JP6729136B2 - Connector and wire harness - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector and a wire harness.

In an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, for example, there is Patent Document 1 as a connector provided in an electric path connecting a motor serving as a drive source and an inverter.

The connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a resin electric wire holder that holds an electric wire and a metal shield case that houses a part of the electric wire holder. In this connector, the extension-side end of the electric wire in the shield case is bent inward so that the electric wire holder does not come out of the shield case when the electric wire is pulled.

Japanese Patent No. 5370872

In the connector described in Patent Document 1, since the end portion of the shield case is bent, the electric wire may easily come into contact with the bent portion. Therefore, when the electric wire is bent and arranged in a severe layout situation in recent years, the electric wire may interfere with the end (bent portion) of the shield case due to vibration or the like, and the electric wire may be damaged.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector and a wire harness capable of suppressing damage to electric wires due to interference with a shield case.

The present invention, for the purpose of solving the above problems, comprises an inner housing made of resin having a holding hole for holding an electric wire, and a tubular outer housing made of metal for housing a part of the inner housing. Provided at an end of the outer housing on the extension side of the electric wire so as to cover at least the surface of the outer housing on the electric wire side, and interposed between the electric wire and the end of the outer housing. A connector having an annular interference suppressing member is provided.

Moreover, this invention provides the wire harness provided with the electric wire and the said connector provided in at least one end part of the said electric wire for the purpose of solving the said subject.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the connector and wire harness which can suppress the damage of an electric wire by interference with a shield case can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the wire harness which used the connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, (a) is a fracture|rupture sectional view which showed a part of shield case and the interference suppression member in a cross section, (b) is A-. It is an A line sectional view. It is the BB sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG.1(b). It is a figure which shows the wire harness which used the connector which concerns on the example of a changed completely type of this invention, Comprising: It is a fragmentary sectional view which showed a part of shield case and the interference suppression member in section.

[Embodiment]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Explanation of wire harness and connector)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a wire harness using a connector according to the present embodiment, where (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a shield case and an interference suppressing member in cross section, and (b) is its A cross section. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 1(b).

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the wire harness 10 includes the electric wire 2 and the connector 1 according to the present embodiment.

The wire harness 10 is used, for example, in an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle to connect a motor as a drive source and an inverter. Here, a case will be described in which three electric wires 2 are provided on the assumption that three-phase alternating current is transmitted, but the number of electric wires 2 is not limited to this. The three electric wires 2 are held by the connector 1 in a state of being aligned and arranged so as to be parallel to each other.

The connector 1 is provided on at least one end of the electric wire 2. The connector 1 according to the present embodiment holds an electric wire 2 and is fixed to an attached member such as a housing of a motor or an inverter. That is, the connector 1 plays a role of fixing the end portion of the electric wire 2 to the attached member.

The electric wire 2 has a conductor 2a formed by twisting together strands made of a good electric conductor such as copper, and a sheath 2b made of an insulator covering the conductor 2a.

A connection terminal 7 is provided at an end of the electric wire 2 and is electrically connected to a terminal block or the like in the attached member when the connector 1 is fixed to the attached member. The connection terminal 7 integrally includes a caulking portion 71 that is caulked and fixed to the conductor 2a of the electric wire 2, and a plate-shaped connecting portion 72 that extends from the caulking portion 71 to the side opposite to the electric wire 2. .. A through hole 72a penetrating the connecting portion 72 is formed in the connecting portion 72, and the connecting terminal 7 is connected to the terminal block or the like by fixing the connecting portion 72 to the terminal block or the like by inserting bolts into the through hole 72a. To be done.

The connector 1 includes an electric wire holder 3 as an inner housing made of resin having a holding hole 34 for holding the electric wire 2, a shield case 4 as a tubular outer housing made of metal for accommodating a part of the electric wire holder 3, And a retainer 5 as a seal holding member.

Although not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a braided shield is fixed to the outer periphery of the shield case 4. The braided shield is fixed to the shield case 4 by, for example, a metal band. The braided shield is provided so as to collectively cover a part of the shield case 4 and the entire three electric wires 2 extending from the connector 1.

(Explanation of the wire holder 3)
The electric wire holder 3 is made of an electrically insulating resin such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PA (polyamide), or PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), and is formed by injection molding, for example.

The electric wire holder 3 is press-fitted into the shield case 4 and fixed to the shield case 4. The electric wire holder 3 integrally includes a main body portion 31 accommodated in the shield case 4 (accommodation portion 41 described later) and a distal end portion 32 projecting from the main body portion 31 toward the distal end side (connection terminal 7 side) of the electric wire 2. Have Further, the electric wire holder 3 is formed with a holding hole 34 for holding the electric wire 2 so as to penetrate the body portion 31 and the tip portion 32.

In the present embodiment, the electric wire holder 3 has a two-part configuration including a first member 3a and a second member 3b that are opposed to each other with the electric wire 2 interposed therebetween, and the first member 3a and the second member 3b are divided into three parts. The electric wire holder 3 is formed by sandwiching the electric wire 2 and interlocking the two members 3a and 3b with each other to integrate them.

The first member 3a and the second member 3b are lightened in order to suppress warpage and sink marks (dents) due to molding shrinkage, and have a structure in which a large number of plate-shaped ribs are combined. Specifically, the first member 3a and the second member 3b form three semi-arcuate arc portions 35 that form the inner wall of the holding hole 34 that holds the electric wire 2, and the outer wall of the electric wire holder 3, that is, the shield case. The outer wall portion 36 is disposed along the inner wall 4 and the plurality of connecting portions 37 that connect the respective arc portions 35 and the outer wall portion 36.

Here, among the three arc portions 35, the arc portion 35 arranged at the center is connected to the outer wall portion 36 by the three connecting portions 37, and the remaining two arc portions 35 are connected by the four connecting portions 37 to the outer wall portion. 36 shows the case of being connected to 36. However, the number of the connecting portions 37 is not limited to this, and may be appropriately adjusted depending on the size of the electric wire holder 3 (size of the entire connector 1) and the like so that desired strength (rigidity) can be obtained.

Further, the first member 3a and the second member 3b have a locking mechanism for locking both members 3a and 3b with each other. In the present embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a lance 38 and a locking protrusion 39 that projects laterally from the arc portion 35 (the arrangement direction of the electric wires 2) and locks the lance 38. Here, a case is shown in which two lances 38 and two locking projections 39 are formed on each of the members 3a and 3b, but the numbers of lances 38 and locking projections 39 are not limited to this.

A connecting groove 32a for connecting a connecting protrusion 54 of the retainer 5 described later is formed in the tip portion 32 of the wire holder 3. The connecting groove 32a is communicated with the head housing portion 321 that houses the head portion 54b of the connecting projection 54, and is open to the retainer 5 side (connection terminal 7 side) to house the neck portion 54a. And a neck accommodating portion 322.

(Explanation of retainer 5)
The retainer 5 is made of an electrically insulating resin such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PA (polyamide), or PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), and is molded by, for example, injection molding.

The retainer 5 is inserted into a mounting hole of a mounted member (not shown), and is for waterproofing between the outside and the inside of the mounting hole of the mounted member.

An annular groove 51 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 5, and an outer waterproof plug (not shown) that seals between the mounting hole and the retainer 5 is arranged in this groove.

An insertion hole 52 through which the electric wire 2 is inserted is formed in the retainer 5. Here, three insertion holes 52 corresponding to the three electric wires 2 are formed in the retainer 5. Each of the insertion holes 52 is provided with a wire seal 53 as an inner waterproof plug that seals between the inner wall of the insertion hole 52 and the electric wire 2.

Further, the retainer 5 has a connecting protrusion 54 for connecting the retainer 5 and the electric wire holder 3. The connection protrusion 54 is formed so as to protrude in the extending direction of the electric wire 2. The connecting protrusion 54 integrally includes a columnar neck portion 54a and a disk-shaped head portion 54b that is integrally provided at the tip of the neck portion 54a and has an outer diameter larger than that of the neck portion 54a.

The retainer 5 is connected to the electric wire holder 3 by accommodating the head portion 54b in the head accommodation portion 321 of the electric wire holder 3 and the neck portion 54a in the neck accommodation portion 322. The head accommodation portion 321 is formed larger than the head portion 54b, and the neck portion accommodation portion 322 is formed larger than the neck portion 54a, and the electric wire holder 3 and the retainer 5 are connected so as to be relatively movable.

Accordingly, for example, even when the wire holder 3 and the shield case 4 rotate due to the influence of the tightening torque of the bolt when fixing the connector 1 to the mounted member, the retainer 5 rotates accordingly. It is possible to prevent the outer waterproof plug from sealing and to maintain the sealing property of the outer waterproof plug.

(Explanation of shield case 4)
The shield case 4 is made of a conductive metal such as iron, brass, or aluminum.

The shield case 4 integrally includes a cylindrical housing portion 41 that houses at least a part of the electric wire holder 3, and a fixing portion 42 that fixes the shield case 4 to a mounted member. The inward extending portion 43 and the rearward extending portion 44 will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the fixing portion 42 includes a flange portion 42a that is orthogonal to the extending direction of the electric wire 2, and an end portion in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the electric wire 2 and the arrangement direction of the electric wires 2 in the flange portion 42a. To the tip side of the electric wire 2 (the connection terminal 7 side), and is formed in an L shape in a side view as seen from the arrangement direction of the electric wires 2. A bolt hole 42c for passing a bolt (not shown) is formed in the extending portion 42b. The shape of the fixing portion 42 is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed according to the shape of the attached member.

In addition, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the shield case 4 is radially inward from the end of the accommodation portion 41 on the extension side of the electric wire 2 (the electric wire 2 side or the central axis side of the accommodation portion 41). The extended inward extension portion 43 and a rearwardly extended portion extending in the extension direction of the electric wire 2 from the radially inner end of the inward extension portion 43 to the extension side of the electric wire 2. The projecting portion 44 and the housing portion 41 are integrally provided.

The inward extending portion 43 is formed by bending the end portion of the housing portion 41 inward, and is formed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 2. The rear extending portion 44 is formed by further bending an inner end portion of the inner extending portion 43, and is formed in a tubular shape so that its axial direction matches the axial direction of the accommodating portion 41. Has been done.

With the inwardly extending portion 43, it is possible to prevent the wire holder 3 from coming off the shield case 4 even when the wire 2 is pulled.

Further, by having the rear extending portion 44, the force when the electric wire 2 is bent can be received by the surface of the inner peripheral surface of the rear extending portion 44, and the electric force between the electric wire 2 and the rear extending portion 44 can be increased. It is possible to suppress the damage of the interference suppressing member 6 (described later) sandwiched between. Further, even if the interference suppression member 6 is damaged for some reason, the electric wire 2 and the shield case 4 can be brought into surface contact with each other (that is, the force from the electric wire 2 can be received by the surface), and the electric wire 2 It is possible to suppress the damage of.

(Description of the interference suppression member 6)
The corner portion at the end portion of the shield case 4 (more specifically, the corner portion between the end surface of the rear extension portion 44 and the inner peripheral surface) is sharpened without being rounded or chamfered. Therefore, if the electric wire 2 interferes with this corner, the electric wire 2 may be damaged. If the shield case 4 is rounded or chamfered, the number of working steps and the manufacturing cost are increased. Therefore, the shield case 4 is prevented from being rounded or chamfered to prevent damage to the electric wire 2. It is desired to do.

Therefore, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the end of the shield case 4 on the extension side of the electric wire 2 is provided so as to cover at least the surface of the electric wire 2 side at the end. An annular interference suppression member 6 interposed between the end of the case 4 and the case 4 is further provided.

In the present embodiment, the end portion of the shield case 4 on the extension side of the electric wire 2 serves as the rearward extension portion 44 extended along the extension direction of the electric wire 2. Therefore, the interference suppressing member 6 is formed so as to cover at least the inner peripheral surface of the rear extending portion 44.

By having the interference suppressing member 6, the interference suppressing member 6 is interposed between the electric wire 2 and the end portion of the shield case 4. Therefore, for example, even when the electric wire 2 is bent and arranged, it is possible to prevent the electric wire 2 from interfering with the end of the shield case 4 due to vibration or the like, and to prevent the electric wire 2 from being damaged. It will be possible.

Since the electric wire 2 is damaged by the electric wire 2 interfering with the edge portion (corner portion) of the end of the shield case 4, the interference suppressing member 6 causes the edge portion of the shield case 4 (here, the rear extension portion). More preferably, it is provided so as to cover a corner portion between the end surface and the inner peripheral surface of 44.

In the present embodiment, the interference suppression member 6 is formed so as to cover the entire rear extension part 44 and a part of the inward extension part 43. As a result, the interference suppressing member 6 is formed so as to cover the bent portion between the rear extending portion 44 and the inward extending portion 43, and the interference suppressing member 6 cannot be moved to the shield case 4. It becomes possible to fix and prevent the interference suppressing member 6 from coming off the shield case 4.

Further, in the present embodiment, a part of the interference suppression member 6 is located between the shield case 4 and the electric wire holder 3, and the interference suppression member 6 is sandwiched between the shield case 4 and the electric wire holder 3. Has become. As a result, the interference suppressing member 6 is further suppressed from coming off the shield case 4. The interference suppressing member 6 arranged between the shield case 4 and the electric wire holder 3 reduces the impact on the electric wire holder 3 when a shock is applied to the shield case 4 from the extension side of the electric wire 2. As a result, the wire holder 3 also serves as a cushioning member that suppresses damage.

The interference suppressing member 6 is made of insulating resin, and is made of plastic or rubber. It is desirable that the interference suppressing member 6 be elastic and have a lower rigidity than the shield case 4 so that the electric wire 2 is not damaged by the interference between the electric wire 2 and the interference suppressing member 6. In the present embodiment, the interference suppressing member 6 made of rubber is used.

Examples of rubber used for the interference suppressing member 6 include CR (chloroprene rubber), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), ACM (acrylic rubber), NBR (nitrile rubber), and silicone rubber.

The interference suppression member 6 is provided integrally with the shield case 4 by, for example, baking or molding rubber. The method of fixing the interference suppressing member 6 to the shield case 4 is not limited to this, and it may be fixed by adhesion with an adhesive, or mechanically by fixing by caulking or a locking mechanism such as a lance. It may be fixed. When the interference suppressing member 6 is fixed by a method other than baking or molding, the interference suppressing member 6 having a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the circumferential direction is prepared in advance, and the manufactured interference suppressing member 6 is You may make it fit in the edge part of shield case 4 (edge part of the rear extension part 44).

Further, in the connector 1, the interference suppressing member 6 and the electric wire 2 are not in contact with each other in a state where the electric wire 2 is not bent, and a gap 8 is formed between the interference suppressing member 6 and the electric wire 2. By providing the gap 8, the work of attaching the electric wire holder 3 holding the electric wire 2 to the shield case 4 (the work of press-fitting and fixing the electric wire holder 3 into the shield case 4) is facilitated, and the assemblability of the connector 1 is improved. it can.

(Operation and Effect of Embodiment)
As described above, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the end of the shield case 4 on the extension side of the electric wire 2 is provided so as to cover at least the surface on the electric wire 2 side of the end, An annular interference suppression member 6 is provided between the electric wire 2 and the end of the shield case 4.

When the electric wire holder 3 is provided with the interference suppressing member 6, the end of the shield case 4 is bent inward in order to prevent the electric wire holder 3 from falling off from the shield case 4 when the electric wire 2 is pulled. Also, the interference between the electric wire 2 and the end of the shield case 4 can be suppressed, and the electric wire 2 can be prevented from being damaged. That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize the connector 1 capable of suppressing the electric wire holder 3 from falling off from the shield case 4 and suppressing damage to the electric wire 2 due to interference with the shield case 4.

Further, in the present embodiment, the shield case 4 has an inward extending portion 43 that extends inward in the radial direction from the end of the accommodation portion 41 on the extending side of the electric wire 2, and an inward extending portion 43. Has a rearward extending portion 44 extending along the extending direction of the electric wire 2 from the radially inner end of the electric wire 2 and the interference suppressing member 6 extends at least rearwardly. It is formed so as to cover the inner peripheral surface of the projecting portion 44. As a result, the force generated when the electric wire 2 is bent can be received by the inner peripheral surface of the rear extending portion 44, and the interference suppressing member 6 can be prevented from being damaged and reliability can be improved. ..

Further, in the present embodiment, since the interference suppressing member 6 is formed so as to cover the entire rearward extending portion 44 and a part of the inward extending portion 43, the interference suppressing member 6 is provided in the shield case. It is hard to drop from 4.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the interference suppression member 6 has elasticity, damage to the electric wire 2 due to interference with the interference suppression member 6 can be suppressed.

(Modification)
In the above embodiment, the case where the shield case 4 has the rearward extending portion 44 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the rearward extending portion 44 may be omitted as in the connector 1a shown in FIG. Good.

In this case, since the end portion of the shield case 4 becomes the inward extending portion 43, the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the circumferential direction is U-shaped so as to cover the inner end portion of the inward extending portion 43 ( It is preferable to provide the interference suppression member 6a formed in a U-shape that opens radially outward.

However, in the connector 1a, when a large force is applied when the electric wire 2 is bent, stress is concentrated on a portion of the interference suppressing member 6a sandwiched between the tip of the inward extending portion 43 and the electric wire 2 to suppress interference. The member 6a may be damaged (broken). Therefore, it can be said that it is more desirable to have the configuration of FIGS.

(Summary of Embodiments)
Next, the technical idea grasped from the embodiment described above will be described with reference to the reference numerals and the like in the embodiment. However, the reference numerals and the like in the following description are not intended to limit the constituent elements in the claims to the members and the like specifically shown in the embodiments.

[1] An inner housing (3) made of resin having a holding hole (34) for holding an electric wire (2), and a cylindrical outer housing (4) made of metal for housing a part of the inner housing (3). The electric wire (2) of the outer housing (4) is provided at an end portion on the extension side of the electric wire (2) so as to cover at least the surface of the electric wire (2) side at the end portion. A connector (1) comprising an annular interference suppression member (6) interposed between (2) and the end of the outer housing (4).

[2] The outer housing (4) has a cylindrical housing portion (41) for housing at least a part of the inner housing (3), and an extension side of the electric wire (2) in the housing portion (41). An inwardly extending portion (43) radially inwardly extended from an end of the wire, and an extension side of the electric wire (2) from an radially inward end of the inwardly extending portion (43). And the rear extension part (44) extended along the extension direction of the electric wire (2) integrally, and the interference suppression member (6) at least the rear extension part (44). ) The connector (1) according to [1], which is formed so as to cover the inner peripheral surface.

[3] The interference suppressing member (6) is formed so as to cover the entire rear extending portion (44) and a part of the inward extending portion (43). The described connector (1).

[4] The connector (1) according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the interference suppressing member (6) has elasticity.

[5] A wire comprising an electric wire (2) and the connector (1) according to any one of [1] to [4] provided on at least one end of the electric wire (2). Harness (10).

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments described above do not limit the invention according to the claims. Further, it should be noted that not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention.

The present invention can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the connector 1 fixes the electric wire 2 to the member to be attached has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the connector 1 may connect the electric wires to each other. In this case, the connector 1 is configured to be connectable to the connection target connector provided at the end of the electric wire to be connected, and when the connector 1 is connected to the connection target connector, the terminals provided at the end of the electric wire are connected to each other. Can be contacted and electrically connected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Connector 2... Electric wire 3... Electric wire holder 31... Main body 32... Tip part 34... Holding hole 4... Shield case 41... Housing 42... Fixed part 43... Inner extension 44... Rear extension 5... Retainer 6... Interference suppression member 7... Connection terminal 10... Wire harness

Claims (4)

An inner housing made of resin having a holding hole for holding an electric wire,
A tubular outer housing made of metal that accommodates a part of the inner housing,
An annular shape that is provided at an end portion of the outer housing on the extension side of the electric wire so as to cover at least the surface of the outer housing on the electric wire side, and that is interposed between the electric wire and the end portion of the outer housing. for example Bei of interference suppression member,
The outer housing is
A tubular accommodating portion for accommodating at least a part of the inner housing,
An inwardly extending portion that is radially inwardly extended from an end portion of the accommodation portion on the extension side of the electric wire,
On the extension side of the electric wire from the radially inner end portion of the inward extension portion, a tubular rearward extension portion extending along the extension direction of the electric wire is integrally provided. ,
The interference suppressing member has an inner peripheral surface of the rear extending portion, an outer peripheral surface of the rear extending portion, and a connecting surface connecting the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface over the entire circumference of the rear extending portion. It is provided to cover
connector. Wherein the interference suppression member is formed so as to cover the part of the previous SL inwardly extending portion,
The connector according to claim 1 . The interference suppressing member has elasticity,
The connector according to claim 1 or 2 . Electric wire,
Equipped with a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3 provided on at least one end of the wire,
Wire harness.

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