JP2006339114A - Connector and waterproof connection member - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector that prevents water that has entered the wire protection member from accumulating is provided.
A fitting portion is provided around a connector housing, and the fitting portion is fitted to an electric wire protection member that houses and protects an electric wire connected to the connector housing. A connector C2 that is coupled in a mounting hole of the panel in a state where the wire protection member G is in close contact with the panel and the connector housing 21 and the wire W2 are waterproofed when coupled. Water that has entered the inside of the wire protection member G that is in close contact with the panel is discharged from the storage chamber 30 that houses the connection portion of the wire W2 formed by the fitting portion 22 and the inside of the wire protection member G. A discharge hole 23 is provided in the fitting portion 22 to prevent water from collecting in the storage chamber 30.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector and a waterproof connection member, and more particularly, to a connector and a waterproof connection member used for waterproof protection of electric wires routed on a door panel or the like of an automobile.

  Conventionally, wiring of a wire harness to a member that opens and closes, such as a door panel, has been electrically connected by fitting the connectors together through a door grommet for waterproofing and dustproofing. For this reason, a connector housing (hereinafter also referred to as a connector) is fitted to the grommet via the door panel and fixed to the door panel. As such a grommet, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known.

  In FIG. 4, the door wire harness W2 is routed between the door B and the vehicle body A at the attachment end of the door B hinged to the vehicle body A of the automobile. It is connected to the harness W1.

  5 and 6, C1 is a female connector connected to the vehicle body-side wire harness W1, and C2 is a male connector connected to the door-side wire harness W2, each formed integrally with a synthetic resin material, A male terminal fitting T1 or a female terminal fitting T2 is incorporated. G is a rubber grommet (electric wire protection member) attached to the male connector C2, and the vehicle body side panel P has a mounting hole P1.

  A plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 1 for accommodating the male terminal fittings T1 are formed in the laterally long female connector C1, and engaging flanges 2 project from the left and right sides in the longitudinal direction at the front end portion. A cantilevered flexible locking piece 3 is provided behind the mating flange 2. At the front free end of the flexible locking piece 3, a locking projection 3 a is provided between the engaging flange 2 and a gap corresponding to the thickness of the vehicle body panel P. On both sides in the longitudinal direction of the horizontally long female connector C1, a rectangular outer peripheral portion 5 having an arc-shaped outer peripheral portion 4 that engages with the mounting hole P1 and a rounded corner portion 5a is formed.

  A plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 6 for accommodating the female terminal fittings T2 are formed in the male connector C2 having a horizontally long shape corresponding to the female connector C1, and a series of locking rods for the grommet G are formed on the outer peripheral portion. 7, a cantilevered flexible lock arm 8 that engages with the female connector C1 is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction.

  In the grommet G, an annular engagement groove 11 for the locking rod 7 is formed in the inner peripheral portion of the connector covering portion 10 having the opening 9 in the front, and the opening 9 is widened toward the front around the opening 9. An annular sealing lip 12 is provided so as to project. And the bellows-like cylinder part 13 is provided in the rear part of the connector coating | coated part 10 continuously.

  In the above configuration, the female connector C1 connected to the vehicle body side wire harness W1 is displaced by 90 ° from the mounting posture (FIG. 6) facing the panel P, and the side portion faces the mounting hole P1 ( In FIG. 7), the mounting hole P1 can be passed from the indoor side to the outdoor side, and then the female connector C1 is displaced by 90 ° to return to the original mounting posture. The outer peripheral portion 5 is made to correspond to the arc-shaped portion 4 'and the square portion 5' of the mounting hole P1 to prevent reverse mounting, while the female connector C1 is inserted into the mounting hole P1 from the rear portion. The flexible locking piece 3 is restored in a state where the engaging flange 2 is brought into contact with the outdoor surface of the panel P1, and the locking protrusion 3a is engaged with the indoor surface. FIG. 8).

  In this state, the male connector C2 connected to the door wire harness W2 is fitted to the female connector C1, and the engaging protrusion 8a of the flexible lock arm 8 is engaged with the engaging portion 8 'of the female connector. This completes the connection of the female and male connectors C1 and C2. In addition, when the male connector C2 is fitted, if the female connector C1 is not sufficiently attached to the mounting hole P1, the female connector C1 may be pushed in by the male connector C2 to be in a correct mounting state. it can.

In the coupled state of the male connector C2, the annular sealing lip 12 located on the front surface of the grommet G is pressed against the outdoor surface of the vehicle body side panel P. In the sealing lip 12 extending in the left-right direction, a corner-shaped bent portion 12a is formed at the end portion in the left-right longitudinal direction where the flexible locking arm 8 of the male connector C2 is located, and an arc-shaped bend is formed at the other end portion. part 12b is formed (see FIGS. 5 and 9), per unit area by more than the opposite side of the contact pressure area S ₂ of the lock mechanism side contact pressure area S ₁ of the sealing lip 12 with respect to the panel surface The stress is increased. In addition, it can replace with the difference in a contact pressure area, and can also change the said stress by the change of uneven thickness or a lip cross-sectional area.

  In the configuration described above, when the accommodating width M1 of the female terminal fitting T2 accommodated in the male connector C2 is larger than the inner diameter width M2 of the grommet G (see FIG. 8), the grommet G includes the connector covering portion 10. And a converging covering portion 14 for covering the converging portion W2c where the plurality of door wire harnesses W2 connected to the male connector C2 are converging toward the bellows-like cylindrical portion 13. Provided.

The convergent covering portion 14 is formed in a substantially tapered shape having a diameter that gradually decreases from the edge of the substantially elliptical connector covering portion 10 that fixes the male connector C2 toward the bellows-shaped cylindrical portion 13. Yes. When the sealing lip 12 is pressed against the vehicle body side panel P, the inside of the grommet G is in a sealed state. In addition, about the shape of the convergence coating | cover part 14 mentioned above, it changes according to the attachment angle etc. with respect to the male connector C2 of the bellows-shaped cylinder part 13. FIG.
JP-A-10-233262

  As described above, in the past, water has been completely prevented from entering the grommet (electric wire protection member) to improve waterproofness. However, in the event that the grommet is attached to the grommet, When water entered, there was a new problem that the water was not drained. In particular, this problem is more likely to occur when mounted on a four-wheel drive vehicle, a motorcycle or the like.

  Therefore, this invention makes it a subject to provide the connector which prevents the water which permeated in the electric wire protection member from accumulating, an electric wire protection member, and a waterproof connection member.

  The connector according to claim 1, which is made according to the present invention in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, has a fitting portion provided around the connector housing, and accommodates and protects the electric wire connected to the connector housing. In the state where the fitting portion is fitted to the panel, the panel is attached at the mounting hole, and when the connection is made, the wire protection member is in close contact with the panel and the connector housing and the wire are waterproofed. It is a connector and discharge | releases the water which penetrate | invaded into the inside of the said electric wire protection member closely_contact | adhered to the said panel from the storage chamber which accommodates the connection part of the said electric wire formed by the said fitting part and the inside of the said electric wire protection member A discharge hole is provided in the fitting portion to prevent water from accumulating in the storage chamber.

  According to the connector of the present invention described in claim 1, when the fitting portion of the connector housing is joined to the wire protection member and is joined at the joining hole of the panel, the wire connected to the connector housing. And the connection part is waterproofed and protected by the electric wire protection member. Then, when the water that has entered the inside of the wire protection member that is in close contact with the panel enters the storage chamber, the water is discharged from the discharge hole provided in the fitting portion to the outside of the storage chamber to prevent water from collecting in the storage chamber. To do.

  Invention of Claim 2 made | formed in order to solve the said subject WHEREIN: In the connector of Claim 1, the water which infiltrated the inside from the upper direction in the attraction direction of the said wire protection member closely_contact | adhered to the said panel | A through hole that passes through the accommodation chamber is further provided in the fitting portion, and water that has passed through the through hole is discharged from the discharge hole.

  According to the connector of the present invention described in claim 2, the water that has entered the interior of the wire protection member from above in the attractive direction flows into the accommodation chamber from the through hole, and from the discharge hole to the outside of the accommodation chamber. Discharged.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the waterproof connecting member according to claim 3 made according to the present invention comprises the connector according to claim 1 or 2, the connector coupled with the mounting hole of the panel, and the electric wire connected to the connector. A waterproof connection member that protects in a waterproof state, wherein the wire protection member is provided on a connector covering portion that covers the connector coupled by the mounting hole, and the connector covering portion. Between the fitting concave part into which the fitting part of the connector is fitted, the movable bellows-like cylinder part through which the electric wire connected to the connector is inserted, and the connector cover part and the bellows-like cylinder part A converging covering portion for covering a plurality of electric wires converging from the connector toward the bellows-shaped cylindrical portion, and a close contact portion for bringing the connector covering portion into close contact with the panel; and When the fitting portion of the nectar is fitted into the fitting recess of the wire protection member and the close contact portion is in close contact with the panel, the water that has entered the storage chamber enters the discharge hole of the fitting portion. The convergence covering portion is formed so as to have a shape that flows and is discharged.

  According to the waterproof connection member of the present invention described in claim 3, the connector is covered with the connector covering portion, the converging covering portion covers the electric wire that converges from the connector toward the bellows-like cylindrical portion, The connector covering portion is brought into close contact with the panel by the contact portion while being inserted through the bellows-like cylindrical portion. In this state, when water enters the inside of the electric wire protection member and enters the storage chamber, the water flows from the inner surface of the convergence coating portion into the discharge hole provided in the fitting portion, and from the discharge port of the storage chamber. By discharging to the outside, water is prevented from accumulating in the accommodation chamber.

  As described above, according to the connector of the present invention described in claim 1, the fitting formed in the fitting portion that fits into the wire protection member that is in close contact with the panel is formed inside the fitting hole and the wire protection member. A drain hole is provided to discharge water that has flowed into the chamber to the outside, preventing water from accumulating in the storage chamber. Even if it enters by such as, water can be prevented from accumulating in the accommodation chamber. Therefore, safety can be improved in the structure in which the wire protection member is brought into close contact with the panel to completely waterproof the connector.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the fitting portion is provided with a through-hole through which water that has entered from above in the attractive direction of the wire protection member passes through the accommodation chamber. Since the water that has flowed into the storage chamber is discharged from the discharge hole, the water is formed in the space formed by the panel, the connector housing, and the wire protection member outside the fitting portion on the opposite side of the storage chamber. Even if it enters, since it is discharged from the discharge hole through the storage chamber, it is possible to more reliably prevent water that has entered the wire protection member from collecting.

  As described above, according to the waterproof connection member of the present invention described in claim 3, when the connector is coupled in a state where the wire protection member is in close contact with the panel, the water that has entered the wire protection member is accommodated. Even if it enters the chamber, the converging covering portion of the wire protection member is formed so that the intruded water is surely discharged from the discharge hole provided in the fitting portion of the connector. Water can be reliably prevented from accumulating. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the safety of the waterproof connection member that brings the wire protection member into close contact with the panel and completely waterproofs the connector.

  Hereinafter, an example in the case of using the connector and the waterproof connection member according to the present invention for wiring the wire harness to the member that opens and closes such as the door panel described in the background art described above is shown in FIGS. This will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  Since the basic configuration of the grommet corresponding to the wire protection member is substantially the same as that described in the background art, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the waterproof connecting member has a male connector (hereinafter, also referred to as a connector) C <b> 2 according to the present invention that is coupled through a mounting hole P <b> 1 of the panel P, and the connector C <b> 2 is closely attached to the panel P. And a grommet (corresponding to an electric wire protection member) G for protection in a state. And according to the waterproof connection member 1, the connector C2 couple | bonded by the attachment hole P1 of the panel P is waterproofed and protected by the grommet G.

  The connector C <b> 2 includes a connector housing 21 and a hook-like fitting portion 22 provided around the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing 21. The fitting portion 22 corresponds to the locking rod 7 described above, and is integrally formed on the connector housing 21 with the same resin member as the connector housing 21. In addition, about the thickness of the fitting part 22, it is set arbitrarily. In the connector housing 21, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 6 for accommodating the female terminal fittings T2 are formed as described above (see FIG. 6).

  The grommet G is an annular fitting that is provided on the connector covering portion 10 and that is fitted with the fitting portion 22 of the connector C2 so as to cover the connector C2 coupled with the mounting hole P1 of the panel P. A mating recess 11 (corresponding to the above-described annular engagement groove), a movable bellows-like cylindrical portion 13 through which a door wire harness (electric wire) W2 connected to the connector C2 is inserted, and the connector covering portion 10 A converging covering part 14 that covers the plurality of door wire harnesses W2 that are interposed between the bellows-like cylindrical part 13 and converge toward the bellows-like cylindrical part 13 from the connector C2, and the connector covering part 10 And a sealing lip (corresponding to a close contact portion) 12 to be in close contact with the panel P.

  Further, the surface of the reinforcing portion 15 erected by the bellows-shaped cylindrical portion 13 is formed in a substantially flat shape that is not flush with the surface of the convergent covering portion 14. And although the thickness of the reinforcement part 15 is the same thickness as the convergence coating | covering part 14, it can be set as various different forms, such as making it thicker than the convergence coating | coated part 14. FIG. And the convergence coating | covering part 14 is formed in the substantially taper shape from which the diameter reduces gradually toward the periphery of the reinforcement part 15 from the edge part of the connector coating | coated part 10. As shown in FIG.

  In the grommet G having the above-described configuration, the connector covering portion 10, the bellows tube portion 13, the converging covering portion 14, and the reinforcing portion 15 are integrally formed of a resin member such as a synthetic resin by a mold or the like, and used for sealing there. A lip 12 is provided. The grommet G can be formed in various forms such as forming the bellows-like cylindrical portion 13 separately and fixing it to the reinforcing portion 15 or fitting it into the through hole of the reinforcing portion 15.

  The connector C2 is coupled at the mounting hole P1 of the panel P in a state where the fitting portion 22 is fitted to the grommet G that accommodates and protects the electric wire connected to the connector housing 21, and the connector C2 is coupled. Then, the grommet G comes into close contact with the panel P, and the connector housing 21 and the door wire harness (electric wire) W2 are waterproofed (see FIG. 6).

  The connector C2 is configured to receive water that has entered the inside of the grommet G that is in close contact with the panel P from the accommodation chamber 30 that accommodates a connecting portion of the door wire harness W2 formed by the fitting portion 22 and the inside of the grommet G. A discharge hole 23 for discharging to the outside is provided, and the discharge hole 23 is provided in the fitting portion 22. Specifically, the discharge hole 23 is fitted below the attractive direction X (see the solid line arrow in FIG. 2) and so that water flows from the inner surface of the convergent covering portion 14 in the grommet G forming the accommodation chamber 30. The unit 22 is provided.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the discharge hole 23 is formed as a through hole having a square cross section so as to be a plane continuous with the inner surface of the convergent covering portion 14 of the grommet G. The shape is not limited to this, and various shapes such as a columnar shape, a groove, and a fan-shaped hole can be used as long as water is discharged from the storage chamber 30.

  In addition, the shape of the storage chamber 30 described above will be described as a case of a substantially elliptical cone shape corresponding to the outer shape of the connector C2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the arrangement of the connector C2 and the grommet G is not limited thereto. Different shapes can be used depending on the relationship.

  Further, the connector C2 is provided with a through hole 24 in the fitting portion 22 through which water that has entered from the upper side in the attractive direction X (see the solid line arrow in FIG. 2) of the grommet G that is in close contact with the panel P passes through the accommodation chamber 30. Yes. Then, the water that has passed through the through hole 24 flows into the storage chamber 30 and is discharged from the discharge hole 23 to the outside of the storage chamber 30 together with the water that has entered the storage chamber 30 through the discharge hole 23.

  In assembling the waterproof connecting member having the above-described structure, first, the door wire harness W2 is inserted into the bellows-like cylindrical portion 13 through the converging covering portion 14 of the grommet G with respect to the connector C2 to which the door wire harness W2 is connected. However, the water that has entered the housing chamber 30 formed inside the converging covering portion 14 in a state where the sealing lip 12 of the grommet G is in close contact with the panel P is discharged from the discharge hole 23 of the fitting portion 22 of the connector C2. By fitting the fitting portion 22 into the fitting recess 11 as described above, the connector C2 is covered by the connector covering portion 10.

  The waterproof connecting member assembled in this manner causes the connector C2 to be press-fitted into the female connector C1 provided in the mounting hole P1 of the panel P, and the sealing lip 12 of the grommet G is pressed against the outdoor surface of the panel P. . When the waterproof connecting member is attached to the panel P in this way, the connector C2 and the door wire harness W2 connected to the connector C2 are waterproofed and protected by the grommet G.

  The assembly of the waterproof connection member is not limited to this, and various forms such as mounting the grommet G in a state where the connector C2 is coupled with the panel P can be adopted.

  The waterproof connecting member having the above configuration is configured such that water does not enter the inside of the grommet G when attached to the panel P. 2, the water that has entered the grommet G from the inside of the panel P due to submergence of the panel P or the like from the through hole 24 or the discharge hole 23 of the fitting portion 22 is contained in the accommodation chamber. Flows into 30. When water is drawn from the inside of the panel P, the water that has entered the storage chamber 30 is discharged from the discharge hole 23 of the fitting portion 22 toward the panel P.

  As described above, according to the waterproof connection member of the present invention, when the connector C2 is coupled with the grommet (electric wire protection member) G in close contact with the panel P, the water that has entered the grommet G is contained in the storage chamber. Even if it penetrates into 30, since the discharge hole 23 is provided in the fitting part 22 of the connector C <b> 2, it is possible to reliably prevent water from collecting in the storage chamber 30. Therefore, it is possible to improve the safety of the waterproof connection member that brings the grommet G into close contact with the panel P and completely waterproofs the connector C2.

  Further, a through hole 24 through which water that has entered from the upper side in the attractive direction X of the grommet G passes through the storage chamber 30 is provided in the fitting portion 22 of the connector C2, and the water that has flowed into the storage chamber 30 is discharged from the discharge hole 23. Therefore, even if water enters the space formed by the panel P, the connector housing 21 and the grommet G on the outside of the fitting portion 22 on the opposite side of the storage chamber 30, the water can enter through the storage chamber 30. Accordingly, the water that has entered the grommet G can be more reliably prevented from collecting.

  In the above-described best mode, the case where both the discharge hole 23 and the through hole 24 are provided in the fitting portion 22 of the connector C2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the fitting portion 22 is provided. Even if only the discharge hole 23 is provided in the storage chamber 30, it is possible to reliably prevent water from accumulating in the storage chamber 30.

  Moreover, although the case where the convergence coating | covering part 14 of the grommet (electric wire protection member) G was formed in the taper shape was demonstrated in this best form mentioned above, this invention is not limited to this, The discharge hole of connector C2 It is possible to adopt various forms such as forming a groove continuous with the groove 23.

It is an external view which shows the external appearance of an electric wire protection member. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the electric wire protection member of FIG. 1, and a connector. It is a figure for demonstrating the shape of the discharge hole provided in the fitting part of the connector of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the door part of a motor vehicle. It is a disassembled perspective view of the connector coupling structure of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the same as the above. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment process of the connector of the vehicle body side wire harness in the same as the above. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of the connector of the vehicle body side wire harness in the same as the above. It is explanatory drawing of the lip for a seal in the same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

10 Connector sheathing 12 Sealing lip (contact part)
13 bellows-like cylinder part 21 connector housing 22 fitting part 23 discharge hole 24 through hole 30 accommodation chamber C2 connector G grommet (electric wire protection member)
W2 Door wiring harness (electric wire)

Claims (3)

It has a fitting part that is provided around the connector housing, and it is coupled with a mounting hole of the panel in a state where the fitting part is fitted to a wire protection member that accommodates and protects an electric wire connected to the connector housing And when the connector is joined, the wire protection member is in close contact with the panel, and the connector housing and the wire are waterproof.
A discharge hole for discharging water that has entered the inside of the electric wire protection member in close contact with the panel from an accommodation chamber that accommodates the connection portion of the electric wire formed by the fitting portion and the inside of the electric wire protection member, A connector provided in the fitting portion to prevent water from accumulating in the accommodation chamber.   The fitting portion further includes a through hole through which the water that has entered the interior of the wire protection member in close contact with the panel from the upper side in the attractive direction passes through the housing chamber, and the water that has passed through the through hole is The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is discharged from the discharge hole. A waterproof connection member comprising: the connector according to claim 1 or 2; and an electrical wire protection member that protects the electrical connector connected to the connector and the electrical connector connected to the connector with a mounting hole of a panel,
The electric wire protection member is connected to the connector, a connector covering portion that covers the connector coupled by the mounting hole, a fitting recess provided in the connector covering portion and into which the fitting portion of the connector is fitted. A movable bellows-shaped tube portion through which the electric wire to be inserted is inserted, and a plurality of wires that are interposed between the connector covering portion and the bellows-shaped tube portion and converge from the connector toward the bellows-shaped tube portion. A converging covering portion for covering, and a close contact portion for bringing the connector covering portion into close contact with the panel; and fitting the fitting portion of the connector into the fitting recess of the wire protection member; and The convergence covering portion is formed so that the water that has entered the housing chamber flows into the discharge hole of the fitting portion and is discharged in a state where the close contact portion is in close contact with the panel. Waterproof connection featuring .

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