Y than in the up-down direction Z. The connector housing 50 has an insertion portion 51 that is inserted into the mounting hole 17X of the case 15, and an outer arrangement portion 60 that is arranged outside the case 15. The insertion portion 51 is inserted (fitted) into the mounting hole 17X along the insertion direction D1. The insertion direction D1 of the present embodiment is a direction parallel to the front-rear direction X, and is a direction from the rear to the front of the front-rear direction X. The connector housing 50 is, for example, a single component in which the insertion portion 51 and the outer arrangement portion 60 are connected in the front-rear direction X and integrally formed. As the material of the connector housing 50, for example, an insulating material such as a synthetic resin can be used.

(Structure of insertion portion 51)
As shown in FIG. 3, the insertion portion 51 is formed so as to project forward from the front end of the outer arrangement portion 60, for example. The insertion portion 51 is formed in an annular shape having an outer peripheral surface having a shape corresponding to the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X (see FIG. 2). The insertion portion 51 is formed in a flat shape that is longer in the left-right direction Y than in the up-down direction Z, for example. The insertion portion 51 has, for example, an elliptical outer peripheral shape and an annular shape extending in the front-rear direction X. The insertion portion 51 of the present embodiment is formed in an elliptical ring shape.

The insertion portion 51 has, for example, a plurality of (here, two) holding holes 52 arranged in the left-right direction Y. Each holding hole 52 is formed so as to penetrate the insertion portion 51 in the front-rear direction X. Each holding hole 52 has an annular shape extending in the front-rear direction X.

As shown in FIG. 4, a locking piece 53 is provided inside each holding hole 52. Each locking piece 53, for example, inside each holding hole 52, projects downward from the inner peripheral surface at the rear end of the holding hole 52, and then extends forward along the front-rear direction X inside the holding hole 52. Is formed in. At the tip of each locking piece 53, a locking convex portion 54 projecting downward from each locking piece 53 is formed. Each locking piece 53 is configured to be elastically deformable so that the tip end portion of the locking piece 53 is displaced in the vertical direction Z with respect to the base end portion of the locking piece 53 inside the holding hole 52. Each locking piece 53 is configured to be able to bend in the vertical direction Z due to elastic deformation, for example.

A connection terminal 40 is inserted into each holding hole 52 from the rear side. For example, the terminal connection portion 42 of each connection terminal 40 is inserted into each holding hole 52. The terminal connection portion 42 is arranged below the locking piece 53 inside the holding hole 52, for example. The connection terminal 40 is held inside the holding hole 52, for example, by fitting the locking convex portion 54 into the locking hole 42Y of the terminal connecting portion 42. The front end portion of the terminal connection portion 42 in which the through hole 42X is formed is formed so as to project forward from the front end portion of the holding hole 52. That is, the front end portion of the terminal connection portion 42 is exposed to the outside of the holding hole 52 (insertion portion 51). For example, the plurality of connection terminals 40 held inside the holding hole 52 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 51 when viewed from the front-rear direction X.

A storage groove 55 in which the rubber ring 70 is housed is formed on the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51. Here, the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X, for example, when the insertion portion 51 is inserted into the mounting hole 17X. The accommodating groove 55 is formed so as to be recessed inward in the radial direction of the insertion portion 51 from the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51. The accommodating groove 55 is formed, for example, over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51 in the circumferential direction. The accommodating groove 55 has, for example, an annular shape that extends continuously over the entire circumference of the insertion portion 51 so as to surround the outer circumference of the insertion portion 51. The accommodating groove 55 is formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction X, for example. The accommodating groove 55 has, for example, a rectangular shape having a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the extending direction of the accommodating groove 55 (here, the front-rear direction X) and opening on the outer peripheral side of the insertion portion 51.

As shown in FIG. 5, the accommodating groove 55 is formed with a recess 56 formed by being recessed from the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55. The recess 56 is formed so as to be recessed from the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55 inward in the radial direction of the insertion portion 51, for example. The recess 56 has, for example, an annular shape that extends continuously over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51 in the circumferential direction. The recess 56 is formed, for example, in the central portion of the accommodating groove 55 in the front-rear direction X. The recess 56 is formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction X, for example. The recess 56 has, for example, a rectangular shape having a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the extending direction of the recess 56 (here, the front-rear direction X) and opening on the bottom surface side of the accommodating groove 55.

The connector housing 50 has a step formed by a bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55, an inner surface surface of the recess 56, and a bottom surface of the recess 56.
(Structure of rubber ring 70)
A rubber ring 70 is fitted in the accommodating groove 55. The rubber ring 70 is accommodated in the accommodating groove 55 so as to be fitted into the insertion portion 51 from the outside. When the insertion portion 51 is inserted into the mounting hole 17X, the rubber ring 70 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the case 15 are brought into close contact with each other. Waterproof the space. That is, the rubber ring 70 has a waterproof function of waterproofing between the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X.

The rubber ring 70 is configured to be elastically deformable. The rubber ring 70 is formed, for example, in an annular shape that extends continuously over the entire circumference of the insertion portion 51 in the circumferential direction. The rubber ring 70 is formed in an annular shape by having a through hole 70X that penetrates the rubber ring 70 in the insertion direction D1 (here, the front-rear direction X).

The rubber ring 70 has an annular seal portion 71, an annular seal portion 72 provided apart from the seal portion 71, and a connecting portion 73 for connecting the seal portion 71 and the seal portion 72. The rubber ring 70 is a single component in which the seal portion 71, the seal portion 72, and the connecting portion 73 are integrally formed. As the material of the rubber ring 70, for example, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, acrylic rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber and the like can be used. As the material of the rubber ring 70, for example, oil-containing rubber containing oil can be used. The rubber ring 70 of the present embodiment is made of oil-impregnated rubber.

The seal portions 71 and 72 are provided on the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55. The seal portion 71 and the seal portion 72 are provided side by side at intervals along the insertion direction D1 (here, the front-rear direction X). The seal portion 71 is provided, for example, on the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55 located on the front side of the recess 56. The seal portion 72 is provided, for example, on the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55 located on the rear side of the recess 56. For example, the seal portion 71 and the seal portion 72 have the same structure as each other.

Each of the seal portions 71 and 72 is formed in an annular shape that extends continuously over the entire circumference of the insertion portion 51 in the circumferential direction, for example. The inner peripheral shape of each of the seal portions 71 and 72 is formed, for example, along the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 51. The inner peripheral shape of each of the seal portions 71 and 72 is formed, for example, along the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55. The outer peripheral shape of each of the seal portions 71 and 72 is formed, for example, along the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X. The seal portions 71 and 72 of the present embodiment are formed in an elliptical ring shape in which the inner peripheral shape and the outer peripheral shape thereof form an elliptical shape.

A plurality of (two in this embodiment) outer peripheral lips 74 are provided side by side along the insertion direction D1 on the outer peripheral surfaces of the seal portions 71 and 72. Each outer peripheral lip 74 is formed so as to project from the outer peripheral surface of the seal portions 71, 72 toward the radial outer side of the seal portions 71, 72, for example. Each outer peripheral lip 74 is formed in an annular shape that extends continuously over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surfaces of the sealing portions 71 and 72.

For example, an inner peripheral lip 75 that is in close contact with the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55 is formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the sealing portions 71 and 72. A plurality of (three in this embodiment) inner peripheral lips 75 are provided side by side along the insertion direction D1 on the inner peripheral surfaces of the seal portions 71 and 72. Each inner peripheral lip 75 is formed so as to project from the inner peripheral surface of each of the sealing portions 71 and 72 toward the inside of the sealing portions 71 and 72 in the radial direction, for example. Each inner peripheral lip 75 is formed so as to project from the inner peripheral surface of each of the sealing portions 71 and 72 toward the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55, for example. Each inner peripheral lip 75 is formed in an annular shape that extends continuously over the entire circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surfaces of the sealing portions 71 and 72.

The outer peripheral dimensions of the seal portions 71 and 72 are formed to be larger than the outer peripheral dimension of the insertion portion 51, and are formed to be larger than the inner peripheral dimension of the mounting hole 17X. Here, the "outer peripheral dimension of the A member" in the present specification means a length obtained by turning the outer peripheral surface of the A member once along the circumferential direction of the A member. Further, the "inner peripheral dimension of the A member" in the present specification means a length obtained by turning the inner peripheral surface of the A member once along the circumferential direction of the A member. For example, the outer peripheral surfaces of the seal portions 71 and 72 are formed so as to project radially outward from the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51. Specifically, the tip portion of the outer peripheral lip 74 is formed at a position protruding radially outward from the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51.

The connecting portion 73 is formed so as to extend between the sealing portion 71 and the sealing portion 72. The connecting portion 73 is formed so as to extend along the insertion direction D1 (here, the front-rear direction X). The connecting portion 73 is formed so as to straddle, for example, between the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55 located on the front side of the recess 56 and the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55 located on the rear side of the recess 56. The connecting portion 73 is formed, for example, in an annular shape that extends continuously over the entire circumference of the insertion portion 51 in the circumferential direction. The inner peripheral shape of the connecting portion 73 is formed, for example, along the outer peripheral surface of the inserting portion 51. The inner peripheral shape of the connecting portion 73 is formed, for example, along the bottom surface of the recess 56. The outer peripheral shape of the connecting portion 73 is formed, for example, along the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X. The connecting portion 73 of the present embodiment is formed in an elliptical ring whose inner peripheral shape and outer peripheral shape form an elliptical shape.

The connecting portion 73 has, for example, a convex portion 76 formed so as to protrude inward in the radial direction of the connecting portion 73 from the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion 73. The convex portion 76 is formed so as to project from the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion 73 toward the bottom surface of the concave portion 56, for example. The convex portion 76 is fitted in the concave portion 56 of the accommodating groove 55. The end surface of the convex portion 76 in the front-rear direction X faces the inner surface of the concave portion 56. The convex portion 76 is formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction X, for example. The convex portion 76 is formed so as to project inward in the radial direction from a part of the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion 73 in the front-rear direction X, for example. For example, the length of the connecting portion 73 in the front-rear direction X is formed longer than the length of the convex portion 76 in the front-rear direction X. The length of the connecting portion 73 in the front-rear direction X is formed longer than, for example, the length of the recess 56 of the accommodating groove 55 in the front-rear direction X.

Here, "opposing" in the present specification means that the faces or members are in front of each other, not only when they are completely in front of each other, but also when they are partially in front of each other. Including the case of being in position. Further, the term "opposing" in the present specification refers to both the case where a member other than the two parts is interposed between the two parts and the case where nothing is interposed between the two parts. including.

On the inner peripheral surface (tip surface) of the convex portion 76, for example, a plurality of lips 77 projecting toward the bottom surface of the concave portion 56 are formed. The plurality of lips 77 are provided side by side along, for example, the insertion direction D1 (here, the front-rear direction X). Each lip 77 is formed so as to protrude inward in the radial direction of the connecting portion 73 from the inner peripheral surface of the convex portion 76, for example. Each lip 77 is formed so as to be in close contact with the bottom surface of the recess 56.

On the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 73, a recess 78 is formed which is recessed inward in the radial direction of the connecting portion 73 from the outer peripheral surface of the sealing portions 71 and 72. The recess 78 is formed, for example, in an annular shape that extends continuously over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 73 in the circumferential direction. The recess 78 is formed so as to extend along the front-rear direction X, for example. The recess 78 is formed so as to extend over the entire length of the connecting portion 73 in the front-rear direction X, for example. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 73 is formed by the bottom surface of the recess 78. The length of the concave portion 78 in the front-rear direction X is formed to be longer than the length of the convex portion 76 in the front-rear direction X, for example. The recess 78 has, for example, a rectangular shape having a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the extending direction of the recess 78 (here, the front-rear direction X) and opening on the outer peripheral surface side of the seal portions 71 and 72.

The outer peripheral surface of the rubber ring 70 has, for example, a step formed by the outer peripheral surfaces of the sealing portions 71 and 72, the inner surface of the recess 78, and the bottom surface of the recess 78 (the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 73). .. The inner peripheral surface of the rubber ring 70 has, for example, a step formed by the inner peripheral surfaces of the sealing portions 71 and 72, the end surface of the convex portion 76 in the front-rear direction X, and the inner peripheral surface of the convex portion 76. There is.

(Structure of outer arrangement portion 60)
As shown in FIG. 3, the outer arrangement portion 60 is formed so as to project rearward from the rear end of the insertion portion 51, for example. The outer arrangement portion 60 has, for example, a tubular shape in which the shape seen from the front-rear direction X is longer in the left-right direction Y than in the up-down direction Z. The length of the outer arrangement portion 60 in the vertical direction Z is formed to be shorter than the length of the insertion portion 51 in the vertical direction Z, for example.

The outer arrangement portion 60 has, for example, a plurality of (here, two) accommodating holes 61 arranged in the left-right direction Y. Each accommodating hole 61 is formed so as to penetrate the outer arrangement portion 60 in the front-rear direction X. Each accommodating hole 61 has a tubular shape extending in the front-rear direction X.

As shown in FIG. 4, each accommodating hole 61 is formed so as to communicate with each holding hole 52. Inside the accommodating hole 61, a connecting portion between the electric wire connecting portion 41 of the connection terminal 40 and the core wire 21 of the electric wire 20 is accommodated. The end of the insulating coating 22 of the electric wire 20 is accommodated inside the accommodating hole 61.

As shown in FIG. 3, a locking claw 63 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer arrangement portion 60. The locking claw 63 is provided, for example, between the outer peripheral surfaces of adjacent accommodating holes 61. The locking claw 63 is formed, for example, so as to project outward from the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the outer arrangement portion 60 in the vertical direction Z and then extend rearward along the front-rear direction X. At the tip end portion (rear end portion in this case) of each locking claw 63, a locking convex portion 64 projecting on the opposite side to the outer peripheral surface of the outer arrangement portion 60 is formed. Each locking claw 63 is elastically deformable so that the tip end portion of the locking claw 63 is displaced in the vertical direction Z with respect to the base end portion (here, the front end portion) of the locking claw 63. Each locking claw 63 is configured to be able to bend in the vertical direction Z due to elastic deformation, for example.

(Structure of rubber stopper 80)
An annular rubber stopper 80 is attached to the rear end of each accommodating hole 61. The rubber stopper 80 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface at the end of the insulating coating 22 of the electric wire 20. The rubber stopper 80 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface at the rear end of the accommodating hole 61. The inner peripheral surface of the rubber stopper 80 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 22 in a liquid-tight manner, and the outer peripheral surface of the rubber stopper 80 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole 61 in a liquid-tight manner. As a result, it is possible to prevent liquids such as water from entering the inside of the storage hole 61 from the rear end of the storage hole 61.

(Structure of retainer 85)
A retainer 85 is attached to the rear end of the accommodating hole 61. The retainer 85 is provided behind the rubber stopper 80.

As shown in FIG. 3, the retainer 85 has, for example, a plate shape in which the thickness direction is the front-rear direction X. The retainer 85 has two through holes 85X arranged in the left-right direction Y. Each through hole 85X is formed so as to penetrate, for example, the retainer 85 in the plate thickness direction (here, the front-rear direction X). The inner peripheral surface of the through hole 85X is formed in a shape along the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 22 of the electric wire 20. The outer peripheral surface of the retainer 85 is formed in a shape along the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole 61. The retainer 85 has a plurality of fixing claws 86 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 85. The rear end of the outer arrangement portion 60 is provided with the same number of locking holes 62 as the fixing claws 86. As shown in FIG. 4, the retainer 85 is fixed to the outer arrangement portion 60 (accommodation hole 61) by fitting the plurality of fixing claws 86 into the locking holes 62, respectively. The retainer 85 is provided so as to come into contact with, for example, the rear end surface of the rubber stopper 80. Each electric wire 20 is drawn out from the rear end of the accommodating hole 61 to the outside of the connector housing 50 through each through hole 85X of the retainer 85.

(Configuration of shield shell 90)
As shown in FIG. 3, the shield shell 90 has, for example, a covering portion 91 that covers the outer periphery of the outer arrangement portion 60, and a fixing portion 92 that is formed so as to project outward from the outer periphery of the covering portion 91. .. The shield shell 90 is, for example, a single component in which the covering portion 91 and the fixing portion 92 are integrally formed. As the material of the shield shell 90, for example, a metal material such as iron-based or aluminum-based can be used.

The covering portion 91 is formed so as to surround the outer periphery of the outer arrangement portion 60 over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, for example. The covering portion 91 is formed in an annular shape having an inner peripheral surface having a shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the outer arrangement portion 60, for example. The covering portion 91 is formed in a flat shape that is longer in the left-right direction Y than in the up-down direction Z, for example. The outer peripheral shape of the covering portion 91 is, for example, an elliptical shape and an annular shape extending in the front-rear direction X. The covering portion 91 of the present embodiment is formed in an elliptical ring shape. The length of the covering portion 91 in the front-rear direction X is, for example, equal to the distance between the rear end surface of the insertion portion 51 on the outer arrangement portion 60 side and the locking convex portion 64 of the outer arrangement portion 60.

The fixing portion 92 is formed so as to project radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the covering portion 91, for example. The fixing portion 92 is formed continuously, for example, over the entire circumference of the covering portion 91 in the circumferential direction. The fixing portion 92 has, for example, a fixing hole 92X that penetrates the fixing portion 92 in the front-rear direction X.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shield shell 90 is fitted from the rear end side of the connector housing 50 to the outside of the outer arrangement portion 60. In the shield shell 90, the front end surface of the fixing portion 92 abuts on the rear end surface of the insertion portion 51 from the rear side, and the rear end surface of the covering portion 91 abuts on the locking convex portion 64. As a result, the shield shell 90 is positioned in the front-rear direction X with respect to the connector housing 50.

The fixing portion 92 is fixed to the fixing portion 18 by bolts and nuts (not shown) inserted into the fixing hole 92X and the fixing hole 18X after being overlapped with the fixing portion 18 of the case 15. As a result, the shield shell 90 is fixed to the case 15, and the shield shell 90 is electrically connected to the case 15. Further, the connector housing 50 covered with the covering portion 91 of the shield shell 90 is fixed to the case 15. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the insertion portion 51 of the connector housing 50 is inserted into the mounting hole 17X. Inside the mounting hole 17X, the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X face each other in the radial direction. Further, inside the mounting hole 17X, the rubber ring 70 is in close contact with the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55 and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X in a liquid-tight manner. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the outer peripheral lips 74 of the seal portions 71 and 72 are in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the mounting holes 17X in a liquid-tight manner, and the inner peripheral lips 75 of the seal portions 71 and 72 are accommodated in the accommodating groove. It adheres to the bottom surface of 55 in a liquid-tight manner. As a result, the two sealing portions 71 and 72 seal between the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X, respectively. Therefore, the two sealing portions 71 and 72 can prevent liquids such as water from entering the internal space of the case 15 from between the outer peripheral surface 51A of the insertion portion 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X. ..

Next, the action and effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1) The connector 30 is provided on the connector housing 50 that is inserted into the mounting hole 17X of the case 15 along the insertion direction D1 and the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing 50, and is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing 50 and the mounting hole 17X. It has a rubber ring 70 that is waterproof to the inner peripheral surface of the housing. The rubber ring 70 has an annular seal portion 71, an annular seal portion 72 provided apart from the seal portion 71 in the insertion direction D1, and a connecting portion 73 for connecting the seal portion 71 and the seal portion 72.

According to this configuration, the two seal portions 71 and the seal portion 72 can waterproof the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 17X. Therefore, the waterproof property of the rubber ring 70 can be improved as compared with the case where there is only one seal portion. Further, since the connecting portion 73 for connecting the sealing portion 71 and the sealing portion 72 is provided, the sealing portion 71 and the sealing portion 72 can be integrated. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced and the workability when mounting the rubber ring 70 on the connector housing 50 can be improved as compared with the case where the seal portion 71 and the seal portion 72 are individually provided.

(2) The seal portion 71 and the seal portion 72 are provided apart from each other in the insertion direction D1. Therefore, even if a liquid such as water penetrates beyond the seal portion 72 into the inner side of the insertion direction D1, the distance until the liquid reaches the seal portion 72 can be lengthened.

(3) By the way, in the rubber ring 70 in which the seal portion 71, the seal portion 72, and the connecting portion 73 are integrally formed, the length in the direction in which the seal portion 71, the connecting portion 73, and the sealing portion 72 are aligned becomes long. Therefore, there arises a problem that the rubber ring 70 is easily rolled up when the connector 30 is inserted and removed.

On the other hand, in the connector 30 of the present embodiment, a concave portion 56 recessed from the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55 in which the rubber ring 70 is accommodated is formed, and a convex portion 76 fitted in the concave portion 56 is formed in the connecting portion 73. According to this configuration, by fitting the convex portion 76 into the concave portion 56, it is possible to suitably suppress the rubber ring 70 from being rolled up when the connector 30 is inserted and removed.

(4) Further, since the connector housing 50 can be made lighter by providing the recess 56 in the connector housing 50, the weight of the connector 30 can be made lighter.
(5) A recess 78 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 73. As a result, the material cost of the rubber ring 70 can be reduced as compared with the case where the recess 78 is not formed in the connecting portion 73, which can contribute to the cost reduction of the connector 30.

(Other embodiments)
The above embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The above embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.

-The shapes of the seal portions 71 and 72 in the above embodiment are not particularly limited. For example, the outer peripheral lips 74 of the seal portions 71 and 72 may be omitted. For example, the inner peripheral lips 75 of the seal portions 71 and 72 may be omitted.

-The shape of the connecting portion 73 in the above embodiment is not particularly limited. For example, the lip 77 of the connecting portion 73 may be omitted. For example, the convex portion 76 of the connecting portion 73 may be omitted. For example, the recess 78 of the connecting portion 73 may be omitted. In this case, for example, the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 73 is formed so as to be flush with the outer peripheral surfaces of the sealing portions 71 and 72.

-In the above embodiment, the connecting portion 73 is formed in an annular shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connecting portion 73 is not particularly limited as long as it has a structure for connecting the sealing portion 71 and the sealing portion 72. For example, the connecting portion 73 may be formed in a band shape. In this case, the connecting portion 73 is formed only in a part of the sealing portions 71 and 72 in the circumferential direction.

-In the above embodiment, the rubber ring 70 has a structure having two sealing portions 71 and 72, but the number of sealing portions is not particularly limited. The rubber ring 70 may be changed to a structure having three or more sealing portions.

-In the above embodiment, the rubber ring 70 is embodied as a sealing member, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the rubber ring 70, a ring member made of an elastic body other than rubber may be adopted. Even in this case, the ring member has a structure in which the seal portion 71, the seal portion 72, and the connecting portion 73 are integrally formed.

-In the above embodiment, the rubber ring 70 is accommodated in one accommodating groove 55, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, accommodating grooves for accommodating the seal portions 71 and 72 may be individually provided.

The shape of the outer arrangement portion 60 in the above embodiment is not particularly limited. For example, the locking hole 62 of the outer arrangement portion 60 may be omitted. For example, the locking claw 63 and the locking convex portion 64 of the outer arrangement portion 60 may be omitted.

-The shape of the shield shell 90 in the above embodiment is not particularly limited.
-In the above embodiment, the other case is embodied in the case 15 of an electric device such as an inverter 11 or a high-voltage battery 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as the mating case, it may be embodied in the shield shell 90 included in the connector 30. In this case, the rubber ring 70 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the outer arrangement portion 60.

-In the above embodiment, both of the two seal portions 71 and 72 are inserted into the mounting holes 17X. Not limited to this, for example, the seal portion 71 may be inserted into the mounting hole 17X, and the seal portion 72 may be inserted inside the covering portion 91 of the shield shell 90. In this case, the seal portion 72 is in close contact with the bottom surface of the accommodating groove 55 in a liquid-tight manner and is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the covering portion 91 in a liquid-tight manner.

The shape of the connection terminal 40 in the above embodiment is not particularly limited.
-The electromagnetic shield member may be provided inside the exterior member 25 in the above embodiment. The electromagnetic shield member is provided, for example, between the inner peripheral surface of the exterior member 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 20. As the electromagnetic shield member, for example, a flexible braided wire or a metal foil can be used.

-In the above embodiment, the number of electric wires 20 included in the wire harness 10 is not particularly limited, and the number of electric wires 20 can be changed according to the specifications of the vehicle V. For example, as the electric wire included in the wire harness 10, a low-voltage electric wire for connecting the low-voltage battery and various low-voltage devices (for example, a lamp, a car audio, etc.) may be added.

The arrangement relationship between the inverter 11 and the high-voltage battery 12 in the vehicle V is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be appropriately changed according to the vehicle configuration.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the high voltage battery 12 may be arranged substantially on the floor of the vehicle V.

-In the above embodiment, the inverter 11 and the high-voltage battery 12 are adopted as the electric devices connected by the wire harness 10, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it may be used in a wire harness that connects the inverter 11 and the motor for driving the wheels. That is, it is applicable as long as it electrically connects the electric devices mounted on the vehicle.

-In the above embodiment, the electric wire 20 is embodied as a high-voltage electric wire, but the electric wire 20 may be embodied as a low-voltage electric wire.
-The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered to be exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, not the above-mentioned meaning, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

10 Wire harness 11 Inverter 12 High-voltage battery 15 Case (counterpart case)
16 Case body 17 Mounting part 17X Mounting hole 18 Fixing part 18X Fixing hole 20 Electric wire 21 Core wire 22 Insulation coating 25 Exterior member 30 Connector 40 Connection terminal 41 Electric wire connection part 42 Terminal connection part 42X Through hole 42Y Locking hole 50 Connector housing 51 Insertion Part 51A Outer peripheral surface 52 Holding hole 53 Locking piece 54 Locking convex part 55 Storage groove 56 Recessed part 60 Outer arrangement part 61 Housing hole 62 Locking hole 63 Locking claw 64 Locking convex part 70 Rubber ring 70X Through hole 71 Sealing part (1st seal part)
72 Seal part (2nd seal part)
73 Connecting part 74 Outer peripheral lip 75 Inner peripheral lip 76 Convex part 77 Lip 78 Recessed part 80 Rubber stopper 85 Retainer 85X Through hole 86 Fixed claw 90 Shield shell 91 Covering part 92 Fixed part 92X Fixed hole V Vehicle D1 Insertion direction X Front and rear direction Y Left and right Direction Z Vertical direction

Claims (6)

With the connector housing
Has a sealing member attached to the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing,
The seal member is
The first ring-shaped seal and
An annular second seal portion provided apart from the first seal portion,
A connector having a connecting portion for connecting the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion. A connector housing that is inserted along the insertion direction with respect to the mounting hole of the mating case,
It has a sealing member provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing and waterproofing between the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole.
The seal member is
The first ring-shaped seal and
An annular second seal portion provided apart from the first seal portion in the insertion direction,
A connector having a connecting portion for connecting the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion. The connector housing has a housing groove formed indented from the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing.
The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seal member is accommodated in the accommodating groove. The connector housing has a recess formed by recessing from the bottom surface of the housing groove.
The connector according to claim 3, wherein the connecting portion has a convex portion that fits into the concave portion. The connecting portion has an annular shape.
The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion has a lip protruding toward the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion has a recess formed by being recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

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