Patent Grant
11387578
The present disclosure relates to a connector.
Patent Document 1 discloses a connector with a plurality of inner conductors, a dielectric and an outer conductor. The plurality of inner conductors are individually connected to front end parts of a plurality of wires constituting a shielded cable. The dielectric accommodates the plurality of inner conductors. The outer conductor surrounds the inner conductors and the dielectric. The outer conductor includes a tubular member for surrounding a front end side region of the dielectric and a pair of divided shells having a half shape and disposed behind the tubular member. A pair of crimping portions formed in rear end parts of the respective divided shells are crimped to the outer periphery of a shield layer constituting the shielded cable.
In a crimping process, the pair of crimping portions are pressed in directions toward each other. Since the pair of crimping portions are disposed in the rear end parts of the pair of divided shells, the postures of the pair of divided shells are going to be inclined such that front end parts thereof are separated from each other. However, since the front end parts of the divided shells are locked to the tubular member, there is no possibility that the postures of the pair of divided shells are inclined.
Patent Document 1: JP 2018-125243 A
In inserting a connector into a housing, it is necessary to avoid the insertion of the connector in an improper orientation into the housing by visually observing a front end part of the connector to confirm vertical and lateral orientations of the connector. However, since the front end part of the above connector has a vertically and laterally symmetrical rectangular tube shape, it is difficult to confirm the vertical and lateral orientations of the connector by visually observing the front end part of the connector.
As a countermeasure against this, it is considered to constitute the outer conductor by a pair of divided shells having asymmetric shapes. However, even if the asymmetric divided shells are united, it is not easy to distinguish the orientation by visual observation since the front end part of the connector is formed into a rectangular tube shape in conformity with the outer shape of the dielectric.
The present invention was completed on the basis of the above situation and aims to prevent posture inclination during the crimping of an outer conductor and enable an orientation of a connector to be easily distinguished.
A connector of the present disclosure includes a plurality of inner conductors, a dielectric, an outer conductor, and a multi-functional portion, wherein the plurality of inner conductors are individually connected to front end parts of a plurality of cores constituting a shielded cable, the dielectric accommodates the plurality of inner conductors, the outer conductor is configured by uniting a first divided shell and a second divided shell, the outer conductor surrounds the inner conductors and the dielectric, a first crimping portion to be crimped to an outer periphery of a shield member constituting the shielded cable is formed in a rear end part of the first divided shell, the multi-functional portion is exposed on an outer surface of the outer conductor and in the form of a projection forward of the first crimping portion on an outer surface of the dielectric, the first divided shell is formed with a first locking portion disposed to be able to lock the multi-functional portion, and a locking direction of the first locking portion to the multi-functional portion is a direction opposite to a crimping direction of the first crimping portion to the shield member.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent posture inclination during the crimping of an outer conductor and enable an orientation of a connector to be easily distinguished.
First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described.
(1) The connector of the present disclosure includes a plurality of inner conductors, a dielectric, an outer conductor, and a multi-functional portion, wherein the plurality of inner conductors are individually connected to front end parts of a plurality of cores constituting a shielded cable, the dielectric accommodates the plurality of inner conductors, the outer conductor is configured by uniting a first divided shell and a second divided shell, the outer conductor surrounds the inner conductors and the dielectric, a first crimping portion to be crimped to an outer periphery of a shield member constituting the shielded cable is formed in a rear end part of the first divided shell, the multi-functional portion is exposed on an outer surface of the outer conductor and in the form of a projection forward of the first crimping portion on an outer surface of the dielectric, the first divided shell is formed with a first locking portion disposed to be able to lock the multi-functional portion, and a locking direction of the first locking portion to the multi-functional portion is a direction opposite to a crimping direction of the first crimping portion to the shield member.
According to the configuration of the present disclosure, since the multi-functional portion is in the form of a projection and exposed on the outer surface of the outer conductor, an orientation of the connector can be confirmed by visually observing the position of the multi-functional portion. When the first crimping portion is crimped to the shield member, the first locking portion of the first divided shell locks the multi-functional portion in the direction opposite to the crimping direction. Thus, the posture inclination of the first divided shell during crimping can be prevented.
(2) Preferably, the multi-functional portion is disposed in a front end part of the dielectric. According to this configuration, since the multi-functional portion is exposed on the outer surface of the outer conductor in a front end part of the connector, visual observation is easier as compared to the case where the multi-functional portion is exposed behind the front end of the connector. Further, since the multi-functional portion is disposed in the front end part of the dielectric, a long distance in a front-rear direction is ensured between the first crimping portion and the multi-functional portion. Thus, a function of preventing the posture inclination of the first divided shell is excellent.
(3) Preferably, the multi-functional portions are formed only on two corners, out of four corners of a front wall portion of the dielectric. According to this configuration, the orientation of the connector can be visually confirmed from many directions by the presence of the two multi-functional portions.
(4) Preferably, the dielectric includes an accommodating member and a cover, the accommodating member includes accommodation chambers for accommodating the inner conductors, the cover covers the accommodation chambers and the inner conductors, and an opening for exposing the cover is formed between the outer conductor and the inner conductors. According to this configuration, even if the cover is covered by the outer conductor, an assembled state of the cover with the accommodating member can be confirmed by visually observing the orientation and position of the cover through the opening.
(5) Preferably, the opening is provided to expose the cover in an axial direction of the cores. According to this configuration, the assembled state of the cover can be easily confirmed by visually observing the connector in the axial direction of the cores.
(6) Preferably, the second divided shell is formed with a second crimping portion to be crimped to the outer periphery of the shield member, the cover is formed with a displacement restricting portion disposed in front of the second crimping portion, the second divided shell is formed with a second locking portion disposed to be able to lock the displacement restricting portion, and a locking direction of the second locking portion to the displacement restricting portion is a direction opposite to a crimping direction of the second crimping portion to the shield member. According to this configuration, when the second crimping portion is crimped to the shield member, the second locking portion of the second divided shell locks the displacement restricting portion in the direction opposite to the crimping direction. Thus, the posture inclination of the second divided shell during crimping can be prevented.
One specific embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
A connector A of this embodiment is connected to a front end part of a shielded cable 60. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The pair of upper and lower separation wall portions 17 extend in the front-rear direction (in parallel to the axes of the cores 61) and project upward and downward from laterally central parts of the upper and lower surfaces of the base portion 16. The pair of left and right side wall portions 18 extend rearward from both left and right side edges of the front wall portion 15 and extend both upward and downward from both left and right side edges of the base portion 16. The accommodating member 14 is formed with four accommodation chambers 22 vertically and laterally partitioned by the base portion 16, the separation wall portions 17 and the side wall portions 18. Two accommodation chambers 22 on an upper stage side are open upward and rearward of the accommodating member 14 and two accommodation chambers 22 on a lower stage side are open downward and rearward of the accommodating member 14. The entire inner conductor 10 and the front end part of the core 61 connected to that inner conductor 10 are accommodated in each accommodation chamber 22.
As shown in
As shown in
The first cover 26 is made of the insulating material and has a bilaterally symmetrical shape. As shown in
With the first cover 26 assembled with the accommodating member 14, the first covering portion 27 covers the two accommodation chambers 22 on the upper stage side. A front end part of the first covering portion 27 is fit between the pair of multi-functional portions 23. The lower surface of the first covering portion 27 is formed with a first retaining portion (not shown) in the form of a projecting rib extending in the lateral direction. With the first cover 26 assembled with the accommodating member 14, the first retaining portion locks rear end parts of the rectangular tube portions 11 of two inner conductors 10 accommodated in the accommodation chambers 22 on the upper stage side from behind. By this locking action, the two inner conductors 10 on the upper stage side are retained and held by the first cover 26.
The second cover 29 is made of the insulating material and shaped to be bilaterally symmetric and vertical symmetric with respect to the first cover 26. As shown in
The second resilient lock pieces 31 are arranged adjacent to the projections 24 while being spaced rearward of the projections 24. Rear end parts of the second resilient lock pieces 31 extend in the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the cores 61 and substantially parallel to crimping directions of first and second crimping portions 43, 50 to be described later), and function as restricting edge parts 34.
With the second cover 29 assembled with the accommodating member 14, the second covering portion 30 covers the two accommodation chambers 22 on the lower stage side. A front end part of the second covering portion 30 is fit between the pair of projections 24. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The front ends of the pair of second side plate portions 47 are located behind that of the second base plate portion 46. Front end edge parts of the pair of second side plate portions 47 extend in the vertical direction (direction parallel to the restricting edge parts 34 of the second cover 29) and function as locking edge parts 48. Each of the pair of second side plate portions 47 is formed with a locking hole 49 (second locking portion as claimed).
Next, an assembling procedure of the connector A is described. The inner conductors 10 are respectively individually fixed to tip parts of the four cores 61 and the four entire inner conductors 10 and the front end parts of the four cores 61 are respectively accommodated into the accommodation chambers 22. Subsequently, as shown in
Thereafter, as shown in
After the second divided shell 44 is assembled, the first divided shell 37 is assembled with the dielectric 13 as shown in
The first crimping portion 43 is located to correspond to the second crimping portion 50 in the front-rear direction (axial direction of the cores 61). After the first and second divided shells 37, 44 are assembled with the dielectric 13, the first and second crimping portions 43, 50 are crimped to the outer periphery of the shield member 63 of the shielded cable 60. In a crimping process, as shown in
Directions of the pressing forces F1, F2 during crimping are directions orthogonal to the axial direction of the cores 61. Particularly, the direction of the pressing force F1 pressing the first crimping portion 43 is a direction substantially parallel to an assembling direction of the first divided shell 37 with the dielectric 13. Since the first crimping portion 43 is disposed in the rear end part of the first divided shell 37, if the downward pressing force F1 is applied to the first crimping portion 43, the posture of the first divided shell 37 is going to be inclined to displace the front end part of the first divided shell 37 upward. A displacing direction of the front end part of the first divided shell 37 at this time is vertically opposite to an applying direction of the pressing force F1 to the first crimping portion 43, i.e. a direction to move the first divided shell 37 away from the dielectric 13. However, since the locking step portions 42 formed in the front end part of the first divided shell 37 come into contact with the multi-functional portions 23 of the dielectric 13 from below, the posture inclination of the first divided shell 37 is restricted.
Further, the direction of the second pressing force F2 pressing the second crimping portion 50 is a direction substantially parallel to an assembling direction of the second divided shell 44 with the dielectric 13. Since the second crimping portion 50 is disposed in the rear end part of the second divided shell 44, if the upward pressing force F2 is applied to the second crimping portion 50, the posture of the second divided shell 44 is going to be inclined to displace the front end part of the second divided shell 44 downward. A displacing direction of the front end part of the second divided shell 44 at this time is vertically opposite to an applying direction of the pressing force F2 to the second crimping portion 50, i.e. a direction to move the second divided shell 44 away from the dielectric 13.
However, since the locking holes 49 formed forward of the second crimping portion 50 in the second divided shell 44 are fit to the restricting projections 33, the posture inclination of the second divided shell 44 is restricted. Further, if the posture of the second divided shell 44 starts to be inclined, the locking edge parts 48 of the second divided shell 44 are displaced to be inclined forward in a side view and interfere with the restricting edge parts 34 of the dielectric 13. Thus, the posture inclination of the second divided shell 44 is also restricted by this interference.
If the first and second divided shells 37, 44 are assembled with the terminal module 51 and the first and second crimping portions 43, 50 are crimped to the shield member 63, the first and second divided shells 37, 44 are united to constitute the outer conductor 36 and the assembling of the connector A is completed. In a front end part of the connector A, the multi-functional portions 23 of the dielectric 13 are exposed on the upper surface and side surface upper end parts of the outer conductor 36. The projections 24 are exposed on the lower surface and side surface lower end parts of the outer conductor 36.
Since exposed areas of the projections 24 on the outer surface of the outer conductor 36 are smaller than those of the multi-functional portions 23 on the outer surface of the outer conductor 36, it is difficult to visually observe the projections 24. In contrast, it is easy to visually observe the multi-functional portions 23 having a larger exposed area on the outer surface of the outer conductor 36. In this way, vertical and lateral orientations of the connector A can be easily confirmed by visual observation, using the multi-functional portions 23 as indices. Thus, in inserting the connector A into a housing (not shown), it can be avoided that the connector A is inserted in an improper posture with respect to the vertical and/or lateral direction(s).
Further, as shown in
The connector A of this embodiment includes the plurality of inner conductors 10, the dielectric 13 and the outer conductor 36. The plurality of inner conductors 10 are individually connected to the front end parts of the plurality of cores 61 constituting the shielded cable 60. The dielectric 13 accommodates the plurality of inner conductors 10. Since the multi-functional portions 23 and the projections 24 different in shape are formed on an outer peripheral surface part of the dielectric 13, the outer surface shape of the dielectric 13 is asymmetric with respect to the axes (not shown) of the cores 61 parallel to the front-rear direction. The outer conductor 36 is configured by uniting the first divided shell 37 having a half shape and the second divided shell 44 having a half shape into a tubular shape, and surrounds the inner conductors 10 and the dielectric 13.
The first crimping portion 43 to be crimped to the outer periphery of the shield member 63 constituting the shielded cable 60 is formed in the rear end part of the first divided shell 37. The multi-functional portions 23 are formed in a part of the outer surface of the dielectric 13 constituting an asymmetric shape (front end part of the dielectric 13). The multi-functional portions 23 are exposed on the outer surface of the outer conductor 36 and in the form of projections forward of the first crimping portion 43 on the outer surface of the dielectric 13. The first divided shell 37 is formed with the locking step portions 42 disposed to be able to lock the multi-functional portions 23. A locking direction of the locking step portions 42 to the multi-functional portions 23 is a direction opposite to the crimping direction of the first crimping portion 43 to the shield member 63. Thus, when the pressing force F1 acts on the first divided shell 37 in the crimping direction (downward direction), the locking step portions 42 of the first divided shell 37 lock the multi-functional portions 23 in a direction (upward direction) opposite to the pressing force F1.
The multi-functional portions 23 constituting the asymmetric part of the dielectric 13 are in the form of projections and exposed on the outer surface of the outer conductor 36. Thus, the vertical orientation of the connector A can be confirmed by visually observing the positions of the multi-functional portions 23. When the pressing force F1 acts on the first crimping portion 43 in the crimping direction and the first crimping portion 43 is crimped to the shield member, the locking step portions 42 of the first divided shell 37 lock the multi-functional portions 23 in the direction opposite to the pressing force F1 (crimping direction of the first crimping portion 43 to the shield member 63). Thus, the posture inclination and improper deformation of the first divided shell 37 during crimping can be prevented.
Further, the multi-functional portions 23 are disposed in the front end part of the dielectric 13. In inserting the connector A into the housing (not shown), the orientation of the connector A is confirmed by visually observing the front end part of the connector A laterally or from above. Since the multi-functional portions 23 are exposed on the outer surface of the outer conductor 36 in the front end part of the dielectric 13, visual observation is easier as compared to the case where the multi-functional portions 23 are exposed behind the front end of the connector A. Further, since the multi-functional portions 23 are formed only on two corners, out of the four corners of the front wall portion 15 of the dielectric 13, the orientation of the connector A can be visually confirmed from many directions by the presence of the two multi-functional portions 23. Further, since a long distance in the front-rear direction is ensured between the first crimping portion 43 and the multi-functional portions 23 by disposing the multi-functional portions 23 in the front end part of the dielectric 13, a function of preventing the posture inclination of the first divided shell 37 is excellent.
Further, the dielectric 13 includes the accommodating member 14 and the first cover 26. The accommodating member 14 includes the accommodation chambers 22 for accommodating the inner conductors 10. The first cover 26 is assembled with the accommodating member 14 to cover the accommodation chambers 22 and the inner conductors 10. The multi-functional portions 23 are formed to locally project laterally from the outer surface of the accommodating member 14 (outer side surfaces of the front wall portion 15). By this form of the multi-functional portions 23, the openings 52 enabling the visual observation of the first and second covers 26, 29 are formed between the outer surface of the accommodating member 14 (outer side surfaces of the front wall portion 15) and the inner surface(s) of the outer conductor 36 (first side plate portions 40).
In other words, the openings 52 are formed between the outer conductor 36 and the inner conductors 10. The openings 52 are provided to expose the first and second covers 26, 29 in a direction (forward direction) parallel to the axial direction of the cores 61 in the front surface of the dielectric 13. That is, the openings 52 expose the first and second covers 26, 29 to the outside of the outer conductor 36. According to this configuration, even if the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second covers 26, 29 are covered by the outer conductor 36, the orientations and positions of the first and second covers 26, 29 can be visually observed in the openings 52 open in the front surface of the dielectric 13. In this way, an assembled state of the first and second covers 26, 29 with the accommodating member 14 can be easily confirmed from the front surface side (front side) of the connector A.
Further, the second divided shell 44 is formed with the second crimping portion 50 to be crimped to the outer periphery of the shield member 63. The second cover 29 is formed with the restricting projections 33 and the restricting edge parts 34 disposed in front of the second crimping portion 50. The second divided shell 44 is formed with the locking edge parts 48 disposed to be able to lock the restricting projections 33 and the locking holes 49 disposed to be able to lock the restricting edge parts 34. A locking direction of the locking holes 49 to the restricting projections 33 is a direction opposite to the crimping direction of the second crimping portion 50 to the shield member 63. When the pressing force F2 acts on the second crimping portion 50 in the crimping direction and the second crimping portion 50 is crimped to the shield member 63, the locking holes 49 of the second divided shell 44 lock the restricting projections 33 in the direction opposite to the pressing force F2 (crimping direction of the second crimping portion 50 to the shield member 63). In this way, the posture inclination of the second divided shell 44 during crimping can be prevented.
The present invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment and is represented by claims. The present invention includes all changes in the meaning of equivalents to the scope of claims and in the scope of claims and is intended to also include the following embodiments.
Although the multi-functional portions are formed in the front end part of the dielectric in the above embodiment, multi-functional portions may be formed at positions behind the front end part of the dielectric.
Although the openings enabling the visual observation of the first and second covers are formed between the accommodating member (inner conductors) and the outer conductor in the above embodiment, such openings may not be formed.
Although the openings enabling the visual observation of the first and second covers are open in the front surface of the connector in the above embodiment, an opening enabling the visual observation of the first and second covers may be open in a side surface (any one of upper, lower, left and right surfaces) of the connector.
Although the four inner conductors are accommodated in the dielectric in the above embodiment, the number of the inner conductors to be accommodated into one dielectric may be three or less or five or more.
Although the dielectric is configured by uniting a plurality of components (accommodating member, first cover and second cover) in the above embodiment, a dielectric may be composed only of one component.
Although the pair of covers (first and second covers) have the same shape in the above embodiment, a pair of covers (first and second covers) may have mutually different shapes.
Although the dielectric includes the pair of covers (first and second covers) in the above embodiment, a dielectric may be composed of only one cover or three or more covers.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2018-182116 | Sep 2018 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2019/035347 | 9/9/2019 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/066567 | 4/2/2020 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9531132 | Iwamoto | Dec 2016 | B2 |
| 10833456 | Maesoba et al. | Nov 2020 | B2 |
| 20170093076 | Yokoyama | Mar 2017 | A1 |
| 20190013614 | Matsui et al. | Jan 2019 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2000-012162 | Jan 2000 | JP |
| 2002-367732 | Dec 2002 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report dated Oct. 8, 2019 for WO 2020/066567 A1 (3 pages). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210351521 A1 | Nov 2021 | US |
