JP2024153314A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector is provided that can suppress the occurrence of deformation of a lance when the lance is released from engagement.
[Solution] In a connector 1 having a housing 3, a terminal fitting 5 accommodated in the housing 3, and a lance 19 that is elastically deformable provided inside the housing 3 and engages with the terminal fitting 5 to hold the terminal fitting 5 in the housing 3, the lance 19 is elastically deformed by a release operation using a fixture rod 7 inserted from the outside of the housing 3, releasing the engagement with the terminal fitting 5, and a jig regulating wall 27 is provided on the housing 3 to abut against the jig rod 7 and regulate the release operation by the jig rod 7 when the jig rod 7 elastically deforms the lance 19 to release its engagement with the terminal fitting 5.
[Selected figure] Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, a connector includes a housing, a terminal metal fitting housed in the housing, and a lance that is elastically deformable inside the housing and engages with the terminal metal fitting to hold the terminal metal fitting in the housing. Also known is a connector that includes a fixture rod that is inserted from the outside of the housing toward the lance and engages with the lance to elastically deform the lance, thereby disengaging the terminal metal fitting from the lance (see Patent Document 1). In this connector, the housing is provided with an outer wall that abuts against the lance to restrict elastic deformation of the lance when the fixture rod elastically deforms the lance to disengage the terminal metal fitting. By restricting the elastic deformation of the lance with the outer wall, the lance does not undergo plastic deformation, and the lance and the terminal metal fitting can be stably engaged.

JP 2001-297816 A

In a connector such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, excessive elastic deformation of the lance is prevented by abutting the elastically deformed lance against a restricting wall, such as an outer wall provided on the housing. However, in a structure in which the lance abuts against the restricting wall, the lance may be deformed due to the abutment between the lance and the restricting wall. In addition, even if the engagement between the lance and the terminal fitting is released, if the release operation using the jig rod is continued, the lance may be deformed due to the abutment between the jig rod and the lance.

The present invention was made in consideration of the problems inherent in the conventional technology. The object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can suppress deformation of the lance when it is disengaged.

The connector according to this embodiment includes a housing, terminal fittings housed in the housing, and lances that are elastically deformable inside the housing and engage with the terminal fittings to hold the terminal fittings in the housing. The lances are elastically deformed by a release operation using a jig rod inserted from outside the housing to release the engagement with the terminal fittings, and the housing is provided with a jig restriction wall that abuts against the jig rod to restrict the release operation by the jig rod when the jig rod elastically deforms the lances to release the engagement with the terminal fittings.

The present invention provides a connector that can suppress deformation of the lance when it is disengaged.

1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing when a jig rod of the connector according to the embodiment is inserted into a housing. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the embodiment when the jig rod is inserted into the housing. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the embodiment when the jig rod elastically deforms the lance. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the embodiment when the jig rod elastically deforms the lance. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a terminal fitting of the connector according to the embodiment is being removed from a housing. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a housing of the connector according to the embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion of a housing of the connector according to the embodiment. 2 is an enlarged front view of a main portion of a housing of the connector according to the embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting of the connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a jig rod of the connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of a main portion of the jig rod of the connector according to the embodiment.

The connector according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings have been exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 1 according to this embodiment is applied to electrically connect electrical components, for example, between a power source and a device, or between devices. The connector 1 is electrically connected to one electrical component. The connector 1 can be mated with a mating connector (not shown) that is electrically connected to the other electrical component. The connector 1 electrically connects the electrical components by mating with the mating connector.

As shown in Figures 1 to 14, the connector 1 includes a housing 3, a terminal fitting 5, and a jig rod 7.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 11, the housing 3 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 3 is formed in a casing shape that can be mated with a mating housing (not shown) of a mating connector. A lock arm 9 is provided on the upper part of the housing 3, extending in the mating direction with the mating housing (the length direction of the housing 3). The lock arm 9 is provided so as to be elastically deformable in the height direction of the housing 3, with the part that is continuous with the upper surface of the housing 3 as the base end and the mating surface side with the mating housing as the free end. When the housing 3 and the mating housing are mated, the lock arm 9 engages with a locked portion (not shown) of the mating housing, and maintains the mating state between the housing 3 and the mating housing. The lock arm 9 can be elastically deformed to release the engagement with the locked portion and release the mating between the housing 3 and the mating housing.

The housing 3 is provided with a cavity 11 capable of accommodating the terminal fitting 5 described later. The cavity 11 extends along the mating direction between the housing 3 and the mating housing (the length direction of the housing 3), and both sides in the extending direction are open. A plurality of cavities 11 (four in this example) are provided along the width direction of the housing 3. One opening in the extending direction of the cavity 11 is an accommodating opening 13 capable of accommodating the terminal fitting 5 in the cavity 11. The terminal fitting 5 is inserted into the accommodating opening 13 toward the cavity 11, and the electric wire 31 is drawn out to the outside of the housing 3. The other opening in the extending direction of the cavity 11 is a connection opening 15 into which a tab-shaped mating connection portion of a mating terminal fitting (not shown) of a mating connector can be inserted. The opening edge of the connection opening 15 is a tapered surface inclined toward the cavity 11. Below the connection opening 15, a jig opening 17 into which a jig rod 7 described later can be inserted is provided.

In the cavity 11, a lance 19 is provided on the side of the jig opening 17 as a member continuous with the housing 3. The lance 19 is disposed below the cavity 11 and extends along the mating direction of the housing 3 and the mating housing (the length direction of the housing 3). The lance 19 is provided so as to be elastically deformable in the height direction of the housing 3, with the part continuous with the inner surface of the cavity 11 as the base end and the side of the jig opening 17 as the free end. On the base end side of the lance 19, a spacer opening 21 is provided in the cavity 11 into which a spacer (not shown) that locks the terminal fitting 5 can be inserted. The spacer is assembled, for example, to the spacer opening 21 so as to be movable between a temporary locking position where the terminal fitting 5 can be inserted into the cavity 11 and a full locking position where the terminal fitting 5 is locked. In the full locking position, the spacer, together with the lance 19, double locks the terminal fitting 5.

The free end of the lance 19 is provided with a locking projection 23 and a release projection 25. The locking projection 23 is a member that is continuous with the lance 19 and protrudes upward. When the lance 19 is in its free state (when restored from elastic deformation), the locking projection 23 is arranged opposite the locked portion 39 of the terminal fitting 5 in the direction of removal of the terminal fitting 5 from the cavity 11. The locking projection 23 abuts against the locked portion 39 when the terminal fitting 5 attempts to remove from the receiving opening 13 side of the cavity 11. The abutment of the locking projection 23 and the locked portion 39 prevents the terminal fitting 5 from coming out of the cavity 11, and the terminal fitting 5 can be held in the cavity 11. The release projection 25 is a member that is continuous with the lance 19 and protrudes toward the jig opening 17. The release protrusion 25 engages with the jig rod 7 when the jig rod 7 is inserted into the jig opening 17, and the release operation of the jig rod 7 causes the lance 19 to elastically deform downward. The elastic deformation of the lance 19 allows the terminal fitting 5 to be removed from the cavity 11 through the receiving opening 13 without the locking protrusion 23 coming into contact with the locked portion 39.

A jig restricting wall 27 and a rotation restricting portion 29 are provided on the side of the jig opening 17 where the free end side of the lance 19 is located. The jig restricting wall 27 is disposed below the jig opening 17 and extends along the fitting direction (the length direction of the housing 3) between the housing 3 and the mating housing. The jig restricting wall 27 is disposed below the lance 19 in the free state (the state restored from the elastic deformation) and is provided as a pair spaced apart in the width direction of the housing 3. The width W1 between the pair of jig restricting walls 27, 27 is set slightly wider than the width of the lance 19. Therefore, when the lance 19 is elastically deformed, the lance 19 can be disposed between the pair of jig restricting walls 27, 27. By making it possible to dispose the lance 19 between the pair of jig restricting walls 27, 27, the jig restricting wall 27 and the lance 19 do not interfere with each other when the lance 19 is elastically deformed, and deformation of the lance 19 due to interference with the jig restricting wall 27 can be prevented. In addition, even if the housing 3 is made smaller in height, space is still available for the lance 19 to elastically deform, allowing the connector 1 to be made smaller.

The jig control wall 27 is positioned away from the jig rod 7 when the jig rod 7 is inserted from the jig opening 17 and the jig rod 7 engages with the release protrusion 25 of the lance 19. The jig control wall 27 abuts against the jig rod 7 when the release operation of the jig rod 7 completes the elastic deformation of the lance 19. The abutment between the jig control wall 27 and the jig rod 7 can prevent the release operation of the jig rod 7 from continuing. Therefore, even if the lance 19 does not abut against the jig control wall 27, excessive elastic deformation of the lance 19 can be prevented, and plastic deformation of the lance 19 due to excessive elastic deformation can be prevented. In addition, when the lance 19 elastically deforms, the jig control wall 27 and the lance 19 do not abut, and deformation of the lance 19 due to abutment with the jig control wall 27 can be prevented. In addition, the jig control wall 27 abuts against the jig rod 7, preventing the release operation of the jig rod 7 from continuing, preventing deformation of the lance 19 due to continued release operation of the jig rod 7.

The rotation restricting portion 29 is disposed above the jig restricting wall 27 and is the inner surface of the cavity 11 extending along the mating direction of the housing 3 and the mating housing (the length direction of the housing 3). A pair of rotation restricting portions 29 are provided on the inner surface located on both sides in the width direction of the cavity 11. The opening edge portion of the jig opening 17 where the pair of rotation restricting portions 29, 29 are located is a tapered surface inclined toward the inside of the cavity 11. The width W2 between the pair of rotation restricting portions 29, 29 is set wider than the width W1 between the pair of jig restricting walls 27, 27, so that the jig rod 7 can be inserted. The rotation restricting portion 29 is disposed opposite the side surface of the jig rod 7 when the jig rod 7 is inserted from the jig opening 17. When the jig rod 7 tries to rotate, the rotation restricting portion 29 abuts against the side surface of the jig rod 7 to prevent the jig rod 7 from rotating. This makes it possible to stabilize the release operation of the jig rod 7 that elastically deforms the lance 19, and to prevent deformation of the lance 19 due to an unstable release operation of the jig rod 7. The terminal fitting 5 is housed in such a housing 3.

As shown in Figures 2 to 8 and 12, the terminal fitting 5 is made of a conductive material and is provided, for example, at the end of an electric wire 31 that is electrically connected to an electric component. The terminal fitting 5 has an electric wire connection portion 33 and an electrical connection portion 35.

The wire connection portion 33 includes a conductor crimping portion consisting of a pair of crimping pieces, and a covering fixing portion consisting of a pair of crimping pieces. The conductor crimping portion is crimped to the conductor of the wire 31 by crimping the pair of crimping pieces, and the terminal fitting 5 is electrically connected to the wire 31. The covering fixing portion is fixed to the covering of the wire 31 by crimping the pair of crimping pieces, and the terminal fitting 5 is fixed to the wire 31. A seal member 37 made of an elastic material such as rubber is disposed around the outer periphery of the wire connection portion 33 and the wire 31, sealing the cavity 11 and the wire 31.

The electrical connection portion 35 is formed of a single member that is continuous with the wire connection portion 33, and is formed in a box shape into which the tab-shaped mating connection portion of the mating terminal fitting can be inserted. An elastically deformable elastic piece having a contact portion that comes into contact with the mating connection portion is provided inside the electrical connection portion 35. A latched portion 39 that can engage with the latching protrusion 23 of the lance 19 is formed to protrude outward on the outer surface of the electrical connection portion 35. The end surface of the electrical connection portion 35 on the wire connection portion 33 side is a latching surface that can engage with the spacer when the spacer is in the main latching position.

The terminal fitting 5 is attached to the end of the electric wire 31 and is inserted into the cavity 11 through the receiving opening 13. The inserted terminal fitting 5 slides against the locking projection 23 of the lance 19, elastically deforming the lance 19 downward. When the terminal fitting 5 is placed in the correct position in the cavity 11, the elastically deformed lance 19 returns to its original position upward, and the locking projection 23 and the locked portion 39 are positioned so that they can engage with each other.

When the housing 3 is fitted to the mating housing, the terminal fitting 5 housed in the housing 3 has the tab-shaped mating connection of the mating terminal fitting inserted through the connection opening 15, and the mating connection portion inserted into the electrical connection portion 35. The mating connection portion inserted into the electrical connection portion 35 comes into contact with the contact portion due to the biasing force of the elastic piece, and the terminal fitting 5 and the mating terminal fitting are electrically connected. The terminal fitting 5 housed in the housing 3 can be removed from the housing 3 by the jig rod 7.

As shown in Figures 4 to 8, 13, and 14, the jig rod 7 has a gripping portion 41 and a release portion 43. The gripping portion 41 is the part that an operator grips when operating the jig rod 7. The gripping portion 41 has a polygonal outer shape so that it is easy for an operator to grip.

The release portion 43 extends linearly outward from the grip portion 41. The tip side of the release portion 43 is provided with an inclined surface 45 so that the thickness becomes thinner toward the tip. The inclined surface 45 prevents interference with the locked portion 39 of the terminal metal fitting 5 when the release protrusion 25 of the lance 19 and the tip of the release portion 43 abut. The width W3 of the tip side of the release portion 43 is set slightly narrower than the width W2 (see FIG. 11) between the pair of rotation restriction portions 29, 29, so that it can be inserted into the jig opening 17 of the housing 3. By setting the width W3 of the release portion 43 slightly narrower than the width W2 between the pair of rotation restriction portions 29, 29, when the release portion 43 (jig rod 7) tries to rotate, the side of the release portion 43 can abut against the rotation restriction portion 29. Therefore, the release portion 43 does not rotate, and the insertion posture of the jig rod 7 relative to the jig opening 17 can be stably maintained. The width W3 of the release portion 43 is set wider than the width W1 (see FIG. 11) between the pair of jig control walls 27, 27. Therefore, when the release portion 43 is inserted into the jig opening 17, the release portion 43 does not slip out from between the pair of jig control walls 27, 27.

When the jig rod 7 is used to remove the terminal fitting 5 from the housing 3, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the release portion 43 is inclined so that the inclined surface 45 is approximately parallel to the length direction of the housing 3, and the release portion 43 is placed in the jig opening 17. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the release portion 43 is inserted into the jig opening 17 so that the engaged portion 39 is aligned with the inclined surface 45, and the tip of the release portion 43 abuts and engages with the release protrusion 25 of the lance 19. Next, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the grip portion 41 (see FIG. 13) is operated upward, the release portion 43 is rotated so that it is parallel to the length direction of the housing 3, and the lance 19 is elastically deformed downward. Due to the elastic deformation of the lance 19, the engaging protrusion 23 of the lance 19 and the engaged portion 39 of the terminal fitting 5 do not engage with each other. At this time, the release portion 43 abuts against a pair of jig restricting walls 27, 27 (only one is shown), restricting the continuation of the release operation of the jig rod 7. Therefore, the lance 19 is not excessively elastically deformed, and plastic deformation of the lance 19 due to excessive elastic deformation can be prevented. In addition, an external force due to the continuation of the release operation of the jig rod 7 is not applied to the lance 19, and deformation of the lance 19 due to the continuation of the release operation of the jig rod 7 can be prevented. Furthermore, the elastically deformed lance 19 does not abut against the jig restricting wall 27, and deformation of the lance 19 due to abutment with the jig restricting wall 27 can be prevented. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, by moving the terminal metal fitting 5 toward the housing opening 13 (see FIG. 2), the locking protrusion 23 and the locked portion 39 do not engage with each other, and the terminal metal fitting 5 can be released from the housing 3.

Such a connector 1 includes a housing 3 and terminal fittings 5 housed in the housing 3. It also includes a lance 19 that is elastically deformable inside the housing 3 and engages with the terminal fittings 5 to hold the terminal fittings 5 in the housing 3. The lance 19 is elastically deformed by a release operation using a jig rod 7 inserted from the outside of the housing 3, and releases the engagement with the terminal fittings 5. The housing 3 is provided with a jig restriction wall 27 that abuts against the jig rod 7 and restricts the release operation by the jig rod 7 when the jig rod 7 elastically deforms the lance 19 to release the engagement with the terminal fittings 5.

The jig control wall 27 prevents the release operation of the jig rod 7 from continuing due to its contact with the jig rod 7. Therefore, even if the lance 19 is not contacted with the jig control wall 27, excessive elastic deformation of the lance 19 can be prevented, and plastic deformation of the lance 19 due to excessive elastic deformation can be prevented. Furthermore, when the lance 19 is elastically deformed, the jig control wall 27 and the lance 19 do not come into contact with each other, and deformation of the lance 19 due to contact with the jig control wall 27 can be prevented. In addition, the contact between the jig control wall 27 and the jig rod 7 prevents the release operation of the jig rod 7 from continuing, and deformation of the lance 19 due to the continuation of the release operation of the jig rod 7 can be prevented.

Therefore, in such a connector 1, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of deformation of the lance 19 when the lance 19 is disengaged.

The housing 3 is also provided with a rotation restriction portion 29 that contacts the jig rod 7 to restrict the rotation of the jig rod 7 when the jig rod 7 attempts to rotate.

This makes it possible to stabilize the release operation of the jig rod 7, which elastically deforms the lance 19, and prevents deformation of the lance 19 due to an unstable release operation of the jig rod 7.

The jig control walls 27 are provided in a pair spaced apart from each other. An elastically deformed lance 19 can be placed between the pair of jig control walls 27, 27.

As a result, when the lance 19 elastically deforms, the jig restricting wall 27 and the lance 19 do not interfere with each other, and deformation of the lance 19 due to interference with the jig restricting wall 27 can be prevented. In addition, even if the housing 3 is made smaller, a space is secured that allows the lance 19 to elastically deform, and the connector 1 can be made smaller.

Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

For example, in the connector according to this embodiment, the release operation of the jig rod is performed by inserting the jig rod at an angle relative to the housing and then rotating it, but this is not limited to this. For example, an inclined surface is provided at the tip end of the jig rod, and an inclined surface is provided on the lance that is inclined on the opposite side to the inclined surface of the jig rod. This type of release operation of the jig rod can elastically deform the lance by simply inserting the jig rod horizontally into the housing and sliding the inclined surfaces of the jig rod and lance against each other, without rotating. In such a jig rod, the housing may be provided with a jig restriction wall that abuts against the jig rod when the lance elastically deforms and restricts further insertion of the jig rod into the housing.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Connector 3 Housing 5 Terminal fitting 7 Jig rod 19 Lance 27 Jig regulating wall 29 Rotation regulating portion

Claims (3)

Housing and
A terminal metal fitting accommodated in the housing;
a lance that is elastically deformably provided inside the housing and engages with the terminal metal fitting to hold the terminal metal fitting in the housing;
Equipped with
The lance is elastically deformed by a release operation using a tool rod inserted from the outside of the housing, and releases the engagement with the terminal fitting.
The housing is provided with a jig control wall that abuts against the jig rod to regulate the release operation by the jig rod when the jig rod elastically deforms the lance to release the engagement with the terminal fitting. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with a rotation restriction portion that contacts the jig rod to restrict rotation of the jig rod when the jig rod attempts to rotate. The jig control walls are provided in a pair at a distance from each other,
3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the lance is capable of being arranged between the pair of jig regulating walls in an elastically deformed state.

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