JPH0950866A - Waterproof connector with fitting detection function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect fitting interlocked with a lock arm in a waterproof connector. SOLUTION: A lock arm 21 is tiltingly and deformably provided on the upper face of a female connector housing 11 and its tip is engaged with an engagement projection 43 of a male connector 40. A pair of second detection terminals 34, 34 which are provided in the male connector 40 side enter into a fitting detection chamber 16 of the female connector in fitting the connectors. A pair of upper side dividing terminal 26 and a lower side dividing terminal 27 are provided in the fitting detection chamber 16 and contact with each other at contact operation parts 26a, 27a. A pin receiving part 27d is provided in the adjacent to the contact operation part 27a of the lower dividing terminal 27 and the bottom part of a presser pin 30 interlocked with the lock arm 21 abuts thereon. When the connectors are completely fitted with each other, the presser pin 30 is raised and the interval between the second detection terminals 34 is short-circuited by the first detection terminal 25 (the upper and lower dividing terminals 26, 27), in an incomplete fitted state, the presser pin 30 is pressed down so as to separate the contact point operation parts 26a, 27a and not to be short-circuited.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waterproof connector having a fitting detection function for detecting that a connector is in a proper fitting state.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When connecting electrical circuits by means of connectors, it is sometimes desirable to detect when both male and female connectors are fully mated in order to ensure the reliability of the connection. As an example of a connector having such a fitting detection function, there is a structure described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-142122, for example. This is a male and female connector,
The lock arm provided on one of the connector housings and the engagement protrusion provided on the other connector housing are used for locking, and a detection terminal that responds to the locking operation of the lock arm is provided on the one connector housing. The other connector housing is provided with a short-circuit terminal with which the detection terminal contacts when the lock arm is in the locked state.

[0003]

By the way, a waterproof connector designed to be used in an environment where water splashes or the like is provided. This waterproof connector has a structure in which male and female terminal fittings are arranged in a sealed waterproof space, and the waterproof space is formed by fitting both male and female connector housings through a waterproof seal.

However, in this type of waterproof connector,
It has been extremely difficult to realize the fitting detection function linked with the movement of the lock arm as in the above-described conventional structure.
This is because, in the connector with the fitting detection function described above, since the lock mechanism is originally provided on the outer peripheral portion of the connector, the detection terminal and the short-circuit terminal are also arranged in the vicinity thereof, and these cannot be arranged in the waterproof space.

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, and to realize a fitting detection function which operates in response to the lock arm even in the waterproof connector. .

[0006]

[Means for solving the problem and its action / effect]

<Invention of Claim 1> The waterproof connector according to the invention of Claim 1 forms a waterproof space in which a pair of connectors each having male and female terminal fittings are fitted to each other through a waterproof seal to be sealed to the outside. Then, male and female terminal fittings are fitted and connected in the waterproof space, and both connectors are locked by the engagement of the elastically deformable lock arm formed on one side of the connector and the engaging portion formed on the other side. In this configuration, the first detection terminal provided on the one connector provided with the lock arm and the first detection terminal provided on the other connector provided with the engaging portion when the both connectors are fitted to each other.
A second detection terminal that comes into contact with the detection terminal in the waterproof space and an arm interlocking member that is provided on one connector and interlocks with the lock arm are provided. It is characterized in that the arm interlocking member interrupts the electrical continuity of the first detection terminal. According to the above configuration, when both connectors are fitted together, the lock arm engages with the engaging portion to lock both connectors. In addition, since the first detection terminal and the second detection terminal come into contact with this, this is detected from the outside. But,
When both connectors remain in the half mating position and have not reached the regular mating position, the arm interlocking member interrupts the electrical continuity of the first sensing terminal, so that the two sensing terminals are in contact with each other. It is detected that the regular fitting position has not been reached in the same manner as when there is no such fitting. In addition, since both the male and female terminal fittings of both connectors as well as the first and second detection terminals are in contact with each other in the waterproof space, they can be used even in an environment where water splashes and they are waterproof connectors. The effect that the fitting detection function can be realized is obtained.

<Invention of Claim 2> In the waterproof connector with a fitting detection function according to the invention of Claim 2, in the invention of Claim 1, the second detection terminal is composed of a pair of two wires, and the first The detection terminal is composed of split terminals that can be brought into and out of contact with each other, the second detection terminal pair can be short-circuited by the first detection terminal when the two connectors are fitted together, and the arm interlocking member is half-locked with respect to the engaging portion. The feature is that the contact portion of the split terminal is disengaged when in the fitting position. In the above configuration, when both connectors reach the vicinity of the regular fitting position, the second detection terminal pair is short-circuited by the first detection terminal, and thereby the fitting detection is performed. When the two connectors are in the half-fitted position, the contact portion of the split terminal of the first detection terminal is disengaged by the arm interlocking member, so that this is the same as when the two detection terminals are not in contact with each other. It is detected that the regular fitting position has not been reached. In this configuration, the two second detection terminals are short-circuited by the first detection terminal to detect the fitting, so that it is only necessary to monitor the electrical connection between the second detection terminals from one connector side. Fitting can be detected. Further, since the first detection terminal is composed of a plurality of divided terminals and the contact portions thereof are disengaged by the arm interlocking member, the configuration for cutting off the electrical continuity of the first detection terminal becomes simple. , The structure of the entire waterproof connector can be simplified.

<Invention of Claim 3> In the waterproof connector with a fitting detection function according to the invention of Claim 3, in the invention of Claim 1 or Claim 2, the arm interlocking member is pressed for unlocking operation of the lock arm. It is characterized in that it is configured by a pressing pin provided so as to be connected to the operation portion. According to this configuration, the movement of the lock arm can be reliably picked up by the pressing pin, the operation is ensured, and the penetration of the arm interlocking member (pressing pin) can be easily sealed.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A female connector 10 is shown on the right side of FIG. 1, and a male connector 40 is shown on the left side. First, the female connector 10 will be described. Here, a connector housing 11 made of synthetic resin integrally includes a terminal accommodating portion 13 and a hood portion 14 that covers the front half of the terminal accommodating portion 13 from substantially the entire circumference. Is configured.
A cavity 15 for accommodating the terminal fitting 12 and a fitting detection chamber 16 are formed in the terminal accommodating portion 13, and as shown in FIG. 2 when viewed from the front, the cavity 15 has two rows of right halves and two rows. A total of 6 places are formed in one row at the left end in two rows vertically, and the fitting detection chamber 16 is formed adjacent to the cavity 15 at the left end.

A state in which the female connector 10 is cut at the portion where the cavity 15 is formed is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the female terminal fitting 12 is prevented from coming off by a lance 15a protruding into the cavity 15, and is secondarily locked by a retainer (not shown).
It is also connected to the electric wire 18. And the hood section 1
As shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a rectangular tube shape having curved corners, and an annular shape in which the mating male connector 40 can enter between the outer periphery of the terminal accommodating portion 13 and the hood portion 14. The fitting space 19 is formed and the waterproof seal 20 is fitted therein.

On the other hand, with respect to the male connector 40, the connector housing 41 has a fitting space 19 for the female connector 10.
It has a hood shape to be inserted into the inside thereof, and a total of six male terminal fittings 42 are projectingly provided therein corresponding to each female terminal fitting 12 of the female connector 10. When the connector housing 41 of the male connector 40 is inserted into the fitting space 19,
The inner peripheral surface of the connector housing 41 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the waterproof seal 20 in the fitting space 19 (see FIG. 7).
As a result, both connector housings 11 and 41 are fitted with each other through the waterproof seal 20 to form a waterproof space 50 that seals the male and female terminal fittings 12 and 42 from the outside.

The lock mechanism is as follows.
Lock arm 2 provided on the upper surface of the connector housing 11 of
1 is used. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening 1 is formed in the hood portion 14 on the upper surface of the connector housing 11.
4a is formed, and a lock arm 21 having a substantially T shape as a whole is provided therein. This lock arm 2
As shown in FIG. 4, 1 is capable of tilting in the direction of the arrow in the drawing with the support leg 22 as a fulcrum, has an engaging hole 23 formed at the tip, and widens the opposite end to the left and right to perform a pressing operation. The part 24 is formed. The engagement hole 23 at the tip of the lock arm 21 is provided in the connector housing 41 of the male connector 40.
An engagement protrusion 43 corresponding to an engagement portion provided on the upper surface is fitted to lock the both connector housings 11 and 41 in a retaining state.

The inside of the fitting detection chamber 16 of the female connector 10 is shown in FIG. 4, and has a first detection terminal 25 inside. The first detection terminal 25 is composed of the two split terminals (the upper split terminal 26 and the lower split terminal 27) shown in FIG. The upper split terminal 26 is provided with a box-shaped fixing frame portion 26a at substantially the center thereof, and the tip side (see FIG. 4).
An upper contact piece 26b is provided on the middle left side, and a contact actuating portion 26c extending toward the opposite side is provided. The upper split terminal 26 is fixed in the fitting detection chamber 16 by press-fitting the fixing frame portion 26a into the space above the intermediate partition wall 16a in the fitting detection chamber 16, and the upper contact piece 26b is fitted in the fitting detection chamber 16. The contact actuating portion 26c faces the rear end portion of the intermediate partition wall 16a while facing the vicinity of the entrance of the valve 16.

On the other hand, the lower split terminal 27 is also provided with a box-shaped fixed frame portion 27a at substantially the center thereof, and a lower contact piece 27b is extended to the tip side (left side in FIG. 4) of the box-shaped fixed frame portion 27a and directed toward the opposite side. Extending contact extension 27c and this contact extension 27c
Has a pin receiving portion 27d extending laterally from. The lower split terminal 27 is provided in the fitting detection chamber 16 with an intermediate partition wall 16a.
The fixing frame portion 27a is press-fitted into the lower space of the upper part of the fitting detection chamber 16 so that the lower contact piece 27b faces the entrance of the fitting detection chamber 16 and the upper contact piece 27a.
It is arranged to form a pair with the contact actuating portion 27.
c is exposed to the rear end of the intermediate partition wall 16a. With the arrangement of the upper and lower split terminals 26, 27, the upper and lower contact pieces 2
6b and 27b vertically face each other near the entrance of the fitting detection chamber 16, and the upper and lower contact actuating portions 26c and 27c are in contact with each other at the rear end of the intermediate partition wall 16a. In addition,
In FIG. 5, since the split terminals 26 and 27 are vertically separated from each other, the contact actuating portions 26c and 27c are separated from each other.
When arranged in the fitting detection chamber 16, the upper and lower contact actuating portions 26c and 27c are set in such a shape that they contact each other in their natural state.

A through hole 28 extending vertically is formed in the upper wall of the rear end portion of the fitting detection chamber 16 and the center of the pressing operation portion 24 located at the rear end portion of the lock arm 21. Also, a pin mounting hole 29 is formed. A push pin 30 corresponding to an arm interlocking member is inserted into the through hole 28 of the connector housing 11, and this push pin 3 is used.
An O-ring 31 attached to the outer periphery of 0 is vertically water-tight while being watertightly sealed. Further, the upper end of the pressing pin 30 is inserted into the pin mounting hole 29 of the lock arm 21, and the lock arm 2 is attached to the lock arm 2 by the horizontal shaft 32.
1, the push pin 30 moves up and down in conjunction with the tilt displacement of the lock arm 21. Further, the lower end of the pressing pin 30 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in, the pin receiving portion 27d of the lower split terminal 27 is in contact with the pin receiving portion 27d from above, and the downward movement of the pressing pin 30 pushes the pin receiving portion 27d downward.

Then, in the male connector 40, two supporting pieces 44 are vertically arranged at a portion corresponding to the fitting detection chamber 16.
The connectors are provided so as to project in a step, and when the connectors 10 and 40 are fitted, they enter the fitting detection chamber 16. On the upper surface of the upper support piece 44 and the lower surface of the lower support piece 44,
When the second detection terminals 34 are fixed to each other and both the support pieces 44, 44 enter the fitting detection chamber 16, the two second detection terminals 34 are respectively attached to the upper and lower split terminals 26, 27. It contacts the contact pieces 26b, 27b.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
When both connectors 10 and 40 are in the disengaged state, the lock arm 21 is in a state of being extended straight horizontally as shown in FIG. 4, and the lower end of the pressing pin 30 floats from the pin receiving portion 27d of the lower split terminal 27. Is in a state. Therefore, the contact actuating portion 27c of the lower split terminal 27 is in contact with the contact actuating portion 26c of the upper split terminal 26 due to its elasticity, and the split terminals 26 and 27 are electrically connected to each other.

When the connectors 10 and 40 are fitted together from this state, first, the tip of the connector housing 41 enters the fitting space 19 of the female connector 10 and the waterproof seal 20.
It is inserted while closely adhering to the outer periphery of. During the fitting process, as shown in FIG. 6, the support piece 44 enters the fitting detection chamber 16, so that the two second detection terminals 3 fixedly attached to the support detection piece 16 are inserted into the fitting detection chamber 16.
4 contacts the contact pieces 26a, 27a of the upper split terminal 26 and the lower split terminal 27, respectively. That is, the upper second detection terminal 34 contacts the upper split terminal 26, and the lower second detection terminal 34 contacts the lower split terminal 27. However, in the process of fitting the connector housing 41, the engaging protrusion 43 abuts on the tip of the lock arm 21, so that the lock arm 21 tilts so that the left side is pushed up. As a result, the right side of the lock arm 21 is the pressing pin 30.
Since it is pushed down together with it, the lower end portion of the pressing pin 30 pushes down the pin receiving portion 27d of the lower split terminal 27, and from the contact operating portion 26c of the upper split terminal 26 to the lower contact operating portion 27.
The contact actuating portion 27c of is disconnected. Therefore, the first detection terminal 25 is in a state in which the electrical continuity of the middle portion is cut off, and the two second detection terminals 34 are respectively connected to the upper split terminal 2.
Even if they are in contact with 6 and the lower split terminal 27, they are not electrically connected.

Thereafter, when the connectors 10 and 40 are further fitted to each other to reach the proper fitting position, the male connector 40 is inserted.
The engaging protrusion 43 of the lock arm 21 encounters the engaging hole 23 of the lock arm 21, and the lock arm 21 returns to the state before tilting due to its elastic force (see FIG. 7). As a result, the pressing pin 30 is also pulled up by the lock arm 21 and separated from the lower split terminal 27, so that the contact actuating portion 27c of the lower split terminal 27 is elastically moved by the upper split terminal 2 itself.
The contact actuating portion 26c of No. 6 is contacted. Therefore, the upper and lower split terminals 26, 27 are electrically integrated and electrically connected, and as a result, the two second detection terminals 34, 34 are also connected to the split terminals 2.
6, 27 (first detection terminal 25) causes a short circuit, which is detected by an external circuit.

If the fitting operation of both connectors 10 and 40 is incomplete and the connectors are stopped in the semi-fitted state, the lock arm 21 tilts as shown in FIG. Since the pressing pin 30 pushes down the lower split terminal 26 to cut off the conduction of the first detection terminal 25, the second detection terminal 3
No short circuit is made between 4 and 34. Therefore, even if there is a situation in which the second detection terminals 34, 34 come into contact with the first detection terminal 25 during the fitting, it can be easily distinguished from the completely fitted state, and the semi-fitted state can be surely obtained. Can be detected.

The two connectors 10 in the locked state,
To unlock 40, the pressing operation portion 25 of the lock arm 21 is pressed. Then, since the lock arm 21 tilts as shown in FIG. 6, the engagement between the engagement protrusion 43 and the lock arm 21 is released, and the two connector housings 1
1, 41 can be separated from each other.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
With the pressing pin 30 that is interlocked with the lock arm 21, the first
Since the electrical continuity of the middle portion of the detection terminal 25 is cut off, when both the connectors 10 and 40 are in the half-fitted state, this can be reliably detected by the displacement of the lock arm 21. it can.

In order to detect the fitting with this type of connector, for example, a structure may be considered in which the contacts are opened / closed based on the fitting positions of both connectors 10 and 40. May be less accurate.
In this respect, according to the present embodiment, since the movement of the lock arm 21 is directly picked up, the accuracy is excellent and the half-fitted state can be reliably detected.

Of course, in this embodiment, the male and female terminal fittings 1
2, 42 as well as the first and second detection terminals 25, 3
Since 4 is also arranged in the waterproof space 50, this connector can be used in a place where water splashes, and it can be used as a waterproof connector while having a fitting detection function.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, since the fitting is detected by short-circuiting the two second detection terminals 34, 34 by the first detection terminal 25, the male connector 40 side is connected to the second detection terminal. The fitting can be detected only by monitoring the electrical continuity between 34 and 34. Further, the first detection terminal 25 is composed of the two divided terminals 26 and 27, and the contact portions thereof are disengaged by the pressing pin 30.
The structure for interrupting the electrical connection of the detection terminal 25 is simplified, and the structure of the entire waterproof connector can be simplified. Further, since the O-ring 31 is provided on the outer circumference of the pressing pin 30, the waterproof property of this portion can be sufficiently enhanced.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition to the following, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the pressing pin 30 is provided so as to penetrate into the connector housing 11 to transmit the movement of the lock arm 21 to the first detection terminal 25. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An elastic sheet-like partition wall may be provided in the connector housing, and the movement of the lock arm may be transmitted from the outside to the internal first detection terminal via the partition wall.

(2) The two split terminals constituting the first detection terminal are not necessarily in contact with each other, but a switch element which is a separate component is formed in the middle of the split terminal and is interlocked with the lock arm. In other words, it is only necessary that the arm interlocking member cuts off electrical conduction on the first detection terminal side when the connector is in the half-fitted state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a male and female connector taken along the line I-I in FIG. 3, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same female connector.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the female connector of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the male and female connectors, also taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a first detection terminal.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector, which is also in the middle of fitting.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the regular fitting position is reached.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Female connector 11, 41 ... Connector housing 12, 42 ... Terminal metal fitting 13 ... Terminal accommodating part 14 ... Hood part 16 ... Fitting detection chamber 20 ... Waterproof seal 21 ... Lock arm 24 ... Push operation part 25 ... First detection terminal 26, 27 ... Split terminals 26a, 27a ... Contact pieces 26c, 27c ... Contact actuating portion 30 ... Pressing pin (arm interlocking member) 34 ... Second detection terminal 40 ... Male connector 43 ... Engaging protrusion (engaging portion) 50 ... Waterproof space

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of connectors, each having a male and female terminal fitting, are fitted to each other through a waterproof seal to form a waterproof space sealed to the outside, and the female and male terminal fittings are sealed in the waterproof space. A structure in which both connectors are fitted and connected, and both connectors are locked by engagement of an elastically deformable lock arm formed on one side of the connector and an engagement portion formed on the other side, wherein the lock arm is provided. First connector on one connector
A detection terminal, a second detection terminal which is provided on the other connector provided with the engaging portion and which comes into contact with the first detection terminal in the waterproof space when both connectors are fitted to each other, An arm interlocking member that is provided and interlocks with the lock arm is provided, and when the lock arm is in a half-fitted state with respect to the engaging portion, the arm interlocking member electrically connects the first detection terminal side. A waterproof connector with a mating detection function, which is designed to shut off. 2. The second detection terminals are provided as a pair, and the first detection terminals are composed of split terminals that can be brought into contact with and separated from each other, and the second detection terminal pair is provided with a regular fitting position of both connectors. 7. The arm interlocking member is configured to disengage a contact portion of the split terminal when the lock arm is in a half-fitting position with respect to the engaging portion. Waterproof connector with mating detection function described in 1. 3. The fitting detection according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the arm interlocking member is a pressing pin provided in connection with a pressing operation portion for unlocking operation of the lock arm. Waterproof connector with functions.