Detailed Description
Hereinafter, an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the figure, the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis are 3-axis rectangular coordinates, and the explanation will be given with the positive direction of the y-axis as the front direction, the negative direction of the y-axis as the rear direction, the x-axis direction as the left-right direction, the positive direction of the z-axis as the upper direction, and the negative direction of the z-axis as the lower direction.
(embodiment 1)
(construction of electric connector)
The structure of the electrical connector 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 1 to 5.
As shown in fig. 4, the electrical connector 1 is provided in a housing 100 of a device, and is attached to an attachment hole 101 opened in an outer surface of the housing 100, and includes: the case 10, the connector 20, the metal casing 30, the sealing member 40, and the auxiliary frame 50.
The housing 10 is made of an insulating material, and holds the connector 20. The housing 10 includes a main body 11 and a plate 12.
The main body 11 is press-fitted into and fixed to the metal case 30. The means for fixing the main body 11 to the metal shell 30 is not limited to press fitting, and may be integrally formed or engaged.
The plate-like portion 12 projects forward from the front end of the main body 11 and is fitted to an unillustrated object-side connector.
The connector 20 is formed of a material having conductivity, and has: connecting portion 21, terminal portion 22, and fixing portion 23.
The connection portion 21 is exposed on the surface of the plate-like portion 12 and is connectable to a connector of an object-side connector.
The terminal portion 22 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the main body 11, and is connected to a conductive portion of a substrate not shown by solder or the like.
The fixing portion 23 is fixed to the main body 11 by integral molding. The means for fixing the fixing portion 23 to the main body 11 is not limited to integral molding, and may be press-fit or engagement.
The metal case 30 includes: an opening 31 which opens forward and into which an object side connector inserted into the mounting hole 101 from the front can be inserted, and the housing 10 holding the connector 20 is stored. The metal shell 30 includes a protruding portion 32 protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface 30 a.
The protrusions 32 are provided in plural along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a, and are provided at positions where the outer peripheral surface 30a faces each other in the vertical direction and at positions where the outer peripheral surface 30a faces each other in the horizontal direction. The plurality of protrusions 32 may be provided at random positions along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30 a.
The protruding portion 32 is provided behind the sealing member 40 and between the sealing member 40 and the auxiliary frame 50 on the sealing member 40 side. The protruding portion 32 is formed by press working the metal shell 30. The protruding portion 32 is disposed with a gap from the inner wall 102 when the distance between the metal shell 30 and the inner wall 102 of the mounting hole 101 is in the state shown in fig. 4 and 5 where the distance is substantially uniform along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the metal shell 30. The protrusion 32 is in contact with or separated from the inner wall 102 according to the compression width of the sealing member 40.
The seal member 40 is annular, is formed of a material having elastic force, is provided at the front end of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the metal case 30, and includes: a pressure-bonding section 43, a tip section 44, and an opening 45. In the state shown in fig. 4 and 5 in which the entire sealing member 40 receives substantially uniform pressing force by the inner wall 102, the inner wall 102 is compressed and pressed against the inner wall 102 with a compression width R1(R1 > R2) larger than the gap width R2 between the protrusion 32 and the inner wall 102. In fig. 5, the dotted line of the sealing member 40 indicates a state before the sealing member 40 is elastically deformed.
The pressure contact portion 43 protrudes outward and comes into pressure contact with the inner wall 102.
The distal end portion 44 protrudes further forward than the metal shell 30, and covers the distal end surface of the metal shell 30.
The opening 45 penetrates in the front-rear direction to enable insertion of the target side connector. The opening 45 communicates with the opening 31.
The auxiliary frame 50 is provided on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the metal case 30 and is attached to the housing of the machine. Moreover, the electrical connector 1 may not have the auxiliary frame 50.
(operation of electric connector)
The operation of the electrical connector 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 4 to 6.
First, the electrical connector 1 is inserted into the mounting hole 101 of the housing 100 of the electronic device from the rear, and the electrical connector 1 is inserted to a predetermined position in the mounting hole 101. At this time, the electric connector 1 is pressed into the mounting hole 101 because the pressure-bonding section 43 of the sealing member 40 is elastically deformed by being pressed by the inner wall 102 of the housing 100. Further, by providing the protrusion 32 in the metal shell 30 with a gap from the inner wall 102, the protrusion 32 is not caught by the inner wall 102 when the electrical connector 1 is pressed into the mounting hole 101, and thus the electrical connector 1 can be prevented from being inserted into the mounting hole 101.
In the state shown in fig. 4 and 5 in which the distance between the metal shell 30 and the inner wall 102 is substantially uniform along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the metal shell 30, the sealing member 40 is elastically deformed by the pressing force from the inner wall 102 and is compressed by the compression width R1, and the entire body is pressed against the inner wall 102 by the substantially uniform pressing force from the inner wall 102. In the state shown in fig. 4 and 5, the protruding portions 32 are disposed facing each other with a gap in the inner wall 102.
When the electrical connector 1 is connected to an unillustrated object-side connector, the lower side of the sealing member 40 is elastically deformed with a large compression width by receiving an external force through the object-side connector, for example, downward, and is strongly pressed against the inner wall 102, so that the pressing state of the inner wall 102 against the entire sealing member 40 becomes uneven. At this time, as shown in fig. 6, the protrusion 32 abuts against the inner wall 102, and the electrical connector 1 is prevented from moving downward in the state of fig. 6 or more with respect to the mounting hole 101. Further, the outer side of the lower portion of the sealing member 40 is pressed against the inner wall 102 at a compression width R1 larger than the width R2 of the gap, and the pressed state against the inner wall 102 is maintained, so that a predetermined waterproof effect can be obtained. The protrusion 32 abuts against the inner wall 102 to restrict the movement of the electrical connector 1 to the mounting hole 101, thereby preventing the positional deviation of the electrical connector 1 to the housing 100 of the electronic device.
When the external force applied through the mating connector is released, the electrical connector 1 returns to the state shown in fig. 4 by the elastic restoring force of the sealing member 40.
Here, when the distance between the metal shell 30 and the inner wall 102 is varied in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface 30a due to the displacement of the mounting position of the electrical connector 1 to the housing 100, even when a small external force is applied from the mating connector, it is considered that a portion in which the pressure contact force of the sealing member 40 to the inner wall 102 is weakened occurs. Even in the above case, by disposing the protrusion 32 with a gap with respect to the inner wall 102, the protrusion 32 comes into contact with the inner wall 102 when an external force is applied, so that the compression width of the sealing member 40 can be restricted, a predetermined waterproof effect can be obtained, and a reduction in the waterproof effect due to an attachment error of the electrical connector 1 to the housing 100 can be prevented.
According to the present embodiment, by providing the protruding portion 32 at the rear of the sealing member 40, the protruding portion 32 can be used for positioning when the sealing member 40 is attached to the front end of the metal shell 30.
Further, according to the present embodiment, by integrating the protrusion 32 with the metal case 30, it is not necessary to provide the protrusion 32 as a separate member, and an increase in the number of parts and an increase in the product and manufacturing costs can be suppressed.
(embodiment 2)
(construction of electric connector)
The structure of the electrical connector 2 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 7 to 10.
In fig. 7 to 10, the same components as those in fig. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
The electrical connector 2 of the present embodiment is mounted in a mounting hole 101 provided in a housing 100 of an apparatus and opened to an outer surface of the housing 100, and includes: the case 10, the connector 20, the auxiliary frame 50, the metal case 130, and the sealing member 140.
The main body 11 of the case 10 is press-fitted and fixed to the metal shell 130. The means for fixing the main body 11 to the metal shell 130 is not limited to press fitting, and may be integrally formed or engaged.
The metal case 130 includes: an opening 131 opened at the front and into which the subject side connector can be inserted, and the housing 10 holding the connector 20 is housed. The metal shell 130 includes a protrusion 132 protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface 130 a.
The protrusions 132 are provided in plural along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 130a, and are provided at positions facing each other in the vertical direction of the outer peripheral surface 130a and at positions facing each other in the horizontal direction of the outer peripheral surface 130 a. The protrusions 132 may be provided at a plurality of random positions along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 130 a.
The protrusion 132 is covered by a sealing member 140. The protruding portion 132 is formed by press working the metal shell 130. The protrusion 132 is disposed with a gap from the inner wall 102 of the mounting hole 101 when the distance between the metal shell 130 and the inner wall 102 is substantially uniform along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 130a of the metal shell 130. The protrusion 132 is in contact with or separated from the inner wall 102 according to the compression amplitude of the sealing member 140.
The seal member 140 is annular, is formed of a material having elastic force, is provided at the front end of the outer peripheral surface 130a of the metal case 130, and includes: a pressure-bonding part 143, a tip part 144, and an opening 145. The sealing member 140 is compressed at a compression width larger than the gap width between the protrusion 132 and the inner wall 102 and is in pressure contact with the inner wall 102 when the inner wall 102 receives a substantially uniform pressing force as a whole. The sealing member 140 includes: a pressure-bonding section 143, a tip section 144, an opening 145, and a recess 146.
The press-contact portion 143 protrudes outward and is pressed against the inner wall 102.
The front end 144 projects forward from the metal case 130 and covers the front end surface of the metal case 130.
The opening 145 penetrates in the front-rear direction to enable insertion of the target side connector. The opening 145 communicates with the opening 131.
The recess 146 is recessed in the inner circumferential surface at a position facing the protruding portion 132 of the seal member 140, and is formed in a size capable of accommodating the protruding portion 132. The recess 146 is provided further rearward than the press-fit portion 143.
The auxiliary frame 50 is provided on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface 130a of the metal case 130 and attached to the housing of the machine. Moreover, the electrical connector 2 may not have the auxiliary frame 50.
The operation of the electrical connector 2 is the same as that of the electrical connector 1, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.
According to the present embodiment, the present invention comprises: a sealing member 140 provided on the front side of the outer peripheral surface 130a of the metal case 130 and having an elastic force for pressing against the inner wall 102 of the mounting hole 101; the protrusion 132 is provided on the metal case 130, protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 130a, is disposed with a gap from the inner wall 102, and is in contact with or separated from the inner wall 102 according to the compression width of the sealing member 140, and the sealing member 140 can be compressed by the inner wall 102 and pressed against the inner wall 102 with a compression width larger than the width of the gap between the inner wall 102 and the protrusion 132, and can be reliably waterproofed even when an external force is applied.
Further, according to the present embodiment, by providing the protruding portion 132 behind the pressure-bonding portion 143, the elastic force at the time of pressure-bonding the sealing member 140 to the inner wall 102 can be sufficiently secured.
Further, according to the present embodiment, by covering the protruding portion 132 with the sealing member 140, the appearance of the electrical connector 2 can be formed into a shape with less unevenness, and the appearance can be improved.
In the present embodiment, the entire protrusion 132 is covered with the sealing member 140, but a part of the protrusion 132 may be covered with the sealing member.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the types, arrangement, numbers, and the like of the members are naturally appropriately modified within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, as long as the constituent elements are appropriately replaced to exhibit the same operational effects and the like.
Specifically, in the above-described embodiment 1 and embodiment 2, the protruding portion that contacts or separates from the inner wall of the housing is provided in the metal case, but the protruding portion may be provided in any member such as a case other than the metal case facing the inner wall of the housing. Further, a member having a protrusion may be provided separately.
In the above-described embodiments 1 and 2, the sealing member is provided at the front end of the metal case, but the sealing member may be provided slightly behind the front end of the metal case, or the sealing member may be provided at an arbitrary position of the metal case facing the inner wall of the housing. In this case, the seal member is shaped so as not to cover the distal end portion of the distal end surface of the metal case.
In the above-described embodiment 1 and embodiment 2, the metal shell is formed with a plurality of protruding portions, but 1 protruding portion may be formed over the entire circumference of the metal shell.
In the above-described embodiments 1 and 2, the metal housing is provided to the electrical connector, but the housing made of a material having insulating properties other than metal may be provided to the electrical connector.
Industrial applicability
The invention is suitable for the electric connector with the waterproof function.