Patent Application
20240195115
The present disclosure relates to a connector.
Patent Document 1 discloses a probe pin provided with a terminal and a coil spring. The terminal is plate-like and engaged with and supported by the coil spring. An electrode contact portion is provided on a tip part of the terminal. The electrode contact portion is pressed into contact with an electrode to be inspected. A biasing force of the coil spring exceeds a predetermined value and the terminal is inclined in a plate width direction, whereby the electrode contact portion slides in contact with the electrode and the electrode is wiped.
In the case of Patent Document 1, a plurality of the probe pins are provided to correspond to the number of the electrodes to be inspected. Each of the plurality of probe pins is provided with the terminal and the coil spring. Thus, the coil spring is necessary for each terminal, causing a problem of increasing cost. Further, that the shape of the terminal is restricted by the shape of the coil spring is also a factor for cost increase.
Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide a connector capable of reducing cost.
The present disclosure is directed to a connector with an outer housing, an inner housing arranged movably in an advance/retreat direction with respect to the outer housing, a terminal held in the inner housing, a tip part of the terminal projecting from an end surface of the inner housing, and a biasing member arranged between the outer housing and the inner housing for biasing the inner housing toward an advance side, one of the inner housing and the outer housing being provided with an engaging portion, the other being provided with an engaged portion for moving the inner housing in a direction intersecting the advance/retreat direction by sliding in contact with the engaging portion.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of reducing cost.
First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described.
According to the above configuration, since the inner housing is movable also in the direction intersecting the advance/retreat direction in addition to being movable in the advance/retreat direction with respect to the outer housing, the terminal held in the inner housing can also move in the direction intersecting the advance/retreat direction. In this way, the tip part of the terminal can be pressed against and slide in contact with a connection partner, whereby the connection partner can be wiped.
Here, since the terminal is held in the inner housing and the biasing member is arranged between the outer housing and the inner housing, the terminal and the biasing member can be structured not to affect each other. The number of the terminal(s) held in the inner housing can also be freely set regardless of the biasing member. Therefore, the structure of the connector including the terminal can be simplified and cost can be reduced.
According to the above configuration, since the inner housing can rotate in the circumferential direction along the circumferential surface of the outer housing, the enlargement of the connector can be suppressed as compared to the case where the inner housing moves in a radial direction or the like with respect to the outer housing.
According to the above configuration, even if the terminal is held in each of the plurality of terminal holding portions, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of the biasing members and, preferably, one biasing member can handle such a case. As a result, the number of components can be reduced and cost can be further reduced.
According to the above configuration, the complication of the structure of the engaged portion can be suppressed.
According to the above configuration, since the front engaged portion extending in the advance/retreat direction receives the engaging portion when the inner housing is at the advance position, the biasing member can accumulate a biasing force and a contact pressure suitable for the wiping of the terminal can be reached until the terminal starts a wiping movement.
According to the above configuration, since the rear engaged portion extending in the advance/retreat direction receives the engaging portion when the inner housing is at the retreat position, the inner housing can be moved within a movable range due to a tolerance of a locking mechanism or the like when the wiping movement of the terminal is completed and a module or the like incorporated with the connector is locked to a mating module.
A specific example of an embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this illustration, but is represented by claims and intended to include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents.
A connector 10 according to the embodiment is, as shown in
As shown in
Further, the plurality of terminals 80 are held in the inner housing 60. Each of the plurality of stoppers 90 is provided for each terminal 80 and restrict each terminal 80 from coming out from the inner housing 60. Note that, in the following description, a front-rear direction corresponds to an advance/retreat direction of the inner housing 60 from and into the outer housing 20, and an advance side of the inner housing 60 is a front side (see an arrow F in figures). Further, a circumferential direction is a direction about an axial center AX of the connector 10. Note that the axial center AX is a center axis parallel to the front-rear direction in the connector 10 and corresponds to radial centers of the outer housing 20 and the inner housing 60.
The outer housing 20 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in
A plurality of wire insertion holes 24 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction through the back surface portion 21. The respective wire insertion holes 24 are arranged at three equally spaced-apart positions in the circumferential direction in the back surface portion 21. Each wire insertion hole 24 is formed into a hole long in the circumferential direction. A wire 200 connected to the terminal 80 is inserted with a play into each wire insertion hole 24.
The outer peripheral portion 22 has a circumferential surface 25 on an inner periphery. A plurality of engaged portions 26 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction by recessing the circumferential surface 25 of the outer peripheral portion 22. The respective engaged portions 26 are arranged at three equally spaced-apart positions in the circumferential direction in the circumferential surface 25 of the outer peripheral portion 22. The engaged portion 26 is in the form of a groove extending in an inclination direction intersecting the front-rear direction. Specifically, as shown in
A plurality of rear engaged portions 27 are provided behind the respective engaged portions 26 by recessing the circumferential surface 25 of the outer peripheral portion 22. The rear engaged portion 27 is in the form of a groove extending in the front-rear direction in the circumferential surface 25 of the outer peripheral portion 22, the front end thereof communicates with the engaged portion 26 in a curved manner and the rear end thereof is closed along the circumferential direction. The rear engaged portion 27 and the wire insertion hole 24 are arranged at positions overlapping each other in the circumferential direction. A length in the front-rear direction of the rear engaged portion 27 is shorter than a length in the inclination direction of the engaged portion 26.
A plurality of front engaged portions 28 are provided in front of the respective engaged portions 26 by recessing the circumferential surface 25 of the outer peripheral portion 22. The front engaged portion 28 is in the form of a groove extending in the front-rear direction in the circumferential surface 25 of the outer peripheral portion 22, the rear end thereof communicates with the engaged portion 26 in a curved manner and the front end thereof communicates with a step portion 31 of a later-described stopper receiving portion 29 in a stepped manner. A length in the front-rear direction of the front engaged portion 28 is shorter than the length in the inclination direction of the engaged portion 26.
A plurality of the stopper receiving portions 29 are provided in front of the respective front engaged portions 28 by recessing the circumferential surface 25 of the outer peripheral portion 22. The stopper receiving portion 29 is in the form of a groove extending forward from the front engaged portion 28 in the circumferential surface 25 of the outer peripheral portion 22, and the front end thereof is open in the front end of the outer peripheral portion 22. As shown in
The inner housing 60 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in
As shown in
An inner spring mounting portion 66 annular in a back view is provided to be open in the back surface of the fitting recess 65 in the rear surface of the inner housing 60. The inner spring mounting portion 66 is concentric with the fitting recess 65 and has a center at the axial center AX of the inner housing 60. As shown in
As shown in
A compression coil spring made of metal is illustrated as the coil spring 50. As shown in
The terminal 80 is made of metal excellent in electrical conductivity and has a shape elongated in the front-rear direction. As shown in
The stopper 90 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in
First, the wires 200 connected to the end parts of the wires 200 are inserted through the wire insertion holes 24 of the outer housing 20 and, from that state, the terminals 80 connected to the end parts of the wires 200 are inserted into and held in the terminal holding portions 63 of the inner housing 60. Subsequently, the inner housing 60 is fit from front into the inside of the outer peripheral portion 22 of outer housing 20 while the coil spring 50 is interposed between the outer housing 20 and the inner housing 60. At this time, the engaging portions 67 of the inner housing 60 are inserted into the front engaged portions 28 of the outer housing 20. Subsequently, the stoppers 90 are press-fit into the stopper receiving portions 29. As shown in
Subsequently, the module is fit to the mating module. At the start of fitting the module, the connecting portions 81 of the terminals 80 are butted against the mating connecting portions 110 and the inner housing 60 is retracted against the biasing force of the coil spring 50. While the inner housing 60 is retracted, the engaging portions 67 move the front engaged portions 28 rearward and the coil spring 50 is compressed, thereby accumulating the biasing force in the coil spring 50. The connecting portions 81 of the terminals 80 gradually increase contact pressures with the mating connecting portions 110 by receiving the biasing force of the coil spring 50.
As the module is further fit, the engaging portions 67 enter the engaged portions 26 and slide on groove surfaces of the engaged portions 26 as shown in
Further, while the module is being further fit, the front surface of the back surface portion 21 of the outer housing 20 and the rear surface of the inner housing 60 approach each other and the inner housing 60 moves toward the retreat position. When the module is properly fit to the mating module, the both modules are held in a fit state by a locking action of the lock portions thereof. At this time, the front surface of the back surface portion 21 of the outer housing 20 and the rear surface of the inner housing 60 are closely facing each other and the outer spring mounting portion 23 of the outer housing 20 is fit into the fitting recess 65. In this way, the inner housing 60 reaches the retreat position and, as shown in
As described above, according to this embodiment, since the inner housing 60 is movable in the circumferential direction in addition to being movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the outer housing 20, the tip parts of the terminals 80 can wipe the surfaces of the mating connecting portions 110 by sliding on these surfaces.
Further, since the plurality of terminals 80 are held in the inner housing 60 and the coil spring 50 is arranged between the outer housing 20 and the inner housing 60, the shape and arrangement of the terminals 80 are not affected by the coil spring 50. As a result, the structure of the connector 10 including the terminals 80 can be simplified and, consequently, cost can be reduced. Particularly, since it is not necessary to provide a plurality of the coil springs 50 for the plurality of terminals 80 and one coil spring 50 can handle the plurality of terminals 80, the number of components can be reduced.
Moreover, in the case of this embodiment, the inner housing 60 can rotate in the circumferential direction inside the circumferential surface 25 of the outer housing 20. Thus, the enlargement of the connector 10 can be suppressed as compared to the case where the inner housing 60 moves in a radial direction or the like with respect to the outer housing 20.
Further, since the front engaged portions 28 extending in the front-rear direction receive the engaging portions 67 when the inner housing 60 is at the advance position, the coil spring 50 can accumulate a biasing force and a contact pressure suitable for the wiping of the terminals 80 is reached until the terminals 80 start wiping movements.
Furthermore, since the rear engaged portions 27 extending in the front-rear direction receive the engaging portions 67 when the inner housing 60 is at the retreat position, the inner housing 60 can be moved within the movable range due to the tolerances of the lock portions and the like when the terminals 80 complete the wiping movements and the module incorporated with the connector 10 is locked to the mating module. As a result, the connecting portions 81 of the terminals 80 can satisfactorily contact the mating connecting portions 110.
The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive.
In the case of the above embodiment, the projection-like engaging portions are formed on the inner housing and the recess-like engaged portions are formed in the outer housing. However, according to another embodiment, projection-like engaging portions may be formed on the outer housing and recess-like engaged portions may be formed in the inner housing.
In the case of the above embodiment, the inner housing is movable in the circumferential direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and radial direction with respect to the outer housing. However, according to another embodiment, the inner housing only has to be movable in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction with respect to the outer housing and may be movable, for example, in the radial direction.
In the case of the above embodiment, the connection partner of the terminal is the mating connecting portion of the circuit board. However, according to another embodiment, the connection partner of the terminal is not limited to the one on the circuit board and may be, for example, a connection terminal or busbar.
In the case of the above embodiment, the coil spring is arranged between the inner housing and the outer housing. However, according to another embodiment, it is enough to arrange a biasing member between the inner housing and the outer housing and, for example, a leaf spring or cushion may be arranged.
In the case of the above embodiment, one biasing member is provided in one connector. However, according to another embodiment, a plurality of biasing members may be provided in one connector.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-069467 | Apr 2021 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2022/017897 | 4/15/2022 | WO |
