JP6868596B2 - Waterproof connector structure and connector fitting method of waterproof connector structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a waterproof connector structure and a connector fitting method of a waterproof connector structure.

As a conventional waterproof connector structure applied to a wire harness or the like, there is one that is attached to a through hole formed in a partition wall that separates the outside and the inside. For example, there is a waterproof connector structure in which one electronic device inside the vehicle is electrically connected to the other electronic device via the outside of the vehicle by using the body of the vehicle as a partition wall (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-72003 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-82005

By the way, in the waterproof connector structure, in a state where the male connector is waterproof to the partition wall, the male connector is fixed to the partition wall, and the female connector is fitted to the male connector outside the partition wall. Here, the male connector constitutes a part of a wire harness connected to an internal electronic device. For example, when the male connector is fixed to the outer side of the partition wall, the male connector is fixed to the partition wall after passing the wire harness through the through hole formed in the partition wall. At this time, since the sealing member that waterproofs the space between the partition wall and the male connector is usually attached in advance on the male connector side, the time that the sealing member is exposed to the outside becomes long, and there is a possibility that foreign matter adheres. It becomes high and may affect the waterproof performance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector structure and a connector fitting method of a waterproof connector structure capable of reducing the influence on the waterproof performance.

Further, in the connector fitting method of the waterproof connector structure according to the present invention, the first terminal electrically connected to the internal electronic device arranged inside the partition wall and the first terminal accommodating the first terminal are accommodated. The first connector having a chamber, the second terminal electrically connected to the other electronic device via the outside of the partition wall, and the second terminal accommodating chamber in which the second terminal is accommodated, and said A second connector that electrically connects the first terminal and the second terminal through a through hole formed in the partition wall by engaging with the first connector, the first connector, and the above. A method of fitting a waterproof connector including a first seal member for sealing between the second connector and the first connector, wherein the first connector includes an inner housing in which the first terminal accommodating chamber is formed and the inner housing. It has an outer housing that engages with the second connector in a state of being housed inside, and a second sealing member that seals between the outer housing and the partition wall, and on the outer side of the partition wall, the first The step of fixing the outer housing to the partition wall by interposing a two-seal member, and the inner housing being housed in the first terminal accommodating chamber from the inside side of the partition wall. It is characterized by including a step of accommodating the inside of the outer housing and a step of engaging the second connector with the outer housing by interposing the first seal member.

The waterproof connector structure and the connector fitting method of the waterproof connector structure according to the present invention have an effect that the influence on the waterproof performance can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the waterproof connector structure (fitted state) according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof connector structure (fitted state) according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the inner housing of the male connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the outer housing of the male connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the female connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a fitting process of the waterproof connector structure according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a fitting process of the waterproof connector structure according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fitting process of the waterproof connector structure according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the waterproof connector structure (fitted state) according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof connector structure (fitted state) according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the inner housing of the male connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the outer housing of the male connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the female connector according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a fitting process of the waterproof connector structure according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a fitting process of the waterproof connector structure according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fitting process of the waterproof connector structure according to the embodiment. In each figure, the wire harnesses WH1 and WH2 are omitted or simplified. Further, FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the waterproof connector structure 1 in a plane including the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. Further, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 to 8, the partition wall 100 is shown in part, not in whole.

The X direction in each figure is the front-rear direction in the waterproof connector structure 1 in the present embodiment. The Y direction is the width direction in the waterproof connector structure 1 in the present embodiment, and is a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The Z direction is the vertical direction in the waterproof connector structure 1 in the present embodiment, and is a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the width direction. The X1 direction is the external direction and the detaching direction, and the X2 direction is the internal direction and is the fitting direction. The Y1 direction is the left direction, and the Y2 direction is the right direction. The Z1 direction is the upward direction, and the Z2 direction is the downward direction. Unless otherwise specified, each direction used in the following description shall represent a direction in which each part is assembled to each other.

The waterproof connector structure 1 in the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is applied to, for example, a wire harness used in an automobile. Here, the waterproof connector structure 1 electrically connects two wire harnesses WH1 and WH2 via a partition wall 100. The wire harness WH1 is composed of a male terminal 2 and a male connector 3 as a part thereof, and is composed of an electric wire (not shown) and a plurality of electronic components 200. The wire harness WH1 is electrically connected to an internal electronic device 300 arranged inside the partition wall 100. Most of the wire harness WH1 in the present embodiment is arranged inside the vehicle, and is electrically connected to a battery or the like arranged in the internal space of the vehicle as an internal electronic device 300. The wire harness WH2 is composed of a female terminal 4 and a female connector 5 as a part thereof, and is composed of an electric wire and a plurality of electronic components (not shown). The wire harness WH2 is electrically connected to the other electronic device 400. At least a part of the wire harness WH2 in the present embodiment is arranged outside the vehicle, and is electrically connected to an inverter or the like arranged in the internal space of the vehicle as a counterpart electronic device 400.

The waterproof connector structure 1 includes a male terminal 2, a male connector 3, a female terminal 4, a female connector 5, and a first seal member 6. In the waterproof connector structure 1, the male connector 3 and the female connector 5 are fitted to each other and joined to each other, so that the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 4 housed in each are electrically connected to each other. An electrical connection is formed between them.

Here, the partition wall 100 partitions the inside and the outside. The partition wall 100 in the present embodiment is a body that separates the inside of the vehicle and the outside of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 6, the partition wall 100 is formed with a through hole 100a and a fixing hole 100b. The through hole 100a penetrates the outer surface 100c and the inner surface 100d of the partition wall 100, and the inner housing 31 described later of the male connector 3 is inserted into the through hole 100a. The through hole 100a in the present embodiment is formed as an elongated hole when viewed from the front-rear direction. The fixing hole 100b is a hole for fixing a fixing member (not shown) and is formed on the outer surface 100c. Two fixing holes 100b in the present embodiment are formed with the through hole 100a sandwiched in the width direction, and are screw holes that do not penetrate to the inner surface 100d, and bolts are screwed as fixing members.

The male terminal 2 is the first terminal and is electrically connected to the internal electronic device 300 arranged inside the partition wall 100 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. A plurality of male terminals 2 are housed in the male connector 3. Each male terminal 2 is electrically connected to a conductor of an electric wire (not shown) that forms a part of the wire harness WH1.

The male connector 3 is the first connector and accommodates the male terminal 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The male connector 3 has an inner housing 31, an outer housing 32, and a second seal member 33.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the inner housing 31 is formed with a male terminal accommodating chamber 34a. The inner housing 31 in the present embodiment has an inner housing main body portion 34 and a terminal cover portion 35.

The inner housing main body 34 has a base 341, a brim 342, a first locking claw 343, and a second locking claw 344. The base portion 341 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front-rear direction, and a male terminal accommodating chamber 34a communicating with the outside is formed in the front-rear direction. The male terminal accommodating chamber 34a is a first terminal accommodating chamber, and is formed in the male connector 3 corresponding to each male terminal 2. Here, in each male terminal 2 in a housed state in which each male terminal 2 is housed in each male terminal storage room 34a, the tip end portion, which is an end portion in the external direction, faces the outside direction from each male terminal storage room 34a. Is protruding. That is, the tip of each male terminal 2 is exposed to the outside from the inner housing main body 34 in the housed state. The brim portion 342 is located in the through hole 100a in a locked state in which the inner housing 31 is locked to the outer housing 32. The brim portion 342 is formed so as to project from the end portion on the side in the internal direction of the base portion 341. The first locking claw 343 is for locking the terminal cover portion 35 with respect to the inner housing main body portion 34, and is formed on the base portion 341. The first locking claw 343 in the present embodiment is formed so as to project downward from the outer peripheral side surface in the downward direction on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 341. The first locking claw 343 can be elastically deformed toward the inside of the base portion 341. The second locking claw 344 is for locking the inner housing 31 with respect to the outer housing 32, and is formed on the base portion 341. The second locking claws 344 in the present embodiment are formed in pairs with respect to the base portion 341 in the width direction. One of the pair of second locking claws is formed so as to project leftward from the outer peripheral side surface in the left direction of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 341, and the other is formed from the outer peripheral side surface in the right direction of the outer peripheral surface to the right. It is formed so as to project in the direction. The pair of second locking claws 344 can be elastically deformed toward the inside of the base 341.

The terminal cover portion 35 protects the male terminal 2. The terminal cover portion 35 in the present embodiment is a separate member from the inner housing main body portion 34, and surrounds the tip portions of the male terminals 2 exposed to the outside from the inner housing main body portion 34 in the housed state. The terminal cover portion 35 has a base portion 351 and a first locking receiver 352, and a convex portion 353. The base portion 351 is formed in a rectangular tubular shape when viewed from the front-rear direction, and a protective space portion 35a communicating with the outside is formed in the front-rear direction. The protected space portion 35a is a space portion in which the tip end portion of each male terminal 2 in the housed state is located. The first locking receiver 352 is for locking the terminal cover portion 35 with respect to the inner housing main body portion 34, and is formed on the base portion 351. The first locking receiver 352 in the present embodiment is formed on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 351, which is the locking opening 35b formed on the outer peripheral side surface in the downward direction. Here, each male terminal 2 is in a locked state in which the terminal cover portion 35 is locked to the inner housing main body portion 34 by locking the first locking claw 343 by the first locking receiver 352. The tip of the is located in the protective space 35a and is not exposed from the terminal cover 35 when viewed from the width direction. The base portion 351 is formed with an exposed opening 35c. The exposed opening 35c exposes the second locking claw 344 to the outside of the terminal cover portion 35 in the locked state. The exposed openings 35c in the present embodiment are formed in pairs with respect to the base portion 341 in the width direction corresponding to the second locking claws 344, respectively. The pair of exposed openings 35c are formed by one penetrating the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 341 in the left direction and the other penetrating the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 341 in the right direction. The convex portion 353 is formed corresponding to each male terminal accommodating chamber 34a. The convex portion 353 in the present embodiment is formed so as to project backward from the partition wall formed in the middle of the protective space portion 35a in the front-rear direction. The convex portion 353 faces the lance 345 formed corresponding to each male terminal accommodating chamber 34a in the vertical direction in the locked state in which the terminal cover portion 35 is locked to the inner housing main body portion 34. .. Here, the lance 345 elastically deforms upward when the male storage chamber 34a of the male terminal 2 is inserted, so that the lance 345 and the male terminal 2 are in front of and behind the male terminal 2 in a state where the male terminal 2 is inserted into the male terminal excellent chamber 34a. It faces in the direction and restricts the movement of the male terminal 2 with respect to the inner housing main body 343 in the front-rear direction. By facing the lance 345 in the vertical direction in the locked state, the convex portion 353 can prevent the lance 345 from elastically deforming in the direction in which the lance 345 and the male terminal 2 are released from facing each other.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, the outer housing 32 is fixed to the partition wall 100 on the outer side of the partition wall 100. Further, the outer housing 32 engages with the female connector 5 in a housed state in which the inner housing 31 is housed inside. The outer housing 32 has a base portion 321, a brim portion 322, a second locking receiver 323, and a cam protrusion 324. The base portion 321 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front-rear direction, and a housing accommodation space portion 32a communicating with the outside is formed in the front-rear direction. The housing accommodating space 32a accommodates the inner housing 31 inside the outer housing 32. The brim portion 322 is located on the outer side of the outer surface 100c of the partition wall 100 in a fixed state in which the outer housing 32 is fixed to the partition wall 100. The brim portion 322 is formed so as to project from the internal direction side end portion of the base portion 321 to form a sealing groove portion 32b and an insertion hole 32c. The sealing groove portion 32b holds the second sealing member 33 with respect to the outer housing 32 by inserting the second sealing member 33. The sealing groove portion 32b in the present embodiment is formed in a ring shape surrounding the housing accommodating space portion 32a when viewed from the front-rear direction. The insertion holes 32c in the present embodiment correspond to the respective fixing holes 100b, and are formed in pairs with respect to the brim portion 322 in the width direction. The pair of insertion holes 32c are formed so as to penetrate the brim portion 322 in the front-rear direction. Here, the outer housing 32 is fixed to the partition wall 100 on the outer side of the partition wall 100 by fixing the fixing members inserted into the insertion holes 32c to the fixing holes 100b. In the fixed state where the outer housing 32 is fixed to the partition wall, the through hole 100a and the housing accommodating space 32a communicate with each other. Therefore, the inner housing 31 is moved from the inside of the partition wall 100 to the inside of the outer housing 32 through the through hole 100a. Can be accommodated in. The second locking receiver 323 is for locking the inner housing 31 with respect to the outer housing 32, and is formed on the base portion 321. The second locking receiver 323 in the present embodiment is formed in pairs with respect to the base portion 321 in the width direction. One of the pair of second locking receivers 323 is formed so as to project from the side surface of the inner wall in the left direction toward the right side of the inner wall surface constituting the housing accommodation space 32a, and the other is formed in the right direction of the inner wall surface. It is formed so as to project to the left from the side surface of the inner wall in the above. The cam protrusion 324 is inserted into the cam groove 52b, which will be described later, to engage the female connector 5 with the male connector 3 as the lever member 52, which will be described later, rotates, and is formed on the base portion 321. The cam protrusions 324 in the present embodiment are formed in pairs with respect to the base portion 321 in the vertical direction. One of the pair of cam protrusions 324 is formed so as to project upward from the outer peripheral side surface in the upward direction of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 321 and the other is formed to the right from the outer peripheral side surface in the downward direction of the outer peripheral surface. It is formed so as to project toward.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second sealing member 33 seals between the outer housing 32 and the partition wall 100. The second seal member 33 in the present embodiment is, for example, an elastic member, is formed in a ring shape having an opening 33a when viewed from the front-rear direction, and is inserted into the seal groove 32b. In the state, it is formed so as to project outward from the sealing groove portion 32b. That is, in the inserted state, the second seal member 33 projects outward from the surface of the brim portion 322 on the external direction side. Therefore, when the outer housing 32 is fixed to the partition wall 100 on the outer surface side of the partition wall 100, the second seal member 33 seals between the outer housing 32 and the partition wall 100, thereby forming the through hole 100a and the housing accommodation space. It is possible to restrict the infiltration of liquid from the portion 32a.

The female terminal 4 is a second terminal, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, is electrically connected to the other-side electronic device 400 via the partition wall 100. A plurality of female terminals 4 are housed in the female connector 5. Each female terminal 4 is electrically connected to a conductor of an electric wire (not shown) that forms a part of the wire harness WH2. Further, a waterproof sleeve is attached to the electric wire to which the female terminal 4 is electrically connected, and the female terminal accommodating chamber 51b is closed by the waterproof sleeve in the accommodating state accommodated in the female terminal accommodating chamber 51b described later. ..

The female connector 5 is a second connector and accommodates the female terminal 4 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 8. The female connector 5 electrically connects the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 4 through a through hole formed in the partition wall 100 by fitting with the male connector 3. The female connector 5 has a base portion 51, a lever portion 52, and a rotating shaft 53.

The base portion 51 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front-rear direction, and a connector accommodating space portion 51a communicating with the outside in the external direction is formed. The connector accommodating space 51a accommodates the male connector 3 inside the female connector 5. The base 51 is formed with a female terminal accommodating chamber 51b that communicates with the outside in the front-rear direction. The female terminal accommodating chamber 51b is a second terminal accommodating chamber, and is formed in the female connector 5 corresponding to each female terminal 4. The female terminal accommodating chamber 51b in the present embodiment is formed in a protruding portion protruding outward in the connector accommodating space 51a. That is, the connector accommodating space 51a is formed in a ring shape by the protruding portions when viewed from the front-rear direction. Here, in each female terminal 5, the tip end portion, which is an end portion in the external direction, is not exposed to the outside from the base portion 51 in the accommodation state in which each female terminal 4 is accommodated in each female terminal accommodating chamber 51b.

The lever portion 52 engages the female connector 5 with the male connector 3. The lever portion 52 constitutes a cam mechanism together with the cam protrusion 324 of the male connector 3, and the rotational operation of the lever portion 52 reduces the relative distance of the female connector 5 to the male connector 3 in the front-rear direction, thereby reducing the relative distance between the lever portion 52 and the male terminal 2 in the front-rear direction. The connection state in which the female terminal 4 is electrically connected is maintained. The lever portion 52 in the present embodiment is formed in a U shape, and rotary holes 52a are formed at both ends thereof. Further, the lever portion 52 has cam grooves 52b formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of both ends thereof, and the inserted cam protrusion 324 slides the cam groove 52b with the rotation operation of the lever portion 52. , The female connector 5 is engaged with the male connector 3.

The rotation shaft 53 rotates the lever portion 52 with respect to the base portion 51 in the vertical direction. A pair of rotating shafts 53 are formed in the vertical direction with respect to the base portion 341 corresponding to each rotating hole 52a. One of the pair of rotating shafts 53 is formed so as to project upward from the outer peripheral side surface in the upward direction on the outer peripheral surface of the base 51, and the other is formed downward from the outer peripheral side surface in the downward direction on the outer peripheral surface. It is formed so as to protrude.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first sealing member 6 seals between the male connector 3 and the female connector 5. The first seal member 6 in the present embodiment is, for example, an elastic member, is formed in a ring shape having an opening 6a when viewed from the front-rear direction, and is inserted into the connector accommodating space 51a. In the inserted state, the protruding portion of the base 51 is inserted into the opening 6a. Therefore, when the female connector 5 is engaged with the male connector 3, the first seal member 6 is arranged between the base 51, the outer housing, and 32, and is located between the female connector 5 and the outer housing 32. By sealing the above, it is possible to restrict the ingress of liquid from between the connector accommodating space 51a and the housing accommodating space 32a.

Next, a fitting method of the waterproof connector structure 1 will be described. First, the worker inserts the second seal member 33 into the seal groove portion 32b of the outer housing 32 of the male connector 3 in advance. Further, each male terminal 2 configured as a part of the wire harness WH1 is inserted into each male terminal accommodating chamber 34a of the inner housing 31, and the first locking claw 343 is locked to the first locking receiver 352. As a result, the terminal cover portion 35 is assembled to the inner housing main body 34. That is, the male connector 3 is in a state of forming a part of the wire harness WH1 except for the outer housing and 32 in advance. On the other hand, the worker assembles the lever portion 52 to the base portion 51 of the female connector 5 in advance, and inserts the first seal member 6 into the connector accommodating space portion 51a of the base portion 51. Further, each female terminal 4 configured as a part of the wire harness WH2 is inserted into each female terminal accommodating chamber 51b of the base portion 51. That is, the female connector 5 is in a state of forming a part of the wire harness WH2 in advance.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the worker arranges the outer housing 32 on the outer side of the partition wall 100 so that the through hole 100a and the housing accommodating space 32a face each other in the front-rear direction. Next, the worker moves the outer housing 32 toward the inside direction (arrow A in the figure) with respect to the partition wall 100, and the second seal member 33 forms the outer surface 100c of the partition wall 100 and the through hole 100a. The insertion hole 32c is opposed to the fixing hole 100b in the front-rear direction in a state of being in contact with the wall surface. Next, the worker inserts the fixing member into the insertion hole 32c and screwes it into the fixing hole 100b to fix the outer housing 32 to the partition wall 100 as shown in FIG. As a result, on the outer side of the partition wall 100, the outer housing 32 is fixed to the partition wall 100 with the second seal member 33 interposed therebetween. Therefore, the housing accommodating space 32a communicates with the through hole 100a in a state of being sealed by the second seal member 33.

Next, the worker arranges the inner housing 31 inside the partition wall 100 so as to face the through hole 100a in the front-rear direction. Next, the worker moves the inner housing 31 toward the inside direction (arrow B in the figure) with respect to the partition wall 100, passes through the through hole 100a, and inserts the inner housing 31 into the housing accommodating space 32a. At this time, the second locking claw 344 is locked to the second locking receiver 323, and the inner housing 31 is locked to the outer housing 32. As a result, the inner housing 31 is housed inside the outer housing 32 from the inside side of the partition wall 100 in a state where the male terminal 2 is housed in the male terminal storage chamber 34a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the worker arranges the female connector 5 on the outer side of the partition wall 100 so as to face the outer housing 32 in the front-rear direction. Next, the worker moves the female connector 5 toward the inner direction (arrow C in the figure) with respect to the outer housing 32, and inserts the outer housing 32 into the connector accommodating space 51a. Next, the worker rotates the lever portion 52 with respect to the base portion 51 around the rotation shaft 53 in the engagement direction (arrow D in the figure) which is the direction in which the female connector 5 engages with the outer housing 32. Let me. As a result, the first seal member 6 is brought into contact with the base 51 and the outer housing 32 in the connector accommodating space 51a, and the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 4 are electrically connected to maintain the connected state. .. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector of the waterproof connector structure 1 is fitted. At this time, the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 4 are located in the housing accommodating space 32a and in the connector accommodating space 51a, but the space between the partition wall 100 and the outer housing 32 is formed by the second seal member 33. Since it is sealed and the space between the outer housing 32 and the female connector 5 is sealed by the first sealing member 6, the infiltration of liquid from the outside is regulated by the first sealing member 6 and the second sealing member 33, and the waterproof connector structure. In 1, it becomes a waterproof state.

As described above, according to the waterproof connector structure 1 and the connector fitting method of the waterproof connector structure in the present embodiment, it is a part of the male connector 3 on the outer side of the partition wall 100 and before the male terminal 2 is accommodated. The outer housing 32 of the above can be fixed to the partition wall 100. Therefore, the outer housing 32 can be fixed to the partition wall 100 together with the second seal member 33 before being configured as a part of the wire harness WH1. Therefore, the time during which the second seal member 33 is exposed to the outside is shorter than the time until the outer housing 32 is fixed to the partition wall 100 and the male connector 3 is configured as a part of the wire harness WH1. Become. Therefore, the possibility of foreign matter adhering to the second seal member 33 can be reduced, and the influence on the waterproof performance can be reduced. Further, since the time during which the second seal member 33 is exposed to the outside can be shortened, it is managed so that foreign matter does not adhere to the second seal member 33 when assembling the wire harness WH1 including the male connector 3. Since the time can be shortened, the workability of assembling the wire harness WH1 can be improved.

Further, according to the waterproof connector structure 1 and the connector fitting method of the waterproof connector structure in the present embodiment, the male connector 3 is on the outer side of the partition wall 100 without passing the wire harness WH1 through the through hole 100a of the partition wall 100. Can be fixed to the partition wall 100. Therefore, the assembling workability of the wire harness WH1 can be improved. Further, since the wire harness WH1 is not passed through the through hole 100a, the electric wires and electronic parts 200 constituting the wire harness WH1 do not come into contact with the partition wall 100, and the wire harness WH1 is connected to the internal electronic device 300. Damage to the wire harness WH1 can be suppressed in the handling of the wire harness.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the male connector 3 and the female connector 5 are fitted with each other, the terminal cover portion 35 is assembled to the inner housing main body 34 in advance so that the tip portion of each male terminal 2 can be formed. Since it is not exposed from the terminal cover portion 35, damage to the male terminal 2 when the connector is fitted can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness WH1 in the above embodiment may have an electronic component 200 larger than the through hole 100a. In this case, the wire harness WH1 cannot be pulled in from the outer side to the inner side of the partition wall 100. Therefore, even in the wire harness WH1 having the electronic component 200 larger than the through hole 100a, the male connector 3 can be arranged on the outer side of the partition wall 100. As a result, the wire harness WH1 and the wire harness WH2 having the electronic component 200 larger than the through hole 100a are connected to the male connector 3 and the female connector 5 when the partition is divided into the outside and the inside via the partition wall 100. It can be electrically connected by fitting.

Further, in the above embodiment, the terminal cover portion 35 is used as a separate member from the inner housing main body portion 34, but the present invention is not limited to this. The terminal cover portion 35 may be integrated with the inner housing main body portion 34.

In the above embodiment, the internal electronic device 300 is a battery and the other party electronic device 400 is an inverter, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the partition wall is a door, it is an ECU (electronic control unit) that controls the motor and sensor in which the internal electronic device 300 is arranged inside the door and the other electronic device 400 is arranged inside the body. May be good.

1 Waterproof connector structure 2 Male terminal (first terminal)
3 Male connector (first connector)
31 Inner housing 32 Outer housing 33 Second seal member 34 Inner housing main body 34a Male terminal accommodation chamber (first terminal accommodation chamber)
35 Terminal cover 4 Female terminal (second terminal)
5 Female connector (second connector)
51b Female terminal accommodation chamber (second terminal accommodation chamber)
6 First seal member 100 Partition wall 100a Through hole 200 Electronic component 300 Internal electronic device 400 Mating side electronic device WH1, 2 Wire harness

Claims (1)

The first terminal, which is electrically connected to the internal electronic devices located inside the partition wall,
A first connector having a first terminal accommodating chamber in which the first terminal is accommodated,
A second terminal that is electrically connected to the other electronic device via the outside of the partition wall,
The first terminal and the second terminal have a second terminal accommodating chamber in which the second terminal is accommodated, and by engaging with the first connector, the first terminal and the second terminal are formed through a through hole formed in the partition wall. The second connector that electrically connects to and
A first seal member that seals between the first connector and the second connector,
It is a connector fitting method of a waterproof connector structure including.
The first connector is
The inner housing in which the first terminal accommodating chamber is formed and
An outer housing that engages with the second connector with the inner housing housed inside,
A second sealing member that seals between the outer housing and the partition wall,
Have,
A step of fixing the outer housing to the partition wall by interposing a second seal member on the outer side of the partition wall.
A step of accommodating the inner housing from the inside of the partition wall to the inside of the outer housing while the first terminal is accommodated in the first terminal accommodating chamber.
The step of engaging the second connector with the outer housing with the first seal member interposed therebetween.
A connector fitting method of a waterproof connector structure comprising.

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