The present invention relates to a connector including a rod-shaped terminal, a terminal holder, and a housing on which the terminal holder is mounted.
In the related art, a connector for power supply for supplying (charging) electric power from outside a vehicle to a battery mounted on a vehicle such as an electric automatic vehicle or a plug-in hybrid automatic vehicle has been proposed. The connector for power supply is connected to a power supply or the like outside the vehicle, and is connected to be inserted into a charging inlet provided in the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). This type of connector is also called a charging connector.
In the above charging connector of the related art, a plurality of rod-shaped terminals are sequentially inserted into terminal accommodating chambers of a housing and temporarily fixed (so-called temporary locked), and then a rear holder is assembled to the housing, thereby finally fixing (so-called final locking) the plurality of terminals to the housing. Due to such a structure, at the time of assembling the rear holder, an assembling work is performed while preventing positional deviation or the like of the terminals temporarily fixed to the housing. As a result, it is difficult to improve workability in manufacturing the charging connector. Further, as can be understood from the above description, it is desired to improve the workability of assembling and manufacturing not only the charging connector but also a connector.
An object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of improving workability of manufacturing the connector.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector including:
Hereinafter, a connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The connector 1 is a connector that is installed in a vehicle such as an electric automatic vehicle or a plug-in hybrid automatic vehicle and is connected to an electric wire 2 extending from a battery, equipment, or the like mounted in the vehicle. The connector 1 is also called a charging inlet. By fitting a counterpart connector (so-called charging gun) into an opening portion 37 for fitting (see
Hereinafter, for convenience of description, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
First, the plurality of terminals 10 will be described. In this example, as illustrated in
The terminal 10 is made of metal. As illustrated in
An annular groove portion 14 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 12. When the terminal 10 is assembled to the terminal holder 20, a locking protrusion 24a of an elastic locking piece 24 to be described later of the terminal holder 20 is fitted into the annular groove portion 14 (see
One end portion of the electric wire 2 (see
Next, the terminal holder 20 will be described. The terminal holder 20 is a resin molded product, and integrally includes a rear wall portion 21 (see
In a region inward in a radial direction of the periphery edge of the rear wall portion 21, a plurality of (five in this example) circular through holes 23 are formed at intervals from each other corresponding to the plurality of terminals 10 (see
Each elastic locking piece 24 has a cantilever shape and is elastically deformable in the radial direction of the terminal insertion hole 25. The locking protrusion 24a extending inward in the radial direction of the terminal insertion hole 25 is formed on a tip end portion (front end portion) of each elastic locking piece 24 (see
A diameter dimension of each through hole 23 corresponds to a diameter dimension of the corresponding terminal 10. Accordingly, a diameter dimension of the terminal insertion hole 25 defined by the plurality of elastic locking pieces 24 extending from the periphery edge of each through hole 23 also corresponds to the diameter dimension of the corresponding terminal 10. As illustrated in
As can be understood from
Among the plurality of (three) elastic locking pieces 24 defining each of the pair of terminal insertion holes 25A, an outer peripheral surface of the elastic locking piece 24 (hereinafter, referred to as “elastic locking piece 24A” (see
The notch portions 21a (see
Next, the housing 30 will be described. As illustrated in
A plurality of (five) terminal accommodating chambers 34 are formed in the tubular portion 31 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction corresponding to the plurality of through holes 23 (terminal insertion holes 25) of the terminal holder 20 (see
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Next, the sensor holder 40 will be described. The sensor holder 40 has a function of holding the temperature sensor 50 (see
As illustrated in
At one side edge in the width direction of a rear region 41a from substantially a center to a rear end in the front-rear direction of the flat plate portion 41, a standing wall portion 44 is provided so as to protrude toward the other surface side of the flat plate portion 41 and extend in the front-rear direction. A facing plate portion 45 is provided on an extending end edge of the standing wall portion 44 extending in the front-rear direction so as to protrude toward the other side in the width direction, extend in the front-rear direction, and face the rear region 41a.
A substantially rectangular notch portion 46 extending in the front-rear direction is formed in a central portion of the facing plate portion 45. The facing plate portion 45 is provided with a cantilever-shaped elastic piece 47 extending from a rear end edge of the notch portion 46 toward a front end edge so as to close the notch portion 46. The elastic piece 47 is elastically deformable in a direction facing the rear region 41a, and is slightly inclined in a direction approaching the rear region 41a during non-elastic deformation. A locking hole 48 penetrating in a plate thickness direction is formed in the rear region 41a.
A body portion 51 to be described later of the temperature sensor 50 is inserted and held between the rear region 41a and the facing plate portion 45. Thus, the rear region 41a, the standing wall portion 44, the facing plate portion 45, and the elastic piece 47 constitute the sensor holding portion 49. In the sensor holder 40, the pair of elastic pieces 42 correspond to a “terminal mounting portion” according to the present invention, the rear region 41a of the flat plate portion 41 corresponds to a “contact surface portion” according to the present invention, and a front region 41b on the front side of the rear region 41a of the flat plate portion 41 corresponds to a “heat transfer portion” according to the present invention. The sensor holder 40 has been described above.
Next, the temperature sensor 50 will be described. As illustrated in
Next, assembly of the connector 1 will be described. In order to assemble the connector 1, first, the plurality of terminals 10 are assembled to the terminal holder 20 and the temperature sensor 50 is assembled to the sensor holder 40. There is no limitation before and after assembling both.
First, assembly of the plurality of terminals 10 to the terminal holder 20 will be described. Each terminal 10 to which one end portion of the electric wire 2 is connected and to which the exterior member 3 is provided is inserted into the corresponding terminal insertion hole 25 of the terminal holder 20 from the rear side (see
In a state in which the insertion of the terminal 10 into the terminal holder 20 is completed, the large-diameter portion 12 and the intermediate-diameter portion 13 of the terminal 10 are surrounded in the circumferential direction by the plurality of elastic locking pieces 24 (see
Next, the assembly of the temperature sensor 50 to the sensor holder 40 will be described. This assembly is completed by inserting the body portion 51 of the temperature sensor 50 into the sensor holding portion 49 of the sensor holder 40 from the rear side with the pair of flat surfaces 51a facing the rear region 41a and the elastic pieces 47 of the sensor holder 40.
In a state in which the temperature sensor 50 is completely assembled to the sensor holder 40, the elastic piece 47 elastically presses the body portion 51 toward the rear region 41a. Therefore, the flat surface 51a of the body portion 51 and the rear region (flat surface) 41a facing each other are maintained in a state in which they are in face-to-face contact while being pressed against each other. Accordingly, a temperature of the terminal 10 can be appropriately measured by accurately transmitting the heat of the terminal 10 to the temperature sensor 50 through the sensor holder 40.
As described above, when the assembly of the plurality of terminals 10 to the terminal holder 20 and the assembly of the temperature sensor 50 to the sensor holder 40 are completed, the assembly of the sensor holder 40 to the terminal 10A is performed. The sensor holder 40 to which the temperature sensor 50 is assembled is assembled to each of the pair of terminals 10A assembled to the terminal holder 20.
Specifically, the sensor holder 40 is moved rearward relative to the terminal 10A (terminal holder 20) such that the rear end portion of the sensor holding portion 49 of the sensor holder 40 is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of the elastic locking piece 24A and the facing surface 27 of the holding wall 26 in a state in which the small-diameter portion 11 of the terminal 10A is inserted into a space between the pair of elastic pieces 42 of the sensor holder 40. This movement progresses while an amount of elastic deformation of the pair of elastic pieces 42 in a direction away from each other gradually increases due to the pressing of the pair of elastic pieces 42 from the coupling portion 16 of the terminal 10A, and is completed when the elastically deformed pair of elastic pieces 42 reaches a position where the pair of elastic pieces 42 sandwich the large-diameter portion 12 of the terminal 10A. Thus, the assembly of the sensor holder 40 to the terminal 10A is completed.
In a state in which the sensor holder 40 is completely assembled to the terminal 10A, the pair of elastic pieces 42 are assembled while being in press-contact with the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 12 such that the curved portions 43 of the pair of elastic pieces 42 cover the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 12 of the terminal 10. Accordingly, the heat of the terminal 10A is appropriately transferred to the pair of elastic pieces 42 of the sensor holder 40. The heat of the terminal 10A transferred to the pair of elastic pieces 42 is transferred to the body portion 51 (flat surface 51a) of the temperature sensor 50 which is in face-to-face contact with the rear region 41a through the front region 41b and the rear region 41a of the sensor holder 40 in this order.
The rear end portion of the sensor holding portion 49 of the sensor holder 40 is sandwiched and held between the outer peripheral surface of the elastic locking piece 24A and the facing surface 27 of the holding wall 26, and the locking hole 48 of the sensor holder 40 is engaged with the locking protrusion 24b of the terminal holder 20 (see
As described above, when the assembly of the sensor holder 40 to the terminal 10A is completed, next, the terminal holder 20 is assembled to the housing 30. Specifically, as illustrated in
In a state in which the terminal holder 20 is completely assembled to the housing 30, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As described above, according to the connector 1 of the present embodiment, the plurality of locking portions (elastic locking pieces) 24 elastically displaceable in the radial direction are provided in the terminal holder 20. The plurality of locking portions 24 are disposed so as to surround the rod-shaped terminal 10 in the circumferential direction and engage with the terminal 10 to restrict movement of the terminal 10 in the radial direction and an axial direction. Accordingly, the terminal 10 can be appropriately held by the terminal holder 20 without using a rear holder or the like used in the above connector of the related art. By mounting the housing 30 on the terminal holder 20 holding the terminal 10 in this manner, the plurality of locking portions 24 are pressed inward in the radial direction by first pressing portions (projecting strip portions) 34a of the housing 30. That is, the first pressing portions 34a prevent the plurality of locking portions 24 from unintentionally coming from the terminal 10. Even when the plurality of terminals 10 are accommodated in the connector 1, each terminal 10 can be appropriately held by the terminal holder 20 and the first pressing portions 34a as described above. As described above, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, an assembling work of each member is easier than that in the connector of the related art, and thus workability of manufacturing the connector 1 can be improved.
The housing 30 includes second pressing portions (elastic piece) 35 that press the terminal 10 inward in the radial direction. Accordingly, the positional deviation in the radial direction of the terminal 10 is more strongly prevented by the action of the second pressing portion 35.
The terminal holder 20 includes third pressing portions (projecting strip portions) 24c that press the terminal 10 inward in the radial direction, in addition to the plurality of locking portions 24. Accordingly, the positional deviation in the radial direction of the terminal 10 is more strongly prevented by the action of the third pressing portion 24c.
In the terminal holder 20, the plurality of elastic locking pieces 24 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the terminal 10. Accordingly, positional deviation in the radial direction of the terminal 10 is more strongly prevented.
The first pressing portions 34a that press the locking portion 24 of the terminal holder 20 and the third pressing portions 24c that press the terminal 10 are disposed to be offset from each other in the circumferential direction of the terminal 10. Accordingly, the pressing force generated by the first pressing portion 34a and the third pressing portion 24c is appropriately dispersed in the circumferential direction, and the positional deviation of the terminal 10 in the radial direction is more strongly prevented.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and modifications, improvements, and the like can be made appropriately. In addition, materials, shapes, sizes, numbers, arrangement positions, or the like of components in the embodiment described above are freely selected and are not limited as long as the present invention can be implemented.
For example, in the above embodiment, the plurality of projecting strip portions 34a (first pressing portions) are formed at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 34. In contrast, a single projecting strip portion 34a may be formed at one position in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 34.
In the above embodiment, the plurality of elastic pieces 35 (second pressing portions) are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 34 of the housing 30, and the projecting strip portion 24c (third pressing portion) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the elastic locking piece 24 of the terminal holder 20. In contrast, one or both of the elastic piece 35 and the projecting strip portion 24c may be omitted.
Here, in the embodiment described above of the present invention, a connector (1) includes:
According to the connector having the above configuration, the plurality of locking portions elastically displaceable in the radial direction are provided in the terminal holder. The plurality of locking portions are disposed so as to surround the rod-shaped terminal in the circumferential direction and engage with the terminal to restrict movement of the terminal in the radial direction and the axial direction. Accordingly, the terminal can be appropriately held by the terminal holder without using a rear holder or the like used in the above connector of the related art. By mounting the housing on the terminal holder holding the terminal in this manner, the plurality of locking portions are pressed inward in the radial direction by the first pressing portion of the housing. That is, the first pressing portion prevents the plurality of locking portions from unintentionally coming from the terminal. Even when the plurality of terminals are accommodated in the connector, each terminal can be appropriately held by the terminal holder and the first pressing portion as described above. As described above, in the connector according to the present embodiment, an assembling work of each member is easier than that in the connector of the related art, and thus workability of manufacturing the connector can be improved.
The housing (30) may further include a second pressing portion (35, 35a) that presses the terminal (10) inward in the radial direction.
According to the connector having the above configuration, the housing includes the second pressing portion that presses the terminal inward in the radial direction. Accordingly, positional deviation in the radial direction of the terminal is more strongly prevented by the action of the second pressing portion.
The terminal holder (20) may further include a third pressing portion (24c) that presses the terminal (10) inward in the radial direction.
According to the connector having the above configuration, the terminal holder includes the third pressing portion that presses the terminal inward in the radial direction, in addition to the plurality of locking portions. Accordingly, the positional deviation in the radial direction of the terminal is more strongly prevented by the action of the third pressing portion.
The terminal holder (20) may include the plurality of locking portions (24) arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the terminal (10).
According to the connector having the above configuration, the plurality of locking pieces are arranged in the terminal holder at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the terminal. Accordingly, the positional deviation in the radial direction of the terminal is more strongly prevented.
The first pressing portion (34a) and the third pressing portion (24c) may be disposed to be offset from each other in the circumferential direction of the terminal (10).
According to the connector having the above configuration, the first pressing portion that presses the locking portion of the terminal holder and the third pressing portion that presses the terminal are disposed to be offset from each other in the circumferential direction of the terminal. Accordingly, a pressing force generated by the first pressing portion and the third pressing portion is appropriately dispersed in the circumferential direction, and the positional deviation of the terminal in the radial direction is more strongly prevented.
The present application is based on a Japanese patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-036374) filed on Mar. 9, 2022, and the contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference.
The connector according to the present invention is capable of improving workability OF manufacturing the connector. The present invention having this effect can be used, for example, in a charging inlet device that is mounted on an electric automatic vehicle or the like and is for charging a battery.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2022-036374 | Mar 2022 | JP | national |
This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2023/008188 filed on Mar. 3, 2023, and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-036374 filed on Mar. 9, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2023/008188 | Mar 2023 | WO |
Child | 18772046 | US |