JP6940451B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector that prevents foreign matter from entering from the outside.

Conventionally, there has been known a connector in which a filler is placed on a pair of mating objects to be mated with each other to protect the contact portion of the corresponding contact from intrusion of external foreign matter such as water or dust at the time of mating. There is.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connector that obtains a drip-proof structure by bringing a pair of elastic annular members of grommets into close contact with each other when the cover and the main body are fitted to each other.

Japanese Patent No. 3028888

However, when fillers are placed on each pair of fitting objects and the fillers are in close contact with each other during mating, the surface pressure of the joint surface decreases due to, for example, vibration of the fillers or thermal expansion of the fillers in a high temperature state. Or the joint surface is peeled off. As a result, the connector could not sufficiently suppress the intrusion of foreign matter from the outside.

An object of the present invention made in view of such a problem is to provide a connector capable of suppressing the invasion of external foreign matter even in an environment with large vibration or a high temperature environment.

In order to solve the above problems, the connector according to the first aspect of the present invention is
A pair of first fitting objects and second fitting objects that can be fitted to each other,
A contact possessed by at least one of the first fitting object and the second fitting object,
The first filler and the second filler provided on the first fitting object and the second fitting object, respectively,
With
When the first fitting object and the second fitting object are fitted, the first filler and the second filler are coalesced so as to surround the contact and are integrated with each other. ..

Further, in the connector according to the second aspect of the present invention,
The first fitting object and the second fitting object are connected to each other by a connecting portion, and the first fitting object and the second fitting object are connected to each other by a connecting portion.
The first fitting object or the second fitting object includes the contact having an electrically conductive portion.
The first fitting object or the second fitting object holds the cable and holds the cable.
The contact may be included in a state of being conductive with the cable in a state of being fitted between the first fitting object and the second fitting object.

Further, in the connector according to the third aspect of the present invention,
At least one of the cables may extend outward from the contacts located inside the first filler and the second filler at the time of mating.

Further, in the connector according to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
The electrically conductive portion is a groove for pressure welding, and is
The first fitting object or the second fitting object holds at least two of the cables.
When the first fitting object and the second fitting object are fitted to each other, the contact may hold the core wire of the cable by the pressure welding groove to make the cables conductive to each other.

Further, in the connector according to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
When the first fitting object and the second fitting object are fitted, the corresponding portions of the cables are coalesced and integrated with each other in a cross-sectional view along the fitting direction. It may be arranged inside the filler and the second filler.

Further, in the connector according to the sixth aspect of the present invention,
The first filler and the second filler that are coalesced and integrated with each other may expand and contract.

Further, in the connector according to the seventh aspect of the present invention,
The first filler and the second filler may be made of a material containing urethane acrylate as a main component.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector capable of suppressing the intrusion of external foreign matter even in an environment with large vibration or a high temperature environment.

It is a perspective view of the connector, the 1st cable, and the 2nd cable which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention when an insulating housing is in an unfolded state. It is sectional drawing which follows the II-II arrow line of FIG. It is an enlarged perspective view only of the 1st division housing in the state which does not have a relay contact. It is a perspective view which enlarged only the 2nd division housing. It is a perspective view which shows the whole insulation housing in the state which does not have a relay contact. It is a perspective view of a relay contact alone. It is a perspective view of the connector, the first cable, and the second cable at the stage where the insulating housing transitions from the deployed state to the locked state. It is a perspective view of the connector, the 1st cable, and the 2nd cable when the insulating housing is locked. It is sectional drawing which follows the IX-IX arrow line of FIG. It is a perspective view which showed the state which the filler was loaded in the insulating housing in the unfolded state. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 9 which showed the locked state of the connector loaded with the filler. It is sectional drawing which shows the locked state of the connector loaded with the filler along the XII-XII arrow line of FIG. It is a perspective view which showed the extension state of the integrated filler virtually. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11, which is an enlarged view of the engaging portion between the first lock portion and the second lock portion according to the modified example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The front-back, left-right, and up-down directions in the following description are based on the directions of the arrows in the figure.

The connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a branch connector for conducting cables to each other by sandwiching the core wire of the cable with a pressure welding groove, or a substrate pair for connecting two circuit boards to each other. It may be a connector for a board. Further, the connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a connector for connecting a flat plate-shaped connection object such as a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC) to the circuit board. good. The connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to any connector for effectively suppressing the invasion of foreign matter from the outside.

In the following embodiment, the connector 10 will be described as a branch connector as an example.

First, the structure of the connector 10 in a state where the filler 70 is not loaded will be mainly described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector 10, a first cable 60, and a second cable 65 according to an embodiment of the present invention when the insulating housing 15 is in the deployed state. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. The connector 10 of the present embodiment includes an insulating housing 15 and a relay contact 50 (contact) as large components.

The insulating housing 15 is, for example, a molded product made of an insulating synthetic resin material. The insulating housing 15 has a first divided housing 16 (first fitting object) and a second divided housing 30 (second fitting object). The insulating housing 15 has a first connecting portion 46 and a second connecting portion 47 (connecting portion) as connecting portions for connecting the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30. The insulating housing 15 has a first divided housing 16, a second divided housing 30, and a first connecting portion 46 and a second connecting portion 47 integrally formed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of only the first split housing 16 in a state where the relay contact 50 is not provided. The structure of the first split housing 16 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The outer peripheral edge portion of one surface (upper surface in FIG. 3) in the thickness direction of the first divided housing 16 is formed by the outer peripheral wall 17. The inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral wall 17 of the first divided housing 16 is composed of an inner peripheral side recess 17a that is recessed one step downward from the upper surface of the first divided housing 16. The bottom surface of the inner peripheral side recess 17a is composed of an inner peripheral side first facing surface 17b formed of a plane parallel to the upper surface of the first divided housing 16. The central portion located on the inner peripheral side of the inner peripheral side first facing surface 17b is composed of the central first concave portion 17c recessed one step downward from the inner peripheral side first facing surface 17b. The bottom surface of the central first recess 17c is composed of a central first facing surface 17d formed of a plane parallel to the inner peripheral side first facing surface 17b. The contact mounting groove 18 is formed by the central first recess 17c and the central first facing surface 17d. The contact mounting groove 18 has a fixing portion 18a and an intermediate convex portion 18b located in the middle of the fixing portion 18a in the left-right direction and narrowing the front-rear width of the fixing portion 18a to divide the fixing portion 18a into a pair on the left and right. A substantially cylindrical positioning projection 18c is projected from the bottom surface (central first facing surface 17d) of the pair of fixing portions 18a.

A pair of first cable mounting grooves 19 located on both front and rear sides of one of the fixing portions 18a and located on the same straight line with each other are recessed in the outer peripheral wall 17 of the first divided housing 16. A pair of second cable mounting grooves 20 located on both front and rear sides of the other fixing portion 18a and located on the same straight line with each other are recessed in the outer peripheral wall 17 of the first divided housing 16. The second cable mounting groove 20 is parallel to the first cable mounting groove 19. The front shape of the first cable mounting groove 19 and the second cable mounting groove 20 is semi-circular. On the front and rear surfaces of the outer peripheral wall 17 of the first divided housing 16, a pair of inclined surfaces 19a that incline outward from the deepest bottom surface of the pair of first cable mounting grooves 19 are provided. Similarly, on the front and rear surfaces of the outer peripheral wall 17 of the first divided housing 16, a pair of inclined surfaces 20a that incline outward from the deepest bottom surface of the pair of second cable mounting grooves 20 are provided. On the front and rear surfaces of the outer peripheral wall 17 of the first divided housing 16, flat plate-shaped lids 21 and 22 extending in the front-rear direction from positions below the front and rear inclined surfaces 19a and 20a are provided. The facing surfaces 21a and 22a of the lids 21 and 22 are located at the same height as the lowermost portions of the inclined surfaces 19a and 20a.

A pair of elastic first lock portions 25 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the outer peripheral wall 17 of the first divided housing 16. A pair of recesses 25a are formed between each first lock portion 25 and the front and rear surfaces of the outer peripheral wall 17. Each first lock portion 25 includes a first lock protrusion 26 that projects outward from the side surface of the first split housing 16. The first locking projection 26 extends in the front-rear direction. Each first locking projection 26 has an inclined surface 26a that inclines outward of the first split housing 16 as it goes downward. Further, the first lock portion 25 has an inclined surface 26b formed on the upper edge portion of the inner surface and inclined inward of the first divided housing 16 as it goes downward.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of only the second split housing 30. The structure of the second split housing 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

An outer peripheral wall 31 is projected from the outer peripheral edge portion of one surface (upper surface in FIG. 4) in the thickness direction of the second divided housing 30. The portion of the second divided housing 30 located on the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral wall 31 is composed of an inner peripheral side recess 31a recessed one step from the upper edge portion of the outer peripheral wall 31. The bottom surface of the inner peripheral side recess 31a is composed of an inner peripheral side second facing surface 31b formed of a plane parallel to the upper surface of the second divided housing 30. A cable pressing protrusion 32 having a pair of left and right U-shaped first pressing grooves 32a and a second pressing groove 32b is provided on the inner peripheral side second facing surface 31b. The cable pressing protrusion 32 has a central protrusion 32c and protrusions 32d and 32e on both left and right sides of the central protrusion 32c. A first pressing groove 32a is formed between the central protrusion 32c and one of the protrusions 32d. A second pressing groove 32b is formed between the central protrusion 32c and the other protrusion 32e.

The second split housing 30 is formed with cable support arm portions 35, 36 protruding from the front and rear surfaces. The first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b are provided on the upper surfaces of the cable supporting arms 35 and 36. The front side cable support arm 35 and the rear side cable support arm 36 are a pair of protruding pieces 37a in which the front end side portion and the rear end side portion of the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a are separated and divided by gaps on the left and right sides. And a pair of protruding pieces 38a. Similarly, in the cable support arm 35 on the front side and the cable support arm 36 on the rear side, a pair of protrusions in which the front end side and the rear end side portions of the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b are separated and divided by gaps on the left and right sides. It is formed by a piece 37b and a pair of protruding pieces 38b. Each pair of projecting pieces 37a, 38a, 37b, 38b, particularly the projecting pieces on the left and right outer sides of the cable supporting arm portions 35, 36, flexes elastically in the left-right direction, and the distance between adjacent projecting pieces is variable. On each pair of projecting pieces 37a, 38a, 37b, 38b, claws facing each other are projected from the lower ends of the front and rear ends.

The first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b are grooves having a depth for inserting and holding the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 over the entire diameter (the entire diameter is accommodated). The first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a have inclined surfaces 35e and 36e that incline upward toward the outside. That is, when the first cable 60 is inserted and held in the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a, the first cable 60 has inclined surfaces 35e and 36e of the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a as shown in FIG. The corresponding cable portion is tilted up and down diagonally along. Similarly, the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b have inclined surfaces 35f and 36f, and the second cable 65 is also inserted and held in the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b in the same manner as the first cable 60. NS.

A pair of fall prevention protrusions 35c and a pair of fall prevention protrusions 36c are provided near the upper openings of the front and rear ends of the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a (opposite surfaces of the protruding pieces 37a and 38a). Similarly, a pair of fall prevention protrusions 35d and a pair of fall prevention protrusions 36d are provided near the upper openings of the front and rear ends of the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b (opposite surfaces of the protruding pieces 37b and 38b). Be done. The dropout prevention protrusions 35c, 36c and 35d, 36d allow the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 to be inserted into the first cable holding grooves 35a, 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b, 36b. At this time, the pair of projecting pieces 37a and 38a and the pair of projecting pieces 37b and 38b are bent so as to widen the distance in the left-right direction (the distance between the pair of dropout prevention protrusions 35c, 36c and 35d, 36d).

When the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 are inserted into the first cable holding grooves 35a, 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b, 36b, the pair of dropout prevention protrusions 35c, 36c and 35d, 36d are the first cable 60. And the second cable 65 is pinched. That is, each pair of projecting pieces 37a and 38a and each pair of projecting pieces 37b and 38b elastically bend in a direction in which the distance between them in the left-right direction is narrowed. Therefore, each pair of projecting pieces 37a, 38a and each pair of projecting pieces 37b, 38b are the first cable 60 and the second cable inserted into the first cable holding grooves 35a, 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b, 36b. The movement of 65 in the cable extension direction is allowed while giving resistance. At the same time, each pair of projecting pieces 37a, 38a and each pair of projecting pieces 37b, 38b easily give resistance to a force trying to separate from the first cable holding grooves 35a, 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b, 36b. It acts as a stopper to prevent it from coming off, and enables it to come off by an external force above a certain level. This retaining action is maintained even if the second split housing 30 is turned upside down (front and back).

A pair of second lock portions 39 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the outer peripheral wall 31 of the second divided housing 30. The pair of second lock portions 39 are formed on the inner surface of the second split housing 30. Each second lock portion 39 has a second lock protrusion 40 that projects inward from the side surface of the second split housing 30. A pair of convex walls 41 extending in the vertical direction are formed at both front and rear ends of each of the second lock portions 39. Each second locking projection 40 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is formed on the inner surface of the second divided housing 30 so as to extend between the pair of convex walls 41. That is, the second locking projection 40 extends in the front-rear direction.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the entire insulating housing 15 in a state where the relay contact 50 is not provided.

The first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are a pair of front and rear first connecting portions 46 extending linearly from the first split housing 16 side and a pair of front and rear first connecting portions 46 extending linearly from the second split housing 30 side. The two connecting portions 47 are connected by an easily flexible portion 48 that connects the first connecting portion 46 and the second connecting portion 47. The pair of front and rear first connection portions 46 and the pair of front and rear second connection portions 47 are located on the same plane with each other in the unfolded state.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the flexible portion 48 is thinner than the front and rear first connection portions 46 and the second connection portion 47. The front and rear first connection portions 46 and the second connection portion 47 are valley-folded (first division housing 16 and second division housing 16 and second division housing) in FIGS. 1 and 5, with the easily bendable portion 48 extending in the front-rear direction as a bending line. It is possible (easy) to bend in the direction of approaching 30. Further, the first connecting portion 46 is set to have a smaller bending rigidity than the second connecting portion 47.

The first split housing 16, the first connecting portion 46, the easily flexible portion 48, the second connecting portion 47, and the second split housing 30 autonomously maintain this deployed state in the deployed state shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. It has enough strength (rigidity) to do so.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the relay contact 50 alone. The structure of the relay contact 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The relay contact 50 is formed by molding a thin plate of a copper alloy having spring elasticity (for example, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, titanium copper) or a Corson-based copper alloy into a illustrated shape using a progressive mold (stamping). The surface of the relay contact 50 is subjected to tin copper plating or tin plating (or gold plating) after forming a base by nickel plating.

The relay contact 50 is a pair of a flat plate-shaped base piece 51 extending in the left-right direction and a flat plate-shaped base piece 51 extending in a direction orthogonal to the base piece 51, which protrudes from one end of both front and rear edges of the base piece 51. The first cable pressure welding piece 52 of the above, and a pair of flat plate-shaped second cable pressure welding pieces 54 extending in a direction orthogonal to the base piece 51, which are projected from the other ends of the front and rear side edges of the base piece 51. , Are provided integrally. Circular positioning holes 51a are formed at two positions on the left and right of the base piece 51. The front and rear first cable pressure welding pieces 52 and the second cable pressure welding piece 54 are formed with a first pressure welding groove 53 and a second pressure welding groove 55, which are slits extending linearly toward the base piece 51 side, respectively. Will be done. The upper end opening of the first pressure welding groove 53 is formed in a substantially V shape that expands upward by the tip portion 52a. The upper end opening of the second pressure welding groove 55 is formed in a substantially V shape that expands upward by the tip portion 54a.

The pair of front and rear first cable pressure contact pieces 52 and the second cable pressure contact piece 54 are connected to the base piece 51 via narrow portions (necked portions) 52b and 54b. The distance between the facing edges of the first cable pressure welding piece 52 and the second cable pressure welding piece 54 located in the left-right direction is narrower than the distance between the opposite edges of the narrow portions 52b and 54b. A play portion 51b is provided between the narrow portions 52b and 54b. No other member such as an insulator is interposed between the first cable pressure welding piece 52 and the second cable pressure welding piece 54.

The relay contact 50 is included in a state of being electrically connected to the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 in the fitted state of the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30. More specifically, when the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are fitted to each other, the relay contact 50 is provided with an insulating coating 62 and a coating 67 by the first pressure welding groove 53 and the second pressure welding groove 55. Is cut so that the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 are made conductive with each other. That is, at the time of fitting, the relay contact 50 sandwiches the core wire 61 and the core wire 66 by the first pressure welding groove 53 and the second pressure welding groove 55, and conducts the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 to each other.

The first cable 60 and the second cable 65 are tubular and flexible and insulating on the surface of core wires 61 and 66 (stranded wire or single wire) made of a conductive and flexible material (for example, copper or aluminum). It is covered with coatings 62 and 67 having properties, respectively. The first cable 60 is a cable that is wired from the beginning inside an object to be wired (for example, an automobile) and is connected to a power source of the object to be wired. On the other hand, the second cable 65 is a cable that is additionally connected to the first cable 60 afterwards, and an electronic device or an electric device (for example, a car navigation system) is connected to one end (front end) thereof.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connector 10, the first cable 60, and the second cable 65 at the stage where the insulating housing 15 transitions from the deployed state to the locked state. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connector 10, the first cable 60, and the second cable 65 when the insulating housing 15 is in the locked state. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IX-IX arrow line of FIG.

To assemble the connector 10 while integrating the insulating housing 15, the relay contact 50, the first cable 60, and the second cable 65 and electrically connecting the first cable 60 and the second cable 65, the assembly work is first performed. A person manually fits the lower portion of the relay contact 50 into the contact mounting groove 18 of the first divided housing 16 in the expanded state shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Specifically, the base piece 51 is fitted to the bottom of the contact mounting groove 18 while the play portion 51b is fitted to the intermediate convex portion 18b. Further, a half portion of the first cable pressure welding piece 52 on the base piece 51 side (lower half portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) is fitted to the corresponding fixing portion 18a and on the base piece 51 side of the second cable pressure welding piece 54. The half is fitted to the corresponding fixing portion 18a. Since the pair of positioning protrusions 18c of the first division housing 16 are fitted to the pair of positioning holes 51a of the base piece 51 (FIGS. 2 and 9), the relay contact 50 is positioned with respect to the first division housing 16. NS. When the relay contact 50 is attached to the first split housing 16, the front and rear first pressure welding grooves 53 are located on the axis passing through the front and rear first cable mounting grooves 19, and the relay contacts 50 pass through the front and rear second cable mounting grooves 20. The front and rear second pressure welding grooves 55 are located on the axis.

Subsequently, the assembling worker pushes the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 by hand or the like against the resistance of the front and rear fall prevention protrusions 35c and 36c and 35d and 36d (see FIG. 1). At that time, each of the protruding pieces 37a, 38a, 37b, 38b bends against the elastic force, and the distance between the facing falling prevention protrusions 35c and 36c, 35d and 36d is widened. When the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 are pushed into the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b, the distance between the opposing drop prevention protrusions 35c and 36c and 35d and 36d is narrowed. As a result, the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 are placed between the bottoms of the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a and the bottoms of the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b and the dropout prevention protrusions 35c and 36c and 35d and 36d. Be pinched. As a result, the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 can move in the cable extension direction while receiving resistance, so that the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 with respect to the unfolded connector 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be moved. The position in the extension direction can be adjusted. When the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 try to separate from the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b, they receive resistance to prevent the disconnection. Therefore, even if the connector 10 is turned upside down, the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 do not easily come off from the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b. Further, the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 can be separated from the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b by a certain or more urging force. Therefore, it is easy to replace the connector 10 and change the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 that are attached to and detached from the connector 10.

The first cable 60 and the second cable 65 are arranged in the left-right direction, and while being fitted and held in the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b, the front and rear easily bendable portions 48 are centered. The second split housing 30 (front and rear second connecting portions 47) is rotated so as to approach the first split housing 16 (front and rear first connecting portions 46). Then, the second lock protrusion 40 on the first split housing 16 side comes into contact with the inclined surface 26a of the corresponding first lock protrusion 26. When it is further rotated, the corresponding first lock protrusion 26 is elastically deformed inward in the first split housing 16 while the second lock protrusion 40 slides downward on the corresponding inclined surface 26a. On the other hand, the second pressing groove 32b of the cable pressing projection 32 located on the second connecting portion 47 side slightly pushes the intermediate portion of the second cable 65 into the back side (lower side) of the second pressure welding groove 55. Then, the intermediate portion of the second cable 65 enters the space between the front and rear second cable pressure welding pieces 54.

When the second split housing 30 is further rotated in the direction approaching the first split housing 16 around the front and rear easily bendable portions 48 by hand or the like, the cable pressing protrusion 32 located on the opposite side to the second connecting portion 47 The first pressing groove 32a presses the intermediate portion of the first cable 60 against the tip end portion 52a of the first cable pressure welding piece 52 in the extending direction of the first pressure welding groove 53 or in a direction close thereto. Therefore, the first cable 60 is sandwiched between the tip end portion 52a and the cable pressing protrusion 32.

After the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 are placed on the tip portions 52a and 54a of the relay contact 50, the first split housing 16 and the second split housing are used by a general tool (for example, pliers) (not shown). When the 30s are pressed substantially in parallel in the direction of approaching each other, each of the second locking protrusions 40 engages with the corresponding first locking protrusion 26. Further, each convex wall 41 of the second lock portion 39 fits with the corresponding concave portion 25a. As a result, the first split housing 16 is housed in the second split housing 30, and the first lock portion 25 and the second lock portion 39 are inside the fitted first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30. Engage.

Further, the cable pressing projection 32 further pushes the intermediate portion between the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 into the back side (bottom side) of the first pressure welding groove 53 and the second pressure welding groove 55. Therefore, the first cable 60 is pushed from the tip portion 52a to the substantially central portion of the first pressure welding groove 53, and the second cable 65 is pushed from the tip portion 54a to the substantially central portion of the second pressure welding groove 55. At this time, the pressing directions of the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 by the first pressing groove 32a and the second pressing groove 32b of the cable pressing projection 32 are in the vertical direction (first pressure welding groove 53 and second pressure welding groove 53). It is substantially parallel to the extension direction of 55). As a result, the inner surfaces (both left and right sides) of the first pressure welding groove 53 break the left and right sides of the coating 62 of the first cable 60, and the inner surfaces (both left and right sides) of the second pressure welding groove 55 cover the second cable 65. The left and right sides of 67 are torn. Therefore, when the insulating housing 15 is held in the closed state, the inner surfaces (pair of facing surfaces) of the first pressure contact groove 53 are evenly and surely contacted (pressure contact) with both side portions of the core wire 61, and the first 2 The inner surfaces (pair of facing surfaces) of the pressure welding groove 55 are evenly and surely contacted (pressure contacted) with both side portions of the core wire 66. That is, inside the connector 10, the core wire 61 of the first cable 60 and the core wire 66 of the second cable 65 are electrically conductive with each other via the relay contact 50.

Since the inner surfaces of the first pressure welding groove 53 and the second pressure welding groove 55 do not hit one of both side portions of the core wires 61 and 66 excessively strongly, a part of the core wires 61 and 66 is part of the first pressure welding groove. It is not cut by the 53 and the second pressure welding groove 55. Therefore, since the mechanical strength of the core wires 61 and 66 does not decrease, there is little possibility that the core wires 61 and 66 will be completely cut even if a tensile force acts on the first cable 60 and the second cable 65. Therefore, it is possible to improve the contact reliability between the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 and the relay contact 50.

When the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30 are closed (fitted) and held (locked), the facing surfaces 21a and 22a of the lids 21 and 22 of the first divided housing 16 are A part of the opening (upper opening in FIG. 4) of the first cable holding grooves 35a and 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b and 36b is closed. Further, the first cable 60 is sandwiched from above and below by a pair of inclined surfaces 19a of the first divided housing 16 and inclined surfaces 35e and 36e of the corresponding second divided housing 30. The second cable 65 is sandwiched from above and below by a pair of inclined surfaces 20a of the second divided housing 30 and the inclined surfaces 35f and 36f of the corresponding second divided housing 30.

Hereinafter, the connector 10 in a state in which the filler 70 is loaded will be mainly described. The filler 70 is provided in the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30, respectively (first filler 70a and second filler 70b). The first filler 70a and the second filler 70b are coalesced and integrated with each other when the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are fitted. The filler 70 may be any material having adhesiveness, such as a waterproof gel, a UV curable resin, or an adhesive. In particular, the filler 70 is preferably composed of a UV curable resin that effectively exhibits a waterproof function. Specifically, the filler 70 is urethane acrylate, epoxy acrylate, acrylic resin acrylate, polyester acrylate, polybutadiene acrylate, silicon acrylate, amino resin acrylate, urethane vinyl ether, polyester vinyl ether, silicone-based elastomer, styrene-based elastomer, or polyethylene-. It is composed of a material containing a polystyrene-based elastomer or the like as a main component. In particular, the filler 70 is preferably composed of a material containing urethane acrylate as a main component, which has cohesiveness, elasticity, and heat resistance at the same time.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the filler 70 is loaded into the insulating housing 15 in the unfolded state. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9 showing a locked state of the connector 10 loaded with the filler 70. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XII-XII arrow line of FIG. 8 showing the locked state of the connector 10 loaded with the filler 70. FIG. 13 is a perspective view that virtually shows the stretched state of the integrated filler 70.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the filler 70 is interposed on the inner peripheral side first facing surface 17b of the first divided housing 16 and the inner peripheral side second facing surface 31b of the second divided housing 30.

The first filler 70a interposed in the first facing surface 17b on the inner peripheral side of the first divided housing 16 has a planar shape of the lower surface substantially the same as that of the first facing surface 17b on the inner peripheral side, and is around the relay contact 50. It is formed in the shape of a square cylinder that surrounds. The height of the first filler 70a is the height at which the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b are coalesced when the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are fitted.

The second filler 70b interposed in the inner peripheral side second facing surface 31b of the second divided housing 30 has a planar shape of the lower surface substantially the same as that of the inner peripheral side second facing surface 31b, and is around the cable pressing protrusion 32. It is formed in the shape of a square tube that surrounds. The height of the second filler 70b is the height at which the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b are coalesced when the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are fitted.

That is, the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b are predetermined along the vertical direction in order to realize a compressed state described later when the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30 are fitted. It is necessary to superimpose each other by the thickness. In other words, the total height of the height of the first filler 70a before fitting and the height of the second filler 70b is the height of the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b that are coalesced after fitting. Slightly larger than that. Therefore, the mating surface formed by the upper surface of the first filler 70a is located on the mating side (upper side) of the mating surface of the first filler 70a in the compressed state immediately before mating before fitting. do. Similarly, the mating surface formed by the upper surface of the second filler 70b is on the mating side of the mating surface of the second filler 70b before mating, assuming a compressed state immediately before mating. Located on (upper side). At this time, assuming that the bonding surface of the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b, which are in a compressed state immediately before bonding, is the fitting center surface, the bonding surface before fitting of the first filler 70a is It is located on the fitting side (upper side) of the fitting center surface. Similarly, the mating surface of the second filler 70b before fitting is located on the fitting side (upper side) of the plane corresponding to the fitting center surface.

When the connector 10 is transitioned from the unfolded state shown in FIG. 10 to the locked state, as shown in FIG. 11, the entire inside of the fitted first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30 is filled with the filler 70. More specifically, when the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are locked, the filler 70 is applied to the inner peripheral side first facing surface 17b and the inner peripheral side second facing surface 31b. It is in close contact and surrounds the relay contact 50. At this time, the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b are crushed into each other and once in a compressed state, they are integrated by a chemical reaction such as a hydrogen bond. That is, in the bonded filler 70, a bonding surface is not formed unlike the case where adhesive materials such as ordinary Si gel are bonded to each other. As described above, the filler 70 seals the periphery of the relay contact 50.

The first cable 60 and the second cable 65 extend outward from the relay contact 50 arranged inside the filler 70 in the locked state. That is, the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 extend outward from the pressure contact portion of the relay contact 50 along the front-rear direction.

Further, the filler 70 surrounds the surfaces of the coatings 62, 67 of the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 (without interfering with electrical continuity with the relay contact 50). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, when the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30 are fitted, the first cable 60 and the second cable 60 and the second cable 60 and the second in a cross-sectional view along the fitting direction, that is, the vertical direction. The cable 65 is arranged inside the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b that are integrated with each other. In other words, since the coalesced filler 70 has no joint surface, the corresponding portions of the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 are completely integrated in the filler 70. As described above, unlike the case where adhesive materials such as ordinary Si gel are joined to each other, almost no voids are formed between the surfaces of the coatings 62 and 67 and the filler 70.

For example, as virtually shown in FIG. 13, even if the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30 are separated along the vertical direction, the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b once coalesced are used. Does not separate. That is, since the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b that have been coalesced do not have a joint surface, the phenomenon that the joint surface is peeled off does not occur. The combined first filler 70a and second filler 70b keep the relay contact 50 integrally extended even if the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are separated along the vertical direction. Keep sealing around. When the filler 70 has elasticity as well as cohesiveness, the filler 70 expands and contracts to some extent due to vibration of the connector 10. Even in this case, the coalesced first filler 70a and second filler 70b expand and contract uniformly while being integrated with each other. That is, the distribution of stress acting on the coalesced first filler 70a and second filler 70b is substantially uniform throughout.

In this way, the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b once coalesced have their joint surfaces peeled off due to mechanical action or thermal expansion, unlike the case where the conventional adhesive materials are bonded to each other. And the phenomenon of separating from each other does not occur.

The first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30 have spaces 28 and 43, respectively, in which the excess of the filler 70 enters when the filler 70 is excessive (FIG. 11). The spaces 28 and 43 are formed along the inner surfaces of the pair of first lock portions 25 in a state where the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are fitted, and are provided below and above the filler 70. As a result, the spaces 28 and 43 can absorb and store the excess of the filler 70 at the time of locking. Therefore, the connector 10 can suppress individual variations with respect to the pressing force on the first cable 60 and the second cable 65.

The filler 70 comes into contact with the inner surfaces of the pair of first locking portions 25 of the first split housing 16. As shown in FIG. 11, the engaging surface 27 of the first locking projection 26 and the second locking projection 40 is configured to be located within the width of the filler 70 along the vertical direction in the vertical direction thereof. Is preferable. Further, when the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30 are fitted together, the surface of the second locking projection 40 comes into contact with the outer surface of the first locking portion 25. The contact surface 42 formed thereby is preferably substantially parallel to the inner surface of the first lock portion 25 that comes into contact with the filler 70.

With the above configuration of the filler 70, the connector 10 can effectively suppress the invasion of external foreign matter such as water or dust. In particular, in the connector 10, since the filler 70 that is coalesced and integrated with each other surrounds the relay contact 50, the possibility that external foreign matter comes into contact with the core wires 61 and 66 of the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 is reduced. can. In particular, since the connector 10 arranges the corresponding portions of the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 inside the filler 70 in a state where almost no gap is formed between the surfaces of the coatings 62 and 67 and the filler 70. , Excellent waterproofness. As described above, even when the connector 10 holds the first cable 60 and the second cable 65, the waterproof property can be improved and the invasion of other external foreign substances can be effectively prevented.

Since the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b are integrated by coalescence, the bonding force is significantly increased as compared with the case where conventional materials having adhesiveness are bonded to each other. In other words, since the joint surfaces of the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b disappear, the phenomenon that the joint surfaces are peeled off cannot occur. Therefore, the connector 10 can significantly improve the resistance to the force that the first filler 70a and the second filler 70b try to separate.

In the connector 10, since the joint surface disappears, unlike the case where conventional materials having adhesiveness are bonded to each other, the adhesive force is weakened and water infiltrates through a slight gap formed in a part of the joint surface. Does not occur. That is, the connector 10 can effectively protect the contact portion between the relay contact 50 and the core wires 61 and 66 against the water pressure applied to the entire filler 70. Therefore, the connector 10 contributes to the improvement of waterproofness.

Conventionally, it has been necessary to apply a relatively large pressure in order to maintain the bonding between the adhesive materials, but in the connector 10, since the bonding surface disappears and becomes integrated, it is not necessary to apply a large pressure. That is, the connector 10 can obtain sufficient waterproofness without increasing the fitting holding force of the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30 more than necessary.

Since the combined first filler 70a and second filler 70b expand and contract uniformly while being integrated with each other, they do not separate from each other due to mechanical action or thermal expansion. Therefore, the connector 10 can maintain waterproofness. For example, conventionally, in an environment with large vibration or a high temperature environment, the surface pressure of the joint surface between adhesive materials may decrease or the joint surface may peel off, resulting in a decrease in waterproofness. However, the connector 10 can eliminate such an event. The connector 10 can maintain sufficient waterproofness even in an environment with large vibration or a high temperature environment.

By using a material containing urethane acrylate as a main component as the filler 70, the connector 10 can provide an optimum preventive member having cohesiveness, elasticity, and heat resistance at the same time. As a result, the connector 10 can exert the above-mentioned various effects more remarkably.

Since the filler 70 is in close contact with the first cable 60 and the second cable 65, even if the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 are shaken and bent by an external force applied to the outside of the connector 10, the connector 10 can be bent. It is possible to prevent the movement or stress caused by the bending of the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 from being transmitted to the pressure contact portion with the relay contact 50, and maintain the contact reliability.

When the filler 70 comes into contact with the inner surface of the first lock portion 25, the elastic first lock portion 25 will elastically deform outward due to the elastic force from the inside to the outside due to the expansion or swelling of the filler 70. And. Since the lock portion is formed inside the connector 10, the connector 10 can further strengthen the engagement between the first lock portion 25 and the second lock portion 39 due to the elastic deformation to the outside. More specifically, the engagement surface 27 of the first lock protrusion 26 and the second lock protrusion 40 is within the width of the inner surface of the first lock portion 25 that comes into contact with the filler 70 in the vertical direction. The expansion force of the agent 70 and the like can be efficiently converted into an engaging force. Further, since the contact surface 42 is substantially parallel to the inner surface of the first lock portion 25 that comes into contact with the filler 70, the expansion force of the filler 70 and the like can be applied to the first lock portion 25 and the second lock protrusion 40. It is transmitted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface, and the expansion force of the filler 70 and the like can be more efficiently converted into an engaging force. As a result, the connector 10 can further improve the close contact state of the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30. As described above, the connector 10 can suppress the opening action of the first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30 even when the elastic force from the inside to the outside is applied. As a result, the connector 10 can maintain waterproofness. The effect appears even at room temperature, but becomes more remarkable as the expansion of the filler 70 increases at high temperature.

If the filler 70 also has a high viscosity, the connector 10 can further suppress the opening between the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30. That is, by arranging the filler 70 on the inner surfaces of the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30, the respective fillers 70 adhere to each other in the locked state. The adhesive force becomes a resistance force against the opening of the fitted first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30.

Since the connector 10 has a locking mechanism formed inside the fitted first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30, the outer peripheral wall 31 can be formed in a substantially planar shape with few irregularities or through holes. As a result, the connector 10 can be made more waterproof, and the intrusion of other foreign substances such as dust and oil can be further suppressed.

The connector 10 constitutes a plane in which the engaging surface 27 extends in the same direction by engaging the first locking protrusion 26 extending in one direction and the second locking protrusion 40 extending in the same direction. As a result, the area of the engaging surface 27 can be increased and the engagement can be strengthened. Further, since the engaging surface 27 of the connector 10 is substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. 11, the engaging force can be easily transmitted between the first locking projection 26 and the second locking projection 40. In this way, the connector 10 can widen the width of the first lock protrusion 26 and the second lock protrusion 40 as compared with the conventional lock portion formed on the outer side. As a result, the connector 10 can further improve the locking force and strengthen the locked state. Further, since the strength of the first lock portion 25 and the second lock portion 39 itself is increased, the connector 10 can prevent the lock portion from being damaged.

In the connector 10, since the first lock portion 25 has an inclined surface 26b, the tip of the first lock portion 25 bites into or fills the filler 70 when the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are fitted. It is possible to prevent the agent 70 from being scraped.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be realized in certain forms other than those described above without departing from its spirit or its essential features. Therefore, the above description is exemplary and is not limited thereto. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, not by the earlier description. Some of all changes that are within their equality shall be included therein.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11 in which the engaging portion between the first lock portion 25 and the second lock portion 39 according to the modified example is enlarged. In the above, as shown in FIG. 11, the engaging surface 27 of the first locking projection 26 and the second locking projection 40 is a substantially horizontal plane extending in the front-rear direction, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the engaging surface 27 may be inclined downward from the inside to the outside of the fitted first divided housing 16 and the second divided housing 30. The cross-sectional shape of the connector 10 further reduces the possibility of unlocking.

In the present embodiment, the first lock portion 25 is formed in the first split housing 16 and the second lock portion 39 is formed in the second split housing 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. The elastic first lock portion 25 may be formed on the side of the second split housing 30 having no relay contact 50, and the second lock portion 39 may be formed on the side of the first split housing 16 having the relay contact 50. .. Further, the forming positions of the first lock portion 25 and the second lock portion 39 in the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are not limited to the above, and the first split housing 16 and the second split housing 30 are fitted together. Any forming position may be used as long as it can be allowed to hold the lock.

In the present embodiment, the first lock portion 25 and the second lock portion 39 include a first lock protrusion 26 and a second lock protrusion 40, respectively, and the first lock protrusion 26 and the second lock protrusion 40 are formed. The locking means to engage is shown, but is not limited to this. The first lock portion 25 and the second lock portion 39 may have any locking means.

In the present embodiment, the dropout prevention protrusions 35c, 36c, 35d, and 36d for preventing the first cable 60 and the second cable 65 from falling off are provided in the first cable holding grooves 35a, 36a and the second cable holding grooves 35b, 36b. The fall-out prevention protrusions may be provided in the first pressing groove 32a and the second pressing groove 32b of the cable pressing protrusion 32, respectively.

The relay contact 50 is a type in which the second cable 65 is pressure-welded, but may be a type in which the second cable 65 is crimped. In this case, the second cable 65 is crimp-connected to the relay contact 50 in advance, and the relay contact 50 is attached to the first split housing 16 in this state. In this embodiment, a cable crimp terminal is formed in place of one of the pair of first pressure welding grooves 53 and the second pressure welding groove 55 of the relay contact 50. The second split housing 30 is provided with one cable support arm 35 or 36 corresponding to the remaining pressure welding groove.

On the contrary, three or more cables arranged in a direction orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the extension direction of the portion supported by the connector 10 of each cable may be connected by the connector 10. In this case, three or more pairs of pressure welding grooves (arranged in the left-right direction) may be formed in one relay contact. Further, a pressure welding groove may be formed in each of the plurality of relay contacts, two or more pairs of pressure welding grooves may be formed in at least one relay contact, and the cable (core wire) may be pressure-welded by each pressure welding groove.

In the above description, the first split housing 16 corresponds to the first fitting object, and the second split housing 30 corresponds to the second fitting object, but the present invention is not limited to this. The correspondence may be reversed.

10 Connector 15 Insulated housing 16 First split housing (first mating object)
17 Outer wall 17a Inner peripheral side recess 17b Inner peripheral side first facing surface 17c Central first recess 17d Central first facing surface 18 Contact mounting groove 18a Fixing part 18b Intermediate convex part 18c Positioning protrusion 19 First cable mounting groove 19a Inclined surface 20 Second cable mounting groove 20a Inclined surface 21, 22 Covers 21a, 22a Facing surface 25 First locking portion 25a Recess 26 First locking protrusion 26a, 26b Inclined surface 27 Engagement surface 28 Space 30 Second split housing (first 2 Fitting object)
31 Outer wall 31a Inner circumference side recess 31b Inner circumference side second facing surface 32 Cable pressing protrusion 32a First pressing groove 32b Second pressing groove 32c Central protrusion 32d, 32e Protrusion 35, 36 Cable support arm 35a, 36a First cable Holding Grooves 35b, 36b Second Cable Holding Grooves 35c, 36c Falling Prevention Protrusions 35d, 36d Falling Prevention Protrusions 35e, 36e Inclined Surfaces 35f, 36f Inclined Surfaces 37a, 37b, 38a, 38b Projecting Piece 39 Second Lock 40 Second Lock Projection 41 Convex wall 42 Contact surface 43 Space 46 First connection part (connection part)
47 Second connection (connection)
48 Flexible part 50 Relay contact (contact)
51 Base piece 51a Positioning hole 51b Play part 52 First cable pressure welding piece 52a Tip part 52b Narrow part 53 First pressure welding groove (electrical conduction part, pressure welding groove)
54 Second cable pressure welding piece 54a Tip 54b Narrow portion 55 Second pressure welding groove (electrical conduction part, pressure welding groove)
60 1st cable (cable)
61 Core wire 62 Covered 65 Second cable (cable)
66 Core wire 67 Coating 70 Filler 70a First filler 70b Second filler

Claims (8)

A pair of matable first mating objects and second mating objects connected to each other by a connecting portion,
The first outer peripheral wall and the second outer peripheral wall forming the outer peripheral edge portion of the first fitting object and the second fitting object, respectively,
With the contact located inside the first outer wall,
The first filler and the second filler provided on the first fitting object and the second fitting object, respectively,
With
The first outer peripheral wall is located on the fitting side with respect to the connection portion in the fitting direction in which the first fitting object and the second fitting object are fitted.
The second outer peripheral wall is located on the opposite side of the fitting side with respect to the connecting portion in the fitting direction.
In the fitted state in which the first fitting object and the second fitting object are fitted, the first filler and the second filler are held by the second fitting object. coalesce so as to sandwich the cable before Kihama if direction and integrated with each other to be the first outer peripheral wall is located inside the second outer peripheral wall, the whole of the contact of the first outer peripheral wall Located inside ,
connector. The contact has an electrically conductive portion and has an electrically conductive portion.
The contact is included in the fitted state in a state of being conductive with the cable.
The connector according to claim 1. At least one of the cables extends outward from the contact located inside the first filler and the second filler in the mated state.
The connector according to claim 2. The electrically conductive portion is a groove for pressure welding, and is
The second mating object holds at least two of the cables.
In the mated state, the contact sandwiches the core wire of the cable by the pressure welding groove to conduct the cables with each other.
The connector according to claim 2 or 3. In the mated state, in a cross-sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the cable, the cable is arranged inside the first filler and the second filler which are coalesced and integrated with each other. NS,
The connector according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The first filler and the second filler, which are coalesced and integrated with each other, expand and contract while being integrated with each other.
The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The first filler and the second filler are made of a material containing urethane acrylate as a main component.
The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6. In the mated state, the first filler and the second filler crush each other into a compressed state.
The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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