JP3591621B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector provided with a retainer for locking a terminal fitting.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an example of this type of connector, a connector described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-58570 is known. In this connector, as shown in FIG. 15, an engaging projection e is formed on a connector housing c provided with a cavity b into which a terminal fitting a is inserted. The retainer f is provided so as to be inserted from below. On the other hand, the retainer f is provided with a temporary locking piece g and a final locking piece h that can be flexibly deformed. When the retainer f is inserted, first, as shown by a solid line in FIG. By being locked to the first locking portion i, the retainer f is held at the temporary locking position where the engaging protrusion e stays short of entering the cavity b, and in this state, the terminal fitting a is connected to the cavity b. It is inserted and locked primarily by the lance. Subsequently, when the retainer f is pushed in, as shown by a chain line in FIG. 16, the final locking piece h is locked by the second locking portion j, whereby the retainer f is held at the full locking position. The abutment portion e is engaged with the jaw portion d of the terminal fitting a protruding and inserted into the cavity b, so that the terminal fitting a is locked in a double retaining state.
[0003]
By the way, during the above-mentioned operation, even if the user forgets to push the retainer f to the final locking position, or if the pushing operation is performed, if the terminal fitting a is in the half-inserted state, the engaging projection e becomes the terminal fitting a. Because the body cannot be pushed into the main body, the retainer f may be stopped at a position before reaching the final locking position.
In this case, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 16, the retainer f is in a floating state, so that it is possible to determine it temporarily by visual inspection. However, in the case of a small connector, the amount of the lifting is negligible, so There is no denying the possibility.
[0004]
Nevertheless, in the case of a female connector as exemplified above, it usually takes the form of being fitted into the hood portion of the mating male connector, so if the retainer is in a floating state, the retainer protrudes when both connectors are fitted. The fitting of the portion to the hood portion is restricted, and it is possible to detect that the retainer is in a half-inserted state.
On the other hand, in the case of a male connector, there is a problem that it is difficult to detect half-insertion of the retainer because it is not expected that the retainer that floats up at the time of the operation of fitting the connector will hit the partner.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the terminal fitting a is removed from the cavity b when performing maintenance or the like, when the retainer f is returned from the final locking position to the temporary locking position, the engagement of the engaging projection e with the jaw portion d is released. Thereby, the terminal fitting a can be extracted. In the operation of returning the retainer f to the temporary locking position, a driver-like jig is hooked on the retainer f to pull out the final locking piece h from the second locking portion j while pulling it out. There is a possibility that the retainer f may jump out to the outside without the temporary locking piece g being locked by the first locking portion i. Then, it is necessary to reassemble the retainer f to the temporary locking position, which is troublesome, and there is a possibility that the retainer f may be lost.
The present invention has been completed based on the above-mentioned demands, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to more reliably detect half-insertion of a retainer, and to move a retainer from a full locking position to a temporary locking position. In order to prevent detachment from the housing when returned to.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for achieving the above object, a connector according to the invention according to claim 1 is a hood part in which a male terminal fitting is housed, and a female housing of a mating member housing the female terminal fitting is fitted inside. The male housing is provided with a retainer that is insertable from the outer surface . The retainer has a temporary locking position that allows the male terminal fitting to be inserted and removed, and a In the deep insertion position, which is capable of being held at the final locking position for engaging with the male terminal fitting to prevent removal, the retainer has an orientation along the fitting direction of the two housings. in the hood portion in projecting, when the retainer remains in a position before reaching the final locking position, that both housings by interference with the mating of the female housing is fitted to the normal A detection piece for controlling the retainer is provided on the detection piece, and the detection piece is provided with a retaining part for locking the retainer from being removed from the provisionally locked position. However, it has features.
A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of the detecting pieces are provided at both ends of the retainer, and the retaining portions are provided on both the detecting pieces.
[0007]
Function and effect of the present invention
<Invention of claim 1>
If the retainer is held at the position just before reaching the final locking position, when the retainer is fitted with the mating connector housing, the detection piece provided on the retainer will interfere with the mating connector housing and both housings will be properly Cannot be fitted. Thus, the operator can reliably detect that the retainer is in the half-inserted state.
Further, when the retainer is returned from the final locking position to the temporary locking position, the retainer is retained at the temporary locking position by the function of the retaining portion provided on the detection piece, and is prevented from being detached from the housing.
<Invention of Claim 2>
Detection of half-insertion of the retainer and prevention of the retainer from being detached from the housing are more reliably and reliably performed.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the present embodiment, a female connector F and a male connector M that are fitted to each other are provided, of which the present invention is applied to the male connector M side. In the following description, the edge sides of both connectors F and M that are fitted to each other are referred to as front.
[0009]
First, the female connector F will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the female connector F includes a female housing 1 formed of a synthetic resin material in a block shape. Three cavities 2 are formed side by side in the female housing 1 in the figure, and a female terminal fitting 4 connected to the end of the electric wire 3 is inserted into each cavity 2 from behind, and a metal lance 5 is formed. Is locked to the locking step 6 formed in the cavity 2, so that it is primarily locked in a retaining state.
[0010]
A retainer mounting hole 8 is formed in the lower surface of the female housing 1 and a retainer 10 can be mounted therein. The retainer 10 is formed with an engagement protrusion 11 that can be engaged with the jaw portion 4A of the female terminal fitting 4, and a detailed description thereof is omitted. In this state, the insertion protrusion 11 is retracted to the lower surface side of the cavity 2 so that the insertion of the female terminal fitting 4 is allowed as described above. After the female terminal fitting 4 is inserted, when the retainer 10 is pushed into the final locking position held by the final locking piece 13, the engaging projection 11 protrudes into the cavity 2 and the female terminal fitting 4 The female terminal fitting 4 is double-locked so as to be fitted in the rear surface of the jaw portion 4A so as not to come off.
Here, when the retainer 10 is held at the temporary locking position, a part thereof projects from the lower surface of the female housing 1 and is fitted into the hood portion 23 of the male housing 21 as described later. In this case, the fitting of the retainer 10 into the half-inserted state can be easily detected by abutting the tip of the hood portion 23 to restrict further fitting.
[0011]
A lock arm 15 that can be bent and deformed is formed on the upper surface of the female housing 1 so as to be folded from the front end side to the rear end side. A pressing portion 16 is projected from the upper surface of the lock arm 15, and a pair of locking protrusions 17 are formed to project from both side edges slightly forward of the pressing portion 16.
[0012]
Next, the male connector M will be described. The male connector M includes a male housing 21 also formed of a synthetic resin material, and has a shape in which a hood portion 23 into which the above-described female housing 1 is fitted is provided on a front surface of a main body 22. I have. Similarly, three cavities 24 are formed in the body 22 in the lateral direction, and a male terminal fitting 26 connected to the terminal of the electric wire 25 is inserted into each cavity 24 from behind, and a metal lance is formed. The tab 27 is locked and retained in the state in which the tab 29 is projected into the hood part 23 by being locked by the locking step 28 formed in the cavity 24.
The male housing 21 is also provided with a retainer 41 so as to double-lock the male terminal fitting 26. The structure of the retainer 41 and its mounting portion will be described later.
[0013]
A housing chamber 31 opened to the front is provided in a ceiling portion in the hood portion 23, and a pressed member 32 is fitted in the housing chamber 31 so as to be freely slidable in the front-rear direction. The pressed member 32 can be pushed by the pressing portion 16 of the lock arm 15 provided on the female housing 1 at the time of the fitting operation of the two housings 1 and 21, and the compression member provided on the rear surface side. It is biased forward by two return springs 33 composed of coil springs, and the movement is stopped by a locking portion 34 provided on the ceiling surface. The front end portion of the bottom surface of the storage chamber 31 is open, and the lock projection 17 of the lock arm 15 can be locked on the rear surface while riding on the inner surface of the wall 35 formed from both side edges thereof. A locking projection 36 is formed.
[0014]
A short terminal 38 is mounted in a space above the portion where the cavity 24 is provided in the main body 22. The short terminal 38 is formed by folding a conductive metal plate into a U-shaped cross section. The short terminal 38 has its upper surface fixed and the folded portion facing the back. The lower surface side of the short terminal 38 is branched into three corresponding to the number of male terminal fittings 26 to be accommodated, and a contact portion 40 bent downward in a mountain shape is formed at the tip of each branch piece 39. Have been. Then, in the assembled state, the contact portions 40 of the respective branch pieces 39 come into contact with the tabs 29 protruding into the hood portion 23 of the male terminal fittings 26, respectively, so that conduction between the male terminal fittings 26 is established, The occurrence of a potential difference in each male terminal fitting 26 is prevented. On the other hand, when the two housings 1 and 21 are fitted, the respective branch pieces 39 are elastically pushed up by the female housing 1 and separated from the tabs 29 so that the connection between the male terminal fittings 26 is not conducted. (See FIG. 10).
[0015]
As shown also in FIG. 4, a retainer mounting hole 42 is formed on the lower surface of the main body 22 of the male housing 21, and the retainer 41 is mounted here. As shown in FIG. 3, the retainer 41 has three engaging projections 44 provided on the upper surface of the elongated substrate 43 so as to be able to engage with the rear surface of the jaw 26 </ b> A of the male terminal fitting 26. In addition, extension portions 45 are formed on both sides of the tip of the engagement protrusion 44, and a larger margin for catching with the jaw portion 26A is obtained while sandwiching the neck portion of the male terminal fitting 26 therebetween. It is designed to increase the locking force.
[0016]
Two sets of retainer locking projections 47 are formed between the engagement projections 44. A tip portion of the retainer locking projection 47 is formed with a temporary locking piece 48 and a full locking piece 49 which are bifurcated and elastically deformable in the closing direction. On the other hand, on the male housing 21 side, a pair of retainer locking grooves 50 are formed on both sides sandwiching the central cavity 24, and as shown in FIG. A second locking portion 52 is protruded from a side edge of the side at a position deeper than the second side.
[0017]
Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, the retainer 41 is held at the temporary locking position by the temporary locking piece 48 being locked by the first locking portion 51. In this temporary locking position, the above-mentioned engaging protrusion 44 is retracted to the lower surface side of the cavity 24, and the male terminal fitting 26 can be inserted into and removed from the cavity 24. When the retainer 41 is further pushed in and the final locking piece 49 is locked by the second locking portion 52 as shown in FIG. 4B, the retainer 41 is held at the full locking position. In this full locking position, the engaging protrusion 44 protrudes into the cavity 24 and can be engaged with the jaw 26A of the male terminal fitting 26.
[0018]
At both ends of the retainer 41, a pair of detection pieces 54 are set up. More specifically, a vertical groove 55 is cut at the center in the length direction of the detection piece 54. The front side divided by the vertical groove 55 has a shape in which the lower end is cut off and the upper end protrudes forward, and this protruding portion serves as the detection unit 56. Further, at both ends of the retainer mounting hole 42, as shown in FIG. 4, a detection piece insertion groove 58 that allows the detection piece 54 to be inserted is formed, and as shown in FIG. A guide wall 59 that fits tightly in the vertical groove 55 of the groove 54 is formed. The front of the detection piece insertion groove 58 is opened to the front along the inside of the side wall of the hood 23.
On the other hand, a detection groove 61 into which the detection portion 56 of the male retainer 41 can be fitted is formed on the side surface of the front end of the mating female housing 1. The height position where the detection groove 61 is formed is a position where the detection portion 56 can be fitted when the retainer 41 is at the final locking position.
[0019]
On the outer surface of the detection piece 54 of the retainer 41, a pair of retaining protrusions 63 are formed at the same height on both front and rear sides of the vertical groove 55, respectively. The retaining projection 63 has a guide surface 64 with a tapered upper surface and a horizontal locking surface 65 with a lower surface. On the other hand, a retaining groove 67 is formed outside the detection piece insertion groove 58 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the retaining groove 67 is formed from the lower surface of the main body 22 of the male housing 21 to a predetermined height inside a position inside the main body 22 and a predetermined height. The position of the bottom edge of the retaining groove 67 is a position where the retaining surface 65 of the retaining protrusion 63 can be retained when the retainer 41 is held at the above-mentioned provisional retaining position. Further, the height of the retaining groove 67 is a height that allows the retaining protrusion 63 to rise as shown by a chain line in FIG.
A vertical partition wall 68 is formed in the retaining groove 67 so as to be sandwiched between the front and rear retaining protrusions 63.
[0020]
This embodiment has the above-described structure, and its operation will be described below.
First, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 6, when the retainer 41 is inserted into the retainer mounting hole 42 of the male housing 21, as shown in FIG. By being locked, the retainer 41 is held at the temporary locking position. On the other hand, the detection piece 54 is inserted into the detection piece insertion groove 58, and the locking projection 63 is press-fitted into the locking groove 67 accordingly, and the locking projection 63 at the front and rear sandwiches the partition wall 68 as shown in FIG. It is locked on the bottom edge of the groove 67. In this temporary locking position, the engagement protrusion 44 is retracted to the lower surface side of the cavity 24.
When the male terminal fitting 26 is inserted into the cavity 24 in such a state, the male terminal fitting 26 is primarily locked by the metal lance 27. At this time, the tab 29 of the male terminal fitting 26 protrudes into the hood 23 and comes into contact with the corresponding branch piece 39 of the short terminal 38.
[0021]
Subsequently, when the retainer 41 is further pushed in, the detection piece 54 is further inserted while the retaining protrusion 63 moves upward in the retaining groove 67, and as shown in FIG. Is locked by the second locking portion 52 and is held at the final locking position. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the engagement protrusion 44 protrudes into the cavity 24 and locks behind the jaw 26A of the male terminal fitting 26, thereby being secondarily locked.
[0022]
On the other hand, also on the female connector F side, the female terminal fitting 4 is similarly inserted and double-locked by the retainer 10. When the female connector F is fitted into the hood portion 23 of the male connector M, the locking projection 17 of the lock arm 15 rides on the locking projection 36 during the fitting operation as shown in FIG. The arm 15 is elastically deformed upward, and the pressing portion 16 is fitted while pushing the pressed member 32 against the elasticity of the return spring 33. If the retainer 41 of the male connector M is in the final locking position, the detecting portion 56 of the detecting piece 54 and the detecting groove 61 of the female housing 1 correspond to each other as shown in FIG. The fitting is continued while entering the detection groove 61.
[0023]
When the connectors F and M are properly fitted, the lock projection 17 exceeds the locking projection 36, so that the lock arm 15 is restored and deformed as shown in FIG. By being locked to the rear surface, the pressed member 32 is locked in the proper fitting state, and the pressed member 32 is returned to the front position by the restoring elasticity of the return spring 33. Further, the detecting portion 56 of the detecting piece 54 is deeply fitted into the detecting groove 61 of the female housing 1 as shown in FIG. 13, whereby the retainer 41 is firmly prevented from coming off at the final locking position.
[0024]
In the above, if the fitting operation is interrupted before the two connectors F and M are properly fitted, as shown in FIG. Since the female connector F is in the received state, the female connector F is ejected outward, and it is avoided that both connectors F and M are left in a half-fitted state.
[0025]
The case where the retainer 41 is attached to the male housing 21 at the regular final locking position has been described above. For example, the retainer 41 is forgotten to be pushed into the final locking position, or the pushing operation is performed. Even when the male terminal fitting 26 is in the half-inserted state, the retainer 41 may be stuck in the temporary locking position because the engaging projection 44 hits the main body of the male terminal fitting 26 and cannot be pushed. obtain. The case where the two connectors F and M are fitted together in such a state will be described below.
[0026]
In a state where the retainer 41 is in the temporary locking position, as shown in FIG. 14, the detection piece 54 provided on the retainer 41 is not inserted to the depth of the detection piece insertion groove 58. Of the detection groove 61 of the female housing 1. Therefore, near the end of the fitting operation, the side surface of the front end of the female housing 1 abuts on the detecting portion 56, and further fitting cannot be performed. It can be clearly recognized that the female connector F cannot be properly fitted because the female connector F is ejected by the elasticity of the return spring 33 when the fitting operation is interrupted. The fact that the two connectors F and M cannot be fitted properly in this manner allows the operator to detect that the retainer 41 is not mounted at the final locking position.
[0027]
When the retainer 41 is mounted with a play so as to rotate, the detection unit 56 takes a direction in which the detection unit 56 can be fitted to the detection groove 61 despite being in the temporary locking position. It can happen. Then, the connectors F and M are properly fitted as they are, and the half insertion of the retainer 41 cannot be detected. In this respect, in the present embodiment, the guide wall 59 is tightly fitted in the vertical groove 55 of the detection piece 54, and a pair of retaining projections 63 sandwich the partition wall 68 from both sides as shown in FIG. As a result, the retainer 41 is firmly prevented from rotating. Therefore, if the retainer 41 is at the temporary locking position, the detecting portion 56 is always at a position shifted downward from the detecting groove 61 of the female housing 1, and the regular fitting of the two connectors F and M can be reliably prevented, and As a result, the half insertion of the retainer 41 is accurately detected.
When the half-insertion of the retainer 41 is detected as described above, the retainer 41 is pushed into the final locking position while confirming the inserted state of the male terminal fitting 26, and then the connectors F and M may be fitted again. .
[0028]
On the other hand, when performing maintenance and the like, the male terminal fitting 26 is removed from the male housing 21 as follows. First, the lock arm 15 is bent downward from the state shown in FIG. 12 to release the lock, and the connectors F and M are separated from each other. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, a driver-like jig 71 is inserted into a jig insertion groove 70 provided at an edge of the retainer mounting hole 42, and the substrate 43 of the retainer 41 is pryed. 49 is disengaged from the second locking portion 52 and the retainer 41 is pulled out, and the temporary locking piece 48 is locked by the first locking portion 51 and held in the temporary locking position. The male side terminal fitting 26 can be pulled out while releasing the engagement by being deformed by the tool.
[0029]
Here, when the retainer 41 is squeezed with the jig 71, the temporary locking piece 48 can also be flexibly deformed. Therefore, there is a concern that the retainer 41 may be flipped out without being caught by the first locking portion 51. .
In this regard, in this embodiment, the detection piece 54 is provided with the retaining projection 63, which is locked at the bottom edge of the retaining groove 67 as shown in FIG. It is retained in the temporary locking position without falling out of the position.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the retainer 41 from being lost, and it is not necessary to reassemble the retainer 41.
[0030]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings, it can be implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a state before both connectors are fitted. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a retainer. FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a retaining operation of the retainer. FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state before both connectors are fitted. FIG. FIG. 8 is a front view of the male connector. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a retaining structure of the retainer. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where both connectors are in the process of being fitted. FIG. FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a portion of the detecting piece of FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where both connectors are properly fitted. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a detecting piece of the retainer. FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which insertion is detected. FIG. Longitudinal sectional view showing a locking operation of the retainer EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1: Female housing (housing on the other side)
21 ... Male housing 26 ... Male terminal fitting 41 ... Retainer 42 ... Retainer mounting hole 48 ... Temporary locking piece 49 ... Full locking piece 51 ... First locking part 52 ... Second locking part 54 ... Detection piece 56 ... Detecting section 61 Detecting groove 63 Protective projection (preventing section)
67… Retaining groove

Claims (2)

A male housing having a hood portion in which a male terminal fitting is housed and a female housing of a mating female housing housing the female terminal fitting is fitted inside, and a retainer can be inserted into the male housing from an outer surface. The retainer is provided with a temporary locking position for allowing insertion and removal of the male terminal fitting, and an insertion position deeper than the temporary locking position, wherein the retainer is engaged with the male terminal fitting to prevent removal. In the one that can be held at the stop position,
The retainer protrudes into the hood in a direction along the fitting direction of the two housings, and when the retainer remains at a position short of reaching the final locking position, it interferes with the mating female housing. with detection piece both housings by regulates that fit into normal is provided, wherein the retainer engages with the male housing in the detection piece is removed out from the temporary locking position A connector provided with a retaining portion for restricting the situation. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the detection pieces are provided at both ends of the retainer, and the retaining portions are provided on both the detection pieces. 3.

Images