JPH0412479A - Connector coupling detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect complete coupling by advancing a lock detecting arm with a short circuit/automatic lock confirming elastic piece, and bringing the elastic piece into contact with a detecting circuit terminal when connector housings are completely coupled. CONSTITUTION:A fixed contact section G2 is invariably kept in contact with one detecting circuit terminal F via an opening 12b, however a lock detecting arm 8' is retreated in the uncoupled state, an elastic piece G5 is displaced backward, and a moving contact section G4 is in the noncontact state with the other detecting circuit terminal F. When a housing A is completely coupled with the mating housing, the lock detecting arm 8' is advanced by the elastic piece G5, and the moving contact section G4 is brought into contact with the other detecting circuit terminal F to close a detecting circuit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a pair of connectors used for connection of automotive wiring harnesses, etc., which have a handle for detecting whether or not they have been properly connected. The present invention relates to a detection device.

[Conventional technology]

In FIG. 16, A' is a male connector, and a flexible locking piece 2 is installed in the terminal accommodating chamber of the male connector housing A.
B' is a female connector, and a flexible locking piece 4 holds the male terminal in the terminal accommodating chamber 3 of the female connector housing B.

A locking arm 5 is provided on the male connector housing A by a flexible support portion 5a, and a locking portion 5c formed at the tip of the elongated hole 5b on the front side engages with a locking protrusion 6 provided on the surface of the female connector housing B. match. A lock release operation section 5d is provided at the rear end of the lock arm 5.

A lock confirmation slider E is provided on the male connector housing A so as to be movable in the front and back direction, and a cantilevered flexible lock detection arm 8 protrudes forward from its base 7. Abutment part 8
a and a support portion 8b, and has a long hole 5b of the lock arm 5.
The abutting portion 8a abuts the rear surface of the locking portion 5c, and the support portion 8b abuts the upper surface of the locking portion 5c.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16(a), before the female and male connector housings A and B are fitted, the lock confirmation slider E is prevented from moving forward by the locking portion 5c of the locking arm 5. ing.

When the female and male connector housings A and B are fitted, the locking portion 5c of the locking arm 5 engages with the tapered guide surface 6 of the locking protrusion 6.
16(c), the lock arm 5 descends when the locking portion 5c passes over the locking protrusion 6,
Since the abutting portion 8a is located on the locking projection 6, the lock detection arm 8 is released from the locking relationship with the lock arm 5 and takes the raised position by itself (FIG. 16d). In this state, it becomes possible to move the lock confirmation slider E forward, thereby confirming that the female and male connectors A' and B' are completely fitted.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, since the fitted state is determined by looking at the position of the lock confirmation slider provided on the male connector housing, it is insufficient in detecting incomplete fitting.

The present invention has been made with attention to the above points, and is designed to electrically detect complete fitting of the connector in a connector having such a lock confirmation slider.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides one connector housing having a flexible locking arm, another connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm, and a connector housing provided in the one connector housing to It consists of a lock detection arm that can move forward when the connector housings are fully mated, and one of the connector housings is equipped with a detection circuit terminal and an elastic piece for short-circuit and automatic rotation confirmation. The lock detection arm is automatically moved forward by the short-circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece, and the short-circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece is configured to come into contact with the detection circuit terminal.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1, a support member E' is separately provided on the male connector housing A', and a flexible lock detection arm 8' is attached to the support member E'.
' is supported so as to be slidable in the fitting direction. The lock detection arm 8' and the locking arm 5 have the same structure as the conventional example.

The male connector housing A' is provided with a sleeve part 9 surrounding the mating female connector housing in its front half, and an integral rail 10 extends rearward from the rear part of the sleeve part 9, and extends from both sides of the base 70 of the support member E'. A groove 11 formed in the pair of rails 10 is engaged with the rail 10, and each of the pair of rails 10 is formed with a terminal accommodating chamber 12 that opens rearward (second
(see figure).

A small detection circuit terminal F connected to an electric wire W is inserted into the terminal housing chamber 12 in advance, and the locking piece F1 is inserted into the upper opening 12.
The terminal F is locked by engaging with the terminal F, and the terminal F is exposed at the inner opening 12b.

A guide slot 13 is formed in the base 7 of the support member E' in the front-rear direction, that is, in the fitting direction of the male connector housing A', and the guide slot 13 allows the opening/link detection arm 8' to move in the front-back direction. It is movably provided (see Figure 3).

As described in relation to the prior art, the lock detection arm 8' has an abutment part 8a and a support part 8b at the tip, and a posture holding plate 8C and a sliding guide rod 8d at the other end to maintain the posture. While the plate 8C is engaged with the groove 7a on the front surface side of the base 7, the sliding guide rod 8d is inserted into the guide slot 13, and the flexible locking piece 8e provided at the tip thereof is locked with the back surface 7b and removed. Apply a stopper (see Figures 4 and 5).

Then, on the back surface 7b, an elastic piece G for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation is attached via the mounting rod part 14. The elastic piece G for short-circuiting and automatic lock confirmation has a locking piece G that forms a protruding fixed contact part G2 by bending in one example of the mounting winding part Gl, and has a movable contact part G4 at the tip on the other side.
In the installed state in which the mounting winding part G is engaged with the mounting rod part 14, the locking piece G3 is locked to the protrusion 15, and the elastic piece G5 is locked to the lock detection arm 8. Therefore, the lock detection arm 8' is always urged forward by the elastic piece G.

The support member E' is attached to the male connector housing A' while the groove 11 is engaged with the rail 10, and when the engaging portion 16 is engaged with the locking protrusion 17 and fixed, the lock detection arm 8
' is moved rearward by the locking portion 5C to accumulate force.

In the above configuration, the fixed contact portion G2 is always in contact with one of the detection circuit terminals F through the opening 12b, but in the unfitted state, the lock detection arm 8' is retracted, so the elastic piece G, is displaced backward and the movable contact portion G4
is in a non-contact state with the other detection circuit terminal F (Fig. 7a), and when the male connector housing A is completely fitted with the mating connector housing, the lock detection arm 8' is moved forward by the elastic piece G5. The contact portion G4 contacts the other detection circuit terminal F and closes the detection circuit (FIG. 7b).

In the above example, the support member was shown as being separate from the connector housing, but they may be integrated.

8 to 15 show other embodiments of the present invention, and FIG.
As shown in the figure, it consists of a male connector housing A", a lock confirmation slider E" having a lock detection arm 8, an elastic piece G' for short-circuiting and automatic lock confirmation, and a biasing operation tool H.

In the male connector housing A'', a pair of support frames 10' extend rearward from the rear part of the sleeve part 9 to form an accommodation space R therebetween, and each support frame 10' has a groove 10 directed toward the accommodation space R.
A terminal housing chamber 12 that is formed with a' and opened rearward.
is formed.

A small detection circuit terminal F, which is connected to the electric wire W in advance, is inserted and locked into the terminal housing chamber 12 in the same way as in the embodiment described above.
The detection circuit terminal F faces the accommodation space R from the inner opening 12b.

Locking protrusions 100' and 10d' for preventing the biasing operating tool H from coming off backward and floating up are provided on the wall surface 10b' of each support frame 10' on the side of the accommodation space R.

The grooves 1 are provided on both sides of the base 7 of the lock confirmation slider E".
A regulating wall is formed with a sliding part 18 that engages with 0a', is located in a recess 19 at the rear of the back surface, has a mounting rod part 20 erected thereon, and expands in a forward heave shape on both sides of the recess 19. 21, 21 are provided in a protruding manner, and furthermore, a pair of support frames 22, 22 having support grooves 22a on opposite sides are provided in an upright manner.

The elastic piece G' for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation is attached to the mounting winding part C.
Elastic displacement part G,, ct' expanded in a 7-shape with respect to 8'
It has a movable contact part G,' and an upright driven part 04' at the free end of each elastic displacement part G2'.

The biasing operation tool H has a pair of engaging parts 23 and 24 for the support frame 22 of the lock confirmation slider E'', and has forked restraint parts 25 and 25 in front of the lock confirmation slider E''. 25.7-shaped drive surface 2 on the inner surface extending over 25
It has 6. An engagement recess 27 is formed in the rear side surface of the restraining portion 25 .

In the above structure, to assemble these, first, the short-circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece G' is assembled to the lock confirmation slider E' (Figures 9 and 11 (b)).
In this state, the mounting winding part Gl' engages with the mounting rod part 20 within the recess 19, and the elastic displacement part G2
'iGt' is in pressure contact with the tapered regulating wall 21.21.

Next, with the engaging portions 23 and 24 engaged with the support frame 22 and its groove 22a, the biasing operation tool H is combined with the lock confirmation slider E'. The elastic displacement part 62' of the elastic piece G' is located at the lower part of the restraint part 25 of the biasing operation tool C, and the movable contact part G,' at its free end is located at the free end part 25 of the restraint part 25.
The driven portion G 4 ′ protrudes outward from a and stands up inside the free end portion 25 (see FIGS. 10 and 11).
C)).

As described above, the lock confirmation slider E' incorporating the short-circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece G' and the biasing operation tool H is connected to the male connector housing A' from its rear, and a pair of sliding The moving part 18 is inserted into the groove 1 of the pair of support frames 10'.
0a' and push it into the storage space (see Fig. 15).
c)) As the lock detection arm 8 engages with the lock arm 5 as it moves forward, it is no longer possible to move the lock confirmation slider E'' forward, and at this stage it is necessary to start pushing in only the biasing operating tool H. (C)), when the pushing is completed, the biasing operation tool H is fixed by the locking protrusion 10c'5lOd' (Figs. 12 and 13), and in this state, the elastic displacement part is Gt' is forcibly displaced inward and enters a preset state in which elasticity is accumulated (FIG. 15(d)).

In the preset state, when the male connector housing A'' is fitted with the mating female connector housing, the lock detection arm 8 is released from the restraint by the lock arm 5 as in the known example, and is locked by the movement of the elastic displacement portion 62' in the expanding direction. The confirmation slider E'' moves forward, and each movable contact part G,' of the short-circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece G' comes into contact with the pair of detection circuit terminals F, thereby activating the detection circuit (Fig. 14). , 1st
Figure 5(e)).

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention provides one connector housing having a flexible locking arm, the other connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm, and a connector housing provided in the one connector housing so that the two connector housings can be completely fitted together. It consists of a lock detection arm that can move forward when the
One of the connector housings is provided with a detection circuit terminal and an elastic piece for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation, and when both connector housings are completely fitted, the lock detection arm automatically moves forward by the elastic piece for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation. In addition, since the short-circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece is configured to come into contact with the detection circuit terminal, the detection circuit can be automatically activated when the pair of connector housings are completely fitted.

Further, the present invention provides a lock confirmation slider with an elastic piece for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation and a biasing operation tool, and by pushing and moving the bias operation tool, the elastic piece for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation can be biased. This makes it possible to easily set the preset state when assembled to the connector housing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway sectional view of the above connector housing, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lock detection arm and its support member. Figure 4 (al) (b) shows the lock detection arm, (a
) is a side view, (b) is a front view, Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the support part of the lock detection arm, Figures 6 (a) and (b) are elastic pieces for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation, and (a ) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, Fig. 7fa
) (b) is a plan view of the same connector housing shown above showing its relationship with the lock detection arm; FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lock confirmation slider; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the lock confirmation slider incorporating the biasing operation tool, and Figures 11 (a), (b), and (C) are explanations showing the process of incorporating the short circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece into the lock confirmation slider. Fig. 12 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the same pre-sent state as above, Fig. 13 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the engagement state of the biasing operation tool and connector housing as above, and Fig. 14 is a complete view of the whole. A partially cutaway perspective view showing the mated state; Figures 15(a), (b), (d), and (e) are explanatory diagrams showing the process of incorporating the lock confirmation slider into the connector housing; Figure 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the process of assembling the lock confirmation slider into the connector housing; Cross-sectional views of the conventional example (a) (b) (C)
(d) (e) (f) shows the fitting process of a pair of connector housings. A', A"... Connector housing, F... Detection circuit terminal, G, G'... Elastic piece for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation, 8'... Lock detection arm, E"... Lock confirmation slider, H... biasing operation tool. Patent applicant Yazaki Sogyo Co., Ltd. Figure 3 (b) Figure 4 ■ shi 4 Figure Figure 1 o Figure 13

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) One connector housing having a flexible locking arm, the other connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm, and movably provided on the one connector housing when the two connector housings are completely fitted together. One of the connector housings is equipped with a detection circuit terminal and an elastic piece for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation when both connector housings are fully mated. A connector coupling detection device characterized in that the lock detection arm automatically moves forward and the short circuit/automatic lock confirmation elastic piece comes into contact with the detection circuit terminal. (2) One connector housing having a flexible locking arm, the other connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm, and a support member attached to the one connector housing, provided with a It consists of a lock detection arm that can move forward when mated, and one of the connector housings is equipped with a detection circuit terminal and an elastic piece for short circuit and automatic lock confirmation, and this short circuit and automatic lock confirmation is performed when both connector housings are fully mated. A connector coupling detection device characterized in that the lock detection arm is automatically moved forward by the elastic piece, and the short-circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece is brought into contact with the detection circuit terminal. (3) One connector housing having a flexible locking arm, the other connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm, and movably provided on the one connector housing when the two connector housings are completely fitted together. It consists of a lock confirmation slider having a lock detection arm that can move forward automatically when the lock confirmation slider is equipped with a detection circuit terminal on one of the connector housings, and an elastic piece attached to the lock confirmation slider for short-circuiting and automatic lock confirmation. A lock confirmation slider is installed in one of the connector housings, and by pushing and moving the biasing operation tool, the short-circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece is biased, and both connector housings are completely mated. Connector connection detection characterized in that the lock confirmation slider is automatically moved forward by the short circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece when the short circuit and automatic lock confirmation elastic piece is brought into contact with the detection circuit terminal. Device.