JP2013145635A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of maintaining the strength of the housing.SOLUTION: A housing 20 has a cavity 23, and a lance 24 is formed to project from the inner wall of the cavity 23. A recess 32 is formed in the surface of the inner wall of the cavity 23 facing the lance 24 in the direction of deflection, and padding parts 33 are formed on both sides of the recess 32. A detection part 61 detecting the half-insertion state of a terminal fitting 80 can enter, in the positioning state, between the end face of the lance 24 facing the recess 32 and the bottom face 34 of the recess 32 facing the end face.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  The connector usually includes a housing having a cavity, and a deflectable lance projects from the inner wall of the cavity. A terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity, and the normally inserted terminal fitting is elastically prevented by the lance. Also, when the terminal fitting is properly inserted, the detection pin is allowed to be inserted into the bending space of the lance, while when the terminal fitting is half inserted, the lance is bent and deformed and does not retract from the bending space, so that Insertion of the detection pin is restricted (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Thereby, it is possible to detect whether or not the terminal fitting is properly inserted into the cavity.

JP-A-8-320355

  By the way, in the above case, the insertion region of the detection pin has to be secured in the bending space of the lance, and there is a situation that the bending space is expanded upward and the thickness of the upper wall of the housing becomes thin. For this reason, there exists a possibility that the intensity | strength of a housing cannot fully be maintained.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector capable of maintaining the strength of a housing.

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 has a cavity into which a terminal fitting is inserted, and the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity on the inner wall of the cavity when the terminal fitting is properly inserted. A lance for locking the terminal fitting is formed so as to be able to bend, and a concave portion is formed on a surface of the inner wall of the cavity that faces the lance in the direction of the flexure. When the terminal fitting is properly inserted, the detection portion is allowed to be inserted into the recess, and when the terminal fitting is half inserted, the lance is bent and deformed in the recess so that the recess is inserted into the recess. A housing in which insertion of the detection unit is restricted and the detection unit is allowed to enter in a positioning state between an end surface of the lance facing the recess and a bottom surface of the recess facing the lance. It has a feature to obtain a place.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the end surface of the lance and the bottom surface of the recess become a sliding surface on which the detection unit can slide.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 2, both side surfaces of the concave portion which are opposed side surfaces of the build-up portion become sliding surfaces on which the detection portion can slide. .

<Invention of Claim 1>
The insertion of the detection part into the recess is allowed when the terminal fitting is properly inserted, and the insertion of the detection part into the recess is restricted when the terminal fitting is half-inserted, so the terminal depends on whether the detection part can be inserted into the recess. The insertion state of the metal fitting can be detected. In this case, since the build-up portions are formed on both sides of the concave portion in the housing, it is possible to prevent the strength of the housing from being lowered. Further, since the detection unit can enter the recessed portion in a positioning state, the insertion operation of the detection unit is guided.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the end surface of the lance and the bottom surface of the recess become a sliding surface on which the detection unit can slide, the insertion area of the detection unit in the recess does not become larger than necessary, and the strength of the housing is more effectively reduced. Can be suppressed.

<Invention of Claim 3>
Since both side surfaces of the recesses are also slidable surfaces on which the detection unit can slide, the insertion region of the detection unit in the recess is kept to the minimum necessary, and the strength reduction of the housing can be further effectively suppressed.

It is a front view of the connector which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the connector before test | inspecting with an inspection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the connector test | inspected by the test | inspection apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the connector by which the half-insertion state of the terminal metal fitting was detected by the test | inspection apparatus.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector 10 according to this embodiment includes a housing 20 and a terminal fitting 80.

  The housing 20 is made of a synthetic resin, and can be fitted to a mating housing (not shown) from the front. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lock arm 21 is formed to protrude from the center of the upper surface of the housing 20 in the width direction. The lock arm 21 is in the form of an arm that rises from the front end portion of the upper surface of the housing 20 and extends rearward. The lock arm 21 can be deformed by bending up and down with the front end portion as a fulcrum. On the upper surface of the housing 20, protective walls 22 are erected in pairs on both sides in the width direction across the lock arm 21. When the housing 20 is properly fitted with the mating housing, the lock arm 21 elastically locks the mating housing, so that both housings are held in the disengagement restricted state.

  A plurality (two in the illustrated case) of cavities 23 are formed in the housing 20 side by side in the width direction. Each cavity 23 is configured to extend in the front-rear direction and open on both front-rear surfaces of the housing 20. A bendable lance 24 is formed on the upper surface of the inner wall of each cavity 23 of the housing 20 so as to protrude forward. On the lower surface of the tip portion of the lance 24, a locking projection 25 is formed so as to protrude. A terminal fitting 80 is inserted into each cavity 23 from behind. In the process of inserting the terminal fitting 80, the lance 24 is elastically bent upward and deformed by interference with the terminal fitting 80. As shown in FIG. 2, when the terminal fitting 80 is properly inserted, the lance 24 is elastically restored, the locking projection 25 locks the terminal fitting 80, and the terminal fitting 80 is prevented from coming off in the cavity 23. Is supposed to be retained.

  The terminal fitting 80 is integrally formed by bending a metal plate or the like, and has a rectangular tube-shaped box portion 81 and open barrel-shaped barrel portions 82 and 83 connected to the rear of the box portion 81. The barrel portions 82 and 83 are a wire barrel 82 that is crimped to the core wire 92 exposed at the end portion of the electric wire 90, and an insulation that is located behind the wire barrel 82 and is crimped to the covering 91 at the end portion of the electric wire 90. It consists of a barrel 83. A locking hole 84 into which the locking projection 25 of the lance 24 enters is formed in the upper wall of the box 81.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a laterally long slit-like tab insertion hole 26 serving as a front end opening of each cavity 23 is formed on the front surface of the housing 20. When the two housings are fitted, tabs of mating terminal fittings (not shown) attached to the mating housings are inserted into the tab insertion holes 26 from the front in a positioning state. At the opening edge of each tab insertion hole 26 on the front surface of the housing 20, a tapered lead-in portion 27 is formed to guide the tab.

  In addition, a die cutting hole 28 through which a mold for molding the lance 24 passes is formed in the front surface of the housing 20. The lance 24 is visible from the front through the punching hole 28. A notch 29 is formed at the center in the width direction of the upper end edge of the guiding portion 27 so as to communicate with the punching hole 28.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a stepped surface 31 is formed on the upper surface of the inner wall of each cavity 23 in the housing 20. A base end portion of the lance 24 is connected to the step surface 31, and the lance 24 is configured to extend substantially straight forward from the step surface 31.

  Now, the front part of the upper surface of the inner wall of each cavity 23 in the housing 20 extends substantially horizontally forward from the upper end of the step surface 31 and is disposed opposite to the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24 in the bending direction. As shown in FIG. 1, a recess 32 is formed at the front of the upper surface of the inner wall of each cavity 23 in the housing 20 at the center in the width direction, and both end portions in the width direction (width direction across the recess 32). A pair of built-up portions 33 are formed on both sides. The recess 32 has an angular cross-sectional shape, extends almost straight forward from the step surface 31, opens to the front surface of the housing 20, and communicates with the mold release hole 28.

  The upper end portion of the lance 24 can be fitted and fitted into the recess 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom surface 34 of the recess 32 is a horizontal surface facing the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24 substantially in parallel, and a thin wall 35 is left between the top surface of the housing 20. But the recessed part 32 is arrange | positioned in the position which laps with the lock arm 21 and the protection wall 22 in the width direction, and the wall 35 is thickened in the wrap area | region. The distance between the bottom surface 34 of the recess 32 and the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24 is the same as or slightly larger than the thickness dimension of the detection unit 61 described later.

  Both side surfaces 37 of the recess 32 are vertical surfaces facing the both side surfaces of the lance 24 substantially in parallel, and constitute opposing side surfaces of the respective built-up portions 33. The distance between both side surfaces 37 of the recess 32 is slightly larger than the width dimension of the lance 24 and is the same as or slightly larger than the width dimension of the detection unit 61.

  Each of the built-up portions 33 has a rectangular block shape with a substantially L-shaped cross-section that is built up at both ends in the width direction of the upper surface of the inner wall of each cavity 23. The lower surface 38 of the built-up portion 33 is a horizontal plane that is substantially orthogonal to both side surfaces 37 of the recess 32, and has a slight height difference from the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24 in the natural state. This height difference is made smaller than the thickness dimension of the detecting portion 61, and a value obtained by adding this height difference and the height dimension of both side surfaces 37 of the recess 32 is between the bottom surface 34 of the recess 32 and the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24. Is the same as the distance. Further, the lower surface 38 of the built-up portion 33 is a horizontal plane that faces the gap located on both sides outward of the lance 24 from above and faces the upper end surface of the protruding wall 39 located on both sides of the gap substantially in parallel. ing. Note that the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24 is disposed at substantially the same height as the upper end surface of the projecting wall 39 and slightly higher than the rear end portion of the upper surface of the inner wall of the cavity 23.

  By the way, the connector 10 having the above configuration is inspected by the inspection device 60 in order to check whether or not the terminal fitting 80 is properly inserted into the cavity 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the inspection device 60 includes a pin-shaped detection unit 61 that checks the insertion state of the terminal fitting 80, a pin-like conduction inspection unit 62 that checks the conduction state of the terminal fitting 80, and a conduction inspection unit. 62 and a holder 63 for holding the detection unit 61. The detection unit 61 and the continuity inspection unit 62 are arranged in parallel to each other. Further, the detection unit 61 and the continuity inspection unit 62 are inserted into the housing 20 through the die-cutting holes 28, and can contact the lance 24 and the terminal fitting 80, respectively. The tip of the detection unit 61 is located ahead of the tip of the continuity inspection unit 62. As shown in FIG. 1, the detection unit 61 has a rectangular cross section, and when the lance 24 is in a natural state (locked state), between the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24 and the bottom surface 34 of the recess 32, and It fits between the both side surfaces 37 of the recessed part 32, and can be inserted in a positioning state.

Next, the function and effect of the connector 10 according to this embodiment will be described.
Terminal fittings 80 are inserted into the cavities 23 of the housing 20 from the rear. In the process of inserting the terminal fitting 80, the lance 24 is bent and deformed into the recess 32. When the terminal fitting 80 is properly inserted, the lance 24 is elastically restored, and the locking projection 25 is inserted into the locking hole 84 of the box portion 81, thereby preventing the terminal fitting 80 from falling into the cavity 23. Retained. At this time, the lance 24 has almost returned to its natural state, and the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24 is disposed substantially horizontally.

  Subsequently, the connector 10 is set on the inspection device 60, and in this state, the holder 63 and the connector 10 are brought close to each other. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the detection unit 61 enters the recess 32 from the front. The detector 61 is positioned in the height direction by sliding on the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24 and the bottom surface 34 of the recess 32 in the process of entering the recess 32, and slides on both side surfaces 37 of the recess 32. Thus, positioning in the width direction is performed. That is, the upper end surface 36 of the lance 24, the bottom surface 34 of the recess 32, and both side surfaces 37 of the recess 32 are sliding surfaces on which the detection unit 61 can slide. When the detection unit 61 slides on the sliding surface, the insertion of the detection unit 61 is guided, and the smoothness of the insertion operation of the detection unit 61 is ensured. Further, as the detection unit 61 is inserted into the recess 32 at a normal depth, the front end of the continuity inspection unit 62 comes into contact with the front end of the box unit 81 from the front. Thus, when the continuity test part 62 contacts the terminal fitting 80, electrical continuity between them can be obtained.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the terminal fitting 80 is not properly inserted into the cavity 23 of the housing 20 and remains in the half-insertion position, the locking projection 25 rides on the upper surface of the box portion 81, and the lance 24 is in a state of being bent and deformed in the recess 32. For this reason, even if the holder 63 and the connector 10 are brought close to each other, the leading end of the detecting unit 61 comes into contact with the leading end of the lance 24, so that the further entering operation of the detecting unit 61 is restricted. Therefore, the leading end of the continuity inspection unit 62 does not reach the position where it contacts the front end of the box portion 81, and electrical continuity between the continuity inspection unit 62 and the terminal fitting 80 cannot be obtained. As a result, it is possible to know that the terminal fitting 80 remains in the half insertion position.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the insertion of the detection unit 61 into the recess 32 is allowed when the terminal fitting 80 is normally inserted, and the detection unit 61 is inserted into the recess 32 when the terminal fitting 80 is half inserted. Since insertion is restricted, whether or not the terminal fitting 80 is correctly inserted into the cavity 23 can be detected by whether or not the detection unit 61 can be inserted into the recess 32. In this case, since the housing 20 is formed with the pair of built-up portions 33 on both sides of the recess 32, the strength of the housing 20 can be prevented from decreasing. Further, since the detection unit 61 can enter the recessed portion 32 in a positioned state, the insertion operation of the detection unit 61 is smoothly guided.

  Further, since the end surface of the lance 24 and the bottom surface 34 of the recess 32 are slidable surfaces on which the detection unit 61 can slide, the insertion region of the detection unit 61 in the recess 32 does not become larger than necessary. The strength reduction of the housing 20 can be suppressed more effectively.

  Furthermore, since both side surfaces 37 of the recess 32 are also slidable surfaces on which the detection unit 61 can slide, the insertion area of the detection unit 61 in the recess 32 is kept to a minimum and the strength of the housing 20 is reduced. It can be suppressed even more effectively.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) When the detection unit is inserted into the recess, a gap may be formed between both side surfaces of the recess and both side surfaces of the detection unit.
(2) The build-up portion may be formed in a cross-sectional arc shape.
(3) A retainer may be mounted on the front surface of the housing, and a restricting piece may protrude from the retainer, and the restricting piece may function as a detection unit and be inserted into the recess.
(4) The terminal fitting may be a male terminal fitting having a tab protruding forward.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Connector 20 ... Housing 23 ... Cavity 24 ... Lance 32 ... Recessed part 33 ... Overlay part 34 ... Bottom face (sliding surface) of recessed part
36 ... Upper end surface (sliding surface) of lance
37 ... Both sides of the recess (sliding surface)
60 ... Inspection device 61 ... Detector 80 ... Terminal fitting

Claims (3)

  A cavity into which the terminal fitting is inserted, and a lance that locks the terminal fitting when the terminal fitting is properly inserted into the cavity is formed on the inner wall of the cavity so as to be able to bend and protrude. Of the inner wall, a concave portion is formed on the surface facing the lance in the bending direction and a built-up portion is formed on both sides of the concave portion, and when the terminal fitting is properly inserted, the concave portion is formed into the concave portion. Insertion of the detector is allowed, and when the terminal fitting is half inserted, the lance is bent and deformed in the recess, so that the insertion of the detector into the recess is restricted, and the lance facing the recess is inserted. A connector comprising a housing in which the detection unit can enter in a positioned state between an end surface and a bottom surface of the recess facing the end surface.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein an end surface of the lance and a bottom surface of the recess serve as a sliding surface on which the detection unit can slide.   The connector according to claim 2, wherein both side surfaces of the concave portion, which are opposite side surfaces of the build-up portion, are sliding surfaces on which the detection unit can slide.

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