JP6827015B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector having a connector terminal having a round pin portion that fits with the mating connector terminal.

Conventionally, a connector having a connector terminal having a round pin portion that fits with the mating connector terminal is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the type of connector provided with the connector terminal having the round pin portion as described above, in many cases, the round pin portion of the connector terminal is accommodated in the cylindrical terminal accommodating chamber provided in the connector housing. The side of the connector terminal opposite to the round pin portion is exposed to the outside of the connector housing and serves as a device connection portion that is electrically connected to an external device via an electric wire, a bus bar, or the like.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-156399

Here, at a work site where the above-mentioned connector is assembled to some assembly target, the connector is carried to the side of the assembly target and assembled with the connector terminal attached to the connector housing. At this time, since the connector terminal is attached to the connector housing so that the round pin portion is accommodated in the cylindrical terminal accommodating chamber, the connector terminal can rotate around the axis thereof. As a result, the connector terminals rotate freely during the movement and assembly of the connector, and the operator has to set the connector terminals one by one at appropriate positions around the axis and perform the assembly work. Often occurs.

On the other hand, for example, providing a mechanism for restricting the rotation of the connector terminal in the connector housing may lead to a further increase in the cost of the connector housing, which tends to be expensive in the components of the connector.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to pay attention to the above problems and to provide a connector capable of suppressing an increase in cost and restricting rotation of a connector terminal.

In order to solve the above problems, in the connector of the present invention, a cylindrical terminal accommodating chamber and a tubular outer wall portion incorporating the terminal accommodating chamber are integrally formed, and the connector is formed from a predetermined insertion side end portion of the outer wall portion. The connector housing capable of accommodating terminals in the terminal accommodating chamber and the connector housing having the terminal accommodating chamber are formed in a bottomed tubular shape, and the insertion side end portion of the outer wall portion of the connector housing. The bottom wall faces the end face of the connector, and the peripheral wall portion of the outer wall portion opposite to the insertion side end portion is covered with the peripheral wall portion of the insertion side end portion so that the peripheral wall portion of the insertion side end portion is exposed. A rear housing provided with an insertion hole for accommodating the terminal, a round pin portion that fits with the mating connector terminal, and a round pin portion that is provided on the side opposite to the fitting side at a position communicating with the accommodating chamber. It has a device connection portion that is electrically connected to an external device, and an intermediate portion that connects the device connection portion and the round pin portion, and at least a part of the intermediate portion is inside the insertion hole. The round pin portion is provided with a connector terminal that is positioned and accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber so that the device connection portion is exposed, and the intermediate portion is a peripheral edge near the round pin portion and the round pin portion. The connector has a curved surface portion connecting the two, a peripheral edge close to the device connecting portion, and a curved surface portion connecting the device connecting portion, and the insertion hole in the rear housing is formed in a non-circular shape in a plan view. The intermediate portion of the terminal is provided with a rotation restricting portion that has a shape that fits into the non-circular shape of the insertion hole and regulates the rotation of the connector terminal around the axis.

The connector of the present invention has a structure for restricting the rotation of the connector terminal in the rear housing, which has a simple structure and is inexpensively formed as compared with the connector housing which has a complicated structure such as a terminal accommodating chamber and tends to be expensive. A non-circular insertion hole is provided. Then, the rotation of the connector terminal can be restricted by providing a rotation restricting portion having a shape that fits into the non-circular insertion hole in the intermediate portion of the connector terminal. That is, the restriction on the rotation of the connector terminal is realized in the rear housing and the connector terminal, which are cheaper than the connector housing. As described above, according to the connector of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the cost increase and regulate the rotation of the connector terminal without newly modifying the expensive connector housing.

It is a figure which shows the connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which removed the connector terminal from the connector shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows the rear housing shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows the connector terminal shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the rotation regulation part of the connector terminal shown in FIG. 4 is fitted in the non-circular shape in the insertion hole of the rear housing shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that the connector terminal shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is subject to rotation regulation while being allowed to rotate slightly about its axis. It is a figure which shows the 1st modification with respect to the structure for the rotation regulation of a connector terminal in the connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. It is a figure which shows the state which removed the connector terminal from the connector which concerns on the 1st modification shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification with respect to the structure for the rotation regulation of a connector terminal in the connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. It is a figure which shows the 3rd modification with respect to the structure for the rotation regulation of a connector terminal in the connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the connector terminal is removed from the connector shown in FIG.

The connector 1 in the present embodiment is a two-terminal connector, and includes a connector housing 11, a rear housing 12, and a connector terminal 13.

The connector housing 11 is provided with two cylindrical terminal accommodating chambers 111, and is a member capable of accommodating terminals from the insertion side end 112 on the right side in the drawing to the terminal accommodating chamber 111. The rear housing 12 is a member that covers the insertion side end portion 112 of the connector housing 11, and an insertion hole 121 for accommodating terminals is provided at a position corresponding to each terminal accommodating chamber 111.

The connector terminal 13 is a male terminal and has a round pin portion 131, a device connection portion 132, and an intermediate portion 133. The round pin portion 131 is a round bar-shaped portion that fits with a female terminal (not shown) that is a mating connector terminal. The device connection portion 132 is provided on the side of the round pin portion 131 opposite to the fitting side and is electrically connected to an external device (not shown). In the present embodiment, the device connection portion 132 is fixed to the main body portion 132a so that the rectangular plate-shaped main body portion 132a having a through hole substantially in the center and the through hole and the screw hole of the main body portion 132a communicate with each other. It is provided with a nut portion 132b. The device connection portion 132 is electrically connected to the external device by fastening the bus bar extending to the external device with a screw that connects to the nut portion 132b through the through hole of the main body portion 132a. ing. The intermediate portion 133 is a portion that connects the round pin portion 131 and the rectangular plate-shaped device connecting portion 132. The connector terminal 13 is formed by integrally molding the round pin portion 131, the device connection portion 132, and the intermediate portion 133 with metal.

In the connector terminal 13, the round pin portion 131 is the terminal accommodating chamber 111 of the connector housing 11 so that at least a part of the intermediate portion 133 is located inside the insertion hole 121 of the rear housing 12 and the device connection portion 132 is exposed. Is housed in. Note that FIG. 1 shows the connector terminal 13 in a state where it is being inserted so that the intermediate portion 133 can be easily seen.

Here, in the present embodiment, the rear housing 12 and the connector terminal 13 are provided with a configuration for rotation regulation described below so that the connector terminal 13 does not inadvertently rotate about the shaft 13a. ing.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the rear housing shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the connector terminal shown in FIG.

First, the insertion hole 121 in the rear housing 12 is formed in a non-circular shape. In the present embodiment, the insertion hole 121 is a non-circular shape having a circular portion 121a in which a part is missing and a chord portion 121b in which the missing portion is linearly connected in a plan view when the insertion hole 121 is viewed in the axial direction. It is formed in a shape.

Then, two rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b are provided in the intermediate portion 133 of the connector terminal 13. Here, a rubber packing 14 for waterproofing between the connector housing 11 and the rear housing 12 and the connector terminal 13 is attached to the intermediate portion 133 of the connector terminal 13. The intermediate portion 133 is provided with a pair of collar portions formed by opening a gap 133c for holding the packing 14 in the axial direction D11 of the connector terminal 13. Of these pair of collars, the collar on the side of the device connection 132 is formed in a shape that fits into the non-circular insertion hole 121 in the rear housing 12, and serves as one of the rotation restricting portions 133a. Further, the collar portion on the side of the round pin portion 131 of the pair of flange portions is also formed in a shape that fits into the non-circular insertion hole 121, and serves as the other rotation restricting portion 133b.

Specifically, these two rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b are formed in the following shapes. That is, most of the outer circumferences of the rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b are formed in the circular portions 133a-1 and 133b-1 along the circular portion 121a of the insertion hole 121. Then, the portion of the outer circumference corresponding to the string portion 121b of the insertion hole 121 is cut to form the string portions 133a-2 and 133b-2 along the string portion 121b. By fitting the two rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b formed in such a shape into the insertion hole 121, the rotation of the connector terminal 13 around the shaft 13a is restricted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the rotation restricting portion of the connector terminal shown in FIG. 4 is fitted into the non-circular shape in the insertion hole of the rear housing shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, when the round pin portion 131 of the connector terminal 13 is completely accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 111, of the two rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b, the rotation restricting portion 133a on the side of the device connecting portion 132 It is located inside the insertion hole 121. Then, the rotation restricting portion 133a on the side of the device connecting portion 132 fits into the insertion hole 121. On the other hand, if the rotation restricting portion 133b on the side of the round pin portion 131 is located inside the insertion hole 121 during insertion of the connector terminal 13 or when the position of the connector terminal 13 is displaced, the round pin portion 131 The rotation restricting portion 133b on the side of the above fits into the insertion hole 121. By fitting these rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b into the insertion hole 121, the rotation of the connector terminal 13 about the shaft 13a is restricted.

Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b are formed in the non-circular insertion hole 121 by opening a predetermined clearance d11 between the rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b and the inner edge of the insertion hole 121. It has a shape to be fitted. As a result, as will be described below, the connector terminal 13 is subject to rotation regulation while allowing some rotation around the shaft 13a.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the connector terminals shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are subject to rotation restrictions while being allowed to rotate slightly around their axes.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the connector terminal 13, until the ends of the chord portions 133a-2 and 133b-2 of the rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b come into contact with the inner edge of the insertion hole 121 of the rear housing 12. Within the range of, it can be slightly rotated to the arrows D12 and D13 in the figure.

In the connector terminal 13 of the present embodiment, as described above, the device connection portion 132 is fixed to the bus bar extending to the external device by fastening the screw to the nut portion 132b. At this time, since the connector terminal 13 can rotate slightly as described above, the attachment error to the bus bar and the like are absorbed by the slight rotation.

In the connector 1 of the embodiment described above, the connector terminal 13 is formed on the rear housing 12 which has a simple structure and is inexpensive as compared with the connector housing 11 which has a complicated structure such as a terminal accommodating chamber 111 and tends to be expensive. A structure is provided for the rotation regulation of. That is, the rear housing 12 is provided with a non-circular insertion hole 121. Then, the rotation of the connector terminal 13 can be restricted by providing the rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b having a shape that fits into the non-circular insertion hole 121 in the intermediate portion 133 of the connector terminal 13. That is, the restriction on the rotation of the connector terminal 13 is realized in the rear housing 12 and the connector terminal 13 which are cheaper than the connector housing 11. As described above, according to the embodiment, it is possible to suppress the cost increase and regulate the rotation of the connector terminal 13 without newly modifying the expensive connector housing 11.

Here, in the present embodiment, the collar portion on the side of the device connection portion 132 of the pair of collar portions for holding the packing 14 is used as the rotation restricting portion 133a. As a result, the rotation regulating portion can be provided on the connector terminal 13 at a lower cost than in the case where the rotation regulating portion is newly additionally formed as an independent portion.

Further, in the present embodiment, in addition to the flange portion on the side of the device connection portion 133a, the flange portion on the side of the round pin portion 131 is also used as the rotation restricting portion 133b. As a result, the rotation of the connector terminal 13 can be more effectively regulated by increasing the number of rotation regulating portions while maintaining the stance of providing the rotation regulating portion at low cost.

Further, in the present embodiment, a predetermined clearance d11 is opened between the rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b and the inner edge of the insertion hole 121 of the rear housing 12. At this time, for example, the connector terminal 13 may try to rotate slightly about the shaft 13a due to an attachment error when the bus bar, which is the object to be connected, is fixed to the device connection portion 132 with a screw. Since such a slight rotation can be absorbed by the above clearance d11, a machine that hangs between the rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b and the inner edge of the insertion hole 121 when the bus bar is fixed to the device connecting portion 132. Load can be suppressed.

Next, some modifications to the structure for restricting the rotation of the connector terminal 13 in the connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 will be described.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a first modification to the structure for restricting rotation of the connector terminal in the connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. Further, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the connector terminal is removed from the connector according to the first modification shown in FIG. 7. In addition, in these FIGS. 7 and 8, the components equivalent to the components of the connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. , I will omit duplicate explanations for those equivalent components.

In the connector 2 of the first modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the insertion hole 221 in the rear housing 22 is different from the connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. On the other hand, the connector housing 11 and the connector terminal 13 are equivalent to the connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

In the first modification, the insertion hole 221 is formed upside down in the drawing with respect to the insertion hole 121 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, the insertion hole 121 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed so that the string portion 121b faces downward in the drawing and the circular portion 121a faces upward. On the other hand, the insertion hole 221 of the first modification is formed so that the chord portion 221b faces upward in the drawing and the circular portion 221a faces upward.

Therefore, in the first modification, the connector terminal 13 is attached so that the string portions 133a-2 and 133b-2 of the rotation restricting portions 133a and 133b in the intermediate portion 133 face upward in the drawing. That is, in this first modification, the connector terminal 13 is attached to the insertion hole 221 in the upside-down direction in the drawings as opposed to the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Therefore, in FIG. 7, the nut portion 132b of the device connection portion 132 in the connector terminal 13 is directed downward, contrary to the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In this first modification, the connector terminal 13 is adapted so that the fastening screw is screwed into the device connection portion 132 from above in the drawing according to the shape of the bus bar to which the device connection portion 132 of the connector terminal 13 is fixed. This is an example of mounting. Even in such a case, it is only necessary to change the orientation of the insertion hole 221 in the cheapest rear housing 22 as shown in FIG. 7, and the other connector housing 11 and the connector terminal 13 are the same as described above. The form can be used as it is.

As described above, also by the first modification described above, the rotation of the connector terminal 13 can be regulated while suppressing the cost increase as in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second modification to the structure for restricting rotation of the connector terminal in the connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

In this second modification, the shapes of the insertion hole 321 of the rear housing 32 and the rotation restricting portions 333a and 333b of the connector terminal 33 are different from those of the connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. ..

In this second modification, the insertion hole 321 is formed in a shape having a circular portion 321a that occupies most of the insertion hole 321a and a convex portion 321b that partially protrudes in the central direction in a rectangular shape in a plan view. There is. Then, the rotation restricting portions 333a and 333b have circular portions 333a-1 and 333b-1 and recesses partially recessed in a rectangular shape in the central direction thereof so that the outer circumference thereof fits into the insertion hole 321. It is formed so as to have a shape having 333a-2 and 333b-2.

Needless to say, even with this second modification, the rotation of the connector terminal 13 can be regulated while suppressing the cost increase, as in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third modification to the structure for restricting rotation of the connector terminal in the connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. In FIG. 10, components equivalent to the components of the connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 6, and are equivalent thereto below. Duplicate explanations for the components are omitted.

In this third modification, in the intermediate portion 433 of the connector terminal 43, of the pair of collar portions for holding the packing 14 (FIG. 4), only the collar portion on the side of the device connection portion 132 is the circular portion 133a-. It is a rotation restricting portion 133a having 1 and a string portion 133a-2. On the other hand, the flange portion on the side of the round pin portion 131 is simply a circular flange portion 433a. The flange portion 433a on the side of the round pin portion 131 is formed as follows so as not to prevent the connector terminal 43 from being inserted into the insertion hole 121 of the rear housing 12 having the circular portion 121a and the chord portion 121b. .. That is, the flange portion 433a has the same radius as the distance from the shaft 13a of the connector terminal 43 to the chord portion 133a-2 of the rotation restricting portion 133a so that the outer peripheral shape thereof can pass through without interfering with the insertion hole 121. It is formed so as to have a circular shape.

Even when the rotation regulating unit 133a is provided only on the side of the device connecting portion 132 as in the third modification, the rotation of the connector terminal 13 can be regulated while suppressing the cost increase as in the above-described embodiment. It goes without saying that you can do it.

It should be noted that the embodiments and modifications described above merely show typical embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, it can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the connector configuration of the present invention is still provided by such deformation, it is, of course, included in the category of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiments and modifications, the two-terminal connectors 1 and 2 are exemplified as an example of the connector according to the present invention. However, the connector referred to in the present invention is not limited to these, and the number of connector terminals can be set arbitrarily.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the first and third modifications, as an example of the insertion holes referred to in the present invention, insertion holes 121 and 221 having circular portions 121a and 221a and chord portions 121b and 221b are exemplified. Further, as an example of the rotation regulating unit referred to in the present invention, the rotation regulating portions 133a and 133b having the circular portions 133a-1, 133b-1 and the chord portions 133a-2 and 133b-2 are exemplified. Further, in the second modification, the insertion hole 321 having the circular portion 321a and the convex portion 321b, and the rotation restricting portions 333a and 333b having the circular portions 333a-1, 333b-1 and the concave portions 333a-2 and 333b-2. , Are illustrated. However, the insertion hole and the rotation restricting portion referred to in the present invention are not limited to these. The insertion hole referred to in the present invention may be formed in a non-circular shape in a plan view, and the rotation restricting portion referred to in the present invention may have a shape that fits into the non-circular insertion hole. .. The insertion hole and the rotation restricting portion referred to in the present invention do not ask the specific shape thereof.

1, 2, Connector 11 Connector housing 12, 22, 32 Rear housing 13, 33, 43 Connector terminal 13a Axle 14 Packing 111 Terminal storage chamber 112 Insertion side end 121,221,321 Insertion holes 121a, 133a-1, 133b-1 , 221a, 321a, 333a-1, 333b-1 Circular part 121b, 133a-2, 133b-2, 221b String part 131 Round pin part 132 Equipment connection part 132a Main body part 132b Nut part 133,433 Intermediate part 133a, 133b, 333a, 333b Rotation control part 133c Gap 321b Convex part 333a-2, 333b-2 Recessed part 433a Housing part d11 Clearance D11 Axial direction

Claims (5)

A cylindrical terminal accommodating chamber and a tubular outer wall portion incorporating the terminal accommodating chamber are integrally molded, and a connector housing capable of accommodating terminals from a predetermined insertion side end portion of the outer wall portion to the terminal accommodating chamber. ,
It is formed in a bottomed tubular shape separate from the connector housing having the terminal accommodating chamber, and the bottom wall faces the end surface of the insertion side end portion of the outer wall portion of the connector housing , and the said Insertion for terminal accommodation at a position where the peripheral wall portion of the end opposite to the insertion side end is covered with the peripheral wall portion of the insertion side end portion and communicates with the terminal accommodation chamber on the bottom wall. Rear housing with holes and
A round pin portion that fits with the connector terminal on the other side, a device connection portion that is provided on the side opposite to the fitting side of the round pin portion and is electrically connected to an external device, and the device connection portion and the circle. The round pin portion is housed in the terminal accommodating chamber so as to have an intermediate portion connecting the pin portion and at least a part of the intermediate portion is located inside the insertion hole so that the device connection portion is exposed. With a connector terminal,
The intermediate portion has a curved surface portion that connects the peripheral edge near the round pin portion and the round pin portion, and a curved surface portion that connects the peripheral edge near the device connection portion and the device connection portion.
The insertion hole in the rear housing is formed in a non-circular shape in a plan view.
The intermediate portion of the connector terminal is characterized by being provided with a rotation restricting portion having a shape that fits into the non-circular shape of the insertion hole and restricting rotation of the connector terminal around an axis. Connector to. Further provided with a packing attached to the connector terminal to provide waterproofing between the connector housing and the rear housing and the connector terminal.
A pair of collar portions formed by opening a gap for holding the packing in the axial direction of the connector terminal is provided in the intermediate portion of the connector terminal.
A claim characterized in that, of the pair of collar portions, the collar portion on the side of the device connection portion is formed in a shape that fits into the non-circular shape of the insertion hole to form the rotation restricting portion. Item 1. The connector according to item 1. A claim characterized in that the collar portion on the side of the round pin portion of the pair of flange portions is also formed in a shape that fits into the insertion hole having a non-circular shape to serve as the rotation restricting portion. Item 2. The connector according to item 2. The first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the rotation restricting portion has a shape in which a predetermined clearance is opened between the rotation restricting portion and the inner edge of the insertion hole to fit the non-circular shape of the insertion hole. The connector described in any one of them. The device connection portion has a main body portion formed in a rectangular plate shape wider than the insertion hole in a plan view with respect to the insertion hole, and a conductive member extending to the external device is electrically connected to the main body portion. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a connection structure for being physically and mechanically connected is provided.

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