JP5096218B2 - Support structure for vehicle connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a support structure for a vehicle connector.

  A fuel tank of a vehicle such as an automobile is generally provided under the floor, and electric devices such as a fuel pump and a fuel fuel gauge are provided as an assembly on a support member of the fuel tank. In order to suppress unburned fuel in the exhaust gas, the internal pressure in the fuel tank is detected. For this reason, for example, a pressure sensor using a semiconductor is provided on a support member to which a fuel pump or the like is attached. In order to send the signal of the pressure sensor to the control device, the support member is provided with a connector connecting portion to which the connector of the harness is connected.

  In order to efficiently assemble the pressure sensor on the fuel tank side, a technique is known in which the pressure sensor is integrally accommodated in a housing of a connector connecting portion having a terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By incorporating the pressure sensor into the housing of the connector connection portion, it is not necessary to assemble the pressure sensor and the connector connection portion on the fuel tank side, and the installation space can be suppressed and the cost can be reduced.

  The connector connection part of the pressure sensor is provided with a part where a terminal to which a connector of a harness for sending a signal of the pressure sensor is connected is opened (part where the connector is connected), and the part where the terminal is opened is a fuel. It is arranged at a position where there is a gap from the support member (upper surface) of the tank. For this reason, even if the fuel tank is provided under the floor and the space between the floor panel and the upper surface of the fuel tank is narrow, the connector can be easily fitted to the connector connecting portion, and the wiring work can be performed. It does not deteriorate the sex.

  However, when the connector is fitted to the connector connecting portion, the connector exists at a position away from the support member (upper surface) of the fuel tank. When an external force is applied to the connector or the fuel tank, the connector is moved to the fuel tank side. In some cases, stress may be applied to the connecting portion of the connector connecting portion (pressure sensor) and the fuel tank (supporting member).

  Such a situation is not limited to a fuel tank pressure sensor, but a vehicle sensor in which a gap exists between a connector and a base member in a narrow place, such as a pressure sensor for a hydraulic system and a pressure sensor for refrigerant pressure of an air conditioner. The same applies to the support of the connector in the vehicle equipment even if it is other than the support of the connector and the sensor.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-79073

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and even if a gap exists between the connector and the base member, no stress is applied to the connection portion between the connector connection portion and the base member. The object is to provide a support structure.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle connector support structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the vehicle connector support structure is configured such that the connector is fitted to a connector connecting portion provided on the vehicle base member side. only set a movement restricting member for restricting a relative movement of the connector connecting portion to the member, the movement restricting member is a spacer member which is detachably attached to the connector, the spacer member, the connector is the When fitted to the connector connecting portion, it is slidably brought into contact with the surface on the base member side.

In the present invention according to claim 1, even if there is a gap between the connector and the base member, the relative movement of the connector with respect to the base member side is restricted by the restriction member. No stress is applied to the connection site.
Then, by mounting the spacer member on the connector, the relative movement of the connector with respect to the base member side is restricted, and when the connector is fitted to the connector connecting member, the connector is brought into sliding contact with the surface on the base member side. Thus, the fitting of the connector can be guided.

A vehicle connector support structure according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle connector support structure according to the first aspect , wherein the spacer member is interposed between the connector and the surface of the base member. And a holding claw portion that is latched to the connector by being elastically deformed.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the spacer member can be mounted while the spacer is held in a predetermined position by elastically deforming the holding claw portion and locking it to the connector.

A vehicle connector support structure according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle connector support structure according to the second aspect , wherein the base member is a fuel tank, and the connector connection portion includes the fuel connector. A pressure sensor terminal for detecting the pressure in the tank is provided, and the connector is provided with a vehicle-side harness for sending a signal of the pressure sensor to a control device.

In the present invention according to claim 3, when the connector of the vehicle-side harness for sending the signal of the pressure sensor to the control device is fitted to the connector fitting member of the pressure sensor provided in the fuel tank, the connector and the fuel Even if there is a gap between the tank and the tank, no stress is applied to the connecting portion between the connector connecting portion and the fuel tank.

A vehicle connector support structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle connector support structure according to the third aspect , wherein the pressure sensor is provided on a support plate member of a fuel pump assembly of the fuel tank. The connector connecting portion has the terminal facing in a direction parallel to the support plate member between the support plate member and the floor panel of the vehicle, and the spacer of the spacer member is connected to the connector by the connector. When being fitted to the portion, the surface of the support plate member is slid.

In the present invention according to claim 4 , by sliding the spacer of the spacer member with respect to the support plate member of the fuel pump assembly and fitting the connector to the connector connecting member, the connector is connected to the terminal even in a narrow space. The connector can be moved at the same height, and the connector can be fitted in a state where no twisting occurs.

  According to the vehicle connector support structure of the present invention, even if a gap exists between the connector and the base member, stress can be prevented from being applied to the connection portion between the connector connection portion and the base member.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a fuel tank to which a vehicle connector support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an external view of a main part in FIG. 1, and FIG. Fig. 4 is an external view of the spacer member, Fig. 5 is an external view of the connector with the spacer member mounted, Fig. 6 is a side view of the connector connection portion, and Fig. 7 is the spacer member mounted. The side surface of the connection part of the connector in a non-existing state is shown. The vehicle connector support structure of the present embodiment is described by taking as an example a case where a vehicle connector for sending a signal from a pressure sensor to a control device is connected.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a fuel pump assembly 2 is provided in a fuel tank 1 that is a base member of a vehicle. In the fuel pump assembly 2, the fuel pump 4 and gauges are fixed to a support plate 3 that is a support plate member, and the fuel pump 4 and gauges are attached to the fuel tank 1 by fixing the support plate 3 to the fuel tank 1. It is done. The fuel tank 1 is accommodated under the floor panel 5 of the vehicle, and a service hole 6 for maintenance is formed in the floor panel 5 corresponding to the support plate 3. A lid member 8 is attached to the service hole 6 of the floor panel 5 via a screw member 7, and the lid member 8 is removable from the upper surface side of the floor panel 5.

  A connector 12 including an electrical harness 11 is connected to the upper surface side of the support plate 3 (below the lid member 8 of the floor panel 5). The support plate 3 is provided with a pressure sensor 15 containing a semiconductor element for detecting the pressure in the fuel tank 1, and the pressure sensor 15 is provided with a nipple that is fixed to the support plate 3 side and serves as a pressure introducing portion. It has been. The pressure sensor 15 is formed with a connector connecting portion 16 facing the terminal. The connector connecting portion 16 is provided with an opening 16 a so that the terminal faces in a direction parallel to the support plate 3, and the opening 16 a is located with a gap with respect to the support plate 3.

  A connector 22 provided with a harness 21 for sending a signal from the pressure sensor 15 to a control device (not shown) is fitted in the opening 16a of the connector connecting portion 16. When the connector 22 is fitted into the opening 16a (see FIG. 6) of the connector connection portion 16, the information of the pressure sensor 15 is not shown via the harness 21 for sending the signal of the pressure sensor 15 to the control device. Sent to the means. Since the opening 16a of the connector connecting portion 16 is located with a gap with respect to the support plate 3, the support plate 3 does not get in the way when the connector 22 is fitted.

  A spacer member 23 as a movement restricting member is detachably attached to the connector 22, and the spacer member 23 is interposed between the connector 22 and the support plate 3 with a slight gap. By interposing the spacer member 23, the movement of the connector 22 with respect to the support plate 3 is restricted, and the relative movement of the connector connecting portion 16 with respect to the support plate 3 is restricted to prevent the connector 22 from coming off.

  Further, when the connector 22 is fitted into the connector connecting portion 16, the spacer member 23 slides on the upper surface of the support plate 3 and the connector 22 is guided in a horizontal state. For this reason, even if it is a narrow space between the cover member 8 and the support plate 3, the connector 22 can be moved at the same height with respect to the terminal of the connector connecting portion 16, and the connector 22 can be moved in a state where no twisting occurs. Can be fitted.

  The spacer member 23 is demonstrated based on FIG. 4, FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the spacer member 23 includes a rectangular parallelepiped spacer 25 interposed between the connector 22 and the surface of the support plate 3, and a claw member 26 as a pair of holding claws on the side of the spacer 25. Is erected. A claw portion 27 is formed at the tip of the claw member 26, and when the pair of claw members 26 are fitted to the connector 22, the pair of claw members 26 are elastically deformed and the claw portions 27 are locked to the connector 22 (see FIG. 5 state).

  Since the spacer member 23 is separated from the connector 22, the spacer member 23 can be attached to and detached from the connector 22 very easily, and the shape of the spacer member 23 is also the shape of the existing connector 22. Can be created easily.

  For this reason, the spacer member 23 can be mounted while the spacer 25 is held in a predetermined position by elastically deforming the claw member 26 and locking the claw portion 27 to the connector 22.

  The operation of the connector support structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the connector 22 to which the spacer member 23 is attached is fitted into the opening 16 a of the connector connecting portion 16. Even if a gap is provided between the support plate 3 and the opening 16 a, the spacer 25 of the spacer member 23 slides on the upper surface of the support plate 3 so that the connector 22 is fitted to the connector connecting portion 16. For this reason, even if it is the narrow space between the cover member 8 and the support plate 3, the connector 22 is moved with the same height with respect to the terminal of the connector connection part 16, and the connector 22 is fitted in a state where no twisting occurs. Can be made.

  In a state where the connector 22 is fitted in the opening 16 a of the connector connecting portion 16, the spacer 25 of the spacer member 23 is interposed between the connector 22 and the support plate 3 with a slight gap. By interposing the spacer 25, the movement of the connector 22 relative to the support plate 3 is restricted, and the movement of the connector connecting portion 16 relative to the support plate 3 is restricted.

  That is, even if the connector 22 is fitted in the opening 16a located with a gap with respect to the support plate 3, there is no large gap between the connector 22 and the support plate 3 due to the spacer 25. Even if an external force is applied to the connector 22 or the support plate 3, the connector connecting portion 16 does not move relative to the support plate 3. Further, since the spacer 25 is interposed between the connector 22 and the support plate 3 with a slight gap, the fitting of the connector 22 to the connector connecting portion 16 is not affected by the vibration of the vehicle.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the spacer member 23 is not attached to the connector 22, a gap is generated between the upper surface of the support plate 3 and the connector 22. If a gap is formed on the lower side of the connector 22, when an external force is applied to the fuel tank 1 or the connector 22, the connector 22 moves relatively to the support plate 3 side (in the direction of arrow A in the figure), and the connector is connected. A force is applied to the portion 16 in a direction away from the support plate 3 (in the direction of arrow B in the figure).

  As shown in FIG. 6, by attaching the spacer member 23 to the connector 22, the connector connecting portion 16 does not move relative to the support plate 3 even when an external force is applied to the connector 22 or the support plate 3. The connecting portion 16 is not detached from the fuel tank 1, that is, the pressure sensor 15 is not detached from the fuel tank 1 and the insertion portion of the nipple 28 is not exposed. Thus, even in the event of a vehicle collision, the fuel in the fuel tank 1 does not flow out from the insertion portion of the nipple 28.

  In the connector support structure described above, even if there is a gap between the connector 22 and the support plate 3, it is possible to eliminate stress from being applied to the connection portion between the connector connection portion 16 and the support plate 3.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the spacer member 23 is attached to the connector 22 has been described. However, a member for supporting the connector 22 is provided on the lid member 8 to serve as a regulating member, or on the support plate 3 side. By providing the spacer member as the restricting member, the relative movement of the connector connecting portion 16 with respect to the support plate 3 can be restricted.

  Further, in the support structure of the above-described embodiment example, the support of the connector 22 with respect to the connector connecting portion 16 of the pressure sensor 15 has been described as an example, but the pressure sensor of the hydraulic system, the pressure sensor of the refrigerant pressure of the air conditioner, etc. The present invention can be applied as a support structure for supporting a connector of a vehicle sensor in which a gap exists between the connector and the base member in a narrow place. Furthermore, even if it is other than a sensor, it is also applicable to the support structure of the support of the connector in the apparatus for vehicles.

  The present invention can be used in the industrial field of vehicle connector support structures.

1 is an external view of a fuel tank to which a vehicle connector support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a principal part external view in FIG. It is the III-III arrow directional view in FIG. It is an external view of a spacer member. It is an external view of the connector in a state where a spacer member is mounted. It is a side view of the connection part of a connector. It is a side view of the connection part of the connector in the state where the spacer member is not mounted.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel tank 2 Fuel pump assembly 3 Support plate 4 Fuel pump 5 Floor panel 6 Service hole 7 Screw member 8 Lid member 11, 21 Harness 12, 22 Connector 15 Pressure sensor 16 Connector connection part 23 Spacer member 25 Spacer 26 Claw member 27 Claw Part 28 Nipple

Claims (4)

In a vehicle connector support structure for fitting a connector to a connector connecting portion provided on the vehicle base member side,
Setting a movement restricting member for restricting a relative movement of the connector connecting portion to said base member,
The movement restricting member is a spacer member that is detachably attached to the connector,
The support structure for a vehicle connector, wherein the spacer member is in sliding contact with the surface on the base member side when the connector is fitted into the connector connecting portion . The vehicle connector support structure according to claim 1,
The said spacer member is comprised by the spacer interposed between the said connector and the surface of the said base member, and the holding claw part latched to the said connector by elastically deforming , The connector for vehicles characterized by the above-mentioned Support structure. The vehicle connector support structure according to claim 2,
The base member is a fuel tank;
The connector connecting portion is provided with a pressure sensor terminal for detecting the pressure in the fuel tank,
The vehicle connector support structure , wherein the connector is provided with a vehicle-side harness for sending a signal from the pressure sensor to a control device . The vehicle connector support structure according to claim 3,
The pressure sensor is provided on a support plate member of a fuel pump assembly of the fuel tank,
The connector connection portion has the terminal facing in a direction parallel to the support plate member between the support plate member and the floor panel of the vehicle,
The support structure for a vehicle connector, wherein the spacer of the spacer member slides on a surface of the support plate member when the connector is fitted into the connector connecting portion .

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