Patent Application
20240170875
The present disclosure relates to a connector.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Application No. 2021-061215 filed on Mar. 31, 2021, and incorporates the entirety of the content described therein.
Patent Document 1 discloses a connector including a terminal module having a first terminal (electric contact member), a second terminal (external connection member), and a flexible conductor (braided wire) electrically connecting the first terminal and the second terminal to each other, and a connector housing accommodating the terminal module. Due to the connector fitting together with a partner connector (partner-side connector), the first terminal moves to another side and the first terminal approaches the second terminal. When the connector and the partner connector are fitted together, the flexible conductor bends more compared to when the connector and the partner connector are not fitted together. The connector and the partner connector are, for example, mounted in a vehicle in a fitted-together state.
The connector of this disclosure is a connector configured to fit together with a partner connector relatively approaching along a first direction extending from one side to another side, and configured to electrically connect to the partner connector, the connector including: a terminal module configured to electrically connect to the partner connector; and a connector housing accommodating the terminal module, in which the terminal module includes: a case including a ceiling wall and a pair of side walls extending from the ceiling wall to the one side; an elastic member that is accommodated in the case and is elastically deformable along the first direction; a first terminal that is supported by the pair of side walls while being biased toward the one side by the elastic member, and is movable to the other side by being pressed by the partner connector; a second terminal that is arranged on the other side relative to the first terminal and is held in the connector housing; and a flexible conductor electrically connecting the first terminal and the second terminal to each other, the flexible conductor has a first joint portion joined with the first terminal and a second joint portion joined with the second terminal, the connector housing includes: a main body portion configured to hold the terminal module; and a first lid portion configured to be attached to the main body portion and oppose the flexible conductor, the first lid portion has a bulging portion that bulges toward a side opposite to the flexible conductor, and the flexible conductor is capable of entering the bulging portion when the connector is fitted together with the partner connector.
When the connector vibrates due to vibration or the like during traveling of the vehicle, there is a possibility that the flexible conductor will swing and come into contact with the connector housing and the flexible conductor will wear. Thus, the connector has room for further improvement in terms of durability.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can improve durability.
According to the connector of the present disclosure, the effect of being able to improve durability is exhibited.
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
According to this configuration, the first lid portion opposing the flexible conductor has the bulging portion that bulges toward the side opposite to the flexible conductor. The flexible conductor can enter the bulging portion. Thus, the flexible conductor can be inhibited from wearing due to coming into contact with the first lid portion, compared to the case where the first lid portion is not provided with the bulging portion. Accordingly, the durability of the connector can be improved.
According to this configuration, when the connector and the partner connector are not fitted together, the bulging portion is arranged on the other side relative to the first joint portion. The flexible conductor can swing in the section between the first joint portion, which is a joint portion between the flexible conductor and the first terminal, and the second joint portion, which is a joint portion between the flexible conductor and the second terminal. Due to the partner connector and the connector fitting together, the first terminal moves to the other side. That is, the swinging section of the flexible conductor in the first direction approaches the other side. Thus, the swinging section of the flexible conductor in the first direction is shorter in the fitted-together state than in the non-fitted together state. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an excessive increase in the size of the connector while suppressing wear of the flexible conductor, compared to the case where the bulging portion overlaps with the first joint portion when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first direction when the connector and the partner connector are not fitted together. Consequently, it is possible to achieve both an improvement in durability and suppression of an excessive increase in size of the connector.
According to this configuration, the bulging portion is arranged on the one side relative to the second joint portion. The flexible conductor can swing in the section between the first joint portion, which is a joint portion between the flexible conductor and the first terminal, and the second joint portion, which is a joint portion between the flexible conductor and the second terminal. Furthermore, the first terminal can move to the other side, while the second terminal is held in the connector housing. Thus, it is possible to make the connector more compact while suppressing wear of the flexible conductor, compared to the case where the bulging portion overlaps with the second joint portion when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first direction. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve both an improvement in durability and suppression of an excessive increase in size of the connector.
According to this configuration, the opposing wall opposing the flexible conductor has the recess that is recessed toward the side opposite to the flexible conductor. Furthermore, the flexible conductor can enter the recess. Thus, the flexible conductor can be inhibited from coming into contact with the opposing wall and wearing, compared to the case where the opposing wall is not provided with the recess. Accordingly, the durability of the connector can be improved.
According to this configuration, when the connector and the partner connector are not fitted together, the recess is arranged on the other side relative to the first joint portion. The flexible conductor can swing in the section between the first joint portion, which is a joint portion between the flexible conductor and the first terminal, and the second joint portion, which is a joint portion between the flexible conductor and the second terminal. Due to the partner connector and the connector fitting together, the first terminal moves to the other side. That is, the swinging section of the flexible conductor in the first direction approaches the other side. Thus, the swinging section of the flexible conductor in the first direction is shorter in the fitted-together state than in the non-fitted-together state. Accordingly, when the connector and the partner connector are not fitted together, the connector can be made more compact while suppressing wear of the flexible conductor, compared to the case where the recess overlaps with the first joint portion when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first direction. Consequently, it is possible to achieve both an improvement in durability and suppression of an excessive increase in size of the connector.
According to this configuration, the recess is arranged on the one side relative to the second joint portion. The flexible conductor can swing in the section between the first joint portion, which is a joint portion between the flexible conductor and the first terminal, and the second joint portion, which is a joint portion between the flexible conductor and the second terminal. Furthermore, the first terminal can move to the other side, while the second terminal is held in the connector housing. Thus, it is possible to make the connector more compact while suppressing wear of the flexible conductor, compared to the case where the recess overlaps with the second joint portion when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first direction. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve both an improvement in durability and suppression of an excessive increase in size of the connector.
According to this configuration, the recess has the first inclined surface that inclines toward the one side as it approaches the flexible conductor. Thus, it is possible to suppress wear of the flexible conductor compared to the case where the first inclined surface is not provided. Accordingly, the durability of the connector can be improved.
According to this configuration, the recess has the second inclined surface that inclines toward the other side as it approaches the flexible conductor. Thus, it is possible to suppress wear of the flexible conductor compared to the case where the second inclined surface is not provided. Accordingly, the durability of the connector can be improved.
According to this configuration, the bulging portion overlaps with the recess when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first direction and the direction in which the pair of side walls oppose each other. Thus, the connector housing has a section in which the flexible conductor can enter both the bulging portion and the recess in the first direction when the flexible conductor swings. Accordingly, the flexible conductor can be inhibited from wearing due to coming into contact with the connector housing. Accordingly, durability of the connector can be further improved.
According to this configuration, the flexible conductor is arranged between the bulging portion and the recess when viewed from the direction in which the pair of side walls oppose each other. The flexible conductor is sandwiched between the bulging portion and the recess. Thus, even if the flexible conductor swings toward either the bulging portion or the recess, the flexible conductor can be prevented from wearing due to coming into contact with the connector housing. Accordingly, the durability of the connector can be improved.
A specific example of the connector of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, part of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified for convenience of description. Also, the dimensional proportion of each portion may differ in each drawing. Also, in some cases, only some of a plurality of identical members are given reference numerals, and the reference numerals are omitted for the other members. Also, in the present disclosure, “parallel” does not mean parallel in a geometrically strict sense, but is used in a wider sense within a range where the effect of the present invention is exhibited as long as it is regarded as parallel. Also, in the present disclosure, orthogonal does not mean orthogonal in a geometrically strict sense, but is used in a wider sense within a range where the effect of the present invention is exhibited as long as it is considered orthogonal.
<Overview of Connector 10 and Partner Connector 12>
As shown in
The partner connector 12 is inserted into the connector 10 due to the partner connector 12 relatively approaching the connector 10 along a first direction extending from one side to another side. That is, the connector 10 and the partner connector 12 are fitted together, and the connector 10 and the partner connector 12 are electrically connected to each other. The PCU and the motor are electrically connected to each other via the connector 10 and the partner connector 12. The fitting between the connector 10 and the partner connector 12 will be described later.
<Connector 10>
The connector 10 includes terminal modules 14 and a connector housing 16. The terminal modules 14 are modules for electrically connecting partner terminals 124 included in the partner connector 12 and electric circuits (not shown) included in the devices to each other.
As shown in
<Terminal Module 14>
As shown in
<Case 20>
As shown in
The pair of side walls 26, 26 oppose each other. The direction in which the pair of side walls 26, 26 oppose each other is perpendicular to the first direction. The direction in which the pair of side walls 26, 26 oppose each other is perpendicular to the direction in which the main body portion 64 and the first lid portion 66 are arranged side by side.
In the following description, for convenience, the direction along the first direction will be referred to as the up-down direction. The direction in which the pair of side walls 26, 26 oppose each other will be referred to as the left-right direction. A direction orthogonal to the first direction and the direction in which the pair of side walls 26, 26 oppose each other will be referred to as the front-rear direction. That is, the direction in which the main body portion 64 and the first lid portion 66 are arranged side by side will be referred to as the front-rear direction. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, in the up-down direction, the other side will be referred to as upward, and the one side will be referred to as downward. In the front-rear direction, the body portion 64 side will be referred to as frontward, and the first lid portion 66 side will be referred to as rearward.
The ceiling wall 24 is a flat plate-shaped region provided along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The widths of the ceiling wall 24 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are greater than the widths of the elastic member 18 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The ceiling wall 24 covers the elastic member 18 when viewed from above in the vertical direction.
The pair of side walls 26, 26 are a pair of walls that are parallel to each other and extend downward from the edges in the left-right direction of the ceiling wall 24. The pair of side walls 26, 26 have shapes that are mirror-symmetrical to each other. The right side wall 26 will be representatively described below. As shown in
The base portion 26A is continuous with the ceiling wall 24. The base portion 26A has the same width as the ceiling wall 24 in the front-rear direction. The base portion 26A has a function of receiving the elastic member 18 that bends in the left-right direction when the elastic member 18 is compressed or stretched.
The first leg portion 26B extends downward from the base portion 26A at the central portion of the base portion 26A in the front-rear direction, and is inclined frontward. The width of the first leg portion 26B in the vertical direction is longer than the inclination width of the first leg portion 26B in the front-rear direction. The first leg portion 26B has a smaller width than the base portion 26A in the front-rear direction. The first leg portion 26B has, for example, a width about one-fourth that of the base portion 26A. The first leg portion 26B has a first receiving portion 26B1 extending frontward at its lower end portion. The upper surface of the first receiving portion 26B1 is a surface extending along the front-rear direction. A rear surface of the first leg portion 26B functions as a guide surface 26B2 that guides the first terminal 22 when the partner connector 12 is fitted. Since the guide surface 26B2 extends downward while being inclined in the front-rear direction, the first terminal 22 is guided in the up-down direction as well as in the front-rear direction along the guide surface 26B2.
The second leg 26C extends downward from the base portion 26A. The second leg portion 26C is positioned rearward of the first leg portion 26B. The second leg portion 26C is spaced apart from the first leg portion 26B in the front-rear direction. The second leg portion 26C has a smaller width than the base portion 26A in the front-rear direction. The second leg portion 26C has, for example, a width about one-fourth that of the base portion 26A. The second leg portion 26C has a second receiving portion 26C1 and a lower end portion 26C2. The second receiving portion 26C1 is arranged above the lower end portion 26C2. The second receiving portion 26C1 protrudes rearward relative to the lower end portion 26C2. The upper surface of the second receiving portion 26C1 is a surface extending along the front-rear direction.
The guide projections 26D protrude rightward from the base portion 26A. The guide projections 26D protrude from the base portion 26A toward the side opposite to the elastic member 18. The guide projections 26D are formed by bending portions of the side wall 26 rightward. For example, the guide projections 26D are each formed by bending the side wall 26 rightward between a pair of slits 27, 27, and since the slits 27, 27 are provided on both the upper and lower sides of the guide projection 26D, the guide projection 26D is easily bent rightward.
The guide projections 26D are arranged above the first leg portion 26B. The guide projections 26D are arranged above the second leg portion 26C. One guide projection 26D is provided frontward of the side wall 26 and one guide projection 26D is provided rearward of the side wall 26. The guide projection 26D arranged frontward of the side wall 26 and the guide projection 26D arranged rearward of the side wall 26 overlap each other when viewed from the front-rear direction. The position of the upper surface of the guide projection 26D arranged frontward of the side wall 26 is equal to the position of the upper surface of the guide projection 26D arranged rearward of the side wall 26. The position of the lower surface of the guide projection 26D arranged frontward of the side wall 26 is equal to the position of the lower surface of the guide projection 26D arranged rearward of the side wall 26.
The pair of elastic member holding walls 28, 28 are a pair of walls that are parallel to each other and extend downward from the edges in the front-rear direction of the ceiling wall 24. The pair of elastic member holding walls 28, 28 have a width smaller than that of the ceiling wall 24 in the left-right direction. The pair of elastic member holding walls 28, 28 have, for example, a width about one-third of the width of the ceiling wall 24 in the left-right direction. The pair of elastic member holding walls 28, 28 have a smaller width than the side wall 26 in the up-down direction. The pair of elastic member holding walls 28, 28 have, for example, a width about half that of the side wall 26 in the vertical direction. As shown in
<Elastic Member 18>
The elastic member 18 is a coil spring formed by winding a wire made of a metal into a coil shape. The elastic member 18 is made of stainless steel, for example.
As shown in
The elastic member 18 has a first end portion 18a and a second end portion 18b. The first end portion 18a is a region of approximately one turn from the upper end of the elastic member 18. The first end 18a is in contact with the ceiling wall 24. The second end portion 18b is a region of about one turn from the lower end of the elastic member 18. The second end portion 18b is in contact with the first terminal 22.
<First Terminal 22>
As shown in
The first portion 22a is arranged spaced apart downward from the ceiling wall 24. The first portion 22a is provided parallel to the ceiling wall 24. That is, the first portion 22a extends along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The second portion 22b extends upward from the rearward edge of the first portion 22a. Thus, the first terminal 22 has an L shape when viewed from the left-right direction. The first portion 22a has a pair of first engaging portions 58, 58 and a pair of guided portions 62, 62. The second portion 22b has a pair of second engaging portions 60, 60.
The first surface 22A of the first portion 22a is in contact with the second end 18b of the elastic member 18. The first surface 22A of the first portion 22a functions as a receiving surface for receiving the second end portion 18b of the elastic member 18. The second surface 22B of the first portion 22a functions as a contact surface capable of coming into contact with a partner contact 128 included in the partner terminal 124.
The first engaging portion 58 protrudes outward in the left-right direction at the front edge of the first portion 22a. The first engaging portion 58 comes into contact with the first receiving portion 26B1 of the first leg portion 26B from above. The first engaging portion 58 comes into contact with the upper surface of the first receiving portion 26B1. The first engaging portion 58 is received by the first receiving portion 26B 1.
The guided portion 62 protrudes outward in the left-right direction at the central portion in the front-rear direction of the first portion 22a. The guided portion 62 is inserted between the first leg portion 26B and the second leg portion 26C. When the connector 10 is fitted together with the partner connector 12, the guided portion 62 is guided in the vertical direction as well as in the front-rear direction along the guide surface 26B2.
The first surface 22A of the second portion 22b is a surface facing toward the elastic member 18. The second surface 22B of the second portion 22b is a surface facing away from the elastic member 18. The flexible conductor 44 is connected to the second surface 22B of the second portion 22b.
The second engaging portion 60 protrudes outward in the left-right direction. The second engaging portion 60 is arranged below the central portion in the up-down direction of the second portion 22b. The second engaging portion 60 comes into contact with the second receiving portion 26C1 of the second leg portion 26C from above. The second engaging portion 60 comes into contact with the upper surface of the second receiving portion 26C1. The second engaging portion 60 is received by the second receiving portion 26C1.
Downward movement of the first terminal 22 is restricted due to the first engaging portion 58 coming into contact with the first receiving portion 26B1 and the second engaging portion 60 coming into contact with the second receiving portion 26C1. That is, the first terminal 22 is sandwiched between the elastic member 18 and the pair of side walls 26, 26 in the non-fitted-together state. In the non-fitted-together state, the first terminal 22 is sandwiched between the elastic member 18, the pair of first receiving portions 26B1, 26B1, and the pair of second receiving portions 26C1, 26C1.
<Second Terminals 42>
As shown in
The upper portion 42A is arranged outside of the connector housing 16. The upper portion 42A is a region connected to an electrical circuit (not shown). The lower portion 42B extends downward from the upper portion 42A. The lower portion 42B is located inside the connector housing 16. The flexible conductor 44 is connected to the lower portion 42B. The constricted portion 42C is a region recessed inward in the left-right direction at the boundary region between the upper portion 42A and the lower portion 42B. The constricted portion 42C fits together with the connector housing 16 through recess-protrusion fitting.
<Flexible Conductor 44>
The flexible conductor 44 is a conductor that has flexibility. As shown in FIG. 7, the flexible conductor 44 electrically connects the first terminal 22 and the second terminal 42 to each other. The flexible conductor 44 is a conductor that is more flexible than the first terminal 22. The flexible conductor 44 is a conductor that is more flexible than the second terminal 42. The flexible conductor 44 can be repeatedly deformed.
The flexible conductor 44 is, for example, a band-shaped braided wire obtained by braiding a plurality of conductive metal strand wires together. The braided wire is formed, for example, by braiding strand wires made of a copper alloy together. The flexible conductor 44 has a first joint portion 52 joined to the first terminal 22, a second joint portion 48 joined to the second terminal 42, and an intermediate joint portion 53 between the first joint portion 52 and the second joint portion 48.
The first joint portion 52 is joined to the first terminal 22 through resistance welding. The first joint portion 52 is joined to the second portion 22b of the first terminal 22 through resistance welding, for example. The first joint portion 52 has higher rigidity than the intermediate portion 53. The second joint portion 48 is joined to the second terminal 42 through resistance welding. The second joint portion 48 is joined to the lower portion 42B of the second terminal 42 through resistance welding, for example. The second joint portion 48 has higher rigidity than the intermediate portion 53.
The second portion 22b of the first terminal 22 and the second terminal 42 are arranged side by side in the up-down direction. That is, the first joint portion 52 and the second joint portion 48 are arranged side by side in the up-down direction. Among the first joint portion 52, the second joint portion 48, and the intermediate portion 53, the first joint portion 52 is arranged at the lowest position. Among the first joint portion 52, the second joint portion 48, and the intermediate portion 53, the second joint portion 48 is arranged at the uppermost position.
<Connector Housing 16>
As shown in
<Main Body Portion 64>
The main body portion 64 is made of a thermoplastic resin, for example. The main body portion 64 has a front wall 64A, a right wall 64B, a left wall 64C, a support wall 64D, and an upper wall 64E. The front wall 64A, the right wall 64B, the left wall 64C, the support wall 64D, and the upper wall 64E are formed in one piece through injection molding, for example.
The front wall 64A is a wall arranged in front of the cases 20. The right wall 64B is a wall extending rearward from the right edge of the front wall 64A. The left wall 64C is a wall extending rearward from the left edge of the front wall 64A. The support wall 64D is a wall arranged above the cases 20. The support wall 64D is continuous with the front wall 64A, the right wall 64B, and the left wall 64C. The upper wall 64E is a wall that extends upward from the rear edge of the support wall 64D.
The support wall 64D is arranged above the ceiling walls 24 of the cases 20. The support wall 64D has a contact surface 64D1 and a reinforcing surface 64D2 arranged on the side opposite to the contact surface 64D1.
The contact surface 64D1 opposes the cases 20. The contact surface 64D1 opposes the ceiling walls 24. The contact surface 64D1 can come into contact with the cases 20. The contact surface 64D1 can come into contact with the ceiling walls 24.
As shown in
The first opening portions 75 are formed due to the rear of the main body 64 being open. The first openings 75 expose the terminal module accommodating portions 70 to the outside of the main body portion 64. Thus, the main body portion 64 can store the terminal modules 14 in the terminal module accommodating portions 70 from the rear, for example.
The second opening portions 77 are formed due to the lower portion of the body portion 64 being open. The second opening portions 77 expose the terminal module accommodating portions 70 to the outside of the main body portion 64.
The terminal module accommodating portions 70 each have a case accommodating portion 72 and a flexible conductor accommodating portion 74. The terminal module accommodating portions 70 each extend along the up-down direction. The terminal module accommodating portions 70 are the internal space of the main body portion 64. A plurality of terminal module accommodating portions 70 are provided along the left-right direction. The plurality of terminal module accommodating portions 70 are formed by partitioning the internal space of the main body portion 64 with the partition walls 71. The plurality of terminal module accommodating portions 70 individually accommodate the plurality of terminal modules 14. In this embodiment, the three terminal module accommodating portions 70 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.
The partition walls 71 extend in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. The partition walls 71 are continuous with the front wall 64A, the support wall 64D, and the upper wall 64E. The partition walls 71 define spaces for individually accommodating the plurality of terminal modules 14 in the main body portion 64. That is, the partition walls 71 are arranged between adjacent terminal module accommodating portions 70. In this embodiment, two partition walls 71 are provided to form three terminal module accommodating portions 70. That is, in this embodiment, two partition walls 71 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.
The partition walls 71 are arranged between the case accommodating portions 72 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. That is, the partition walls 71 are arranged between the cases 20 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. The partition walls 71 oppose the cases 20 in the left-right direction. The partition walls 71 are arranged between the flexible conductor accommodating portions 74 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. That is, the partition walls 71 are arranged between the flexible conductors 44 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. The partition walls 71 oppose the flexible conductors 44 in the left-right direction.
The partition walls 71 each have a guide rail 99 extending in the up-down direction. The guide rails 99 are, for example, grooves extending in the up-down direction. The guide rails 99 are provided on the rear surfaces of the partition walls 71. The rear surfaces of the partition walls 71 oppose the first lid portion 66. The guide rails 99 oppose the first lid portion 66.
The case accommodating portions 72 accommodate the cases 20 of the terminal modules 14. The case accommodating portions 72 are arranged below the flexible conductor accommodating portions 74. The case accommodating portions 72 oppose the cases 20. The rear sides of the case accommodating portions 72 are open by the first opening portions 75. The lower sides of the case accommodating portions 72 are open by the second opening portions 77.
In this embodiment, three case accommodating portions 72 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The case accommodating portion 72 located on the rightmost side is defined by the front wall 64A, the right wall 64B, the support wall 64D, and the partition wall 71. The case accommodating portion 72 located on the leftmost side is partitioned by the front wall 64A, the left wall 64C, the support wall 64D, and the partition wall 71. The case accommodating portion 72 in the middle in the left-right direction is defined by the front wall 64A, the support wall 64D, and the pair of partition walls 71, 71.
The case accommodating portions 72 have guide grooves 76 that restrict the moving directions of the terminal modules 14. The guide grooves 76 are provided in the right wall 64B, the left wall 64C, and the partition walls 71. The guide grooves 76 extend along the front-rear direction. The guide grooves 76 oppose the cases 20. The guide grooves 76 oppose the pair of side walls 26, 26. The guide projections 26D of the cases 20 are inserted into the guide grooves 76, and the guide grooves 76 hold the guide projections 26D. The guide projections 26D are locked in the guide grooves 76. The guide projections 26D provided on the pairs of side walls 26, 26 are slidable in guide grooves 76. Accordingly, the terminal modules 14 are slidable along the guide grooves 76.
The flexible conductor accommodating portions 74 accommodate the flexible conductors 44 of the terminal modules 14. The flexible conductor accommodating portions 74 are arranged above the case accommodating portions 72. The flexible conductor accommodating portions 74 are continuous with the case accommodating portions 72. The flexible conductor accommodating portions 74 are arranged on the upper wall 64E. The flexible conductor accommodating portions 74 oppose the flexible conductors 44. The rear sides of the flexible conductor accommodating portions 74 are open by the first opening portions 75. The flexible conductor accommodating portions 74 each have an opposing wall 79 opposing the flexible conductor 44 and a recess 78 formed in the opposing wall 79.
As shown in
The recess 78 has a first inclined surface 78A and a second inclined surface 78B. The first inclined surface 78A is inclined downward toward the rear. That is, the first inclined surface 78A is inclined toward the one side as the flexible conductor 44 is approached. The second inclined surface 78B is inclined upward toward the rear. That is, the second inclined surface 78B is inclined toward the other side as the flexible conductor 44 is approached. The first inclined surface 78A is arranged above the second inclined surface 78B.
The holding portions 82 hold the second terminals 42 such that the second terminals 42 are arranged above the first terminals 22. The holding portions 82 are fitted together with the constricted portions 42C of the second terminals 42 through recess-protrusion fitting. The holding portions 82 are arranged on the upper wall 64E. The holding portions 82 are arranged above the case accommodating portions 72. The holding portions 82 are arranged above the flexible conductor accommodating portions 74.
The first engaging projections 84 are engaged with the second lid portion 68. The first engaging projections 84 are provided on the front wall 64A of the main body portion 64. The first engaging projections 84 are arranged on the lower side of the front wall 64A. In this embodiment, a plurality of first engaging projections 84 are provided.
<Reinforcing Member 64F>
As shown in
The reinforcing member 64F is attached to the connector housing 16. The reinforcing member 64F is attached to the main body portion 64. The reinforcing member 64F is attached to the support wall 64D. The reinforcing member 64F is in contact with the reinforcing surface 64D2 of the support wall 64D.
The reinforcing member 64F is integrated with the connector housing 16. At least part of the reinforcing member 64F is embedded in the connector housing 16. The reinforcing member 64F is integrated with the connector housing 16 through insert molding, for example. The reinforcing member 64F is integrated with the body portion 64. The reinforcing member 64F is integrated with the main body portion 64. At least part of the reinforcing member 64F is embedded in the main body portion 64. The reinforcing member 64F is integrated with the support wall 64D through insert molding, for example.
The reinforcing member 64F overlaps with the support wall 64D when viewed from above in the up-down direction. The reinforcing member 64F overlaps with the contact surface 64D1 when viewed from above in the up-down direction. The reinforcing member 64F overlaps with the ceiling walls 24 of the cases 20 of the terminal modules 14 when viewed from above in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the reinforcing member 64F overlaps with all of the ceiling walls 24 of the three terminal modules 14 arranged side by side in the left-right direction when viewed from above in the up-down direction.
The reinforcing member 64F has fixing portions 64F1 capable of fixing the connector 10 to the housing of the PCU. The fixing portions 64F1 are respectively provided on both sides in the left-right direction of the reinforcing member 64F.
<First Lid Portion 66>
As shown in
As shown in
The bulging portions 102 overlap with the recesses 78 when viewed from the front-rear direction. That is, the bulging portions 102 overlap with the recesses 78 when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first direction and the direction in which the pair of side walls 26, 26 oppose each other.
The bulging portions 102 are located on the side opposite to the recesses 78 with respect to the flexible conductors 44 when viewed from the left-right direction. The bulging portions 102 and the recesses 78 are located on both the front and rear sides of the flexible conductors 44. That is, the flexible conductors 44 are arranged between the bulging portions 102 and the recesses 78 when viewed from the direction in which the pair of side walls 26, 26 oppose each other.
The second engaging projections 108 engage with the second lid portion 68. The second engaging projections 108 are provided on the rear surface of the first lid portion 66. That is, the second engaging projections 108 are provided on the surface of the second lid portion 68 opposite to the surface thereof opposing the flexible conductors 44. The second engaging projections 108 are provided below the first lid portion 66. The second engaging projections 108 are arranged below the bulging portions 102. In this embodiment, two second engaging projections 108 are provided.
As shown in
<Second Lid Portion 68>
As shown in
The first engaging pieces 120 engage with the lower portion of the front wall 64A. The first engaging pieces 120 engage with the first engaging projections 84 of the front wall 64A. The second engaging pieces 121 engage with the lower portion of the first lid portion 66. The second engaging pieces 121 engage with the second engaging projections 108 of the first lid portion 66. The second engaging pieces 121 are arranged on the side opposite to the first engaging pieces 120. The second engaging pieces 121 are arranged below the bulging portions 102. The second engaging pieces 121 overlap with the bulging portions 102 when viewed from the up-down direction.
The partner terminal insertion holes 122 overlap with the second opening portions 77 of the main body portion 64. The partner terminal insertion holes 122 expose the terminal modules 14 to the outside of the second lid portion 68. The partner terminal insertion holes 122 expose the first terminals 22 of the terminal modules 14 to the outside of the second lid portion 68. The partner terminal insertion holes 122 allow the partner terminals 124 to enter from the lower side and allow the partner terminals 124 and the first terminals 22 to come into physical contact with each other. The partner terminal insertion holes 122 are provided so as to correspond to the number of the terminal modules 14 accommodated in the connector housing 16. In this embodiment, three partner terminal insertion holes 122 are provided.
<Partner Connector 12>
The partner connector 12 has the partner terminals 124 and a partner housing 126, as shown in
The partner terminals 124 are conductive metal members. The partner terminals 124 are made of a copper alloy, for example. The partner terminals 124 each include a region extending in the up-down direction and a region extending frontward from that region. The partner terminals 124 each have an L shape when viewed from the left-right direction. The partner terminals 124 each have partner contacts 128 that come into contact with the second surface 22B of the first portion 22a of the first terminal 22. The partner contacts 128 are provided in the form of beads on the upper surface of the partner terminal 124 by plastically deforming part of the partner terminal 124.
The partner housing 126 is a member made of resin. The partner housing 126 has fitting portions 130 that can enter the partner terminal insertion holes 122 of the connector housing 16. The fitting portions 130 have shapes that protrude upward. The fitting portions 130 support the partner terminals 124 on their upper surfaces.
<Fitting Between Connector 10 and Partner Connector 12>
The manner in which the partner connector 12 is fitted to the connector 10 will be described with reference to
When the partner connector 12 moves further upward after the partner contacts 128 comes into contact with the second surfaces 22B, the first terminals 22 are pressed by the partner contacts 128, whereby the first terminals 22 move upward while compressing the elastic members 18. At this time, the guided portions 62 of the first terminals 22 come into sliding contact with the guide surfaces 26B2 of the first leg portions 26B. Accordingly, the first terminals 22 move upward and move rearward by the amount that the guide surfaces 26B2 are inclined in the front-rear direction. Since the width of the guide surfaces 26B2 in the up-down direction is longer than the width by which the guide surfaces 26B2 are inclined in the front-rear direction, the amount of upward movement of the first terminals 22 during fitting is larger than the amount of rearward movement.
The second surfaces 22B of the first terminals 22 moving rearward slide in the front-rear direction on the partner contacts 128 moving upward. As a result, foreign matter adhering between the second surfaces 22B and the partner contacts 128 is removed. Examples of the foreign matter include films of sulfides, oxides, and the like formed on the surfaces of the second surfaces 22B.
Then, when the partner connector 12 moves further upward, the partner connector 12 is fitted to the connector 10. In this state, the first portions 22a of the first terminals 22 receive a downward biasing force from the elastic members 18 and an upward pressing force from the partner contacts 128. The first portions 22a of the first terminals 22 are sandwiched between the elastic members 18 and the partner contacts 128 in the up-down direction. Due to the first portions 22a being pressed against the partner contacts 128 by the elastic members 18 in this manner, the first terminals 22 can be more reliably electrically connected to the partner contacts 128.
As shown in
As shown in
The first terminals 22 are in contact with the partner contacts 128 when the connector 10 and the partner connector 12 are fitted together. The elastic members 18 bias the first terminals 22 toward the partner connector 12 when the connector 10 and the partner connector 12 are fitted together. The first terminals 22 are pressed toward the partner connector 12 when the connector 10 and the partner connector 12 are fitted together. The first terminals 22 are supported by the partner connector 12 when the connector 10 and the partner connector 12 are fitted together.
Next, the operations and effects of this embodiment will be described.
The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiments and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other as long as there are no technical discrepancies.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-061215 | Mar 2021 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2021/035377 | 9/27/2021 | WO |
