JP2000299158A - Crimp joint connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To prevent water from entering a connector housing and ensure insulation between terminals. SOLUTION: Each of the connector housings 1 connected in a multi-stage manner is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 5 partitioned by respective cavity walls 4, and a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 5 are provided in the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 5.
Are assembled by insertion, and the terminal assembly 7 is composed of a plurality of terminals 6 arranged in each terminal accommodating chamber 5 and a carrier portion 8 connecting the plurality of terminals 6, and the adjacent terminal 6 A portion of the carrier portion 8 that connects between them is cut and provided on the terminal 6, a spring locking portion 6 f that can be displaced inward by elastic deformation, and a member that is provided on the connector housing 1 and opens to the terminal accommodating chamber 5. The provisional locking means 20 including the stopping groove 21 is provided, and the terminal assembly is assembled at a position where the terminal assembly 7 is being inserted into the terminal housing 5 and the carrier 8 is located outside the terminal housing 5. The structure 7 is temporarily locked to the connector housing 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a press-fit joint connector formed by connecting connector housings in multiple stages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 14 to 24 show a press-fit joint connector of this type. 14 is a perspective view of the connector housing, FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the terminal assembly, FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the connector housing in a state where the terminals are assembled, FIG. 17 is a plan view of the connector housing, and FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 18 when the terminal is mounted, FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal is assembled, FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a cutting operation of the carrier portion, and FIG. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a cutting operation of a carrier portion before cutting, and FIG.
2 (B) is a cross-sectional view after cutting showing a cutting operation of a carrier portion, FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state of a connector housing, and FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where upper and lower terminals are short-circuited by water droplets. .

In FIG. 14 to FIG. 20, the connector housing 1 has upper and lower surfaces both formed as connecting surfaces 1a and 1b, and a front housing lock projection 2a is provided on the front side of the upper connecting surface 1a. A front housing lock groove 2b (shown in FIG. 18 and the like) is provided on the corresponding lower connection surface 1b. A rear housing lock projection 3a is provided on the rear side of the lower surface of the connector housing 1.
However, a rear housing lock groove 3b is provided on the corresponding upper connection surface 1a.

[0004] The connector housing 1 is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 5 each partitioned by each cavity wall 4, and each of the terminal accommodating chambers 5 is provided with a terminal locking portion 1c. The plurality of terminals 6 are housed in the respective terminal housing chambers 5 while being locked by the terminal locking portions 1c. Before the terminals 6 are assembled to the connector housing 1, the plurality of terminals 6 are configured as a terminal assembly 7 shown in FIG. And a carrier section 8 connecting between the terminals 6. This terminal assembly 7
Punches a plate-shaped conductive metal into a predetermined shape, and forms a plurality of terminals 6 by bending the conductive metal. Next, the carrier portion 8 connecting the plurality of terminals 6 is bent into a continuous mountain-valley shape. It is formed by doing. That is, by bending the carrier portion 8, the pitch between the terminals is made to be a narrow pitch terminal assembly component 7.

In the process of assembling the connector housing 1, a portion of the carrier portion 8 located between the terminals 6 where no electrical connection is required is cut, and a cut space 9 is formed in this portion. . The cutting of the carrier section 8 will be described in detail below.

The terminal 6 is a wire press-contact portion 6 to which the wire W is pressed.
a, a housing locking portion 6b for locking to the connector housing 1, and a tab portion 6c protruding toward the upper connection surface 1a.
And a tab contact portion 6d (shown in FIG. 20) with which the tab portion 6c inserted from the lower connecting surface 1b comes into contact, and a tab receiver for supporting the opposite surface of the tab portion 6c contacting with the tab contact portion 6d. 20e (shown in FIG. 20).

A notch 10 is formed in each of the cavity walls 4 at a position where the carrier portion 8 is located,
A hole 11 for cutting the carrier is formed in a portion of the connector housing 1 below the notch 10. Further, a tab insertion hole 1d is opened on the lower surface of each terminal accommodating chamber 5, and the tab insertion hole 1d is configured to coincide with the position of the tab contact portion 6d of the terminal 6 at the mounting position.

Next, the operation of mounting terminals on the connector housing 1 and the operation of connecting the connector housings 1 will be described. The terminal assembly 7 is inserted from the rear surfaces of the plurality of terminal receiving chambers 5 of the connector housing 1 to the mounting position as shown in FIG. When each terminal 6 is inserted to the mounting position, the housing locking portion 6b of each terminal 6 is locked to the terminal locking portion 1c of the connector housing 1. Next, among the adjacent terminals 6, a portion of the carrier portion 8 located between the terminals 6 that does not require electrical connection is cut using the carrier cutting jig device 12.

As shown in FIG. 21, the carrier cutting jig device 12 has a vertically movable cutting blade 13 and a carrier support 14 disposed below the cutting blade 13 and having a hole 14a. . As shown in FIG.
The portion to be cut of the carrier portion 8 is placed on the carrier support base 14 using the cutout portion 10 of the cavity wall 4, and the cutting blade 13 is moved downward from above (in the direction of the arrow) using the carrier cutting hole 11. It is moved, and the carrier 8 is pressed by the cutting blade 13. Then, the carrier portion 8 is moved to the adjacent 2
The cut scum pieces 15 are cut off at the four places and fall from the holes 14a, and a cut space 9 is formed in the carrier portion 8. In this manner, all portions of the carrier portion 8 between the terminals 6 that do not need to be electrically connected are cut.

Next, each electric wire W is connected to the electric wire press-contact portion 6 of each terminal 6.
A process such as press contact with a is performed, and each electric wire W and each terminal 6 are connected.

Next, the connecting surfaces 1a and 1b of both connector housings 1 are moved in a direction of approaching each other, and the front housing lock projection 2a and the front housing lock groove 2b are aligned. When both positions are aligned, the connection surfaces 1 of both connector housings 1 are further increased.
When the connecting surfaces 1a and 1b are moved in a direction in which the connecting surfaces 1a and 1b are brought close to each other and the connecting surfaces 1a and 1b are joined together, the housing is locked on the front side and the rear side, and the connecting is completed as shown in FIG. In the connection position, the upper part of the plurality of terminal receiving chambers 5 of the lower connector housing 1 is closed by the lower surface of the upper connector housing 1.

Further, as the two connector housings 1 move to the connection position, the tab portions 6c of the respective terminals 6 of the lower connector housing 1 enter through the tab insertion holes 1d of the upper connector housing 1 as shown in FIG. At the connection position shown, the tab 6c of each terminal 6 of the lower connector housing 1 is brought into contact with the tab contact portion 6d of each terminal 6 of the upper connector housing 1. When it is not desired to electrically connect the upper and lower terminals 6 to each other, a bending process of bending the tab portion 6c is performed in advance.

That is, this press-connecting joint connector
If necessary, it is possible to electrically connect between adjacent upper and lower terminals 6 and between adjacent left and right terminals 6.

[0014]

However, in the conventional press-joint connector, the carrier housing 8 is provided with a carrier cutting hole 11 and a notch 10 for cutting the carrier portion 8. Therefore, the left and right terminals 6 having the cut space 9 face each other via the notch 10, and the terminal housings 5 of the upper and lower connector housings 1 communicate with the carrier cutting hole 11 via the notch 10. I have.

Accordingly, for example, water or the like easily enters through the carrier cutting hole 11 and the notch portion 10 of the uppermost connector housing 1, and as shown in FIG. Easy to occur. Then
There is a problem that insulation between the left and right adjacent terminals 6 and insulation between the vertically adjacent terminals 6 cannot be maintained.

A tab insertion hole 1d is formed in the connector housing 1 in addition to the carrier cutting hole 11. Since the tab insertion hole 1d is a slit-shaped opening and the opening area itself is very small. There is almost no entry of water or the like from the tab insertion hole 1d.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is desirable to prevent water or the like from entering into the connector housing as much as possible, to insulate between left and right adjacent terminals and to provide a space between vertically adjacent terminals. An object of the present invention is to provide a conventional press-fit joint connector that can sufficiently secure insulation.

[0018]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the connector housings are connected in multiple stages, and each connector housing is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers partitioned by cavity walls. The chamber accommodates the terminal assembly by insertion, and the terminal assembly comprises a plurality of terminals arranged in each of the terminal accommodating chambers and a carrier portion connecting the plurality of terminals. In a press-fit joint connector, a portion of the carrier portion connecting the adjacent terminals is cut accordingly, and the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers of a lower connector housing are closed with an upper connector housing. In the housing, the terminal assembly is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber, and the carrier is positioned outside the terminal receiving chamber. Characterized in that a temporary locking means for temporary locking to said connector housing the terminal set structure at positions that.

In this press-fit joint connector, the carrier can be cut in a state in which the terminal assembly is temporarily locked to the connector housing by the temporary locking means. It is not necessary to provide a hole or the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the press-fit joint connector according to the first aspect, the temporary locking means is provided on the terminal of the terminal assembly to protrude from an outer wall,
A spring locking portion that is displaceable inwardly of an outer wall of the terminal by elastic deformation, and is provided on the connector housing;
And a locking groove opening into the terminal accommodating chamber.

In this press-fit joint connector, the spring locking portion of the terminal assembly is temporarily locked by being inserted into the locking groove of the connector housing. Since the carrier part can be cut in the locked state, it is not necessary to provide a hole or the like for cutting the carrier part in the connector housing.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 13 show an embodiment of the present invention,
1A is a perspective view of a connector housing in a state where the terminal assembly is inserted to a temporary locking position, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a temporary locking unit, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the connector housing in a state where the connector housing is inserted to the stop position, FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the connector housing, FIG. 5 (A) is a side view of the connector housing, and FIG. ) Is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a rear view of the connector housing, FIG. 7A is a view showing a stage before completion of the terminal assembly, and FIG. 7B is a terminal assembly. 8A is a side view of the terminal, FIG.
(B) is an enlarged front view of the terminal, FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the terminal,
FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged plan view of the connector housing, and FIG.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state before the connector housing is connected, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state of the connector housing, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the upper and lower terminal accommodating chambers are partitioned.

1 to 10, the connector housing 1 has an upper surface and a lower surface both formed as connecting surfaces 1a and 1b, and the upper and lower connecting surfaces 1a and 1b of both connector housings 1 are brought close to each other. Thus, the connection is possible. A front housing lock projection 2a is provided on the front side of the upper connection surface 1a, and a front housing lock groove 2b is provided on the corresponding lower connection surface 1b.
(Shown in FIG. 4 and the like) are provided. A rear housing lock projection 3a is provided on the rear side of the lower surface of the connector housing 1, and a rear housing lock groove 3b is provided on a corresponding upper connection surface 1a. When the connector housings are connected, the front locking projections 2a and the front locking grooves 2b of the connector housings 1 are connected to each other.
Engage with the rear locking projection 3a and the locking groove 3
The housing is locked by the engagement with b.

The connector housing 1 is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 5 partitioned by the respective cavity walls 4, and the terminals 6 are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 5, respectively. Before the terminal 6 is assembled to the connector housing 1, the terminals 6 are configured as a terminal assembly 7 shown in FIG. 7B, and the terminal assembly 7 is arranged in a plurality of terminals 6 arranged in parallel. And a carrier section 8 connecting the plurality of terminals 6. This terminal assembly 7 is formed by punching a plate-shaped conductive metal into a predetermined shape and bending the same to form a plurality of terminals 6 as shown in FIG.
(A) is formed, and then formed by bending a carrier portion 8 connecting the plurality of terminals 6 into a continuous shape of a mountain and a valley.

The terminal 6 is a wire pressing portion 6 to which the wire W is pressed.
a, a locking portion 6b for locking to the connector housing 1,
A tab 6c protruding toward the upper connection surface 1a, a tab contact 6d contacting the tab 6c inserted from the lower connection surface 1b, and a tab 6 contacting the tab contact 6d.
c receiving tab 6e supporting the opposite surface of
f. The spring locking portion 6f will be described below.

Further, the connector housing 1 is not provided with a carrier cutting hole as in the conventional example. Further, the cavity wall 4 is not provided with a cutout as in the conventional example, and the adjacent terminal accommodating chambers 5 are partitioned by the cavity wall 4 over the entire area.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (B) and 9, a locked portion 1c is provided at the front end side of each terminal accommodating chamber 5, and the locked portion 1c locks the terminal 6. The terminal 6 is locked at the mounting position in the terminal receiving chamber 5 by the locking of the portion 6b. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (B) and the like, tab insertion holes 1d are respectively opened on the lower surface of each terminal accommodating chamber 5,
Each of the tab insertion holes 1d is configured to coincide with the position of the tab contact portion 6d of the terminal 6 at the mounting position. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal insertion opening side of each cavity wall 4 is formed as a tapered surface 4a, and the tapered surface 4a is used to smoothly insert the terminal 6.

The temporary locking means 20 is provided on the connector housing 1 and the spring locking portion 6f provided on the terminal 6 of the terminal assembly 7, as shown in FIG. 1 (B) and FIGS. And the locking groove 21 into which the spring locking portion 6f is inserted. The terminal assembly 7 is positioned in the middle of the insertion into the terminal accommodating chamber 5, and the carrier 8 is positioned outside the terminal accommodating chamber 5. The terminal assembly component 7 is temporarily locked to the connector housing 1 at the position where it is to be performed.

The spring locking portions 6f are provided so as to protrude from the outer walls on both sides of the terminal 6, and are configured to be displaceable inwardly of the outer walls by elastic deformation. The locking grooves 21 are provided on both sides of each cavity wall 4 and open to each terminal accommodating chamber 5. The locking groove portion 21 has a front wall surface 21a arranged in a direction orthogonal to the terminal insertion direction on the front side of the insertion, and a rear wall surface 21b arranged in a direction orthogonal to the terminal insertion direction on the insertion rear side. The front wall surface 21a is closer to the rear wall surface 21
It is set shallower than b.

Next, the operation of mounting terminals on the connector housing 1 and the operation of connecting the connector housings 1 will be described. The terminal assembly 7 is inserted from the rear surfaces of the plurality of terminal receiving chambers 5 of the connector housing 1. Here, the insertion opening of the terminal accommodating chamber 5 is picked up by the tapered surface 4 a of the cavity wall 4, and the spring locking portion 6 f of each terminal 6 is guided by the tapered surface 4 a of the cavity wall 4 and smoothly bends inward. Therefore, it is inserted smoothly.

When each terminal 6 is inserted to the temporary locking position shown in FIG. 1A or the like, as shown in FIG.
Of the connector housing 1 is locked in the locking groove 21 of the connector housing 1. That is, when the terminal assembly 7 is pressed in the insertion direction, the spring locking portion 6 comes into contact with the front wall surface 21a of the locking groove 21, and when the terminal assembly 7 is pressed in the pull-out direction, the spring locking portion 6 is pressed. Abuts against the rear side wall surface 21b of the locking groove 21, whereby the terminal assembly 7 is temporarily locked at this position. In this temporary locking state, the carrier portion 8 of the terminal assembly 7 protrudes from the rear surface of the connector housing 1.

Next, among the adjacent terminals 6, between the terminals 6 that do not require electrical connection, the portion of the carrier portion 8 located between the terminals 6 is cut using a carrier cutting jig device. As shown in FIG. 13, this carrier cut range is cut so as to have a larger cut space 9 than in the conventional example. When the carrier cutting is completed, each terminal 6 is pressed with a strong force in the insertion direction. Then, the spring locking portion 6f of the terminal 6 is displaced inwardly of the outer wall by elastic deformation, and the insertion of the terminal 6 is allowed, and each terminal 6 is inserted to the mounting position of each terminal accommodating chamber 5. When the terminal 6 is inserted to the mounting position, the locking portion 6b of each terminal 6 is locked to the locked portion 1c of the connector housing 1.

Next, each of the electric wires W is connected to the electric wire pressing portion 6 of each terminal 6.
A process such as press contact with a is performed, and each electric wire W and each terminal 6 are connected.

Next, a connection operation between the connector housings 1 is performed. This connection operation is the same as that of the conventional example.

According to this press-fit joint connector, the carrier 8 can be cut while the terminal assembly 7 is temporarily locked to the connector housing 1 by the temporary locking means 20. There is no need to provide a hole in the connector housing 1 for cutting the carrier portion. Therefore, intrusion of water or the like into the connector housing 1 can be prevented as much as possible, and insulation between the left and right adjacent terminals 6 and insulation between the vertically adjacent terminals 6 can be sufficiently ensured. In addition, if the terminal accommodation room 5
When water droplets enter or generate in the inside, there is no hole communicating between the upper and lower terminal accommodating chambers 5 as shown in FIG. Since the adjacent terminals 6 are separated by the cavity wall 4 over the entire range, there is no short circuit.

Since the carrier is cut in the provisionally locked state where the carrier portion 8 of the terminal assembly 7 protrudes from the terminal accommodating chamber 5, the carrier cut range can be freely set. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the carrier 8 is cut so as to have a larger cut space 9 than in the conventional example, so that the insulation reliability is further improved.

In this embodiment, the locking groove 21 is used.
Since the front wall surface 21a is set shallower than the rear wall surface 21b, a strong pressing force is required for the movement of the terminal assembly component 7 in the pull-out direction with respect to the movement in the insertion direction,
The terminal assembly 7 is not easily detached from the connector housing 1 and the terminal assembly 7 is moved in the insertion direction by an appropriate pressing force.

[0039]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal assembly is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber while the terminal assembly is being inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber. Temporary locking means for temporarily locking the terminal assembly to the connector housing at a position where the carrier portion is located outside the terminal accommodating chamber is provided. Since the carrier section can be cut in a state in which the connector is temporarily locked by the temporary locking means, there is no need to provide a hole or the like for cutting the carrier section in the connector housing. Intrusion is prevented as much as possible, and insulation between left and right adjacent terminals and insulation between vertically adjacent terminals can be sufficiently ensured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the press-fitting joint connector according to the first aspect, the temporary locking means comprises:
A spring engaging portion that is provided on the terminal of the terminal assembly and protrudes from an outer wall and that can be displaced inwardly of the outer wall of the terminal by elastic deformation; and that is provided on the connector housing and opens to the terminal receiving chamber. Since the locking groove and the locking groove are formed, the spring locking part of the terminal assembly is temporarily locked by being inserted into the locking groove of the connector housing. Since the work of cutting the carrier part can be performed in the temporarily locked state,
There is no need to provide a hole in the connector housing for cutting the carrier part, and the penetration of water etc. into the connector housing is minimized to ensure sufficient insulation between the left and right adjacent terminals and between the vertically adjacent terminals it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a connector housing in a state where a terminal assembly is inserted to a temporary locking position, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a temporary locking means.

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal assembly is inserted to a temporary locking position.

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal assembly is inserted to a temporary locking position.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the present invention and is a bottom view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal assembly is inserted to a temporary locking position.

5A and 5B show an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A is a side view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal assembly is inserted to a temporary locking position, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. is there.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of the present invention, and is a rear view of the connector housing in a state where the terminal assembly is inserted to a temporary locking position.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a stage before completion of the terminal assembly, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the terminal assembly.

8A and 8B show an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 8A is a side view of a terminal, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged front view of the terminal.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is an enlarged plan view of a terminal.

FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of the present invention and is a partially enlarged plan view of the connector housing.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of the present invention and before connecting the connector housing.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the present invention and showing a connected state of the connector housing.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the present invention and showing a state where the upper and lower terminal accommodating chambers are partitioned from each other;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a conventional connector housing.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a conventional terminal assembly.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a connector housing in a state where terminals of a conventional example are assembled.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a conventional connector housing.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a conventional connector housing.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 18 when a conventional terminal is mounted.
It is a line sectional view.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a connector housing in a state where terminals of a conventional example are assembled.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a conventional work of cutting a carrier portion.

22A and 22B show a conventional example, in which FIG. 22A is a cross-sectional view before cutting showing a cutting operation of a carrier portion, and FIG. 22B is a cross-sectional view after cutting showing a cutting operation of a carrier portion.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state of a conventional connector housing.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example and showing a state in which upper and lower terminals are short-circuited by water droplets.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector housing 4 Cavity wall 5 Terminal accommodating chamber 6 Terminal 6f Spring locking part 7 Terminal assembly 8 Carrier part 20 Temporary locking means 21 Locking groove part

Claims (2)

[Claims] The connector housing is connected in multiple stages,
Each of the connector housings is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers partitioned by the respective cavity walls, and the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers accommodate the terminal assembly by insertion. It is composed of a plurality of terminals respectively arranged and a carrier portion connecting the plurality of terminals, and a portion of the carrier portion connecting the adjacent terminals is cut as necessary, and the portion of the lower connector housing is formed. In a press-fit joint connector that closes a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers with an upper connector housing, the terminal assembly component and the connector housing include:
During the insertion of the terminal assembly into the terminal receiving chamber,
And a temporary locking means for temporarily locking the terminal assembly to the connector housing at a position where the carrier portion is located outside the terminal accommodating chamber. 2. The press-fit joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the provisional locking means is provided on the terminal of the terminal assembly to protrude from an outer wall, and is elastically deformed inward of the outer wall of the terminal. A press-fit joint connector, comprising: a spring locking portion capable of being displaced in the connector housing; and a locking groove provided in the connector housing and opening to the terminal accommodating chamber.