JP2024079011A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector capable of maintaining sealing performance is provided.
[Solution] A connector 1 includes a housing 3 attached to a mounting member 19, a terminal 5 accommodated in the housing 3, and a seal member 11 that seals between the mounting member 19 and the housing 3, the housing 3 having a first arrangement portion 25 arranged on one side and a second arrangement portion 27 arranged on the other side of the terminal 5, the terminal 5 is provided with connection portions 37, 41 to which a connecting member 33 is connected by applying a load to the first arrangement portion 25 in a direction away from the mounting member 19, the seal member 11 has a first seal portion 45 arranged in the first arrangement portion 25 and a second seal portion 47 arranged in the second arrangement portion 27, and the compression rate of the first seal portion 45 is set higher than the compression rate of the second seal portion 47.
[Selected figure] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, connectors include a terminal block as a housing that is attached to the transaxle as an attachment member, and a bus bar as a terminal that is accommodated in the terminal block. Also known is a connector that includes a packing as a sealing member that seals between the transaxle and the terminal block (see Patent Document 1). In this connector, the inside of the transaxle is sealed by sealing between the transaxle and the terminal block with a packing.

JP 2020-78971 A

In a connector such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, the housing has a first arrangement portion arranged on one side of the terminal and a second arrangement portion arranged on the other side. The terminal is also provided with a connection portion to which a connection member is connected by applying a load to the first arrangement portion in a direction away from the mounting member. Furthermore, the seal member has a first seal portion arranged in the first arrangement portion and a second seal portion arranged in the second arrangement portion.

In such a connector, when a connection member is connected to the connection portion of the terminal, the first arrangement portion of the housing may move in a direction away from the mounting member. When the first arrangement portion moves, the adhesion of the first seal portion of the seal member to the mounting member and the housing decreases. This may result in a decrease in the sealability between the mounting member and the housing.

The present invention was made in consideration of the problems inherent in the conventional technology. The object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can maintain its sealing performance.

The connector according to this embodiment includes a housing that is attached to an attachment member, a terminal accommodated in the housing, and a seal member that seals between the attachment member and the housing. The housing has a first arrangement portion arranged on one side of the terminal and a second arrangement portion arranged on the other side. The terminal is provided with a connection portion to which a connection member is connected by applying a load to the first arrangement portion in a direction away from the attachment member. The seal member has a first seal portion arranged in the first arrangement portion and a second seal portion arranged in the second arrangement portion. The compression ratio of the first seal portion is set higher than that of the second seal portion.

The present invention provides a connector that can maintain sealing properties.

1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a housing of the connector according to the embodiment. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal, an internal seal member, and a holder of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seal member of the connector according to the embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a seal member of the connector according to the embodiment. FIG.

The connector according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings have been exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 1 according to this embodiment is disposed, for example, between an inverter (not shown) and a motor (not shown). The connector 1 electrically connects the inverter and the motor. Therefore, the power from the power source that is converted to AC by the inverter is supplied to the motor via the connector 1.

As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the connector 1 includes a housing 3, a terminal 5, an internal seal member 7, a holder 9, and a seal member 11.

The housing 3 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 3 is provided with an attachment portion 13 formed in a flange shape. The attachment portion 13 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 17 (two in this example) through which fixing members 15 made of bolts are inserted. The attachment portion 13 closes an opening 21 of an attachment member 19, which serves as a case for accommodating a motor, and the housing 3 is fixed to the attachment member 19 by inserting the fixing members 15 into the insertion holes 17.

A groove 23 in which the seal member 11 is housed in intimate contact is formed continuously in the circumferential direction of the mounting portion 13 on the surface of the mounting portion 13 facing the mounting member 19. The depth of the groove 23 is set to the same depth over the entire circumferential area. The mounting portion 13 has a first arrangement portion 25 that is arranged on one side of the terminal 5 in the thickness direction, and a second arrangement portion 27 that is arranged on the other side of the terminal 5 in the thickness direction, sandwiching the terminal 5 therebetween.

In the housing 3, the accommodating section 29 capable of accommodating a part of the terminal 5, the internal seal member 7, and the holder 9 is formed of a single member continuous with the mounting section 13. The mounting section 13 side of the accommodating section 29 includes the mounting section 13, extends from the mounting section 13 toward the opposite side of the mounting member 19, and is an accommodating space capable of accommodating the internal seal member 7 and the holder 9. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 31 are provided on the outer surface of the mounting section 13 side of the accommodating section 29. The mounting member 19 of the accommodating section 29 extends from the mounting section 13 toward the mounting member 19 side, communicates with the mounting section 13 side of the accommodating section 29, and is partitioned into a plurality of (here, three) accommodating spaces capable of accommodating a part of one terminal 5. The accommodating section 29 is inserted into the mounting member 19 through the opening 21 of the mounting member 19 when the housing 3 is attached to the mounting member 19, and is also disposed outside the mounting member 19.

The terminal 5 is made of a conductive material and formed into a plate shape. Multiple terminals 5 (three in this example) are used and are accommodated in the respective accommodation spaces of the accommodation section 29 of the housing 3. The portion of the terminal 5 accommodated in the accommodation section 29 is pressed into the accommodation section 29 and fixed to the housing 3. Both ends of the terminal 5 are exposed from the accommodation section 29 and are disposed outside the housing 3.

One end side of the terminal 5 is a first connection portion 37 having a first fastening hole 35 through which a connecting member 33 made of a bolt is inserted. When the terminal 5 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 29, the first connection portion 37 is exposed from the accommodation portion 29 and arranged inside the mounting member 19. When the housing 3 is attached to the mounting member 19, the first connection portion 37 coincides with the connection portion of the motor (not shown), and the terminal 5 and the motor are electrically connected by fastening the connection member 33 to the first fastening hole 35. In the electrical connection between the first connection portion 37 and the connection portion of the motor, a nut (not shown) to which the connection member 33 is fastened is arranged on the first connection portion 37 side. Therefore, in the first connection portion 37, the load caused by fastening the connection member 33 is input to the terminal 5 in the direction of the arrow F1 (see FIG. 2). The load generated in the first connection portion 37 is applied to the first arrangement portion 25 of the housing 3 via the terminal 5 so as to move the first arrangement portion 25 away from the mounting member 19.

The other end of the terminal 5 is a second connection portion 41 having a second fastening hole 39 through which a connecting member 33 made of a bolt is inserted. When the terminal 5 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 29, the second connection portion 41 is exposed from the accommodation portion 29 and disposed outside the mounting member 19. When the housing 3 is attached to the mounting member 19, the second connection portion 41 coincides with the connection portion of the inverter (not shown), and electrically connects the terminal 5 and the inverter by fastening the connection member 33 to the second fastening hole 39. In the electrical connection between the second connection portion 41 and the connection portion of the inverter, a nut (not shown) to which the connection member 33 is fastened is disposed on the connection portion side of the inverter. Therefore, in the second connection portion 41, the load caused by fastening the connection member 33 is input to the terminal 5 in the direction of the arrow F2 (see FIG. 2). The load generated in the second connection portion 41 is applied to the first arrangement portion 25 of the housing 3 via the terminal 5 so as to move the first arrangement portion 25 away from the mounting member 19.

In this way, both the loads generated at the first connection portion 37 and the second connection portion 41 are applied to the first arrangement portion 25 of the housing 3 in such a way as to move the first arrangement portion 25 away from the mounting member 19. Therefore, by limiting the load caused by the connection of the connection member 33 to the terminal 5 to the first arrangement portion 25 of the housing 3, the overall structure of the connector 1 in terms of the load can be simplified.

The internal seal member 7 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The internal seal member 7 has a plurality of insertion portions formed in an annular shape into which one terminal 5 can be inserted, and the plurality of insertion portions are connected by a single member that is continuous along the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals 5 via connecting portions. When the terminal 5 is inserted into the internal seal member 7, the inner surface of the internal seal member 7 adheres closely to the outer surface of the terminal 5. The internal seal member 7 is contracted while housed on the mounting portion 13 side of the housing portion 29, and the outer surface adheres closely to the inner surface of the housing portion 29. The internal seal member 7 seals between the housing 3 and the terminal 5 by adhering closely to the outer surface of the terminal 5 and the inner surface of the housing portion 29.

The holder 9 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The holder 9 has a plurality of placement sections formed in a housing shape into which one terminal 5 can be inserted, and is formed of a single member in which the plurality of placement sections are continuous along the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals 5. The holder 9 is accommodated on the attachment section 13 side of the accommodation section 29 with the terminal 5 inserted therethrough, and the assembled state with respect to the housing 3 is maintained via a plurality of engagement sections 43 provided between the holder 9 and the housing 3. When accommodated in the accommodation section 29, the holder 9 comes into close contact with the internal seal member 7, preventing the internal seal member 7 from falling off from the accommodation section 29.

The seal member 11 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The seal member 11 is formed in a ring shape that can be accommodated in the groove portion 23 of the housing 3. The seal member 11 is contracted and accommodated in the groove portion 23, and the outer surface of the seal member 11 adheres closely to the inner surface of the groove portion 23. When the seal member 11 is accommodated in the groove portion 23, a part of the outer surface of the seal member 11 is exposed from the groove portion 23. When the housing 3 is attached to the mounting member 19, the outer surface of the seal member 11 exposed from the groove portion 23 adheres closely to the outer surface of the mounting member 19 and is further contracted. The seal member 11 seals between the housing 3 and the mounting member 19 by adhering closely to the inner surface of the groove portion 23 and the outer surface of the mounting member 19.

The seal member 11 has a first seal portion 45 arranged in the first arrangement portion 25 of the housing 3, and a second seal portion 47 arranged in the second arrangement portion 27 of the housing 3. The thickness T1 (see FIG. 6) of the first seal portion 45 located between the mounting member 19 and the housing 3 is set to be thicker than the thickness T2 (see FIG. 6) of the second seal portion 47 located between the mounting member 19 and the housing 3. Here, the depth of the groove portion 23 in which the seal member 11 is arranged is set to the same depth over the entire circumferential area. Therefore, when the housing 3 is attached to the mounting member 19, the compression rate of the first seal portion 45 is higher than the compression rate of the second seal portion 47.

The compression rate of the first seal portion 45 is higher than that of the second seal portion 47, so even if a load is applied to the first arrangement portion 25 in a direction away from the mounting member 19, the first seal portion 45 can maintain its adhesion to the mounting member 19 and the housing 3. Therefore, the sealing ability between the mounting member 19 and the housing 3 by the seal member 11 can be maintained. In addition, by setting the thickness T1 of the first seal portion 45 to be thicker than the thickness T2 of the second seal portion 47, the compression rate of the first seal portion 45 is made higher than that of the second seal portion 47. Therefore, the compression rate of the first seal portion 45 can be made higher than that of the second seal portion 47 by changing the design of only the seal member 11, without changing the design of the groove portion 23 of the housing 3 or the outer surface of the mounting member 19.

The thickness T1 of the first seal portion 45 and the thickness T2 of the second seal portion 47 may be the same thickness. In this case, for example, the depth of the portion located at the first arrangement portion 25 of the groove portion 23 may be made shallower than the depth of the portion located at the second arrangement portion 27 of the groove portion 23. Alternatively, without changing the depth of the groove portion 23, a protrusion that presses the entire area of the first seal portion 45 may be provided in the portion of the mounting member 19 that faces the first arrangement portion 25. Even in such a case, the compression rate of the first seal portion 45 can be made higher than the compression rate of the second seal portion 47.

Such a connector 1 includes a housing 3 attached to a mounting member 19, a terminal 5 accommodated in the housing 3, and a seal member 11 that seals between the mounting member 19 and the housing 3. The housing 3 has a first arrangement portion 25 arranged on one side of the terminal 5 and a second arrangement portion 27 arranged on the other side. The terminal 5 is further provided with a first connection portion 37 and a second connection portion 41 as connection portions to which a connection member 33 is connected by applying a load to the first arrangement portion 25 in a direction away from the mounting member 19. The seal member 11 has a first seal portion 45 arranged in the first arrangement portion 25 and a second seal portion 47 arranged in the second arrangement portion 27. The compression ratio of the first seal portion 45 is set higher than the compression ratio of the second seal portion 47.

The compression rate of the first seal portion 45 is set higher than the compression rate of the second seal portion 47, so even if a load is applied to the first arrangement portion 25 in a direction away from the mounting member 19, the first seal portion 45 can maintain its adhesion to the mounting member 19 and the housing 3. This allows the seal member 11 to maintain the seal between the mounting member 19 and the housing 3.

Therefore, in such a connector 1, the seal member 11 can maintain its adhesion to the mounting member 19 and the housing 3, and the sealability can be maintained.

In addition, the thickness T1 of the first seal portion 45 located between the mounting member 19 and the housing 3 is set to be thicker than the thickness T2 of the second seal portion 47 located between the mounting member 19 and the housing 3. Therefore, the compression rate of the first seal portion 45 can be made higher than the compression rate of the second seal portion 47 by changing the design of only the seal member 11, without changing the design of the housing 3 or the mounting member 19.

Furthermore, the first connection portion 37 and the second connection portion 41 as connection portions are provided on both end sides of the terminal 5, respectively. Therefore, the load caused by the connection of the connection member 33 to the terminal 5 can be limited to the first arrangement portion 25 of the housing 3, and the overall structure of the connector 1 against the load can be simplified.

Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

For example, the seal member is housed in a groove in the housing, but this is not limiting. The seal member may be arranged so as to be in close contact with the outer surface of the housing without providing a groove in the housing, or a groove may be provided in the mounting member.

In addition, although three terminals are used, this is not limited, and the number of terminals may be two or less, or four or more.

Furthermore, the terminal is formed in a plate shape, and the connection parts on both ends are configured to have insertion holes through which bolts are inserted as connection members, but this is not limited to this. For example, the terminal is formed in a rod shape, and the connection parts on both ends are bent in an L-shape in different directions. A female terminal having a box-shaped connection part as a connection member may be connected to this connection part.

1 Connector 3 Housing 5 Terminal 11 Sealing member 19 Mounting member 25 First arrangement portion 27 Second arrangement portion 33 Connection member 37 First connection portion (connection portion)
41 Second connection portion (connection portion)
45 First seal portion 47 Second seal portion

Claims (3)

a housing attached to the mounting member;
A terminal accommodated in the housing;
a seal member for sealing between the mounting member and the housing;
Equipped with
the housing has a first arrangement portion disposed on one side of the terminal and a second arrangement portion disposed on the other side thereof,
the terminal is provided with a connection portion to which a connection member is connected by applying a load to the first arrangement portion in a direction away from the mounting member,
the seal member has a first seal portion disposed in the first arrangement portion and a second seal portion disposed in the second arrangement portion,
A connector, wherein the compression rate of the first seal portion is set higher than the compression rate of the second seal portion. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the first seal portion located between the mounting member and the housing is set to be thicker than the thickness of the second seal portion located between the mounting member and the housing. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection portion is provided on both ends of the terminal.

Images