JP3573556B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector that is used for connection of electric wiring of, for example, an automobile and has a rear locking portion that prevents a housed connection terminal from coming out backward.
[0002]
[Prior art]
This type of conventional connector is generally provided with a flexible locking lance for locking the accommodated connection terminals. The locking lance is often provided integrally, but may be provided on a separate rear holder.
[0003]
For example, the sectional view seen from the side in FIG. 11 and the exploded perspective view in FIG. 12 show the latter case, and a rear holder 2 is movably engaged with the terminal accommodating chamber 1a of the housing 1 back and forth. Are locked to the housing 1 at two positions by engaging means (not shown). The first position is a temporary engagement position where the rear holder 2 is partially inserted into the housing 1, and the second position is a full engagement position where the rear holder 2 is completely pushed into the housing 1. .
[0004]
As described above, by positioning the rear holder 2 at the two stages of the temporary engagement and the full engagement, the housing 1 and the rear holder 2 are temporarily engaged before the connection terminals 3 are accommodated. There is an advantage that the connection terminal 3 to which is attached can be inserted into the housing 1 through the rear holder 2. Then, when at the temporary engagement position, the connection terminal 3 is inserted into the terminal holding chamber 2a, and the projection 2c of the locking lance 2b is fitted into the fitting hole 3b provided at the bottom of the connection terminal 3. In this state, when the rear holder 2 is pushed into the housing 1 to the full engagement position, the tip 2d of the locking lance 2b rides on the guide 1b of the housing 1, and the locking force of the locking lance 2b is reinforced. You.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional example, since the connection terminal 3 is locked by the elastic force of the locking lance 2b, the locking lance 2b is easily damaged by the pressing force from the mating connection terminal. In addition, there is a problem that a mold cost for molding the locking lance 2b is increased, and when the connection terminal 3 is pulled out, a jig for removing the locking lance 2b from the connection terminal 3 is required. There is a problem of doing. Further, since there is a space below the rear part of the connection terminal 3, there is a problem that the rear part of the connection terminal 3 swings in the terminal holding chamber 2a. Note that these problems also apply to the case where the locking lance is integrally provided in the housing.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a connector capable of securely locking a connection terminal only by a rear holder .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A connector according to the present invention for achieving the above object has a rear holder for engaging a connection terminal connected to a connection end of a mating connection terminal via a terminal connection portion so as to be freely forwardly fitted from a rear portion of the housing. In the connector, the rear holder and the housing are respectively engaged at a temporary engagement position where the rear holder is inserted to an intermediate position and a full engagement position where the rear holder is sufficiently pushed in. Is provided with a rear locking portion that regulates the rearward movement of the connection terminal, and moves the connection terminal horizontally after inserting the connection terminal into the housing at the temporary engagement position of the rear holder in an inclined state. Placing the terminal connection portion on the connection terminal placement portion, locking the rear end corner of the terminal connection portion with the rear locking portion, and pushing the rear holder. The push both connection terminals, characterized by fixing the connection terminals by the rear holder in the present engagement position by the.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the first embodiment, in which a connection terminal 12 to which an electric wire 11 is attached is held by a rear holder 13, and the rear holder 13 is engaged with a housing 14 at a full engagement position. It shows the state where it was turned on. The connection terminal 12 is manufactured from a conductive metal plate as, for example, a female connection terminal. The connection terminal 12 includes a terminal connection portion 21 for receiving an insertion end of a mating male connection terminal, and a core wire crimping portion 22 for crimping a core wire of the electric wire 11. And a covering crimping portion 23 for crimping the covering of the electric wire 11 are sequentially provided. When the connection terminal 12 is a male connection terminal, its insertion end is protruded from the front of the terminal connection portion 21.
[0009]
The rear holder 13 and the housing 14 are formed of an insulating synthetic resin material, and a rear holder main body 31 of the rear holder 13 is fitted to a rear portion of the housing 14 as shown in a partially cutaway perspective view of FIG. Inside the rear holder main body 31, there are provided a plurality of terminal holding chambers 32 partitioned by partition walls 32a for insulatingly holding the rear half of the connection terminals 12. In front of the rear holder body 31, for example, four rows of lower-side terminal holding parts 33 for holding the terminal connection parts 21 of the connection terminals 12 and two rows of upper-side long-side terminal holding parts 33 for holding the terminal connection parts 21 of the connection terminals 12 are provided. Each is integrally extended from the top wall 35.
[0010]
At the front end of the upper surface of the terminal holding portion 33, front locking portions 36a and 36b are provided, which are projections for locking the front end of the terminal connection portion 21 of the connection terminal 12 to regulate the forward movement of the connection terminal 12. In addition, a rear locking portion 37 formed of a projection for locking the rear end of the terminal connection portion 21 and restricting the rearward movement of the connection terminal 12 is provided at a rear portion of the upper surface of the terminal holding portion 33. A lower portion 38 is provided at a rear portion of the bottom wall 34 of the terminal holding chamber 32 so that the covering crimping portion 23 of the connection terminal 12 is located.
[0011]
Here, the distance between the front locking portions 36a and 36b and the rear locking portion 37 is set to a distance at which the terminal connection portion 21 is locked so as not to move back and forth. Further, the height of the rear locking portion 37 is set to be lower than the height of the terminal connection portion 21 when the bottom surface of the terminal connection portion 21 contacts the terminal holding portion 33 and the covering crimping portion 23 contacts the bottom surface of the step portion 38. The height is sufficient to lock the corners .
[0012]
On the other hand, the housing 14 is provided with a rear holder fitting portion 41 into which the rear holder main body 31 is fitted to be able to move back and forth. A terminal accommodating chamber 42 for accommodating the terminal holding portion 33 of the rear holder 13 and the terminal connection portion 21 of the connection terminal 12 is provided in front of the rear holder fitting portion 41. The width of the terminal accommodating chamber 42 is a width that prevents the terminal connection portion 21 from moving in the left-right direction. The height of the terminal accommodating chamber 42 is set to a height that prevents the terminal holding portion 33 and the terminal connection portion 21 from moving in the vertical direction at the front portion, and is set to a height at which the connection terminal 12 can be easily inserted into the rear holder 13 at the rear portion. I have. For this reason, on the lower surface of the top wall 43, a parallel surface 43a parallel to the bottom portion 44 of the terminal accommodating chamber 42 is provided at a front portion, and a height from the bottom wall 44 toward the rear portion has a bent portion at a rear portion. Inclined surfaces 43b and 43c are provided.
[0013]
At the front end of the top wall 43, a projection 45 is provided for engaging with the front end of the terminal connection portion 21 and restricting the frontward movement thereof. A slit 43d into which the partition wall 32a of the rear holder 13 is fitted is provided in a top wall 43 of the lower terminal receiving chamber 42, that is, in a rear part of the bottom 44 of the upper terminal receiving chamber 42, and the housing 14 is provided above the slit 43d. A locking arm 46 is provided having locking projections 46a for locking together when coupled to the housing. The locking arm 46 is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 9.
[0014]
The rear holder 13 thus formed is inserted into the housing 14 from the rear as shown in a partially cutaway perspective view of FIG. At this time, the terminal holding portion 33 of the rear holder 13 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 42 of the housing 14, and the rear holder main body 31 is fitted to the rear holder fitting portion 41 of the housing 14. Further, the partition 32 a of the rear holder body 31 fits into the slit 43 d, and the intermediate top wall 43 enters the terminal holding chamber 32. The rear holder 13 is engaged with the housing 14 at a provisional engagement position and a full engagement position by a known engagement means such as a projection (not shown).
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 3, the temporary engagement position is a position where the rear holder 13 is inserted into the housing 14 to an intermediate position, and is also a position where the connection terminal 12 is locked to the rear holder 13 in the terminal accommodating chamber 42. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the full engagement position is a position where the rear holder 13 is completely pushed forward with respect to the housing 14, and a position where the inserted connection terminal 12 is properly arranged in the housing 14. is there.
[0016]
When housing the connection terminal 12 in the housing 14, the rear holder 13 is first inserted to the middle as shown in FIG. In this state, the connecting terminals 12 connected to the electric wire 11 is inserted into the terminal holding chamber 32 of the one by one rear holder 13 as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal connecting portion 21 of the connecting terminal 12 and the rear catch part 37 inclined surfaces 43b, is pushed from an oblique direction between 43c. When the connection terminal 12 is further pushed in, a part of the front end of the terminal connection portion 21 abuts on the front locking portions 36a and 36b of the rear holder 13 as shown in FIG. 7, and the forward movement of the connection terminal 12 is restricted. . At this time, the rear end corner of the terminal connection portion 21 is located at a position over the rear locking portion 37.
[0017]
Accordingly, depressing the connection terminals 12, the end corners after the connection terminal 12 as shown in FIG. 8 is moved downward, the lower surface of the terminal connecting portion 21 is brought into close contact with the terminal holding portion 33, the insulation crimp portion 23 The rear end corner portion of the terminal connecting portion 21 is substantially in contact with the lower portion 38 and is locked by the rear locking portion 37.
[0018]
In this state, when the rear holder 13 is pushed forward, it is in the fully engaged state as shown in FIG. 1, and the upper surface of the terminal connection portion 21 is pressed against the parallel surface 43 a of the top wall 43, and the front end of the terminal connection portion 21 The part is locked by the projection 45. In this state, the connection terminal 12 is completely inserted into the housing 14 and is securely locked.
[0019]
When the connection terminal 12 is detached from the housing 14, the connection portion 12 can be taken out by pulling out the rear holder 13 after releasing the locking portion that is fully engaged with the rear holder 13.
[0020]
As described above, in the first embodiment, the size of the front portion of the terminal accommodating chamber 42 is set to a size that regulates the vertical and horizontal movements of the terminal holding portion 33 and the terminal connecting portion 21. The vertical and horizontal swinging of the connection terminal 12 can be prevented, and the front and rear ends of the terminal connection portion 21 are moved to the temporary engagement position by the front locking portions 36a and 36b and the rear locking portion 37 of the rear holder 13. Since the locking is performed , the swing of the connection terminal 12 in the front-rear direction can be prevented even when the connection terminal 12 is moved to the full engagement position.
[0021]
Further, since there is no need to provide a locking lance as in the conventional example in both the rear holder 13 and the housing 14, the shapes and structures of the rear holder 13 and the housing 14 are simplified, and the molding thereof is facilitated. Costs can be reduced. Further, since the shape and structure of the housing 14 are simplified, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since no locking lance is provided on the rear holder 13 and the housing 14, a jig for removing the locking lance can be omitted.
[0022]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment viewed from the side in the temporarily engaged state. The rear holder 13 and the housing 14 are longer than those of the first embodiment, and a lower portion is provided at the rear of the rear holder 13. A groove 50 is provided instead of 38. The height of the coating crimping portion 23 of the connection terminal 12 is set to be large enough to fit into the groove 50 .
[0023]
In this embodiment, in the engaged state as in the first embodiment , the connection terminal 12 is locked by the front locking portions 36a and 36b and the rear locking portion 37, and the covering crimping portion 23 is fixed to the groove 50. Since the connection terminal 12 is locked by the front and rear walls, it is possible to prevent the connection terminal 12 from coming out in the front-rear direction better than in the first embodiment, and other effects are almost the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0024]
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the third embodiment, in which the front locking portions 36a and 36b of the rear holder 13 are omitted, and the front locking of the connection terminal 12 is performed by the projection 45 of the housing 14 in the full engagement state. .
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the connector according to the present invention receives the connection terminal in an inclined state with the rear holder temporarily engaged with the housing, and after the connection terminal has entered a predetermined position, sets the connection terminal in a horizontal state to form a terminal connection portion. The rear end corner portion is locked by the rear locking portion, and thereafter, the rear holder is moved to the full engagement position to prevent the connection terminal from slipping backward.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which a part of a rear holder and a housing is cut away.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state where a rear holder is temporarily engaged with a housing.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear holder fully engaged with the housing as viewed from the side.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rear holder temporarily engaged with the housing, as viewed from the side .
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connection terminal viewed from the side while being inserted into the rear holder.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connection terminal viewed from the side while the connection terminal is further inserted into the rear holder.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the connection terminal is mounted on the rear holder in a temporarily engaged state, as viewed from the side.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment as viewed from the side in a provisionally engaged state.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a conventional example.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional example.

Claims (4)

A rear holder for locking the connection terminal connected to the connection end of the mating connection terminal via the terminal connection portion is fitted forwardly from the rear of the housing, and the rear holder and the housing are inserted into the middle of the rear holder. In the connector which is engaged at the provisional engagement position and the main engagement position at which the rear holder is sufficiently pressed, the rear terminal for controlling the rearward movement of the connection terminal is provided on the connection terminal mounting portion of the rear holder. A stop portion is provided, and after the connection terminal is inserted into the housing in an inclined state at the temporary engagement position of the rear holder, the connection terminal is moved in a horizontal state, and the terminal connection portion is placed on the connection terminal mounting portion. After being placed, the rear end corner portion of the terminal connection portion is locked by the rear locking portion, and the connection terminal is pushed together by pushing the rear holder, so that the final engagement is performed. Connector, characterized in that to fix the connection terminal by the rear holder in location. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing has an inclined portion that receives the connection terminal in an inclined state. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the rear holder is provided with a front locking portion that restricts the connection terminal from coming out forward. 3. The connector according to claim 1 provided with a groove for fitting the wire fixing portion of the connection terminal edge at the back of the rear holder.

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