JP2019220334A - Connector, connector connection structure, and device composite body - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector, a connector connection structure, and a device complex that can reduce the number of parts while preventing oil leakage from an oil-filled case.
An AT connector 100 penetrates a female terminal 120 and an opening 11a provided in an AT case 11 (oil-filled case) and is fixed to the AT case 11 (oil-filled case). The AT-side housing 110 is provided with an annular projection 115 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the AT-side housing 110 over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, and the annular projection 115 is opened in a state of being in contact with the inner edge of the opening 11a. A groove in which lubricating oil can be stored is formed on the side of the annular projection 115 facing the inside of the AT case 11 (oil-enclosed case) in a state where the AT-side housing 110 is press-fitted into the opening 11a. It is characterized by having an oil pocket 115a in the shape of a circle.
[Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector for electrically connecting an internal device of an oil-filled case to an external device, a connector connection structure, and a device complex in which two devices are connected by such a connector connection structure. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an automatic transmission of a vehicle, in many cases, oil for lubricating the transmission is sealed inside a case together with internal devices such as a transmission and various sensors. An external device such as a control device is connected to the automatic transmission to form a device complex. In such a device complex, a connector connection structure for electrically connecting the internal device of the automatic transmission to the external device while preventing oil leakage to the outside of the case has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). 1).

  In the connector connection structure described in Patent Literature 1, a connector provided at an end of an electric wire from an internal device and a connector fixed to a case of an external device include a relay connector fixed to a case of an automatic transmission. It is intended to be connected via. By providing various sealing materials on the relay connector, oil leakage to the outside of the case of the automatic transmission is prevented.

JP-A-11-111382

  Here, in the above-described structure for preventing oil leakage by providing various sealing materials on the connector fixed to the case, there is room for improvement in the number of parts.

  The situation where there is room for improvement has been described above by taking an automatic transmission in which oil is sealed in a case as an example. However, such a situation is not limited to the automatic transmission, and generally a connector, a connector connection structure, and a device complex for electrically connecting the internal device of the oil-filled case to the external device. Can occur.

  Therefore, the present invention pays attention to room for improvement as described above, and provides a connector, a connector connection structure, and a device complex that can suppress the number of parts while preventing oil leakage of an oil-filled case. Aim.

  In order to solve the above problems, a connector according to the present invention is a connector for electrically connecting an internal device housed with oil in an oil-filled case provided with an opening to an external device, comprising a terminal and A housing made of resin, which accommodates the terminal and is fixed to the oil-filled case through the opening, the housing having an annular projection protruding from an outer peripheral surface thereof in a circumferential direction. Is provided, and the annular projection is press-fitted into the opening in a state of being in contact with the inner edge of the opening. In the annular projection, the inside of the oil sealed case is press-fitted with the housing pressed into the opening. A groove-shaped oil pocket capable of storing the oil is provided on the facing side.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector connection structure for electrically connecting an internal device housed together with oil in an oil-sealed case provided with an opening to an external device. A first connector having a first terminal, a first housing for housing the first terminal, and a resin-made first housing penetrating through the opening and fixed to the oil-enclosed case; and a second terminal. And a second housing made of resin for accommodating the second terminal, provided at an end of an electric wire from the external device, or fixed to a case of the external device, A second connector connected to the first connector, wherein the first housing is provided with an annular projection protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the first housing in a circumferential direction, and the annular projection is an inner edge of the opening. The oil can be stored on the side of the annular projection that faces the inside of the oil-filled case in a state where the first housing is pressed into the opening. A groove-shaped oil pocket is provided.

  Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a device complex of the present invention includes a first device having an oil-filled case for accommodating an internal device together with oil, and an external device for the internal device in the first device. And a second device, wherein the internal device is electrically connected to the second device by the above-described connector connection structure of the present invention.

  According to the connector, the connector connection structure, and the device complex of the present invention, the housing (first housing) fixed to the oil-filled case is press-fitted into the opening, so that the annular protrusion prevents oil leakage from the oil-filled case. It comes off. This annular projection is provided with an oil pocket. When oil accumulates in the oil pocket, the annular protrusion formed of resin as a part of the housing (first housing) swells as a characteristic of the resin. Due to this swelling, the degree of sealing between the opening of the oil-filled case and the housing (first housing) of the connector is increased, and oil leakage can be prevented under this high degree of sealing. That is, according to the connector, the connector connection structure, and the device complex of the present invention, it is possible to prevent oil leakage from the oil-filled case by the annular projection that is a part of the housing (first housing). For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a sealing material for sealing between the opening and the connector as a separate component, and the number of components can be reduced. As described above, according to the connector of the present invention, the number of components can be reduced while preventing oil leakage from the oil-filled case.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an AT / ECU complex according to an embodiment of the device complex of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the connector connection structure shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a region A11 in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a region A11 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a comparative example for the connector connection structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an AT / ECU complex according to an embodiment of the device complex of the present invention.

  The AT / ECU complex 30 includes an automatic transmission (AT) 10 (first device) of the vehicle and an ECU (Engine Control Unit) 20 (second device, external device) that is a control device for controlling the AT 10. And The AT 10 has an AT case 11 (oil-enclosed case) in which lubricating oil for the transmission is sealed together with internal devices such as a transmission and various sensors. The AT 10 and the ECU 20 are electrically connected to each other by the connector connection structure 1. The connector connection structure 1 includes an AT connector 100 (connector, first connector) and an ECU connector 200 (second connector). The AT connector 100 is fixed to the AT case 11, and the ECU connector 200 is fixed to the ECU case 21 (a case of an external device) and is connected to the AT connector 100. In the present embodiment, the ECU connector 200 is connected to the AT case 100 along with the connection direction D11 in the drawing to the AT case 11 together with the ECU case 21 to which the ECU connector 200 is fixed. This connection is detachable.

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the connector connection structure shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a region A11 in FIG. 2, the AT 10 is shown on the lower side of the figure, and the ECU 20 is shown on the upper side of the figure, contrary to FIG.

  The AT connector 100 in the connector connection structure 1 is provided at an end of a wire from an internal device of the AT case 11 in the AT 10 and is fixed to the AT case 11. The AT case 11 is provided with an opening 11a, and the AT connector 100 is fixed to the AT case 11 so as to penetrate and close the opening 11a. On the other hand, the ECU connector 200 is connected to a circuit board built in the ECU 20 and is fixed to an ECU case 21 of the ECU 20. The ECU case 21 is also provided with an opening 21a, and the ECU connector 200 is fixed so as to penetrate and close the opening 21a.

  The AT connector 100 includes a plurality of female terminals 120 (terminal, The first connector is a female connector. The AT-side housing 110 is provided with a convex portion 112 serving as a portion of the AT connector 100 that enters the ECU connector 200. A terminal insertion opening for the female terminal 120 is opened at an end surface of the protrusion 112 on the ECU connector 200 side so as to communicate with the terminal accommodating chamber 111.

  Further, the AT side housing 110 has a fixing portion for fixing the AT connector 100 to the AT case 11 in a state where the convex portion 112 projects outside from the AT case 11 and the other portion 113 enters the AT case 11. A flange 114 is provided. Then, the AT connector 100 is inserted into the opening 11a from outside the AT case 11, and the fixing flange 114 abuts around the opening 11a and is fixed.

  The ECU connector 200 is a male connector in which a plurality of pin-shaped male terminals 220 (second terminals) are provided on the ECU-side housing 210 (second housing). The ECU-side housing 210 is provided with a concave portion 211 for receiving the convex portion 112 of the AT connector 100. A pin-shaped male terminal 220 is attached through the bottom wall 213 of the recess 211. The opposite side of the male terminal 220 from the AT connector 100 is soldered to a circuit board (not shown) inside the ECU 20. When the convex portion 112 of the AT connector 100 enters the concave portion 211 of the ECU connector 200 in the connection direction D11 at the time of connector connection, the male terminal 220 enters from the terminal insertion port on the end face of the convex portion 112 and connects to the female terminal 120. I do.

  The ECU side housing 210 is provided with a fixing flange 214 for fixing the ECU connector 200 to the ECU case 21 in a state where the bottomed cylindrical portion 212 provided with the concave portion 211 projects from the opening 21a. Then, the ECU connector 200 is inserted into the opening 21a from the inside of the ECU case 21 so that the fixing flange 214 is in contact with the periphery of the opening 21a in the ECU case 21 on the case inner side, and the fixing flange 214 is fixed to the periphery.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in the AT-side housing 110, when the AT-side housing 110 is attached to the AT case 11, an annular protrusion 115 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface facing the inner edge of the opening 11a over the entire circumference. Is provided. The AT housing 110, that is, the AT connector 100, is press-fitted into the opening 11a with the annular protrusion 115 in contact with the inner edge of the opening 11a. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 3, a lubricating oil can be stored on the side of the annular protrusion 115 facing the inside of the AT case 11 with the AT side housing 110 being pressed into the opening 11a. A groove-shaped oil pocket 115a is provided.

  In the present embodiment, the annular projection 115 seals between the AT connector 100 and the AT case 11. The annular projection 115 prevents oil leakage from between the AT connector 100 and the AT case 11. When lubricating oil accumulates in the oil pocket 115a provided in the annular projection 115, the annular projection 115 formed of resin as a part of the AT side housing 110 swells as a characteristic of the resin. Due to this swelling, the degree of sealing between the opening 11a of the AT case 11 and the AT side housing 110 is increased, and oil leakage can be prevented under this high degree of sealing.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the AT case 11 is provided with a cylindrical wall 11b for accommodating the bottomed cylindrical portion 212 of the ECU connector 200 when the connector is connected. The cylindrical wall 11b stands on the AT case 11 so as to surround the periphery of the opening 11a such that the fixing flange 114 of the AT connector 100 penetrating the opening 11a is accommodated inside. The bottomed cylindrical portion 212 of the ECU connector 200 is accommodated in the gap between the cylindrical wall 11b and the convex portion 112 of the AT connector 100.

  A connector that seals between the ECU connector 200 and the AT case 11 by being sandwiched between the bottomed cylindrical portion 212 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 11b in a state of being in close contact with each other. The inter-case sealing material 230 is provided on the ECU connector 200.

  The connector / case sealing material 230 is provided so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the bottomed tubular portion 212 of the ECU connector 200. The connector / case sealing material 230 is a resin-made ring-shaped packing that seals between the ECU connector 200 and the AT case 11.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion 212 of the ECU connector 200, a concave groove 212a is provided over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, and a ring-shaped connector / case seal is formed in the concave groove 212a. Material 230 is fitted. When the convex portion 112 of the AT connector 100 enters the concave portion 211 of the ECU connector 200, the connector / case sealant 230 forms the outer peripheral surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion 212 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 11b. It is sandwiched between both in a state of being in close contact with each other. As a result, the connector / case sealant 230 seals between the ECU connector 200 and the AT case 11b. The connector / case sealing material 230 allows external water or the like to pass between the cylindrical wall 11b of the AT case 11b and the bottomed cylindrical portion 212 of the ECU connector 200, and the AT connector 100 and the ECU connector 200. It is possible to prevent a situation such as entering a connection portion with the connection.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the ECU connector 200 is provided with a terminal sealing material 240 described below. The terminal sealing material 240 is a resin filler that seals the space between the ECU-side housing 210 and the male terminal 220 in the ECU connector 200. The terminal sealing material 240 is filled in the ECU-side housing 210 on the side opposite to the AT connector 100 in the bottom wall 213 of the recess 211 that receives the projection 112 of the AT connector 100. Thus, the terminal sealing material 240 seals the space between the ECU-side housing 210 and the male terminal 220. The terminal sealing material 240 prevents oil from leaking from the inside of the AT case 11 to the inside of the ECU case 21 through the female terminal 120 of the AT connector 100 and the male terminal 220 of the ECU connector 200.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a comparative example of the connector connection structure shown in FIGS.

  In the connector connection structure 5 of the comparative example shown in FIG. 4, the ECU connector 600 fixed to the ECU case 61 of the ECU 60 is connected to the relay connector 500 fixed to the AT case 51 of the AT 50. The AT connector 700 connects to the relay connector 500 inside the AT case 51. In the connector connection structure 5 of the comparative example, by providing various types of sealing materials on the relay connector 500, oil leakage to the outside of the AT case 51 can be prevented. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing only the relay connector 500 related to prevention of oil leakage among the three connectors so that the internal structure can be seen.

  The relay connector 500 is a male connector provided on the housing 510 such that a pin-shaped male terminal 520 projects toward both the inside of the AT 50 and the ECU 60. On the other hand, the AT connector 700 and the ECU connector 600 are both female connectors.

  The housing 510 of the relay connector 500 is provided with a fixing flange 511 for fixing the relay connector 500 to the AT case 51 while penetrating the opening 51a of the AT case 51. The connector / AT case sealing material 530 that seals the relay connector 500 and the AT case 51 is provided in the relay connector 500 by being sandwiched between the fixed flange 511 and the periphery of the opening 51a of the AT case 51. Have been. The connector / AT case sealing material 530 is a resin ring-shaped gasket surrounding the outer circumference of the housing 510 on the AT case 51 side of the fixing flange 511 over the entire circumference. The connector / AT case sealing material 530 prevents oil leakage from between the relay connector 500 and the opening 51 a of the AT case 51.

  Further, the housing 510 of the relay connector 500 is provided with a bottomed cylindrical portion 512 for receiving the convex portion 601 containing the female terminal in the ECU connector 600. The bottom of the bottomed cylindrical portion 512 is filled with a resin-made terminal sealing material 540 for sealing between the housing 510 and the male terminal 520. The terminal sealing material 540 prevents oil leakage along the male terminal 520 of the relay connector 500 toward the inside of the ECU connector 600.

  Further, a connector / ECU case sealing member 550 for sealing the relay connector 500 and the ECU case 61 is provided on the relay connector 500 on the outer peripheral surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion 512. When the ECU connector 600 is connected to the relay connector 500, the bottomed cylindrical portion 512 of the relay connector 500 enters the inside of the opening 61 a of the ECU case 61. The connector / ECU case sealing material 550 is a resin-made ring-shaped packing surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion 512 over one circumference. When the ECU connector 600 is connected to the relay connector 500, the connector / ECU case sealing material 550 is sandwiched between the outer peripheral surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion 512 and the inner peripheral surface of the opening 61a of the ECU case 61. Both are sealed in a state. The sealing material 550 between the connector and the ECU case prevents entry of external water or the like from between the relay connector 500 and the opening 61a of the ECU case 61.

  In the connector connection structure 5 of the comparative example described above, in order to prevent oil leakage from between the relay connector 500 and the opening 51a of the AT case 51, a connector / AT case sealing material 530 as a gasket is separately provided as a part. Is provided. For this reason, there is room for improvement in the number of parts. In addition, the labor for attaching the connector / AT case sealing material 530 as a separate component to the relay connector 500 and the processing labor for providing the AT case 51 with a space for accommodating the connector / AT case sealing material 530. Is also required.

  On the other hand, in the AT connector 100, the connector connection structure 1, and the AT / ECU complex 30 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. The projections 115 prevent oil leakage. That is, when the AT connector 100 is press-fitted into the opening 11a of the AT case 11, the annular projection 115 seals between them, thereby preventing oil leakage. In addition, since the resin-made annular protrusion 115 swells due to the lubricating oil accumulated in the oil pocket 115a, the degree of sealing is increased, so that oil leakage can be prevented under a high degree of sealing. That is, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a sealing material or the like as a separate component for sealing between the opening 11a of the AT case 11 and the AT connector 100, so that the number of components can be reduced. Further, in this regard, labor and work in processing can be reduced. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the number of components can be reduced while preventing oil leakage from the AT case 11.

  Further, in the connector connection structure 1 and the AT / ECU complex 30 of the present embodiment, as described above, between the cylindrical wall 11b erected on the AT case 11 and the bottomed cylindrical portion 212 of the ECU connector 200. Is provided with a connector / case sealing material 230 for sealing the connector. According to the present embodiment, the ingress of external water and the like can be prevented by the connector / case sealing material 230.

  Further, in the connector connection structure 1 and the AT / ECU complex 30 of the present embodiment, the terminal between the ECU side housing and the male terminal 220 in the ECU connector 200 is sealed by the terminal sealing material 240. Even if the lubricating oil of the AT case 11 is transmitted through the female terminal 120 of the AT connector 100 or the male terminal 220 of the ECU connector 200, such progress of the lubricating oil prevents the terminal sealing. Blocked by material 240. As described above, according to the present embodiment, oil leakage from the AT case 11 can be prevented with higher accuracy.

  The embodiment described above merely shows a typical embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Such a modification is, of course, included in the scope of the present invention as long as it has the configuration of the connector, the connector connection structure, and the device complex of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the AT connector 100 and the connector connection structure 1 for electrically connecting the AT 10 and the ECU 20 of the vehicle to each other are illustrated as an example of the connector and the connector connection structure according to the present invention. As an example of the device complex according to the present invention, an AT / ECU complex 30 in which the AT 10 and the ECU 20 are connected via the connector connection structure 1 is illustrated. However, the connector, the connector connection structure, and the device complex according to the present invention are not limited to these. That is, if a connector for electrically connecting two devices, a connector connection structure, and a device complex in which two devices are connected via such a connector connection structure, specific embodiments thereof will be described. Don't ask.

  In the above-described embodiment, the AT connector 100 fixed to the AT case 11 and the AT connector 100 and the ECU connector 200 are connected as an example of the connector and the connector connection structure according to the present invention. The connector connection structure 1 is illustrated. And, as an example of the device complex according to the present invention, an AT / ECU complex 30 in which the AT 10 and the ECU 20 are connected via the connector connection structure 1 is illustrated. However, the connector, the connector connection structure, and the device complex according to the present invention are not limited to these. That is, the connector according to the present invention may be, for example, a relay connector as shown as a comparative example in FIG. 4 provided with an annular projection as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. . Further, the connector connection structure according to the present invention may be a structure in which an ECU connector as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is connected to such a relay connector. The device complex according to the present invention may be an AT / ECU complex or the like in which an AT and an ECU are connected via a connector connection structure having such a relay connector.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ECU connector 200 fixed to the ECU case 21 as a case of an external device is illustrated as an example of the second connector according to the present invention. However, the second connector according to the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided at an end of an electric wire from an external device.

1 Connector connection structure 10 AT (first device)
11 AT case (oil-filled case)
11a Opening 11b Cylindrical wall 20 ECU (second device, external device)
21 ECU case (external device case)
30 AT / ECU complex (device complex)
100 AT connector (connector, first connector)
110 AT side housing (housing, first housing)
112 convex portion 115 annular protrusion 115a oil pocket 120 female terminal (terminal, first terminal)
200 ECU connector (second connector)
210 ECU side housing (second housing)
212 cylindrical part with bottom 220 male terminal (second terminal)
230 Sealing material between connector and case 240 Terminal sealing material D11 Connection direction

Claims (6)

A connector for electrically connecting an internal device housed with oil to an oil-filled case provided with an opening to an external device,
Terminals and
A housing made of resin that accommodates the terminal and is fixed to the oil-filled case through the opening,
The housing is provided with an annular projection protruding from the outer peripheral surface thereof over the entire circumference in a circumferential direction, and the annular projection is press-fitted into the opening while being in contact with the inner edge of the opening.
A connector in which a groove-shaped oil pocket capable of storing the oil is provided on a side of the annular protrusion facing the inside of the oil-filled case when the housing is pressed into the opening. . A connector connection structure for electrically connecting an internal device housed together with oil to an oil-filled case provided with an opening to an external device,
A first connector having a first terminal, and a first resin housing that houses the first terminal and is fixed to the oil-enclosed case through the opening;
A second terminal, and a second housing made of resin for accommodating the second terminal, provided at an end of an electric wire from the external device, or fixed to a case of the external device. , A second connector connected to the first connector,
The first housing is provided with an annular protrusion protruding from an outer peripheral surface thereof over one circumference in a circumferential direction, and the annular protrusion is press-fitted into the opening while being in contact with an inner edge of the opening,
A groove-shaped oil pocket capable of storing the oil is provided on a side of the annular protrusion facing the inside of the oil-filled case when the first housing is press-fitted into the opening. Connector connection structure. A terminal sealing material for sealing between the second housing and the second terminal in the second connector;
The connector connection structure according to claim 2, further comprising: A first device having an oil-filled case for housing internal equipment together with oil;
A second device as an external device with respect to the internal device in the first device,
A device complex, wherein the internal device is electrically connected to the second device by the connector connection structure according to claim 2 or 3. The first housing of the first connector has a protrusion that accommodates the first terminal and enters the second connector,
The second housing of the second connector has a bottomed tubular portion that receives the protrusion inside and has the second terminal disposed on the bottom.
A tubular wall that is erected around the opening in the oil-filled case and that accommodates the bottomed tubular portion of the second housing inside;
A connector that seals between the second connector and the oil-filled case by being sandwiched between the outer peripheral surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall in close contact with each other; The device composite according to claim 4, further comprising: an inter-case sealing material. The first device is an automatic transmission for a vehicle,
The device complex according to claim 4, wherein the second device is a control device for the automatic transmission.

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