JP7374564B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, there has been provided a connector housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, a female terminal fitting accommodated in each terminal accommodating chamber, and a front member attached to the connector housing to fix the female terminal fitting accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber. A connector having the following has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the conventional connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the female terminal fitting is housed in the terminal accommodating chamber, the front end of the female terminal fitting is brought close to the rear end of the terminal accommodating chamber and moved forward. inserted.

The terminal accommodating chamber is constituted by a space continuous in the front-rear direction between the upper wall and the lower wall. This terminal accommodating chamber is provided with a cantilever-shaped flexible locking piece whose base end is continuous with the upper wall, extends forward, and locks the terminal.

The front member is provided so as to be slidable between a temporary locking position and a final locking position of the connector housing. Further, the front member is provided with a restraining piece that extends rearward and restrains the lance.

In such a conventional connector, the female terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber when the front member is in the temporary locking position of the connector housing, and the female terminal fitting is locked by the lance at the proper position. In addition, when the front member is further slid from the temporary locking position and the front member is in the final locking position of the connector housing, the restraining piece overlaps the lance and restrains the lance, so that the terminal is double locked. state.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-099071

However, in conventional connectors, when the front member is in the temporary locking position of the connector housing, if any of the female terminal fittings is in the halfway insertion position before the proper position, the lance The front member remains bent and interferes with the lance, so that the front member cannot be slid from the temporary locking position to the final locking position. In this case, the operator detects that one of the female terminal fittings is in the halfway insertion position by restricting the sliding of the front member from the temporary locking position to the final locking position, It was not easy to determine whether the female terminal fitting was in the mid-insertion position. Therefore, when the sliding of the front member from the temporary locking position to the final locking position is restricted, the operator has to reconsider the insertion positions of all the female terminal fittings, resulting in poor assembly work efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector with improved assembly workability.

In order to solve the above problem and achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1 provides a connector comprising a housing having a terminal holding part into which a terminal is inserted, and a holder attached to the terminal holding part. The terminal holder includes a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers and a lance that extends in the terminal insertion direction and locks the terminal, and the holder is externally inserted into the terminal holder. a cylindrical holder main body, and a plurality of slide members that enter each of the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the terminal, and each of the plurality of slide members is connected via a hinge to the holder body and is provided so as to be slidable individually relative to the holder main body, and when the lance is in a locked state in which the terminal is locked, the sliding member is allowed to slide. , the slide member overlaps the lance to restrict the deflection of the lance, and when the lance is in a deflected and unlatched state, the slide member abuts on the lance, thereby preventing the slide member from sliding. This connector is characterized in that it is regulated.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the slide member is configured to engage with the holder main body at a position where the slide member restricts deflection of the lance. It is characterized by

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a cylindrical packing that is inserted into the terminal holding portion, and the holder main body is located on the insertion direction side of the packing. The packing is characterized in that movement of the packing in the insertion direction is restricted.

According to the invention described in claim 1, each of the plurality of slide members is connected to the holder body via a hinge and is provided so as to be individually slidable with respect to the holder body, and the lance locks the terminal. When the lance is in the locked state, the slide member is allowed to slide and overlaps the lance to restrict the deflection of the lance, and when the lance is in the unlatched state where the lance is deflected, the slide member overlaps the lance. The sliding of the slide member is regulated by coming into contact with the slide member. That is, when the terminal is at the mid-insertion position in the terminal storage chamber, the sliding of the slide member is restricted, so that the operator can detect that the terminal is at the mid-insertion position. Furthermore, since the plurality of slide members are configured to be slidable individually relative to the holder body, it is possible to easily identify which terminal is in the mid-insertion position, thereby improving assembly workability. I can do it.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a housing that constitutes the connector. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a holder that constitutes the connector. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the main parts of the holder. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the slide member in a protruding position. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the slide member is in a pushed-in position and engaged with a holder main body. It is a figure for explaining the assembly procedure of the said connector, and is a perspective view which shows the connector when the slide member which comprises the said holder is in a protruding position. It is a figure which shows the post-process of FIG. 6, and is a sectional view which shows the state in which the said terminal was inserted. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the post-process of FIG. 7, and is a perspective view illustrating the connector when one of the slide members is in the push-in position. FIG. 9 is a front view of the connector shown in FIG. 8; 9 is a sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 8. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the completed state of the connector. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIG. 12; It is a figure for explaining the effect of this embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on FIGS. 1 to 14. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the connector 1 of this embodiment includes an electric wire 11, a female terminal fitting 2 (hereinafter referred to as a female terminal 2, see FIG. 7) as a terminal in the claims, and a female terminal fitting 2 (hereinafter referred to as a female terminal 2, see FIG. 7). It includes a housing 3 having a terminal holding part 31 into which the terminal 2 is inserted, and a packing 5 (see FIG. 7) and a holder 6 attached to the terminal holding part 31. In this embodiment, the direction in which the female terminal 2 is inserted is referred to as the "front (X1 direction)", the opposite direction is referred to as the "rear (X2 direction)", and the two directions substantially perpendicular to the X direction are respectively referred to as The Y direction and the Z direction. Among the Y directions, one of the Y directions may be described as "upward" and the other of the Y directions may be described as "downward."

As shown in FIG. 7, the female terminal 2 is made of conductive metal and includes an electric contact portion 21 that is electrically contacted with a male tab terminal (not shown), and a wire connection portion that is connected to the electric wire 11. 22. The electrical contact portion 21 is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape with the axis in the X direction. A terminal locking portion 20 is provided at the rear end edge of the electrical contact portion 21 to be locked to a lance 35 of the terminal holding portion 31, which will be described later. Such a female terminal 2 is inserted with the front end of the electrical contact portion 21 close to the rear end of the terminal accommodating chamber 30. Further, when the female terminal 2 reaches the proper position in the terminal accommodating chamber 30, the lance 35 of the terminal holding section 31 is configured to lock the terminal locking section 20.

The housing 3 is made of, for example, insulating resin. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 3 includes a terminal holder 31 having six (plural) terminal accommodating chambers 30, a cylindrical shape surrounding the terminal holder 31, and a mating member (not shown). It integrally includes a hood part 36 for receiving the housing and a lock arm part 4 for maintaining the fitted state with a mating housing (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal holding section 31 includes a pair of vertically opposing wall sections 32 and 33, and a partition wall 34 that partitions the pair of wall sections 32 and 33. , 33 in the Z direction by a partition wall 34. Each terminal accommodating chamber 30 is formed to extend in the X direction, and the six terminal accommodating chambers 30 are provided side by side in the Z direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lance 35 for locking the female terminal 2 is provided on the upper wall portion 32 of the pair of wall portions 32, 33. The lance 35 is provided for each terminal accommodating chamber 30, and in its natural state extends diagonally downward as it advances forward (in the X1 direction) of each terminal accommodating chamber 30. When the female terminal 2 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 30, the female terminal 2 contacts the lance 35 and the lance 35 is temporarily bent, and the insertion progresses further and the female terminal 2 reaches the proper position. When this occurs, the lance 35 is restored and locks the terminal locking portion 20 of the female terminal 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, when the lance 35 is in a state in which the terminal locking portion 20 of the female terminal 2 is locked (locked state), the slide member 7, which will be described later, of the holder 6 is connected to the lance 35 and the upper wall. By entering the entry space S between the portions 32, the lance 35 is configured to be regulated from deflecting. This results in a so-called double locking state of the female terminal 2. As shown in FIG. 10, in the double-locked state of the female terminal 2, the female terminal 2 is held in the connector 1 by locking the lance 35 and restricting the deflection of the lance 35 by the entry portion 72 of the slide member 7, which will be described later. The strength is improved, and even if the electric wire 11 is pulled backward (in the X2 direction), it becomes difficult to come off.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hood portion 36 includes a hood peripheral wall 36A that is continuous with the terminal holding portion 31. In the hood portion 36, a portion of the hood peripheral wall 36A is cut out to expose a lock arm portion 4, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lock arm portion 4 includes a pair of lock arms 41, 41 that extend continuously from the upper wall portion 32 toward the front, and a pair of lock arms 41, 41 that extend continuously toward the front side of the pair of lock arms 41, 41. It includes a pair of connecting arms 42, 42 extending rearward, and an operating section 43 provided at the rear end portions of the pair of connecting arms 42, 42. In such a lock arm portion 4, when the housing 3 and a mating housing (not shown) are fitted together, the lock (not shown) of the lock arm 41 engages with the locked part (not shown) of the mating housing. configured to match. Furthermore, the engagement between the lock of the lock arm 41 and the locked object of the mating housing is released by depressing the operating section 43 and bending the lock arm 41 via the connecting arm 42. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the packing 5 is formed into a cylindrical shape that can be inserted into the terminal holding portion 31. This packing 5 is attached to a packing attachment part 37 located in the middle part of the terminal holding part 31 in the X direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the holder 6 includes a holder main body 61 and six (plural) slide members 7 connected to the holder main body 61 via hinges 62. Each slide member 7 slides into a protruding position (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) in which it protrudes forward (in the X1 direction) from the holder main body 61 and a pushed-in position in the rear (in the X2 direction) from the protruding position. possible. The hinge 62 is provided so as to be deformable, and in its natural state positions each slide member 7 in a protruding position.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, the holder main body 61 includes a cylindrical outer part 63 that is fitted onto the terminal holding part 31, and a partition wall 64 that partitions the internal space of the outer part 63 in the Z direction. , and an engaged portion 65 (shown in FIG. 4) that is engaged with a later-described engagement protrusion 73 of the slide member 7.

The outer insertion part 63 is adapted to be engaged with the terminal holding part 31 by an engaging means (not shown) in a state of being fitted onto the terminal holding part 31 . Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a holding portion 66 is provided in a portion including the rear end of the extrapolation portion 63. A peripheral wall 66A constituting the holding portion 66 is formed to be thicker than other portions. The holding part 66 is arranged such that the rear end surface 6a of the holding part 66 and the front end surface 5a of the packing 5 are opposed to each other over the entire circumference when the outer insertion part 63 is inserted into the terminal holding part 31. It is configured. Such an extrapolated portion 63 prevents the packing 5 from coming off (falling off) forward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the partition wall 64 is provided only at the front end of the outer insertion portion 63, and is also provided on the front side of the partition wall 34 of the terminal holding portion 31. The internal space of the extrapolation section 63 is divided by the partition wall 64 so as to correspond to each terminal accommodating chamber 30 .

As shown in FIG. 5, when the slide member 7 is in the push-in position, the engaged portion 65 engages with an engagement protrusion 73 (described later) of the slide member 7, so that the slide member 7 is held in the push-in position. It is configured to As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the engaged portion 65 includes a holder inclined surface 6A that is inclined in the Z direction toward the rear (X2 direction), and a holder inclined surface 6A that is located on the rear side of the holder inclined surface 6A. It has a holder orthogonal surface 6B that is orthogonal to the direction (X direction). When the engaging protrusion 73 is engaged with the engaged portion 65, as the slide member 7 is slid from the protruding position to the pushing position, the engaging protrusion 73 forms a sliding slope (described later) on the holder inclined surface 6A. The surfaces 73A are in contact with each other, the slide slope 73A is slid on the holder slope 6A, and the slide orthogonal surface 73B is opposed to the rear side (X2 direction) of the holder orthogonal surface 6B. The engagement protrusion 73 is engaged.

As shown in FIG. 3B, each slide member 7 enters into the entry space S of the terminal accommodating chamber 30 continuously from the front wall 71 facing the front opening of each terminal accommodating chamber 30 and the front wall 71. It includes a plate-shaped entrance portion 72 and an engagement protrusion 73 that engages with the engaged portion 65 of the holder main body 61. The front wall 71 is formed with an insertion hole 71a into which a male tab terminal (not shown) is inserted. The entrance portion 72 is formed to extend rearward (X2 direction), and when the slide member 7 is in the push-in position, enters the entrance space S of the terminal accommodating chamber 30, overlaps the lance 35, and prevents the lance 35 from deflecting. to regulate. The engaging protrusions 73 are provided on each outer surface of the front wall 71 in the Z direction. The engagement protrusion 73 has a slide slope 73A that slopes in the Z direction as it goes forward (X1 direction), and a slide orthogonal slide that is located forward of the slide slope 73A and is orthogonal to the front-rear direction (X direction). It has a surface 73B.

Next, the procedure for assembling the connector will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 14.

First, an annular waterproof stopper 11C is inserted into the covering portion 11B of the electric wire 11 in advance, and the core wire 11A of the electric wire 11 and the covering portion 11B are connected to the wire connecting portion 22 of the female terminal 2 by crimping. Next, the packing 5 is inserted into the terminal holding part 31 and the packing 5 is attached to the packing mounting part 37 of the terminal holding part 31.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer part 63 is inserted into the front end of the terminal holding part 31, and the outer part 63 is engaged with the terminal holding part 31 using an engaging means (not shown). , attach the holder main body 61 to the terminal holding part 31. At this time, all the slide members 7 are positioned at the protruding position.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the front end of the female terminal 2 is brought close to the rear end of each terminal accommodating chamber 30 of the terminal holder 31 and inserted. As the insertion progresses, the front end of the female terminal 2 comes into contact with the lance 35 and bends the lance 35. When the insertion progresses further and the female terminal 2 reaches the proper position in the terminal accommodating chamber 30, the lance 35 returns to its natural state and locks the terminal locking portion 20 of the female terminal 2. In this way, the female terminal 2 is accommodated in the proper position of the terminal accommodation chamber 30.

By repeating this operation, all female terminals 2 are accommodated in appropriate positions in the terminal accommodation chamber 30. Here, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, only one female terminal 2 is shown accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 30, and after the female terminal 2 is accommodated in the appropriate position in the terminal accommodating chamber 30, The slide member 7A (7) corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber 30 is slid from the protruding position to the pushing position.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, when the slide member 7A is in the pushed-in position, the entry portion 72 of the slide member 7A enters the entry space S of the terminal accommodating chamber 30 rearward (in the X2 direction) and overlaps the lance 35. , restricts the deflection of the lance 35. At approximately the same time, the engaging protrusion 73 of the slide member 7 engages with the engaged portion 65 of the holder main body 61 (see FIG. 5). Thereby, the slide member 7 is held at the pushed-in position. By repeating this operation, all the slide members 7 are positioned at the pushed-in position as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In this way, by positioning all the slide members 7 in the pushed-in position, the operator understands that all the female terminals 2 are in proper positions in the terminal accommodating chamber 30. In this way, the connector 1 is assembled.

Here, for example, when the female terminal 2 is at the halfway insertion position (before the proper position) in the terminal storage chamber 30, the lance 35 is in contact with the female terminal 2 and remains bent (unlatched). state). In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, even if the slide member 7 is pushed in from the protruding position, the rear end surface 72a of the entry portion 72 comes into contact with the free end 35a of the lance 35, so that the slide member 7 is moved from the protruding position. It does not slide into the pushed position. That is, when the lance 35 is in a bent and unlatched state, the sliding of the slide member 7 is restricted.

With the slide member 7 in the protruding position in this manner, the operator can visually identify the female terminal 2 at the mid-insertion position from among the plurality of female terminals 2. Since the operator can identify the female terminal 2 at the halfway insertion position, the connector 1 can be completed by inserting the female terminal 2 at the halfway insertion position to the appropriate position. This eliminates the need to review the insertion positions of all the female terminals 2 as in the prior art, thereby improving assembly workability.

According to the embodiment described above, when the female terminal 2 (terminal) is in the halfway insertion position of the terminal storage chamber 30, the sliding of the slide member 7 is restricted, so that the operator can prevent the female terminal 2 from being halfway inserted. Detects the location. Furthermore, since the plurality of slide members 7 are configured to be individually slidable with respect to the holder main body 61, it is possible to easily identify which female terminal 2 is in the mid-insertion position, thereby improving assembly workability. You can improve your performance.

Further, the slide member 7 is configured to engage with the holder main body 61 at a position (push-in position) where the slide member 7 restricts the deflection of the lance 35. According to this, since the slide member 7 remains in the pushed-in position, it is possible to easily identify which female terminal 2 is in the proper position.

Further, the holder main body 61 is provided with a cylindrical packing 5 that is inserted externally into the terminal holding part 31, and is located on the insertion direction side (X1 direction) of the packing 5 to restrict movement of the packing 5 in the insertion direction side. . According to this, the packing 5 is prevented from falling off from the terminal holding portion 31. This prevents the packing 5 from falling off even when the housing 3 with the packing 5 attached thereto is handled during transportation or the like with the packing 5 attached to the terminal holding portion 31 and the holder 6 attached. This will improve convenience.

In addition, the best configuration, method, etc. for carrying out the present invention have been disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention has been specifically illustrated and described primarily with respect to particular embodiments, modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. , materials, quantities, and other detailed configurations, those skilled in the art can make various modifications. Therefore, the descriptions that limit the shapes, materials, etc. disclosed above are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention. Descriptions of names of members that exclude some or all of the limitations such as these are included in the present invention.

1 Connector 2 Female terminal (terminal)
3 Housing 5 Packing 6 Holder 7 Multiple slide members 30 Multiple terminal accommodating chambers 31 Terminal holding portion 35 Lance 61 Holder body 62 Hinge

Claims (3)

A connector comprising a housing having a terminal holding part into which a terminal is inserted, and a holder attached to the terminal holding part,
The terminal holding portion includes a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers and a lance that extends in the insertion direction of the terminal and locks the terminal,
The holder includes a cylindrical holder main body that is inserted into the terminal holding portion, and a plurality of slide members that enter each of the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the terminal,
Each of the plurality of slide members is connected to the holder main body via a hinge, and is provided so as to be individually slidable with respect to the holder main body,
When the lance is in a locked state in which the terminal is locked, the slide member is allowed to slide, and the slide member overlaps the lance to restrict deflection of the lance;
A connector characterized in that when the lance is in a bent and unlatched state, the sliding member comes into contact with the lance, thereby restricting the sliding of the sliding member. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the slide member is configured to engage with the holder main body at a position where the slide member restricts deflection of the lance. comprising a cylindrical packing that is inserted into the terminal holding part,
3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the holder main body is located on the insertion direction side of the packing and restricts movement of the packing in the insertion direction.

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