Patent Application
20230299537
The present disclosure relates to a rubber plug unit and a connector.
A connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a wire to be held by a wire barrel portion and an insulation barrel portion of a terminal and a rubber plug (sealing body) integrally provided to the wire and the terminal to cover the insulation barrel portion.
A connector disclosed in Patent Document 2 is provided with a wire to be connected to a wire connecting portion of a terminal and a rubber plug (sealing body), through which the wire is inserted.
In the case of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, there is a concern that the rubber plug is shifted in an axial direction with respect to the wire. In contrast, it is also possible to adopt a configuration for restricting a position shift of the rubber plug with respect to the wire by holding the rubber plug between the insulation barrel portion of the terminal and the wire. However, if a part where the rubber plug is held by the insulation barrel portion and a part where the wire is connected by the wire barrel portion are provided side by side in the axial direction, there is a concern for the enlargement of a unit including the rubber plug and the connector.
Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide a rubber plug unit and a connector avoiding enlargement.
The present disclosure is directed to a rubber plug unit with a terminal, a wire, and a rubber plug to be held in close contact with an outer periphery of the wire, the wire including an electrically conductive portion to be connected to the terminal, the rubber plug including a holding portion to be sandwiched between the terminal and the wire, and the electrically conductive portion and the holding portion being arranged to overlap in an axial direction of the wire.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a rubber plug unit and a connector avoiding enlargement.
First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described.
The rubber plug unit of the present disclosure is provided with a terminal, a wire, and a rubber plug to be held in close contact with an outer periphery of the wire, the wire including an electrically conductive portion to be connected to the terminal, the rubber plug including a holding portion to be sandwiched between the terminal and the wire, and the electrically conductive portion and the holding portion being arranged to overlap in an axial direction of the wire. If the electrically conductive portion and the holding portion are arranged to overlap in the axial direction of the wire in this way, the enlargement of the rubber plug unit in the axial direction can be avoided.
(2) Preferably, the wire is a single core wire. Since the single core wire is rigid to maintain a fixed shape, a state where the electrically conductive portion and the holding portion are arranged to overlap can be satisfactorily maintained.
(3) The electrically conductive portion and the holding portion may be arranged side by side in a circumferential direction of the wire, and the terminal may include a collective barrel portion for collectively surrounding the electrically conductive portion and the holding portion. According to this configuration, the collective barrel portion can have both a function of being connected to the wire (function of a wire barrel portion) and a function of holding the rubber plug (function of an insulation barrel portion). As a result, an entire length of the terminal in the axial direction can be shortened as compared to a known terminal in which a wire barrel portion and an insulation barrel portion are provided side by side in the axial direction.
(4) A protrusion configured to contact the electrically conductive portion may be provided on an inner periphery of the collective barrel portion. According to this configuration, the terminal can satisfactorily contact the electrically conductive portion via the protrusion.
(1) A connector of the present disclosure is provided with the above rubber plug unit and a connector housing including a cavity, the wire being a single core wire, and a sealing lip to be held in close contact with an inner periphery of the cavity being provided on an outer periphery of the rubber plug. According to this configuration, liquid-tight sealing can be provided between the rubber plug and the connector housing and the inside of the wire can be maintained liquid-tight. As a result, the intrusion of oil and the like to a surface side of the connector to be connected to a mating connector can be blocked.
(2) Preferably, the electrically conductive portions are arranged on both sides across the sealing lip in the axial direction of the wire, a connection terminal capable of contacting a mating terminal is connected to one electrically conductive portion, out of the electrically conductive portions arranged on the both sides, and a joint terminal coupled to a flexible coated wire is connected to the other electrically conductive portion, and the coated wire is arranged outside the connector housing. Since the flexible coated wire is arranged outside the connector housing, a degree of freedom in wire routing can be enhanced. Even if oil or the like enters the inside of the coated wire, the intrusion of the oil or the like to the connection terminal side can be blocked since liquid-tight sealing can be provided between the rubber plug and the connector housing and the inside of the wire can be maintained liquid-tight. As a result, the connection reliability of the connection terminal and the mating terminal can be ensured.
Specific examples of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these illustrations, but is represented by claims, and is intended to include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents.
A rubber plug unit 10 of a first embodiment is, for example, provided in a connector 80 mounted on a case 90 of an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle via an O-ring 95 as shown in
The wire 11 is configured as a single core wire having no insulation coating. The wire 11 has a cylindrical shape and is rigid to maintain a fixed shape. In the case of the first embodiment, the wire 11 is shaped to linearly extend in the axial direction X (lateral direction of
The rubber plug 12 is made of an oil-resistant rubber material. The rubber plug 12 has a hollow cylindrical shape as a whole and is arranged with an axis oriented in the axial direction X of the wire 11. As shown in
A plurality of sealing lips 18 are provided to project on the outer periphery of the sealing body 16. The respective sealing lips 18 are provided side by side in the axial direction X on the outer periphery of the sealing body 16. The respective sealing lips 18 are provided over the entire outer periphery of the sealing body 16. A plurality of unillustrated inner peripheral lips are provided on the inner periphery of the sealing hole 15 of the sealing body 16.
The wire 11 is inserted into the sealing hole 15 of the rubber plug 12 in a liquid-tight manner. Each inner peripheral lip is compressed into close contact with the outer periphery of the wire 11. In this way, liquid-tight sealing is provided between the rubber plug 12 and the wire 11. As described above, the wire 11 is a single core wire and has no gap inside. Thus, the inside of the wire 11 is also maintained liquid-tight.
As shown in
The holding portion 17 is shaped to gradually reduce a projection amount from the end surface in the axial direction X of the sealing body 16 from a lower end (one end in the radial direction) to an upper end (other end in the radial direction) of
As shown in
The holding portions 17 receive crimping forces of the terminals 13, 14 and are held in a state sandwiched and positioned between the terminals 13, 14 and the wire 11.
The connection terminal 13 is formed, such as by bending a metal plate material and, as shown in
The tab 24 is connectable to the unillustrated mating terminal. The collective barrel portion 25F includes a pair of crimping pieces 27 rising from a rear end part of a bottom wall 37 continuous from the body portion 23 while facing each other. Bead-like protrusions 28 extending in the circumferential direction Y are provided on the inner surfaces of the crimping pieces 27 as shown in
The joint terminal 14 is formed, such as by bending a metal plate material and, as shown in
The joint terminal 14 includes a collective barrel portion 25R located on a front side in the axial direction X, a wire barrel portion 31 connected behind the collective barrel portion 25R and an insulation barrel portion 32 located behind the wire barrel portion 31. The collective barrel portion 25R includes a pair of crimping pieces 27 rising from a front end part of a bottom wall 38 while facing each other. The collective barrel portion 25R is shaped similarly to the collective barrel portion 25F of the connection terminal 13 and includes, as shown in
The collective barrel portion 25F of the connection terminal 13 collectively surrounds the holding portion 17 and the electrically conductive portions 22 on a front side in the axial direction X. The collective barrel portion 25R of the joint terminal 14 collectively surrounds the holding portion 17 and the electrically conductive portions 22 on a rear side in the axial direction X.
The collective barrel portions 25F, 25R are arranged in contact with or in proximity to outer peripheral parts of the end surfaces in the axial direction X of the sealing body 16. As shown in
As shown in
Next, the overall structures of the rubber plug unit 10 and the connector 80 of the first embodiment are described.
In assembling, the wire 11 is inserted through the sealing hole 15 of the rubber plug 12. A central side in the axial direction X of the outer periphery of the wire 11 is arranged in close contact with the inner periphery of the sealing hole 15 of the rubber plug 12. As shown in
Subsequently, the collective barrel portions 25F, 25R of the terminals 13, 14 are crimped and connected to the both sides in the axial direction X of the wire 11. As shown in
In the above way, the rubber plug unit 10 is obtained in which the wire 11, the rubber plug 12 and the terminals 13, 14 are integrated as shown in
On the other hand, there is a concern that the rubber plug unit 10 becomes long in the axial direction X due to the presence of the wire 11, which is a single core wire, and the rubber plug 12 on a central side in the axial direction X of the rubber plug unit 10. However, since the electrically conductive portions 22 and the holding portions 17 are arranged to overlap in the axial direction X in the case of the first embodiment, a length in the axial direction X of the rubber plug unit 10 can be shortened as compared to the case where the electrically conductive portions 22 and the holing portions 17 are arranged side by side in the axial direction X. Moreover, as shown in
Next, a second embodiment is described using
In the case of the second embodiment, a rubber plug 12A includes a sealing body 16, a pair of holding portions 17 arranged to project toward both sides in the axial direction X of the sealing body 16 and a pair of insertion portions 34 connected to the tips of the respective holding portions 17 in projecting directions. The sealing body 16 has a hollow cylindrical shape and includes a sealing hole 15 penetrating in the axial direction X in a center. The insertion portion 34 is arranged to face at a distance from an end surface in the axial direction X of the sealing body 16. The insertion portion 34 has an annular shape and includes an insertion hole 35 at a position coaxial with the sealing hole 15. The holding portion 17 is provided to link an upper part of the outer periphery of the end surface in the axial direction X of the sealing body 16 and an upper part of each insertion portion 34. The holding portion 17 has an arcuate cross-section and is formed to have a fixed thickness in the axial direction X.
A connection terminal 13A and a joint terminal 14A include collective barrel portions 25F, 25R as in the first embodiment. Bead-like protrusions 28 extending in the circumferential direction Y are provided on the inner peripheries of the collective barrel portions 25F, 25R. Basic structures of the terminals 13A, 14A are similar to those of the terminals 13, 14 of the first embodiment. However, unlike the first embodiment, the protrusions 28 and recesses 29 are formed on the sides of bottom walls 37, 38 of the collective barrel portions 25F, 25R.
A central side in the axial direction X of the outer periphery of a wire 11 is arranged in close contact with the inner periphery of the sealing hole 15 of the sealing body 16. Both sides in the axial direction X of the outer periphery of the wire 11 are arranged in close contact with the inner peripheries of the insertion holes 35 of the insertion portions 34. Electrically conductive portions 22 are provided to be exposed in parts of the outer periphery of the wire 11 between the sealing body 16 and the insertion portions 34.
As shown in
According to the second embodiment, since the electrically conductive portions 22 and the holding portions 17 are arranged to overlap in the axial direction X and the collective barrel portions 25F, 25R collectively surround the electrically conductive portions 22 and the holding portions 17 as in the first embodiment according to the second embodiment, a length of a rubber plug unit 10A in the axial direction X can be shortened.
Next, a third embodiment is described using
In the case of the third embodiment, a rubber plug 12B includes a sealing body 16 and a pair of holding portions 17 connected to both sides in the axial direction X of the sealing body 16. A basic structure of the rubber plug 12B is similar to that of the rubber plug 12 of the first embodiment. The shapes of inclined edges of the respective holding portions 17 are different from those of the first embodiment. Out of the respective holding portions 17, the holding portion 17 on one side (left side of
Unillustrated terminals include no parts corresponding to protrusions. The terminals are arcuately deformed along the outer peripheries of the holding portions 17 by crimping, and end parts (e.g. tip parts of crimping pieces) can enter the cut portions 36 and contact the electrically conductive portions 22 of the wire 11. Since the electrically conductive portions 22 and the holding portions 17 are arranged at positions overlapping in the axial direction X in the third embodiment as in the first embodiment, a length of a rubber unit 10B in the axial direction X can be shortened.
The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive.
Although the wire is a single core wire having no insulation coating in the case of the first to third embodiments, the wire may be a single core wire including an insulation coating as another embodiment. If the wire is a single core wire including an insulation coating, electrically conductive portions may be provided on the outer periphery of the wire exposed by removing the insulation coating.
Although the wire is a single core wire in the case of the first to third embodiments, the wire may be such a flexible coated wire that a plurality of strands are surrounded with an insulation coating as another embodiment.
Although the terminals include the connection terminal and the joint terminal in the case of the first to third embodiments, only the connection terminal may be provided as another embodiment. In this case, the holding portion corresponding to the joint terminal can be omitted from the rubber plug. Further, in this case, the wire may be configured such that another connection terminal is coupled to an end part extending on a side opposite to the part to be coupled to the connection terminal.
Although the terminal contacts the electrically conductive portions of the wire via the protrusions in the case of the first and second embodiments, the terminal may be configured to contact the electrically conductive portions of the wire without tip parts of the crimping pieces or the like including the protrusions as another embodiment.
10, 10A, 10B
11
12, 12A, 12B
13, 13A
14, 14A
15
16
17
18
19
21
22
23
24
25F, 25R
25L
25U
26
27
28
29
31
32
33
34
35
36
37,38
70
80
81
82
83
90
95
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-099763 | Jun 2020 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2021/019397 | 5/21/2021 | WO |
