阅读说明：本技术 连接器装置 (Connector device ) 是由 斋藤晓洋 于 2019-07-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种连接器装置,包括：第一连接器；第二连接器；可移动臂,其设置在第一连接器上,并且将第二连接器保持为相对于第一连接器的配合状态；连接器配合保证机构,其通过使滑动器与将第二连接器保持为配合状态的可移动臂可滑动接合而锁定可移动臂；信号电路,其能够将电线互相电连接；以及互锁端子,其设置在滑动器中,滑动器设置在当可移动臂未被锁定时滑动器的后端部从第一连接器的后端向后突出的位置处,并且滑动器设置在当可移动臂被锁定时第一连接器的后端与滑动器的后端部基本互相齐平的位置处。(A connector device, comprising: a first connector; a second connector; a movable arm that is provided on the first connector and holds the second connector in a mated state with respect to the first connector; a connector fitting ensuring mechanism that locks the movable arm by slidably engaging the slider with the movable arm that holds the second connector in a fitted state; a signal circuit capable of electrically connecting the electric wires to each other; and an interlock terminal provided in the slider, the slider being provided at a position at which a rear end portion of the slider protrudes rearward from a rear end of the first connector when the movable arm is not locked, and the slider being provided at a position at which the rear end of the first connector and the rear end portion of the slider are substantially flush with each other when the movable arm is locked.)

1. A connector device, comprising:

a first connector including a first terminal;

a second connector including a second terminal, the first terminal being electrically connected to the second terminal;

a movable arm provided on the first connector and configured to hold the second connector in a mated state with respect to the first connector;

a connector fitting assurance mechanism that locks the movable arm by slidably engaging a slider with the movable arm that holds the second connector in the fitted state;

a signal circuit configured to be capable of electrically connecting a first electric wire connected to the first terminal and a second electric wire connected to the second terminal to each other; and

an interlock terminal provided in the slider and configured to: closing the signal circuit when the movable arm is locked and opening the signal circuit when the movable arm is unlocked,

wherein the slider is disposed at the following positions: a rear end portion of the slider protrudes rearward from a rear end of the first connector when the movable arm is not locked; and the slider is disposed at the following positions: when the movable arm is locked, the rear end of the first connector and the rear end of the slider are substantially flush with each other.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the movable arm is a link lever of a lever fitting type connector, the link lever applying a fitting force and a separating force to the first connector and the second connector by a rotating operation.

3. The connector device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rear holder is attached to the rear end of the first connector to restrict a sealing member, which is attached to an opening that leads the first electric wire out of a terminal accommodating chamber accommodating the first terminal, from escaping, and

the rear end portion of the slider is disposed at the following positions: when the movable arm is locked, the rear end of the slider is substantially flush with a rear end surface of the rear holder.

4. The connector device according to claim 3, wherein the rear end surface of the rear holder is provided with a cutout that is cut out so that the rear end portion of the slider is inserted.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a connector device.

Background

In the related art, there is proposed a lever-fitting type connector for electrical connection between a motor and an inverter mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle, as a connector device which mechanically detects fitting between a male connector and a female connector and electrically detects fitting of their connectors to prevent arc discharge when the connectors are separated (see JP2007-149420 a).

In such a lever-fitting type connector, since the interlock terminal is integrated with the slider of the connector fitting ensuring mechanism, the lever-fitting type connector can be shortened, and the number of components of the lever-fitting type connector can be reduced.

In a lever-fitting type connector in which an interlock terminal is integrated with a slider of a connector fitting assurance mechanism, since the slider is disposed inside a turning locus of a coupling lever, a direction of visual confirmation of a fitting operation by an inspector is limited to only the coupling lever side. Therefore, depending on the vehicle-mounted state of the lever-fitting type connector, it is difficult for the inspector of the fitting operation to visually confirm whether the slider is in the normal locking position, which may result in a reduction in the operability of the inspection operation.

Disclosure of Invention

Aspects of the present invention provide a connector device capable of shortening a connector by integrating interlocking terminals with a slider of a connector fitting securing mechanism and facilitating visual confirmation of whether the slider is at a normal locking position.

According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector device in which a connector can be shortened by integrating an interlock terminal with a slider of a connector fitting ensuring mechanism, and visual confirmation of whether the slider is at a normal locking position can be facilitated.

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention have been briefly described above. Details of the aspects will be more apparent from reading the embodiments (hereinafter, referred to as "examples") for implementing the aspects described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a housing and a slider of the first connector shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a temporary locking state of the connector device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a fully locked state of the connector device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a fully locked state of the connector device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a fitting completed state of the connector device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a fitting completed state of the connector device shown in fig. 1.

Figures 9A to 9C are top, side and bottom views of the connector device shown in figure 1 in a fully locked state.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a fitting completed state of the connector device shown in fig. 1.

List of reference marks

1 connector device

2 first connector

3 second connector

4 slider

5 electric wire

6 electric wire

7 connecting lever (Movable arm)

22 female terminal (first terminal)

32 male terminal (second terminal)

43 rear end portion

81 rear end surface (rear end of first connector)

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector 2 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the housing 21 and the slider 4 of the first connector 2 shown in fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the connector device 1 according to the embodiment is a lever-fitting type connector including: a first connector 2, a second connector 3, a link lever 7 serving as a movable arm, and a slider 4 forming a connector fitting assurance mechanism.

As shown in fig. 2, the first connector 2 includes a housing 21 molded from an electrically insulating synthetic resin. Five female terminals (first terminals) 22 are accommodated in the five terminal accommodating chambers 23 of the housing 21, respectively, and the electric wires 5 are connected to the female terminals 22, respectively. Rubber stoppers 28 serving as sealing members are attached to the respective electric wires 5 behind the female terminals 22. The main body portion 41 of the slider 4 is accommodated in the slider accommodating chamber 25 of the housing 21.

A slider lock portion 27 is formed on an upper portion of the housing 21. A pair of pins 24 protrude from both side surfaces of the housing 21, and as shown in fig. 1, a coupling lever 7 made of synthetic resin formed in a substantially U shape is attached to the pins 24 in a manner rotatable about the pins 24.

The guide grooves 71 are formed in both legs of the coupling lever 7, respectively, and each guide groove 71 has a substantially arc-like shape so as to shorten the distance to the pin 24 as approaching from the open tip end portion of the guide groove 71 to the tip end portion. A temporary locking release projection 76, a pair of first engagement holes 77 for fitting the detection member, and a pair of second engagement holes 75 for full locking are formed in the grip portion of the coupling lever 7.

As shown in fig. 1, the second connector 3 includes a housing 31 molded from an electrically insulating synthetic resin. Five male terminals (second terminals) 32 are accommodated in the five terminal accommodating chambers 33 of the housing 31, respectively, and the electric wires 6 are connected to the male terminals 32, respectively. The interlocking female terminal 10 connected to the end of the electric wire 11 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 35 of the housing 31 facing the slider accommodating chamber 25 of the housing 21.

A pair of pins 34 protrude from both left and right side surfaces of the housing 31, and each pin 34 faces a tip end portion having an opening of the guide groove 71 of the coupling lever 7.

The slider 4 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in fig. 1, the slider 4 is attached so as to be capable of reciprocating in its front-rear direction with respect to the housing 21 of the first connector 2. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the slider 4 includes a cylindrical main body portion 41, and the temporary locking portion 47 is cantilevered at the rear side of the main body portion 41 so as to be elastically movable upward and downward.

A pair of U-shaped flexible arms 45 are integrally formed on the main body portion 41 so as to extend forward from the rear end portion 43 of the slider 4, while the front side of the rear flexible arm 45 extends toward the rear side of the connector, so that the front side of the flexible arm 45 is folded. The distal end portion of each flexible arm 45 is integrally provided with a drop-preventing engagement claw 45a, the engagement claw 45a protruding from the flexible arm 45. Since the temporary locking portion 47 of the slider 4 is normally locked to the slider locking portion 27 of the housing 21, the slider 4 is prevented from moving forward from the slider locking portion 27.

An interlocking male terminal (terminal for interlocking) 9 shown in fig. 2 is built in the body portion 41 of the slider 4, and an interlocking female terminal 10 is built in the housing 31 of the second connector 3 so as to face the interlocking male terminal 9.

The interlocking male terminal 9 and the interlocking female terminal 10 are connected to a signal circuit configured to be able to electrically connect the electric wire 5 of the first connector 2 with the electric wire 6 of the second connector 3 (i.e., electrically connect the electric wire 5 and the electric wire 6 with each other, or electrically disconnect the electric wire 5 and the electric wire 6 from each other).

When the interlocking male terminal 9 and the interlocking female terminal 10 are connected to each other, the signal circuit is closed, so that the electric wire 5 and the electric wire 6 are in a conductive state. In contrast, when the interlocking male terminal 9 and the interlocking female terminal 10 are not connected to each other, the signal circuit is opened, so that conduction between the electric wire 5 and the electric wire 6 is cut off.

The expression "signal circuit configured to be able to electrically connect the electric wire 5 with the electric wire 6" means that the signal circuit is closed so that the electric wire 5 and the electric wire 6 are in a conductive state, or that the signal circuit is open so that conduction between the electric wire 5 and the electric wire 6 is cut off.

Since the connector device 1 according to the embodiment has the above-described configuration, when the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 of the connector device 1 are coupled, the following steps are performed.

First, as shown in fig. 1, the second connector 3 is made to face the first connector 2. At this time, the link lever 7 is rotated forward to the front side of the first connector 2 and stands up. Since the slider 4 is pulled back to the rear side of the first connector 2, the temporary locking portions 47 are engaged with the slider locking portions 27 of the housing 21 and locked at the rear side of the first connector 2, and the interlocking male terminal 9 is not connected to the interlocking female terminal 10.

Next, as shown in fig. 4, the second connector 3 is inserted into the first connector 2 and temporarily locked to the first connector 2. Then, the pins 34 of the second connector 3 are engaged with the tip portions having openings of the guide grooves 71 of the coupling lever 7, respectively. The female terminals 22 of the first connector 2 are lightly fitted with the male terminals 32 of the second connector 3. At this time, however, since the interlock male terminal 9 and the interlock female terminal 10 are not connected, the electric wire 5 and the electric wire 6 may not be conducted in a midway fitting state (i.e., temporary locking). Therefore, operations such as inspection and maintenance of the electrical system can be performed more safely.

Next, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, the first connector 2 is completely locked with the second connector 3. In this case, the link lever 7 is rotated backward to the rear side of the first connector 2 by about 90 °. Then, the guide grooves 71 are rotated backward to the rear side of the first connector 2 about the pins 24 while keeping the engagement with the pins 34, respectively. At this time, since the distance between the guide groove 71 and the pin 24 is shortened as approaching from the open tip portion of the guide groove 71 to the tip end portion, the distance between the pin 24 and the pin 34, that is, the distance between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 is shortened as the coupling lever 7 is rotated backward to the rear side of the first connector 2. As a result, the second connector 3 approaches toward the first connector 2, and the female terminals 22 of the second connector 3 are reliably mated with the male terminals 32 of the second connector 3. In this way, the first connector 2 is completely locked with the second connector 3. The slider 4 is pulled back to the rear side of the first connector 2.

Since the second connector 3 is pulled back to the first connector 2 by operating the interlink lever 7 in such a lever fitting form of complete locking, the force required for inserting the second connector 3 during temporary locking can be small. However, the link lever 7 is not locked, i.e., in an unlocked state.

When the coupling lever 7 is rotated by about 90 ° toward the rear side of the first connector 2, the temporary-lock releasing projection 76 pushes down the temporary-lock portion 47 of the slider 4 so that the slider 4 is not locked at the rear side of the first connector 2 and can move forward to the front side of the first connector 2.

Finally, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, the link lever 7 is locked, and the first connector 2 is completely mated with the second connector 3. In this case, the slider 4 is moved forward to the front side of the first connector 2 by the pressing operation 42. Then, the slider 4 is positioned at the normal locking position, and the flexible arms 45 are engaged with the first engaging holes 77 for the fit detection members of the joint lever 7, respectively, and the falling-off prevention engaging claws 45a are engaged with the second engaging holes 75 for the complete locking of the joint lever 7, respectively. At this time, since the distal end portions of the respective flexible arms 45 of the slider 4 can be elastically bent upward and downward, the engagement of the fall-off prevention engagement claws 45a with respect to the second engagement holes 75 for full locking can be smoothly performed.

As a result, the link lever 7 is locked to the housing 21 of the first connector 2 by the slider 4. By engaging the falling-off prevention engagement claws 45a with the locking engagement holes 75 for full locking, the slider 4 is locked, so that the first connector 2 is prevented from being pulled back to the rear side of the first connector 2.

When the slider 4 is moved forward to the front side of the first connector 2, the interlocking male terminal 9 is connected to the interlocking female terminal 10, and the electric wire 5 is in a conductive state with the electric wire 6.

Here, the coupling operation between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 is completed.

According to the connector device 1 of the embodiment, as shown in fig. 9A to 9C, the slider 4 having the connector fitting ensuring mechanism of the interlocking male terminal 9 is provided at the following positions: when the linking lever 7 in the connector device 1 serving as the lever-fitting type connector is unlocked, the rear end portion 43 of the slider 4 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the first connector 2. Therefore, the rear end portion 43 of the slider 4 protruding rearward from the rear end of the first connector 2 can be seen not only from the coupling lever 7 side but also from the opposite side of the coupling lever 7 and the left-right width direction of the coupling lever 7.

Therefore, in the connector device 1 of the embodiment, visual confirmation of whether the slider 4 is in the normal locking position is facilitated regardless of the vehicle mounting state, so that the operability of the inspection operation is improved. According to the connector device 1 of the embodiment, even in the lever-fitting type connector, whether or not the coupling lever 7 is locked can be easily determined.

According to the connector device 1 of the embodiment, the rubber plug 28 is attached to the opening that draws out the electric wire 5 from the terminal accommodating chamber 23s that accommodates the female terminal 22, the rear holder 8 is attached to the rear end of the first connector 2 to restrict the rubber plug 28 from coming off, and the rear end portion 43 of the slider 4 is disposed at a position substantially flush with the rear end surface 81 of the rear holder 8 when the coupling lever 7 is locked. In the rear holder 8, a pair of locking pieces 85 are locked and attached to a pair of locking portions 26 protruding from both side surfaces of the housing 21.

The expression "a position substantially flush with the rear end surface 81 of the rear holder 8" means that the slider 4 is moved forward to a position on the front side of the first connector 2 (i.e., the surface formed by the rear end portion 43 and the rear end surface 81 is flat or has a little step) as compared with a position where the slider 4 is pulled backward to the rear side of the first connector 2.

As shown in fig. 2, the rear end surface 81 of the rear holder 8 is provided with a cutout 83, and the cutout 83 is cut out so that the rear end portion 43 of the slider 4 can be inserted. Therefore, since it can be seen whether or not the rear end portion 43 of the slider 4 protrudes rearward from the rear end surface 81 of the rear holder 8 around the cutout 83, visual confirmation is simplified.

Aspects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be appropriately modified, improved, or the like. In addition, the materials, shapes, sizes, numbers, arrangement positions, and the like of the respective components in the above-described embodiments are optional, and are not limited as long as the aspects of the present invention can be achieved.

For example, although the link lever 7 of the lever-fitting type connector has been described as an example of the movable arm in the above-described embodiment, the aspect of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the movable arm according to the aspect of the invention that holds the second connector in the mated state with respect to the first connector may be a lock arm that is provided in the first connector to lock a lock projection provided in the second connector.

In the above-described embodiment, the rear end surface 81 of the rear holder 8 is used as the rear end of the first connector for visually observing the rear end portion 43 of the slider 4, but the aspect of the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the rear end surface of the link lever 7 in the fully fitted state may be the rear end of the first connector, or the rear end of the housing may directly serve as the rear end of the first connector.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a connector device (1) includes: a first connector (2) comprising a first, female terminal (22); a second connector (3) including a second terminal, i.e., a male terminal (32) electrically connected with the first terminal (22); a movable arm, i.e. a linking lever (7) provided on the first connector (2) and configured to hold the second connector (3) in a mated state with respect to the first connector (2); a connector fitting assurance mechanism that locks the movable arm by slidably engaging a slider (4) with the movable arm that holds the second connector (2) in the fitted state; a signal circuit configured to be capable of electrically connecting a first electric wire (5) connected to the first terminal (22) and a second electric wire (6) connected to the second terminal (32) to each other; and an interlock terminal, i.e., a terminal for interlock, provided in the slider (4) and configured to close the signal circuit when the movable arm is locked and to open the signal circuit when the movable arm is unlocked, wherein the slider (4) is provided at: when the movable arm is unlocked, a rear end portion of the slider (4) protrudes rearward from a rear end of the first connector (2), which is a rear end surface (81) of a rear holder (8), of the first connector (2); and the slider (4) is disposed at the following positions: when the movable arm is locked, the rear end of the first connector (2) and the rear end (43) of the slider (4) are substantially flush with each other.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the movable arm is a link lever (7) of a lever-fitting type connector, which applies a fitting force and a separating force to the first connector (2) and the second connector (3) by a rotating operation.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a sealing member, i.e., a rubber plug (28), is attached to an opening that leads out the first electric wire from a terminal accommodating chamber (23) accommodating the first terminal (22), the rear holder (8) is attached to a rear end of the first connector (2) to restrict the sealing member from coming off, and the rear end portion (43) of the slider (4) is disposed at a position substantially flush with a rear end surface (81) of the rear holder (8) when the movable arm is locked.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the rear end surface (81) of the rear holder (8) is provided with a cutout (83), the cutout (83) being cut so that the rear end (43) of the slider (4) is inserted.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the slider of the connector fitting assurance mechanism having the interlocking male terminal is provided at a position where a rear end portion of the slider protrudes rearward from a rear end of the first connector when the movable arm is not locked. Therefore, the rear end portion of the slider projecting rearward from the rear end of the first connector can be seen not only from the movable arm side but also from the opposite side of the movable arm and the left-right width direction of the movable arm. Therefore, visual confirmation of whether the slider is in the normal locking position is facilitated regardless of the vehicle mounting state, so that the operability of the checking operation is improved.

The slider of the connector fitting assurance mechanism with interlocking male terminals is disposed at the following positions: when the link lever in the connector device serving as the lever-fitting type connector is unlocked, the rear end portion of the slider protrudes rearward from the rear end of the first connector. Therefore, the rear end portion of the slider projecting rearward from the rear end of the first connector can be seen not only from the coupling lever side but also from the opposite side of the coupling lever and the left-right width direction of the coupling lever. Therefore, even in the lever-fitting type connector, whether the coupling lever is locked or not can be easily determined.

Since it can be seen whether or not the rear end surface of the slider protrudes rearward from the substantially flush rear end surface at the rear holder attached to the rear end of the first connector, visual confirmation is simplified.

Since it can be seen whether or not the rear end portion of the slider protrudes rearward from the rear end surface of the rear holder around the cutout, visual confirmation is simplified.